Part 8 (1/2)

”I picked them up here and there.”

”Mostly there,” Judd muttered. It was Tuesday. He had wanted work on the farmhouse begun on Monday. He didn't know when Chelsea would be back and wanted work under way when she showed. It was, a matter of pride with him. When he did things, he did them well. Annoyed with Russ for letting him down, with himself for taking the job so seriously, and with Chelsea Kane for insisting that it be done in the first place, he strode across the road to where the men were milling. ”You guys have a problem with this job?” ”Yeah,” one said. ”He didn't tell us it was here.”

”Only a crazy man would work on this house,” another said. A third said, ”He thought he was safe taking a crew from another town, but we ain't stupid or deaf.

We heard of this place. h.e.l.l, if he won't go inside, why should we?”

Judd thought about that for a minute before 172 The Pa.s.sions of Chelsen Kane ng to Russ. Keeping his back to the men and voice low, he said, ”They say you won't go de. Is that true?” ss's face grew red under his tan. ”No need for ”to 90 inside. They're the ones doing the work.” ome on, Russ.” told ' to start with the roof. That's not even e.” -”And they're too spooked to do it.” Judd was dis- t . ”Big bruisers, and they're spooked by kids' ies. You could set an example, y'know. Go on 'ide, then come out and show them you're still @[email protected]'You go inside”

”. did. With you. Yesterday.” ' ”Yeah, and I had the heebie-jeebies all night,” s argued. ”I'm not doin' it again.” He held up a d. ”When you told me about this job, I said I'd and that's what I've done. You want to fire me m the other jobs, fine, but if you do, I'm takin' my n with me. So where'll that leave you?” Up s.h.i.+t's creek, Judd knew. The partners.h.i.+p ers had been signed, the clock was ticking. The hed at Moss Ridge had to be completed before the uipment arrived, same with the downtown office, A'they didn't want to fall behind. There were other rews, some even hungrier for work than Russ and ' men, but Russ was good. In all Judd's experience ith him, this was his first letdown. Judd glanced beyond Russ to where Hunter stood aning against the side of the Plum Granite truck. e walked over, tucking his hands in the. back of his eans. ”What do you think?” he asked in a voice that wouldn't carry beyond where they stood. ”I think you've got a problem.” 173 Barbara Deunshy ”Me? Try us. She wants the house done.”

”She asked you to arrange it,” Hunter said. ”I'm not involved.”

”Sure you are. You're the one behind the rumors. But you're no dummy.

And you're no country hick.

There's no such thing as ghosts, and you know it.” Hunter's face hardened. ”You're saying I made it all up?”

”No,” Judd answered. He had to be careful. Sometimes the slightest thing could set Hunter off, and he would disappear for days. But Judd needed his help. ”I'm saying that you were a little boy when you heard those voices. No one had heard them before that, and it's questionable whether anyone has heard them since.”

Hunter's mouth was set in so much the same straight line as Oliver's often was that just then it was easy to believe them father and son.

”So?”

”So,” Judd said, ”You were the first to report the voices, you could be the first to say they're gone.”

”But I don't know that they are gone. I'd have to go in there to find out, and I'm not doing that.”

”Scared?”

”No. Smart.” ”You said It yourself, the voices never hurt anyone.”

”That's because people run off when they hear them.”

”When they imagine they hear them,” Judd corrected. Hunter gave a scornful shrug.

”Why tempt fate?”

”Because that's your specialty. You've been doing it all your life. You never studied in school until the night before exams.

You bounce checks 174 Ihc Paswons of Cbeism Kane week before payday. You drive your cycle like ere's no tomorrow. Even the way you left that ack and headed for the main road when your t.i.ter died-most five-year-olds would have put until someone came.”

”No one would've come. No one ever came.” Judd heard the bitterness, but he had a point to ake. ”You left that shack. You'd never been in in your life. You'd never been in the company other people. But something made you wander own that road.

You've got guts, Hunter. You may e foolhardy sometimes, and stubborn as sin, but u've got guts. You tempted fate when you left that ack, you tempt fate every time you spin out up on ben Road, so are you tempting fate this time? Are u goin' into that farmhouse or not?” Hunter's face was stony. ”She had no business uying the place.”

”But she did. It's done. She wants to live here, And she's expecting us to make that possible. It's ,'straightforward work. It won't look real good if we an't do it.”

”Russ is the one who can't do it.”

”But we're the ones in charge.” He took a new tack. ”You've been wanting more responsibility.

Here's your chance. Take over for Russ. Be the general contractor for this project.” Hunter made a face. ”Are you nuts?”

”No, not nuts. It makes sense.” The more he thought about it, it did. ”You know what has to be done. You spent thirteen years living with Hibbie Mayc.o.c.k and his sons, and they did a whole lot more than quarrying. Hibbie was the best carpenter around. So you know carpentry, and you know roofing. And don't tell me you didn't moonlight as an 175 Zwbara Defimby electrician to buy gra.s.s-even if Oliver did buy you outta that charge-because I won't believe you. You're the most mechanically inclined person at the quarry, and you're good with the guys. You could lead them just as well as Russ can.” ”Great,” Hunter said. ”Give me the cutting shed.” What Judd gave him was a short shake of his head. ”We need you here.” He paused, then added, ”Look, none of us wants her around. None of us wants her owning a piece of the company, but the fact is that she does, and there's nothing we can do about it except work our b.u.t.ts off for a year and do things better than her. Are you helping?”

”This place isn't part of the deal.”

”No, but you'd really impress her if you did it.”

”Why in the h.e.l.l would I want to impress her?” he asked with such disdain that Judd felt a twinge of relief. He didn't know why. He certainly didn't want any part of Chelsea Kane, and he hadn't thought Hunter would, but the possibility, vague though it was, must have registered in the back of his mind. Now he set it aside and focused on the practical. ”Because she's a good contact. Think about it, Hunter. She's an architect. She knows of projects right and left. Prove yourself a skilled craftsman, and she'll remember you. She might have a friend who needs your services. She might be your ticket out of here.”

”Who says I'm looking for a ticket out?” Judd didn't answer. It seemed that every Notcher, at some time in his or her life, looked for a ticket out of the town that was so small and parochial. College had been Judd's ticket. Same with Hunter. But they'd both come back, each to his private h.e.l.l. Judd couldn't believe Hunter didn't 176 nm Pa.s.sions of Cbomw Kane days.

orried you can't do it?” he goaded. If all else there was still the dare. can do it,” Hunter said, -but his eyes had d past Judd and were focused on the farme. d imagined he saw a flicker of fear, something the look on Hunter's face when Chelsea had first she was buying the place.

He wondered if r had ever really heard voices and, if so, what . them up-not that Judd believed for a e that they were real. But Hunter might. cleared his throat, looked at the ground, and even more quietly, ”I'll go in with you if you . I was in there yesterday. It's empty, unter. as stone.” He raised his head. ”Well?” can go in myself,” Hunter said. His eyes were as t at Judd had ever seen them and more wild. t if I do, this is my baby, mine all the way. The man can't take it away from me. Is that a deal?” Judd could hear Oliver's panicked voice saying, deal? What in the devil did you make a deal for? can't do that work. He ain't never done that rk. Wouldn't put it past him to fix things so's the lets all flush every time you flip on the lights.” If ne was capable of doing that, Hunter was. But dd knew he was also capable of keeping the men line and getting the work done well and on time. It eemed only fair to finally give him that chance. ”It's a deal,” he said, and would have put out his , to shake on it if Hunter had been anyone else.

”But Hunter wasn't a toucher. Everything about him said ”hands off.”

Judd and everyone else in town took that literally. ”So, when'll you start?” Brashly, Judd thought, Hunter said, ”Now.” 177 Harbam Deanday ”How you going to get the men inside?” Hunter stared at him for another minute, his eyes even wilder than before. Then he broke into a determined stride in-the direction of the house. He didn't stop when he reached the men and the trucks, simply ordered, ”Start unloading that stuff,” and strode on, leaving Judd behind, hoping he'd done the right thing. On Friday morning, at six-thirty on the dot, aerobics began in the bas.e.m.e.nt of the church. Donna was in her usual place in the back row, doing warmups with the others to a slow beat, when Chelsea appeared at the door. Immediately she straightened, smiled, and waved. Looking relieved to see her, Chelsea moved quickly around the others, dropped a small canvas bag against the back wall, and t ook up position beside her. ”How are you?” she asked. Donna made an okay sign with her hand and mouthed, ”When did you get back?”

”Last night. Late. I wasn't sure I'd make it here so early, but I really need the exercise.” Donna thought she looked tired. She was pale, though since Donna hadn't seen her without makeup before, she had no way of knowing whether that was her natural coloring. If so, it wasn't unbecoming. She simply looked more vulnerable than before. Her hair, which was pulled away from her face into a high ponytail, leaving her features open, enhanced the impression. It was a different side of Chelsea Kane from the one she had previously seen. Unfortunately the rest of the members of the cla.s.s hadn't seen any side of Chelsea Kane before 178 The PASWORS of Ofeblea Kane d were interrupting their warm-ups to shoot curi- glances her way.

Recalling Chelsea's self-con-'sciousness, Donna motioned that they should continue. When she resumed her own stretches, ,@':Chelsea joined her. The stretches went well. Chelsea was limber, though that came as no shock. Well before Donna saw it in her movements, she could have guessed it from her shape. She was a sleek swirl of neon pink and black in her exercise tights and tank top. Had the woman carried any flab, it would have. showed. No doubt, Donna mused, the others in the room were thinking the same thing, some with admiration, some with envy. The nine others there ranged in age from twenty-seven to sixty-eight. Some were slim, others we e not. None looked as striking as Chelsea. Certainly none had as stylish exercise gear. Most wore loose T-s.h.i.+rts and shorts in colors far more muted than Chelsea's things. Donna wasn't sure she would feel comfortable wearing anything so bold. She wasn't sure she had the courage. The beat picked up, and the group moved into the first routine. Chelsea faltered, then caught up, faltered, then caught up. Not wanting to stare and make her any more uncomfortable than she was, Donna focused on the instructor, who was calling out the steps in advance and with more detail than she normally did, for Chelsea's benefit. Chelsea made it through the first number, then the second. By the time the music segued into the third, Donna could see that she'd begun to relax. It wasn't that she was. .h.i.tting the steps any better, but she seemed to have decided that whatever she did was fine, as long as she kept moving. By the time the beat slowed into cool-downs, 179 Awsbam Demmghy Chelsea was looking as warm as the rest. As soon as the music ended, she took a towel from her bag and blotted her face, neck, and throat. Donna did the same with the hem of her T-s.h.i.+rt, which was pretty much what the rest of the cla.s.s did. Then she caught Chelsea's eye. ”Okay?” she mouthed.

Chelsea grinned. ”Great. Fun.” She took a deep breath, drew herself straighter, and put a hand on her stomach. ”Good workout.” Taking her arm then, Donna led her to where the instructor was unplugging her ca.s.sette player. Ginny Biden was the wife of a college professor who taught in Manchester. She was in her thirties and had a young baby at home. The early morning cla.s.s was perfect for her, since her husband could be with the baby while she taught, then she could be with the baby while he taught. Although, she was nowhere near as slim as aerobics instructors on television, as Norwich Notch wives went, she was lively, which was why Donna brought Chelsea to her first. Chelsea extended her hand. ”Chelsea Kane. Hi. Great cla.s.s.” ”Welcome,” Ginny said. ”Was it too much, too fast?”

”A little. But that's okay. I'll catch on.”

”You're new in town, aren't you?”

”Uh-huh.” ”Just visiting?” she asked with an expectant look at Donna. Donna started to shake her head when Chelsea said, ”Actually, I'll be living here for a while. I'm working with Plum Granite.” Ginny's eyes suddenly widened. ”Chelsea Kane. 180 ift ra.s.siong of Chchwa K=w're Chelsea Kane. Wow, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinkit must be too early in the morning.” She looked und, nervously, Donna thought.

”Have you met e others?” In various stages of recovery, the others were all king at Chelsea. They had heard her name now. I ey knew who she was.

They were, nearly to a man, wary. Hoping to lessen that wariness by virtue of her wn acceptance, Donna took Chelsea's arm again , led her from one to the next. There were no vhandshakes, just an exchange of names and nods. Chelsea's nods were accompanied by smiles; the -others were sober. None was more sober than the very last. She was white-haired, the oldest in the group, the most pet.i.te, and, though she determinedly attended every cla.s.s, the most fragile-looking. Taking the utmost care to properly articulate her. words and modulate her tone of voice, Donna said aloud, ”This is my mother, Margaret Plum. Mother, this is Chelsea Kane.” Chelsea was visibly startled. She gathered herself quickly, though, and did offer her hand then. ”I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Plum. I had no idea you'd be here.”

”Nor I you,” Margaret said.

Proper lady that she was, she put her hand in Chelsea's, though even Donna could see how tentatively. Her hand seemed feeble. In keeping with that, her face was ashen. ”Are you all right?” Donna signed, but Margaret's eyes were on Chelsea. ”Do you do this often?” Chelsea asked.

”Yes,” Margaret answered. ”That's wonderful.”

”I like being in church.”

Her hand shook as she 181 lowered it to her lap. Worried, Donna touched her arm and signed again, ”Are you all right?” She knew that Margaret wasn't pleased with the partners.h.i.+p agreement and wished she had been able to prepare her for Chelsea's appearance. But Donna hadn't known Chelsea was coming until she had appeared at the door. ”I'm tired,” Margaret said, her eyes still on Chelsea. ”I think I'd like some breakfast.”

”Should I walk you home?” Donna signed, but Margaret turned around midway through the question and started off. Chelsea looked after her. ”Is she ill?” Donna shrugged, then repeated the gesture when Chelsea turned to her. But Chelsea seemed to have forgotten about Margaret. ”You speak well,” she said. When Donna shook her head, she insisted, ”You do. I hadn't realized you could. It must have been difficult to learn.” Donna shook her head, then cupped her ear and nodded. ”You could hear once? What happened?” She waved a hand to indicate nothing of consequence, certainly nothing she wanted to discuss, and quickly looked at her watch. It was seven-fifteen. Matthew would be furious if she wasn't in the kitchen with breakfast cooking by seven-thirty. She gave Chelsea an apologetic look. ”Go on,” Chelsea said. ”Will you be in the store later?” Donna nodded. ”Can I stop by?”