Part 15 (1/2)

I shook my head in disbelief as I continued with my list. Miranda's wedding ring her watch and her locket, which contains a photo of Maggie at about five years of age and her Uncle Nathan. The way the pictures are situated, it's as if they're looking at each other. Why does would Miranda have a picture of her brother-in-law in locket with her own daughter?

Then I started with Jonathan's list. He died in a hit-and-run six months ago. Three months later, all this starts happening to Maggie. This list is shorter, than Miranda's, but I know his death has something to do with all this.

I wrote down: Who gets his business? Who gets the clinic? It's a family thing. Does Maggie get it? What could that mean?

I sat back and looked at my list. These two people die twenty years apart but they are never closer than they are right now. It's all connected. I could smell it, as my father used to say. I sat there drinking my coffee feeling every bit of my forty-three years and then some. I looked outside. The sun was coming up and would soon burn off the light fog that hung over the yard. It was beautiful and the fall colors were radiant. It was so peaceful.

”Good morning.”

I jumped and spilled my coffee on the table. Christ, my nerves, I thought as I looked up to see Maggie. She looked tired but her blue eyes still sparkled. Why am I constantly noticing those eyes?

”Good morning,” I said.

She handed me a napkin and poured herself a cup of coffee. ”Mind if I join you?”

”No, not at all,” I said moving my notes. She watched with raised eyebrows. ”I was making a list of what we know.” I handed it to her and she read it, thoroughly.

”Did you sleep well?” I asked.

”Honestly, no. How about you?” she asked and gave me a worried look.

”I was drugged, so yes, I slept fine. You witch, what was that?”

”It was a very mild sleeping potion. I perfected it at the Witch's Convention. You needed it,” she said. ”You know, you have a very good sense of humor.” She laughed and drank her coffee.

”When all else fails, get aem laughing,” I said, reading the notes. ”Maggie, I am sorry about Bedford. I don't know what he was doing in the stable. I wish we could have saved him.”

”I do, too, Kate. I remember the day Bedford started working for us.” She stared out the kitchen window absently and continued. ”He's the one who taught me to ride. He was an excellent horseman back then,” Maggie said sadly. ”Who would want to kill Bedford?”

”It's speculation, but like I said last night, Bedford knew something and somebody killed him to shut him up. The fire in the stable was supposed to look like an accident.”

With that, Hannah came into the kitchen. ”Good morning, my darlings. I thought I smelled coffee.” She poured herself a cup. She looked terrible. I could tell she'd had a rough night as well. She sat down with a groan. ”These old bones.”

Mac and Teri came down soon after. Mac looked rested but Teri looked tired.

Hannah said, ”I feel horrible about Bedford. He was like part of the family.”

We were all silent for a moment before Teri spoke. ”Bedford must have known something. What do you think, Kate?”

”I think that's a given. He told me it doesn't pay to ask questions. I think he knew too much. This is no coincidence. There is a connection between the fire and what's happening to Maggie. I will find out what it is.”

Out of the blue, Hannah let out a small cry. ”Goodness, I almost forgot the Festival! Perhaps I should cancel in light of all this.”

”No, don't cancel,” I said quickly. ”It might be a good idea to go to this festival. Besides, Steve said his father would be there. I'd like to talk to him.”

”Let's get ready and go into town. The festival starts in two hours.” Hannah sounded excited and a little life came back to her face.

We went up to our rooms. Thank G.o.d, I'd been planning to be away for the entire weekend so had enough clothes. It was a beautiful Indian summer day, so I threw on my favorite flannel s.h.i.+rt with a white turtleneck and jeans. I grabbed my tweed blazer, just in case, and looked at myself in the mirror.

”Hmm, not too bad, I've looked worse. I think,” I said. I instinctively grabbed my camera case as I headed downstairs to rejoin the others.

Of course, I was the only one ready. I went out on the deck and watched Chance dart around. I looked around, reminded again of the beauty of the area. I could see the lake not too far off. I opened my bag and took out my camera.

I put on a stronger lens and scanned the lake for a good shot.

As I was scanning the lake, I thought I saw something on the other side. I took the camera away from my face, and looked again. In a panic, I reached in my bag for the strongest lens I had with me. It took me a second, but I attached the long, heavy lens. I scanned the lake again and I saw it much clearer. It was the woman-the same woman.

My heart was beating like a drum as I tried to swallow, but my mouth had gone dry. I took several deep calming breaths to steady my hand. I stood, frozen as I took the picture. I let the shutter go several times. She stood there dressed in white. Her long, dark hair blew with the gentle breeze. Hand her arms were folded in front of her as she gazed out at the lake. When I took the camera away and then looked again, and she was gone. I stood for a second and then I felt something behind me.

”Boo!” Maggie and Teri said.

I must have jumped ten feet as I screamed like a woman.

”I'm sorry.”

At least that's what I thought Maggie said. Who could understand her, with her laughing so hard?

Teri looked at my camera. ”Wow. Now that's a lens. What in the world are you looking for?”

”Maggie, Teri I...” I stopped and swallowed hard.

”What?” Maggie asked. Now she stops laughing.

”Are you all right?” Teri asked. Mac came out on the deck.

”What a beautiful morning.” He stopped and looked at us. ”What the h.e.l.l is the matter with the three of you?”

”I saw the woman on the other side of the lake. I must have taken ten pictures of her,” I said.

”You're kidding!” Maggie looked out into the woods. ”Who is she?”

”You didn't get a good look at her yesterday did you?” I asked.

She shook her head. ”There were too many trees.”

”Well, do you have a photographer in town? Maybe I can drop off the film so they can get it to me as soon as possible.”

She told me of an editor of the town paper, he was an amateur photographer and had a dark room. We could see him this morning.

I gathered my camera equipment and we went inside. Maggie took a step back and gave me an appraising look. I felt the heat rise to my face, under her smiling gaze. She looked as if she might say something when Miss Bubbly came downstairs.

”Well, I'm ready. Kate, you look good. Green is definitely your color, that s.h.i.+rt almost matches your eyes perfectly,” Hannah said approvingly.

”I was about to say the exact same thing,” Maggie concurred in a low voice.

That tone made my heart skip, dammit.