The Rescuer (19 page)

"I'm glad you kept these, Elizabeth."

"So am I."

Stephen turned pages. There were several photos of JoAnne and Meghan together through high school, most of them with Ken making up the threesome. He paused when he found a pic-\

ture of Meghan in a rocking chair with a baby nestled on her shoulder. She looked about sixteen, and if he wasn't mistaken, the photo had been taken in the home she now owned. "May I borrow this?" Stephen asked her mom, turning the picture to show her.

"If you like."

He'd add a rocking chair for Meghan to the list of furniture he was making for Kate. He'd get the photo blown up and figure out what he could of the chair from the picture. It would make a perfect housewarrmng gift.

He eventual y came to the end of the pages. "Thanks for digging this album out. It brings back memories.

You were cute, Meghan."

"Please, don't remind me of the braces and bel -

bottom jeans."

Stephen glanced at the clock. "Ken was going to bnng over a load of lumber this afternoon. I need to be going in case he's early."

"I hope you'l consider joining us again," Elizabeth offered.

"I hope I can return the favor soon."

"Meghan, why don't you walk Stephen home,"

Elizabeth suggested.

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Stephen looked over at Meghan to see that she'd stil ed in her brushing of Blackie's coat. "If you have the time."

She glanced at her mom and then back toward him.

"I've got the time."

He waited as she gathered her items together and held the door for her. The sun warmed his shirt as they walked along the path that ran between the two properties, it's a blue sky today with a few white clouds. I like this arrival of spring."

Meghan leaned her head back as she walked, seeking the direction of the sun. "Beautiful. I love lazy days where you can curl up and enjoy the warmth of the sun and take a nap."

He reached to take her hand, felt her start, and smiled as he waited for her to get comfortable. "It was nice of your mom to invite me over. She's one incredible cook and a great hostess. You've got great parents."

"I think so." She shifted her hand on Blackie's harness.

"What were you and Dad talking about for so long?"

"He wants me to take an EMS job with the county."

Her steps slowed. "I'm sorry he pushed, Stephen."

He stroked his thumb across the back of her hand.

"Don't be. This town needs a paramedic on cal who actual y lives here rather than the next town over. He was right to ask. I said I'd think about it, and I agreed to be a backup in a crisis. I like the work, Meg. A lot of the problem in the past was the fact that the job consumed every hour of my life. There was never any mar- gin."

"If you're sure. There have been a few close cal s in the last year where it would have real y helped to have you around."

"You'l add my phone number to your speed dial?"

She laughed. "Yes."

He led the way around the pond.

"Any buyer's remorse for having locked yourself in to this place?"

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"None. In fact Kate is already wondering if she'l ever get me back to Chicago. I don't miss it at al ." Stephen pul ed out his keys. "Why don't you and I take a dnve after 1 help Ken unload this lumber?"

"Can we make it another time? JoAnne and I are looking at options for my bathroom wal paper this afternoon."

Schedule col isions... "I can see our respective fix-up projects are going to be a chal enge to manage so they don't step on higher priorities."

"If you're going to live here for the next decade, I'm sure we'l eventual y have time free at the same time." She turned to walk back along the path to her parents'

home. "I'l see you later."

"Count on it," Stephen cal ed after her. He might have to settle for a friendship, but he stil wanted the groundwork laid for something more.

She waved back at him and kept going.

In the shadow of Ken's windmil , Stephen leaned down and retied his shoelaces before beginning his climb.

Above him Ken was already at work. He had done Stephen a favor bringing the shipment of lumber over two weeks ago; now he was returning the favor. He climbed, careful to get a good grasp on the rungs.

Stephen could make out the Mississippi River through the hazy humidity on the horizon. He clipped his safety line to the top crossbar and moved from the ladder to the narrow walkway. "Do you ever do things halfway, Ken?"

"Not if I can help it. When you grow up in a smal town, sometimes you have to make your own excitement."

Stephen reached for the rope, which stretched down to the ground, and tied it to the crossbar. He'd secured the case at the other end before beginning his climb.

He began hand over hand pul ing the case and its wel -

cushioned microphone up to their

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perch. He held the equipment in place while Ken bolted it down.

"If I could talk JoAnne into moving to Oklahoma, I'd study the big storms and twisters. But since it's doubtful I'd ever get her to move from Silverton, I'l settle for figuring out how to predict where rain wil fal ."

Ken ran a test strip on the humidity gauge. "Everyone should have a hobby that lasts a lifetime."

"Does Meghan stil go out with you on storm chases?"

"We get out at least once a month. She can hear the hail long before I can. Come along on our next storm chase. You'd enjoy it."

"I'm game to try it once. Give me a cal ."

"You got it." Ken climbed up two more rungs on the ladder to check the rain gauges. "I hear you're stocking your pond next week."

"I'm thinking sunfish and some bass. Bil suggested I expand the pond into his land and the two of us would make it a real fishing attraction. Maybe co-op the costs for those who want to fish in it and have them pay based on how much they catch and take out so we can keep it restocked."

"I'l take a charter membership in that co-op," Ken offered. "When you fish, it's nice to actual y catch something."

Stephen swung around to the other side of the equipment platform and started work on secunng the wind gauges. "Any idea where I can find someone who has sheep?"

Ken leaned around to see him. "I thought you were planning for some cattle."

"Actual y, I'm leaning toward a petting zoo. Meghan would enjoy it."

Ken laughed. "Nice idea. I'l ask around for you." He mounted the protective hood on the microphone. "I admit I'm a bit curious about the two of you. Back in the days when she first moved here, Meghan used to talk about you. It was Stephen this, Stephen that. Then one day she didn't mention you anymore."

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Stephen was glad the safety harness had him securely held in place. He didn't need any surprises, like a former boyfriend. "When was that?"

"About the time you started going out with someone named Caitlyn? JoAnne fixed Meghan up with Jonathan that summer, and we were a foursome until he moved on to study his music with more prestigious musicians."

Stephen had heard the name before. "Jonathan's the piano player?"

"Concert pianist, if you please. I've heard him play.

He's good, if a bit arrogant now that he's famous."

"What's his ful name?"

"Jonathan Peters.";l

"You know, I think Meghan sent me some of his stuff on one of those tapes at Christmas. He is good. Isn't Meghan taking piano lessons from the person who taught him?"

"Mrs. Teal. You'l like her; she's basical y the town grandmother."

Stephen finished his task and slipped his hammer back on his belt. "Was Meghan serious about Jonathan?"

"For a while. He was more serious about his music. I never did understand that priority, but you can't argue with his success. Mrs. Teal says he's playing in Chicago this summer. If JoAnne and I can get tickets, do you and Meghan want to come?"

Stephen liked the way that was phrased. "Sure."

Meghan had dated Jonathan Peters, yet she never mentioned the name to him. What else had been going on in her life that he didn't know about? As far as he knew he was the only guy interested in dating Meghan who happened to stil be in Silverton. He needed to press that advantage before it was too late. He moved over to the ladder to descend to the ground. What would be his next best move?

172 &

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friday, april 12 SILVERTON

Stephen picked up a piece of pine Ken had brought over. Maybe use it for a display case? He moved it to the stack.|

of wood being set aside for furniture. A month of hard$\

work had final y made it possible to turn his attention from4'|

clearing the outbuildings and gutting the house to getting his workshop put together. Stephen brushed away a bug. The barn doors were open and the midday sun made it comfortable working out there. The stacks of wood barely made a dent in the work space; this barn was huge.

Once the wood was sorted, he started to look at what he wanted to do for a workbench and shelving. Neil had built up one area of the barn under the loft with a wooden floor, workbench, and good electrical connections and lights. By raising the wooden floor from the concrete, Neil had taken the first steps to make this a year-round workroom.

Stephen tugged on the shelving to see how sturdy the joints were and could barely nudge it. This unit was not going to be taken apart. And it would be best used over by the door. He thought about the weight to move, accepted that it had to be done, and went to get the dol y. Jack, where are you when I need

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a helping hand? The shelves weighed enough, even with the straps and wheels providing leverage, that it stil took everything he had to move it to the door.

The wal behind where the shelves had stood was coated with cobwebs and dust. Stephen batted them away with a paper towel as he struggled to catch his breath. He used a hammer to

fj^j

rip out the two nails exposed and bent to se^what shape the electrical outlets were in.

He found a couple spots on the wooden floor that gave under his weight. The board looked solid enough until he stepped down and realized the joist beneath it must have worn away. Probably mice, termites, or both. He have worn away. Probably mice, termites, or both. He tapped with the hammer to see where flooring might have to be replaced. He pul ed up the floorboard, expecting dirt, decayed wood, and sawdust. He found that-and more. Stephen tugged out a leather pouch nestled between floor joists.

The leather, dry and stiff with age, cracked at his touch.

The brittle drawstring broke as he loosened it. It must have been down there over a decade. He tipped the pouch and out slid a ring. The gold band and the stones had dul ed. He carried it to the door to look at it in the afternoon light. It was a square-cut diamond of good size with two smal er diamonds and an emerald in a rather ornate setting. The band itself was etched.

He lifted it to try to read what was engraved inside. The initials T. R.

Why had Neil hidden an expensive nng under the floor in his barn? Stephen polished it with the coiner of his shirt. The stones looked real. Why hadn't it been in the safe at Neil's store? It would spend tonight in that bank vault, for Neil owned it. Stephen slipped the ring back into the leather pouch and zipped it inside his pocket.

His pager went off. Stephen undipped it to read the number. Bil needed him. It had been silent for so long he'd begun to wonder if the pager worked.

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He cal ed the dispatcher as he dug out the keys to his truck. "I'm on my way." He had a possible heart attack at Neil's jewelry store.

Meghan picked up the clinic mail as she passed through the reception area. Blackie nearly tripped her as they wedged through the doorway into her back office. "Easy, boy."

She would have to get him in to see a vet. She was afraid his bruised back leg was stil causing him problems. He'd stopped her from fal ing into a ditch Wednesday, and as a thank-you she managed to fal on him. Blackie curled up on his big pil ow, and she knelt beside him to tug out several biscuits from the box in the cabinet. "How are you doing?" He licked her hand in answer. She laughed and gave him a back rub.

She squeezed between the corner of the desk and file cabinet to reach her chair. They would have to move the clinic to a larger facility soon. Meghan placed the first letter on the scanner / and the software read the return address aloud. She filed it with bil s to be paid that month. Dad was making rounds today, and it was her chance to get caught up on the office paperwork.

The door chimes rang.

"Meghan?" JoAnne sounded out of breath.

"In the office."

"Your dad needs you at Coffer's jewelry store. It looks as if Neil is having a heart attack. Bil said to make sure it's been cal ed in and to bring the blue and red cases."

Meghan reached for the radio behind her and requested the county EMS to send the ambulance.

"The cases are in the cabinet by the door in the receptionist area." Meghan snapped her fingers for Blackie and swiftly slipped on his harness. She joined JoAnne and pul ed on her jacket. "Who found him?"

"The FED-EX driver brought packages and saw Neil in the

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front of the shop on the floor."

That didn't help much to narrow down the time of onset.

Neil would have had nitroglycerin tablets with him. If he'd been able to take them, maybe the attack had been arrested in time. "Was he conscious?"

"Yes."

Meghan took JoAnne's arm and they huAed down Main Street to the store. "Let us through," JoAnne urged. Meghan heard several voices she recognized among the gathering crowd.

"Thanks, Meg." Her dad opened the cases. She knelt at Neil's left side as her dad worked and listened as he attached the heart monitor and started an IV to give the first round of drugs. Neil's hand felt clammy, and the sound of his breathing told her he was in a lot of pain.

"Meg, come along..."

She rubbed the back of Neil's hand. "You know I wil ."

"The workbench..." He tried to say something but his voice tapered off.

"Save your breath, Neil," her dad cautioned. "You're going to come through this okay. Meghan, lift his head and let's slip on oxygen."