“Sure,” the man said. “Sure, that’s it. You’ve figured it all out, haven’t you? Yeah, I’m Wayne and I’m a relative of those people. I heard about the heist through the family tree and decided I want my share of it.”

  “But you found it in the house before you blew it up, right?”

  He stared into her eyes and hesitated before saying, “And I thought you were a smart girl.” When something caught his eye, he turned and saw a truck pulling slowly into the Iveys’ driveway. “Who’s that?” he demanded.

  “My friend. She’s bringing my horse back. Now leave. I won’t tell anyone you were here. I won’t identify you as the man who held us hostage or who stole the jewelry and blew up the house. As far as I know, Wayne, you didn’t do any of that. If you’re afraid I’ll report you to the police, you’re wrong. I don’t actually know anything to report. In fact, if the police ask me anything else, I’ll just tell them I lied about being held hostage. That’s the only thing they have on you, right, Wayne?”

  “Um…yeah, I guess so,” the man said as he peered nervously out the window again. When he saw the driver step out of the truck and walk around to the back of the horse trailer, he opened the kitchen door and darted out, disappearing around the side of the house.

  Savannah closed the door, locked it, and collapsed into the nearest chair. When Rags approached her, she petted him, her hand trembling. Just then she heard a rap at the door. “Oh, Bonnie,” she said, running to the door and opening it for her. “I’m sorry,” she stuttered. “I…um…I was busy. I didn’t see you drive up.”

  “That’s okay,” Bonnie said. “Peaches is in the corral. Seems happy to be home.” She started to chuckle. “Looks like your cat’s glad to see her.”

  Savannah gazed toward the window and saw Rags dancing around on the perch and meowing. “Yes, he does love Peaches.” She took a deep breath. “Do you have time to chat? Want a glass of lemonade or something?”

  After thinking about it for a few seconds, Bonnie said, “No. I’d better stay on task. I have a horse to pick up—a new boarder.” She smiled at Savannah. “Hey, let’s go riding before the weather turns hot. Want to?”

  “Sounds good. Yes. I’ll probably have some time in a week or so once we get settled back in here. Thanks for bringing my mare home,” Savannah said as she walked with Bonnie to the door. She waved as her friend drove away. Before closing and locking the door, she glanced around the yard to make sure Wayne was not lingering in the shadows waiting for another chance to harass her. I hope I’ve convinced him that I’m not a threat to him. She choked up. I just want my life back.

  Chapter 8

  That evening after Lily and Gladys had both gone to bed, Savannah joined Michael and Teddy in the living room.

  “He just rolled over,” Michael announced. “Watch,” he said, placing the baby on his tummy on a large quilt spread out on the floor. “Look how well he’s holding his head up.”

  Savannah smiled. “What does he see?” she asked when she noticed the baby staring across the room. “Oh, it’s Buffy. Come here, Buffy,” she crooned. “Teddy wants to see you.”

  The couple chuckled as Buffy walked past the baby toward Savannah. As she did so, Teddy followed the part-Himalayan cat with his eyes and leaned so far to the left that he rolled over onto his back. Savannah and Michael both clapped and cheered. Then Michael scooped up the infant into his arms. “We have a lot of important milestones to enjoy with you, don’t we?”

  “Yeah, the doctor says he’s right on track—doing what a three-month-old should be doing—or a fourteen-week-old.” She chuckled. “They go by weeks now instead of months.” She then said, “And he’s high on the growth chart for his age.”

  “Well, neither of us is what you’d call petite. We’re going to have good-size children.” When he saw Savannah looking at him, he backtracked a little. “Um…well, you aren’t like, big. I didn’t mean that. I mean, you’re tall. You’re trim and all, but taller than most women.”

  Just then her phone chimed, and he said under his breath, “Saved by the bell.”

  She grinned at him, then looked at her phone. “It’s Holly.”

  Michael laid the baby back on the quilt. “Good timing. I want to fix that leaky faucet while I’m thinking about it. Tell her hi,” he said as he left the room.

  “Hi,” Savannah said into the phone. “How are you guys?”

  “Okay,” Holly said. “How’s everyone there? Have you caught up with all of the neighborhood gossip?”

  Savannah chuckled. “Just about. We have our friends-and-family lunch after church tomorrow, so I should find out the rest of it. So far, I’ve learned that my aunt has a full shelter of cats and kittens, my friend Colbi has finished the first draft of her novel, my sister is inundated with patients and loving her new medical practice, for the most part, but she can’t stand the whiney, overprotective mothers…”

  Holly broke in. “She doesn’t have children yet, does she?”

  “No. I’m not even sure she’s ever going to get married. Talk about a woman with cold feet.”

  “Isn’t she engaged?”

  “Yes. She wears her ring proudly, but to her it seems to be just a step above going steady.”

  “And her fiancé?”

  “Well,” Savannah stalled, “he’s been ready to get married for months, so I hope she doesn’t put him off for too long.”

  After a strained silence, Holly said, “Savannah, I had a call.”

  “A call?” she asked.

  “Yes, I haven’t told anyone about it, but it has me kind of on edge. Savannah, it’s about that Verano thing.” She started to cry. “Oh, I just wish I’d never gotten involved with any of that.”

  “What happened?” Savannah asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

  Holly’s voice tightened. “Someone has been threatening me.”

  “Threatening you?

  “Well, yes, in so many words. I think it’s the guy who probably took the jewelry and blew up the house. I guess he thinks I know who he is and that I’m going to tell someone.” She sniffled before saying, “Savannah, he said something odd to me. He insisted I tell him where the jewelry is. Now what does he mean by that?”

  Savannah was silent for several seconds before she said more quietly. “Yes, what does that mean?” She then spoke up, “Oh, I’ll bet he’s fishing to see what you know. He wants to make sure you don’t know something that could incriminate him.” She paused and asked, her voice slightly higher in pitch, “He wants you to tell him where the stuff is?”

  “Yes. Why would he ask me, of all people?”

  “Has he come to your house?” Savannah asked.

  “No, he just called on the phone.”

  “Well,” Savannah said more quietly, “he came here this afternoon.”

  “To your house there in California?” Holly cried.

  “Yes. Scared the bejeebers out of me. But I think I’ve convinced him that I have no intention of squealing. I mean, we don’t know if he found anything or took anything or…um…even killed that guy.”

  “We don’t even know who he is,” Holly added.

  Savannah said, “Well, I still think it’s Wayne—you know, your neighbor. Hey Holly, when he called you, did you recognize his voice? You know him better than I do.”

  Holly thought for a moment. “No. I didn’t recognize him at all. People can distort their voice on the phone, you know.” She hesitated before asking, “But you saw him? He came to your house? Oh my gosh. So is it Wayne Morrison? Did Michael see him?”

  “No, I was home alone. Michael was at the clinic and Mom was at my aunt’s with the children. He wore a mask. So no, I didn’t see his face. But I still think it’s Wayne. His build and demeanor and all make me think it’s your neighbor Wayne or maybe his father. Could it be his father? I saw him that night from a distance. He looks like he’s built kind of like Wayne is.”

  Holly was quiet for a moment. “Yeah, I guess that guy does sort of resemble Wayne in some ways—same build and manner. But Savannah, why…?”

  “Heck if I know. There must be a connection there. Hey, see what you can find out on your end. Do you feel comfortable doing that?”

  “Sure, I guess. Have you told Michael about him coming there?”

  “No.”

  “How does he know where you live, for heaven’s sake?” Holly asked.

  “I’ve been wondering about that. But I don’t think it’s hard to find information about people like me—someone who isn’t hiding out from the cops or in a witness protection program or anything. But why he’s only calling you and he came all the way out here to see me, I don’t know, unless…”

  “Unless what?” Holly asked.

  “Um…I was just thinking that if it’s someone you know fairly well, I guess he’s not going to harass you in person.”

  “On the other hand,” Holly said, “the fact that he is harassing us the way he is indicates to me that he thinks we know who he is.”

  Savannah was quiet for a moment, then said, “Actually, I went a little out of bounds when he was here. I told him that I do know who he is.”

  “You did?” Holly squealed.

  “Yeah, I guess I did. I called him by name. Oh,” she blurted, “and I’m certain he’s the one Rags scratched that night when we were held at gunpoint. He sure was leery of Rags. Yeah, it was the same guy and he did seem to squirm a little when I called him by name. I swore that I knew nothing, though, and that I had nothing to say to the police. He left without hurting me, but that might have been because a friend of mine drove into the driveway while he was here. He scrammed out of here when he saw her.” She glanced in the direction Michael had gone and spoke more quietly, “I have to say, I’ve been a little nervous that he’s unstable, and frankly, I don’t know what he might do.”

  “You’re scared too, huh?”

  “Yeah, I am.”

  “So what should we do?”

  Savannah thought for a moment, then said, “I’m not sure. I think I’d like to talk to our detective friend. Let me see what he says and I’ll call you back.” She added, “Hear that?”

  Holly chuckled. “Sounds like Teddy wants some attention.”

  “Yeah, Gotta go. Take care, Holly. Be careful, and try not to let this upset you too much until we know a little more about what’s going on.”

  As Savannah picked up the baby and cradled him in her arms, Michael walked into the room. He said, “Oh, I was just going to get him. Finished with your phone call?”

  She nodded. “Finished with your plumbing job?”

  “Yup. No more drip-drip-drip.” He sat down near where Savannah stood with the baby. “So how’s Holly?”

  “Fine,” Savannah said. “Everyone’s fine.” Eager to change the subject, she asked, “So did the clinic run smoothly while we were gone? Did you find everything in order?”

  “Yes. Bud and Pam did an excellent job. I have to give Scarlett and the techs a lot of credit too. You really need a good receptionist, vet techs, and assistants. They are the people who keep the wheels turning smoothly in a business like ours.”

  “And they keep the clients happy,” Savannah added, sitting down next to him.

  He patted her leg. “Well, I’m glad to hear everything’s okay on Birchwood Lane.”

  Savannah faced him and grinned. “Hey, what’s this about you using a femmie fragrance to freshen your tool shed out there?”

  Michael frowned. “What? Femmie fragrance? What femmie fragrance?”

  “Or maybe you’ve been entertaining women in your tool shed. Is that it?” she teased.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Well, Mom said your tool shed smells really nice as if you’ve been lighting a scented candle or spraying perfume around in there.”

  He looked confused. “She did? She didn’t say anything to me about that. I don’t know what she would be referring to.” He shook his head. “I sure haven’t burned any candles or sprayed any perfume.”

  Savannah smiled. “Well, Mom does have a good sense of smell, like I do. Maybe she got a whiff of your aftershave or something.”

  “Maybe,” he agreed. He kissed the baby. “Is Teddy ready for bed? I am.”

  “Yeah, I think he’s just about ready.”

  ****

  “Oh, it’s so good to see you,” Iris gushed when she opened the door to the Kaiser Bed-and-Breakfast Inn for the Iveys and Gladys Sunday after church.

  “You too,” Savannah said, smiling brightly.

  The two women hugged, then Iris stepped back and asked, “Have you lost weight?”

  “Maybe. We did some hiking in Colorado.” She peered at Iris. “Your hair’s a different shade of red.”

  Iris shrugged. “Yeah, I like to experiment a little and Craig detests those fun blue, purple, and green highlights.” Iris reached out and fluffed one of Gladys’s curls. “You’d be adorable with a little color highlight here—maybe pink.”

  Gladys slapped at the air. “Oh stop it. I’d look ridiculous.” She then smiled and greeted Iris warmly.

  When Craig joined them in the foyer, he called out, “Well, there are the world travelers.” He cleared his throat. “…I mean the Western slope adventurers. How’d it go?”

  “Mission accomplished,” Michael announced. “I now have a brand-new bouncing father.”

  “That’s what I heard.” Craig reached out to shake Michael’s hand. “Congratulations.” He addressed Iris, “Hey, babe, that calls for champagne. Do we have some of that special champagne?”

  Iris rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I think so. Check with Mattie in the kitchen.”

  Michael grinned at her. “Hey, what are we having today?”

  “Does it matter?” Margaret asked, when she and her husband, Max, stepped into the foyer.

  “Sure does,” he said. “I need to prepare my palate.”

  Iris laughed. “Well, tell your palate that Mattie’s making quiche today.”

  “My favorite,” Michael said.

  Savannah rolled her eyes.

  Several minutes later all dozen of the regular Sunday lunch group were seated around the large dining table. They were joined by the chef, Mattie, and Mattie’s sister, Ruth, and Ruth’s man-friend, Rupert, who were the Inn managers and friends of most of the guests.

  The conversation focused on the Iveys’ month-long trip. Everyone was interested in hearing the details of Michael’s search for his father and they delighted in hearing stories about some of the adventures they’d had along the way. When they finished eating, Mattie and Ruth cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen, most of the women gathered around the children in the foyer, and Rupert engaged Michael’s and Damon’s help with a project in the basement of the old inn. Meanwhile, Max picked Bud’s brain about a perplexing problem with a feral cat someone had brought to their shelter.

  When Savannah saw Craig head out the back door in search of fresh mint for the peach lemonade Mattie was making, she recognized this as her opportunity to speak to him. “Mind if I join you?” she asked, following him into the garden.

  He smiled. “It would be my pleasure.”

  “The gardens look wonderful,” Savannah said.

  Craig nodded. “Thanks to Rupert and his people.”

  Savannah turned all around, admiring the gardens. “It’s just a lovely setting. I could sit out here for hours.”

  He winked. “It’s a good place to take a nap.”

  “I’ll bet it is.” She then asked, “Craig, could we talk for a minute?”

  “Sure, honey.” He searched her eyes with his. “What’s wrong?” When she didn’t speak right away, he said, “Come on, let’s sit over here, shall we?” He chuckled. “This is the hydrangea room, I’m told. Each of these outdoor nooks and crannies has a name.”

  “I love hydrangeas,” she said, “Yes, let’s sit with the hydrangeas.”

  “Only thing is, the little benches and chairs aren’t very comfortable,” he pointed out. “Iris really ought to put a few recliner chairs out here and maybe cushioned rockers.”

  “And hammocks,” Savannah added brightly.

  Craig nodded enthusiastically. He eased into a white wrought-iron chair across from Savannah and leaned forward. “So what’s going on?”

  “Well, you heard Michael talking about the house we rented blowing up and all.”

  Craig frowned. “Yeah, that was freaky. Did they ever figure out what happened?”

  Savannah thought for a moment and said, “You know, I talked to Holly last night and I forgot to ask her.”

  “How could you forget that? I’d sure want to know.”

  “Well, we’ve been concerned about something else.” When Craig didn’t respond, she blurted, “Someone’s been threatening us.” She gulped a little air and added, “…Holly and me.”

  “What? Who? Do you know who?”

  “I think I know, but when he came to our house he wore a mask.”

  “He came to your house?” Craig asked more quietly. “When?”

  “Yesterday.” She covered her face with her hands. “Oh, Craig, when I think about what could have happened…”

  Craig clenched his jaw and asked flatly, “How did he get in?”

  “I guess it was my fault. I was bringing in groceries and wasn’t paying enough attention. He must have slipped in when I was distracted. He threatened me. I swore to him I wouldn’t tell. I’m not even sure what I’m not supposed to tell. I don’t know exactly what he’s guilty of—I guess holding Holly and me hostage, for one thing.”

  “He held you hostage?”

  “Yeah, Michael left out that part of the story, didn’t he?” She took a deep breath and explained, “Michael told you about the decades-old jewelry heist and all. Well, after we began to figure out why we were finding priceless pieces of jewelry in that place we were renting, Holly and I decided to…um…snoop around one night. So, well, this guy came out of nowhere and held us at gunpoint. A little cat we were taking care of saved the day—one of Rags’s friends. She alerted Keith that something was wrong and the guys came up and found us. The crook got away. Then, later, the house blew up. Craig, we think whoever blew up the house found and stole the jewelry and maybe some money.”