Twelve Across (16 page)

"If anyone s doing the keeping up, it should be the Joneses with you: '

"God Eorbid. I don't want any part of people who compete their way through life: '

"Amen, " he said softly, then, "What else? "

"What else, what? "

"lnhat else do you like about New York? "

She didn't have to think long. '"The cultural opportunities And the courses.

I love taking courses, learning new things. Victoria said that there was an artists community not far from here where I'd be able to learn to weave: '

"I know just the one. You want to weave? "

"The process fascinates me. I'd like to be able to create my own patterns and make scarves and rugs and beautiful wall hangings: She lowered suddenly sheepish eyes to her fingers , which toyed idly with the cables on his sweater. " At least, I'd like to try. "

"Youl1 do it: He d build her a loom himself. The thought of seeing her working it, of listening to the rhythmic shift of harnesses, filled him with a mellowness that spelled home.

Home. Surprising. He hadn't spent much time thinking of having a home.

What he d known as a child had been far from ideal, and when he d gone off to put his name up in lights, he hadn't had the time to think of it.

His world had been the public eye. His interests had revolved around things that would make him more famous. A home didn't q,i those things.

A home was penonal, private. It was something for a man and his family.

"Garrick? " Leah whispered.

He blinked, only then realizing that his eyes had grown ttroist. q "What is it? " Her voice was laden with concern, her eyes r: with fear. During moments like these, when he looked so qad and faraway, she felt her bubble begin to quiver. He had iq past, and for whatever his reasons, he wasn't telling her about it. She didn't have the courage to ask.

He forced a tremulous smile, then drew her in and held her close. "I get to dreaming sometimes, " he murmured into her hair. "It's scary. "

"Can you share the dream? "

"Not yet : '

"Maybe someday soon? "

"Maybe: ' They sat that way for a while, holding each other quietly When the fire gave a loud crack and hiss, they both looked around, startled.

"Is it trying to tell us something? " Leah whispered. "Nah. It's just being insolent: '

"Maybe we'd better feed it : '

"I have a better idea. Why don't we get dressed and go out? "

Her eyes lit up. "Me, too? "

"You, too: He tipped his head. " Going stir crazy being inside? "

"No. I just don't want you going out alone. I want to be with you : '

"God, you have all the right answers, " he breathed.

Her voice held a touch of sadness. "No. Not yet. Maybe soon : ' So they wetq'r otrr IN "THE qtauv, which, mercifully, was more like a drizzle.

Garrick led her up the mountain, pointing out various signs of wildlife along the way The going was sloppy but in broad daylight and with as indulgent a guide as he was, Leah managed remarkably well. She wasn't quite sure how it happeneqd, but the mountain that had seemed so hostile to her once was now, even in the wet mist, a place of fascination.

Garrick belonged, and she was his welcome guest; it was almost as though the landscape had accepted her presence.

After they d returned to the lower altitude, they trekked to I. eah's car and came back carrying more of her things, which he enthusiastically made room for in the cabin and helped her stow.

Later in the day, they succumbed to their urges and made long, sweet love before the fire. In its aftermath, wrapped in each other and a quilt, Leah smiled. "I wonder if Victoria has ESP"

"If so, no doubt she s happy"

" '.

She tipped up her face and whispered, "I love you, Garrick : ' His eyes went soft and moist. Taking a tremulous breath, he tightened his arms around her. "I love you, too. I've never said that to another living soul, but I do love you, Leah. God, do I love you!" His lips took hers with a fierceness that had never been there before, but Leah didn't mind, because she shared the feeling behind them. The love that flooded her was so powerful that it demanded no less ardent a release IN THE

DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, their love grew even stronger. They spent every minute together, and never once did they of each otheq's company. There was always something ':;q qy, usually in soft, intimate tones, but there were times q'qhe they were silent, communicating simply with a look, qqouch or a smile.

Garrick showed her his shed and the whittled figures that qi on a long shelf.

Not only did he carve them, she found, qutmany he painted in colors that were true to life. She pqrticularly adored a pair of Canada geese and cajoled him qta letting her take them back to the cabin.

He also showed her the toothpick models he built, explaining how he d started making them for his own amusement But one of his fur buyers had mentioned them to a couple from Boston, who then wanted a model made of their own stately home. The commission had launched Garrick into a leisurely business. qq thought his models were exquisite, particularly those dramatic designs he d made for himself, on which he d let his imagination go wild. "You could be an architect, " she said, awed by the scope of that imagination and the detail he'd achieved with as unlikely materials as toothpicks.

He was pleased with her comment, but said nothing. He couldn't be an architect. He didn't have the training, for one thing, and for another, to get either that training or employment , he d have to return to the city.

The city-any city-was a threat to him. He d be recognized. He'd be approached He d be tempted.

But he didn't tell Leah that. The words wouldn't seem to come. She loved him for who and what he was right now. He diddt want to disillusion her.

He didn't want her to know what a mess he d made of his earlier life. He feared that she d think less of him, and the thought of losing her respect or, worse, her love, was more terrifying than anything.

But it bothered him that he didn't tell her the truth. Oh, he d never lied.

He d simply ignored those seventeen years

of his life as though they'd never been. That Lqah hadn't I asked puzzled him in some ways. They shared so many! , other thoughts and feelings. He suspected that she knew he " ; harbored a dark secret and that she was afraid to ask for the ' same reason he was afraid to reveal it.

Perhaps because of that, neither spoke of the future. They took life one day at a time, treating their love as a precious gift that neither of them had expected to receive.

With her dictionary and thesauruses, an atlas and a world almanac on hand, Leah began to work. The peaceful setting was conducive to production, even in spite of the spate ' of questions Garrick bombarded her with at first.

"Where do you start? "

"On a puzzle7 Wherever I want. If it's a theme puzzle -"

"Define theme puzzle: '

"One in whqich the longer entries have to do with a specific topic: '

"Like phrases depicting madness-having bats in one s belfry, etc.?"

She grinned, remembering that particular inspiration as he did. "Or names of baseball teams, or automobile models , or parts of the body"

"Oh? "

"Nothing naughty, of course. Once I did a puzzle using phrases like keep an eye on the ball, " put one s best foot forward, " give a hand to a friend'-that of type thing would be part of a theme puzzle: '

"So you start with tre theme? "

"LTH-huh, and I work from there: ' He sat for a few minutes, silently watching her add words to her puzzle before he spoke again, "Do you follow a special Eormula regarding numbers of black and white spaces? "

he shook her head. "It can vary. The same holds true for qked and unchecked letters: '

"Checked and unchecked? "

"Checked letters are ones that contribute to both an Acros.s and a down word, unchecked to only one or the tqther. In the earliest puzzles every letter was checked. If you got all the across clues, you had the puzzle completed: ' " Too easy. "

"Right. Nowadays, as a general rule of thumb, only fifty five to sgventqfive percent of the letters should be checked: ' He digested that, then a bit later asked, "How about dues7 Do you spend a lot of time finding them and revising them? "

"You bet. Again times have changed. It used to be that primary definitions were used. For example, the clue for nest' would be a bird's home: In recent years, I've seen clues ranging from a place to feather to 'grackle shack: Actually " she added sheepishly, "my editor is a wonder when it comes to clever clues. I have no problem with her revisions : '

"Do you ever have problems with deadlines? " Garrick asked, somewhat sheepish himself now. "I'm not letting you get much work done: '

"I don't mind, " she said, and meant every word.

In truth, as the days passed, Lqah wondered if she was dreaming. Garrick was everything she d ever wanted in a man. He was patient when she was working, attentive when she wasn't. He was interesting, always ready to discuss whatever topic crtqssed either of their minds. Even in cases of disagreement, the discussion was intelligent and ended with smiles. He was perceptive, suggesting they go out or make dinner or play checkers with the set he d carved, just when she needed a break. He was positively gorgeous, tall and rangy, rugged with his full head of hair and his trimmed beard, compelling with his hazel-and-silver eyes. And hq was sexy. So sexy. He turned her on with a look, a word, move, and made love to her with passion, sometimes gentlyq sometimes fiercely, always with devotion.

The only thing to mar her happiness was the frown thatq crossed his face at odd moments, moments that became more frequent as the days passed.

Five days became a week, then ten days, twelve, two weeks. Garrick knew he had to tell her who he was. His fear remained, but the need for confession grew greater. He wanted her to know everything and to love him anyway. He wanted her to respect him for the way he d rebuilt his life.

He wanted-needed-to share past pain and present fear, wanted her understanding and support and strength.

Once, when the rain had stopped, he took her for a walk , intending to bare his soul while they were on the mountain Then they caught sight of a doe and her fawn, and he didn't have the heart to spoil the scene.

Another time he led her off the mountain and they ". hitched a ride into town. He planned to confess all while ' they were splurging on lunch at the small restaurant there, but I.eah was so enchanted by the charm of the place that he lost his nerve.

And then she insisted on calling Victoria. "I told her I'd give her a ring when I was settled. She may be worrying ' " Yeah, about whether you'll speak to her again after what she did: '

"It didn't end up so terribly did it? "

He grinned. "Nope. But maybe we ought to keep Victoria in suspense: '

That was exactly what Leah did. From a pay phone inside the small general store, she dialed Victoria's number.

A very proper maid answered. "Lesser residence: ' " This is Leah Gates.

Is Mrs. I. esser in? "

q'please hold the phone: ' qlqeah covered the mouthpiece and grinned at Garrick, q o was practically on top of her, boxing her into the h. "Cadt you just picture Victoria7 Shes probably =qqaring an oversize work shirt and jeans, looking like a waif rqp she breezes round and about her elegant furnishings to " ;qch the phone. I wonder what she s been doing.

Playing q'tjle lute7 Preparing sushi? " She removed her hand from the wqqlouthpiece when Victoria s excited voice came on the other "Where have you 6een ?"

"Hi, Victoria: '

"I.eah Gates! I've been worned sick!"

Iqeah's eyps sparkled toward Garrick. "You shouldn't have worried. I told you I wouldn't have any problem. The cabin js wonderful. I can understand why Arthur loved it up here: '

"I.eah.. : ' '1t's been a little rainy. That's why I didn't get around to calling sooner. My car is still mud-bound: ' There was a pause.

"Where are you calling from? "

"

" The general store: ' Aqnother pause. "How did you get there if your car is mud bound? "

"Hitched a ride: '

"I.eah!"

Garrick stole the receiver from Leah's hand. "Victoria? "

There was another brief silence on the other end of the line, then a cautious, "Garrick? "

"You play dirty. pool '

"Ahh: A sigh. '" Thank God. She s with you: '

"As you intended: '

"Do you hate me? "

"Not now. "

"But you did at first. Please, Garrick, I only wanted theqq best for you both. You were alone. She was alone. I'm sure! my letter explained"

"I havedt read your letter. " His eyes held Leah's, while the I arm around her waist held her close.

"Why not? " I

"I didn't want to: ' " You were that angry7 I didn't tell her anythixtg about you, ' Garrick, " she rounded defensively, then paused and lowered her voice.

"Have you? "

"Some: '

"But not... that? "

"No: '

"She is staying with you? "

"I couldn t very well turn her out into the rain with nowhere to go, "

he said, a wink for Leah softening his gruff tone. Of course, Victoria didn't see the wink.

"Oh, Garrick, I'm sorry I thought for sure you two would '. get along.

you're so right for each other. "

Garrick covered the mouthpiece and whispered to Leah, "She says we re so right for each other. "

"Wise busybody " Leah whispered back, then grabbed the phone. "I won't be sending any rent money, Victoria lesser"

"But you called. You can't be totally angry. "

"I have more of a conscience than you do, " Leah said, but she was smiling and Victoria knew it.

"Should I ready the green room for youl"

"Not just yet: '

"You 11 be staying there awhile? "

Leah didn't bother to cover the phone this time when she spoke to Garrick.

Her free hand was drawing lazy circles on the firm muscles of his back.

"She wants to know if I'll be staying here Eor a while: ' He took the phone. "5he11 be staying. I've discovered that lilce having a live-in maid : ' " I am not his maid, " Leah shouteql toward the mouthlece , while Victoria added her own comment. " Garrick, you are not to use Leah-"