Chapter 26
26
After two days of waiting for something to happen, everyone’s nerves were beginning to fray. Even though Carter had been spending the evenings in his house and Hardy had been in cabin two, the four of them spent the majority of each day at Stephanie’s place. And while she was used to not having much privacy, she wasn’t used to talking very much.
In addition, since her cabin had only one living space and a very small kitchen, they all seemed to get in each other’s way an awful lot. Last night, Bev had declared that it was a bit ironic that all four of them were loners.
On the second day, it was obvious that each was reaching the end of his or her patience. It turned out that they all had something in common, and that was that none was good at sitting around and doing nothing.
Or jumping every time a strong wind blew something outside or there was a knock at the door.
When Carter suggested that they relocate to his house, Stephanie breathed a sigh of relief. Hardy had told her that the house was huge, that each of them would have their own bedroom and bathroom, and that there were so many living areas, they could sit and read a book without feeling like three people were watching.
After they’d moved, Stephanie had been pleased to discover that Hardy hadn’t exaggerated. There really was space for each of them. It was comfortable and plush, and Carter had made it clear that they should feel at home.
But the fact of the matter was that no matter how nice the surroundings were, all of them were on pins and needles. Waiting for something to happen. All of their nerves were beginning to fray.
Or maybe hers already were frayed and she was simply hanging on. Barely.
After reading the same paragraph in her book for the fourth time, she closed the novel and stared out the window instead. It was hardly fair that she was in such gorgeous surroundings but had yet to spend more than a few minutes outside.
“Stephanie, how about you get a sweatshirt and put on your shoes?” Hardy said. “I think it’s time we got out of here and went for a walk.”
Even though her body wanted to jump to her feet, she couldn’t completely disregard the situation. “Do you think we’ll be safe?”
“I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
“You’re sure.”
“Very. I wouldn’t lie about your safety. Hurry now, darlin’.”
“I’ll be right back.” She was barely out of the room when Stephanie heard Bev speak in a low voice. “Don’t speak to Stephanie like that. She doesn’t know what you mean by it.”
“I agree,” Carter added, somehow sounding even more forceful than Bev. “You need to watch yourself with her, Hardy.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Do I look like I’m laughing?”
“No sir. But you do look confused.”
Listening to the exchange, Stephanie felt like rolling her eyes. What kind of woman did Bev and Carter think she was? She still had a sense of humor. She wasn’t going to be offended by Hardy calling her darlin’. She knew he hadn’t meant a thing by it.
Just as Stephanie was about to march back in the room, Hardy’s voice turned clipped. “I kept her safe for quite some time before either of you decided to play chaperone. Not once did I overstep. I’m offended that either of you think I would now.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Bev’s voice seemed to raise a notch.
“Exactly what you think it does. I’m in no hurry to start watching my mouth around all three of you. Not when there is another reason we’re all here. I haven’t forgotten.”
“I haven’t either, Hardy. No offense meant,” Carter murmured.
“Understood.” Hardy nodded as she rejoined them. “Go get on your shoes, Steph. Let’s go before the blasted rain starts up again.”
Just as she was about to walk away, Bev touched her arm. “Stephanie, maybe you should rethink going outside with—”
She was not going to let Bev finish that sentence. “Nee. I’m going out for a walk with Hardy.”
“I could go too. Maybe all four of us could go.”
“We will be fine.” Standing to her full height, Stephanie continued. “Yes, I am Amish. I have also been scared. But I am not a child, and I certainly am not near as sheltered as you seem to believe I am. I’m twenty-three, not sixteen.”
“Of course,” Bev replied. “I was out of line and I’m sorry.”
After she put on her shoes and her pink hoodie, Stephanie returned to Hardy’s side.
Carter was now sitting on a chair and perusing a magazine while Beverly looked embarrassed and was playing on her phone.
Relieved, Stephanie turned to Hardy. “I’m ready now. Shall we go?”
“Absolutely.” Glancing at the clock on the wall, Hardy said, “We’ll be back in thirty. If we aren’t here in forty minutes, something’s wrong.”
“You got your phone?” Carter asked.
“Always.”
“Understood.”
Opening the door, Hardy gestured for her to wait for a moment while he stepped outside first. After a minute, he nodded to her.
Stephanie couldn’t get out of there fast enough. When the door closed behind them, she looked at Hardy warily. Was he now wondering what in the world he’d gotten himself into? Her stomach knotted as she waited for him to say something about his sister.
Instead, he pointed to a faint trail nearby. “I think the best path is to our right. Some of Carter’s fancy gardeners planted about a hundred daffodil and tulip bulbs in the fall. Last time I checked, they’d started to come up.”
“All right. But if you are regretting—”
“I’m not regretting anything, Stephanie.” His mouth twisted. “Except, perhaps, the fact that both my boss and my sister have decided that I can’t be trusted.” He moved to the side so she could walk on his left. Then, together, they took the worn bridle trail that veered right.
After a few minutes passed, he grinned. “It’s been a minute since I’ve gone walking with a woman who walks as fast as I do.”
“I have long legs, and I’m used to walking a lot.”
“I reckon you’re right about both.” The path meandered next to a copse of trees, then began to go up at a steady incline. Stephanie had no problem keeping up with Hardy though she was breathing heavier than he was.
“Stephanie,” he said in a far softer tone. “Come look at this.” Hardy stopped and pointed to a creek about thirty feet away. From their position they could look down on it. “Do you see it? Just off to the side?”
Stephanie gasped when she saw what he was pointing to. “It’s a beaver dam.”
He grinned. “It is. It’s quite a fortress, don’t you think?”
“It almost puts Carter’s house to shame.”
Hardy chuckled. “If Carter were standing here, I’d venture that he’d say it was better.”
“You think?”
“For sure. Those beavers built theirs by hand.”
Unable to resist, she quipped, “Or paw, ain’t so?”
He chuckled. “Good point.”
“The beavers cut down a lot of wood and might even be disrupting the flow of the creek. Aren’t you worried?”
“I was worried, but we went down and looked around. The creek is still flowing. And as for the trees, well, there’s a lot of them.”
“Have you ever seen them? I mean, the beavers?”
“Sure. Have you ever seen a beaver?”
“Nee.”
“Well, if you do, give them a wide berth. They’re bigger than you would think. And on those furry paws are sizable claws. They could do some real damage if they felt threatened.”
“You enjoy them, don’t you?”
“I do.” Looking sheepish, he added, “Now, I don’t sit around and watch beavers do their thing all day, but whenever I’ve spied one, I’ve never been too busy to stop for a spell. Just to see what they were up to.”
“I hope I’ll get to see one while I’m here.”
“Me too. I should’ve been taking you out more. We’ll walk over here again if you’d like.”
They shared a smile. “I would like that.” She took a deep breath and said, “And Hardy, I don’t think Carter and Bev meant to hurt your feelings.”
“I don’t think they did either. But I did think they were out of line. It’s been my experience that every opinion doesn’t always need to be shared. Especially not at the very moment one thinks of it.”
“My aunt and uncle would say the same thing.”
As they started walking again, Hardy glanced her way. “Honestly, I was more worried about how you took their interference than my ego.”
“May I be honest?”
“I’d love to hear your honest opinion.”
“I thought it was funny.”
“What was? Their caution, or the way I was talking to you?”
“Their caution. Some people look at me and think, oh, she’s a sweet and meek Amish girl. I better treat her like spun glass. But I’m far tougher than that. I’ve had to be.”
“Because you lost your parents?”
“Jah. When I lost them, I was only sixteen. I had to move in with my aunt and uncle.” She paused, not wanting to misrepresent them but still make her feelings heard. “It was a difficult adjustment, but I am grateful for their charity.”
“You’re family, though.”
“I am, but not close. Anyway, as much as I love them all, it’s never felt like I belong there. Their haus, and my life there, helping to take care of my young cousins, it doesn’t feel like home.”
“Home is a tricky place, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
Looking down at her, his eyes warmed. “I enjoyed this, Stephanie. And I just realized that I never took you out to see the flowers.”
“I’d forgotten about them too.”
“Maybe we could go again tomorrow?”
“I’d like that very much.”
“It’s a date,” he said just as the door opened.
Carter stepped out, his expression dark.
Immediately Hardy’s entire demeanor tensed. “What happened?”
“Crenshaw called. He spied on one of the cameras someone attempting to not only cut the barbed wire but dismantle the electric line.”
“Did he catch them?”
“No. He sent Dan over, but he didn’t get there in time.”
“We need to check that.”
“I already thought about that too. Unfortunately, a couple of the cameras along the fencing are no longer working.” Carter’s eyes were cold, mirroring the tension that was emanating off Hardy.
When Hardy turned to her, there was regret in his eyes. “Looks like it might be a minute before we get to check out that dam again or those flowers.”
“I understand.” Glancing at Carter, she noticed that he was staring at her intently.
“You need to get on inside, Stephanie,” he said.
She nodded. And then, because she wasn’t sure what she was feeling at the moment, she walked past Bev without saying a word.
It was rude, but she needed a minute to herself.
Maybe even two.