Part 4 (1/2)

Haley pulled her hand away. ”I'm glad to give you an afternoon of diversion.” She studied Libby's face. Maybe Libby would know something about Joy. ”I saw the burned cabin. Did you know the family that lived there?”

”I sure did. The Walshes.” Her eyes widened. ”Your family?”

Haley nodded. ”My parents.” She had to force the words out.

Libby looked stricken. ”I'm so sorry. Here I am babbling on. Is that the real reason you've come? No wonder you were upset when I found you at the pier.”

She nodded. ”My shrink thought it was time I faced the past. When this job came along, my grandmother convinced me to take it. Augusta can be opinionated and pigheaded at times. She was like a pit bull, and I got tired of fighting her.”

Libby snapped her fingers. ”I just remembered. Your grandmother is Augusta Walsh, isn't she?

”You've read her books?”

”Read them! I own every travel book she's ever written. Her memoirs of her adventures in Africa are masterful. Had you ever visited your parents here?”

Haley shook her head. ”I hadn't seen them for ten years, and it was almost twenty years ago when I was last here.” A painful, awkward meeting that she'd vowed not to repeat if she could help it.

”Ten years! You never wanted to visit? Why didn't they go back to the Lower Forty-eight?”

”That's where I last saw them. Tank mentioned another daughter.”

Libby studied her face. ”You say that like you don't know her.”

Haley looked away. ”I don't. I had no idea I had a half sister until Tank told me a little while ago. What can you tell me about Joy?”

Libby sat back in her chair and exhaled. ”I hope I don't offend you, but you have one strange family.”

”I know. About Joy?”

Libby shrugged. ”She was the light of their lives. I'd met your mom a few times before Joy came. She was always polite, but rather distant and dour. When Joy came, she bloomed. Kind of weird if you ask me. I wouldn't be blooming if my husband presented me with a love child. But Maggie seemed to dote on Joy. And she is a darling girl.”

Haley winced. She couldn't help it. That was a position she'd longed for. And it was the place that had belonged to Chloe. ”How old is she?”

”Twelve, almost thirteen now. They never told you?”

Not only had they never told her, but not even Augusta had mentioned it. ”Where does she live?”

”In Stalwart with a relation of her mother's. She wants to finish school and go into archeology like her-er, your parents.”

”Why wasn't she sent to my grandmother?” Augusta must have known. She couldn't imagine her father would keep it a secret from his own mother.

”You're going to have to ask your grandmother about that.”

”I'd like to talk to Joy.”

”I'm sure she'd love to see you. Your mom had an old alb.u.m with pictures of the family in it. I never saw it, but Maggie said Joy loved to look at it.”

”I wonder why she never wrote me?”

”You'll have to ask her.”

”I'll do that.” She had to learn all she could. Maybe her mother or father talked about her or mentioned Chloe. Maybe she could finally find closure.

Haley's grandmother sat at the table with a pile of leaves in front of her. She was pressing them in a book she'd brought for that purpose. She looked up when Haley entered the cabin. ”There you are. I was worried when I got back and you were gone.”

Haley shut the door behind her. ”I went to the cabin.”

”Haley, I told you to wait for me.” Irritation flashed over Augusta's face. She didn't like to be disobeyed.

Haley watched Augusta carefully flatten the leaves in the pages. How should she bring up the subject of Joy? Augusta had to know about this. She wet her lips. ”Augusta, I heard about Joy today.”

Augusta's fingers stilled, and she looked up. ”Joy?”

”Don't lie to me, Augusta.” She approached the table and knelt beside Augusta. ”Why didn't you tell me I had a half sister?”

Augusta put the book down and stared into Haley's eyes. ”I did what I thought was best. I tried several times, but in the end, I couldn't.”

”Didn't you think I'd find out about her when we came?”

”I thought she was gone from the area, and I didn't think we'd get to town much. I'd hoped to find the right time to tell you. If I'd dreamed you would discover it within hours of our arrival, I would have prepared you. I'm sorry.”

”Why didn't you seek custody when my parents died? Aren't you curious to meet her?”

Augusta closed the book. ”The attorney told me her mother's parents were caring for her. I thought there was no need for me to intervene. I intended to check on her, of course, when I was sure you wouldn't be hurt.” Her grandmother rubbed Haley's cheek with gentle fingers. ”I love you, Haley. I couldn't let you worry that you would lose my love too. You're the most important thing in my life.”

Haley's knee was cramping, so she stood, then dropped into the chair beside her grandmother. ”I'm not sure what to feel, Augusta. I'm more upset for Chloe than for me. I got used to the rejection long ago. I hear this girl looks like Chloe, and even Mother accepted her in Chloe's place. I don't like it.” Augusta was silent for so long, Haley began to think she wouldn't answer. After all, how could she argue against the truth?

”If Grady were still alive, I'd take a switch to him,” Augusta said finally. ”You can't let this eat at you, darling. Chloe's death changed them so.”

”It changed us all.”

Augusta nodded. ”You most of all. I remember how adventurous you used to be. How curious. You bottled it all up after that. Only your pictures betray you. You hide behind the camera. Someday, you need to step out and be yourself again.”

Haley heard the rest of the group talking and laughing as they approached the cabin. ”Don't say anything to the rest of them,” she said. She couldn't handle speculation and pity right now. Maybe never.

Five.

What a motley-looking crew. Tank wanted to walk away as he surveyed the ragtag a.s.sortment of men and women a.s.sembled outside the cabin. Kipp had bags under his eyes, and he still reeked of beer, though he was clearly dressed for the camera. The producer's eyes drooped as he leaned against his backpack. Tank's gaze found Haley. Dressed sensibly in jeans and boots with layers of s.h.i.+rts, her auburn curls sprang from her head as though they were alive. Her pale complexion glowed with health, but her amber eyes looked shadowed. Augusta's slim figure was outfitted with as much common sense as Haley's was, though her clothes were obviously not as new as her granddaughter's.

His gaze traveled to the dog that peeked out of the pack on Haley's back. He frowned. ”You're not taking that dog with you, are you?” He scowled at Oscar.

”Of course. We'll be gone too long to leave him behind.”

”I doubt you'll see many bears with all the noise he makes,” he said dryly. ”We'd better get going if we want to be ready for the afternoon feeding frenzy.” He adjusted the strap on his backpack and took off down the trail. He heard faint grumbling behind him.

”Hey, aren't you going to help haul the stuff ?” Kipp called.