Home to Sparrow Lake (Harlequin Heartwarming) (17 page)

“Maybe he was less mature emotionally than his classmates, though.”

“I’m beginning to think so. But no matter the reasons, this has got to stop.”

“I agree. We’ll see what we can do.”

She only hoped things would turn out all right.

* * *

T
IRED
,
SORE
AND
hungry, Brian sat on a tree stump and scowled at his friends. “This sucks!”

“Anderson is still around,” Matt said, sounding defeated. “I saw him drive down the road in his pickup a few minutes ago and stare over here. He knows where we are.”

“I told you this was a stupid idea.” When Brian had argued against the plan last night, both Matt and Andy had countered that he never did anything
they
wanted. “We’re going to be arrested for vandalism and trespassing. All because you thought it would be fun to spray-paint some cows.”

Neither of the other young men responded. Matt hung his head, his hands in his pockets. Andy just sat on the ground and picked at a string in the tattered jeans he wore.

“And we can’t even get away,” Brian went on. His cell phone had run out of juice. Not that there was anyone he wanted to call for help.

Fearful of the farmer’s shotgun blasts, they’d run to the car through the semidarkness of dawn, crawling over fences and tripping over rocks. When Matt’s car had proven to be dead, they’d ended up taking cover in a wooded area of pasture.

“The cops are going to arrive any minute, I bet,” said Brian.

Matt nodded glumly.

“We’re sitting ducks.” Brian slapped the tree stump and was rewarded with a splinter in his hand. “Oww!”

Andy spoke up, “We could try traveling across country. Circle around back to town.”

“Why bother?” said Brian. “They’ll know who did it when they identify Matt’s car.”

“Think we’ll go to jail?” asked Matt.

“I don’t know. What age is considered juvenile in Wisconsin?” Brian had never thought much about it before, since he never intended to be caught.

“You’re a juvenile if you’re under eighteen,” said Andy, rising from the ground. He glanced around. “You two can do what you want. I’m taking off.”

Brian felt concerned. “Hey, don’t make it worse, Andy. They’ll just track you down.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“If they take us into custody, they’ll have to give us food,” Brian said, hoping that might influence Andy.

But the boy had started walking away. “I can live off the land.”

“What about your family?” said Brian.

“They’ll be better off without me,” Andy muttered, sounding defeated. “Less to share.”

* * *

O
NE
H
OLSTEIN
COW
had three crude-looking purple stars decorating her black-and-white hide. Another cow displayed splats of fuchsia. The animals didn’t seem upset, though their owner said the ordeal was sure to affect their milk production.

A short white-haired man, Ralph Anderson wore striped overalls and sounded tired and put-out. “Who knows how long it will take to clean this mess off? You can’t use turpentine on animals.”

Alex examined the cow with the stars, running his finger over the purple lines. “Maybe there’s some other kind of product. I’ll ask around.”

“Where are the boys?” asked Kristen, no doubt still worried about her brother.

“They’re over in that patch of timber in the west pasture,” Anderson said, pointing.

“One of them is my little brother,” Kristen told Anderson. “I’m so sorry. We’re going to make sure he doesn’t do it again. He’ll make it up to you somehow.”

Alex liked her sense of responsibility. “Can I take the cruiser over there?”

“Go down the dirt road.”

Alex nodded. “I’ll take the boys back to town, and you can meet us there to press charges.”

“What kind of charges? I don’t want to send kids to jail,” Anderson said. “They just need to be taught a lesson.”

“We’ll work something out,” said Alex, heading back to his car. Kristen followed.

As they pulled out of the farmyard, Alex told her, “I’m glad you came along. I think Anderson was impressed that one of the teenagers has family looking for him. You didn’t offer to pay off Anderson, either. Some families try that or deny that their precious loved ones have done anything wrong.”

“That wouldn’t be right. Brian has to face the consequences of his actions.”

“Good for you. Tough love.”

They passed the old car parked on the dirt road and pulled over near the fence bordering the woods. Alex hoped he wouldn’t have to climb over the fence and drag the kids out.

“Hey, Brian! Matt! Andy!” he yelled. “Come out. You’re busted!”

Kristen stood beside him. “Brian, come out here!”

Rustling noises could be heard from the brush as two young men made their way out to the road through the trees. Matt looked scared but Brian’s expression was sullen. However, he climbed over the fence and Matt followed.

“Where’s Andy?” asked Alex.

Brian kept his gaze aloof, not looking at Alex or Kristen. “There’s just the two of us.”

“There were three of you guys last night,” Alex told him, wondering why he was trying to protect the third kid. “Ralph Anderson saw you.”

“Arrest us already,” said Brian. “That’s what you’re here for.”

“I’m not leaving until I have everybody.”

Matt put in, “Andy left. Honest, there’s nobody but me and Brian.”

“Andy left how?”

“He took off on foot,” Matt said. “We don’t know where he went.”

Alex stared at Brian, who finally nodded. “Yeah, he’s gone. Maybe you should form a posse and ride out to look for him.”

“If I were you, I would tone down the smart remarks,” Alex told him, “and come up with the truth.”

“Yes, please tell the truth, Brian.”

Kristen sounded sad, not angry, but Alex noted that her brother gave her a wide berth when he walked past her toward the cruiser saying nothing.

Alex put the two boys in the back of the police car and closed the doors.

On the drive back to Sparrow Lake, Kristen noticed that her brother’s hand was bleeding. She stuck a Kleenex through the steel mesh and Brian actually took it from her.

“It’s just a splinter,” he said.

“But it could get infected,” Kristen told him. “You should put something on it when we get back to town.”

“Do you really care?” Brian asked. “I’m a criminal.”

“I still care about you no matter what. You’re my brother.”

Her tone was warm but she didn’t say anything else. Instead, she turned back to look at the road ahead. Alex thought the gesture was just about right. No doubt upset, despite his bravado, Brian might get even more defensive and angry if Kristen scolded him now.

Matt asked worriedly, “Are we going to jail?”

“I don’t know,” said Alex, though he was pretty sure he wasn’t going to have to lock them up. “We’ll see what Mr. Anderson wants to do.”

“The farmer?” Matt asked. “We didn’t hurt those cows.”

“No, but you probably scared them. And they’re someone else’s property, expensive property. You can’t just waltz onto private land and do whatever you want. You were trespassing.”

Matt slid down in the seat. “I’ll have to call my parents.”

“Yeah, you will.”

Remaining cool and impassive, Brian just stared out the window. As the cruiser headed for town, neither kid said anything else.

Hoping to relieve Kristen’s worries, Alex lowered his voice. “They’ll probably get off with community service and some counseling.”

“Do you think so?”

“Neither of these guys has a record and Anderson didn’t sound like he wants throw the book at them.”

She looked relieved. “I just hope Brian will straighten out.”

He hoped so, too. Dealing with her wayward brother may have helped get him together with Kristen in the first place, but it could just as easily put an obstacle between them. Not to mention he would hate to see problems with the law mess up another young kid’s future.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A
LEX
KNEW
K
RISTEN
was still concerned about her brother, but he hoped an outing on Saturday might take her mind off things. He’d promised her a dinner at an establishment so exclusive you couldn’t even make reservations unless you knew the chef. He’d also told her he was going to take her to a show that was more fabulous than anything offered in Hollywood or New York.

The weather turned out to be beautiful on Saturday, if a little cooler than average for June. As he’d planned, Alex left the Jaguar’s top down when he picked up Kristen in the early evening.

He admired the length of leg she flashed when she got into the car. “You look gorgeous.”

“Thanks,” she said, smiling.

She wore a blue-printed dress with fluttery sleeves and strappy high-heeled red sandals. The soles of the shoes were red, too, so they were probably the fancy, pricey type she favored. Alex had read about red soles somewhere.

Brian was out on the lawn watering some flowers with a hose as they pulled away. The teenager’s back was as straight as a steel pole, and he didn’t look in their direction.

Kristen sighed. “I’m not sure how Brian’s feeling on the inside. Outside, he’s polite and is doing everything he’s supposed to. He’s minimal in communicating with me but I heard him telling Aunt Margaret he was sorry for causing problems.” She paused. “At least there’s that.”

“You’ll need to give him time to come around as far as you’re concerned. You were there when we caught him. He’s embarrassed.”

After Anderson had come in and said he wasn’t going to press serious charges, Alex had put Matt and Brian to work at Sparrow Lake Community House. Both young men had also made appointments at the local counseling center. On Monday, Owen was driving them out to the Anderson farm for cow clean-up.

“Has Andy shown up yet?” Kristen asked.

“No sign of him. The police department notified state troopers to keep an eye out for the kid, but we didn’t issue an official arrest warrant. The crimes the boys committed, after all, were minor.”

“I hope he’ll be okay.”

“We talked to his mother at the motel.” One of the few things Brian said at the police station was that Andy was next to homeless. “She hasn’t heard from Andy and is worried. I also told her that her whole family is now on the meal schedule from the Soup Kitchen. They might not be elderly, but they sure can use some food.”

“Brian actually seems concerned. I’m glad he has a good heart, at least.”

“The family could have gotten some help before now. Maybe they didn’t know it was available.” Stopping at a light before entering the highway bordering the town, he switched subjects. “But enough about problems. Are you ready for the best meal of your life?”

“Where are we going?”

He chuckled. “I told you it’s a place that’s extremely exclusive. It’s a surprise.”

He wondered what she was going to think.

A couple of miles down, when he turned off the highway onto a street leading into town again, she did a double take. “Are you trying to get me turned around?”

“I’m trying to turn your head.”

“This place must be local.”

“Very local. You’ll see.”

Slowing on a shady street, he pulled into the driveway of a small two-bedroom house with a neat lawn and minimal landscaping.

“Who lives here?”

“Me. And Spike. He guards the place.”

“You’re fixing me dinner?”

He parked, got out and opened her door with a flourish. “Welcome to Chez Alex, mademoiselle.”

“How delightful.” She beamed.

He took her hand to help her out, enjoying the warmth and texture of her skin. Grinning at her, he said, “I’m hoping that the way to your heart is through your stomach.”

* * *

K
RISTEN
TOOK
IN
the details as they entered Alex’s house. The front door had a transom in which hung the stained glass they’d picked up in Lake Geneva. A small entryway led into a living room with a bay window, where another piece of stained glass was displayed. A matching brown tweed couch and chair, along with a leather recliner, faced each other. On a stand sat a large black flat-screen television, a single man’s favorite possession, Kristen had heard. The house was orderly and clean, meaning Alex either was a good housekeeper or he hired someone to straighten up.

They crossed a short hallway to the kitchen, which featured an adjoining sun porch facing the shady backyard. All the windows on the porch were open, and in the center of the room was a small table covered with a white tablecloth, folded napkins, two place settings, a candle and a vase holding a bouquet of fresh flowers.

“Lovely,” said Kristen, meaning it. He had obviously gone to a lot of trouble.

Alex plucked a yellow rose from the vase and handed it to her. “For you, mademoiselle.”

“Merci, monsieur.”
She held the flower beneath her nose to inhale its delicate scent.

He pulled out a chair for her. “Please sit. Would you like some champagne?” He pulled a bottle from a bucket of ice.

“Of course. Wow, you’ve gone all-out.”

He popped the cork and poured the champagne into graceful flutes. Handing her one, he offered a toast. “To the future.”

“I’ll drink to that.”

“Things are looking pretty good.”

She hoped so, but couldn’t help thinking of Brian. “If only my little brother will straighten out. Do you think being the youngest in our family might have influenced his misbehavior?”

“There are a variety of reasons for teenage angst,” said Alex, sitting down. “Take Matt Stapleton. When we talked to his parents, his father really got on his case. I think Matt believes he’s a failure because of his dad. Stapleton actually asked the kid if he thought becoming a criminal would make up for not being a first-string athlete. This, right in front of Owen and me. I felt sorry for Matt. He’s not the only one who needs counseling.”

“That’s terrible,” Kristen agreed, frowning. “I hope we haven’t made Brian feel that he’s a failure.”

“I don’t think so. He excelled in school, right? And I haven’t heard you putting him down.”

“His new stepfather and he have had disagreements, but I think it’s been more about personality differences. At least, according to my mother.”

“Yeah, remarriage and stepparents can be stressful.”

“Plus moving to a new state.” Kristen sighed. “And I’ve come to realize I may not have been there for my brother when he needed someone. I left home for my last two years of college and...”

“You’ve been working.”

“I guess my work has taken its toll on everyone.”

“Come on. It’s your choice. You have a right to a good career.”

“I thought so.” Though Kristen was starting to wonder. Her sister had complained about her too-diligent work habits. Had she been selfish? she mused. Then she realized they’d gotten onto worrisome topics again.

“I’m sorry, enough of that. What are we having for dinner?”

“Well, the first course is salad.” Alex put his drink down to light the candle. “I know the French eat salad last, but I prefer my greens the American way.”

“Salad sounds good to me. What’s the main course?”

“Grilled lobster.”

“Double wow.” And fancy. She joked, “Did you catch it in Sparrow Lake?”

“I had them shipped in from a fish place John recommended.”

He took a big salad bowl from the refrigerator and placed it on the table, along with some French bread. Then he placed a serving for each of them in smaller bowls and took a seat.

“I’m going to have to be getting up and down for a while here,” he told her. “When I put the lobster on, it’ll cook fast.”

Kristen sampled her salad. “Delicious.” And admirable. Jason had never taken this much time to impress her. If they ate at his apartment, they’d ordered out.

“So, do you do a lot of cooking?”

“A fair bit.”

“I’m impressed. Did your mom teach you?”

He shook his head. “I learned on my own. I like to eat, and while the Busy Corner is good for a quick breakfast or lunch, it has its limitations.”

They made small talk until Alex rose to place the lobster and asparagus on the grill. At the same time, he stirred something into a pot of rice on the kitchen stove.

“Need some help?” she asked.

“Please sit. I want to wait on you.”

As expected, the lobster and asparagus cooked quickly. Alex put the latter into a serving bowl and topped it with butter, then finished the lobsters in a sauté pan on the stove. When they were done, he slid each lobster onto a large dinner plate.

Kristen smelled something burning. “I think you may be overcooking the rice.”

Alex grabbed the pan from the burner. “Oh, no!” He took off the lid and peered inside. “So much for the rice pilaf.”

“We’ll have plenty to eat anyway,” Kristen assured him as he dumped the contents of the pan into the garbage. “Besides, it makes me feel better to see that you can’t do every single thing perfectly. You have flaws.”

Alex brought the dinner plates to the table. “You thought I didn’t have flaws? That’s a compliment coming from a woman like you.”

“I guess we both do have high standards as far as work is concerned.” Kristen hadn’t thought about that before now.

“I like people with high standards and a work ethic, people who are responsible.”

He sat down and they dug into the perfectly cooked lobster.

“Yum.” Kristen wiped a dribble of butter from her chin with her napkin. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten lobster grilled, but this is fabulous.”

“Glad you like it. How’s the asparagus?”

“Also yummy.” She helped herself to another forkful, musing about work ethics and standards. “I wonder why some people work hard and others don’t?” For herself, she’d always wanted to do the very best she could so she’d never be like her father. “I’ve always been ultraresponsible.”

He looked thoughtful. “Then again, there are different ways to be responsible.”

“What do you mean?”

“How about emotional responsibility?”

Kristin quirked her brows.

“Some of us believe we’re our brother’s keeper,” said Alex. “I thought about how important it was to keep the peace when I became a cop.”

She nodded. “You’re serving and protecting society.”

“Makes me feel useful to help others. I have a social conscience.”

Social conscience? She considered that claim. His concern with the community was one of the things she liked about Alex. “I don’t know that I can exactly say the same. I try to have a conscience for the members of my family, I guess. And I feel of use, too. Even if I’m working for a company, I’m helping them provide services to others.”

“And helping them make money.”

“Making money isn’t a bad thing,” she insisted, “as long as you don’t trample others to get it.”

“I agree. It must feel a little different when you’re helping someone you love make a living, though. Running Sew Fine is more personal than working at some corporation, don’t you think?”

She hesitated. “I haven’t seen it that way, exactly.”

“You just said you try to have a conscience for your family. You obviously like helping them or you wouldn’t go looking for your brother or babysit for your sister...or come back here when your aunt asked you to.”

“How do you know she asked me?”

“Oh, we were talking one time,” he said.

“I also came back here for myself.” She felt it necessary to admit the whole truth. “I needed to regroup, recharge.” Plus, she’d had few other places to go.

Alex’s warm gray eyes met hers across the table. “But now that you’re here, you’ve made a big difference, to your aunt, your sister...even Brian, though he won’t admit it yet. Doesn’t that make you feel good?”

“Well, yes...” She pondered the job interview she’d set up for next week.

“You sound ambivalent.”

“I just never thought about the helping people angle. As you know, I’ve had to get some help myself recently.”

He laughed. “Whether you wanted it or not. Those twins can definitely put you through the wringer. Speaking of the twins, did their mom find out what went down that night of ten thousand bubbles and a pack of dolls?”

“I don’t think so. She hasn’t said anything,” Kristen admitted, “Of course, we’re not talking all that much lately.”

“Too busy?”

Kristen thought about the way her sister had been acting lately. About her threat to quit school. Now that worried her.

“I think Heather’s frustrated with her schedule. She has too many things on her plate.”

“She must have appreciated your being willing to babysit.”

“Well, yes. But she normally would have had a babysitter anyway. It’s my marketing plans that are getting on her nerves.” She put down her fork, feeling comfortably full. “I’ve been drumming up more business. I told you about that reporter from Milwaukee who interviewed me—it seems she knows about a bus tour that’s interested in putting Sew Fine on their itinerary.”

“That sounds great.”

“And I’m setting up a web page with links to an online ordering system.”

“Also great. What’s Heather’s problem?”

Kristen sighed. “She’s a mother, a college student
and
the manager of the store at the moment. She doesn’t think she can handle more business.”

“With your help, she can. Just ask if she’d rather you take on the duties of manager. From the sounds of the situation, your sister will be all for it.”

Manager of Sew Fine? Kristen felt uncomfortable. She wasn’t staying on in Sparrow Lake, and surely Alex wasn’t expecting her to do so. Something told her not to get into that subject with him.

Instead, she insisted, “It will work out. It just has to be organized well, and we need more employees.”

“Sure. If business is picking up, I say go with it.” He looked at her plate and the chunk of lobster remaining on it. “You aren’t finished, are you?”

“I don’t think I can eat another bite.”

“I can wrap it up for you to take home, I guess, but I can’t make one of those fancy foil take-home things.” His own plate was clean. “Want some sorbet?”