For Love of Charley (12 page)

“Good morning to you, too.” He smiled down
at her. “How’s your leg today?”

“Not even sore. I think the patient will
live, Dr. Jordan.”

“And is the patient hungry?”

“Starved. Is that bacon I smell?”

He gave her another quick kiss and released
her. “Bacon and scrambled eggs. I just finished eating. Sit down and I’ll get
you a plate.”

Charley pulled out a chair. “You know,
you’re going to spoil me.”

“I’m doing my best.” Cole grinned as he
slid a pile of food in front of her.

She dug in. “If you keep this up, I’m going
to get fat,” she warned around a mouthful of eggs.

Cole turned a chair backwards and straddled
it, cup of coffee in hand. “Don’t worry. Even if you can’t fit through the
door, I’ll still…”

Charley peeped up from her food. He had the
strangest look on his face. “Still what?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I lost my
train of thought.”

She gave a mental shrug. “Who was that on
the phone earlier?”

“That was Roger King. He’s the head of
Jordan Security. I left a message on the machine in his office earlier and he
was returning the call.”

“Oh. Did Hank ever call?”

Cole crossed his arms on the back of the
chair. “Yes, he called a little earlier this morning. You were sleeping so
soundly I didn’t want to wake you.”

“And?”

“He said the stairs had been tampered with.
The braces were knocked out from under them, and the nails pried loose from the
frame.”

A chill ran through Charley and she
shivered. “You mean it was done deliberately? Why would someone do that?”

Picking up his coffee, Cole took a drink
before replying. “There’s not much telling. Maybe it was just a bunch of kids
looking for some mischief to get into.”

She frowned and put her fork next to her
plate. “Kids don’t do things like that, Cole. They use spray paint, or break
windows. I can’t see them going to all that trouble. This sounds like someone
knew what they were doing. You know,” she mused, “it could be someone who
doesn’t like what you’re doing here.”

Her frown deepened. “Although the only one
I know of who hasn’t been a hundred percent behind you is Uncle Victor, and
it’s ridiculous to think he’d do anything like that.”

When he didn’t answer she searched his face
intently, a knot of anxiety forming in her stomach. “Cole, you don’t think
Uncle Victor is behind this, do you? What reason could he possibly have? He
knows that one minor act of vandalism wouldn’t stop you. And in spite of his
reservations, deep down he knows that this will be good for Canyon Bend.”

“I don’t know who did it, Charley. We may
never know.”

She pushed her chair back and stood. “I
think we should call Ben. He’s the sheriff. If someone is trying to sabotage
the Duncan Mills project, he needs to know it. Maybe he’s even heard
something.”

“Charley, I doubt there’s anything he can
do except chalk it up to vandalism. Whoever did it sure didn’t leave his
business card. It was probably just a one-time thing.”

“I’d still feel better if you called him.”

Cole sighed, then smiled. “Okay, why don’t
you go get dressed while I do that, and then we’ll head out to Sam Tyree’s.
Don’t forget, you’re supposed to pick up your pup today.”

“Thank you.” Charley leaned down and
brushed his lips with hers. “I’ll be right back.”

* * * * *

They decided to take Charley’s Blazer since
she wanted to stop and get supplies for her new pet. “Do you think I forgot
anything?” she asked, eyeing the bags filled with puppy chow, bowls, flea
shampoo, and a collar complete with leash, as they headed toward Sam’s ranch.

“A fund for his college education?” Cole
commented blandly. “I wouldn’t worry about it. You’ve got the basics. If you
need anything else, you can get it later.”

“I guess you’re right. So, what did Ben
say?” She turned back to face the front.

Cole shrugged. “Pretty much what I told you
he would. He’s going out to take a look and talk to Hank, but he doesn’t hold
much hope of finding out who did it.”

“Well, at least he knows.” She pointed.
“The turnoff for Sam’s ranch is the next on the right.”

The hot, wet tongue ran over her face with
frantic enthusiasm, and Charley laughed. Her hands offered scant protection from
the attack. The pup was too fast. He was half Malamute, and even at six weeks
old, he was huge.

Cole lowered himself to the floor next to
her. Immediately the pup altered his attention, growling with mock puppy
ferocity at Cole’s booted foot. “Have you decided what you’re going to name him
yet?”

Charley propped her head on one hand and
smiled up at him. “No. Any suggestions?”

“Nothing that wouldn’t sound stupid by the
time he grew up.” He shrugged. “You’ll think of something.”

“I think I just did. Whiskey.” She stood
and lifted the pup, carrying him to his crate. “Do you like that name? Huh?” He
gave a sharp bark, his tail wagging his entire body. “Okay, then Whiskey it
is.” She deposited him in the crate. “Think you can survive a few hours alone
tonight, fellow?”

“Going somewhere?” Cole arched an eyebrow
in question.

Charley turned to look at him. “Yes. It’s
Saturday night, Cole. I have to go to the Red Dog. I’ve been neglecting it for
too long. Even with Frank and Diane both working, they’ll need some help.”

“Want me to go with you?”

She watched him unfold his lean body, and
then put her hand on his chest. “There’s not much point.” She smiled to soften
her refusal. “I’ll be busy all night, and we won’t close until early in the
morning.”

Cole’s arms went around her and pulled her
against him, and for a moment, Charley just closed her eyes and luxuriated in
his warmth. He made her feel safe, protected. Loved. The thought jarred her out
of her complacency. It was all right to love him, she reminded herself, just as
long as she didn’t start expecting the same in return. Down that path led more
pain than she could handle.

Regretfully, she started to push away from
him, but his arms tightened, holding her in place.

“Would you like to go on a picnic
tomorrow?”

She tilted her head back to meet his eyes
and hesitated. “Can we do it Monday instead? I really need to go see Uncle
Victor tomorrow. I think he’s feeling a little lonely lately.” Charley slid her
hand up his chest to cup his nape. “Why don’t you come by tomorrow evening.
I’ll fix something for supper.”

“Deal.” He leaned down and kissed her, a
long, deep kiss that had her gasping for air and weak-kneed when he finally
released her. Her pulse was still hammering as he turned and picked up his
keys, and the look in his eyes did strange things to her stomach. “I’ll see you
tomorrow evening.” His voice was a husky murmur, and he brushed her lips again
before leaving.

Charley waited until the sound of his car
faded in the distance, then went to change. The house seemed strangely empty
without Cole in it. But she needed the time alone, away from him. She couldn’t
think straight when he was near. And she had to think.

Despite how she’d acted with Cole earlier,
she was worried about the accident at Duncan Mills. Even though he hadn’t said
so, she had seen his eyes when she’d said Uncle Victor wouldn’t do something
like that. He didn’t believe her. For some reason, Cole thought her uncle was
quite capable of arranging an accident like the one that had almost killed them.
And she wanted to know why. She was beginning to feel like she’d been trapped
in a giant jigsaw puzzle and she was a few pieces short of the entire picture.

Brace yourself, Uncle Vic
, she thought.
Tomorrow, I’m going to get some answers.

* * * * *

The two-story Victorian house had changed
very little since Charley had first come here as a child. Its white paint
sparkled in the morning sun, the scent of roses and bougainvillea filling the
air. All the windows were open, lacy curtains stirring in the soft breeze.

She stopped the Blazer in the circle drive,
stepped out, and paused for a moment, watching the hummingbirds busily flit
from flower to flower, their tiny jeweled bodies dazzling to the eye. With one
hand, she set the porch swing in motion as she walked to the door. As a young
girl, she had spent uncounted hours on that swing, dreaming about Cole. At
thirteen she’d thought he was the most handsome boy in the world. The fact that
his clothes had been old and worn had only made him seem more romantic to her.
Of course, at that age, he’d ignored her completely. But that hadn’t kept her
from hoping. Hoping that some day he’d really look at her and see that she was
the love of his life.

And suddenly, the year she was a junior in
high school, the miracle had happened. She could even pinpoint the exact moment
he had really noticed her.

Being head of the decoration committee for
the junior-senior banquet had just been another way of saying,
“congratulations, you get to do all the work.” The day before the banquet she
was in the gym, hanging streamers. But when Cole walked in, she forgot
everything she was doing.

From her perch on the ladder, she had
watched him, loving the way he moved. Even with a load of books under his arm
he was graceful and assured. Craning to keep him in sight, she had
over-balanced and knocked the cardboard box holding the rolls of crepe paper
off the ladder. The box landed with a smack right in front of him, narrowly
missing his head.

Dying from embarrassment, she saw his eyes
lift, run slowly over her from her feet to the top of her head, then back to
her eyes. Suddenly, he’d smiled.

Fighting an insane urge to tug down the hem
of her short skirt, she almost fell in her haste to get off the ladder. “I’m
sorry! It was an accident.”

“That’s good to know.” His voice was a soft
drawl, tinged with amusement. “I’d hate to think you were
trying
to kill
me.” He picked up the box and handed it to her.

“Are you going to the banquet tomorrow
night?” She closed her mouth in horror, wondering what had possessed her to
blurt the question out, knowing her cheeks were blood red.

His gaze moved over her again. “No. I’m
not. But the gym looks nice.”

“Thanks,” she said inanely.

He grinned at her again. “I have to go.
Next time, Charley, hang on to the box.”

Her heart had literally stopped beating. He
knew her name.

Charley chuckled at the memory. After that
day, he’d talked to her every time they met in the halls, even flirted with
her, and she’d waited impatiently for him to ask her out. But he hadn’t. Not
until the night she’d graduated.

Cole had been working at the gas station
near the school, and she’d stopped to fill the tank of her truck, a graduation
present from Uncle Victor. She still remembered the way her heart had lurched
when she’d felt Cole’s hand close around hers on the nozzle. And the look in
his eyes had almost sent the gas they were pumping up in flames. It had been
obvious he was done waiting.

That night had been the first time he’d
taken her to the glade, but certainly not the last. It had been so hard not to
give in to his attempts to make love to her, especially when she’d wanted him
as badly as he did her. But the memory of her mother’s promiscuity had always
stopped her. The thought of suffering the same heartbreak and gradual loss of
self-esteem was more than she could bear. Until that last night.

Charley sighed. She had been so sure that
he loved her and wanted her that night. Why else would he ask her to marry him?
So she had given in to her longings, her love. And it had been wonderful. Cole
had taken his time, and in the process made it the experience that every girl
dreams it can be. She still ached with longing every time she thought about it.

The front door of her uncle’s house flew
open to reveal Letta’s smiling face. “Miss Charley, are you gonna stand out
there daydreaming, or are you gonna come in?”

“Hi, Letta.” Charley returned the
housekeeper’s smile. “Is Uncle Vic here?”

“He’s in the study. You just go on in and
I’ll set another place at the dinner table.”

“Thanks, Letta, but I just ate breakfast
about an hour ago. I promise I won’t keep Uncle Vic long, though.”

“You visit all you want to, Miss Charley.
Food won’t be ready for at least another hour yet.”

Charley nodded and headed for the study.
The doors were open and Uncle Vic was sitting in a chair by the window, a glass
of iced tea near his hand and a book opened on his lap. She didn’t see Douglas
until he shifted slightly. As usual, her uncle’s shadow chose to make himself
almost invisible. It was uncanny, the way the man could vanish and still be in
plain sight.

“Douglas,” she smiled at him and got a
polite nod in return. “Uncle Vic.” She leaned down and kissed her uncle’s
cheek.

“Charley! I didn’t expect to see you until
tomorrow. Douglas, go tell Letta that Charley will be here for dinner.”

“Thanks, Uncle Vic, but I already told her
I couldn’t stay. I dropped by today because I needed to talk you, and Cole is
coming over for dinner tonight.”

Victor’s smile faded a little. “Sit down.”
He gestured at the chair next to him. “Seems like you and Jordan are spending a
lot of time together lately.”

Charley sat, turning so she could face him.
“Uncle Victor, Cole has asked me to move in with him.”

Carefully, he closed his book and placed it
on the table. “Do you really think that’s a good idea, Charley? This is a small
town. People are going to talk.”

“Talk is the least of my worries. But I
haven’t told him yes, yet.”

Victor rubbed his eyes with one hand, and
for the first time Charley noticed the lines on his forehead and around his mouth.
He looked tired.

“That’s what you’re here for? To get my
blessing?” He shook his head. “I can’t give it to you, darlin’. I think you’d
be making the biggest mistake of your life.”

“No, that’s not why I’m here. The decision
to live with Cole has to be mine alone, Uncle Vic.” She hesitated. “The reason
I’m here is because there was an accident at Duncan Mills yesterday. If it
hadn’t been for Cole, I might have been killed.” It was with a sense of relief
that she watched her uncle’s face pale.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice
shaking.

She told him, sparing none of the details.
“At first, I thought it might be someone who was against the Duncan Mills
project, but you’re the only one I know of who isn’t thrilled with the concept.
I told Cole the idea was silly, but I got the impression he suspected you might
be involved somehow.”

Victor stood and moved to the window, his
back to her. “Do you think I am?”

“No, of course not. But I want to know why
Cole thinks you might be, Uncle Victor. I want to know what’s going on between
the two of you.”

“What has he told you?”

“That’s just it. He hasn’t told me
anything. Not about you, not about why he left ten years ago. Nothing.”

He was silent so long she had almost given
up when he finally turned to face her. “You’re right. You need to know the
truth.” Victor turned back to his chair. “I’m not proud of what happened,
Charley. It started a long time ago, when I was younger and a lot more foolish.
You see, I fell in love. In love with a woman who was married and had a child,
a son.” He smiled ruefully.

“I thought she loved me, too. We saw each
other for over a year, and it was the most wonderful year of my life. And the
most agonizing. I hated the thought of her living with a man she didn’t love,
taking care of him, sleeping in his bed. I wanted her to leave him, but she
wouldn’t. At first, she said she was staying for the boy, but near the end she
finally told me the truth. She didn’t love me. Never had, as a matter of fact.
She only wanted the things that my money could give her.”

Charley watched him closely, her heart
aching at the pain he must be feeling, reliving this part of his life.

“Even after it was over, I didn’t stop
loving her. I never have. That’s why I gave them a place to live for almost
nothing. I couldn’t stand the thought of her living in a shack.”

Shock ran over Charley, chilling her
bone-deep as realization hit her. “Maggie Jordan. You’re talking about Cole’s
mother.”

“Yes,” her uncle said quietly. “I’ll go to
my grave loving Maggie.” He raised his eyes to hers. “And that’s why Cole left
you ten years ago. Somehow, he found out about me and Maggie.”

Victor leaned forward and took her hands
between his. “Charley, he confronted me with it. He’d already been dating you
for a year then. He hates me for betraying his father, hates me for having an
affair with his mother. He wanted revenge, and he used you to get it. He knew
how much I loved you. So he made you fall in love with him, and when you did,
he left you.”

He dropped her hands in obvious agitation.
“Do you know what it was like for me, Charley? You tried to hide it, but I
could see how much you were hurting when he left. To have you in that much
pain, and know that something I’d done in the past had caused it almost killed
me. Please, darlin’. I’m begging you. Stay away from him. Don’t let him do the
same thing to you again. For both of our sakes.”

Charley could feel the blood draining from
her face. Pain and anger mixed in equal measures, leaving her shaking and
desperate. “Why? Why are you lying to me? I don’t know why Cole left me ten
years ago, but I know he didn’t make me love him for revenge. He couldn’t. I’ve
loved him since I was a little girl.”

“I’m not lying to you, darlin’. You know
I’d cut out my heart before I’d hurt you, but I can prove what I’ve told you.”
He stood and left the room, returning shortly with something in his hand.

It was a picture. Charley’s hand trembled
as she took it. From edges yellowed with time, a much younger version of her
uncle smiled down at the woman he was holding tightly against his side. The
woman was Maggie Jordan. From the flag draped bandstand behind them, it must
have been taken at the annual Fourth of July picnic.