“Thank you, ma’am. Appreciate your help. I’ll try and catch up with her later.”
Giving the woman a final wave, Evan marched back to his stolen car and climbed behind the wheel. It wouldn’t be long before he had everything he wanted, and having a chance to get even with the Boudreaus was the cherry on top.
With a wicked grin, he started the ignition and drove off, heading for Main Street.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Beth knew everyone wanted her to stay inside the house, but she was getting cabin fever, going stir-crazy, being cooped up inside. She hadn’t heard from Brody, and she missed him. Missed the cheeky half-grin he had, the right side of his lips curving slightly higher than the left. Missed feeling his arms wrapped around her. And she secretly missed his need to protect her. Not that she was a shrinking violet or anything, but his overprotectiveness made her feel cherished. Special. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Jamie was upstairs taking a nap—finally. She’d been running around the ranch since she’d woken up. Beth had given in and let her have waffles for breakfast, and then they’d headed out to the barn to visit the kittens. Afterward, Jamie had insisted Beth meet Otto, the donkey. Her brave little girl had climbed up the wooden fence running beside the barn and called Otto to her side, laughing as she scratched him between the ears. Unfortunately, Otto hadn’t taken to Beth’s attempts to pet him, barring his yellowed teeth and braying in an ear-splitting sound that had her slamming her hands over her ears.
They’d then spent time in Ms. Patti’s vegetable garden, behind the kitchen, watering the plants, and pulling the occasional weed, though Beth admitted there weren’t very many. This was a well-tended garden.
She’d worked a little with Jamie on her lessons. Even pre-kindergarten classes had lessons and Mrs. Gleason had e-mailed her information of things she could work on with Jamie, so she didn’t fall even further behind. Between the move from North Carolina and now this enforced isolation at the Big House, Beth was afraid Jamie was going to have to repeat the school year.
Nica had volunteered to keep an eye on Jamie to give Beth a break, and she’d decided to visit with Camilla, who’d set up a mini-office at Dane’s house. Working remotely wasn’t a problem for Camilla, who could do her job anywhere she had access to a computer and Wi-Fi. She’d figured as long as Evan was on the run, she’d stay close to Beth and Jamie.
Since it was a beautiful day, if a little warm, Beth decided to walk to Dane’s house. Nica had given her directions, which seemed pretty straightforward. The walk shouldn’t take long, but getting out and getting some fresh air would be nice. Skirting around the back of the barn, she followed Nica’s directions, enjoying the bucolic scenery and peaceful contentment the ranch provided. She paused to watch the horses munching on the alfalfa, the mommas and babies frolicking in the grass. Having never been around farm animals before, observing them offered her a rare insight into Brody’s life growing up. Made her feel like she was getting a snapshot of where he’d come from.
Tessa had explained to her about the Boudreaus when she first started seeing Rafe seriously. How each of the boys raised by the Boudreau family had come to them from horrible life situations or through the foster care system. She didn’t know any specific details, not even Rafe’s, though she knew Tessa did. It wasn’t her business, but she couldn’t help wondering about Brody’s story. What had his life been like before he’d moved in with Douglas and Ms. Patti?
There was no doubt he adored his adoptive parents and they loved him. That wasn’t even an issue. She even know while most of the boys had been officially adopted, some of them hadn’t, whether because they couldn’t be, or because it was a mutual decision, there wasn’t a single doubt the love shared between not only Douglas and Ms. Patti, but with all of the brothers, was something unique and strong. They were the epitome of family.
The Big House soon disappeared from view as she continued her walk to the foreman’s house. Birdsong filled the air, and Beth smiled at the peace she felt inside. Most likely it was the calm before the storm, because Evan didn’t allow her even a brief respite, but she’d take the small moments when and where she could. Once he was back in prison, she was cutting all ties with him, once and for all. No more phone calls, no letters. Nothing.
In the distance, she could see a white two-story house, with blue shutters and a gingerbread trim. A wide front porch, complete with a swing and columns, decorated the structure. It reminded her of photos she’d seen from the turn of the twentieth century, lovely and reminiscent of a bygone era. She chuckled, thinking about Camilla living in a farmhouse. There was nobody more citified than Camilla Stewart. Now there was a woman who loved her creature comforts. Spa days, mani-pedis, good wine, and fancy restaurants were more her speed than homespun life with the white picket fence and a couple of kids. This had to be pure torture for her friend.
Within a few minutes, she was standing on the porch, hand raised, when the front door was yanked inward, and a hand reached out, yanking her inside. She gasped at the sight in front of her. Camilla’s hair stood on end, spiking out away from her face. Her feet were bare, pink toes sticking out from the bottom of her dust-covered slacks. Glasses were perched on the end of her nose, a wild look on her face.
“You’ve gotta get me out of here!”
“Camilla, what in the world? What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? What’s right! I’m sorry, Beth, I love you and Jamie to death,
