Part 7 (1/2)
Computerizing Plum Granite was a piece of cake. She tipped her head.
”I'm impressed.”
”Don't be. We're not talking anything ultrasophisticated. The operation doesn't call for that.”
”Not yet,” she said. ”Mayb6 soon.” Her eyes were warm. ”Does the second-floor rental s.p.a.ce need much work?”
”Some.”
”Have you started it?” Judd shook his head. ”We just signed the lease.”
”When can I take a look?”
”Whenever you want.” She nodded, seeming to mull something over. While she did, he looked at the dress George had made such a big deal about. Granted, it was on the short side, which was fine, since she had great legs. But it wasn't racy. It was loose and swingy. He wondered how full her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were. He couldn't see much of them beyond an alluring hint. He was thinking that she was just the right height for him, tall enough so that he wouldn't get a crick in his neck If he kissed her, short enough so that he wouldn't feel he was kissing an Amazon, when she 160 nm PAMOOMS Of cbelfto -Who'll be doing the work?” The work. On the new office. Judd disciplined his oughts. ”Russell Ives. He's a local contractor.”
”Is he good?” he wasn't.”
”I wouldn't use him if ”Even if he was your cousin and desperate for the rk?” voice cut in sharply. ”What kind of questkm is Everyone's related to someone here, and there's ,.kxids desperate for work. You dunk Judd would hire on ..,someone who'd do a half-a.s.sed job?
Think again, missy. we don't run Plum Granite that way.”
”Well, I'm pleased to hear that,” Chelsea said without missing a beat, ”because I want someone first rate for my house.”
”What house?” Oliver asked, but her eyes were on Judd again ”How many men does Russell Ives have?”
”Enough to do most any job.”
”What house?” Oliver repeated. ”The one I just bought,” she told Oliver, then said to Judd, ”Enough men to do your work and mine at the same time?”
”Enough for that.” ”What house?” Oliver demanded. ”Boulderbrook.'” In the explosion of silence that followed, the only sound was the whir of the fan in Fern's office and the patter of Buck's paws as he meekly returned to Judd's side. Chelsea looked from face to face. Hunter turned around. With the sc.r.a.pe of his chair on the old planked floor, Oliver came to his feet. ”You bought Boulderbrook?” he asked slowly. Judd had always prided himself on being able to 161 read Oliver's thoughts, but this time he was S t, '. He couldn't tell if the man was surprised, appalled, or downright angry. Chelsea must have been similarly confused, because she drew herself up, seeming braced for all three. Cautiously she said, ”Is there a problem with that?”
”W4y'd you buy Boulderbrook?”
”Because I want it,” she said as though that was reason enough, and Judd supposed for her it was. She had the kind of money most Notchers couldn't conceive of, much less dream of possessing. He had more than many of the others, but even he felt out of her league..You paid good money,” Oliver prodded disbelievingly, ”for something you'll live in a week or two here or there?”
”Once I set up a studio, it'll be more than that. I'll be here more than I'm in Baltimore. It doesn't make sense to stay at the inn each time. I need flexibility. Buying is the obvious solution.” Judd thought he detected a note of humor irl her expression. ”Unless, of course, you were to offer me a room at your place.”
”I'm not offering you a thing!” Oliver declared, then demanded, ”Who showed you Boulderbrook?”
”Rosle Hacker.”
”Figures,” he spat. ”Bra.s.sy woman interferin' in work that men around here been doing perfectly well for years.” He grunted. ”Boulderbrook.
She ain't been around long enough to know better.” Looking mystified, Chelsea asked, ”What's wrong with Boulderbrook?” .'s a mess.”
”But I've always wanted to live in an old country farmhouse.”
”There's rats all over the place.” 162 NW10M Of CIMEMW Kane meeds work,” she conceded.
was an understatement, Judd knew. Among r things, Boulderbrook needed new plumbing ' systems, a new roof, porch, bath- and kitchen.
The floors and moldings needto be stripped of layers of old paint, the walls and recovered, the fireplace rebuilt. @And that a.s.sessment came from a brief view he'd d of the place eight years before. The only ges since then would have been ones that time, elements, and wildlife had made. n work,” Oliver roared. ”It ”It needs more tha eeds to be burned to the ground.”
”It's made of fieldstone,” she pointed out. ”It n't burn.” Th,-,-.qlmer she was, the angrier he got. ”Don't be '-smart is with me, ml sy. You're comin' up here to a place you know nothin' about. If you had any brains, ,,”,,@You'd listen to someone who does know somethin' @about the place.” In not afraid of work.”
”Boulderbrook needs more than work!' he barked. ”It needs a ghostbuster!
It's haunted!
Or didn't Rosie Hacker tell you that?” Chelsea rolled her eyes. ”Oh, please.”
”Don't ', please' me. It's haunted. Ain't that so, Hunter?”
Hunter, who had his hands under his arms, looked dismayed. ”It's haunted.” ”Hear that?” Oliver said to Chelsea. ”And you better listen.
He's heard the voices himself.”
”What voices?” Chelsea asked. ”Little children,” Oliver told her. ”They live in the walls.”
”Oh, please.” She turned to Hunter. ”You didn't 163 Zarbmra Deumshy really hear voices, did you?” Hunter didn't answer. ”You heard them?” she asked in disbelief. He continued to stare, as though waiting for her to laugh at him. Only she didn't. She turned curious. It struck Judd that curiosity was part of her character. ”Is the barn haunted, too?” Hunter shook his head. ”Just the farmhouse. It must have a history.”
”Of course it does,” Oliver snapped. ”Everything has a history.”
”A history that would lend itself to haunting?”
”Must have, since it's haunted.” She raised her brows, inviting him to fill her in. When he didn't, she turned to Hunter. ”Do you know the history?”
”No one knows the history.”
”Did any children actually live there?”
”Long ago.”
”It's been empty for years,” Oliver said. ”Normal people won't touch it.”
”But you still hear voices?” Chelsea asked Hunter. ”I don't go near there. Haven't since I was five. ”Which was how long ago?”
”Thirty-two years.”
”Ah.” She threw up a hand in dismissal. ”There you go. Thirty-two years ago. Ancient history.” But Hunter shook his head. ”People still hear them.”
”What do these voices say?” He was silent. ”Did they ever threaten you?” Judd waited to hear the answer. The voices were another of the rumors surrounding Hunter, since he 164 The Fa.s.sIMM Of Chchma K=W been the first to report hearing them. Yes, othhad claimed to have heard them in the interven-years, but those others were mostly kids, daring other to dash into the house on the darkest of nless nights. There were various theories as to nature of the voices. None had ever been proven way or another, but the townsfolk generally d clear of the house. No one's ever been threatened,” Hunter said. Chelsea smiled. ”Then they're harmless, so re's nothing to worry about.” Still smiling, she ed Judd. ”I want that farmhouse. Will your man sell do my work?” Judd suspected that if she smiled at Russ the way e was smiling at him, the contractor would do st anything she wanted. Janine had had a smile that, too. ”I suppose.”
”She can't buy that house,” Oliver protested. ”When can he start?”
Chelsea asked Judd. ”As soon as you tell him what you want done.”
”The men won't work there,” Oliver argued. ”The '01ace is haunted. Tell her it's haunted, Judd.” But Judd wasn't sure that it was, and besides, he ew how hungry Russ and his men were for work. ”I'll pay well,” Chelsea said, sweetening the offer. ill you speak to him for me? Arrange a meeting r this weekend? There are things he can get start- on while I'm in Baltimore. I'll do up detailed plans hen I get back. The sooner we get going the betpler.” To Oliver, as though he'd never uttered a cross word to her, she said, ”I was wondering if you and your wife would be my guests for dinner at the inn tonight.” Oliver looked at her as if she were deranged. ”Whatever for?” 165 Marba” Deffnghy ”To celebrate our partners.h.i.+p.”
”Whatever for?”