Ruin (3 page)

I forked my eyebrow at Jane behind his back. Nobody with any amount of sanity could think Winter looked 'great.'

"So you just got off the bus," I said to his reflection in the glass. "Even though you'd just come from Riverside. That's a short ride."

He straightened and looked down at me through long, thick black lashes. "Yeah. I like history. This place seems to have a lot of it. I thought I might work here and just hang out for a while, but with no jobs going around..." He shrugged again and started walking.

Jane and I scurried to keep up with his long strides. "So what do you do when you're at home in Minneapolis?" I asked.

"Stop prying, Kate," Jane scolded. "She's nosy," she said to Ben. "It's a family trait that comes in handy maybe once in a lifetime. Otherwise it's just annoying."

He laughed. It was the first time he'd laughed, and I felt a twang of something in my chest as the rich, deep tones spread through me. On the other hand, I was mad at Jane. I glared at her, but she was smiling too. It happened so rarely, and it made me happy just seeing it, so I stopped glaring and laughed along with them.

Ben turned his soft gaze on me. My step faltered. There was something so gentle in those eyes, so
knowing
. It was riveting yet worrying at the same time. Worrying because I felt so at ease with him and calm. No one had ever made me feel like that so soon after a first meeting.

"Thanks for offering to help Jane," I said quickly. "She could do with it up at that big old place. I know it's only for one night, but it's not every day a stranger offers to help someone for no payment."

"A meal and a room isn't 'no payment,'" he said. "Besides, it's not like I have anything to do or any place to go right now."

"Oh? Why not? Everybody has somewhere to go."

Jane groaned. "Kate, shut up."

Ben chuckled. "It's all right. I can see she's naturally inquisitive, and since I'm naturally secretive, we're going clash. It'll make for an interesting evening if nothing else."

He said it with a twinkle in his eyes, one that brightened when he said 'evening.' Like he was looking forward to it.

As was I.

"This town's quiet," Ben said as we turned into the top of my street. "What happened to it?"

"The mills closed," I said. "People just left."

"Why didn't you and Jane?"

"Our families stayed." I expected him to ask why, and then I'd have to tell him my dad was the local cop and still had a job. But he didn't. He asked about Jane instead.

"Your grandmother didn't want to make a home for you somewhere else?"

"She lived here her whole life," Jane said, tucking her hands into the pockets of her denim skirt. "It's her home, and she wants to die here."

"She's never lived anywhere else?"

"No. Just Winter. Her father owned one of the two mills in this area."

"A mill owner? Interesting," he said softly.

Jane and I exchanged glances. I didn't know what was so interesting about being a mill owner. Years ago, the Merriweathers had been the wealthiest and most influential family in town, but their influence had faded when the money ran out, and the money ran out about the time Jane's parents died in a car crash ten years ago. Her grandmother had brought her up since then, although old Mrs. M had struggled financially. The grand old dame of Winter who'd once ruled over the town with her biting wit and strong sense of social order was now just the mad old lady living in the crumbling ruin by the river. It was sad really, but life moved on. Well, it moved on for everyone except Jane.

We neared my house. Jane's little red car was parked out front, and she popped the trunk for Ben to put his bag in.

"I'll be right back," I said, opening the gate. "Give me two minutes to throw some things in a backpack." I ran inside before Jane could protest. My last vision was of Ben leaning against Jane's car, his arms and ankles crossed, a small smile of amusement on his lips. Ever since he'd decided to stay the night, he'd been smiling a lot compared to when he'd first arrived. It made him less mysterious, but way more likeable.

"Mom!" I called out. "Are you home?"

"In the kitchen!"

Of course she was. My mother was always in the kitchen, baking or preparing dinner. She loved to cook and she was good at it, but with only Dad to cook for most of the time, she saw my homecoming as an opportunity to go crazy. I'd over-indulged in cookies and cakes all week.

"Hey," I said, pecking her on one pink cheek. Mom's cheeks were always pink, especially in summer. She had pale skin like me. It freckled easily, and we both blushed at the worst possible moments. That's where the similarity ended, however. Her hair was dark brown where mine was naturally light, and her eyes were dark too. Mine were pale blue like Dad's. She was curvaceous where I was slim, although not the skin and bone I used to be as a teenager. That never stopped her from trying to fatten me up every summer.

"Smells good," I said, grabbing a cookie off the tray. It was still warm but not too hot to eat. I got the whole thing in my mouth without dropping a single crumb.

"Jane not with you?"

I pointed outside.

"Call her in!" She made to move off, but I caught her arm and shook my head.

I swallowed my cookie before it was fully chewed. "I'm going to stay up at her house tonight. Is that okay?"

"Oh." Mom's face fell. "I was hoping you'd be here."

"Why? Do you have special plans?"

She looked at the cookies and shook her head. "You know how we like seeing you when you're back. We miss you and just want to have you all to ourselves."

It's weird because Mom and Dad always said they wanted to spend as much time with me as possible when I return, yet Dad never took time off work, and Mom did her thing in the kitchen, baking up a storm. I used to hope that they'd stop their normal life and all three of us could go on a vacation somewhere together. I gave up on that idea after the first summer vacation from college. For some reason, all they wanted to do when I came back to Winter was pretend that I'd never left.

"It'll just be for tonight," I said.

"Of course. You go. It'll be nice for you to have a sleepover with your friend."

"Thanks, Mom." I kissed her cheek again and she hugged me back. It was like slipping beneath a warm blanket, one that smelled of butter and Mom. "There's ages before I go back to college. We'll have plenty of time to spend together."

"I know."

"I better pack."

I pulled my backpack out of my wardrobe and threw some clothes and toiletries into it then rejoined my mother in the kitchen. She handed me a container filled with cookies and some steaks wrapped in butcher's paper.

"What's all this for?"

"Jane and Mrs. M could do with a decent meal. I worry about them, but neither will accept help. This way I can claim to be feeding you, and they can't mind."

"Good thinking." But it disturbed me to think that Jane and her grandmother weren't eating properly. Were things really that bad for them? I didn't know and that made me feel like the crappiest friend around. "There's a lot here," I said.

"That young man looks like he would take a lot of feeding."

"Ah. Yeah. I was going to tell you about him."

"Were you now?" She folded her arms and gave me a Mom look, the one that was meant to make me feel guilty without actually scolding me.

"He's going to do some work for Mrs. M around the house in exchange for lodging and dinner tonight." I hefted the wrapped steaks. "He'll do a lot for these." I laughed, but she kept frowning. "Don't worry, Mom. He's nice."

"What's his name?"

"Ben Parker."

"Where's he from?"

"Look, Mom, I have to go. We'll be fine. Don't worry."

She cocked her head to the side and gave me a glare I hadn't seen since I'd lied to her about skipping a day of school in tenth grade. "I'm your mother. I'm allowed to worry."

"You're not going to tell me to stay, are you?" I gave her a hug, not waiting for her answer.

"I stopped having that much influence over you the minute you accepted that place at UMD." She sighed. I felt like the most ungrateful daughter ever. "Won't you wait for your father to return from work? He can drive you to Mrs. M's place."

"Get him to call me later." I pulled away and headed out of the kitchen. She followed me.

"Not visit, mind, just call. I don't want him embarrassing me."

"Why not? Is this boy someone special?"

"We've just met him. And he's not a boy, he's twenty-four."

She
humphed
. "I don't think I like this. He could be anybody."

"How is it any different than a Bed and Breakfast taking in strangers? Except that they're paying."

"A B&B would have some sort of security in place." Her face brightened. "Ask him for identification. A social security number or something like that. Something that can trace him if he leaves."

"Sure, Mom." If it made her feel better, then I'd agree to anything.

She waved at Jane from the front door. Jane waved back. Ben walked right past me and up to Mom, held out his hand and introduced himself.

When Mom got over her shock, she shook his hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Ben. Take care out there now. The old Merriweather place has got some loose tiles and floorboards. Wouldn't want anyone twisting their ankle."

We got in Jane's car, Ben in front and me in the back seat. I waved to Mom until I couldn't see her anymore then slumped back with a heavy sigh.

"Anyone would think I was heading back to college," I said.

"She misses you like mad when you're not here," Jane said. "Your dad too."

"Don't I know it. The pressures of being an only child."

"Yeah," Jane said quietly. "Some days I'd kill to have a brother or sister."

"Do you have siblings, Ben?" I asked.

He was staring out the window, but I could see the shadows pass across his eyes in the reflection. "No."

"Aunts, uncles, cousins?"

He half turned in his seat and gave me a lopsided grin. "You still asking questions?"

"You still avoiding answering them?"

"I haven't avoided
all
of your questions."

"No, but enough to make me suspicious."

He turned more fully. His eyes darkened, his jaw hardened. "There's nothing to worry about, Kate. I'm not here to hurt anyone." He spoke low, his voice a deep melody. I felt myself believing everything he said.

I had to snap out of that mind-set. I didn't usually get sucked in by a sexy voice and polite manners. A good set of shoulders and eyes, yes, but not on such early acquaintance. I might have told Jane, Beth and Lucy that I'd had a few boyfriends since going to college—and it was true—but I'd never slept with any of them on a first date, or even a second one. Third time was the charm.

"Then why are you here?" I asked him. "It can't just be because you thought Winter looked interesting."

"Why not?" He turned back to the front and stared out the windscreen. "Besides, the bus doesn't leave until tomorrow and I need a roof over my head and food in my stomach."

It wasn't what I'd meant. I'd meant why had he got off the bus in the first place. Obviously he didn't have any money, so why not just keep on going to a bigger town since he already had a bus ticket? Who traveled without money anyway? And who the hell got off the bus in
Winter
?

Someone running from something, or someone.

We drove a short distance out of town to what most considered the prettiest part of the river. Black cottonwood trees lined the single-lane road, and the grassy banks of the river were dotted with purple wildflowers. A tall hedge shielded the Merriweather house from prying eyes.

Not that there was anyone who wanted to pry. Not anymore. Maybe once, when old Mrs. M's father and father-in-law both ruled the town with iron fists, and the mills were lucrative.

"Get the gate, will you, Kate," Jane said, pulling up at the giant iron double gates that marked the start of the long drive to the house.

"I'll do it," Ben said and hopped out of the car before I could.

"He's really polite," Jane said.

"And hot," I said, watching the way his arms bulged as he dragged the gates open. "Don't forget that."

"You can't see me, but I'm rolling my eyes at you right now."

I laughed. "I don't have to see you to know that. You're like my conscience."

"Then maybe you should listen to me more often."

Ben climbed back in, and we drove up the gravel drive. We rounded a corner and the house emerged from behind a bank of tall trees. I expected a gasp of wonder from Ben, but he said nothing, just stared at the Gothic mansion. He wasn't unaffected though. His hands curled into fists on his thighs, and his shoulders stiffened.

"It's a bit big for just Gran and me," Jane said, with an apologetic shrug. I'd never realized she was self-conscious about the massive house, but then again, she'd never shown it to a stranger before. It was quite the faded gem with its towers, turrets and dormer attic windows, two of which were boarded up. I'd seen photos of it in its prime and it had indeed been magnificent, standing proud in the beautiful garden overlooking the river. It needed more than a lick of paint to return it to its glory though. Cosmetic patches wouldn't cure the underlying problems. Only surgery could, and that required money, time and know-how.

Jane parked the car and we got out. Ben retrieved his bag from the trunk, and I grabbed my backpack and Mom's food. We trudged up the front steps and Jane tugged at the vines strangling one of the magnificent front columns. Her efforts didn't remove it.

I tripped over a broken tile on the front porch and Ben caught my elbow, steadying me.

"Thanks," I muttered, staring up into dancing blue eyes.

"Be careful," he said.

"There's a few more safety hazards since the last time I was here. Jane, you really should have asked my Dad to come and fix these tiles."

"And paid him how?
He
doesn't need a roof over his head or someone to cook him dinner."

I sighed. Sometimes I wondered who was more stubborn, Jane or her grandmother.