Page 66 of Valor (Long Hot Summer: Christian Romantic Suspense #2)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Northern Moravia, 2025

A large wall-to-wall unit dominated the small living room. The back-lit glass shelves displayed a gold-rimmed tea set, including an ornate teapot, creamer and sugar bowl, and a large collection of cut crystal. Meghan sat on a purple plush sofa. Her eyes took in the crystal chandelier hanging over a round dining table tucked into the corner of the room. The TV set in the center of the massive wall unit was on, and even though she didn’t understand a word the show hosts said, Meghan recognized a Czech spin-off on America’s Got Talent . She couldn’t recall the last time she had felt this uncomfortable. Oliver’s mom was sweet and friendly, but despite the smiles and friendly pats on Meghan’s hand, she couldn’t help but feel like an intruder. This arrangement may not work, but where could she go?

Oliver’s mom set a plate of warm apple strudel in front of them.

“More coffee?” She wiped her hands on her apron.

“No, thank you.” Meghan smiled, relieved that Mrs. Skala spoke a few English words, and so far, there was no need for the translating app. If only she could explain to this caring woman that after breakfast in the coffee shop, she couldn’t possibly eat another sweet treat, no matter how delicious it looked.

Mrs. Skala disappeared into the kitchen, and Meghan deduced from the clanking of dishes that she was preparing more food. This was beyond awkward. Perhaps she should tell Oliver she had changed her mind and would rather stay at a hotel.

“Can you please tell your mom that she doesn’t need to go out of her way to make food for me? I’m easy. A piece of toast will do.”

“Let her be,” Oliver sat in the purple chair that completed the sofa set. He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned toward Meghan. “She loves cooking. It’s her way of showing love, so don’t fight it,” he chuckled.

“I just hate to put you guys out. Perhaps you could take me to that hotel where my mom and I stayed. It shouldn’t be too far from here.”

“Nonsense.” He waved his hand dismissively. “You worry too much.”

“Well,” she bit her lip, “maybe I have a reason or two for that, but it has nothing to do with your mom’s cooking.”

“I get that.” Oliver leaned closer. “Have you had a chance to think about what you want to do next about that whole inheritance thing?”

“I want to see the mill. I need to know what my grandfather left me and if it is indeed worth all this trouble. My mom said to find a real estate agent and list the property for a reasonable price so it moves fast.”

“That may be good advice,” Oliver rubbed his chin. “Is that what you want to do?”

“I don’t know. I have only seen it once, in a picture.”

Oliver caught her gaze.

“You don’t think it’s safe to visit the mill?” She said under her breath.

“Hmm.” He frowned.

“You think the break-in has something to do with that man?”

“Yes.”

“But we have seen him in the mall parking lot.”

“Yeah, but that leads me to think that there might be more people involved.”

Meghan sucked in a breath. “Good point. But I want to see it anyway.”

“Sorry, I bother,” Mrs. Skala said, entering the living room with a tray of small open-face sandwiches. The tiny morsels of delicious cheese, cured meats, egg, and pickles were arranged with such precision that Meghan wondered if they were too pretty to eat. Oliver’s mom set everything right in front of Meghan.

“Eat. Is good.” A wide smile broke on her face.

“Thank you, but this is too much.”

“Is nothing,” Oliver’s mom said, slightly waving her hand to dispel Meghan’s worries. She pushed the tray closer to her and headed back to the kitchen.

Not wanting to offend, Meghan picked up one of the tiny sandwiches.

“Thank you.”

Mrs. Skala turned around, visibly pleased.

Meghan bit into the small slice of bread.

“Delicious,” she said with her mouth still full as she waved the sandwich in the air.

Mrs. Skala beamed with joy. “Good?” She asked with a slight nod.

“Yummy.” Meghan swallowed and reached for her coffee. “Too much,” she said, setting the cup down and patting her belly.

Oliver’s mom waved her hand and chuckled.

“You too skinny.”

That made Meghan giggle because this sweet woman was the first person in her entire life to call her that.

“ Mami ,” Oliver started, and then a torrent of incomprehensible words followed.

The woman looked a little surprised, then shrugged.

“Okay?” She looked at her guest.

“What did you tell her?” Meghan asked.

“That we are going out and will be back for dinner.”

A short question interrupted his reply as Mrs. Skala tapped her lips.

“She is asking what would you want for dinner.”

“I don’t know,” Meghan chuckled. “I’m kind of full to think about that, but if there are some of these sandwiches left, I’m fine with those. Please tell her not to spend her whole day cooking for me. I’m used to cafeteria food, and I’m definitely not too skinny.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” Oliver made a long face. “But no guarantees.”

He spoke to his mom. The woman reached toward Meghan and patted her cheek. “No worry.”

Meghan, unsure how to respond, looked at Oliver.

“We should get going.”

She got up and thanked Mrs. Skala again and then followed him into the hallway.

* * *

She looked a little calmer, but Oliver wasn’t convinced that this was the best time to drive up to the old mill. Meghan did her best to battle the rising anxiety, that much he had noticed, but having lunch with Mom was a far cry from visiting the dark place in the middle of a forest. How would she cope with that?

He opened the door, and she brushed by him. “Should we say goodbye to your mom?”

“She knows we are leaving.”

“I don’t want her to think that I’m rude. How do you say it in Czech?”

“I’ll say it slowly,” he chuckled.

“You are not going to act juvenile and laugh at me, are you?” She frowned.

“Far be it from me,” he put a hand over his heart. “Here we go. Na-schle-da-nou .”

She blew out her cheeks, then whispered the word. “Was that right?” Meghan looked up at him.

“You did fine.”

She took in a deep breath. “ Na-skle-da-no .” Meghan called into the hallway and blushed. “I butchered it, didn’t I,” she said sheepishly.

“It was good,” he said and placed his hand on her lower back in an attempt to usher her toward the car. He hoped that his Octavia wouldn’t get stuck on the muddy logging road leading to the mill. If only he could get the bureau’s SUV, but how would he explain that to her?

His phone rang, and Meghan wished she understood the language.

“They found your passport,” he touched her arm. “Yarda is bringing all your stuff over later this afternoon, so you don’t have to go back there.”

“Thank you, but?—”

“ Naschledanou! ” His mom rushed into the hallway. One glance at his mother’s glowing smile confirmed moving Meghan to her house wasn’t his brightest idea. As soon as the door shut behind them, Mom would get on the phone and call all her friends. He could only imagine what gossip they would cook up in the span of one afternoon. Oliver sighed, unable to decide what would be worse, the rumors or getting raked over the hot coals by his CO for breaking protocol.

How long would it take for Mom to get on his case about this nice young lady? But when he looked at Meghan, he had to admit that the flush in her cheeks was adorable. He was trained to read people, but her blushing would give her away to a grade-five student.

“Let’s go,” he whispered. “Or Mom will make you eat another plate of desserts.”

Meghan laughed. It warmed his heart. She finally seemed a little bit relaxed. They strode toward his car. Oliver, two steps behind her, pinched the bridge of his nose. Why did he feel like they were heading into a trap? A sense of shame slowly descended on him. He was a complete fraud. How would he ever tell her the truth about what his real job was?

* * *

Buckled into the passenger seat of Oliver’s car, Meghan scanned her surroundings. No Range Rover in sight, and no man wearing a fedora was lurking in the bushes. Maybe they had lost him after he, or whoever was working with him, found out that Meghan had nothing of value to them.

“Can I ask you something?” Oliver started the car.

“Go ahead.”

“If they didn’t take your passport, what were they looking for?”

“That’s what gets me.”

“So, they broke in, trashed the place, went through all your stuff for nothing?”

“As I said, I’m a student; I really don’t have anything of great value. So, they must have been after something else.”

“Like what? Information?” He glanced at her.

What information did he think she had?

“Maybe they were looking for my tablet, but I had that in my knapsack.”

“Is there anything pertaining to the mill saved on it? Because risking jail time for breaking into your apartment in order to steal a tablet makes no sense.”

They passed a few homes on the outskirts of the village. Then, the narrow road wound up the mountain, bordered by a steep incline on one side and a rushing river on the other.

“I agree. It makes no sense. If they were looking for something to do with the mill or my grandfather, why would they trash my place? You have way more knowledge about the local history than I do. I have nothing to hide.”

“Did you bring any paperwork?”

“No. It’s all in my emails. I e-signed all the documents. Maybe the notary office will have hard copies for me, but I have had no chance to make an appointment with them yet.”

Meghan instinctively reached for the dash as Oliver navigated through a sharp curve.

“I’m sorry. There will be a few switchbacks. If you start feeling sick, let me know. I will pull over.”

The road snaked up the mountain. Meghan’s stomach churned, but she didn’t want him to think her a nuisance, so she silently prayed that God would give her the strength to overcome the nausea. When they reached the top, Oliver pulled into a parking lot in front of a log building.

“Why don’t we stop here for a few minutes?” he turned off the engine and, without waiting for her reply, got out of the car. Was it that obvious that she was barely holding on?

Meghan got out and inhaled. The fresh mountain air carried a heavy scent of pine. She glimpsed a valley to her left. The view was breathtaking.

“How far is the mill?”

“We are almost there. It shouldn’t take us long to get down the mountain.”

“More switchbacks?”

“I’m afraid so.” He motioned toward the restaurant. “Let’s take a break for a few minutes.”

Meghan followed him. In the middle of a grassy area stood a four-faced sculpture looking out into the four cardinal directions.

“What is that?”

“An elf.”

Meghan walked toward the strange statue. “Is there a story about this?”

“Of course,” he said and smiled. “There are plenty of stories surrounding this place. It’s a protected area, with restricted access to the peat moss bogs just behind the building.”

The wind picked up, and the whisps of fog transformed into a white wall, obstructing the view of the valley. Meghan skin felt instantly moist. She shivered.

“How about a coffee?”

Meghan wasn’t sure her stomach would hold anything acidic. “I think I will go for a tea this time.”

“That bad,” he said, sympathizing with her.

She silently nodded.

A gust of wind blew right through her jacket. The fog shifted once more, and only then did Meghan realize they were walking in clouds. The welcoming building stood right in front of them. Its red roof was such a contrast against the dark green forest. Meghan wondered if the color was chosen on purpose to act as a beacon in bad weather conditions.

The restaurant smelled of beer and home-cooked meals. Meghan hesitated at the door, expecting a hostess to seat them, but Oliver walked right to a table and pulled out a chair for her. Meghan sat; her eyes immediately drawn to a large painting of a bearded man.

“Who is that?”

“ Praded , a mythical figure, patron and guardian the mountains.”

A friendly waitress stopped at their table, and Oliver placed their order with her. “I asked for a peppermint tea for you. That should help settle your stomach.”

“Thank you.” Meghan toyed with her napkin. When she looked up, Oliver was watching her. Their eyes met. Meghan wanted to reach for his hand. There was something tangible in the way he looked at her. Kindness, a touch of mystery, and—she wouldn’t go there. Admitting that she sensed that he was attracted to her would mean she would have to be honest with herself and accept that the feeling was far from one-sided.

“How about a story?” Meghan hoped that shifting focus from her inner turmoil to a local legend would help to convince herself that Oliver wasn’t really looking at her in that way.

“Which story would you like? The mythical Praded legend, the Elf in front of the restaurant, or the mill?”

“I think I will pick the mill since that is where we are headed.”

“That is the least pleasant one.” His face turned somber.

A twinge of anxiety built in her chest. “Still, I think I would like to know the history of my place.”

He frowned, perhaps surprised by her use of the possessive pronoun.

The server set two white teapots in front of them, arranged on a silver tray next to matching teacups and saucers. Even in the mountains, the Czechs took their service seriously.

She added a packet of sugar to her tea. The spoon clinked against the teacup as she stirred it in.

“Remember Karel? Your great uncle’s friend?”

She nodded.

“Karel Kopal became a pilot with the Czechoslovakian air force.”

“What does that have to do with the mill?”

“After the Nazis disbanded the Czech military, including the air force, Karel came back and fell in love with Marta.”

“My grandfather’s sister, correct?”

“You had paid attention.” He smiled. Karel later flew for the RAF, but that’s another story.

Meghan sipped her tea, watching him over the rim of her cup. How old was this guy? And why was he still single? None of her teachers were ever this good-looking. She set the cup down.

What am I thinking?

She had eleven more days in this country. Once she made up her mind about what to do with her inherited mill in some remote valley among the mountains of Northern Moravia, she would fly home. Unsure what her future held, she couldn’t see that a long-distance relationship with a Czech high school teacher would fit into that plan.

“What’s going on in the cute head of yours?” Oliver asked.

Is he trying to flirt with me?

Meghan gulped. She quickly reached for the teapot and refilled her empty cup. “I was just thinking.”

“About?” His eyes met hers.

“About the mill and how all of this fits into my future,” she replied, not willing to lie but also unprepared to share all her thoughts.

“In that case, we better get going.” He raised his hand to attract the server’s attention. “You may want to see the place first before making any big decisions. How is your stomach?”

“I feel much better. Let me get this.” Meghan took the wallet out of her knapsack.

“Don’t worry about it.” He touched his phone to the pin pad the waitress brought to the table. They exchanged a few sentences, out of which Meghan only understood the words for thank you.

She gathered up her courage and repeated the phrase. The server nodded politely and replied in English, so much for practicing her Czech. Meghan took one more sip of her tea and got up.

Oliver held the door for her. She stepped into the parking lot. The fog was gone. The sound of screeching tires grabbed her attention. A black Land Rover swerved onto the mountain road, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

“That car—” she spun around, right into Oliver.

His arms shot up, steadying her.

“Let’s go,” he said with such resolve that she feared Oliver would chase after the guy down the twisting road. Oliver unlocked the car, but before they got in, Meghan reached for the windshield wiper. She unfolded the piece of paper that someone had stuck underneath it. The message was written in block capital letters.

LEAVE WHILE YOU CAN.

Her trembling hand flew to her lips as she passed the note to Oliver.

“Do you want me to drive back to my house?”

“No.” She bit her bottom lip as adrenaline coursed through her veins. “Now I really want to see the mill. These people, whoever they are, seem to be really keen on scaring me away. I want to know why.”

They got into the car, but before Oliver started the engine, he reached over and gently squeezed her hand. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

She turned toward him, silently wondering why he had made such a promise and how this high school teacher was planning to keep it.