Light brown hair spread out over a white pillow, dark lashes forming crescents against her cheek. Rachel looked about sixteen, instead of nearly thirty. Her little sister, whom she loved, fought with, bossed, protected. Her throat choked, and the tears shed been holding back spilled over.
Cal picked up a five-month-old newsmagazine and slumped into a molded plastic chair. The dragons guarding the third floor wouldnt have let him in, obviously, so hed just wait until the sister came back down again. Maybe tonight wasnt the time, but he had a few things hed like to say to Andrea.
He frowned, uninterested, at the magazine, seeing instead the face of the woman whod just gone upstairs. On the surface, shed been much like hed expected from the things her sister and grandmother had said and from the photo on Katherines mantel.
Glossy, urban, well dressed in a rising young executive way, with silky blond hair falling to her collarbones in one of those sleek, tapered cuts that every television newswoman wore now. Eyes like green glass, sharp enough to cut a man if he werent careful.
Well, he was a very careful man, and he knew enough not to be impressed by Ms. Andrea Hampton.
Not that her sister or grandmother had ever bad-mouthed her, but the picture had formed clearly enough in his mind from the things they said, and from her absence. Her elderly grandmother and her sister were struggling to get their bed-and-breakfast off the ground, and Ms. Successful Young Executive couldnt be bothered to leave her high-powered life long enough to help them.
Not his business, he supposed, but despite his intent to live in isolation, hed grown fond of Katherine and her granddaughter in the time hed been renting the barn on the Unger estate. Hed thought, when his wanderings brought him to Lancaster County, that he just wanted to be alone with his anger and his guilt. But Katherine, with her understated kindness, and Rachel, with her sweet nature, had worked their way into his heart. He felt a responsibility toward them, combined with irritation that the oldest granddaughter wasnt doing more to help.
Still, hed been unjust to accuse her of careless driving. Shed been going the speed limit, no more, and he had seen the flash of her brake lights just before shed rounded the curve.
Her taillights had disappeared from view, and then hed heard the shriek of brakes, the crunch of metal, and his heart had nearly stopped. Hed rounded the curve, fearing hed see a buggy smashed into smithereens, its passengers tossed onto the road like rag dolls.
Thank the good Lord it hadnt come to that. It had been the car, half on its side in the ditch, which had been the casualty.
Come to think of it, somebody might want to have a talk with young Jonahs father. The boy had said hed just pulled out onto the main road from the Mueller farm. He had to have done that without paying much attentionthe approaching glow of the cars lights should have been visible if hed looked. All his attention had probably been on the pretty girl next to him.
He didnt think hed mention that to Andrea Hampton. She might get the bright idea of suing. But hed drop a word in Abram Yoders ear. Not wanting to get the boy into troublejust wanting to keep him alive.
Giving up the magazine as a lost cause, he tossed it aside and stared into space until he saw the elevator doors swish open again. Andrea came through, shoulders sagging a bit. She straightened when she saw him.
You didnt need to wait for me.
He rose, going to her. Yes, I did. I have your things in my truck, remember?
Her face was pale in the fluorescent lights, mouth drooping, and those green eyes looked pink around the edges. He touched her arm.
You want me to get you some coffee?
She shook her head, and he had the feeling she didnt focus on his face when she looked at him. His nerves tightened.
What is it? Rachels going to be all right, isnt she?
They say so. Her voice was almost a whisper, and then she shook her head, clearing her throat. Im sure theyre right, but it was a shock to see her that way. Both of her legs are broken. A shiver went through her, generating a wave of sympathy that startled him. And she has a concussion. The doctor I spoke with wouldnt even guess how long it would be until shes back to normal.
Im sorry to hear that. His voice roughened. Rachel didnt deserve this. No one did. He could only hope they caught the poor excuse for a human being whod left her lying by the side of the road. If he were still an attorney, hed take pleasure in prosecuting a case like that.
Andrea walked steadily toward the exit. Outside, she took a deep breath, pulling the tailored jacket close around her as if for warmth, even though the May night didnt have much of a bite to it.
Ill just get my things and then you can be on your way. She managed a polite smile in his direction.
How do you plan to get to your grandmothers? I called to have your car towed to the Churchville Garage, but I dont imagine itll be drivable very soon.
She shoved her hair back in what seemed to be a habitual gesture. It fell silkily into place again. Thank you. I didnt think about the car. But Im sure I can get a taxi.
Not so easy at this hour. Ill drive you. He yanked the door open.
I dont want to take you out of your way. Youve done enough for me already, Mr. Burke. Her tone was cool. Dismissing.
He smiled. Cal. And you wont be taking me out of my way. Didnt you know? Im your grandmothers tenant.
He rather enjoyed the surprised look on her face. Petty of him, but if she kept in better contact with her grandmother, shed know about him. Still, he suspected that if he were as good a Christian as he hoped to be, hed cut her a bit more slack.
I see. Well, fine then. She climbed into the truck, the skirt she wore giving him a glimpse of slim leg.
He wasnt interested in any woman right now, least of all a woman like Andrea Hampton, but that didnt mean he was dead. He could still appreciate beautiful, and thats what Andrea was, with that pale oval face, soft mouth and strong jawline. Come to think of it, shed gotten the stubborn chin from her grandmother, who was as feisty a seventy-some-year-old as hed met in a long time.
She didnt speak as he drove out of the hospital lot. He didnt mind. God had been teaching him patience in the past year or so, something hed never thought of before as a virtue. He suspected shed find it necessary to break the silence sooner than he would.
Sure enough, theyd barely hit the highway when she stirred. You said you were my grandmothers tenant. Does that mean youre living in the house? Her hands moved restlessly. Or inn, I guess I should say, given Grams and Rachels project.
She didnt approve, then. He could hear it in her voice.
I rent the barn from your grandmother. The newer one, behind the house. Ive been there for six months now, and in the area for nearly a year.
Healing. Atoning for his mistakes and trying to get right with God, but that was something he didnt say to anyone.
The barn? Her voice rose in question. What do you want with the barn? Do you mean you live there?
He shrugged. I fixed up the tack room for a small apartment. Comfortable enough for one. I run my business in the rest of it.
What business? She sounded suspicious.
He shrugged. I fixed up the tack room for a small apartment. Comfortable enough for one. I run my business in the rest of it.
What business? She sounded suspicious.
He was tempted to make something up, but he guessed shed had enough shocks tonight. I design and make wood furniture, using Amish techniques. If you pick up any wood shavings on your clothes, thats why.
I see. The tone reserved judgment. Grams never mentioned it to me.
Well, you havent been around much, have you?
He caught the flash of anger in her face, even keeping his eyes on the road.
I speak with my grandmother and my sister every week, and they came to stay with me at Easter, not that its any of your concern.
They were coming into the village now, and he slowed. There wasnt much traffic in Churchville, or even many lights on, at this hour. The antique shops and quilt stores that catered to tourists were long since closed.
He pulled into the drive of the gracious, Federal-style Unger mansion, its Pennsylvania sandstone glowing a soft gold in the light from the twin lampposts hed erected for Katherine. He stopped at the door.
He wouldnt be seeing much of Andrea, hed guess. Shed scurry back to her busy career as soon as she was convinced her sister would recover, the anxiety shed felt tonight fading under the frenzied rush of activity that passed for a life.
Thank you. She snapped off the words as she opened the door, grabbing her bags, obviously still annoyed at his presumption.
No problem.
She slammed the door, and he pulled away, leaving her standing under the hand-carved sign that now hung next to the entrance to the Unger mansion. The Three Sisters Inn.
TWO
Andrea had barely reached the recessed front door when it was flung open, light spilling out onto the flag-stones. In an instant she was in Gramss arms, and the tears she didnt want to shed flowed. They stood half in and half out of the house, and she was ten again, weeping over the mess her parents were making of their lives, holding on to Grams and thinking that here was one rock she could always cling to.
Grams drew her inside, blotting her tears with an unsteady hand, while her own trickled down her cheeks. Im so glad youre here, Dree. So glad.
The childhood nickname, given when two-years-younger Rachel couldnt say her name, increased the sensation that shed stepped into the past. She stood in the center hall that had seemed enormous to her once, with its high ceiling and wide plank floor. Barney, Gramss sheltie, danced around them, welcoming her with little yips.
She bent to pet the dog, knowing Barney wouldnt stop until she did. I went to the hospital to see Rachel. They told me youd already gone home. I should have called you.
Grams shook her head, stopping her. Its fine. Cal phoned me while you were with Rachel.
He didnt say. Her tone was dry. Nice of him, but he might have mentioned hed talked to Grams.
He told me about the accident. Gramss arm, still strong and wiry despite her age, encircled Andreas waist. Piercing blue eyes, bone structure that kept her beautiful despite her wrinkles, a pair of dangling aqua earrings that matched the blouse she woreGrams looked great for any age, let alone nearly seventy-five. Two accidents in one night is two too many.
That was a typical Grams comment, the tartness of her tone hiding the fear she must have felt.
Well, fortunately the only damage was to the car. Shed better change the subject, before Grams started to dwell on might-have-beens. She looked through the archway to the right, seeing paint cloths draped over everything in the front parlor. I see youre in the midst of redecorating.
Gramss blue eyes darkened with worry. The opening is Memorial Day weekend, and now Rachel is laid up. I dont know She stopped and shook her head. Well, well get through it somehow. Right now, lets get you settled, so that both of us can catch a few hours sleep. Tomorrow will be here before you know it.
Where are you putting me? She glanced up the graceful open staircase that led from the main hall to the second floor. Is that all guest rooms now?
Grams nodded. The west side of the house is the inn. The east side is still ours. She opened the door on the left of the hall. Come along in. We have the back stairway and the rooms on this side, so thatll give us our privacy. Youll be surprised at how well this is working out.
She doubted it, but she was too tired to pursue the subject now. Or to think straight, for that matter. And Grams must be exhausted, physically and emotionally. Still, she couldnt help one question.
What was she doing out there? Rachel, I mean. Why was she walking along Crossings Road alone after dark?
She was taking Barney for a run. Gramss voice choked a little. Shes been doing that for me since she got here, especially now that things have been so upset. Usually theres not much traffic.
That made sense. Rachel could cut onto Crossings Road, perpendicular to the main route, without going into the village.
She trailed her grandmother through the large room that had been her grandfathers library, now apparently being converted into an office-living room, and up the small, enclosed stairway. This was the oldest part of the house, built in 1725. The ceilings were lower here, accounting for lots of odd little jogs in how the two parts of the Unger mansion fit together.
Grams held on to the railing, as if she needed some help getting up the stairs, but her back was as straight as ever. The dog, who always slept on the rug beside her bed, padded along.
Her mind flickered back to Gramss comment. What do you mean, things have been upset? Has something gone wrong with your plans?
She could have told them, had told them, that they were getting in over their heads with this idea of turning the place into an inn. Neither of them knew anything about running a bed-and-breakfast, and Grams was too old for this kind of stress.
Justjust the usual things. Nothing for you to worry about.
That sounded evasive. Shed push, but they were both too tired.
Her grandmother opened a door at the top of the stairs. Here we are. I thought youd want your old room.
The ceiling sloped, and the rosebud wallpaper hadnt changed in twenty years. Even her old rag doll, left behind when her mother had stormed out of the house with them, still sat in the rocking chair, and her white Bible lay on the bedside table. This had been her room until she was ten, until the cataclysm that split the family and sent them flying off in all directions, like water droplets from a tornado. She tossed her bags onto the white iron bed and felt like crying once more.
Thanks, Grams. Her voice was choked.
Its all right. Grams gave her another quick hug. Lets just have a quick prayer. She clasped Andreas hands, and Andrea tried not to think about how long it had been since shed prayed before tonight.
Hold our Rachel in Your hands, Father. Gramss voice was husky. We know You love her even more than we do. Please, touch her with Your healing hand. Amen.
Amen, Andrea whispered. She was sure there were questions she should ask, but her mind didnt seem to be working clearly.
Night, Grams. Try and sleep.