Chapter Fourteen #2
“Someone sawed through a post?” Anna gulped. “So, this was definitely sabotage?”
“Absolutely.” He fixed her with a hard stare. “Someone wants to make sure you can’t access your water properly.”
Despite how warm it was, Anna felt a chill settle on her skin. She rubbed her arms and tried not to shiver.
“It seems a bit petty doing it this way, don’t you think?” she asked. “It could easily be replaced.”
“But it can cause a bit of a mishap for a while. And while you’re distracted with this, something else is likely to happen.” He sat back on his heels. “What about Edwin? Do you think your cousin could be doing this because he’s angry he didn’t get what he wanted?”
“I have no idea. He’s furious, yes, but to destroy what he wants to inherit seems a bit counterproductive, doesn’t it? After all, he would have to fix the messes afterward.”
“As long as he runs you out and takes over, I don’t think he cares that much.” Travis stood up and stretched his arms above his head with a grimace. “He’s keeping me busy, let’s put it that way. Much as I don’t mind the work, I’d rather not be running around clearing up his messes.”
“We don’t know it is Edwin,” Anna pointed out.
“Who else would it be?”
She almost said it could be him, but she stopped herself. It wasn’t a good idea to comment on it when they didn’t have any proof. Anna hoped Connor was wrong; otherwise, she would have to figure out how to deal with her husband.
Anna didn’t want to think badly of Travis. He’d helped her plenty of times since he arrived, and she was only just beginning to appreciate it.
“I’m just going to get something to drink,” she said. “Do you want me to bring something out for you?”
He blinked as if he didn’t expect her to ask. Then he smiled, and Anna felt weak at the knees. “Would it be possible to have some coffee? It might keep me going.”
“Coffee in this weather?”
“My other option is going down the well.” He jerked a thumb behind him. “I don’t think you have a big enough bucket for me.”
Anna couldn’t help but giggle at that, noticing his eyes twinkling.
Then she hurried into the house before she embarrassed herself any further.
What was it about Travis that made her want to behave like a lovesick fool?
She wasn’t lovesick, and she certainly wasn’t in love.
He was a handsome man, and she found him attractive, yes, but there were no feelings of love.
Even as she told herself that, it did feel like she was lying to herself, and Anna didn’t like that.
Before she went to the kitchen, Anna ducked into the morning room. Travis had been given free rein to use the writing desk in there; now that Anna had use of the study, he often sat there writing letters. Were they still to this Peggy woman, or did he write to others too?
Perhaps she could find something that could tell her who Travis really was.
She’d only caught a brief glimpse of the letter that came from Peggy, but she needed to read the contents.
Needed to know exactly what was going on.
If she could find out what the connection is, maybe that could alleviate some of her fears.
But when she went to the desk, she found that it was closed.
She hadn’t expected that, nor for it to be locked.
Anna hadn’t even been aware that there was a lock to it.
There was a keyhole, but she thought there was no key.
Nobody had used one in all the time she’d been there.
Even so, Anna tried, and she couldn’t get it to come undone.
What was going on? Why would it be locked now?
“Anna?”
Anna jumped. Mrs. Marson had appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a cloth. She gave Anna a bemused look, her arched eyebrow indicating a question. Anna felt like she was getting in trouble in her own home again, as if she were ten years old again.
“I was just getting something from the writing desk.” Why was she lying to her? “But it’s locked. Since when did it have a key?”
“Actually, Travis found it.”
“What?”
“It was in a special little cubby hole at the back of the desk. Something like a secret compartment. Apparently, it’s common in many desks to have secret drawers.” Mrs. Mason nodded at the desk. “I was surprised, but that’s your father for you. He always loved a bit of a mystery.”
That wouldn’t have surprised Anna. Pa did love mysteries, and he loved a puzzle. Unfortunately, she was more annoyed at the fact that Pa didn’t tell her about it. Maybe so she could find out on her own?
If only she’d been more focused and actually paid attention. Then she wouldn’t be having this problem now.
“If you need to get something from the desk, maybe ask Travis. He found the key.” Mrs. Mason’s mouth twitched. “He might be nice to you and show you where it is.”
Then she left the room, leaving Anna swaying. She resisted the urge to smack the desk in her frustration. In the short time he’d been here, Travis had managed to find a key and lock away something that she needed access to. Now she was left at a loss.
And his secrecy just made her more worried about his intentions.