The Drake House (10 page)

Adorable?
He rose, remaining on the other side of the room. “I’m off this afternoon. Mind if I watch you work?”

She wouldn’t have looked more surprised if he tap-danced with Danny Kaye. “If you stay out of the way, I guess it would be fine.” She eyed him for a moment. “Why?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Just curious.”

She strode to the back door. He let her so she couldn’t see the very large grin he couldn’t wipe from his mouth. It felt foreign, those muscles having not been used in a long time. But it didn’t hurt. No, nothing seemed to hurt where she was concerned.

“Remember, stay out of the way,” she called from the other room.

Chapter Six

Nick had every intention of staying out of Trisha’s way, but once he stood back to watch her work in the orchard, he had to know more. He’d inquire here or there when something completely stupefied him, and she didn’t appear bothered in the least to respond.

It was apparent she loved her orchard. But he didn’t have a clue how much exertion actually went into running one. Her men worked as a unit, side-by-side, and without deliberation. He observed as they climbed up and down on the lifts to prune the branches for a good batch of ripe apples this season and to keep the trees healthy. At least that’s what Trisha told him when he asked why it wasn’t done in the fall like other trees.

She was up in one of those beloved branches now, inspecting something. He hadn’t an inkling what, but he watched just the same. Maybe tomboys in flannels who played in the dirt weren’t so bad after all.

She was a vision too. That mass of chestnut hair was threatening to break free of the band she pulled it back with. Her face and arms were smeared with soil and sweat. Those jeans were just snug enough to capture the attention and interest of what might lay underneath. It would be dusk soon, and he would have her all to himself. He hadn’t a clue what he’d do then, but he was damn well looking forward to it.

He peered up again, shielding his eyes from the sun. “What are you looking for?”

Without bothering to glance down, she hollered over the noise of the chainsaws. “Powdery mildew and apple maggots.”

He was sorry he asked. “Didn’t you just check the soil for bugs or something?”

“You have to check the soil for maggots as well as the trees. You usually don’t find them until later, but it’s best to check early anyway.”

“What’s powder mildew?”

“Not powder,
powdery
mildew. It grows on the tree’s leaves and branches. It’ll ruin a season. Redfree apples are moderately resistant to mildew, apple scab, and rust, but we check anyway.”

She was simple, direct, and to the point. As long as he inquired, she would respond. For the first time since they met, she wasn’t annoyed with him. He could get used to this. He liked the fire in her eyes, the spunk in her approach, and the fact she didn’t take crap from anyone. But this pleasant side was nice too.

“Have you ever had maggots?”

Looking down from her branch, she beamed a smile at him. That grin could halt anything. “Not in thirty years, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

“What’s a Redfree apple?”

Wiping sweat from her brow with a forearm, she wrapped her legs tighter to the branch and scooted back. “Redfree are the apples we grow here. They’re sweet enough for eating, but great for baking as well.”

“What’s a Bunny Hop? Another insect I don’t want to know about?”

Throwing her head back, she laughed—long and loud. His gut clenched at the sound.

Looking down at him again, she answered. “We celebrate holidays here on the orchard, getting the whole town together. The Bunny Hop is our Easter celebration. Chuck dresses up as the Easter Bunny and we do an Easter egg hunt, among other things.”

Huh. Didn’t he feel like an idiot.

“Could you get Brad for me please?”

She said “please.” Biting his lip in amusement, he did as she asked. Upon their return, Nick backed up to let her climb down the ladder Brad held. She took her precautions too. No one worked alone, he noticed.

“Brad, tell Eduardo to wrap it up.”

Without a word, Brad nodded and headed to the north end of the orchard. Trisha folded her ladder and, devoid of a glance toward Nick, led the way to the shed.
So, we’re back to this again
. “I hope I wasn’t in your way,” he hesitated.

She didn’t bother to turn around. “You weren’t.”

Before he could ask why her backbone was up again, he figured it out himself. Mike Peltzer’s truck was idling between the shed and the staff housing. She marched right to it. Nick placed a hand on his holster and stood next to her. She could deal with it herself, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t intervene if necessary.

“You son of a bitch!” Brad hollered, rushing their way.

Trisha threw herself between Brad and Mike. “Stop, Brad.” She pushed against his chest. “I mean it! Stop it now!”

Without removing his hand from the weapon at his side, Nick groaned when every man on her spread began rushing their way. This wasn’t going to be pretty.

She looked at Mike and ordered, “Wait in the truck until I send them inside. They’ll kill you.” She looked back at her men. “Listen up, all of you!” She didn’t bother with antics, just stood on top of Mike’s bumper and halted them dead. “I want all of your asses inside now. Take your showers and get to dinner. Nick and I will handle this. Andrew and Chuck, get the lifts. Brad and Eduardo get the equipment. The rest of you, go now.”

They did as she asked. They didn’t like it. The men wanted a piece of the man who left the fading bruise on her cheek, but they did as she asked out of a mutual respect and love for the woman.

Brad gripped her elbows and plunked her feet solidly from the bumper to the ground. “If I find one more mark on you, I’ll not only kill him, but I’ll never let you out of my sight again. We clear?”

Nick went from clenching his jaw to dropping it when the mighty Trisha Eaton bowed her head, sighed, and replied, “Fine. Just get everything locked up. I’ll have a meeting at the main house at dinner.”

She waited until they were all dispersed before turning to Nick. “You can take your hand off of that weapon now, Deputy.”

Waving her hand in a weary motion, she gestured for Mike to crawl out of his pick-up. “Mike, I would apologize, but you did this to yourself. How can I help you?”

He was clean-shaven and showered, Nick noted. Maybe her chat in his cell had done him some good. He watched as Mike crammed his hands into his pockets and bowed his head in what could be passed for shame.

“I’m starting rehab tomorrow in Madison.”

Trisha glared at him with an unreadable expression for three full beats before responding. “Do you have the money for that?”

Mike nodded. “I have some saved up.”

Trisha tilted her head and worried her brows. “Come and find me when you get out of rehab. The men won’t work with you here after what you’ve done, and you’ll have to live with that. However, if you get cleaned up, I’ll write a letter of recommendation.”

Both Nick and Mike’s eyes popped wide. “Thanks, Trish. I mean it. I didn’t come here for anything like that, but thanks. I’m real sorry.”

Trisha nodded slowly and took a deliberate step to him. She cupped her hand under his chin, raising his face to hers. “I’m proud of you. Now go get cleaned up and call me when you’re out.”

When Mike’s truck was out of view down the driveway, Nick’s mouth flew open. He wasn’t clear if he intended to bawl her out, or kiss her senseless, but before he could do either she marched to the main house.

****

While Nick leaned against the doorjamb of her dining room, Trisha stood at the head of the table staring down her men, looking too weary to even do that. She rubbed the fatigue from her features and sighed heavily.

“I know you all want to protect me, and each other, but I can’t have you acting this way again. I love you all, for many reasons. I appreciate your concern, but this is over with now. Mike apologized and is entering rehab. It took courage to come here and say that, so he has earned some of my respect back. I will assist him in getting another position somewhere else, and I don’t care how you feel about it.”

Gingerly, she sat in the chair and placed her face into her hands in a rare display of weakness. That had Nick’s interest.

“This has been an interesting few weeks. We will finish pruning and checking tomorrow, and then I want you all to take a week off. Go home to your families. That includes you, Nancy and Eduardo. Gear up and rest up for the upcoming season.” She rose from the table. “Now, I’m going to shower and go to bed. Anything else?”

Chuck laughed, shaking his head. Walking to her, he wrapped his muscled arms around her and squeezed. “You are such a softy.”

Nick figured she was too exhausted to fully fight, so she hugged him in return. “I am not. I’m a bitch and don’t forget it.”

“No, you’re a softy.”

“Tell anyone and I’ll kill you. Now let me go, I need a shower.”

Relaxed now, the room started in on small chatter. Chuck slapped Nick on the arm after he sat down next to him. “Did we ever tell you about Heather Misely?”

“Dammit, Chuck, you are not telling him anything,” Trisha demanded. “Go eat. Nick, ignore him.”

She headed toward the staircase when Chuck began telling the tale. Obviously, deciding she no longer cared about anything but hot water on sore muscles, she climbed the steps.

I guess that means she’s not coming to my house tonight.

“Heather Misely,” Chuck began, “was a girl in our second grade class, and the ugliest thing on two legs. This one day at recess, we were all picking on her real bad. Trisha stormed over and punched me right in the gut.” He paused for everyone’s laughter. “Then, she put her arm around Heather and walked her over to the corner of the playground. She sat with her until recess was over and did the same thing every day for a week until no one ever picked on her again.”

Nick leaned back in his chair and grinned while crossing his arms over his chest. “Whatever happened to Heather?”

Next to him, Brad smiled. “She’s a model in L.A. now.”

Nick laughed.
Didn’t that figure?

Andrew folded his hands in front of him, his red hair still wet from his shower. “Don’t let Trish fool you. She may handle herself, but inside she’s as human as they come.”

Nick had come to the same conclusion, not that he’d say so aloud. This bitchy, I-can-handle-anything facade Trisha put on was really a rouse to hide her insecurities.

Nancy stood and began clearing the table with a nod. “You’ll be good for her, Nick, despite what defenses she throws.” She stacked silverware on a plate. “Now all of you close your traps before she comes back and hears you.”

****

Trisha climbed out of the shower and dried off. After wrapping the towel around herself, she exited the bathroom. As she debated her underwear options, and whether she’d allow Nick to see them, someone called her name. It sounded like it came from the hallway.

“I’ll be out in a sec, Nancy.”

She stepped into a pair of black panties and then her jeans. She’d just thrown a sweater over her head when her name was called again. She’d thought it had been Nancy the first time because it sounded female. And far away. Now she wasn’t so sure. Probably calling up to her from the bottom of the stairs.

Trisha poked her head outside her bedroom door and yelled down the stairs. “I said just a second!”

Nancy came to the landing. “What’s wrong,
chica
?”

“Nothing. Why are you calling for me?”

Nancy’s stare was blank. “I just came now. I didn’t call you.”

There. Again. From behind her, down the hall, someone calling her name. Trisha froze. “Go get Nick.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Get Nick.”

Trisha turned, but saw no one down the hall. She poked her head in the other rooms, but came up empty.

I’m going crazy. Completely crazy
. If she didn’t start getting a good night’s sleep, they’d lock her in the loony bin.

She stepped inside her room to finish getting ready. Her gaze darted to the window. Frost covered the glass as if the temperature outside had dropped thirty degrees in the past hour. A handprint formed through the frost.

She gasped and backed up, slamming into someone. She screamed.

“Hey, hey. It’s me.”

Nick.
She blew out a breath.
Just Nick.

“Someone was outside the window just now.” She pointed to the glass and looked, but the frost and handprint were gone. “But…there was a hand there. Honest.”

Nick walked to the window and threw up the pane. He stuck his head out and then back inside. When he turned to look at her, he shrugged. “You’re two stories up here. I don’t see anyone or any ladder. Could it have been an owl or something?”

She crossed her arms, thinking she’d never be warm again. “No, Nick. The glass was frosted and a handprint emerged. Just like when Nancy woke me…”

She trailed off, remembering the mark on her arm a few weeks ago and how it disappeared before her eyes. Remembering the way the woman in her dream reached for her and somehow left a mark.

Except this time she wasn’t asleep.

“It’s fifty degrees outside. There couldn’t have been frost, Trish. Are you sure you’re okay?”

No. She wasn’t okay. Not at all.

Either she was going bat-shit crazy, or a ghost was trying to get her attention.

She didn’t believe in ghosts.

****

“We’ve never all been gone at the same time,” Nancy pleaded with big brown eyes. Her and Eduardo’s bags were neatly packed and set by their feet waiting to leave.

Nick sat stoically in a chair in the living room, attempting to stay out of it. He may not have known Trisha long, but he knew when to back off. They were cornering her, and she was doing her best to stay unruffled.

Brad crossed his arms. “I’ll be at my parent’s house fifteen minutes away.”

Eduardo, with his massive frame, towered over Trisha. “Fifteen minutes is twenty minutes too far.”