A String of Beads (Jane Whitefield, #8)(103)

Mattie said, “I’ll get you something to eat.”

Jane said, “Thank you, Mattie.” She knew that refusing food would be foolish and insulting. Jane was a traveler who had genuinely just come off the trail, and Mattie was the older woman, the hostess, so she would bring out food.

While Mattie went off to the kitchen and was out of hearing, Jane said, “Maybe I’ll go help her.”

“I’ll do it,” Chelsea said, and hurried after her.

“Okay.”

Jimmy took a step in that direction.

“Not you.”

Jimmy sat down in the chair across from where Jane sat on the couch.

Jane said, “Want to fill me in?”

“About what?”

“How long has she been here? A week?”

“A little longer.”

“Not much. You know that she’s been through a whole lot in the past couple of months. And you may recall that what the police want you for is killing her boyfriend.”

“But I didn’t,” he said. “She knows that.”

“I can see she does.”

“You don’t approve.”

Jane shrugged. “I’m offering you the benefit of my skepticism. You’ll both do what you decide to do. She’s lost somebody she cared about, and afterward learned that he was a thief. The next man in her life drugged and raped her, and now he seems to be trying to find her to keep her from testifying against him. It’s not hard to look good in that field.”

“Do I deserve this?”

“No,” Jane said. “You’re a good, honest, decent man she’s been cooped up with for over a week. You’re also a victim of the same scheme that has hurt her.” She smiled. “And I guess you’re not as ugly as you used to be. She’s undoubtedly missing her mother, and you’ve even been sharing yours with her. My point is that it wouldn’t be too strange if she turned to you on the rebound just because she needs somebody who’s not a monster. She doesn’t deserve to be hurt again, and I don’t want this to end badly for you, either.”

He sighed deeply. “You’re the objective observer.”

A voice from behind them said, “But do we need one of those?”

They both looked to see Chelsea standing in the kitchen doorway. “I’m okay now. I have all my faculties. I like Jimmy and I can tell he likes me. For the moment that’s all there is. You wanted us all to get along, and we do. Just what you wanted.”

Jane said, “That’s good. It’s just that whatever living together in hiding is, it’s not normal, and it’s not permanent.”

Mattie came in carrying a hot plate. Jane could see slices of roast beef, some asparagus, and a baked potato. “These are leftovers, I’m afraid, but it’s what we had for dinner and it’s pretty good.”

“It looks better than that,” Jane said. “I’ll eat at the kitchen table.”

While Jane ate, Mattie talked about Hanover, the stores where she had found the best food, and the way the region was in the summer, with farmers’ markets along the roads to the east, and over the Vermont border to the west. The others had little to add, because they had rarely been outdoors.

As the night wore on, first Mattie got tired and went off to bed. Then Jimmy brought out a blanket and pillow and lay down on the couch.

“I guess we’ll share a bed,” said Chelsea. “If you don’t mind.”

“No, it’s fine,” said Jane. She glanced at Jimmy. “I guess it’s time.”

They said good-night to Jimmy, and went into the remaining bedroom. In a few minutes they were in the dark and in bed.

Chelsea spoke in a whisper. “I’m really grateful for every-thing you’ve done. I was in danger, and you fought for me. I needed to get away, and I needed a rest from being sad or angry or scared, and you sent me here. It’s been good to be with normal people in a safe place. And I’ve had a lot of time to think.”

“I’m glad.”

“I said that so you would understand what I’m going to tell you now. I don’t want to let you risk your life because of me, and then lie to you.”

“About Jimmy?”

“Yes.”

“You like him more than you’ve said.”

“Much more,” she said. “I heard what you said to him. Yes, I’ve been through a lot, and then been locked up with an attractive man, and knowing his mother makes me see what made him such a good man. But if I hadn’t been through anything, and I had met him some other way, I would still feel the same.”

“I’m only interested in keeping you safe. If you both remember why you’re here, then I’ll be satisfied. The rest is up to you.”

“Thanks,” said Chelsea. “I’ve taken your advice, and I’m not just letting some guy pick me. I’m doing the picking. It’s a good feeling.” She turned away from Jane, tugged the covers up to her chin, and closed her eyes.

Jane lay in the dark, staring up toward the ceiling, where the smoke detector’s tiny red light blinked once every ten seconds. There was as much to worry about as there had been when she had started. She had, for the moment, managed to keep Jimmy, Mattie, and Chelsea alive and hidden far away from the people who were hunting them. She had kept Ike Lloyd alive, barely. She had set the forces in motion, but all she could do now was wait and see if the forces accomplished what she wanted. Maybe what she’d done would be enough.