Trust Me II, page 41
“Well, since your housekeeper won’t be here for at least another hour,” she began, stepping backward toward the bed, bringing him with her. “And the housework is finished…”
“And I’ve locked the doors to keep Irena out,” he added.
“Perhaps you could introduce me to some of these other positions you know.”
“I would be delighted,” he whispered, stopping her long enough to pull the shirt over her head and unfastening her new maternity bra.
“What are you going to do to me, if I agree to this afternoon festivity of yours?” she asked him, watching as he knelt down in front of her, his long fingers unzipping the front closure to her pants. He glanced up into her face and smiled.
“I plan on making you come so hard, we have to re-wash the sheets.” Sandra bit her lower lip to fight the urge to giggle then stepped out of her pants as he pulled her legs free. He stood up slowly, his nose and lips caressed her skin as he rose and without warning he lifted her in his arms and carried her the short distance back to the bed, tossing her unceremoniously to the mattress and smiling when she screeched.
“Enough teasing wench,” he warned her, unfastening his pants and pulling his shirt off over his head. “I want you to spread your legs and offer up your goods before I am forced to mark out a map to your hidden treasure.”
“My treasure is in plain sight; all one has to do to find it, is look.”
“Aye,” he teased her, climbing up on the bed between her legs, his hands caressing the soft skin of her inner thighs as he spread her legs further apart. “But what if I cannot see the signs that lead to one’s treasure?”
“Then might I suggest, you feel for it?” Creighton smiled and closed his eyes, his fingers feeling every curve and dip of her body as his lips followed.
Sandra laughed as she laid back against the bed covers, allowing him full access to her. Playing with Creighton was magical; just when she thought she had learned all he had to teach her, he came up with another game that left her breathless and begging for more. He never seemed to run out of ideas to stimulate and love her.
As the minutes ticked by, the couple slowly explored each other in a new and exciting way, branding each other’s body with hot kisses and small bites. Orgasm was a well-earned treat for their torment; their patience lost and their desire rewarded, they lay embraced an hour later. The soft sounds of summer echoed the window and wrapping around the room as they found yet another escape in each other’s touch; the sweet tranquility and desperate retreat of sleep.
“My dad told me a neighbor is selling some of his livestock,” Creighton said a few hours later as they unpacked the rest of their clothes. Sandra smiled, hanging her jacket in the closet and stepping back. She placed her hands on her hips and looked around at the many empty boxes. Having a place to hang her coat was the first step in being home.
“Why is he selling them?” she asked, helping him gather the boxes together.
“He’s going to lose his farm to unpaid mortgage if he doesn’t find a way to come up with the money. He has a good farm, but the times have been hard and he hasn’t been able to plant his crops the way he used to.”
“What’s the problem?”
“He and his wife are in their forties and she discovered she was pregnant last fall. They had twin girls a few weeks ago and because of her age and health, they were born premature. She had high blood pressure and nearly died giving them life. They have seven other children, so he’s had his hands full with them and trying to take care of the farm alone while his wife is at hospital with the babies. Everything is piling up on him at once; he hasn’t been able to scrape together the mortgage. I figured we need the animals and he needs the money. It’s a win-win situation for all of us.”
“Why do I have a feeling, this is going to be the most expensive livestock in the county?” She smiled at him as they took the boxes down stairs and set them by the front door.
“Maybe because it is,” he answered and she couldn’t resist laughing at the childish grin on his handsome face.
“So how much is he behind on the mortgage?”
“About ten thousand euros, but the lean on his property is sixty thousand.”
“So seventy thousand for the livestock and possibly some feed, should take care of things nicely?”
“See how well we communicate?” he teased her, wrapping her in his arms and hugging her to his chest. Sandra laughed with him, taking his hand as they walked out the front door to where they had parked the car the night before.
She smiled as he held the door to the new black Mercedes open and sat down, watching him walk around to the driver’s side. It was amazing how eager this man was to help out his fellow man and at times like this, she didn’t mind him spending money. Like he said, it was a win-win situation.
“How much room do we have for animals?” she asked as they pulled down the circular drive.
“Depends on how much work you want to do. We can easily have several hundred head of cattle, sheep, hogs; all of it. But I’m not sure if I’m all that eager to have you in the barn all day; that is unless I’m with you.”
“Well, we haven’t tried out the hayloft yet,” she teased him watching the smile grow larger as he turned the corner and drove down the road, past several farms and houses.
They pulled up in front of a long narrow stone building, typical for the houses in the area. Outside were several children of various ages all working at some odd job; weeds were being pulled, grass was being mowed – what there was of it – and in the background was a tall figure of a man in dark brown pants and tan shirt, brown hat and boots. He had a stick in his hand and was using it to corral the sheep inside the old wooden fence.
“His name is Jason McFadden,” Creighton said as he turned off the engine, catching the attention of the two oldest boys working in the front yard.
“Are the babies’ home yet?”
“No, and it doesn’t look like they will be for a few more weeks. Ellen, his wife, delivered at twenty-eight weeks. She spends most of her time with them while Jason is here to take care of the family and farm.”
“Isn’t there any other family that can help?”
“His parents are in the area and help as much as possible, but they are elderly and can only do so much and they have their own place to take care of. For the most part, it’s just Jason and Ellen.”
“Okay, just so we’re on the same page,” Sandra said when he came around to open her door. “Seventy thousand dollars…er, euros, for the livestock, minus several that will help them get back on their feet; enough feed to start out the herd and whatever other oddities you can find to purchase, right?” Creighton laughed as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“That’s another reason I love you,” he said. “Great minds think alike.” Sandra’s smile broadened as they approached the man who came around the side of the house, wiping his forehead on his shirt sleeve as he removed his hat.
Creighton conducted himself on a whole different level of professionalism than the one she witnessed in Kansas. He laughed with the older boys who asked about the car and even told them they could sit in it, then smiled and shook Jason’s hand before introducing Sandra to him.
They sat in chairs near the front of the house discussing the weather, the babies, the events surrounding the bodies found on their property and even marriage.
“Pity to hear about Mrs. Stone,” Jason said.
“Yes it was, I always liked her,” Creighton added in a sad tone. “She was really nice to all the kids around here.”
“I figured her husband had something to do with it, and now that he’s gone missing, it only goes to prove I was right.”
“What do you mean he’s gone missing?” Creighton frowned as the two continued to talk. Sandra sat listening, feeling very much like a lump on a log, but curious about the conversation.
“Didn’t you know? Nobody heard a dicky-bird from him in days and his shop’s been closed for days. I guess he decided to sling his hook, especially after your brother learned he was lying about his past.”
“I haven’t heard from Andrew in a few days,” Creighton said with a frown.
“So you didn’t know Stone was really Ian Darby? He’s been wanted by Scotland Yard for years.”
“For what?”
“Assault, rape, forgery; twenty years ago he beat his old aunt half to death over a bloody argument. He’s a radge pot.”
Creighton was silent for several minutes before Jason cleared his throat, bringing him back to reality. Sandra knew he was angry, she could feel it, Andrew promised to keep him informed of any and all developments surrounding the deaths and it looked like he had failed. Somehow, she knew her husband would not accept failure under any circumstance; especially from the brother he had such a rocky relationship with.
“So, Crey, what brings you here?” Jason asked.
“You know we’re trying to start our own farm,” he told the man. Sandra noticed the slight frown on the Jason’s weathered face. Grey streaked brown hair fell across a matching brow as a soft breeze caressed his face.
“Your dad said as much,” Jason answered.
“Well, to be honest, I’ve heard that you’re selling some of your inventory,” Creighton continued smoothly, hiding his recent irritation. “Sandra and I haven’t had a chance to go to market and fine our own and I know how well you care for yours. I was wondering if we could make a deal.”
“What did you have in mind?” the man asked, a soft pink tinting his prematurely aged face.
“There’s a new barn and corral, but nothing to put in them. Sandra comes from a farming family in America and knows as much about animals as I do. In fact, her grandparents will be moving over here in the next few days and once they are settled, they were thinking about returning to their roots and starting a farm. We are looking for a few sheep, cattle, some chickens, maybe even a goat or two and were hoping to start a garden, but we haven’t the equipment needed.
“I’m willing to pay well for them, if I like what you are selling. I like the idea of not having to go outside the area to find our animals. They are already settled to the climate and the land, so buying local is a bonus. I’m not a patient man, Jason, and I hate shopping. This could be beneficial for both of us.”
“I am selling, and I have quite a few new piglets born this year. As for the planting, I have some machinery I want to get rid of. They aren’t new by any means, but they’ll get you started.”
“Can we take a look?” Creighton asked. “I’d like to see what you have available.”
Jason nodded and turned to his eldest son, yelling at him to get off the car’s bonnet and watch his siblings, then walked with Creighton and Sandra to the back of the property where his sheep were happily grazing.
They discussed the number of animals he had available and the price he was asking, which Creighton argued wasn’t fair market. He again admitted that buying local would be worth far more than the asking price and they began to discuss cost, delivery and the amount of animals willing to be sold.
Sandra fought the smile that threatened to reveal itself across her lips; she was proud of her husband and admired his dealings with their neighbor. He had a way of making a person feel comfortable with his ideas and excited to move forward. It was the same tactic he used when he convinced her to marry him; a decision she never regretted.
Creighton picked up a small piglet and inspected it as the two men spoke then handed it off to her. She looked at it with the eye of a farmer, inspecting it for health and size, though she knew it was pointless. Her husband had already decided on purchasing it, along with its siblings and parents.
By the time they left, with the promise that the livestock would be delivered the following day and the money would be transferred into Jason’s account within the hour, Jason was seventy thousand euros richer and no longer at the mercy of the banks or the economy.
Sandra sat in the seat next to her husband, her heart full of admiration and love for the man who owned it. She mentally thought of her sister, eager to send her flowers and a thank you card for filling out that entry form. Without it, she wasn’t certain where she would be, but she knew that with it her life was forever changed.
As the car pulled into the driveway of their property, she got a wicked idea. She reached for Creighton’s phone poking out of the top of his pants pocket as he shut the car off and unfastened his belt. He looked at her with a deep frown while she played with the screen for a moment then handed it back to him with a broad smile.
“Ten minutes,” she told him, watching his expression change to one of excitement. “Then come find me.”
Sandra jumped out of the car and ran up the steps to the porch, not waiting for her husband to join her. He watched her go and smiled; he didn’t know what he had done to put her in the mood to play, but he was not going to argue with it.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“You promised to keep me abreast of what was happening and then I find out from a neighbor that Stone was hiding under an alias?” Creighton was angry as he paced the floor of the den. He had been yelling at his brother for the past five minutes over the phone. Sandra occupied herself with making supper, but the house was quiet enough that she could hear her husband’s one sided conversation clearly.
“Damn it, Andrew, I would never have brought Sandra back here if I had thought there was still a threat of danger. Where is the bugger now?”
“Crey, if you will calm down, we can discuss this,” Andrew told his brother. “I didn’t tell you about Stone because I was trying to verify the information first. What you heard was rumors, not the facts. I just learned today that he was using an alias and was wanted.”
“That doesn’t excuse the fact, I was not informed.”
“Listen to me,” Andrew said with a deep sigh. “I didn’t tell you because I honestly didn’t think there were any dangers. Stone, or Darby as it is, has been a law abiding citizen for over twenty years. He may not have many friends, but he has never done anything to make us suspicious until now. After his trouble in Swansea, he changed his name and joined the military and fought in Viet Nam. He simply disappeared into the background, never contacted his family again and just created a new life for himself. If it wasn’t for finding Lynette’s body, he would still be the grouchy old man who ran the store in Northallerton.”
“He’s on the run now though; doesn’t that make him look a bit more suspicious?” Creighton asked, his ire a bit less heated.
“Yes it does, but we’ll find him. He’s an old man who suffers from diabetes and gout; he can’t run far.”
Creighton was silent for several moments as he ran his hand through his hair, thinking about what his brother said. He wasn’t afraid of Harry Stone, or Ian Darby, but it did explain why he refused a lie detector.
“Just keep me informed, no matter how insignificant you may think it may be.” Andrew laughed through the receiver as he listened to his younger brother’s frustration.
“If you were anyone other than my little brother, I’d tell you to bugger off,” Andrew said. “I’ll let you know when we have any more information. Until then, try and enjoy your wife and her charms and stop worrying about this. Bachmeier is dead – both of them, Stone will be caught and the world will return to a normal, chaotic pace, just the way you like it.” Creighton couldn’t help but smile as he bid his brother good-night and hung up the phone.
He knew he was over reacting, but he had a pregnant wife, a new home and now a farm full of animals to be concerned with, not to mention his parents and soon enough, Sandra’s grandparents. Chaotic lifestyle didn’t even come close to the weight he carried on his shoulders. As much as it was self-inflicted, he knew he wouldn’t change a thing. He was happy and more content and settled than he had ever felt before. He just couldn’t help but worry; what else was going to come up to jeopardize all of it?
Sandra leaned against the railing of the corral, watching their sheep explore their new surroundings. She had to admit, they had made a good investment in the animals, though probably not seventy thousand euros worth. They had purchased nearly the entire load of Jason’s inventory, leaving a Noah’s Ark sampling for the family to rebuild their surplus.
All in all, they had over a hundred chickens, forty sheep and twenty two hogs, seven of which were currently pregnant and two with piglets born that spring. With nine cows, one bull and a female puppy for Max, their farm was complete and they had already begun the normal routine of chores that morning.
Creighton had awakened at three that morning to milk the cows and tend to the larger animals while she struggled to open her eyes. He left the house with a whistle and if she wasn’t mistaken, a bounce in his step. He loved living on a farm and felt more useful than sitting behind a desk all day.
Sandra gathered the eggs and slopped the hogs, fed the chickens and had breakfast all but finished by the time her husband came in through the back door, carrying a bucket of milk. He sat it on the counter, kissed his wife on the cheek then hurried up the stairs to take a shower.
The day progressed with the usual amount of teasing, tempting and occasional romps while they went about their daily business. They explored and initiated the hayloft and Creighton told her it was better than anything he had ever done with Miriam.
He was an amazing, talented man who always seemed to find use in whatever was around him; including the stand for the saddles and the new whip purchased for when their horses they had purchased from his uncle arrived. Emma’s brother, Fenton called the day before yesterday to say he was sending them a present; two thoroughbreds, a male and a female, to start their own ranch. He was eager to see if his nephew was as good with breeding as he was with lemons.
Life was good; she had the man of her dreams and the life she loved, only on a different continent. She had started writing and found herself completely engrossed in it. While she wrote Creighton worked; if she was in the living room, he was on the sofa next to her, laptop in hand; if she was in the den with the new laptop he had purchased for her, he was at the desk across from her. They never seemed to be far apart and that was exactly as she liked it. With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes and smiled; she was certain at that particular moment in time, nothing could go wrong.
“And I’ve locked the doors to keep Irena out,” he added.
“Perhaps you could introduce me to some of these other positions you know.”
“I would be delighted,” he whispered, stopping her long enough to pull the shirt over her head and unfastening her new maternity bra.
“What are you going to do to me, if I agree to this afternoon festivity of yours?” she asked him, watching as he knelt down in front of her, his long fingers unzipping the front closure to her pants. He glanced up into her face and smiled.
“I plan on making you come so hard, we have to re-wash the sheets.” Sandra bit her lower lip to fight the urge to giggle then stepped out of her pants as he pulled her legs free. He stood up slowly, his nose and lips caressed her skin as he rose and without warning he lifted her in his arms and carried her the short distance back to the bed, tossing her unceremoniously to the mattress and smiling when she screeched.
“Enough teasing wench,” he warned her, unfastening his pants and pulling his shirt off over his head. “I want you to spread your legs and offer up your goods before I am forced to mark out a map to your hidden treasure.”
“My treasure is in plain sight; all one has to do to find it, is look.”
“Aye,” he teased her, climbing up on the bed between her legs, his hands caressing the soft skin of her inner thighs as he spread her legs further apart. “But what if I cannot see the signs that lead to one’s treasure?”
“Then might I suggest, you feel for it?” Creighton smiled and closed his eyes, his fingers feeling every curve and dip of her body as his lips followed.
Sandra laughed as she laid back against the bed covers, allowing him full access to her. Playing with Creighton was magical; just when she thought she had learned all he had to teach her, he came up with another game that left her breathless and begging for more. He never seemed to run out of ideas to stimulate and love her.
As the minutes ticked by, the couple slowly explored each other in a new and exciting way, branding each other’s body with hot kisses and small bites. Orgasm was a well-earned treat for their torment; their patience lost and their desire rewarded, they lay embraced an hour later. The soft sounds of summer echoed the window and wrapping around the room as they found yet another escape in each other’s touch; the sweet tranquility and desperate retreat of sleep.
“My dad told me a neighbor is selling some of his livestock,” Creighton said a few hours later as they unpacked the rest of their clothes. Sandra smiled, hanging her jacket in the closet and stepping back. She placed her hands on her hips and looked around at the many empty boxes. Having a place to hang her coat was the first step in being home.
“Why is he selling them?” she asked, helping him gather the boxes together.
“He’s going to lose his farm to unpaid mortgage if he doesn’t find a way to come up with the money. He has a good farm, but the times have been hard and he hasn’t been able to plant his crops the way he used to.”
“What’s the problem?”
“He and his wife are in their forties and she discovered she was pregnant last fall. They had twin girls a few weeks ago and because of her age and health, they were born premature. She had high blood pressure and nearly died giving them life. They have seven other children, so he’s had his hands full with them and trying to take care of the farm alone while his wife is at hospital with the babies. Everything is piling up on him at once; he hasn’t been able to scrape together the mortgage. I figured we need the animals and he needs the money. It’s a win-win situation for all of us.”
“Why do I have a feeling, this is going to be the most expensive livestock in the county?” She smiled at him as they took the boxes down stairs and set them by the front door.
“Maybe because it is,” he answered and she couldn’t resist laughing at the childish grin on his handsome face.
“So how much is he behind on the mortgage?”
“About ten thousand euros, but the lean on his property is sixty thousand.”
“So seventy thousand for the livestock and possibly some feed, should take care of things nicely?”
“See how well we communicate?” he teased her, wrapping her in his arms and hugging her to his chest. Sandra laughed with him, taking his hand as they walked out the front door to where they had parked the car the night before.
She smiled as he held the door to the new black Mercedes open and sat down, watching him walk around to the driver’s side. It was amazing how eager this man was to help out his fellow man and at times like this, she didn’t mind him spending money. Like he said, it was a win-win situation.
“How much room do we have for animals?” she asked as they pulled down the circular drive.
“Depends on how much work you want to do. We can easily have several hundred head of cattle, sheep, hogs; all of it. But I’m not sure if I’m all that eager to have you in the barn all day; that is unless I’m with you.”
“Well, we haven’t tried out the hayloft yet,” she teased him watching the smile grow larger as he turned the corner and drove down the road, past several farms and houses.
They pulled up in front of a long narrow stone building, typical for the houses in the area. Outside were several children of various ages all working at some odd job; weeds were being pulled, grass was being mowed – what there was of it – and in the background was a tall figure of a man in dark brown pants and tan shirt, brown hat and boots. He had a stick in his hand and was using it to corral the sheep inside the old wooden fence.
“His name is Jason McFadden,” Creighton said as he turned off the engine, catching the attention of the two oldest boys working in the front yard.
“Are the babies’ home yet?”
“No, and it doesn’t look like they will be for a few more weeks. Ellen, his wife, delivered at twenty-eight weeks. She spends most of her time with them while Jason is here to take care of the family and farm.”
“Isn’t there any other family that can help?”
“His parents are in the area and help as much as possible, but they are elderly and can only do so much and they have their own place to take care of. For the most part, it’s just Jason and Ellen.”
“Okay, just so we’re on the same page,” Sandra said when he came around to open her door. “Seventy thousand dollars…er, euros, for the livestock, minus several that will help them get back on their feet; enough feed to start out the herd and whatever other oddities you can find to purchase, right?” Creighton laughed as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“That’s another reason I love you,” he said. “Great minds think alike.” Sandra’s smile broadened as they approached the man who came around the side of the house, wiping his forehead on his shirt sleeve as he removed his hat.
Creighton conducted himself on a whole different level of professionalism than the one she witnessed in Kansas. He laughed with the older boys who asked about the car and even told them they could sit in it, then smiled and shook Jason’s hand before introducing Sandra to him.
They sat in chairs near the front of the house discussing the weather, the babies, the events surrounding the bodies found on their property and even marriage.
“Pity to hear about Mrs. Stone,” Jason said.
“Yes it was, I always liked her,” Creighton added in a sad tone. “She was really nice to all the kids around here.”
“I figured her husband had something to do with it, and now that he’s gone missing, it only goes to prove I was right.”
“What do you mean he’s gone missing?” Creighton frowned as the two continued to talk. Sandra sat listening, feeling very much like a lump on a log, but curious about the conversation.
“Didn’t you know? Nobody heard a dicky-bird from him in days and his shop’s been closed for days. I guess he decided to sling his hook, especially after your brother learned he was lying about his past.”
“I haven’t heard from Andrew in a few days,” Creighton said with a frown.
“So you didn’t know Stone was really Ian Darby? He’s been wanted by Scotland Yard for years.”
“For what?”
“Assault, rape, forgery; twenty years ago he beat his old aunt half to death over a bloody argument. He’s a radge pot.”
Creighton was silent for several minutes before Jason cleared his throat, bringing him back to reality. Sandra knew he was angry, she could feel it, Andrew promised to keep him informed of any and all developments surrounding the deaths and it looked like he had failed. Somehow, she knew her husband would not accept failure under any circumstance; especially from the brother he had such a rocky relationship with.
“So, Crey, what brings you here?” Jason asked.
“You know we’re trying to start our own farm,” he told the man. Sandra noticed the slight frown on the Jason’s weathered face. Grey streaked brown hair fell across a matching brow as a soft breeze caressed his face.
“Your dad said as much,” Jason answered.
“Well, to be honest, I’ve heard that you’re selling some of your inventory,” Creighton continued smoothly, hiding his recent irritation. “Sandra and I haven’t had a chance to go to market and fine our own and I know how well you care for yours. I was wondering if we could make a deal.”
“What did you have in mind?” the man asked, a soft pink tinting his prematurely aged face.
“There’s a new barn and corral, but nothing to put in them. Sandra comes from a farming family in America and knows as much about animals as I do. In fact, her grandparents will be moving over here in the next few days and once they are settled, they were thinking about returning to their roots and starting a farm. We are looking for a few sheep, cattle, some chickens, maybe even a goat or two and were hoping to start a garden, but we haven’t the equipment needed.
“I’m willing to pay well for them, if I like what you are selling. I like the idea of not having to go outside the area to find our animals. They are already settled to the climate and the land, so buying local is a bonus. I’m not a patient man, Jason, and I hate shopping. This could be beneficial for both of us.”
“I am selling, and I have quite a few new piglets born this year. As for the planting, I have some machinery I want to get rid of. They aren’t new by any means, but they’ll get you started.”
“Can we take a look?” Creighton asked. “I’d like to see what you have available.”
Jason nodded and turned to his eldest son, yelling at him to get off the car’s bonnet and watch his siblings, then walked with Creighton and Sandra to the back of the property where his sheep were happily grazing.
They discussed the number of animals he had available and the price he was asking, which Creighton argued wasn’t fair market. He again admitted that buying local would be worth far more than the asking price and they began to discuss cost, delivery and the amount of animals willing to be sold.
Sandra fought the smile that threatened to reveal itself across her lips; she was proud of her husband and admired his dealings with their neighbor. He had a way of making a person feel comfortable with his ideas and excited to move forward. It was the same tactic he used when he convinced her to marry him; a decision she never regretted.
Creighton picked up a small piglet and inspected it as the two men spoke then handed it off to her. She looked at it with the eye of a farmer, inspecting it for health and size, though she knew it was pointless. Her husband had already decided on purchasing it, along with its siblings and parents.
By the time they left, with the promise that the livestock would be delivered the following day and the money would be transferred into Jason’s account within the hour, Jason was seventy thousand euros richer and no longer at the mercy of the banks or the economy.
Sandra sat in the seat next to her husband, her heart full of admiration and love for the man who owned it. She mentally thought of her sister, eager to send her flowers and a thank you card for filling out that entry form. Without it, she wasn’t certain where she would be, but she knew that with it her life was forever changed.
As the car pulled into the driveway of their property, she got a wicked idea. She reached for Creighton’s phone poking out of the top of his pants pocket as he shut the car off and unfastened his belt. He looked at her with a deep frown while she played with the screen for a moment then handed it back to him with a broad smile.
“Ten minutes,” she told him, watching his expression change to one of excitement. “Then come find me.”
Sandra jumped out of the car and ran up the steps to the porch, not waiting for her husband to join her. He watched her go and smiled; he didn’t know what he had done to put her in the mood to play, but he was not going to argue with it.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“You promised to keep me abreast of what was happening and then I find out from a neighbor that Stone was hiding under an alias?” Creighton was angry as he paced the floor of the den. He had been yelling at his brother for the past five minutes over the phone. Sandra occupied herself with making supper, but the house was quiet enough that she could hear her husband’s one sided conversation clearly.
“Damn it, Andrew, I would never have brought Sandra back here if I had thought there was still a threat of danger. Where is the bugger now?”
“Crey, if you will calm down, we can discuss this,” Andrew told his brother. “I didn’t tell you about Stone because I was trying to verify the information first. What you heard was rumors, not the facts. I just learned today that he was using an alias and was wanted.”
“That doesn’t excuse the fact, I was not informed.”
“Listen to me,” Andrew said with a deep sigh. “I didn’t tell you because I honestly didn’t think there were any dangers. Stone, or Darby as it is, has been a law abiding citizen for over twenty years. He may not have many friends, but he has never done anything to make us suspicious until now. After his trouble in Swansea, he changed his name and joined the military and fought in Viet Nam. He simply disappeared into the background, never contacted his family again and just created a new life for himself. If it wasn’t for finding Lynette’s body, he would still be the grouchy old man who ran the store in Northallerton.”
“He’s on the run now though; doesn’t that make him look a bit more suspicious?” Creighton asked, his ire a bit less heated.
“Yes it does, but we’ll find him. He’s an old man who suffers from diabetes and gout; he can’t run far.”
Creighton was silent for several moments as he ran his hand through his hair, thinking about what his brother said. He wasn’t afraid of Harry Stone, or Ian Darby, but it did explain why he refused a lie detector.
“Just keep me informed, no matter how insignificant you may think it may be.” Andrew laughed through the receiver as he listened to his younger brother’s frustration.
“If you were anyone other than my little brother, I’d tell you to bugger off,” Andrew said. “I’ll let you know when we have any more information. Until then, try and enjoy your wife and her charms and stop worrying about this. Bachmeier is dead – both of them, Stone will be caught and the world will return to a normal, chaotic pace, just the way you like it.” Creighton couldn’t help but smile as he bid his brother good-night and hung up the phone.
He knew he was over reacting, but he had a pregnant wife, a new home and now a farm full of animals to be concerned with, not to mention his parents and soon enough, Sandra’s grandparents. Chaotic lifestyle didn’t even come close to the weight he carried on his shoulders. As much as it was self-inflicted, he knew he wouldn’t change a thing. He was happy and more content and settled than he had ever felt before. He just couldn’t help but worry; what else was going to come up to jeopardize all of it?
Sandra leaned against the railing of the corral, watching their sheep explore their new surroundings. She had to admit, they had made a good investment in the animals, though probably not seventy thousand euros worth. They had purchased nearly the entire load of Jason’s inventory, leaving a Noah’s Ark sampling for the family to rebuild their surplus.
All in all, they had over a hundred chickens, forty sheep and twenty two hogs, seven of which were currently pregnant and two with piglets born that spring. With nine cows, one bull and a female puppy for Max, their farm was complete and they had already begun the normal routine of chores that morning.
Creighton had awakened at three that morning to milk the cows and tend to the larger animals while she struggled to open her eyes. He left the house with a whistle and if she wasn’t mistaken, a bounce in his step. He loved living on a farm and felt more useful than sitting behind a desk all day.
Sandra gathered the eggs and slopped the hogs, fed the chickens and had breakfast all but finished by the time her husband came in through the back door, carrying a bucket of milk. He sat it on the counter, kissed his wife on the cheek then hurried up the stairs to take a shower.
The day progressed with the usual amount of teasing, tempting and occasional romps while they went about their daily business. They explored and initiated the hayloft and Creighton told her it was better than anything he had ever done with Miriam.
He was an amazing, talented man who always seemed to find use in whatever was around him; including the stand for the saddles and the new whip purchased for when their horses they had purchased from his uncle arrived. Emma’s brother, Fenton called the day before yesterday to say he was sending them a present; two thoroughbreds, a male and a female, to start their own ranch. He was eager to see if his nephew was as good with breeding as he was with lemons.
Life was good; she had the man of her dreams and the life she loved, only on a different continent. She had started writing and found herself completely engrossed in it. While she wrote Creighton worked; if she was in the living room, he was on the sofa next to her, laptop in hand; if she was in the den with the new laptop he had purchased for her, he was at the desk across from her. They never seemed to be far apart and that was exactly as she liked it. With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes and smiled; she was certain at that particular moment in time, nothing could go wrong.
