Montana Love Letter
Charlotte Carter
THE FRIENDLIEST TOWN IN MONTANA A fresh start for her troubled daughter—that’s what widow Janelle Townsend wants to find in Bear Lake, Montana. The five-year-old girl hasn’t spoken a word in months. But when the family of two meets widower Adam Hunter and his kind daughter, Janelle’s child begins to blossom.Still, the handsome auto mechanic keeps Janelle at arm’s length. He seems to be hiding something painful—something he can’t bear to share. Perhaps their two sweet children can help Janelle show him that opening the heart to love is life’s greatest joy.
The Friendliest Town In Montana
A fresh start for her troubled daughter—that’s what widow Janelle Townsend wants to find in Bear Lake, Montana. The five-year-old girl hasn’t spoken a word in months. But when the family of two meets widower Adam Hunter and his kind daughter, Janelle’s child begins to blossom. Still, the handsome auto mechanic keeps Janelle at arm’s length. He seems to be hiding something painful—something he can’t bear to share. Perhaps their two sweet children can help Janelle show him that opening the heart to love is life’s greatest joy.
“I appreciate all your help, Adam,” Janelle said, “including letting us stay in the cottage tonight.”
“No problem.” He pushed himself to his feet. “I’m going to call it a night. You want me to get your daughter for you?”
“If you don’t mind. She’s getting almost too heavy for me to carry.”
Together they walked inside. Janelle stopped at Hailey’s bedroom door.
“I meant to comment on the good job you’re doing raising your daughter on your own,” Janelle said. “She’s a lovely girl.”
“Thanks. She is a good kid. I’m a little worried, though, about when she gets to be a teenager. I’m sure not going to be able to give her much advice about dating and wearing makeup and stuff like that.”
Janelle chuckled. “You’ll figure it out.” A father as devoted as Adam would do just fine as long as Hailey knew how much he loved her.
Janelle wished Rae had a father like that.
CHARLOTTE CARTER
A multipublished author of more than fifty romances, cozy mysteries and inspirational titles, Charlotte Carter lives in Southern California with her husband of forty-nine years and their cat, Mittens. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren. When she’s not writing, Charlotte does a little stand-up comedy, “G-Rated Humor for Grownups,” and teaches workshops on the craft of writing.
Montana Love Letter
Charlotte Carter
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
There are also heavenly bodies and there are
earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another;
and star differs from star in splendor.
—1 Corinthians 15:40, 41
For my husband, Chuck,
who gave me my first how-to-write-a-romance book twenty years ago. You’re my real-life hero.
Contents
Chapter One (#udff9c508-b8ff-5eee-bb28-8121761d564e)
Chapter Two (#u40e9e3a9-d086-50e2-87ac-9d7db41fbf01)
Chapter Three (#u264c574c-1f9a-554d-8123-afbcb8e827fd)
Chapter Four (#u35eaf435-ad61-5cfd-bfcf-29c5da38dc84)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)
Questions for Discussion (#litres_trial_promo)
Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One
“What do you mean, I have to pay cash?” Adam Hunter speared his grease-stained fingers through his hair. He’d taken over the Bear Lake Garage from his dad ten years ago. Adam, and his father before him, had always had a line of credit at the local bank. They’d been doing business on credit with the auto-parts store in Missoula for thirty years or more.
The lanky auto-parts delivery kid shrugged. “That’s what the boss said. Only cash. No credit.”
“There must be some mistake,” Adam said.
“You can call Devin if you want.” The kid handed him the invoice. “It says right there, cash only.”
Adam took a quick glance at the papers listing the parts he knew he had ordered: a new headlight for a customer who had missed the target driving into his own garage, a dozen sets of spark plugs, radiator hoses, a couple of batteries to have on hand. He pretty much had to take the kid’s word for it that the red stamp across the invoice meant what it said: CASH ONLY.
The racket of the garage’s flatbed tow truck shifted his attention away from the invoice. Gears clattered and a whiff of diesel exhaust blew in through the wide-open doors as Vern Rutledge backed the truck up. An hour or so ago they’d had a call from the sheriff’s office to pick up a car that had had an encounter with a deer on Highway 93, the road that ran through the town of Bear Lake en route to and from Glacier National Park, Montana.
Even from a distance, the damage to the front end of the four-door compact was obvious. Must’ve been some big buck that got hit.
When Vern turned off the engine, a young girl hopped down from the truck cab followed by a striking woman who moved with the grace of a dancer. Long brown hair curled past her shoulders. The afternoon sun caught the strands, touching them with a hint of red.
“Good-lookin’ lady,” the delivery guy said under his breath.
Adam agreed she was good-looking. Add to that, she was downright classy in the way she dressed and held herself so erect. Her outfit of slacks with sandals and a tidy blouse tucked in at her narrow waist marked her as a tourist. So did the Washington plates on her car.
“Hang on,” he said to the delivery kid. “I’ll get you the cash and give Devin a call later to straighten out the mix-up.” The faster he took care of the delivery, the sooner he could turn his attention to his pretty new customer.
* * *
Still shaken by her violent encounter with a tree when she’d swerved to miss a deer, Janelle Townsend smoothed her hand over her daughter’s hair. Thank goodness Raeanne had had her seat belt on in the backseat. Janelle had been the only one in front, and the driver’s air bag had deployed on impact. As it was, Rae would have a bruise from the seat belt across her chest, and Janelle’s neck already ached.
But it could have been worse.
The driver of the tow truck came around to the passenger side. His face wrinkled and weathered by more than sixty years, Vern lifted his baseball cap and scratched his thinning gray hair.
“Adam’ll will be right with you, miss. He’ll take good care of you.”
“Thank you for bringing us here. I don’t know what I would have done if that deputy sheriff hadn’t come by. My cell couldn’t pick up any bars.”
“Yep, reception’s mighty spotty around the mountains, that’s for sure.” He resettled his cap. “If it’s all right with you, I’ll unload your car so Adam can take a close look.”
“Of course. Thank you again.” She eased Raeanne out of the way of the truck. As shaken as Janelle, five-year-old Rae had a fierce death grip on her favorite stuffed animal, Ruff. The poor thing’s fur had worn thin over his ears and he’d lost some of his stuffing.
“Careful you don’t step in any grease spots,” she said.
Although as she glanced around, she noted the garage floor was nearly spotless, certainly in comparison to some auto shops she’d visited over the course of her twenty-eight years.
At the back of the garage there was an office with a window. The man she took to be Adam, presumably the owner, handed something to the man he’d been talking to. They separated, the younger man going to his pickup and Adam walking toward Janelle.
Wearing blue overalls, he had a nice, comfortable stride and a smile curving his lips. Although his saddle-brown hair was cut fairly short, it was rumpled as though he’d recently run his fingers through it. She guessed he was in his mid- to late-thirties.
“Sounds like you didn’t get a very good welcome to Bear Lake,” he said in a warm, friendly baritone.
“Unfortunately, no. Particularly since I’d read that Bear Lake is the friendliest little town in Montana.” She’d also spotted a billboard to that effect as they’d reached the town limits on the highway.
“Well, then, I guess we’ll have to make up for that rude introduction. I’m Adam Hunter, the owner here.” He glanced at Raeanne and winked. “Were you the one driving when you had the accident?”
Rae shook her head and buried her face in Janelle’s hip.
Chuckling, Janelle introduced herself. “This is my daughter, Raeanne. Fortunately, we’ve got a while before she’s old enough to drive. I was the guilty party behind the wheel, although most of the blame falls on the poor frightened animal that dashed out in front of me. I managed to swerve and miss him, but I rammed into a tree instead.”
“Nice to meet you both. Those deer can be a real hazard around here. Seems like they spook and jump out at you for no reason.” He nodded toward her car. “Let’s take a look and see what we’ve got.”
She followed him across the garage to the crumpled car. The front end looked as though it had been accordioned on the right side by some giant hand. Spiderwebs crisscrossed the windshield. What a mess! She’d come all this way from Seattle hoping to find a place to start over, and now what she had was a car that had been nearly totaled by a tree.
Things were not looking good for her goal of beginning a new life.
He forced open the wrenched hood of the car. Peering inside, he touched and jiggled this and that like a blind man reading Braille, humming a slightly off-key tune as he worked.
“The radiator’s cracked and so is the radiator hose,” he announced. “And a couple of braces are bent. Let’s see underneath.”
He dropped to the floor and rolled over onto his back. “The axle looks fine.” Agilely, he came to his feet, all six feet of lean, muscled body. “Lots of bodywork to do, plus the windshield and the air bag will need to be replaced. I’ll get you an estimate on that. The rest doesn’t look too bad.”
“That’s a relief. How long do you think it will take to repair?”
“I’ve got braces and the radiator hose on hand, but I need to order the radiator and a new air bag. This being Friday and the start of the weekend, I can’t get parts here until Monday. But that’s okay because the bodywork is going to take several days. I use a guy in Missoula who does really fine work.”
Clear back in Missoula? That had to be at least seventy miles, maybe more. She and Raeanne had stayed there last night. It was the newspaper ad for Bear Lake she’d read in the motel lobby that had brought her in this direction.
“Let me go call my body guy, and I’ll get you an estimate. There’re some chairs over there.” He indicated a cluster of folding chairs by the far wall. “And a soda machine. Don’t put any money in. Just open the door and take your pick.”
“Thank you.”
A car pulled up in front of the garage. A young girl who looked to be about ten hopped out. She was wearing a two-piece swimsuit that she was a few years away from filling out and had a beach towel wrapped around her shoulders. She thanked the driver and hurried inside the garage. Her blond hair hung in limp strands down her back.
“Hey, Dad, I’m home.”
“I see that.” Adam gave her a quick hug. “You have fun?”
“Sure. I beat some guys in my class in a race out to the swimming float.”
“Good for you, Peanut.” He turned toward Janelle. “Hailey, meet Mrs. Townsend and her daughter, Raeanne.”
The girl had the same friendly smile as her father and sun-pinked cheeks. “Hello. Are you staying in town for a while?”
“It’s looking that way,” Janelle said.
“Well, if you want to go swimming, there’s a beach right near the municipal dock. Lots of kids go there.”
“I’ll remember that. Thank you.” The July day had been more than warm under a cobalt-blue sky. Now, however, clouds were building over the mountains, threatening a summer shower.
The youngster glanced toward Janelle’s battered car. “Boy, you sure hit something hard.”
“It was a big tree, I’m afraid.”
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt bad. My dad can fix cars up like new.” She shrugged as though her statement was the obvious truth, and she grinned. “He’s the best.”
“Hailey, you’d better go get yourself cleaned up and changed.” Adam gave her a little nudge.
“Okay. See you later.” She waved to Janelle and Raeanne, then jogged off, her flip-flops smacking the concrete floor with every step.
“Your daughter is cute and very outgoing,” Janelle commented when the girl was out of sight.
“Yeah, I don’t think she’s ever met a stranger.” He was still looking in the direction his daughter had vanished around the side of the garage. “Her mother was the same way up until she got sick and passed on.” Residual grief laced his words.
“Oh, I’m sorry for you loss.” Her own spasm of grief mixed with residual anger arrowed through her. She gritted her teeth to block the sensation.
He shrugged off her sympathy. “I’ll go get that estimate now.”
Janelle watched him walk away until Rae tugged on her hand. “What is it, honey?”
Raeanne pointed toward the soda machine.
“Ah, of course. Let’s see what kind of sodas he has.” Although she tried to watch Rae’s sugar intake, today was not the day to make an issue of it. Janelle could use a little sugar boost herself. Caffeine would help, too.
Rae picked an orange soda, and Janelle selected a cola.
They settled onto the chairs, Raeanne still clasping Ruff in her arms. Cars streamed by on the road out front. The garage was a mile north of the small town of Bear Lake they had driven through in the tow truck. Janelle had noticed a whole raft of motels and a diner. A billboard they passed promoted local B and Bs. Another sign announced that the Rotary met Wednesday at noon at Sandy’s Lakeside Restaurant, which featured fresh fish and steaks.
A nice little town. About as different from Seattle as any she could imagine.
Adam returned to give her the bad news about the repairs. The cost estimate was higher than she’d expected. Worse, he indicated it would be the end of next week before she got her car back.
“I can tell you were hoping for better news,” he said.
“True. I’m not worried about the money. My insurance will cover most of that. But a whole week?” She shook her head in dismay. “I hate being without a car that long. Is there a car-rental place in town?”
“Afraid not. I can loan you one of mine. I keep it around for my customers who get stuck without transportation. It looks like a clunker, but I’ve got it running pretty good and it’s insured. You can do some touring, up to Glacier National Park, come back in a few days.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you. Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” A clunker car would be better than none. As was obvious from her three-year-old sedan, driving a luxury car had never been her thing. “But I hadn’t planned on being a tourist. I was going to do some house hunting, get acquainted with this area, see if it would be a good place to settle down.”
He lifted his brows. “You’re planning to stay in Bear Lake? Permanently?”
“If things work out.” She’d left Seattle with no particular destination in mind and a prayer that God would lead her to the right place to start a new life for herself and Raeanne.
“Well, that’s great. We can always use new blood around here. I’ll help you get your things out of your car and into mine. Where are you staying tonight?” He started walking toward her car.
“I have no idea. I saw lots of motels in town.”
He stopped abruptly. “You don’t have a reservation?” He made it sound like an accusation.
She frowned. “No. I was sure I’d arrive early enough to find a place to stay. I’m not fussy.” She did, however, require clean and neat.
“Maybe not, but I think you’re going to have a problem.”
An uneasy feeling crept down her spine. “Why is that?”
Hailey came running back into the garage, now wearing shorts and a tank top. She’d washed her hair and it was still wet. Janelle noticed she had the innocence of childhood and wasn’t yet into the awkward adolescent stage.
“We’ve got a big Country-Western Festival going on this weekend,” Adam said. “The whole town is booked solid.”
Janelle’s stomach sank. “Everything? Even the B and Bs I saw advertised?”
“As far as I know. The festival’s a sellout every year. Great for the tourist business.”
Not so great for Janelle. “How about the next town? Maybe they’ll have something?”
“Not likely. I can call the Visitor Center for you. See if they know of any vacancies.” He plucked his cell from a pocket and punched in the number. “Hey, Ariel. It’s Adam. I’ve got a customer here looking for a room tonight. You got anything?”
He kept looking at Janelle while he listened. She noticed that his eyes were an interesting shade of gray, and there were crinkles at the corners as though he spent a fair amout of time outdoors. From the look of his physique, he probably did some hiking and camping in the woods around here.
“Thanks, Ariel. Take care.” He snapped the phone closed and shook his head. “The closest available rooms are in Missoula.”
Janelle’s shoulders slumped. That would be at least an hour’s ride in a clunker. She blew out a sigh. She didn’t seem to have much of a choice.
Hailey piped up. “Dad, they could stay in our cottage.”
Janelle frowned and so did Adam.
“I don’t know, kiddo,” Adam said. “I’m not sure—”
“Grandma put fresh sheets on the bed last time she was here,” Hailey interjected, ignoring her father’s objection and directing her attention to Janelle. “It’s got a big bed where you could both sleep.”
“That’s very generous of you, but—”
“You don’t want to drive all the way to Missoula, do you?” Hailey’s enthusiasm was hard to squelch. “Besides, we’ve got our own dock and a boat we can ride in. Raeanne, would you like to stay at our house?”
Rae nodded with the same enthusiasm as Hailey, and her dark eyes glowed with excitement, the chance for a boat ride tempting her.
During the past seven months, Janelle had denied her daughter little that she wanted. But this was going too far.
“It’s very sweet of you to invite us to stay, but we really can’t impose on you and your father’s hospitality. If your dad will loan me a car, we’ll be fine.”
Sliding his hands in his pockets, Adam met Hailey’s pleading gaze.
“Dad, tell her it would be best if she stayed. You don’t want her to drive to Missoula and have to drive back here to get her car. That would waste a lot of gas, and she’s probably already tired after her accident.”
Sighing, he ruffled Hailey’s damp hair. “She’s right. It would be a waste of time and gasoline to go to Missoula when we’ve got a perfectly good cottage that you can use. My dad built it for my grandmother after Grandpa died. It’s small but comfortable. The kitchen’s not much, but you could eat with us in the big house.”
Hailey cheered. Not waiting for further conversation, she grabbed Raeanne’s hand. “Come on, Rae. I’ll show you where you’re going to sleep.”
They both went racing off, Raeanne willingly, which surprised Janelle. In the past seven months, Rae had become unusually clingy, rarely leaving Janelle’s side.
“I told you Hailey has never met a stranger,” Adam said, although he didn’t look entirely happy about that attribute.
“You’re sure it’s all right?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Let’s get your gear. The big house is a few hundred feet behind the garage, and the cottage is right close to it. Dad built a boardwalk between them so Grandma wouldn’t have to walk in the mud when it rained. It gave her her own private space, which she liked. I think my mother appreciated that distance, too.”
Janelle imagined that too much togetherness between a woman and her mother-in-law could create a strain. Not that she’d experienced the problem firsthand. Raymond’s mother had passed away before they were married. For that matter, so had her own mother, whom she still missed.
Adam popped the trunk of her car and gathered up a couple of suitcases. Janelle had no choice but to follow suit, despite feeling uncomfortable about accepting his hospitality. Especially since she found Adam attractive in an unpolished, macho kind of way. Yet he was gentle and loving with his daughter. A very engaging combination.
She had no interest in developing a relationship with a man anytime soon, attractive or not. Fortunately, one night in a separate cottage did not make a relationship. Surely there would be motel rooms available tomorrow.
She shouldered a duffel and her laptop and picked up a bag of toys and games she’d brought along for Raeanne. With the two suitcases Adam carried, they’d have plenty for a one-night stay.
Please, Lord, let this be the right thing to do.
Chapter Two
Janelle followed Adam out of the garage and down a driveway that led toward the lake. Pine, fir and cedar trees lined the gravel drive. Ferns filled low-lying spots where water collected, and there were signs of late-blooming wildflowers.
Off to the side of the driveway and visible from the garage was a swing set. Sturdily constructed yet not commercially made, the set included a slide and an exercise bar in addition to the swing. Beyond that sat a cute little playhouse no doubt designed for Hailey when she was a bit younger.
After a hundred paces, the forest thinned, revealing an extended log cabin with a sharply sloped roof. More than a vacation house, it was set so far back from the road that the traffic noise couldn’t snake its way through the trees. The rustic log construction created an aura of permanence, as though the house had always been hidden there in the woods waiting to be discovered.
Off to the right, a smaller cottage of log construction appeared. It fit so well into the environment, it made her think of Little Red Riding Hood en route to Grandmother’s house. Without the wolf, she hoped.
Best of all, through a break in the trees, Janelle caught a glimpse of Bear Lake streaked gold in the late-afternoon sun.
If location was everything in the real-estate business, Adam’s house served as a prime example of perfect placement.
His arms loaded with suitcases, Adam pushed open the cottage door. “I warned you it was small.”
“It’s perfect.” Grandma’s cottage featured a queen-size bed the two girls were already testing for springiness, to the disadvantage of a lovely quilt appliqued with alternating pine trees and birds. A maple chest of drawers sat against the pinewood wall and a matching rocking chair sat by the window with a reading light above it. The cushion covering matched the quilt. A medium-size fan was mounted near the ceiling in one corner.
He was right about the kitchen, though. It held little more than a hot plate and a coffeepot. “I’m sure we’ll be very comfortable here.” Much more comfortable than a motel on a busy highway.
With a touch of her hand and shake of her head, Janelle stopped Raeanne from jumping on the bed. Hailey slowed her bouncing, as well.
“Come on, Peanut,” Adam said. “Let’s let Mrs. Townsend—”
“Janelle, please.”
Hopping off the bed, Hailey gave the quilt a quick swipe to remove the wrinkles the girls had created.
Adam held Janelle’s gaze for a moment, his gray eyes assessing her before looking back to this daughter. “Let Janelle and her daughter get unpacked. Then they can come on over to the big house.” He turned to Janelle. “I’m going to grab a sandwich and get back to work. You can help yourself to whatever’s in the cupboard or fridge.”
“Thank you again, Adam. We really appreciate—”
He waved off her thanks, hooked his arm around Hailey’s shoulders and walked out of the cottage.
She watched him go for a moment, thinking of the day she’d had, close encounters first with a sturdy tree and then with a man who seemed just as solid.
Since she only planned to stay one night, she hung a few things in the closet but didn’t unpack the suitcases all the way. Raeanne put her backpack of games on the dresser and then sat on the edge of the bed to watch her.
“You ready to go see where Hailey lives?” Janelle asked.
Nodding, Raeanne headed out the door and ran down the boardwalk to the deck at the back of the main house. As though Hailey had been waiting for them, she opened the sliding glass door wide to admit them.
“Come on. Let me show you my room,” Hailey said. The two girls ran off down a hallway.
The moment Janelle stepped inside, she was struck by the open floor plan. The entire living room and formal dining area filled the lake side of this wing of the house. The sliding glass door to the deck provided a panoramic view of the lake and the opposite shore. A comfortable leather couch and chairs were arranged to take advantage of the view, and the flat-screen TV was mounted between the dining and living areas. Two large wagon-wheel chandeliers hung from the high ceiling.
A coffee mug had been left on an end table, and some of Hailey’s toys and books were scattered about. A lived-in room. A room where friends would be welcomed.
Adam was standing at the kitchen counter eating the last few bites of his sandwich.
“What a beautiful place you have.” The space oozed potent masculinity and solid dependability, and Janelle had to remind herself that appearances could be deceiving. She’d learned that lesson too late to save herself from heartbreak. “Have you lived here long?”
He leaned against the counter. “All my life. My dad built the basic house pretty much by himself. Later, when my brother and I were older, we helped him add on another bedroom and upgrade the kitchen.”
“Are your parents still living?”
“Yep. Living the good life in Arizona. Dad was having some breathing problems and arthritis. They thought the drier climate might help. Now he’s playing golf, though he says his handicap is about twenty and that’s for nine holes.”
She chuckled. “Not quite ready for the senior pro tour yet, huh?”
“Not likely. My mother has stuck with bridge and water aerobics. They seem to keep pretty busy.”
“Does your brother still live here in Montana?”
“Nope. Marc’s a big-gun contractor in Phoenix. He’s close enough to the folks to pop over to see them if there’s a problem.”
Rae and Hailey came running back into the living room. Rae wrapped her arms around Janelle’s hips.
“I’ve got some video games. Is it okay for Rae to play them with me?” Hailey asked.
“As long as they’re not violent games, it’s fine with me,” Janelle said.
“Trust me, they’re age appropriate, though they still might be a little old for Rae,” Adam assured her. “I make it a point to check ratings and ask other parents before I buy any game.” He dusted the bread crumbs off his hands. “Hailey, you can offer them a snack if they’re hungry, but remember, no going out on the boat on your own. You have to wait for me.”
“I can drive the boat by myself,” she protested.
“You can, but only when I’m with you.” He hooked his arm around his daughter and gave her a squeeze. “I’ll see you all about dinnertime. Bathroom’s down the hall, and there are fresh towels in the cupboard.”
“Thanks. You’ve been more than generous, letting us stay in the cottage and have the run of your home. We’ll be fine,” Janelle said. It really was incredibly kind of him. Trusting, too, since she was as much a stranger to him as Adam was to her.
He turned to leave, and she immediately sensed the vacuum he left behind, almost as though his leaving caused the vibrancy in the air to dim and the oxygen to be pulled from the room.
With a shake of her head, Janelle thrust such fanciful notions away.
* * *
His head filled with thoughts of Janelle, Adam went directly to his office. Something about her stirred in him a desire to protect her, keep her from harm, although he didn’t think she’d appreciate his concern. She appeared perfectly competent, even calm despite her
run-in with a tree.
Even so, he’d seen a hint of sadness in the depths of her brown eyes. He’d felt a connection with her, an undefined link that echoed his own sense of loneliness.
Her elemental feminine mystique called to him, as did her quiet sophistication. Chances were good she wouldn’t feel the same way about him—a guitar-playing mechanic with grease stains on his hands and lube oil in his veins.
She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Which didn’t always mean a woman wasn’t married. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder.
Scratching the back of his head, he forcefully set aside any thought of Janelle Townsend. He had to find out what glitch had kept him from paying on credit.
Sitting at his desk, he punched in the number of Devin McCain at the auto-parts store in Missoula. While he waited for an answer, he looked out the window above his desk, past the play yard to his house, and wondered what Janelle was doing.
“McCain,” his friend answered.
“It’s me, Adam. What’s going on, Devin? What’s this about your delivery guy asking for cash only?” Adam strummed his fingers against the edge of his desk in an agitated beat.
“You tell me, Adam. I ran your credit-card number through the system like I always do, and it was declined. You overextended on your limit?”
“Not likely.” He stared at the pile of invoices that needed to be paid. No more than usual, he was pretty sure. “There’s gotta be some kind of glitch in the system. Did you try it a second time?”
“Three times, man. Rejected every time. You’ve never had trouble with credit before.”
“No, I haven’t.” Since Lisa died, he’d barely kept up with the paperwork that she used to do so easily. But he hadn’t overdrawn his account, he was sure. “Wish you’d given me the benefit of the doubt and called me. Kind of embarrassing to be told by some kid my credit’s no good.”
“Sorry, man. I really am. But I’ve got a business to run.”
“Right.” So did Adam. If a mix-up cut him off from his line of credit, it would be tough to keep things going smoothly. There was always a lag between buying parts for a job and getting paid by the customer. He had to find out what was going on.
“Look, Devin, we’ve known each other a long time. You know I’ll work out whatever misunderstanding has happened. But I need you to cover me while I get things back to normal.”
“I don’t know...”
“A woman came in a bit ago. Her front end collided with a tree. Lots of damage. I’ve got most of the parts I’ll need on hand, but I’m going to need a new radiator for her, a headlight and an air bag for a three-year-old Honda. Run a tab for me, will you? You know I’m good for it.”
Devin sighed into the phone. “Okay. But get this credit thing straightened out fast. In this economy, my sales are way off.”
“Don’t worry. Just ship that stuff to me next week.” Adam gave Devin the model number he needed. With a sense of relief, Adam hung up and immediately called the president of the bank in town, a man he’d known most of his life.
Paul Muskie gave him an answer he didn’t want to hear. “The IRS put a lien on all your bank accounts.”
That news drove Adam back in his chair. “You’re kidding me.” A joke, that’s what it was. The Rotary guys were always pulling stunts on each other. Adam had done his share of leg-pulling over the years. “Come on, Paul. Tell me the truth. What’s going on?”
Muskie was quiet for a moment. “Didn’t the IRS send you a notice of the lien?”
“I don’t—” He grabbed the pile of paperwork in the in-basket. His hand trembled as he sorted through the papers. He squinted trying to make out the names of companies, the return addresses. How could he have missed a letter from the IRS? Lisa never would have.
There. A government return address. This had to be—
“You still there, Adam?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” Nausea roiled his stomach. “Look, I’ll get back to you. Okay?”
“Sure. Hope you can straighten out whatever’s gone wrong. The IRS can sure make a mess of a man’s life.”
Yeah. Some guys didn’t need the help of the IRS. Some guys could make a mess all on their own.
Hanging up the phone, he ripped opened the envelope and spread the letter flat on his desk. He remembered he’d had to sign for the letter when Billy Martin delivered it but he hadn’t had a chance to open it right away. He’d been busy. Two customers had just arrived, one to pick up his car and the other with a fuel-pump problem and a squealing water pump. Adam must have put the IRS letter aside. Somehow it had gotten buried under the pile of invoices. And he’d never given it another thought.
Fool! He should have asked Hailey to tell him what the letter said. A reading lesson, he should have said.
Staring down at the typed words, the letters swam before his eyes. He rubbed his forehead. Slowly. Laboriously, his finger moving from one word to the next, he read. NOTICE. UNPAID. TAXES. LIEN.
But he’d paid his taxes. It had taken him days, but he’d filled out the forms. Every one of them. Just like Lisa had always done.
You filled ’em out wrong, guitar boy!
Panic gripped him and sweat beaded his forehead. A lien on his bank accounts could mean he’d lose his business. The business his dad started forty years ago and had trusted Adam to run.
He’d have to talk to the IRS in Missoula. Figure out the mistake he’d made on the tax forms.
Admit that he’d messed up because he couldn’t read. A secret that shamed him. A secret that he’d never shared with anyone outside of his parents, except for Lisa, his wife. She’d understood. And had loved him anyway.
All these years he’d been an expert at covering up his problem. Making adjustments. Working around the words he couldn’t read. Joking to get past the awkward moments. Keeping his secret.
Now they’d all learn the truth.
Memories of his childhood, his humiliating school experiences, the jeers of his classmates washed over him in a hot lava flow of pain.
Adam Hunter is stupid!
He balled his hands into fists. He wasn’t stupid!
He could tell by the sound of an engine if a valve tappet was about to go bad. With one press of a throttle he knew if the fuel mixture was off or the fan belt was too dry and ready to crack. The guys who had given him such a hard time in school now brought their cars to him. He could run rings around any other mechanic in western Montana and Idaho combined.
But he couldn’t run rings around the IRS.
* * *
Sitting on the dock beneath the shade of a cedar tree, Janelle watched Hailey teach Raeanne to skip stones across the water. Most plopped into the lake with a splash. But now and then a stone flew across the surface in two or three skips, and Raeanne lit up as if she’d won an Olympic medal. She’d been so engaged in rock skipping, she’d even left her beloved Ruff in Janelle’s care.
The air was so pleasant and filled with the scent of the woods, Janelle hated to move. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this relaxed.
She checked the time. After six o’clock. Adam must be busy on a repair job.
“Hailey,” she called. “If you know what your dad plans for dinner, I could get started cooking.”
“It’s Friday night,” the child called back. “That means it’s spaghetti night.”
“Perfect.” Standing, Janelle brushed the back of her slacks off. “You two stay close and don’t go in the water. I’ll start dinner.” She didn’t like Raeanne to eat too late or she wouldn’t get to bed on time. Besides, Janelle was getting hungry herself.
While the kitchen appliances weren’t new, they appeared functional, and the oak-stained cupboards made the room cozy, a place where a family would want to gather around the oak table. Colorful print pillows covered the seats of the matching chairs.
This was certainly not the kitchen of a typical bachelor, but one whose wife had lent the home her feminine touch. Janelle wondered if Adam still grieved for his wife, and thought he probably did.
Before opening the refrigerator door, she noted Hailey’s third-grade report card held there by a flower magnet. Straight A’s. She smiled. One smart young lady.
She found some ground meat on the top shelf of the refrigerator, a bag of lettuce in the vegetable bin along with two tomatoes. After opening several cupboards, she located a box of angel-hair pasta in a small pantry along with a jar of pasta sauce next to several boxes of cereal. A heavy iron skillet was stored under the counter.
Raeanne threw open the sliding glass door and blasted into the house, racing down the hall to the bathroom.
Janelle smiled at Hailey, who followed at a more dignified pace.
“Raeanne sure is quiet. Is she, like, slow?” Hailey’s hesitant question held no negative judgment but rather concerned curiosity.
“Not at all. In fact, she’s quite intelligent and used to jabber constantly. She just sort of forgot how to talk.” Pressing her lips together, Janelle wondered how much she should reveal about her daughter’s situation, and her own.
Hailey’s forehead puckered into a frown. “Do you think she’ll ever talk again?”
“Oh, yes. Given enough time she’ll find her voice.” Janelle prayed every night and every morning that her daughter would let go of the pain and fear and be whole again. She desperately wished she had the skill to “fix” whatever had broken in her little girl’s heart and head when she’d witnessed the sudden death of her father.
“Can I help her? I’m pretty good with little kids. I always wanted a little sister, but Mom got so sick she couldn’t have any more babies.”
A surge of affection and sympathy for this young, outgoing, motherless child touched Janelle’s heart. “Just play with her and act natural. That’s the best medicine you can give her.”
Raeanne skipped back into the living room. She gestured for Hailey to go back outside with her.
“Why don’t you two settle down and find something on television to watch?” Janelle suggested. “Dinner won’t be too long.”
“I’ve got some board games we could play,” Hailey volunteered.
With Raeanne’s silent approval, the two of them raced off toward Hailey’s bedroom again. Janelle had no doubt that Raeanne would sleep well tonight with all the exercise and fresh air she was enjoying.
Struck by how comfortable she felt in this house, almost as if she’d always lived here, Janelle put the meat on to brown.
But she didn’t live here, she sternly reminded herself. She and her daughter were guests staying in Grandma’s cottage, nothing more, and only for one night. Tomorrow they’d find another temporary place to stay. Then they’d start some serious house hunting so they’d have a home of their own.
* * *
Adam had spent the past two hours laboriously going over his tax forms. They made less sense to him now than when he’d filled them out in April.
He should’ve hired someone to do his taxes. But his receipts and invoices were all crammed in a box. He could barely make out what was what. Anybody else would’ve laughed himself silly over his record-keeping and walked away in disgust—or asked far too many questions that Adam would’ve had trouble answering.
Lisa, his late wife, had wanted them to keep his problem to themselves. She was afraid he’d lose business if others knew he couldn’t read.
With a headache threatening, he decided he’d call it a day. He shed his overalls and work boots and washed up in the restroom in the garage. Time to get home to fix dinner for Hailey...and his houseguests.
His steps suddenly a little lighter, he locked up the garage and walked back to the house. The temperature had cooled and birdcalls trilled through the treetops. The distant sound of a motorboat hummed across the lake.
The moment he walked into the house, he caught the scent of garlic and oregano, and his stomach rumbled. He found Janelle bending over a pot on the stove, tasting the spaghetti sauce.
“My sauce never smells that good,” he said.
She jumped back from the stove and shoved a lock of her brown hair away from her forehead. With a nervous laugh, she said, “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Sorry I startled you.” Seeing her in his kitchen, a drying towel tucked in the waistband of her slacks for an apron, brought a lump to his throat. It had been a long time since anyone except his aging, once-a-week cleaning lady had cooked dinner for him. And she was likely to leave a tuna casserole and broccoli with cheese sauce. Not his favorites.
“I hope you don’t mind that I added some spices to the sauce. I found them in the cupboard.”
He sauntered farther into the room. “Of course not. But I didn’t mean for you to have to cook for Hailey and me. You and Raeanne are our guests.”
“I knew the girls would be getting hungry soon.”
“Yeah.” He took the spoon from her hand and dipped it into the simmering concoction. Blowing on the spoonful of red sauce to cool it, he sampled it. “Hmm, tastes homemade.”
“I’m not exactly an Italian chef, but I do like it spiced up a bit.”
They were standing so close he could see tiny golden flecks in her brown eyes. “Where are the girls?”
Her tongue peeked out and dampened the fullness of her bottom lip, leaving it shiny. “They’re playing board games in Hailey’s room.”
“Great. Hailey gets pretty bored on her own when I work late.” And he got bored and lonely during the long nights alone with no one to talk to, no one to share with, no one to care for or tell about his day.
A pan of water heating on the stove reached a full boil and bubbled over, sizzling on the burner.
Her face flushed, Janelle jumped back and lowered the flame. She wiped up the spill with a corner of her towel.
“If you’re ready to eat, I’ll put the spaghetti on to cook. You can tell the girls to clean up and we’ll eat in about five minutes.”
Regret that the connection between them had been broken forced a sigh from his lips.
“I’ll let them know.”
Not that the connection mattered or was even real, he thought as he walked down the hallway. Janelle and her daughter would be gone tomorrow. The only actual relationship they had was based on a crumpled car and a cracked radiator.
Chapter Three
When Janelle had the last of the dinner dishes in the dishwasher and the leftovers in the refrigerator, she was ready to sit down to enjoy the evening.
Evidently Hailey had a different idea. She’d planted herself next to where Adam was sitting on the couch, his legs stretched out in front of him. Raeanne stood beside them.
“Dad, we promised Raeanne a ride in our boat.”
“We did?”
“When we invited them to stay in the cottage. Remember? It’s still light outside. Can we go now? Can we? Raeanne really, really wants to go for a boat ride.”
Adam muttered something that resembled a groan.
“Don’t feel you have to take Rae for a boat ride.” Janelle stepped into the living room. “You must be tired from working all day.”
He levered himself up from the couch and ruffled Hailey’s hair. “Getting some fresh air is just what I need. Right, Peanut?”
Knowing she’d won an easy victory, Hailey grinned.
“Okay, everybody get a jacket. It gets cold out on the water.” He looked right at Janelle. “You’re coming, aren’t you?”
“Why, I...” She tucked a strand of wayward hair behind her ear. “Sure. It’ll be fun.”
“We’ll meet you down at the dock,” he said.
Janelle hurried to the cabin to get jackets for herself and Raeanne, stopping only long enough to freshen her lip gloss. Although why she’d taken the time to do that wasn’t something she wanted to examine too closely.
When she reached the dock, Adam presented her and Raeanne with life vests.
A sixteen-foot bowrider with an open cockpit, the boat was sleekly styled and painted red and white. The pilot and one passenger had swivel chairs. A bench along the back provided room for two or three additional passengers, and there were two cutout seats in the bow for the more adventurous or those who wanted to sunbathe.
“Do you use this for fishing or waterskiing?” Janelle asked as Adam helped her climb aboard, his hand firmly holding hers.
“More for fishing, but I don’t get out as much lately as I used to. I haven’t tried waterskiing since I was a kid.”
“Well, then, it’s doubly nice of you to take Rae and me for a boat ride.”
His lips hitched into a smile and he nodded toward Hailey. “Hard to fight that kind of pressure.”
Chuckling, Janelle settled down on a bench at the back of the cockpit while the girls hovered close to Adam as he pulled away from the dock. Completely at ease, he looked very much the sea captain in charge of his vessel and all on board.
The breeze picked up, making Janelle’s hair dance and whip around. As the boat speeded up, spray misted her face. The water felt cool and refreshing, the air crisp and untouched by pollution. Over the years, she’d ridden in boats on Puget Sound and on Lake Washington and had even tried her hand at waterskiing. Not too successfully, she mentally added.
But on this high-elevation lake, everything seemed clearer, the sights and sounds more distinct. She inhaled deeply and smiled. What a refreshing interlude.
After a bit, Adam let Hailey drive the boat at a modest speed. Then he asked Rae if she wanted a turn. Without a moment’s hesitation, she hiked herself up on the chair and took the wheel.
A rush of love filled Janelle’s chest. In this new place, Raeanne had already moved miles away from her fears and the trauma of her father’s death. Her speech might not have returned, but her zest for life was definitely on the rebound.
Thank You, Lord.
When Rae’s turn was over, she came racing into Janelle’s arms. Her grin was as big as the quarter moon that was rising over the hills on the far side of the lake.
“You really liked driving the boat, didn’t you, sweetie?”
She nodded enthusiastically.
Janelle pulled her daughter more fully into her arms. If only Rae could express herself with more than a nod or a silent gesture.
Give her time, she reminded herself. That’s what the counselor had said and what she prayed for every night.
* * *
Worn out by all the excitement, Rae was asleep by the time they docked. Hailey talked Janelle into letting Rae sleep in her bed in the main house for now. When Janelle retired for the night, she or Adam could carry Rae to the cottage. That seemed reasonable. Janelle wasn’t ready for bed yet, and she wanted to enjoy the night air.
Once the girls were settled in Hailey’s room, Janelle relaxed in an Adirondack chair on the deck.
The clouds that had lingered over the mountains had vanished and stars were beginning to appear in the darkening sky. Bats flitted from treetop to treetop in search of a tasty morsel for their supper. On the far side of the lake, lights appeared in cabins nearly hidden by the trees.
Closer at hand, country-western music wafted across the still water.
The sliding door opened and Adam stepped outside. “Nice night,” he commented.
“Hmm, perfect.”
“When it gets full dark, there’ll be a lot of stars. On a clear night like this when the moon’s not full, the Milky Way lights up the sky.”
“Seattle isn’t real good for stargazing. Too many city lights and too overcast.” Raised in the northwest, she’d been used to Seattle weather, but today had been gorgeous. The night even more spectacular.
He settled in the Adirondack chair next to her. “I couldn’t help but notice you’re not wearing a wedding ring. Are you divorced?” He spoke softly, letting his voice match the quiet hum of the breeze in the treetops.
“No. Widowed. My husband died of an aneurysm seven months ago. He collapsed in our kitchen. By the time the paramedics arrived, he was already gone.” Recalling that morning tightened a knot in her chest. Although Raymond’s death had been shocking, it was what she’d learned while cleaning out his desk that had stunned and hurt her the most. He’d had a mistress on almost every university campus he visited as a guest lecturer. His betrayal had cut so deeply, she wasn’t sure the wounds would ever heal.
“Hey, I’m really sorry. That’s tough.”
Tears burned at the backs of her eyes, more for herself than for Raymond’s sudden death. “Thank you.” Her voice caught.
“What about your folks?” he asked. “Are they still in Seattle?”
“My father passed away when I was thirteen. My mother tried to hold things together, but I don’t think she ever recovered from losing him. She died the summer before my freshman year in college.” Maybe if her mother had been around and her father had lived longer, Janelle wouldn’t have fallen for Raymond. Would have seen that he wouldn’t be faithful.
“Losing both your parents had to be hard for you.”
“Yes, it was. I felt adrift looking for an anchor.”
They were both silent for a moment before Adam said, “Here comes the North Star.”
She followed the direction he was pointing and cleared her throat. “Hard to miss, isn’t it?”
“That’s why sailors used it for navigation for centuries before the compass was invented.”
“Are you into astronomy?”
“Strictly amateur, but yeah. How could I not be, living in big-sky country?”
A smile curved her lips, matching the smile she heard in his voice. “Then I guess I’d better take up astronomy.”
“You’re really planning to stay, then? Here in Bear Lake?”
“If I can find a house to buy at a price I can afford.” She’d sold the house in Seattle and came away with more than enough for a substantial down payment on a new place. Raymond’s insurance money would cover expenses for a while. “After school starts, I’ll look for some sort of job, probably part-time initially.”
He picked up a cluster of dry pine needles and tossed them off the deck. “What kind of work do you do?”
“I have a degree in anthropology, which is entirely useless in terms of job hunting.” A degree she’d gotten because that was Raymond’s specialty and he was head of the department. She’d become enamored with Professor Raymond Townsend in her first anthropology class and had been deliriously happy when he began paying extra attention to her. She should have known right then that a relationship between a professor and an undergraduate was forbidden for a reason. “But I had a couple of years of accounting before I changed my major, so I’ll probably look for a bookkeeping job.”
“Year-round jobs aren’t real easy to find in Bear Lake. Everything’s tied to the tourist trade. But I’ll keep an eye out for bookkeeping jobs and let you know if I hear of anything.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your help, including letting us stay in the cottage tonight.”
“No problem.” He pushed himself to his feet. “I’m going to call it a night. You want me to get Raeanne for you?”
“If you don’t mind. She’s getting almost too heavy for me to carry.” She didn’t want to risk leaving Rae sleeping with Hailey. There were still nights when her daughter woke up screaming with nightmares about the day her father had died.
Together they walked inside. Janelle stopped at Hailey’s bedroom door.
“I meant to comment on the good job you’re doing raising your daughter on your own. She’s a lovely girl.”
“Thanks. She is a good kid. I’m a little worried, though, about what’ll happen when she gets to be a teenager. I’m sure not going to be able to give her much advice about dating and wearing makeup and stuff like that.”
Janelle chuckled. “You’ll figure it out.” A father as devoted as Adam was would do just fine as long as Hailey knew how much he loved her.
To her deep regret, Raymond hadn’t been much of a father to Raeanne. He’d been too busy on the traveling lecture circuit to pay much attention to his own daughter. Or Janelle.
If only she’d recognized the signs earlier.
* * *
Janelle woke to filtered sunlight slipping in through the sheer window curtains.
In a quick glance, she checked on Raeanne. Sound asleep, her arms curled around Ruff. As Janelle had expected, her daughter had worn herself out playing with Hailey.
After a quick shower, she towel dried her hair, dressed and went in search of something to eat in the main house.
She knocked on the sliding glass door and stepped inside. Adam was in the kitchen, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, cooking eggs and whistling a tuneless song.
She smiled to herself. She added can cook to his list of attributes. “Good morning. You’re an early riser.”
He turned, flashing a broad smile, and a crease appeared in his cheek. How had she missed that engaging dimple yesterday?
“I wasn’t sure I had anything in the house for breakfast,” he said. “So I made a quick trip to the bakery.” He gestured toward the kitchen table and a box of assorted muffins. “And when I heard you up and about, I went ahead and started on the eggs.”
“You didn’t have to go to that much trouble. We could have gone out to eat.”
“Now, that wouldn’t have been very hospitable of me, would it? Help yourself to some coffee.” Pulling two plates out of the cupboard, he divided the eggs and put the plates on the table. “How’s Raeanne?”
Janelle poured herself a mug of coffee from the pot on the counter and sat down.
“Still sleeping. I think all the fresh air is good for her.” Janelle had left the cottage door open so she could hear Rae if she called her. Or, more likely, Rae would follow the sound of voices to find Janelle.
She sipped the coffee. Hot and rich, made with aromatic Columbian coffee beans, if the taste was any indication. The man was fussy about his coffee, she concluded.
“Would you mind if we ate outside on the deck?” she asked. “I need to watch for Raeanne if she wakes up.”
“Sure, no problem.” He put the plates, forks and his coffee mug on a tray he found in the cupboard. He’d apparently showered and shaved this morning, his saddle-brown hair neatly combed, his cheeks razor smooth.
“You get the box of muffins and we’re good to go.”
Outside, Janelle put the muffins on the small table between the Adirondack chairs and sat down. Adam handed her a plate.
“I was thinking...” Sitting down beside her, Adam scooped up a forkful of scrambled eggs. “I’m going to close up shop about noon today. Some guys and I have a musical group, the lead plays banjo, and we’ve got a couple of guitars, bass fiddle, violin. We play country and western, and we’re scheduled to perform at the municipal park this afternoon as part of the festival.”
“You’re a musician?” In addition to being a mechanic? And an astronomer? A regular Renaissance man.
“Mostly I just strum along with whatever the guys are playing.” A slight flush colored his cheeks. “Anyway, I thought you and Raeanne might like to come along. Hailey’s coming, of course. There are booths with handcrafted stuff, an art display. All kinds of food stands. You could eat lunch there.”
She took a banana-nut muffin from the box and broke off a bite. “That sounds tempting. But I think my first priority is to find a motel room somewhere.”
He shook his head. “That’s not going to happen, at least not for tonight. I gave the Visitor Center a call again this morning. Everything’s still booked solid.”
She gaped at him. “Are you sure?”
“That’s what Ariel told me. So I guess you’re stuck here for another night.”
“Stuck” wasn’t how she’d describe the situation. Adam’s guest cottage and house were way too comfortable for her to feel anything but very fortunate. “You really don’t mind us staying?”
His lips tilted ever so slightly. “You know what they say about Bear Lake—the friendliest little town in Montana.”
She responded with a smile of her own. “So I’ve heard.” She still wasn’t convinced staying in Adam’s cottage was a good plan. Since they were basically strangers, it felt a little too friendly. Too much of an imposition. Still, it appeared her choices were limited. “I imagine by Sunday the town will clear out.”
“Sure. Except for the regular tourists who are en route to or from Glacier National Park.”
“Is Bear Lake always this busy?”
“During the summer, yeah. And pretty much during the ski season. It gets real quiet in the fall, which is my favorite time of year.”
Janelle could understand that. Although spring, when wildflowers began to bloom, had always been her special favorite. She loved to dry flowers and make floral arrangements.
Adam’s attention shifted to something behind Janelle. She turned and smiled at her daughter.
“Come on, sweetie. Adam bought us some yummy muffins.” Still sleepy, her hair mussed, Raeanne climbed up in Janelle’s lap and buried her head in her mom’s chest.
“Did you sleep okay?” Adam asked.
Raeanne eyed him cautiously and nodded.
“That’s good. How about your stuffed animal? Did he sleep good, too?” Adam appeared to be doing his friendly host routine.
Raeanne looked up at Janelle in alarm. She struggled free of her grasp, slid down to the deck and raced off barefoot toward the cottage.
Adam shrugged. “She’s really shy, isn’t she?”
“It’s more than being shy, I’m afraid.” Janelle pulled her lip between her teeth. “She hasn’t spoken a word since her father died. She was there when he collapsed.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“So am I. I had her in therapy for several months, but it didn’t seem to help. Which is one of the reasons why I decided to start over somewhere else.”
His forehead furrowed and his eyes filled with sympathy. “That’s tough.”
“Yes, it is.” For both of them. “I just have to have faith that, with the Lord’s help and a new environment, Raeanne will find her voice again.”
* * *
Adam opened the garage’s big doors and went into his office.
It surprised him how much he’d liked sitting with Janelle on the deck having breakfast together. Even with her hair wet from a shower and her face scrubbed clean, she radiated beauty and poise. And a warmth that made him want to reach out to touch her cheek, caress her soft skin.
An urge he intended to resist.
He laughed a bitter sound. What irony that he’d be attracted to a woman with a degree in anthropology when he’d barely made it through high school with straight D’s.
Vern, his mechanic and tow-truck driver, ambled into the garage. His hands stuffed in the pockets of his overalls, he glanced at Janelle’s car, which was still parked where he’d left it yesterday.
“Hey, boss. That lady and her little girl find someplace to stay last night? Didn’t figure there’d be any rooms left in town, what with the festival ’n’ all.”
“They stayed in Grandma’s cottage out back.”
“You don’t say.” His pale blue eyes twinkling, he lifted his grimy baseball cap, scratched his head and resettled his cap. “Didn’t know you was in the hotel business.”
Adam shoved away from his desk and stood. “I couldn’t very well tell them to sleep in the car.”
“No, sir. That’s a fact, all right. You gotta take good care of your customers. Particularly them that are real good-lookin’ ladies.” Vern’s amused grin grated on Adam.
Scowling, Adam gestured to the Buick sitting on the lift. “Why don’t you get back to work on Hardison’s transmission? I promised he could pick it up by noon today.”
“Sure thing, boss. If you want to keep that pretty little lady a secret, no problem. My lips are sealed. Yes, sirree.” He made a zipping motion across his grinning mouth.
A muscle twitched in Adam’s jaw. “Get busy, old man, or I’ll tell Mama Machak at the diner that you’ve been bad-mouthing her chicken and dumplings all around town.”
Laughing, Vern threw up his hands in surrender. “Don’t do that, son. Without her weekly special of chicken and dumplings, and them pies she makes, I’d starve to death.”
With a shake of his head and a grin stuck on his face, he sauntered over to the Buick.
Adam wished he could wipe that grin off, but that would be dumb. Vern was too perceptive by far, recognizing Adam enjoyed Janelle’s company more than a little.
An anthropology major? Some chance he’d have with her.
* * *
At the Arthur Cummings Municipal Park near the public docks, Adam went off to find his fellow musicians while Janelle and the girls strolled through the milling crowd. They browsed booths exhibiting handmade crafts—blown glass, ceramics, quilts and jewelry. A display of exquisite handmade dolls tempted Janelle, but they were more for show than for play so she passed them by. Raeanne wasn’t old enough yet to appreciate the fine craftsmanship.
Meanwhile, Adam’s band wasn’t on stage yet. Instead, a bluegrass band played in the gazebo, their audience seated on folding chairs in the shade of a canopy or scattered around the open grassy area on blankets. Each family group boasted a colorful picnic basket. Toddlers and young children swayed to the rhythm of the music.
The lake provided a backdrop for the event. Near the far shore, sailboats cut through the blue water, leaving a narrow wake behind them. Closer at hand, water-
skiers whizzed by pulled by high-powered motorboats that carefully remained outside the roped-off swimming area.
Smoke from a barbecue floated on the breeze blowing in from the lake.
“Do you girls want to eat your lunch now?” Janelle asked. “Or do you want to wait until Hailey’s dad is done playing?”
“Let’s eat now,” Hailey said. “Dad’s friend Charlie always has them playing a long set. We’d get too hungry waiting for him to finish.”
When Raeanne caught the scent of hot dogs, she tugged Janelle in the direction of the hot-dog stand sponsored by Bear Lake Community Church. A half-dozen teenagers were staffing the operation, supervised by an older woman wearing a colorful butcher apron.
Janelle ordered three hot dogs, three lemonades and bags of chips, then carried them all to a shady spot under a big oak tree where they sat down not far from the
gazebo.
“Be careful, now. Don’t spill on your clean blouse,” she admonished Raeanne. She’d only packed enough clothes for a couple of weeks. Once she was settled somewhere, a friend would ship her the rest of their personal belongings. Until then, clothing choices were limited and access to a washer and dryer increasingly urgent.
Sitting with her legs bent beside her, Janelle took a bite of her hot dog. The bluegrass musicians, who looked to be all in their eighties or older, ended their performance to appreciative applause. As they packed up their instruments, she spotted Adam and his friends taking their place on the stand.
“Has your dad always played guitar?” Janelle asked.
“I guess so. He and his buddies play for church services sometimes.”
“That’s nice.” Janelle had drifted away from attending church during her marriage. Raymond hadn’t been interested in religion. Now that she was on her own, finding a church was high on her to-do list. Maybe she’d join the choir, too, if she could find a sitter for Raeanne during evening practices.
But that would wait until much later, when Raeanne had regained her self-confidence and happy spirit.
The five men in Adam’s group wore Western-cut shirts and jeans and had matching red bandannas tied around their necks. Stetsons completed their outfits.
Adam’s black hat tipped rakishly on the back of his head, giving him the look of a swaggering, country bad boy. She smiled at the image, so in contrast to his actual personality.
One of the other men cracked a few corny jokes then introduced the group: Sons of Bear Lake. The locals seemed to recognize them and sent up a cheer.
The banjo player started off with some fancy plucking, and then the violin dueled with the banjo, the two of them bowing and plucking so fast both instruments were nearly set on fire. After a long run of manic scales, they finished to the hoots, hollers and whoops of the crowd. Both men were sweating profusely.
“My goodness.” Janelle laughed and put her arm around Raeanne. “I’ve never heard anything like that before.”
“That’s Charlie Brooks on the banjo and Tiny Tim playing violin,” Hailey said.
“They’re great. Both of them.”
Slowing the pace, the group played “Come, Come, Come to Me,” a hymn familiar to Janelle. She sang along with the chorus and so did Hailey. Raeanne smiled and rocked to the beat but didn’t utter a sound.
A lump the size of a boulder closed Janelle’s throat, and the burn of tears stung her eyes. She’d willingly give every dime she owned if someone could erase the memory that had stolen her beautiful baby girl’s voice, locking her in her silent world.
* * *
The Sons of Bear Lake performed for nearly an hour. When they’d packed up their instruments, Adam joined Janelle and the girls.
“So what did you think?” He sat on the grass and placed his guitar case next to him.
“You were all great,” Janelle said. “We sang along with the songs we knew.”
“Raeanne didn’t,” Hailey said. “She can’t sing.”
Adam feigned shock. “You can’t sing?”
Solemn-faced, Rae shook her head.
“Well, now, that’s a real shame.” He opened his case and lifted his guitar, strumming a few chords. “Say, I bet I know a song you could help me sing.”
Looking unconvinced, Rae eyed his guitar.
Janelle held her breath. She didn’t want Raeanne to feel pressured into talking. The therapist had told her to let speech return naturally.
“Okay, here we go.” He strummed another chord and sang, “‘There’s a bee, a bumbly bee. He goes buzz, buzz, buzz.’”
He nodded at Rae. “Come on, I need help with the buzzing bee. ‘There’s a bee,’” he sang, “‘a flying bumbly bee. He goes...’”
The faintest sound escaped from Raeanne’s mouth. “‘Buzz, buzz, buzz.’”
Paralyzed, speechless, tears sprang to Janelle’s eyes. She covered her mouth so her sob wouldn’t escape. Those were the first words Raeanne had spoken in seven months. For any other mother of a five-year-old, the words would mean little.
To Janelle they were an answer to a prayer.
“Atta girl!” Grinning, Adam ruffled her hair. “‘There’s a bee. A flying, stinging bumbly bee. He goes...’”
“‘Buzz, buzz, buzz,’” Raeanne whispered.
“Okay, one more time. ‘There’s a bee. A flying, stinging, angry bumbly bee. I’m going to—’”
“‘Buzz, buzz, buzz,’” she said, her voice stronger now.
“‘Buzz, buzz, buzz away,’” Adam finished with a flourish, shifting his gaze from Raeanne to Janelle.
Hailey grabbed Raeanne and hugged her. “You did it! You sang the song.”
To Janelle, those whispered words were a gift from the Lord. A much-prayed-for beginning.
Thank you, she mouthed to Adam.
She wanted to throw her arms around him but didn’t dare, afraid to make a big fuss for fear Rae would retreat into silence.
What a special man Adam was. She couldn’t help but wonder if God had put that deer in her path. A path that led to Adam Hunter’s door?
Chapter Four
It seemed perfectly natural for Janelle and Rae to go to church Sunday morning with Adam and his daughter. Check-in time at the motel where Janelle had made a reservation for the night wasn’t until 3:00 p.m. She’d have plenty of time to pack after lunch. She’d unpacked only a few items of clothing anyway.
Bear Lake Community Church was about a half mile west of town. Built on a cleared acre of land, the one-story, whitewashed building boasted a steeple topped by a wooden cross. Dozens of vehicles, mostly SUVs and pickups, filled the gravel parking lot.
When they arrived several parishioners milled around the entrance, talking in small groups. Men greeted Adam warmly with a handshake and a friendly slap on the back. Hailey hung close to her dad, giving everyone a friendly greeting, as well.
A woman Janelle recognized from the hot-dog stand at the festival approached her.
“Hello there,” she said, with a quick glance in Adam’s direction. “I saw you and your daughter at the festival. I didn’t realize you’re a friend of Adam’s.”
“I’m not exactly,” Janelle admitted. “I had an accident and my car was towed to his garage. Since there weren’t any rooms available in town, he was kind enough to let us stay in his cottage for a couple of nights.”
“Well, I’m so glad you’ve come to church. We’re a small but friendly group. I’m Adrienne Walker, the pastor’s wife.”
Janelle introduced herself and Raeanne.
“Pleased to meet you. And you, young lady.” She smiled at Raeanne, who was holding Janelle’s hand so hard it almost hurt. “Raeanne, would you like to go into our Sunday school class with the other children?”
Rae shook her head and hid her face in the folds of Janelle’s skirt.
“Rae will be fine with me,” Janelle said. “Perhaps another time.”
“Of course, dear. Do go on in. The service is about to begin and I must join our choir.” Leaving her with a friendly smile, Adrienne hurried off.
A moment later, Janelle felt the press of Adam’s hand on the small of her back, warmly possessive, as he ushered them into the sanctuary. Her breath caught, startled by how natural his gesture felt and how much she enjoyed the touch of his hand.
Like most of the men, he wore fresh jeans and a sport shirt. Hailey decided to forego Sunday school to sit with Raeanne. They found a pew near the front. Janelle entered first, followed by the girls and Adam on the aisle, the seating arrangement much like that of other families in the congregation. Except, she reminded herself, they were not one family but two small, unrelated families. Their acquaintance had been so brief, she couldn’t even think of them as friends yet. Although she thought they could be, particularly since Raeanne enjoyed Hailey’s company so much. Despite the five-year age difference, they got along quite well. Hailey apparently had a strong nurturing instinct.
The pastor stepped out onto the stage, and the congregation stood for the opening hymn. Like his wife, Pastor Robert Walker was in his fifties and a bit stout. Fluffy white sideburns contrasted with his shiny bald head. If he’d had a beard and red cap, he could have passed for Santa Claus’s twin, his deep voice and jovial manner a match for the fictional character, as well.
Settling back in the pew, Janelle admired the stained-glass window behind the altar where the small choir sat. The scene depicted Jesus kneeling in prayer in Gethsemane.
Knowing Raeanne might get restless, she’d brought along an activity book to keep her occupied. Before long, Rae and Hailey were playing silent games of tic-tac-toe and “find the object.”
By the time the service ended, Janelle felt refreshed by her communion with the Lord. This was the first church service she’d attended since Raymond’s funeral, and it felt good to be back in the fold.
As they left the sanctuary and stepped out into the warm summer day, Adrienne Walker stopped her.
“I do believe that was you I heard singing, my dear. You have such a lovely soprano voice.”
Janelle flushed. “Thank you.”
“If you decide to stay in Bear Lake long, I do hope you’ll consider joining our choir. So many of our members are getting older now and their voices are deepening. We’re out of balance with too many altos and basses.”
Janelle had noticed the soprano section was particularly thin. “It’s kind of you to invite me. I enjoy singing but I don’t have a trained voice, and I haven’t sung in a choir since high school.” Although she had had the lead in the student musical her senior year. “If I do stay in Bear Lake, I’ll certainly consider it. Of course, I’d need a babysitter for Raeanne.”
“I’m sure something could be worked out. We rehearse on Thursday evenings.”
“I really don’t know yet what my plans will be.” Nor did she know when she’d feel comfortable again leaving Rae with a sitter.
“Keep us in mind, dear, if things work out.” With that, Adrienne scooted off to speak with another member of the congregation.
“Come on, Rae,” Hailey said. “I’ll race you to the truck.” The two of them dashed off as though they’d just escaped from solitary confinement.
“Watch out for cars!” Janelle called after them, but they were already on their way, galloping across the parking lot.
“They’ll be fine.” With his hand at her back, Adam nudged her toward his truck. “I’d say the pastor’s wife intends to hog-tie you and drag you into the choir whether you want to go or not.”
“I think a pastor’s wife must be required to take a class in recruiting volunteers for church functions.”
“In that case, I’d guess she got an A plus.”
Janelle laughed. “The truth is, assuming I stay here in Bear Lake, I would like to sing in the choir. But I haven’t left Raeanne alone since—”
“Since your husband died?”
She nodded.
“I understand. It’s hard to adjust after you lose someone you love.”
Even harder when it turned out the one you loved didn’t love you in return. Certainly not exclusively.
* * *
After a quick lunch, Adam went into the garage and sat down at his desk. He had to figure out this tax business before things got any worse. And they would get worse. He’d finally deciphered the letter from the IRS. He was expected to appear at a hearing just weeks away.
Chances were good that if he didn’t have some answers by then the lien on the bank account would be the least of his worries. He’d be behind bars.
He got out the paperwork and turned on his computer, pulling up his tax return. For a moment he stared at the monitor. The numbers swam across the screen like minnows fleeing a largemouth bass.
He blinked and knuckled his eyes. When he looked again, the image of Janelle appeared superimposed over the tax return. Smiling at him. Her lips slightly parted. A hint of laughter in her eyes.
An ache tightened in his chest, and a rush of wanting caught him by surprise.
Shaking off the sensation, he chided himself for even thinking about Janelle. He had the IRS to worry about. The fact that she and her daughter seemed to fit so perfectly with him and Hailey wasn’t worth considering. He barely knew the woman. She had her own issues to work out, needed to make a home for her daughter. Needed to start over clean.
No way would she want to get tangled up in his life.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to drag out the stack of invoices from last year and his bank records. He’d start over, too. If he concentrated hard enough, he’d get it right this time. He picked up a pencil and found a lined notepad.
He wasn’t a stupid guy. He could do this.
Immediately his palms began to sweat. His fingers cramped around the pencil. Pain crept up the back of his neck. Just like it always had when he’d taken tests in school.
But this time he couldn’t fake the answers.
There was no question. He needed help.
He could take this pile of gibberish to one of the
Rotary guys who was a CPA, but then he’d have to explain why he couldn’t handle his own record-keeping.
There were probably lots of accountants in Missoula or even Kalispell who could do the job for a fee. But in many ways, western Montana was one small community. Word would get back to Bear Lake.
The heat of shame rose up his neck. He’d worked so hard, so many years, to keep his secret.
Somehow he’d have to do it himself.
He didn’t know how long he’d struggled trying to make sense of his records when he heard a light rapping on his open office door. He looked up to find Janelle smiling at him.
“I’ve packed up our things and put them in your loaner car, so we’re about to leave. It’s almost three. We can check into the motel now.”
“Oh, yeah.” He spun his chair around and stood. He tossed his pencil on the pile of invoices. Janelle was leaving and suddenly he didn’t want her to go. “I guess you’ll need the key, won’t you.”
Her lips twitched. “I imagine it goes faster with the engine turned on.”
“You could always ask Rae to push while you steer.”
She laughed. “I’m sure she’d be willing to try, but I don’t think we’d get very far.” Her gaze skipped to his cluttered desk and the mess he’d made of things. “Looks like you’re having a bad bookkeeping day.”
“Yeah, I am.” He tucked his fingertips into the pockets of his jeans. He didn’t think he’d ever had a good bookkeeping day. “Numbers just aren’t my thing. They make me crazy.”
“Is there something I can help you with? We don’t have to be at the motel right at three o’clock.”
“No, that’s—” He mentally stepped on the brakes. He had a problem and needed help. Janelle needed a part-time job and a place to stay while she house hunted. Maybe, just maybe...
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Look, I just had an idea. I’m sort of in trouble with the IRS. I messed up my tax return, I guess.” Big-time! “Maybe we could help each other out. You stay in the cottage for as long as you need to while you’re house hunting, and in your spare time you can straighten out the mess I’ve made with my taxes. I could pay you whatever you think is right.”
Janelle’s jaw dropped. He was offering her a place to stay and a job?
“I...I don’t know.” Her gaze fell on his desk. A chaos of paperwork covered the top, and one drawer was so full it couldn’t be closed. On some level that much disorder offended her sensibilities, and her fingers itched to straighten out the mess. Fix it.
“You and Rae would be a lot more comfortable here than at the Pine Tree Inn,” he pointed out. “Not that it’s a bad motel. But here you have the run of the house. The lake’s right at your doorstep.” He shrugged as if it should be the easiest decision in the world.
It should be, except that staying in such close proximity to Adam was far too tempting. “Isn’t there an accountant here in town?”
“Sure there is.” He took a couple of steps toward her. His eyes looked tired, his hair mussed. “Except I don’t like everyone in town to know my business. You seem like someone who could keep stuff confidential.”
She sensed there was more to his story than he was telling. “Just how much trouble are you in with the IRS?”
He shifted his gaze to a couple of cars in the garage that were waiting for repair and cleared his throat. “They’ve put a lien on my bank accounts. There’s a hearing in a couple of weeks. If I don’t have my books in order by then...”
He left the thought hanging, but Janelle knew that it would mean big problems for him. With fines and penalties, the problems could be big enough to bankrupt him. She wondered how he’d gotten himself into such a deep hole.
“I only took one class in tax accounting in college, and that was years ago. Beyond that, I’ve done the family taxes and my husband’s business returns.” She eyed the paper maze on the desk again. Would she even be able to find the bottom of the pile? “I’m not all that experienced if you’ve got a complicated return.”
He brought his gaze back to hers. “There are a couple of schedules for the business. Not much else. It shouldn’t be that hard. I’ve got one of those computer programs that’s supposed to do all the adding and stuff.”
Then why couldn’t he do it himself? Because he’d established no sense of order? Or was he simply averse to dealing with the IRS?
She worried a loose button on her blouse, trying to think what she should do. Free rent for a month or two plus a little cash would help her stretch her funds. She already knew Rae didn’t want to leave Hailey; she’d become quite attached to the girl in just two days. So had Janelle, for that matter.
And she would enjoy the challenge of putting things right in Adam’s financial world.
But the real kicker, the thing that made Janelle want to agree to stay the most, was that Adam had an uncanny way of getting Raeanne to relax. To be herself. To speak, however haltingly. How could she walk away from that?
She took a deep breath. “All right, I’ll stay.”
“Great!” The strain around his eyes and the tightness of his shoulders visibly eased.
“Tomorrow you can show me what you’ve got. If it’s too complex a tax return for me to handle, I’ll tell you.” Or if it would be better to light the desk on fire and start over. “Then you’d have to find someone else. I have no desire to get you into more trouble with the IRS than you’re already in because of my inexperience.”
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