Page 27 of Out of Time (Undaunted Courage #3)
FIFTEEN
“I BELIEVE THESE OLD EYES NEED A brIEF REST.” Natalie set Marie’s journal down on the table and removed her glasses. “But we’re making fine progress.”
“Yes, we are.” Cara lifted her fingers from the keys of her laptop and leaned back in her chair. “We’re definitely picking up speed now that we’re becoming more familiar with Marie’s writing style.”
“I’d say familiarity is helping other things pick up speed too. Like friendship with a rural sheriff.”
Cara stifled a groan.
Of course Natalie had noticed the high-voltage current zipping between her two dinner guests last night. She was as sharp and perceptive as someone half her age.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know him, but I’m, uh, not planning to rush into anything more serious than friendship.”
“Very wise. However, I was talking about my friendship with him.” The woman’s eyes began to twinkle.
“Oh.” What else could she say? She’d walked straight into that one.
“Nevertheless ... the sparks between the two of you last night were a force to be reckoned with. I thought I’d have to pull out the fire extinguisher again.”
She could punt—but denying the obvious would be disingenuous.
“To tell you the truth, they kind of came out of nowhere. I never expected to meet any interesting men while I was here.”
“Then two of them came along. Steven seems quite taken with you as well.”
Uh-oh.
Was Natalie going to be disappointed if nothing happened between her cousin and her houseguest?
“He’s a very nice man too.” She shifted in her seat. “It’s just that—”
“Cara.” Natalie held up a hand. “No explanation necessary. Sparks happen, or they don’t.
Attraction can’t be forced. I’d be delighted if this trip produces more for you than a translated journal you can use as background for your paper, should someone catch your fancy.
The notion of these tucked-away acres being the catalyst for true love appeals to the romantic in me.
” She winked and motioned to the journal. “Shall we get back to work?”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
They plowed through several more pages during the remainder of their session without any glitches, until Natalie paused near the end.
Cara looked up from her typing. “Did you come across a difficult passage?”
“No, not at all. It’s clear as a bell. I think we may have run across the first clue in our quest to discover what happened to Marie. It’s certainly a mysterious entry.”
“I’m all ears.”
Natalie picked up the journal and began to read, translating as she went.
“‘I met the most charming man today. Of course, I already knew who he was. Everyone in town does. And I have seen him about now and then. But tonight, we talked for the first time, and it was wonderful! He was attentive and gracious, and I was so flattered. I dare not record his name on these pages, though. That would ruin the magic and break the spell. Instead, I shall call him MSL—my secret love—and dream about him. Because that is all I can ever do, even if I would wish for so much more.’”
As Natalie concluded, Cara stopped typing. “You think this mystery man is the key to Marie’s demise?”
“We’ll have to see if he turns up again, I suppose. Marie would have been twenty-five when this was written, and there are several journals still to go through. It’s possible she’ll never mention him again.”
“Whoever he was, he certainly made an impression on her. I wonder what she meant about only being able to dream about him?”
“Perhaps we’ll discover that too, as we go along.
And now we should wrap up. Lydia is bringing her brother by to introduce us and give me an opportunity to see if I think he’d be an acceptable part-time groundskeeper.
That’s all I need, I suppose, but it won’t be like having someone on the premises 24/7.
I didn’t see much of Micah, but I always knew he was close by.
Of course, I have you with me until the end of the semester.
” Her mouth curved into a wistful smile. “I’ve enjoyed your companionship.”
“The feeling is mutual.” Cara set her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm. “You know ... maybe you could rent out the cottage after I’m gone. I could see a retired couple or newlyweds living here, if the price was reasonable. They might even be willing to do minor chores for you.”
Natalie’s face lit up. “What a brilliant idea. I expect I’d have to expand the cottage beyond a studio.
Add a bedroom, perhaps, and beef up the kitchen to make it suitable as a full-time residence.
But that should be doable. I’ll run this by Steven, get his take.
He’s smart about those sorts of business questions.
” She closed the journal. “I’d say we had a productive session today on several fronts. ”
“I agree.” Cara saved the transcript and powered down her laptop.
The doorbell rang, and Natalie grasped her cane. “That must be Lydia and her brother.”
“I’ll let myself out the back way.” Cara shut the lid of the laptop.
“Dinner together, as usual?”
“Of course.” She stood. “Although I may have to beg off one night next week. Brad suggested that we, uh, go out for dinner together.”
“Never pass up an invitation from a charming, handsome man. Especially one who also appears to have integrity and honor.” Natalie rose and started toward the door.
Cara followed, turning to the right in the hall as Natalie went left, toward the front door.
After strolling back to the cottage, she set her laptop on the desk, ate a quick lunch of fruit and yogurt, then sat down to work.
Except her lined, legal-size tablet was missing.
Drat.
She must have left it in the study. And she needed the research prompts she’d jotted about the entries from today’s translation.
At least it wasn’t a long trek back to the house.
She retraced her steps down the path, opened the door, and quietly let herself into the kitchen. In all likelihood Natalie was still talking to Lydia and her brother in the living room. The best plan was to get in and out fast, without interrupting.
Tiptoeing down the hall, she picked up noise that was likely the rumble of conversation, confirming her suspicion that the interview wasn’t over.
Good.
If they were still talking, she ought to have plenty of time to grab her notes and escape unnoticed.
She picked up her pace ... but came to an abrupt halt in the study doorway.
Why was Lydia standing behind the desk, leaning down on the side containing the drawer holding Marie’s journals, intent on whatever she was looking at?
All at once, as if sensing her presence, the housekeeper glanced over. Paled. A noise sounded—a slam?—and she jerked upright.
Before Cara could think of anything to say, the other woman spoke.
“I, uh, was waiting in here while Ms. Boyer finishes up with Randy alone. I, uh, noticed this drawer was open and decided to close it. Ms. Boyer likes everything neat, you know.” The smile Lydia offered looked forced.
“But there was, uh, something stuck, and it took me a minute to get it shut. If you want to use this room, I can, uh, wait in the kitchen.”
“I won’t be long.” Cara motioned to the worktable, debating her next move. “I left my tablet here and came back for it. I also have to get a couple of research books.”
Not true. But there was a definite ring of deceit to Lydia’s explanation, and leaving her alone in here felt wrong.
“I’ll wait in the kitchen.” Lydia sidled out from behind the desk. “I wanted some water anyway.”
As she hurried across the room, Cara shifted aside to clear the exit. Lydia edged past, continued down the hall, and disappeared into the kitchen.
Cara stared after her.
That had been weird.
And the odd vibes swirling through the air were disturbing.
It was possible, of course, that her instincts were off. That Lydia’s presence behind the desk had been innocent.
But what if it wasn’t?
Should she tell Natalie what had happened?
Yes.
If the situation had been reversed, Cara would want to be informed. The decision about how to handle this should be up to Natalie.
After selecting a random book from the shelf, Cara sank into one of the upholstered chairs in the study to wait for the interview to end.
Ten minutes later, noise from the hallway suggested someone was moving about.
Shortly after that, Natalie appeared in the doorway, eyebrows arching when she spotted the unexpected occupant. “Cara! I thought you’d gone back to the cottage.”
“I did, but I realized I’d forgotten my tablet.” She lifted it. “Lydia’s in the kitchen. After they’re gone, may I speak to you for a few minutes?”
“Of course. I’ll be back soon.”
She disappeared down the hall, reappearing less than a minute later with Lydia in her wake as she passed the doorway.
The housekeeper glanced into the study as she passed, forehead creased.
It would be interesting to see if she mentioned their encounter to Natalie.
Three minutes later, as Cara replaced the book she’d pulled from the shelf, the older woman rejoined her. “What did you want to talk about?”
Cara wiped her palm down her leggings.
Playing tattletale was never fun, but in this situation it felt like the prudent course.
“Is anything wrong?” Natalie crossed to her, concern tightening her features.
“I hope not. Did Lydia say anything to you before she left about me finding her in here today?”
“No. After the three of us chatted for about five minutes, I asked her if she’d mind letting me talk to her brother one-on-one. She offered to wait in here. She never mentioned you. Why?”
Cara gripped her notes tighter. “When I came in, she was behind the desk, looking in one of the drawers.”
“Oh my.” Natalie’s brow crimped. “That’s disturbing. Did she offer an explanation?”
“Yes.” Cara passed it on.
“That doesn’t quite ring true, does it?” Natalie walked toward the desk. “Which drawer was it?”
“I couldn’t tell from the doorway, but it was on the right side.” She followed the woman over.