Passions of Chelsea Kane Part 7

Computerizing Plum Granite was a piece of cake. She tipped her head.

"I'm impressed."

"Don't be. We're not talking anything ultrasophisticated. The operation doesn't call for that."

"Not yet," she said. "Mayb6 soon." Her eyes were warm. "Does the second-floor rental s.p.a.ce need much work?"

"Some."

"Have you started it?" Judd shook his head. "We just signed the lease."

"When can I take a look?"

"Whenever you want." She nodded, seeming to mull something over. While she did, he looked at the dress George had made such a big deal about. Granted, it was on the short side, which was fine, since she had great legs. But it wasn't racy. It was loose and swingy. He wondered how full her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were. He couldn't see much of them beyond an alluring hint. He was thinking that she was just the right height for him, tall enough so that he wouldn't get a crick in his neck If he kissed her, short enough so that he wouldn't feel he was kissing an Amazon, when she 160 nm PAMOOMS Of cbelfto -Who'll be doing the work?" The work. On the new office. Judd disciplined his oughts. "Russell Ives. He's a local contractor."

"Is he good?" he wasn't."

"I wouldn't use him if "Even if he was your cousin and desperate for the rk?" voice cut in sharply. "What kind of questkm is Everyone's related to someone here, and there's ,.kxids desperate for work. You dunk Judd would hire on ..,someone who'd do a half-a.s.sed job?

Think again, missy. we don't run Plum Granite that way."

"Well, I'm pleased to hear that," Chelsea said without missing a beat, "because I want someone first rate for my house."

"What house?" Oliver asked, but her eyes were on Judd again "How many men does Russell Ives have?"

"Enough to do most any job."

"What house?" Oliver repeated. "The one I just bought," she told Oliver, then said to Judd, "Enough men to do your work and mine at the same time?"

"Enough for that." "What house?" Oliver demanded. "Boulderbrook.'" In the explosion of silence that followed, the only sound was the whir of the fan in Fern's office and the patter of Buck's paws as he meekly returned to Judd's side. Chelsea looked from face to face. Hunter turned around. With the sc.r.a.pe of his chair on the old planked floor, Oliver came to his feet. "You bought Boulderbrook?" he asked slowly. Judd had always prided himself on being able to 161 read Oliver's thoughts, but this time he was S t, '. He couldn't tell if the man was surprised, appalled, or downright angry. Chelsea must have been similarly confused, because she drew herself up, seeming braced for all three. Cautiously she said, "Is there a problem with that?"

"W4y'd you buy Boulderbrook?"

"Because I want it," she said as though that was reason enough, and Judd supposed for her it was. She had the kind of money most Notchers couldn't conceive of, much less dream of possessing. He had more than many of the others, but even he felt out of her league..You paid good money," Oliver prodded disbelievingly, "for something you'll live in a week or two here or there?"

"Once I set up a studio, it'll be more than that. I'll be here more than I'm in Baltimore. It doesn't make sense to stay at the inn each time. I need flexibility. Buying is the obvious solution." Judd thought he detected a note of humor irl her expression. "Unless, of course, you were to offer me a room at your place."

"I'm not offering you a thing!" Oliver declared, then demanded, "Who showed you Boulderbrook?"

"Rosle Hacker."

"Figures," he spat. "Bra.s.sy woman interferin' in work that men around here been doing perfectly well for years." He grunted. "Boulderbrook.

She ain't been around long enough to know better." Looking mystified, Chelsea asked, "What's wrong with Boulderbrook?" .'s a mess."

"But I've always wanted to live in an old country farmhouse."

"There's rats all over the place." 162 NW10M Of CIMEMW Kane meeds work," she conceded.

was an understatement, Judd knew. Among r things, Boulderbrook needed new plumbing ' systems, a new roof, porch, bath- and kitchen.

The floors and moldings needto be stripped of layers of old paint, the walls and recovered, the fireplace rebuilt. @And that a.s.sessment came from a brief view he'd d of the place eight years before. The only ges since then would have been ones that time, elements, and wildlife had made. n work," Oliver roared. "It "It needs more tha eeds to be burned to the ground."

"It's made of fieldstone," she pointed out. "It n't burn." Th,-,-.qlmer she was, the angrier he got. "Don't be '-smart is with me, ml sy. You're comin' up here to a place you know nothin' about. If you had any brains, ,,",,@You'd listen to someone who does know somethin' @about the place." In not afraid of work."

"Boulderbrook needs more than work!' he barked. "It needs a ghostbuster!

It's haunted!

Or didn't Rosie Hacker tell you that?" Chelsea rolled her eyes. "Oh, please."

"Don't ', please' me. It's haunted. Ain't that so, Hunter?"

Hunter, who had his hands under his arms, looked dismayed. "It's haunted." "Hear that?" Oliver said to Chelsea. "And you better listen.

He's heard the voices himself."

"What voices?" Chelsea asked. "Little children," Oliver told her. "They live in the walls."

"Oh, please." She turned to Hunter. "You didn't 163 Zarbmra Deumshy really hear voices, did you?" Hunter didn't answer. "You heard them?" she asked in disbelief. He continued to stare, as though waiting for her to laugh at him. Only she didn't. She turned curious. It struck Judd that curiosity was part of her character. "Is the barn haunted, too?" Hunter shook his head. "Just the farmhouse. It must have a history."

"Of course it does," Oliver snapped. "Everything has a history."

"A history that would lend itself to haunting?"

"Must have, since it's haunted." She raised her brows, inviting him to fill her in. When he didn't, she turned to Hunter. "Do you know the history?"

"No one knows the history."

"Did any children actually live there?"

"Long ago."

"It's been empty for years," Oliver said. "Normal people won't touch it."

"But you still hear voices?" Chelsea asked Hunter. "I don't go near there. Haven't since I was five. "Which was how long ago?"

"Thirty-two years."

"Ah." She threw up a hand in dismissal. "There you go. Thirty-two years ago. Ancient history." But Hunter shook his head. "People still hear them."

"What do these voices say?" He was silent. "Did they ever threaten you?" Judd waited to hear the answer. The voices were another of the rumors surrounding Hunter, since he 164 The Fa.s.sIMM Of Chchma K=W been the first to report hearing them. Yes, othhad claimed to have heard them in the interven-years, but those others were mostly kids, daring other to dash into the house on the darkest of nless nights. There were various theories as to nature of the voices. None had ever been proven way or another, but the townsfolk generally d clear of the house. No one's ever been threatened," Hunter said. Chelsea smiled. "Then they're harmless, so re's nothing to worry about." Still smiling, she ed Judd. "I want that farmhouse. Will your man sell do my work?" Judd suspected that if she smiled at Russ the way e was smiling at him, the contractor would do st anything she wanted. Janine had had a smile that, too. "I suppose."

"She can't buy that house," Oliver protested. "When can he start?"

Chelsea asked Judd. "As soon as you tell him what you want done."

"The men won't work there," Oliver argued. "The '01ace is haunted. Tell her it's haunted, Judd." But Judd wasn't sure that it was, and besides, he ew how hungry Russ and his men were for work. "I'll pay well," Chelsea said, sweetening the offer. ill you speak to him for me? Arrange a meeting r this weekend? There are things he can get start- on while I'm in Baltimore. I'll do up detailed plans hen I get back. The sooner we get going the betpler." To Oliver, as though he'd never uttered a cross word to her, she said, "I was wondering if you and your wife would be my guests for dinner at the inn tonight." Oliver looked at her as if she were deranged. "Whatever for?" 165 Marba" Deffnghy "To celebrate our partnership."

"Whatever for?"

"Because I'd like to meet your wife. Isn't she curious about me?"

"No. You're business. She doesn't get involved in business."

"That's too bad."

"Ain't too bad," Oliver snapped. "It's the way it is. You and my wife wouldn't have two words to say to each other."

"I don't know," Chelsea mused. "She could give me a woman's view of the town."

"Waste of time. You'll be gone in a year."

"You hope."

"I know. Judd's got fifty men lined up to add to the payroll if the work ever comes in. Your time'd be better spent bringin' in that work than goin' out to dinner, missy." His eyes sharpened. "And you'd best rethink buyin' Boulderbrook. That's the stupidest idea you had yet. Only a fool'd want to live there. "As I see it, only a fool believes in ghosts," she said and, turning to Hunter, asked in a teasing way, "You don't really believe in ghosts, do you?" Judd knew what she was thinking. She was think ing that Oliver was older and more superst.i.tious, but that Hunter was her own generation and hip. Janine would have thought that way. She could rationalize most anything, which made her a great divorce lawyer. It made her a lousy wife, since the rationalization was always in favor of me over us. Hunter didn't say a word, though his jaw was clenched tight. Oliver boomed at Chelsea, "You gonna go ahead an' buy it?"

"Yes." 166 Me PASWOM Of Ckehwa Ame He pointied a rigid finger at her.

"Well, don't say I didn't warn you.

Anythin' happens there, it ain't gonna be my fault. Got that?" Judd stopped by at the inn that evening. He didn't usually, but the quarrymen were throwing a party for the bartender, who, once upon a time, had been one of their own. From the lobby, he saw Chelsea. She was in the dining room, sitting alone at a corner table, reading a book while she ate.

Large round gla.s.ses sat on her nose. She looked adorable. Had he had a drink or two, he might have approached her. After all, she was alone in a new town. She had no friends here, no family. It was sad, really. But he was stone sober and aware of two things. First, Chelsea Kane wasn't helpless. If she was alone, it was by choice. Second, she was danger with a capital D. And he had worries enough of his own, without that.

167 nine HELSEA SPENT SUNDAY DRIVING BACK TO Baltimore. She arrived too late to call anyone, partly by design. No sooner had she stepped foot in the office Monday morning, though, than Kevin called. Her heart tripped at the sound of his voice. "Hi, Dad," she said lightly. "Howre you doing""

"You missed Carl's wedding." Her heart tripped again. Less lightly she said, "I know."

"You were invited. Sissy said she called you."

"She did. But I couldn't go." She couldn't possibly have sat by and watched Carl marry Hailey. "It would have been too hard."

"Would it have been too hard to tell me about Carl yourself? I wasn't prepared for Sissy's call."

"I tried to prepare you. More than once."

"You never mentioned there was another woman."

"I didn't know it myself until last week."

"But you and Carl were so close!" So close. Chelsea nearly laughed at the irony of 168 nw pa.s.sions of Cheftca Kmw She was carrying Carl's baby, and the man had married someone else. "What happened?" Kevin asked. "How in the devil d Carl come to marry her instead of you?"

Chelsea did laugh then, but the sound held a ch of hysteria. "He fell in love with her."

"But he loves you!"

"Not the same way. "And you're not upset?" She took a steadying breath. "How can I be upset Jt Carl is happy? He's always been one of my closest friends. I wish him the best."

The line went silent for a minute. Then, in a low, accusatory voice, Kevin said, "You blew it, Chelsea. ' was your last best chance. He stuck by you all these years. He put up with your shenanigans. But this thing with New Hampshire did it." Chelsea was stung. "is that what he said?"

"He didn't have to say it. It was obvious. If you'd stayed here and concentrated on him, he wouldn't have turned to another woman." She was so, so tired of the same old arguments. Kevin refused to understand.

"Dad, he doesn't love me the way he loves her," she said beseechingly.

"It was never there for us. My being in New Hampshire has nothing to do with it." Kevin's silence said he didn't believe her. "Trust me, Dad.

This is for the best."

"I really wanted you to marry Carl."

"I know."

"I really wanted to have grandchildren. Looks like that won't happen now, will it?" Tell him, Chelsea's conscience said. But she couldn't. Not with Carl just having married another woman. 169 BAFbrm Daun&IW "You'll have grandchildren,' she said. ' want to be a mother."

"Excuse me?" "I said," she repeated patiently, "I want to be a mother."

"That's a switch. I thought you wanted to ' yourself' first."

"I'm doing that." There was another silence, then, as though a curtain had lowered, a curt, "Yes. So you are." She wanted to cry. "It'll be okay, Dad. I'll learn what I have to learn and be better off for it." He didn't say anything. "Really." Still he was silent. She sighed, closed her eyes, and put a hand on her stomach. She was feeling nauseated again. Early mornings were the worst, but the feeling was never far from her at other times of day, particularly when she was upset. "We really need to talk, Dad. Maybe over the Fourth. I thought that when we have some time to ourselves in Newport-"

"I'm not going to Newport." She opened her eyes.

"But we always spend the Fourth of July in Newport." She wouldn't be anywhere else on the Fourth. "I had a.s.sumed you'd be with Carl, so I made plans to go to Mackinac Island. A colleague has been asking me for years."

"But I was counting on-"

"We'll have to make it another time."

Oh. Okay.- She felt close to tears. "Maybe we'll talk again at the end of the week?"

"Sure." 170 "M PASakwo of cheimm &me Love you, Dad." *Bye, Chelsea." She hung up the phone and tried to gather herself her, but it was a lost cause. The disappointt she felt, the sense of abandonment, of loneliss, was overwhelming. Closing the door of her e, she backed against it, covered her face with hands, and cried. "What in the h.e.l.l's going on?" Judd asked. He idn't raise his voice. He didn't have to.

Russell Ives Anew he was upset. They were standing at the head of the quiet counxy lane, where the trees fell away and the farmland began.

Before them were a.s.sorted trucks, materials, and men. Before the trucks, materials, and men was Chelsea Kane's farmhouse. "They won't work it," Russ said. "I been tryin' to talk them into it all morning, but they won't go nearer'n this. They're not taking a chance with the ghosts."

The ghosts. Judd couldn't believe it. "These big guys are afraid of ghosts? You gotta be kidding." But Russ wasn't. And the big guys weren't budging. "You think Buck would be running all over the place if there were ghosts?" The retriever was loping from window to door to window, exploring by way of his nose. "There are voices."

"No grown-up has ever heard any voices. Only kids."

"So only kids hear them, but that doesn't mean they aren't there."

"They aren't there," Judd insisted. 171 Definsky Russ tossed his head toward the men. "Tell them that.- Judd rubbed a hand over the tight muscles at the back of his neck. There had been an accident at the quarry that morning, nothing serious, just a broken leg from a fall, but it had upset him. He didn't like people getting hurt, not when he was in charge. He took accidents personally.

He took lots of things personally. Like this job. "You're their boss," he said. "You're supposed to tell them. That's what I pay you for, Russ.

Christ, I can't do it all myself." He scanned the group of men in search of familiar faces. There were a few, but not enough. "Who are these guys, anyway?"