Chapter 34
Murmuring and exclaiming, employees spilled out onto the lane in front of the cottages. Clark walked over to assure them he
was all right, but most of the people continued to stare at the ravaged trailer.
Blake couldn’t stop shaking. For a few moments he’d been right back there in the war and was trying—and failing—to save Kent.
If Clark had died too . . . Blake shut down the graphic images in his head. His friend was alive and standing right next to
him.
Blake’s arm was around Paradise’s waist, and he kissed the top of her head. “You can head back to the house before Mom packs
up the boys and comes to see what’s going on.” He forced a chuckle. “You’re shaking like me.”
“That blast scared me to death. You can text her and tell her everyone is okay.”
Blake soaked in the sight of Clark, who stood calmly watching everyone. He left the rest of the employees and came to join
them. “You’re a little pale, Blake.”
Blake made an effort to compose himself. “You want to go tell Mom what happened?”
Clark nodded to a spot behind Blake. “Too late.”
He turned around to see his mother hurrying toward him with both boys in tow. He intercepted them and scooped up Isaac, who
was the sleepiest of the two. “Everyone’s fine. The gas tank on Clark’s trailer exploded. It was probably a gas leak.”
Isaac wrapped his arms around Blake’s neck. “I heard a big boom, but I didn’t even cry. I went to make sure Mama was okay.”
“You’re a good protector.” Blake set him down and ruffled his hair. “You guys can head back to bed. That was a rude awakening,
wasn’t it?”
“Can we get closer to the trailer? I want to see,” Levi said. “I’m not sleepy.”
“Tomorrow.” Mom steered him back toward the house. “It’s too dark to see much anyway.”
Her backward glance at Blake was an unspoken question, and he smiled and nodded. “Everything is fine.”
He waited until they were out of earshot. “Let’s check the hayloft in the barn.”
“The cavity I found with the will?” Clark asked.
“Yeah, I left a little trap for whoever left it there.” An owl hooted from a branch above them, and the sounds of the park
settling back into its nightly routine floated his way. A coyote yipped, and several wolves howled as if to assure him they
were fine. Monkeys screeched in chorus with them.
The three of them reached the barn, and he eyed the door. It wasn’t fully closed. “Were you in here?” he asked Clark.
“Nope. It was shut up tight when I passed this way to go to the grocery store.”
Blake frowned and slid it open the rest of the way.
The scent of hay made him sneeze. Could someone have been kicking it around?
A light had been left on too. The ladder stood against the side the way he’d left it, and his boots were on the rungs before Paradise and Clark made it inside.
He climbed to the loft and glanced around the dimly lit space.
Hay still covered the cavity, but it was a thin layer instead of heaped high the way he’d left it.
Paradise came up the ladder and stepped onto the hay. “What are you looking for?” Clark scrambled up behind her.
“If Dean or Mary planted the will, they might be curious to see if anyone found it yet. Since Mary mentioned Dean was breaking
in and searching park property, they might have needed a diversion tonight to get in here and look.” He pointed at the area
where they’d found the cavity. “I kept the original will but folded a copy and put it in the folder where we’d found it. I
measured exactly where I laid it, and I put a quarter in the crack of the lid over the cavity so I could tell if anyone opened
it. Someone has been in here. The light is on and the door was open.”
He swiped the hay out of the way to reveal the wooden top over the cavity. “The quarter is missing.” He spotted a silver glimmer
and pointed it out. “It’s there, right where it would have fallen if someone lifted off the lid.” He knelt in the hay and
pried up the board. “The folder is two inches lower than where I left it. Someone was definitely in here, and in a minute
I’ll know who it was.” He pointed out the camera attached discreetly in the shadow of the barn ceiling.
He took out his phone, called up the camera app, and touched the recorded movements. Clenching his jaw, he turned it around
for Paradise and Clark to see.
Dean’s face was on the screen.
Blake uploaded the video and attached it to a message he sent off to Jane. “I sure hope this is enough to convince a court that something fishy is going on. He could have killed you tonight. Or one of the boys.”
“Or you,” she added. “I don’t think he cares who he hurts. He’s determined to get the property.”
“He’s not going to succeed.” Blake clapped Clark on the shoulder. “Let me get you a key to the empty cottage and some clothes.
We’re about the same size, so some of my stuff will do for now.”
The Dillard Ranch sprawled over three thousand acres and was one of the largest properties in Baldwin County. Paradise took
in the green fields and grazing livestock, both cattle and horses. Picturesque red barns dotted the expansive grounds around
the big brick home. The late-afternoon sky beyond the white paddocks added to the picture-perfect view.
“Roger has a beautiful property. I spent a lot of time here during my childhood with Abby. I haven’t ridden a horse in ages.”
“Roger would let you go horseback riding anytime you want.” Blake maneuvered around the final curve to the sweeping driveway
in front of the house. “You should plan to go with Abby sometime.”
“I will.” She hopped out when the truck stopped behind Abby’s car. “I think it will be helpful to have her and Roger in one
room as we try to figure this out.”
Blake shut his door and joined her. They walked toward the porch together.
The huge pillars were quintessential Southern Alabama, and warmth flooded Paradise as she mounted the familiar steps to the front door.
The years fell away and she remembered how Abby’s mom always hugged her when she came to visit, even more fiercely after Paradise’s mom died.
She’d died herself five years later, right after Paradise had been yanked from the Adamses’ household.
Abby opened the door before Paradise could press the bell. She wore slim-fitting jeans with a flannel shirt and cowboy boots.
Her red hair was in a ponytail that made her look about fifteen, but her brown eyes held heaviness. Paradise didn’t think
it had anything to do with the problems at The Sanctuary.
Abby hugged Paradise and held on longer than usual. “I came prepared to go riding, did you? I texted you to bring clothes.”
“I didn’t get the message.” Her phone dinged, and Paradise glanced at it. “There it is now. Crazy cell service.” She glanced
down at her shorts and tee. Sandals instead of boots. “I think I’m underdressed.”
“Luckily we wear the same size.” She wagged a finger at Paradise. “Don’t try to get out of it.”
“I’d love to go. It’s been ages since I was on a horse.” She linked arms with Abby, and they passed through the foyer into
the living room with Blake trailing them.
Abby’s daughter, Quinn, was in jeans and boots as well. Her long red hair in a braid, she glanced up from where she sat cross-legged
on the floor and gave a slight wave before going back to her phone. Typical fourteen-year-old behavior though she was only
ten. She would be a real handful by the time she was in her teens. “Grandpa said I had to stay here with you in case I could
help you with the questions. Mary used to babysit me. Grandpa will be here in a second. He was looking through paperwork.”
She waved at the coffee table. “I brought in a tray of sweet tea. Help yourselves.”
Paradise and Blake settled on the sofa, and Abby perched on one of two leather armchairs opposite them. Her gaze went to Quinn, and that worry line deepened. Paradise took a glass of iced tea, beaded with condensation. Blake grabbed one too.
Abby leaned forward. “I’m dying to hear what’s going on, but we’ll wait for Dad so you don’t have to explain twice.”
“Dad’s right here,” Roger grumbled as he entered the room. He carried a manila folder. “You can start that explanation anytime.”
The distinct odor of horse wafted from his jeans and pearl-button plaid shirt. His boots were worn and soft.
Blake leaned forward. “Dean Steerforth claims to have seen a will leaving The Sanctuary property to him. I’m concerned he
might be trying to convince us all of a lie.” He nodded at the file in Roger’s hand. “I see you have some paperwork with you.
Did you find anything with Allen’s signature on it?”
Roger ran his hand over his grizzled head. “One of the employees signed most of the sales slips I have, and I have a few with
Mary’s signature. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.”
Quinn got up. “I have a card Allen sent me after I helped rescue one of his bears. He wrote all over it. I’ll get it.” Her
thick red braid bounced as she rushed off to hurry up the stairs.
Roger frowned. “Wasn’t expecting that,” he muttered. “She must like you, and that’s saying something when we often seem to
merit only an eye roll.”
Abby’s expression was troubled. “I thought the danger to the park was over. Isn’t it a little late to reverse the sale?”
“There’s a chance it could be snatched away if a will is found in the next two weeks,” Paradise said. “But it’s all such a
mess. You know Mary really well, even better than I did since you continued to volunteer at the zoo. Did you ever worry she
might not be . . . ethical?” Paradise hated to plant any doubt around Mary’s character, but she didn’t know how to ask it
any other way.
Abby’s eyes narrowed. “You think she might be in on this with Dean?”
“We don’t know. We have reason to believe the land might have much more value than what we paid her,” Blake said.
Paradise took a sip of her tea. “I’ve always liked Mary, so it’s hard to consider she might be partnering with Dean on this,
but we don’t know what to think.”
Abby’s gaze darted between Paradise and Blake. “You might look into her financial situation.” She bit her lip and reached
for a glass of tea.
“Abigail!” her dad growled. “You know better than to insinuate something like that. Working at the bank carries a lot of responsibility,
and you need to keep your mouth shut.”
“I know, Dad, but this is Paradise. I love The Sanctuary, and I can’t sit back if she needs my help. I gave no details.”
Roger’s scowl deepened, but he said nothing. Quinn’s boots clattered on the hardwood stairs, and she rejoined them with a
card in her hand. “Here you go.” She hesitated. “I’d like it back when you’re done with it. Allen was my friend, and this
card is special to me.”
Paradise rose. “I’ll make a copy right now and you can keep the original. You have a printer with a scanner, right?” she asked
Abby.
“I’ll show you.” Abby patted her daughter on the arm as she passed.
The office felt quiet and secluded. “I thought about asking you to meet for coffee,” Abby said. “I need someone to talk to.”
Her gaze darted to the open door.
“I’m here now.” Paradise turned on the printer, then stepped to the door to hear Roger expound on the right way to train a
horse. Blake and Quinn were still out there too. “What’s wrong?”
Tears glimmered on Abby’s lashes. “Jason’s getting remarried. He’s marrying my friend, the one he was having an affair with when he divorced me.”
Paradise embraced her in a tight hug. “I’m so sorry, Abbs.”
“Thanks. I had to tell someone.” She pulled away and sniffled. “I haven’t even told Dad yet. Or Quinn.”
Paradise felt her friend’s pain. Betrayal was hard.