Cold Heart (11 page)

“Looks like he wants more,” Carter said.

“I know. I feel bad but Dr. Walters said only a little tonight.” Tucker lay down on the floor at Carter’s feet.

Lexi drained the carrots that had been simmering on the stove and put them on a platter along with some potatoes and parsnips that had roasted with the meat. She put the meat on the platter as well and covered them with foil. She then added some premixed flour, water and seasonings to the roast pan and began to whisk it for gravy. When it was sufficiently thickened she poured it into a gravy boat. Then she carved the meat. The timer signalled the Yorkshire puddings were done, so she pulled those out of the oven and added them to the platter as well.

“Wow,” Carter said. “I marvel at how you coordinate all that.”

“Well it does take some practice,” Lexi said. If you will bring the gravy and that little dish with the horseradish in it, I will carry this out and we will be ready to eat.”

“I can hardly wait,” Carter said, picking up the items as he’d been instructed.

Once out in the dining room, Lexi went back to the kitchen and returned with warm plates and another bottle of wine. Tucker went over and lay down on his mat.

“Please help yourself, Carter,” Lexi said as she skillfully pulled the cork out of the second bottle of wine.

“I have never seen Yorkshire pudding this big,” Carter said, putting some of everything on his plate.

“The secret is to make the batter early in the day and beat it frequently. When the fat in the pan is smoking hot you pour in the cold batter, that’s when the magic happens,” she said.

“Yum,” Carter said. “Everything is delicious Lexi. I might have to have another one of these Yorkshires.”

“Well I’m glad you like it,” she said, feeling very pleased. She heard the timer go in the kitchen.

“Excuse me,” she said. “It sounds like dessert is ready.”

12

“I haven’t been this way before,” Lexi said. “I did a little exploring with Tucker one day, but since the fire I must admit I’ve been a little nervous to walk out here on my own.”

They had finished their dinner and almost another bottle of wine and decided that a walk with Tucker before dessert would be a good idea. They were walking along the side of the property that bordered Carter’s land.

“Well I can’t say as I blame you Lexi,” Carter said, “especially after the door knocking incident the other night.”

“Well at least there have been no more phone calls with no one there,”

“What phone calls?” Carter said, turning to face her, a look of alarm on his face.

“This morning I got a call on my cell, no answer but I could hear someone breathing. Then a while later the land line rang, which by the way I did not know was even operational and I got there just as the person hung up. It could have been a legitimate call, when I think about it now but there is no call display and I don’t even know if there is messaging. I think I might be getting a little paranoid.”

“Do you think it could have been the ex calling on your cell?” Carter asked.

“I guess it could have been. Not very many people have that number,” Lexi said. “The thing is no number for the caller showed up and if it was Michael that should have been displayed.”

“Hmm, a little puzzling to say the least,” Carter said.

They had reached the fence that separated the two properties and Lexi could see horses grazing in one of the pastures. It was really picturesque.

“This is lovely,” Lexi said. “It’s so peaceful.”

‘Yes, isn’t it?” Carter said. “It makes you relax just to look at it.”

“Sure does,” she said. “I guess we should head back now though, as it’s starting to get dark and I don’t want to push Tucker too much. He seems perfectly fine but how do you know right?”

“True, besides I heard there is Apple Crumble for dessert and if it’s anything like the Yorkshire pudding, I can hardly wait,” Carter said.

Lexi smiled. They strolled back and when they reached Wildwood they headed inside. Tucker went straight for his mat and lay down. Carter had a seat in one of the chairs and Lexi went to the kitchen to get the dessert. She brought it and some ice cream, out to the table.

“Just stay where you are and I will bring it over there,” she said. “Would you like some tea or coffee?”

“I think I will just have a little more of that wine,” Carter said.

“Oh sure,” Lexi said. She topped up his glass and brought it over.”

Lexi dished up dessert and then went to put the ice cream back in the freezer.

“Lexi this is delicious. Sorry I know I should have waited but I couldn’t help myself,” Carter said.

“Its fine, I didn’t expect you to wait,” she said. “I’m glad you like it. It’s nice to have dessert once in a while and it’s not something you usually do just for one.”

“I buy ice cream and that’s about it,” Carter said. “My mom used to make something like this.”

“What about your wife, did she cook?” Lexi asked.

“Carolyn wasn’t what you would call domestic,” Carter said. “She expected to have “people” to do that sort of thing. She came from wealth, generations of wealth. It was her father that owned the advertising firm and that’s why I got the job. I actually do have some talent for the business, but it would have taken way too long to work myself up to the level Carolyn was expecting. After all she married me thinking I was going to be an NFL star, so when he offered I said yes. It was only one of many companies he owned.”

“Well it’s the way of the world now,” said Lexi. “You need to know someone to get ahead.”

“You are being kind,” he said. “I felt like I had sold my soul. The truth was I hated the whole living in LA with the beautiful people thing.”

“I can understand that,” Lexi said. “So are you divorced? Were there any children? Boy I really am nosey aren’t I? Sorry.”

“It’s okay, it kind of feels good to talk about it,” Carter said, “now that it’s done. Yes, we are divorced. No, there are no children. I wanted children but Carolyn kept putting it off. Now I’m thankful that we aren’t pulling children in two different directions.”

“I think that must be hell for everyone involved,” Lexi said, “and unfortunately it’s becoming the norm. It’s one of the reasons I want to create a place where families can come. There are just too many pressures on families these days.”

“Do you feel that way because of what happened with your family?” Carter asked.

“I wish I knew what the fight was about because everything changed then,” Lexi said. She stifled a yawn.

“I should go,” Carter said.

“Sorry, I guess I am still tired from the other night.”

“It’s late. I really enjoyed this Lexi. Thank you,” Carter said.

“My pleasure,” Lexi said. “I hope my questions didn’t annoy you. I have enjoyed the company. Despite what I said when we met, about being the strong independent type, I’m not really all that independent and not all that strong.”

“I kind of guessed that,” Carter said and smiled.

His eyes lingered on hers and Lexi felt her cheeks flushing. He was so good looking and unlike the boy she had known who had been totally aware of how good looking he was, this man seemed unaware of it. She felt an overwhelming urge to walk over to him and run her fingers through his dark hair. She tried to think of something else, anything else and to look away then thankfully he did it first as he bent down to pet Tucker.

“Good night boy, have a good sleep and look after Lexi,” he said.

“I’m sure he will,” Lexi said. “I’ll walk you out.”

She walked ahead to the door, all the time aware that Carter was behind her. What was he thinking? Might he kiss her? No, he wouldn’t but she was really wishing that he would. Good grief Lexi, get a grip.

Carter stepped through the door she had opened and onto the porch. Then he turned and their eyes met again.

“It really was a great dinner. Thanks,” he said.

“Glad you liked it,” she said. She was reluctant to let him go, wanted him to kiss her so badly.

“Goodnight,” he said, turning and walking out to his truck.

Lexi stood there for a moment and then closed the door. She leaned against it. Her disappointment was palpable and yet she had known he wasn’t going to kiss her. He was a friend, that’s all. He was looking out for her because he had promised Uncle Max. What was wrong with her? Hadn’t she just told herself that romantic entanglements were the last thing she needed? Yes she had, but right now she wasn’t thinking straight because there was something about his hair, not straight, not curly, the way it was sort of messy and styled all at once. Then there were his eyes, sometimes his eyes twinkled and other times they burned right through you. You could lose yourself in those eyes. He made her need and right now; she needed him to kiss her.

Stop it Lexi. What you need is sleep. She was becoming delusional, reading too much into the situation, making no sense. She was dead tired but she ought to see if Tucker wanted to go out one more time. She woke him and put his leash on and he followed happily. Lexi put every possible outside light on. She was still nervous going out in the dark. It made her furious that those men had made her afraid to be here. Tucker cooperated and she went back inside quickly turning off all the lights and locking the door.

She decided that she would take Tucker and his bed upstairs. He seemed fine so she convinced herself it would be alright for him to climb the stairs. He may as well spend his first night in her room where she hoped he would sleep from now on. He did just fine with the stairs and didn’t seem at all out of breath. She was relieved about that. She got him settled down and then got ready for bed and climbed in. She did feel much better with Tucker right there. She lay there for quite awhile, her thoughts wandering but always coming back to Carter. She thought about all the things he had told her tonight. He had been through a lot, just as she had. Finally sleep came.

The phone downstairs began ringing at three am. It took many rings for her sleeping brain to hear it, wake up and then realize what it was. The office was some distance away and she was surprised she could hear it from there. The ringer must be turned up very high, perhaps Max had done that so that he would hear it from his room or maybe there was a phone in his room and she just hadn’t seen it. By the time she was out of bed to go and find the source of the ringing, it had stopped. Lexi realized she was shaking. Who was it and why were they calling at this hour?

Tucker had woken when the light went on but he put his head down again and went back to sleep. That was what she needed to do also but she knew that was not going to happen. She decided to get up and go to Uncle Max’s room and see if there was a phone there. She got her robe as it was chilly and she closed the door behind her to keep Tucker there. She turned the hallway lights on and made her way down the long hallway and around the corner to Max’s room. She opened the door and flipped on the light then began looking around for a phone. Sure enough there was one on the bottom shelf of the bedside table on the far side of the bed. That was why she hadn’t seen it.

Lexi had no sooner found the offending object when it began to ring causing her to shriek. Her heart pounding from shock and fear, she summoned all her courage to bend down and pick up the receiver.

“Hello,” her voice was barely audible. There was no response but she thought she could hear breathing. “Hello. Is someone there?” she repeated.

Still nothing. Lexi slammed down the phone and looked for the cord, followed it and pulled it out.

“See how you like that?” she said.

Now thoroughly spooked she looked around the room nervously and then left shutting off the lights but leaving the door open. She walked back down the hallway and had just put her hand on the knob of her door when she heard the phone ringing downstairs. She was furious and frightened all at once. Who was this? She went down the stairs as quietly as she could and then realizing that it was silly because there was no one inside, she picked up the pace and marched herself into the office. She flipped on the lights and found the phone which had now become silent followed the cord to the outlet and yanked it out.

She would have the number changed in the morning to an unlisted number. That would put an end to this nonsense. Wide awake now and trembling, she went into the kitchen to make some tea. She put the kettle on and stood tapping her fingers on the counter impatiently waiting for it to boil. Who could be doing this? Could it be Michael, hoping that if he frightened her, she’d come running back to him. It certainly couldn’t be because he loved her. He’d cheated on her and she wasn’t even sure that it had only been once. He liked her for her money.

Thinking back he hadn’t been interested at all until one of her friends had told him she had a big inheritance. Then he had suddenly begun wooing her, pretending all the while that he wasn’t interested in money, no not Michael he was a free spirit just out to love the world. Bullshit, she thought. He had used her for almost three years. Free room and board that’s all she had been. He was probably finding it hard to pay the bills now that she was gone, so if he wanted her back that was the only reason. But, would he go to these lengths to get her back or would he simply move on to the next mark.

It seemed more likely that it was Montgomery or Mitch that was making the calls. They definitely had a reason to frighten her off. If they could get her spooked enough she would be begging them to buy the property. Well they were winning weren’t they? She was spending too much time thinking about this and not enough time getting Wildwood ready to go. Plus she was getting all weak and mushy and thinking that she needed a man. This had to stop. The kettle whistled, making her jump. That made her mad.

Lexi made her tea and carried it upstairs turning lights off on her way. When she reached her room she tiptoed in so she wouldn’t wake Tucker. She climbed into bed leaving only the bathroom light on with the door slightly ajar so she could see to drink her tea, at least that’s what she was telling herself. Tomorrow she would get on with her list. Wasn’t that what she had told herself yesterday? Well tomorrow she would do it. There would be no distractions. She was also going to call Grace Montgomery and ask her to tea. Maybe she could get some information about Max’s mystery woman and maybe she could find out what Grace knew about her husband’s plans to buy Wildwood.

Having decided that and having finished her tea she lay down. Tucker was snoring softly and she found it reassuring. She was grateful that Carter had given him to her. He could have kept him himself, especially since he was such an animal lover. It was so wonderful that he rescued horses. It seemed like such a sweet and caring thing to do. He probably had planned to keep him but with Tucker running back over here every chance he got, it probably seemed best for Tucker to be here. It had certainly been the best thing for Lexi.

With her life so full of questions and uncertainty these days it was nice to have the companionship of this big brown dog. Lexi realized that it was already almost four am. She really needed sleep. She supposed that was what her mystery caller was trying to do, frighten her but also keep her sleep deprived. That would hamper her judgement and keep her off balance. It was working and she needed to do whatever she could to stop it. She was going to speak to the Sherriff, because he was obliged to help her no matter who he was related to. If he wouldn’t she would tell him she would go above him. He would have to help her then. But what did she really have to tell him. She had no real evidence of any wrong doing by anyone. The only thing they knew for sure was someone had latched the barn door. That was it. There was no proof of anything.