Home by dark, p.17
Home by Dark, page 17
Mandy, chattering to Princess, who seemed to listen to every word, went out the back door with the puppy. The kitchen fell silent in her wake. It almost felt as if Rachel’s mind had been hiding thoughts of Colin, waiting until she was alone to spring them on her.
What had he meant, saying that he’d been trying to protect her by breaking up her relationship with Ronnie? Surely it was Ronnie, his friend, about whom he’d been concerned. Her thoughts spun, trying to find a way to fit this new fact in with her memory of how things had gone. She set the last dish in the cupboard, frowning, and stretched, trying to force herself to concentrate on the movement of her muscles, trying to block out the image of Colin’s face.
It wasn’t working. She’d almost rather they’d stayed angry with each other. That might be easier to deal with.
The doorbell rang, cutting through the knot in her mind. She went quickly through to the hall and headed for the front door. Meredith had said she’d come over after supper to make a start on the records for the business. She was a little earlier than Rachel had expected.
But when Rachel swung the door open, Dennis Sitler stood there, finger poised over the bell to ring again. She felt heat rush to her cheeks. If he knew where she’d been that afternoon...
No, that was ridiculous.
“Dennis. I wasn’t expecting you. Please, come in.” She held the door open, trying to sound hospitable. What if he was delivering a message from his grandfather? What if they’d found out about Benjamin?
“Thanks.” He stepped inside, his thin face creasing in an apologetic smile. “I hope I’m not interrupting your supper.”
“Not at all. We’ve finished. What can I do for you?”
“Actually, I was hoping I might do something for you.” Dennis moved casually to the table that would be her registration desk, glancing around with open curiosity. “I couldn’t get it out of my mind that my grandfather had upset you the other day.”
“It’s all right.” So much else had happened to worry her that she’d had little time to spare for that particular memory.
“You’re nice to take it that way. There’s no point in telling him he can’t go around talking to people like that. Believe me, I’ve tried.” He shrugged, his smile turning rueful, making him suddenly more likeable for the show of vulnerability.
“I appreciate your trying. And really, it’s not your fault. We can’t change other people.” She certainly hadn’t succeeded in changing Ronnie, and her efforts had probably made things worse.
“Maybe not, but it still embarrasses the heck out of me when Grandfather gets on that high horse of his, acting as if he’s king of the valley.”
She smiled, touched by his embarrassment. “I’m sure people still respect his opinion,” she said, trying to be tactful.
“Most of them probably don’t have any idea who he is.” Dennis’s tone was blunt. “He and Amanda Mason were two of a kind, I’m afraid, both of them thinking they were the unquestioned moral and social leaders of the community. I hope it doesn’t offend you, my speaking of your mother-in-law that way.”
Rachel thought of that portrait of Amanda, her nose tipped just a bit higher than most people’s. “I suspect you’re right. But it’s a harmless illusion.”
“I’m relieved that you see it that way.” Dennis did look genuinely relieved. He must have a tender conscience, to be so concerned about his grandfather’s effect on her. “At any rate, I thought perhaps I’d stop by and have a look at your progress. Then maybe I can catch my grandfather in a softened mood and say something about what a great job you’re doing in restoring the old place.”
Rachel was touched. “That’s thoughtful of you.”
“And maybe a little sneaky.” He grinned, and she was reminded of the teenager who’d hung around Laura, love-struck like the rest of them.
“I’d certainly rather be on good terms with my neighbors.” She gestured to their surroundings. “You can see what we’ve been doing downstairs. I’m not attempting to change the style of the house, just freshen things up so that the place will be appealing to people.”
“That’s the right idea, I’m sure.” Dennis walked into the front parlor, and she followed. “The place is a perfect example of the best of Victorian architecture in Pennsylvania, and with any luck you’ll get guests who appreciate that fact. My grandfather ought to be equally appreciative. He was always complaining about how Amanda let the place go in her later years. Not that he’s doing much better.”
True enough. The Sitler place could use a fresh coat of paint and some serious trimming of the overgrown foliage around the house.
“I suppose it might seem overwhelming to someone his age to try and keep up the house and grounds,” she said tactfully.
“That’s what my cousin, Gene, is supposed to be doing.” Dennis said the name as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. “As far as I can see, he’s made precious little progress in that area.”
“I’d heard that Mr. Sitler had a grandson living with him.” Maybe it was best not to mention her one encounter with Gene. “I didn’t think you had a brother.”
“Heaven forbid.” Dennis gave her a look of mock horror. “Our fathers were brothers. Grandfather quarreled with Gene’s father, the way he quarreled with everyone, and cut him off completely. I’d practically forgotten that branch of the family even existed until Gene turned up here and the old man took him in. Gene doesn’t do a bit of work, and he seems to enjoy riling the old man up about his neighbors.”
For an instant Rachel thought of mentioning the trucks that had apparently been trespassing on Sitler property. Maybe that would distract Franklin Sitler from thinking of her.
But she just as quickly thought the better of it. Mentioning it would simply lead to questions about why she’d been there in the first place.
“I shouldn’t burden you with my family troubles,” Dennis said. “I’m sure you have enough of your own.” He paused, almost as if he expected her to confide in him, his gaze interested enough to make her uncomfortable. He couldn’t know about Benj, could he?
“My only troubles involve outdated plumbing and peeling paint,” she said lightly. “I do appreciate anything you can do with your grandfather.”
“Rachel...” He took a step toward her, his expression suddenly serious, but the front door opened before he could finish.
“Hi, Rachel. Dennis.” Meredith looked from one to the other of them, her gaze questioning. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you had company.”
“I was on my way out,” Dennis said. “Just stopped by to admire the progress Rachel is making. How are you, Meredith? Enjoying having your old friend back in town, I’m sure.” Dennis headed for the door as he spoke.
“Yes, we’ve been reminiscing about the old days.” Meredith moved, holding the door open for him. “Of course some of them are sad memories. Like Aaron Mast’s drowning.”
Dennis seemed to freeze for an instant, his hand on the door frame. When he turned toward them, his face was wiped clean of expression.
“Aaron Mast.” He repeated the name, then shook his head slightly. “A sad story. I find it’s not healthy to spend too much time thinking about old grief.” Before either of them could respond he went out, so quickly it seemed he was eager to leave them behind.
Rachel stared after him for a moment and then turned the look on Meredith. “Why on earth did you bring up Aaron’s death in front of Dennis?”
Meredith shrugged, letting the oversize bag she carried slip from her shoulder. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about our conversation. If our speculation was right, and Aaron’s accident was the result of showing off for Laura, then—”
“Let’s go back to the family room.” Rachel interrupted her, glancing toward the door. “I don’t want anyone walking in on this conversation.”
Leading the way, she took Meredith through the hallway to the room at the back of the house that had probably once been a maid’s room. She’d decided early on that the parlor and dining room were far too formal for comfortable use.
The small, square room was furnished with comfortable castoffs from the rest of the house, ruffled Cape Cod curtains and a small television. Two windows looked out on the backyard, where she could see Mandy and Princess playing. Mandy hadn’t let Princess off the leash, true, but she wasn’t holding it, either. She ran in circles, the puppy prancing after her, leash dragging.
Meredith dropped into one corner of the chintz sofa, setting her bag on the coffee table. Rachel took the rocking chair opposite her.
“Now, talk,” she said. “What was the point of mentioning Aaron’s death to Dennis?”
“I wanted to see his reaction. And he did react, didn’t he?” Meredith’s dark eyes sparkled with interest. “His face turned into a blank screen.”
“True, but I’m not sure it means anything.” Rachel visualized the frozen expression on Dennis’s narrow face. “Maybe you just caught him by surprise.”
“Maybe.” Meredith’s skeptical tone said she didn’t believe it. “But think about that summer. Dennis was always around, always in the background. Lainey caught it perfectly in that picture she drew.”
“He had a crush on Laura. All the boys did.” Odd, wasn’t it, that Laura had picked Aaron? Maybe he had represented the lure of the unknown. Or the ultimate challenge.
“Dennis must have known that Laura and Aaron met by the dam,” Meredith said. “He was around all the time. When word came out about Aaron’s death, he had to wonder.”
“I guess so. Maybe Aaron’s death was one of those things that all the kids knew something about and yet never mentioned. Teenagers can be secretive creatures.” Nobody knew that better than she did.
Meredith leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “You look worried. Mandy’s surely not keeping secrets from you already, is she?”
“No, thank goodness.” Although Mandy had known about Benj’s misadventures and never mentioned it. Maybe she didn’t know her daughter as well as she thought.
“Is it your brother, then?”
Shock took Rachel’s breath away for a moment. She’d been so sure no one else knew.
“What...what do you know about Benj?”
Meredith brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear, the simple gold hoops she wore swaying. “I haven’t been prying, honestly. But I hear things. You can’t help but hear things when you work with clients in Deer Run. Two Amish teenagers have run away within a week of each other, and Benj is going around looking scared out of his wits.” She leaned forward to put her hand on Rachel’s arm. “Don’t tell me anything you don’t want to. But if you need a listening ear, I’m safe.”
“I know you are.” Rachel had come home to find support in unexpected places. “I haven’t said anything because Benj confided in me, and that put me in an awkward position with my parents. He was involved with the other boys in trespassing, and they were seen by someone who scared them.” She skimmed over the details. “He’s supposed to be telling Daad the truth about it, and that’s a big relief.”
“I’m sure it is. Maybe if Laura and Aaron had confided in some sensible adult instead of the other kids, things might have turned out better for them.”
Meredith, seeming to dismiss the topic from her mind, pulled a laptop and several files from the bag on the coffee table. Rachel found she couldn’t seem to turn her thoughts away so easily.
A twenty-year-old tragedy. A frightening encounter only weeks ago. They were unrelated, surely. But the same people kept coming up in connection with each of them.
Maybe that was the price of living in a small town. Sooner or later, everyone and everything connected in one way or another.
CHAPTER TWELVE
COLIN DROVE TOWARD the basket, evading Jake’s attempted block, and sank the shot. Jake jogged toward him, panting.
“Man, you’re playing like you’re back in high school again. What’s got into you?” Jake bent, hands on his knees.
“Just getting some much-needed exercise.” Colin dribbled the ball slowly, his muscles protesting. “You getting old, Evans?”
“No older than you,” Jake retorted. “You act like a man trying to keep himself busy so he won’t think too much.”
“Psychoanalyzing, now, are you? They teach you that in law school?” He was jeering, but Jake had actually hit too close to the truth. Pushing himself physically was the only thing that kept him from thinking too much of Rachel. And of the situation with Dad.
The trouble was that he couldn’t manage to keep going long enough to wipe his problems out of his mind.
“A lawyer has to understand his clients.” Jake adopted a pedantic tone, meant to mimic one of his law-school profs, Colin assumed. “I’ve known you all your life. You’re an open book to me, McDonald.”
He certainly hoped not.
“Save it for someone you can impress,” Colin retorted. He walked toward the bench at the edge of the court where they’d left their towels.
Not that it was actually a court, exactly. The town fathers figured it was foolish to waste the parking lot at the township building just on cars, so they’d erected tennis nets and lined out a court on the macadam, along with a painted square for four-square and a hopscotch pattern.
The place was popular with kids earlier in the day, but most of them had been called home by now. Dusk was drawing in, and when Colin tilted his head back, he could see a few stars.
Benjamin was supposed to have talked to his father by now, and he couldn’t help but dwell on how it might have turned out. Would it make matters worse between Rachel and her dad? That was what he feared.
“Do you know anything about that timbering that’s going on up on the ridge above town?” he asked abruptly.
Jake was pulling a sweatshirt over his head. He emerged, his eyes bright with curiosity. “Now why, I wonder, would you be interested in that?”
“Never mind why. Do you?”
“Funny thing about that timbering.” Jake sat on the bench to pull on a pair of sweatpants over his shorts. “Franklin Sitler asked us to look into the pros and cons of donating that piece of property to the state game lands. He told us he wanted to be sure the woods above the town were always protected.” Jake grimaced. “I figured it was more likely he was looking for a tax advantage. But anyway, next thing I knew, a firm was taking timber off that patch.”
“So maybe he wasn’t pleased with the answers you gave him. If he saw a better chance of making money off the land...”
Jake was shaking his head. “We hadn’t even given him our opinion yet. But Sitler may be trying to have it both ways. It looks like the timbering operation is primarily on the other side of the ridge.”
“True.” It was odd, even so.
“Like I said, the timbering can’t be spotted from town, which makes me wonder how you come to know about it.” He raised his eyebrows. “Does this have anything to do with you borrowing my four-wheel drive and bringing it back muddy?”
Custom demanded he come back with a snappy retort, even though his heart wasn’t in it. “Listen, that vehicle of yours was so filthy a little more mud wouldn’t hurt it.”
Jake just looked at him, waiting.
“Okay, okay, I admit it. I was curious. I went up there and had a look around.” He wasn’t about to say anything about Rachel’s presence on that little jaunt.
“You were curious,” Jake repeated. “Why? And don’t bother telling me to mind my own business, because you know I won’t.”
He couldn’t tell Jake the whole thing. But he’d love to get Jake’s take on the situation.
“Suppose, just hypothetically, that you found out someone had been shooting at trespassers up in that area. What would you think?”
“I’d think that particular someone was breaking the law,” Jake said promptly. “Despite what a lot of the old-timers believe, even out here in the country you can’t take potshots at someone because they’re on your land. There has to be an actual threat of harm before potential deadly force is justified. And even then, if you can get away, you should.”
“True. But like you say, a lot of folks around here wouldn’t agree. Or would say they were just trying to scare the trespassers off.”
Jake shrugged. “I’m telling you what the law says, not what a possible jury might say if such a case ever came to trial. If I knew about this hypothetical situation of yours, I’d urge the party shot at to report it to the police. The chief might not be entirely sympathetic, but I’d think he’d at least try to put the fear of the law into the shooter.”
Easier said than done. “Suppose the trespasser declined to go to the law?”
Jake put his foot on the bench to stretch his hamstrings. “By that I deduce that the party in question was Amish. Rachel’s kid brother, was it?”
