War Woman (14 page)

“Yes. I miss them but I see them a few times a year. Oh, I made an interesting discovery today. Bethany was married before she met Jonathan.”

“That’s right. I had forgotten. I think her first husband was a soldier too.”

“Yes. She mentioned something in her journal about them offering comfort to each other for their losses. I’m guessing with her she was referring to her first husband. Do you know what loss Jonathan might have experienced?”

“No. Maybe she’s referring to friends he lost during battle?”

“Perhaps… She mentioned that neither of them expected something that the other couldn’t give. Any idea what that means?”

Cooper shook his head.

“I’m about halfway through her journal. Hopefully something will turn up that explains what she meant. Which reminds me, a few times Bethany has mentioned in passing that Jonathan wrote in a journal as well. I remember at one point she described how they were sitting on the porch together, both writing in their journals while their children played on the grass in front of them. Do you know anything about a journal Jonathan kept?”

“No, all the records are kept together. If it isn’t there then I don’t have it. Maybe it got damaged or lost, who knows?”

“Pity, that would have been a great find. Still, I’ll keep reading Bethany’s journal. Thank you again for giving me access to your family’s records.”

“No problem.”

They sat in companionable silence as they ate. When they were finished, Cooper took their plates and washed them in the sink while Isabelle offered to make coffee. Afterward they stood in the hallway, making idle chitchat rather than heading into their respective work spaces. Eventually they parted ways and Isabelle returned to reading the journal and making notes. After an hour had passed she heard a clicking sound in the hall which became steadily louder before stopping altogether. Turning around in her seat, Isabelle spotted Jazz’s head poking round the door frame.

“What do you want?” Isabelle eyed the dog suspiciously. On hearing her voice, Jazz wagged her tail, an action which involved wiggling her whole bottom in the process. She glanced around the room and looked hopefully at Isabelle.

“I don’t speak dog.”

Still, Jazz maintained a hopeful expression on her face as she stood in the doorway.

Isabelle stared at the dog for several seconds. “Cooper is in his office, you know.” The dog remained where it was. “Hmm…is he being too boring for you? Is that what it is?” She paused.
Oh, great. I’m talking to a dog.
She turned back to the journal on her desk and continued to read. After several minutes had passed, she chanced a glance back at the doorway. Jazz still stood there, a slightly mournful expression on her face now.

“Persistent, aren’t you? I don’t understand what you want. Why don’t you go and find Jim?”

Jazz perked up at being addressed again and started to wag her tail. Isabelle groaned. What was it Cooper had said…that was it, she liked getting scratched behind the ears.
Well there’s no way that’s happening.
She stared at the dog. “Okay, Jazz, let’s compromise. That’s your name, right?” The dog wagged its tail faster. “Right. I guess you can come in.” The dog looked expectantly at her but stayed at the entrance. “Oh fine. Jazz, come here.” Isabelle patted the top of her leg and the dog bounded happily into the room. She sniffed at Isabelle’s suitcase which lay on the floor against the wall and then she proceeded to amble over and place her head on Isabelle’s leg.

“Hey now, that wasn’t part of the deal. Geez, you have no grasp of the concept of boundaries, do you…”

The dog let out a small sigh and kept her head in place.

“I’m a cat person, you know.” Isabelle waited but the dog remained where she was. “Oh for crying out loud…” Isabelle lifted her hand to Jazz’s ear and cautiously stroked behind it. The action caused Jazz to tilt her head and lean slightly into Isabelle’s fingers, and then she waited patiently and expectantly. Isabelle stroked behind her ear a few more times and Jazz’s expression appeared to become progressively happier until Isabelle was scratching vigorously and Jazz displayed what could only be described as a contented smile.

“You know, you may look all tough but under that hardcore exterior you’re really just a marshmallow, huh?” Isabelle stared down at the dog resting on her leg and smiled softly. “Okay, I really need to get back to work.” Jazz seemed to understand the tone of her voice because she lifted her head and stepped back, watching as Isabelle straightened and leaned over the journal again, before she turned slowly in a circle and then settled onto the carpet at Isabelle’s feet.

Isabelle glanced down at the dog. “Yeah, well, don’t think you’re sleeping in here.” Then she settled back to continue her reading.

***

Cooper paused at the entrance to the guest room. He had been about to knock on the open door to alert Isabelle to his presence but the scene before him caused him to simply stop and stare. Isabelle was engrossed in the journal, her chin resting in her palm as she leaned her elbow on the desk. One shoe was moving slowly back and forth as she rubbed Jazz’s tummy with her foot. Jazz, who had managed to wedge herself halfway under the desk and was currently sprawled on her side, looked like she was experiencing total bliss.

Cooper leaned in the doorway and folded his arms loosely across his chest, smiling.
I wonder if she knows she chews her bottom lip when she’s concentrating – and she looks damn cute doing it.
“I’ve been replaced.”

Startled, Isabelle twisted in her seat to look at him, the action causing her to stop rubbing Jazz. The dog raised its head, a displeased look on her face due to the interruption. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were there.”

“No, I’m sorry for startling you. You must be really into that journal.”

“Yeah, I’m almost finished. What do you mean you’ve been replaced?”

Cooper indicated Jazz with a nod of his head. “She’s really taken to you.”

“Oh…we came to an understanding.” Isabelle shrugged lightly.

“So I see. I think she’ll be devoted to you forever more. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I’m heading out with Jim to the neighboring farm. They need some help with their machinery. I’ll be gone for a while but please feel free to eat anything you can find in the kitchen. I was going to take Jazz with me but I wouldn’t want to separate her from her new best friend.” He grinned.

“No, take her with you. I’m sure she’d much rather be out with you.”

“I’m not so sure. That tummy rub looked pretty good to me. I’m going to give her some food and leave her here. I’m glad you two are bonding.”

“Yeah, me too.”

He headed off towards the kitchen and the sound of dog food hitting her bowl caused Jazz to dart up and bound after him. While she dove into the food, Cooper leaned back against the kitchen table and considered the situation. When he’d walked in on Isabelle and Jazz together, the scene had filled him with an odd sense of yearning warmth and out of nowhere images had sprung to mind of every day being like that. Maybe he would have just finished working late in the office or perhaps he had come in from a long day outside and he would find Isabelle and Jazz together, Isabelle engrossed in her work and Jazz enjoying the companionship of her mistress. Isabelle would look up at him and smile, happy to see him…

You are losing your mind
. Cooper shook his head and ran his hand over his face.
You’ve known her less than a week.
But why was it that he felt like he’d known her a lifetime?
There’s no way you should be having those kinds of thoughts and feelings.
She was gorgeous and beautiful women could do strange things to a man’s mind but he’d never been one to be overwhelmed by looks. No, there had to be another explanation. Maybe he really was having some sort of breakdown due to stress…

Jazz’s bowl bumped against his boot as she scrounged for the last bits of food, causing him to look down at her. “I think it’s a very good thing that you two will be having a girls’ night in and I’ll be out with the boys…far away so I don’t do anything stupid.” Jazz cocked her head at him and he sighed before heading out the kitchen door. Closing it softly behind him, he walked over to his Land Rover where Jim was waiting in the passenger’s seat for him. Sliding into the driver’s side, he took a slow, deep breath.

“Are you okay?” Jim looked at him questioningly, noting the slight tension in the way he sat.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing some hard physical labor can’t fix.”
Or a cold shower.
Though he had a feeling that wouldn’t fix anything.
On the other hand, Isabelle in the shower with him…
 

Cursing under his breath, he slid the keys into the ignition. “Jim, if I go mad, you’ll put me out of my misery, right?”

“Sure thing, buddy.” Jim eyed him for a few seconds. “So what’s the problem?”

“Nothing, there’s no problem.”

“Have you forgotten what a terrible liar you are? ‘Fess up.”

Cooper glanced back at the farmhouse before staring out the windscreen. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Jim noted the quick glance and, being a smart man, put two and two together. “Oh god, you can’t. You just can’t.”

Cooper looked at him. “Just can’t what?”

“Fall for the lawyer.”

Cooper stared at him. “Why not?”

“Oh no, it’s worse than I thought.”

“Will you relax? Nothing’s happened.” Cooper scowled.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t want anything to happen. Cooper, get a grip. She’s a beautiful girl, no one’s going to deny that. A man is allowed to appreciate that. There is one major problem though. She. Is. The. Opposition’s. Lawyer.” Jim enunciated each word slowly. “Look all you want but don’t touch, do you understand me?”

“I get it.”

“Do you really? This is your farm, Cooper, your family’s farm. Do you want to risk it by getting involved with the lawyer who’s working for the other side?”

“Of course I don’t want to risk it.” Cooper spat the words out.

“What if this is some sort of trap? Maybe she’s playing you.”

“She’s not.”

“How do you know?”

“She’s not like that.”

“She’s a lawyer; of course she’s like that.”

“She’s not!” He could feel the anger mounting and reigned himself in. “I’m sorry, Jim. I’m not angry with you. I know you’re looking out for me and the farm. Look, if I tell you something, will you promise to keep it to yourself?”

“Of course.”

Cooper took a deep breath. “I know this sounds crazy but I feel like I’ve met her before.”

“Maybe you have. She’s friends with one of the protestors. Maybe you saw her in town when she was visiting.”

“No, it’s not like that. I would have remembered seeing her. Let’s be honest, you couldn’t forget her, could you? No, it’s like I met her…I don’t know…in a past life or something. I can’t really explain it any better.”

“You’re right.”

“About what?”

“It does sound crazy.”

Cooper narrowed his gaze. “Real supportive there, thanks.”

“Hey, think about it from my perspective. Think about what you’re saying. You can’t really blame me, can you? However,” he held up a hand, noting Cooper was about to interrupt, “like I said, you’re a crap liar and so I know you’re not lying about this. I’m not saying I believe you, but I do think you believe you. Look, whatever happens, can you at least try to hold off until this situation with the protestors is cleared up?”

Cooper sighed and nodded.

“Okay, good. Now let’s get going. Harry will be expecting us. Oh, one more thing,” Jim looked at Cooper as he started the car. “Does this mean I can hose the protestors?”

“What? No, Jim. You can’t hose them.”

“What if I make it look like I’m trying to clean your car?”

“Not even then.”

“But you want to sleep with their lawyer! All I want to do is spray them with water.”

Cooper shook his head as he turned the car around and drove down the driveway. “Sometimes we can’t get what we want.”

The sound of the rushing water dominated her surroundings as she gripped the hard surface, heaving herself up and searching for footholds as she progressed steadily up the rock. She reached the top and hoisted her body high enough so that she could slip her knee under her stomach and angle her body into a kneeling position. Pausing to look around, she noted the leaves in the trees were swaying gently and the sunlight formed intermittent patches on the forest floor. The waterfall was close enough that the spray was falling onto her face and hands and she remained kneeling for several seconds longer, enjoying the sensation of the tiny drops touching her skin.

Leaning forward, she gazed down to the pool beneath the rock and paused in shock. A figure was swimming in the pool, a figure with sandy-blonde shoulder length hair that was currently slicked back from the water. As the figure turned around she recognized him as Cooper. Treading water, he smiled at her before speaking out clearly over the sound of the waterfall. “Come find me.”