Hazardous Homecoming Read online

  “Hank Bradford?” Ruby gaped. “He was stealing?”

  Cooper knew there was more. “And you found out something else, didn’t you? In the course of your investigation?”

  Perry’s gaze traveled around the room before he answered. “I learned that Molly Pickford was involved with Hank.”

  “Having an affair, you mean,” Cooper said.

  “Yes. It changed Wallace, to find that out. I think he could forgive the infidelity in time, but the way he found out was painful.”

  “You didn’t tell him, Dad?”

  He sighed. “I knew Molly. She’d always been a good friend, helped me get settled in here, and you know how she’s been a mother figure to you, Bee.”

  Ruby nodded.

  “Anyway, Molly begged me not to tell Wallace right away. She wanted a few days to figure out how to break it to him, so I complied. I provided him with evidence about Hank’s stealing, but I kept quiet about the affair until Molly could tell him. He felt...unmanned, I think when he did find out.”

  Cooper grimaced. “I can see how he would feel that way.”

  “Particularly because he didn’t hear it first from her. Small towns have robust gossip mills. Someone figured it out and everyone in town got wind of the affair before Molly could tell her husband. Pickford blamed me, accused me of hiding the truth and never intending to tell him. Wallace’s paranoia has just gotten worse over the years and he will never believe that Molly and I are just friends, nothing more.”

  “I didn’t think about it before, but I remember the sheriff driving by our house sometimes, when Molly was visiting,” Ruby said.

  “And now Hank has been popping into town again with Heather, helping her with her story.” Cooper folded his arms. “That’s got to make Pickford a little nuts, but the argument we saw was about you, Mr. Hudson. I’d say Pickford is not comfortable with the fondness between you and his wife.”

  Mick stood. “Cooper, my dad and Molly are friends. That’s all. Don’t imply anything else.”

  Cooper put down his mug and got to his feet. “I’m not implying. Pickford was. I’m just telling you that you’ve got enemies in this town, too. Some people consider the Hudsons to be the bad guys.” Cooper headed for the door, catching himself before he spewed out something to further fan the flames. What was he doing? He contemplated that as he stepped into the dappled sunlight. Trying to get even somehow? For what? The Hudsons thought the same thing everyone else did in the town. And why did his anger feel a whole lot like fear?

  He finally realized that someone was calling his name. He turned as Ruby caught up with him.

  “Cooper...”

  Her eyes were moist, cheeks flushed with two blooms of color. He swallowed. “Yes?”

  “That got out of hand.” She blew out a breath. “I just came out here to thank you for believing in my idiotic theory about the fish.”

  He felt the anger ebb several notches. Why could he not sustain a nice head of steam when she was around? “Maybe not so idiotic. It did lead us to the cave.”

  She shuddered. “Yes, and nearly got you killed.”

  “I’m fine. We’ll know more in the next few days.” He wished he could recapture the same light, ebullient feeling he’d shared with Ruby not three hours before, when they’d hiked through the magnificent forest, the place where both their passions entwined. “I’m going to take a shower, then, go into town and talk to Peter. Make sure he’s aware.”

  “May I... Could I catch a ride with you?”

  He blinked in surprise. “Sure. Why?”

  “My dad’s going to need the truck, and I wanted to bring Josephine some flowers.”

  He saw the sadness there on her face, and it cracked a piece of his heart. All his anger melted away, and he took her hand. “They won’t tell her anything, I’m sure, until they’re certain and the doctors feel she can handle it physically.”

  “I know. I was remembering that Alice was looking for flowers, the day she was taken.” Ruby turned anguished eyes on him. “She was going to bring them to her mother.”

  Cooper gathered Ruby to his chest then and held her steady against the tide of grief that washed through them both. Then his lips found their way to hers.

  An electric spark warmed his mouth, trickling into his heart and jumping along each nerve in turn. He slid his palm around her head, urging her closer, melding the two of them into one.

  When he let her go, they stood for a moment, breathless.

  Why had he given himself permission to kiss her like that?

  And why had that kiss turned his heart upside down?

  TEN

  Ruby sat in a patch of sunlight outside Cooper’s cabin while he showered, and mulled over the kiss. Her heart still thudded as she savored the feeling of his lips on hers, but the task that lay ahead cast a pall over the warmth. She dreaded the thought of seeing Josephine, but she knew it was her duty. They didn’t speak much during the drive to town. What was there to say?

  She could not imagine how the bizarre situation could be contained in words. The town of Pine Cliffs boasted more amenities than its tinier counterpart of Silver Peak. It was a place she’d only visited a few times. She had the same disconnected feeling she always did when she found herself in a place with many people, the disorientation she imagined a bear might feel as it emerged from hibernation. The Hudson family really had created a place apart, away from the hustle and bustle, removed from the community. Something uneasy floated up her spine, a vague and unsettled flutter. Heather’s words came back to her. They really do keep you in the dark. No, her dad was protective, that was all.

  They parked at The Evergreen, an old, rustic-style diner. At a little after two in the afternoon, the place was less than half-full. The smell of food made Ruby’s mouth water, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since the night before.

  “Buy you lunch?”

  Ruby laughed. “Can you hear my stomach growling?”

  “Not over the sound of my own.” He led the way in and they perused the handwritten chalkboard menu, which as Hank said, changed daily. The current offerings were a sundried tomato, basil and ham sandwich and spicy tortilla soup.

  “My dad would be excited about the soup. He thinks soup is nature’s perfect food. He always starts by putting a hunk of bread in the bottom of the bowl before he ladles up the soup. Mick does the same thing.”

  “Tempting idea. Two of the specials,” Cooper told the teen waitress.

  “And a cup of coffee,” Ruby added as they slid into a booth. The teen filled a mug for her and told them she’d bring the rest of their order shortly.

  The waitress told them Peter would be on a break soon.

  Ruby cupped the mug, holding it under her chin. “I can’t seem to warm up.”

  Cooper nodded, distracted. She was sure his mind was still on the scenario just played out with her family, or perhaps it lingered where hers did, in the quiet cave, halfway up the sandstone cliffs. Or could he possibly be remembering, and regretting, the kiss?

  Molly Pickford plopped onto the booth seat next to Ruby, enveloping her in a hug that nearly spilled her coffee. Ruby returned the embrace. “I’m so glad to see you.” She clung to the woman for a moment, holding tight to the comfort, allowing Molly to kiss her cheek. Molly was in her mid-fifties, with sparkling brown eyes and a chic bob of hair. Her vivacious personality was not a match for Wallace’s, for sure, Ruby thought.

  “I stopped by to see you a half hour ago, but Perry said you’d headed into town.” She smiled at Cooper and introduced herself. “You must be Cooper Stokes. We’ve never officially met. I heard you were back in town, visiting your brother.”

  Cooper sighed. “News travels around these parts.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Ruby tried to get Molly to join th
em for lunch, but the woman declined. “Listen,” she went on, eyes wide. “Perry said you found a locket, and Josephine went after you with a knife and her husband attacked you also.” She squeezed Ruby’s shoulders. “Are you okay? Perry insisted you were, but I had to see for myself.”

  So much had happened in the past few hours, she’d almost forgotten the locket. “I’m okay, thanks to Cooper.”

  Molly beamed another smile at him. “Knight in shining armor?”

  “No. Botanist in the right place at the right time.”

  “I see. Modest, too.” Her smile dimmed. “There’s something going on. Wallace has been at work since this morning and was supposed to be off at noon. He doesn’t fill me in, of course.”

  Ruby looked down at her coffee.

  Molly nodded. “You know what it is, don’t you?” She waved a hand. “Don’t worry. I won’t press you. I’ll wait to find out with the masses.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ruby said.

  “Don’t be, sweetie.” She pressed a kiss to Ruby’s cheek. “You’re one of the few people I know who doesn’t have something to be sorry for.” She got up.

  Cooper stood when she rose to go, earning another bright smile. “He’s a keeper,” she said.

  Ruby flushed. “We’re not...”

  Cooper interrupted. “You said Wallace has been at work all day?”

  She nodded. “I saw him long enough to have an argument with him this morning, but that’s it.” Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”

  “I’m a nosey botanist.”

  “Oh, I think there’s more to you than that.” She gave him a slow smile, then her gaze drifted to the counter. Ruby wondered if she was looking for Hank. “Anyway, I’ve got to go. Can’t stay around here long or I’ll find myself the subject of that rumor mill.” She wiggled her fingers at Ruby and left.

  Cooper sat again and the waitress delivered their lunches. Ruby toyed with her spoon. “Why did you ask about Wallace?”

  “Because she said he’d been on duty all day, but when he arrived at the lake, he was wearing civilian clothes.”

  “So he must have changed.”

  “Funny, huh?” Cooper said.

  Ruby didn’t answer. Funny was not the word she would have used.

  They did not see Peter during their meal so Cooper asked the waitress when he paid the bill. “He’s been on dish duty since the breakfast shift. I think he’s taking a break out back, right now.”

  Cooper thanked her and they exited the diner, circling around the back to a small break area for the employees. Peter was seated at a sun-worn picnic table with Heather Bradford. Unaware of their approach, Ruby saw him lean over and kiss Heather on the mouth. She returned the kiss, caressing his cheek.

  Cooper slowed, stiffened. “I didn’t realize they were that close.”

  Neither had Ruby. Heather popped the caps off the two glass bottles on the table in front of her and offered one to Peter. They clinked bottles and both drank deeply. Ruby heard Cooper’s sharp intake of breath, felt his body stiffen next to her. He bolted toward them.

  “What are you doing?” he demanded.

  Peter and Heather jerked in his direction.

  “Hey, little brother. What’s up?”

  Cooper grabbed the bottle from his brother’s hand. Ruby was just close enough to read the label.

  “If you wanted a root beer,” Peter said quietly, “you could’ve just asked.”

  Ruby could feel the wave of embarrassment emanating from Cooper as he slid the bottle back onto the table. “I’m sorry. I thought it was something else.”

  “I know what you thought.” Peter cocked his head. “Heather is aware that I’m an alcoholic, and she isn’t going to tempt me to break my sobriety.”

  Heather gave him a disdainful look. “Whether you believe me or not, I care about your brother. I’m not using him and I’m not going to hurt him.” She got up. “Why don’t you two chat? I’ll give you some space.” Peter protested, but Heather waved him off and went to sit in a plastic chair a few yards away, sipping her root beer.

  Ruby also stepped away as Cooper sank down next to his brother. Cooper’s shoulders slumped, head bowed. Ruby’s heart squeezed. He had leaped to the wrong conclusion and shamed his brother in front of Heather. Could the situation be any more painful?

  Heather gulped some root beer. “Cooper should have faith in Peter.”

  Ruby bridled. “Easy for you to say. You don’t know what he’s been through.”

  “And you do?”

  Heather’s eyes bored into Ruby, and she realized she didn’t really know what Cooper had endured, or Peter. Worse yet, until recently she hadn’t really cared, thinking only about how Alice’s disappearance had affected her own family.

  She thought about Heather’s prior revelation.

  Your father ruined mine.

  She’d been blind to so many things.

  You didn’t even realize what was going on right in your own household between your father and Sheriff Pickford, Hank and Molly. What else haven’t you realized?

  Heather shook her head. “Siblings. Makes me glad I don’t have any.”

  “Only child?”

  “Officially, I have a half sister. She’s in the army serving in Germany. We’re nothing alike, so I’m told.” Heather tapped the empty bottle on her leg. “I suppose that’s another pile of blame I could lay on your father, if I was inclined to be the whiney type.”

  “What?”

  “My mother, Victoria, was pregnant when your dad proved my father was taking money and having an affair with Molly. Even though we moved away to some podunk town, my mother never got over it. They weren’t officially married anyway, only engaged so I guess that made it easier for my mother to leave after I was a toddler. I stayed with my father and she moved on. Married a real-estate agent, had a daughter. Never showed much interest in me. It was as if she wanted to sponge away that portion of her life. And sponge me away in the process.”

  “Your dad made some bad choices. My father isn’t to blame for that.”

  “Yeah, I guess,” she added softly. “But you know what it’s like to grow up without a mother, don’t you? It’s easier to blame someone else than accept the fact that your mother doesn’t want you.”

  There was something stark and sad in Heather’s eyes. Though Ruby wanted to think of Heather as her enemy, she found herself taking a seat next to her and letting the truth spill out. “I miss my mother, even though I never really knew her. That sounds weird. I have to know her through other people’s recollections.”

  “Yeah. Been there. Still am. My father never wants to tell me a thing about Victoria, he’s so ashamed of what he did stepping out on her, I guess.” She watched Peter and Cooper talking. “Did you ever think that we’re destined to pass on all our garbage to our kids?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The infidelity thing. I’ve thought a lot about it. My dad’s father cheated on his wife, and my dad in turn stepped out on my mother. Like it was in their genes or something.”

  Ruby looked for the glint of anger in Heather’s eyes, but she did not see any. “You think Hank cheated because he learned it from his father?”

  “Maybe. Only difference was my grandmother stayed in spite of her two-timing husband. My dad says she stuck it out in that marriage until she died of a heart attack. Never left that dismal airfield in Texas that they ran together even though he gave her plenty of reason.”

  “Do you think in the back of his mind Hank believed your mother would stick around, too, like his mother did?”

  “I’m not sure. I think there were good reasons for my grandmother to stay in the marriage, which makes me wonder all the more.”

  “Wonder about what?”

  “What kind of a woman
could walk away from her child because of her husband’s sins?”

  The words fell quietly in the still space. Ruby thought about her own mother, desperately trying to dredge up memories that were not there. Did Victoria not realize the pain of abandonment that Heather would feel all her life?

  “You have no contact with your mother?”

  “Ah, sure. Victoria sends me birthday and Christmas cards. Sometimes the odd gift arrives in the mail. She came to my high school graduation. I remember she wore a blue dress with matching heels.”

  How painfully small were those little tokens of love, and how deeply Heather must crave them. Maybe it was the same need that drove Ruby to try on her mother’s elegant tailored clothing when she was sure her father was not around to see. To catch a scent of lingering perfume on the fabric, to see herself in the mirror and wonder if her hair was the same shade as her mother’s, to try to feel something for a woman she had never known.

  “That hurts.”

  “Yeah. I guess that’s why I think so often of Josephine. I pried it out of my father after I read an article and began badgering him about it. First time I ever saw him cry. Josephine loved that kid, from what my dad says, doted on her.” She laughed, a bitter sound. “A mom who doesn’t want a kid, and one who would give her last breath to find hers. Ironic.”

  Ruby was thinking tragic was more like it. “It will be over for Josephine, soon.” Her breath caught. “The wondering, I mean.”

  “And the hope, too.” Heather stood. “I feel somewhat responsible for Josephine’s pain. When I got permission from my publisher to investigate the story again, I looked her up. I asked a lot of questions about everyone, including you. Started her thinking and brooding, I’m afraid. Stirred the pot.”

  Ruby nodded. “Yes you did. She started wandering the woods, watching me.”

  “She won’t get her daughter back, but there’s one thing that she can still have and I’m going to keep digging until the truth comes out.”