Season of Fear (6 page)

Sara took off at a ferocious pace as Robin eased Lady-fingers slowly around and took the same direction for home. Her pulse was still pounding, her mind and legs still like jelly. For she knew that it was only a lot of luck and the quick response of Ladyfingers beneath her that had stood between her and certain harm beneath the vicious hoofs of the wild black horse.

There was more to Sara than met the eye.

Chapter 5

Robin met Mr. Ridley in the front hallway that afternoon, having just vowed to herself to keep Sara's strange behavior to herself until she could have a chance to think about it. She cleared her throat nervously as she approached his towering figure, unsure of what his reaction to her questions about her job would be.

But his suntanned face was smiling; he looked relaxed. "Hello, Robin, how's your first full day at Ridley Ranch been? You look as though you've been riding."

And indeed she did: Wearing her riding clothing, holding her helmet, her fair hair now tumbling down around her shoulders, her face flushing with healthfulness from her day on the range.

"Yes, Mr. Ridley, and I'm glad I've run into you. There's something I wish to discuss with you."

"Please, since everyone here insists on calling you by your first name, then you must do the same. Let's drop that formal Mr. Ridley and just shorten it to Alex instead."

"Certainly," she stammered. The gruff side of Alexander Ridley was hidden, and the charming, pleasant side she had glimpsed once before had emerged.

"Now, Robin, what's on your mind?"

"It's about my duties, Alex." She tried the name on for size, and it sounded very natural. "I've been over the books with Cook this morning, and there are a few points—"

"So," he interrupted. "You feel there is too much for you to take on? You can't handle it?"

She could see the sarcastic light beginning to shine once again in his eyes, see him begin to mentally label her as incompetent, a fortune hunter.

"That's not the problem at all," she said angrily. "If you'll just let me explain—"

"Then maybe certain rumors have reached your ears, Robin? I'm sure you've heard that I'm the murderer of Ridley Ranch. And now I suppose you no longer care to stay." The coolness in his voice was like ice.

Robin stood shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Her temper was rising strongly within her, anger aimed both at the paradoxical man who stood before her, always ready to assume the worst in people, and at the gross miscarriage of justice that had forced him to be so defensive, carrying the burden of suspicion, silently accused of a horrible crime, with no chance to ever clear his name.

But, like his daughter, he was living with the past, living with events that could not be changed. Life had to go on. He had no right to make everyone else miserable.

"If you would stop feeling sorry for yourself for as much as a moment, you might be surprised at what you'd hear. I have heard the malicious gossip that surrounds Ridley Ranch, and I've dismissed it as such. That has nothing to do with what I have to say to you."

Her eyes were flaring, her face was burning with rage. She squared her shoulders and drew her head up to look him directly in the face, unsure of what his reaction to her words would be.

But again he surprised her. Instead of indignation, instead of anger and suspicion in his proud face, she saw a flash of embarrassment, an intimate glimpse into a man who realized that he had hurt someone with his words, and who regretted his actions. It was gone almost as soon as it had come, and for a second Robin wondered if she had imagined it, seen something that she had only hoped could be there. For now his face was smiling, politely and coolly.

"Then speak. Robin. I'm listening. What is the problem that you're talking about?"

"I knew this may seem out of the ordinary, sir, but I feel I have to bring it up. After going through the books this morning. I feel I can certainly complete the necessary duties in much less than a full day. The salary you're paying me is much too generous."

"I'm paying you too much?" He laughed heartily, in disbelief, and the sound of it made something stir in Robin's heart. She pushed the feeling away.

"I'm sure Mrs. Manchester took much longer with the tasks when she was in charge of them, Robin. She was becoming very old and frail, but a very important member of the household. But you're young. You don't have any need to tie yourself to a job for the entire day. Just keep this place running smoothly, and I don't care what you do with your spare time."

"But it isn't fair, Alex. I'm not a guest here, I'm an employee and I've got to pull my weight."

"I must say it's the first time I've met anyone who wanted more work for themselves. But if that's what you want, fine. I have an additional responsibility you can take on. Spend as much of your free time with the twins and Gregory as you can this summer. They are sorely in need of adult guidance and interest. I'm sure they would benefit from being in your company."

Robin thought of Sara's gloating face on the back of her horse that afternoon. She thought of Jacob's sneering glance in the garden. The children were in need of something, that was for sure. But could she give it to them?

"I'm very willing to do as you ask," she ventured, "but I have a feeling they would benefit even more greatly from a little attention from you."

He stared at her in shocked silence.

After a moment he answered her in a strained voice. "Yes, Fm sure you're right. But the ranch takes so much of my time. No, that's not entirely true. The truth is sometimes I find it difficult to communicate with them. The events of the past have, uh, clouded things a little."

"What's past is past."

"Thank you for that. It's a lesson we sorely need around here. I can see you're a girl who'll leave no stone unturned." He was smiling. "All right, little meddler, I'll try to spend some time with them. Will that suit you?"

She laughed happily as they shook hands, suddenly feeling light and carefree. How could he have such an effect on her, when only minutes before she was so angry at him she could have screamed? He was so unpredictable, one minute cool and polite, the next angry and accusing, the next happy and relaxed. A man with an ugly temper, and suspected of even uglier things. How could he make her feel so alive?

Robin slipped down the hall and out the sliding glass door to the poolside garden to be alone with her thoughts.

She sat down in one of the gaily flowered lounge chairs by the pool. With a grunt, she tugged off her high leather riding boots, then stretched her long legs out before her. It was peaceful here. The late afternoon sun was not quite as bright, a small but noticeable breeze gently wisped at her loose hair. Somewhere a radio was playing. Slight strains of a country tune reached her ears.

She began to drift off to sleep.

* * *

"How many times do I have to tell you, you young idiot! Get that thing away from there!"

She snapped awake to the sound of Alex's angry voice, and spun out of her chair. But he wasn't addressing her at all, she saw.

She thought she had been alone when she had dropped into her comfortable chair, but she had failed to see the slender tanned body of Jacob as he lay dozing on the diving board across the pool, his radio by his side. The long extension cord ran from an outside socket in the wall of the house.

"If that radio falls in the water, you could kill somebody! Now get it away from the pool."

"I have no intention of electrocuting anyone, Father," Jacob grimaced.

"Good intentions do not always turn out as we expect, young man."

"I can imagine you know all about it. Just like falling off a horse, I'll bet."

Alex's face turned a queer shade of purple. With his teeth clenched, he stood, enraged, looking at his son.

But then he was gone, wordlessly, striding stiffly back into the house.

"Do you enjoy taunting him so, Jacob?" Robin asked. "Do you like bringing pain to people?"

"Ah, Robin. I didn't hear you arrive. I must have been dozing. You think I'm some kind of monster, don't you?"

"Something like that."

"Sara says you think we should forget about the past. Let the murderer go unpunished. Is that right?"

"It does you no good to accuse people who cannot defend themselves. You have no proof."

"And how would it be if we did have proof? What if my father was undeniably proven the killer?"

"What if he was undeniably acquitted?"

"Fat chance."

"Someone ought to dig into this once and for all, and find out what really happened."

"The killer may not agree with you. Take some advice, Robin. Stay out of the situations that don't concern you."

"How about the last housekeeper? How did she feel?"

"Mrs. Manchester? She felt Father could do no wrong. She's a nice old lady. Sometimes I miss her. She lives in one of the houses on Main Street in town."

"I may stop in for a visit some time. I'd like to hear what she thinks of this whole thing."

"Please, Robin." His face was suddenly white. "Don't open Pandora's box. Don't stir up any more trouble."

"It sounds like Pandora's box was opened five long years ago, Jacob, and the people around here have not let it close. I can't make miracles, but I am going to try to find out the truth."

He left her and walked into the house, his radio at his side.

Would Mrs. Manchester be able to give her any information? Was there anyone who could give her an unbiased account of the story? And did she really want to know? A shiver passed over Robin. She wanted to prove Alexander Ridley innocent. But what if her meddling proved him guilty?

Chapter 6

When Robin opened her eyes on Saturday morning, her room was still blanketed in darkness. The clock proclaimed the time to be seven o'clock, so she rose and pulled back the long draperies to expose the first sunless day that she had experienced since her arrival in Montana. The sky overhead was an unusual shade of purplish gray. Without the friendly sun shining high in the sky, the prairie beyond the house had a dreary, lonely look. She had no desire to ride today'

She dressed quickly and slipped to the kitchen to complete her daily books. Once her duties were out of the way, she hoped to drive the few miles into town to do some shopping for herself, as well as pick up the supplies for the family. Maybe she would even talk Sara into coming with her, since she had promised Alex that she'd keep an eye on her.

When Sara sleepily wandered to the kitchen two hours later. Robin brought up the excursion and Sara readily agreed.

"Sure, Robin. Anything to get away from this dreary place. Even the people of Hamilton with their frozen smiles will be a relief from these same old faces every day."

Robin didn't comment, but as they left the house together, she silently pocketed the keys to the jeep. She'd take no more rides with Sara the Speed Demon if she could help it!

Sara didn't seem to mind not occupying the driver's seat.

She used the time it took to reach town to lay her head back and take in a little more sleep.