Harrison Investigations 1 Haunted (38 page)

Harry winked at her. "There's some activity in this area
tomorrow. But we don't destroy the bridge anymore. Too
expensive."

"I can imagine," Darcy said.

"Still, you'll enjoy it, I promise!" Carter told her.

"Darcy, you should dress up," Clint said.

"I'm not a native," she told him.

Clint waved a hand in the air. "Half the Southerners today are
from New York. Who cares? And there's still a romance about the
Southern Cause. Oh, don't get me wrong. I have great friends who
are true loyal Yanks! But it doesn't matter, we're reenacting
history. Dress up, and ride with us. Not in the actual battle, of
course. But you can be one of our wives. It'll be great."

"Or she can belong to all of us," Carter said with a wink. "Camp
follower, you know."

"Carter, really!" Harry said with indignation.

"I'm sorry-prostitute. Penny did correct us, right?"

"That's not the point. Darcy is far too...dignified to be a camp
follower!"

"It's a reenactment!" Clint said, laughing. "We're not really
going to put a 'for hire' sign on her, or anything."

"We'll see," Darcy said, laughing. "I think I'm fresh out of
camp follower clothing, though."

"Penny can set you all up," Clint said cheerfully.

"Let's ride on," Harry said. "It's getting dark."

* * *

Matt had been soundly sleeping when he felt the fingertips
moving down his cheek.

Then he woke with a vivid start.

The room was mostly in shadow, with dusk upon them, and yet he
knew, instinctively, who it was.

"Lavinia!"

He bolted out of the bed and turned on the light. She was still
seated on the side of the bed, smiling.

"What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?" he
demanded.

She pouted, something she did very well. "What a greeting! When
I took the first plane down from New York just to show myself."

"That was great of you, Lavinia, really. But did you ever hear
of knocking? Who let you up here?"

"No one let me up. I told Penny I'd run up and see if you were
awake."

"You could have knocked."

She waved a hand in the air. "I know my way around." She smiled.
"Look at that! I think you're getting a touch of gray in your
hair."

"Time does go by." And it had. It had been years since he had
seen her. With the initial shock of her arrival over, he had to
admit, it had been pretty decent of her to come. He was actually
going to enjoy seeing Darcy's face when she met Lavinia. "But you,"
he said magnanimously. "You look great."

She did. Her hair was still long, red, and shining. She seemed
to have acquired more of a lithe, hourglass figure.

She stood. "You think so."

"Yep. You're even more...voluptuous than ever."

She grinned. "Okay, so I had a boob job. They did great work
though. Want to see?"

He laughed. "No, but thanks."

"Ah, so there's something going on with the ghost chaser,
huh?"

"Did you come because you were bored, Lavinia, or to help me
out?"

She reflected the comment honestly for a minute. "Okay, maybe I
was a little bored. But I did come to help you out."

"Want to really help me?"

"Sure."

"Get out of my bedroom. I'll be right down.''

Lavinia rose regally, stretching like a cat. She walked by him,
rising against him, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Maybe I'll still
be bored if the little ghost chaser goes away."

"Lavinia, we've been that route before. Let's be friends,
huh?"

She shrugged and started toward the door. "Your cousin still
hanging around here? And that handsome friend of his?"

"Clint-and Carter."

"Carter, yeah."

"They're still around, Lavinia."

"And they've gone through women like toilet paper, I take it.
But then again, I'm not the usual country fare, am I?"

"If you're trying to make me jealous, Lavinia, I told you, we've
been that route before."

Her smiled deepened. "I'm not trying to make you jeal-ous. I'm
just bored."

"I'm sure that both Carter and Clint will be around for
dinner."

"Good. I am hungry," she said, and at last departed his
room.

Darcy insisted on taking care of Nellie when they returned
to the stables, though Sam was waiting for them, and managed to
remove the horse's saddle the minute she had crawled out of it.
"They're waiting for you, up at the house," Sam told them.

"Waiting for us? Are we late for dinner? It's early," Carter
said.

Sam rolled his eyes. "We've got a visitor." He turned his back
on them, leading Tannenbaum back to his stall.

"A mystery. How cool," Clint said.

' 'What is it?'' Carter asked Sam, frowning.

Harry linked an arm with his. "Let's just go on up and see."

It looked as if Carter still wanted to protest but he was
dragged along. As they walked up the porch steps, Darcy knew that
she was curious herself. They walked into the foyer, and saw a
group sitting in the parlor.

Adam, up and dressed and looking very regal. Penny, flushed and
a little flustered. And Matt, casual in jeans and a knit polo
shirt.

And a woman.

A really gorgeous woman in tight black pants and a blue silk
shirt that enhanced her assets to a T.

She stood with the others as they entered.

"My Lord!" Clint breathed.

Matt smiled broadly at Darcy across the room. "Darcy! I think
the others have all met. This is Lavinia Harper. Lavinia, Darcy
Tremayne."

_______ 18____

Matt might have been mad as a hornet that morning, but now, he
was as smug as the Cheshire cat. He somehow refrained from
shouting, "
She's alive. See, see! My ex-wife
is alive
and well.''

And stunning. Smooth, elegant, and with perfect poise and
sophistication, though her eyes were still curious and judging when
they fell upon Darcy.

"Miss Tremayne! I've been reading about you all the way up in
New York." Lavinia took her hand in a truly decent shake.

"Have you?" she said dryly, then, "It's a pleasure to meet
you."

' 'Well, of course, it is,'' Lavinia said. ' 'With bones
popping up all over, I'm happy to prove that they're not
mine. But if you're a psychic, shouldn't you know that?"

"I've been trying to explain to Lavinia that dealing with the
mind is not always such an obvious thing," Adam said.

"Lavinia, you are gorgeous!" Clint told her.

"Clint! I haven't given you a hug yet." The woman flashed Darcy
a smile. "If they wanted to be honest, they'd all tell you that
it's not such a thrill to have me here, but these are true old-time
Southerners, determined on the old hospitality!"

"Lavinia, really. We're certainly pleased to have you," Penny
said stiffly.

Lavinia broke into laughter. "Her words a lie, her tone the
truth! Oh, Penny, don't go getting all flustered." She offered her
smile to Darcy again. "The boys, however, really don't mind too
badly, hm? Clint, I'm still waiting on the hug."

She walked toward him. Clint winked at Darcy and mouthed, "Yow!
Come to me, baby!"

She turned. Matt was looking at her. Still smug and pleased.

"Hey, any luck finding the bones?'' Carter asked Matt.

He shook his head. "But we will find them."

"What can I get you all to drink?" Penny asked.

"Beer for me, thanks, Penny," Clint said. Lavinia had gone on to
hug Carter and Harry.

"Ditto!" Carter said, over Lavinia's shoulder.

"A Coke for me," Harry called, next in line for the buxom
hug.

"Darcy?" Matt asked politely.

She met his eyes and smiled sheepishly. "A big any-thing," she
told him.

"Not too big. I just found out myself that Adam bought you a
present today," Matt said.

"Oh?" Darcy looked at Adam.

"I've been thinking about it a long time. Sam helped me out
after I made it out of bed," Adam said.

"How are you feeling?" Darcy asked him.

"Much better. Sleep helped a lot," Adam said.

"Yes, it does," Matt said. "Darcy, I'll get you a beer. Better
yet, come with me to the kitchen-if that's all right with you,
Adam?"

"Certainly," Adam said.

"What's going on?" Darcy asked.

"Your present is in the kitchen," Matt told her.

She followed him, and as he walked to the refrigerator, she
looked around. Then she heard a sound and solid bark. Matt grinned,
handing her the beer.

"A dog?" she said.

"Adam thought that, since you didn't seem able to stop yourself
from running around in the middle of the night, you should have a
big dog. She's around the counter in her crate, waiting to meet
you."

Darcy walked around the counter. Her tail wagging away, one of
the most beautiful German shepherds Darcy had ever seen was waiting
impatiently.

"She's gorgeous!" Darcy said.

"You can let her out."

"She full-grown?"

"Almost full-grown, and fully trained. And once she gets to know
you, she'll be your most loyal fan, and most ardent protector.
Hopefully, you won't send her after me. Now that you know that
Lavinia is alive and well."

Darcy had slipped the bolt on the crate and the dog was sniffing
and licking her hands. She looked at Matt. "I never really
thought-"

"Yes, but now you don't even have to suspect, huh?"

Darcy gave her attention to the dog.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"I'm sorry, too," he said.

"For?" she asked, looking up at him.

' 'For the times I have tried to convince myself that you were
just too eerie to get really close to," he said flatly.

"I'm still eerie."

"Not to me."

She smiled, but wondered if she really believed him.

"Lavinia is really as gorgeous as everyone said."

"Yes, she is," he agreed, but he shoved his way close to her,
despite the dog. "So help, huh?" he asked.

"Help?"

"Stick close."

"You need protection from her? Do you doubt yourself?"

"Not for a minute. But she's really the touchy-feely kind."

"Um," Darcy said, studying his eyes. "But you really do seem to
be in a good mood tonight. And I was warned that you were in a real
temper this morning. You must be happy to see Lavinia."

"I'm happy for you to see Lavinia," he said. She smiled, then
became serious. "But the bones were stolen," she reminded him.

He ran his fingers down her cheek, the touch gentle, his voice
like lead. "You mean more to me than the bones, but trust me, I'll
find them. I have the best forensic help you can get anywhere in
the world."

"Oh? Is that why you're not still down at the funeral home?"

"I've asked a friend in the FBI for help."

"To find old bones?"

"Do we know that they're old bones?"

She shook her head in response to his question, still studying
his eyes. He shrugged then. "You don't have to mention that fact.
Everyone will know soon enough. It's no great secret. But for
now..."

He was interrupted by a bark. The shepherd stood looking
up at them, wagging her tail.

"What's her name?" Darcy asked.

"Oola."

"Oola?"

"According to Sam, her breeder was very fond of the play
The
Producers,"
Matt explained with a smile.

"I see. Oola! Come on, let's go and tell Adam thanks!"

Darcy returned to the parlor with her beer and her dog. Matt
followed behind with the two bottles of beer for Clint and Carter
and a Coke for Harry.

"Thank God I wasn't drowning!" Carter said.

"A dog!" Clint exclaimed.

Darcy hunkered down with Oola, smiling at Adam. "She's beautiful
and a great gift, thank you so much, Adam."

"I've had a dog in mind for you for some time now," Adam said.
"Sam just happened to know the right folks. She's housebroken, six
months old, and she'll bond to you like glue, so he assures
me."

"Great animal," Clint said.

"Great protection," Matt said.

"Do ghosts get dangerous?" Lavinia asked.

"Apparently, the pursuit of them may be," Matt said. He was
staring at Harry. "That uniform is great on you," he said.

"Well, you'll be in uniform tomorrow, too," Harry told him.

"Not me. I've got business out of town," Matt said.

"Matt Stone!" Penny protested. "You can't go out of town."

"Penny, I wasn't going to ride with a unit, no matter what. I
was going to be crowd control, you know, act like the sheriff.
Thayer can handle it all, though."

"Matt, Penny has a point," Adam said. "You should be here. After
all, this is Stoneyville."

"Clint is a Stone. He'll have to do."

"Wow. Great. Thanks," Clint said.

"Sorry. I didn't mean it that way," Matt said
sheepishly.

"You're the one so big on tourism, Matt. On showing folks our
little piece of Virginia. You're so gung ho on opening historic
houses and buildings. How can you fail to be part of a
reenactment?"

"Yeah, Matt!" Clint said.

"I have really important business," he told them.

"Darcy is going to be part of it," Clint told him.

"Oh?" Matt arched a brow to her.

She shrugged. "They think I should dress up, at least."

"What fun!" Lavinia put in. "I'd love to playact."

"You are more than invited to join us," Carter said
graciously.

"I'll be there."

Oola barked, as if agreeing that she'd participate as well,
causing them all to laugh.

"Even Oola will be there," Penny told Matt.

Darcy was surprised to see him suddenly hesitate, which seemed
strange. He'd been so definite. "You know," he said, "there was a
General Stone. But he was nowhere near Stoneyville during the
fighting. He was surrounding Richmond at the time."

"Matt, you've always taken part before," Clint reminded
him. He looked at Darcy. "He's usually Ian Ripley, a cavalry
captain, like Harry."