A Forever Home Read online

  “Bath time,” she told Kristen.

  “And time for me to leave.”

  Heather opened the bedroom door and saw the twins wedged in the bathroom doorway.

  “C’mon, Mommy,” Addison said. “Bath time!”

  Taylor echoed her twin. “Bath time!”

  “Give me just a minute to see your aunt to the front door.”

  Kristen was already halfway there, the dog shadowing her. She stopped and gave Heather a quick hug. “Just remember what I said about asking someone to accompany you to the wedding.”

  “I doubt I’ll be able to forget.”

  An image of Rick Slater was in her mind again, tempting Heather as Kristen left, and she closed and locked the front door behind her sister.

  She hesitated just a moment to think about Rick...to wonder what he might look like without those sunglasses...

  What sounded like a tidal wave accompanied by little girl squeals brought her around.

  “What’s going on?” she yelled before realizing the dog had disappeared.

  It seemed everyone was getting a bath tonight.

  * * *

  WAKING IN THE middle of the night had become an unwelcome habit for Cora. And it didn’t take an unusual sound to rouse her from sleep. It was simply the expectation of some sort of noise occurring. Tonight she didn’t remember anything unusual. She awakened, lay there for a while, then rose to fix some chamomile tea in the little electric teapot she’d set up in her bathroom. The teapot made things easier in that she didn’t have to leave her suite. A small nightlight made the bedside lamp unnecessary.

  Sitting in the comfortable chair beside the bank of windows, she sipped her tea and watched flashes of lightning illuminate the sky over the lake, followed by a rumble of thunder. A storm was brewing. Perhaps it had simply been thunder that had invaded her dreams.

  She hated having to be on guard all the time.

  At least a private investigator was now in residence.

  Not that he could be everywhere at once.

  A cool breeze that smelled of fresh rain lifted the curtains. Thinking that perhaps she ought to lower the windows, Cora put down her cup, rose and leaned on the sill.

  Storms over the lake had always fascinated her, so she didn’t immediately adjust the windows. Instead, she looked out from her attic-level quarters, which gave her a perfect view of the show. For a moment she was mesmerized by the electric light dancing in the sky.

  Until another movement closer by captured her attention.

  She dropped her gaze to search for the source.

  Lightning flashed again and she could see the second-floor balcony and the small wiry man with red hair standing on end who perched there, back stiff, body wired with tension.

  With a start, she thought she recognized him. Red Flanagan?

  Could it be? He certainly reminded her of the man in the portrait hung in the rotunda.

  Shocked, Cora gripped the windowsill and held her breath.

  The sky went dark and she blinked several times, then took another look that made her stomach whirl.

  The balcony stood empty.

  Lightning flashed again, confirming that no one was there now...if anyone had ever been there at all. She’d thought the intruder was a flesh-and-blood man. But now she wondered. Surely no one these days could look exactly like an eighty-year-old portrait.

  Trembling from the inside out, she closed the windows, and with shaking hands, locked them.

  Not that locked windows could stop a ghost...

  CHAPTER FOUR

  STANDING ON THE balcony off the second-floor family drawing room with the housekeeper, Rick kept his voice low. “This should be a perfect place for one of my cameras.” He didn’t want to alert any other employees on the property as to what he was doing. It was possible someone working here knew the intruder and was sharing information, whether on purpose or not.

  It was early morning—too early for Heather and her EPI workers to be on site. Truth be told, he was looking forward to Heather’s arrival, but he wanted to make certain that, before she and her workers swarmed the property, he had time to install at least a couple of the security cameras he’d picked up from his company in Milwaukee the night before.

  “So this camera will show you if anyone...or anything...is on the property at night?” Cora asked.

  “Well, not just this camera,” Rick said, wondering what she meant by or anything. “I brought enough of them to cover the area in each direction around the building, plus the coach house and the boathouse.”

  The housekeeper nodded. She seemed tense and nervous, and she looked as if she hadn’t slept well.

  He tried to reassure her. “Don’t worry, I’ll catch whoever has been messing around on the estate grounds. These wireless cameras are the best. They have spectacular night vision as far as three hundred feet. And they’re set on motion detectors that will start the camera and make digital recordings on a computer that can signal me on my phone.”

  He would have to hook up each camera to a 110 AC source, a consideration in choosing locations. He also needed places that would provide camouflage for the cameras. If the intruder became aware of them, he could simply cover up the lenses. If he didn’t destroy the equipment. So Rick had to hide each camera very carefully. He would position this first one between the balcony’s balusters, near a planter with greenery that hung in long strands through the opening. A perfect nest for the lens.

  “So the cameras would be able to see anything out of place?” Cora asked.

  “As long as it’s moving.”

  “Does it have to be...”

  “What?” he asked.

  Cora cleared her throat. “Um, alive?”

  What exactly was she getting at? Rick wondered. “Well, uh, if someone threw something into the area covered by—”

  “Not an object. That’s not what I meant.”

  “Then...what?”

  “I saw something last night.” Cora wrapped her arms around her middle as if trying to protect herself. “At least I think I did.”

  Rick was getting a weird feeling about this. “Go on.”

  “It was a figure. Male. It looked like a small wiry man with red hair standing on end—”

  “Looked like? What is it you’re trying to say, Cora?”

  “I thought I saw Red Flanagan.”

  Silence. Part of Rick wanted to laugh at her imagination. But he didn’t want to insult Cora. She’d been stressed about whatever was going on around the mansion at night for weeks now. Perhaps it had become too much for her.

  “You don’t believe me,” she said, her words almost whispered.

  “Red Flanagan has been dead for what? Half a century?”

  “I know that! I just said it looked like him. Like the portrait in the rotunda.”

  “Hey, easy. I’m on your side. I just don’t know what to think.”

  “What if Flanagan Manor is haunted?” Cora asked.

  Rick could see that she was serious. “I can’t say that I believe in ghosts.”

  “I didn’t think I did, either. But after all that’s happened in the past several weeks...”

  “If you did see Flanagan’s ghost, why now? What made him come back? Before all these curious events, did something significant happen on the estate? Some big change?”

  “I—I don’t know. I’ll have to think on it.”

  Rick didn’t believe in ghosts and he started to say that he’d never heard of one leaving footprints or breaking equipment by standing on it. But he was distracted by the sound of an engine. Both he and Cora turned to see a silver sedan pull up to the mansion. The driver’s door opened and a distinguished, silver-haired man exited.

  “Oh, David—I mean Mr. Guildfren�
�is early.”

  The man advanced to the trunk of his car and pulled out two suitcases.

  “A guest.” Apparently one she knew by name.

  “Yes, a regular. He’s an antiques dealer who appreciates the history of this estate. He’s been coming here for the past three years for a few weeks in the summer and again during the winter holidays.”

  Color flushed Cora’s cheeks, and her avid expression suggested a certain fondness for the man.

  “I can take it from here,” Rick said. “If you have other things to do.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “All right then. Call me if you need me.”

  Rather than waiting for his response, she whipped back into the drawing room, a changed woman from the tired, nervous one of a few minutes before. The spring to her step informed him of her affection for the guest. Rick wondered if the feeling was reciprocated, and if so, if they had ever done anything about it. Cora had said the man was a regular, visiting the bed-and-breakfast twice a year. She hadn’t been able to hide her excitement at seeing him.

  He needed to get to work. Luckily there was an outlet nearby, providing a source of electricity.

  As he set the camera in place, he felt hollow. He’d never had a long-term relationship with any woman. Being military for nearly all his life, he’d never been in one place long enough. His on-and off-again romance with Megan had been the closest he’d gotten. And being part of a special ops team had brought him to some pretty grim places. None were so grim as the last. Once he’d landed back here in the States, he hadn’t known what to do with himself. The army had always been his home. Giving civilian life a chance had its own difficulties.

  He’d been back for several months now, but no woman had even interested him.

  Not until he’d met Heather Clarke.

  * * *

  TAYLOR COULDN’T BELIEVE Mommy could be so mean. First Daddy never came home like he promised. Now Mommy was going to give away Kirby.

  “He’s my dog!” she said with a sniffle as they approached the counter. Dogs were barking and cats were meowing, too. She looked around and tears filled her eyes. “You can’t put poor Kirby in jail!”

  “Sweetheart, he’s not your dog,” Mommy said. “And the Sparrow Lake Animal Shelter isn’t a jail.”

  “Then why are all the animals locked up?” Tears slipped down Taylor’s cheeks.

  Addison took her hand and squeezed hard. “They’re so sad!”

  “Not so sad, honey.” The white-haired lady behind the counter smiled at them. “The animals don’t all get along with each other, so we keep them separated for their protection. But they all get some time out of the cages every day. We have several volunteers who come to take care of them and play with them. The animals here are treated very well.”

  “Then I want to volunteer,” Taylor said.

  “Me, too,” Addison added.

  “I’m sorry, girls, but you’re too young.”

  Her mom held up the rope she’d used for a leash. “We found this dog yesterday, and I was hoping you could take him and either find his owner or find a new home.”

  “I’m very sorry, but we’re full at the moment. Actually, we’re usually full. So many animals lost or thrown away.” She sighed and shook her head. “But we can put him on a waiting list. You never know when one of our dogs will get his forever home. Here’s a form to fill out.” She slid a piece of paper over the counter. “We’ll also add him to the list of newly lost animals in case anyone is looking for him.”

  Mommy started scribbling, and Taylor got down on her knees and hugged Kirby tight. “You don’t have to come here yet,” she whispered. “So you’re still mine.”

  “What’s a forever home?” Addison asked.

  The white-haired lady smiled again. “That’s what we like to say when we place one of our dogs or cats with a new family. That they’ve found the home where they will live and be happy forever.”

  Taylor thought Kirby had already found his forever home. Now if only she could make Mommy change her mind...

  She’d already lost Daddy. It wasn’t fair if she had to lose Kirby, too.

  * * *

  HEATHER ARRIVED AT Flanagan Manor early after dropping off the girls at school. She got out of the SUV, brand-new leash in hand, and the dog rushed for freedom. It took all her strength to keep Kirby from wiggling past her.

  The dog, she corrected herself. She didn’t want to think of him by name, didn’t want to get too fond of him, no matter how sweet and lovable he was.

  “Hang on a minute,” she muttered, meaning to clip a lead to the collar she’d bought him after she’d learned there was no room at the shelter.

  Yet.

  He was on a waiting list to get in, and in the meantime, Heather would try to find him a good home herself.

  “Okay, come on out.” She gave the leash a small tug.

  The dog lunged out of the SUV and, in his excitement to stretch his legs, nearly jerked her arm out of her shoulder socket.

  She slammed the door, yelling, “Hey, slow down!”

  Having checked with Alex, she’d been assured no one had called the police station to put out an official alert for the little guy, which was a real shame. He so obviously loved people. He must be missing his owner. When she got some time, she and the twins would put up notices around town with a picture of the dog. Surely someone would recognize him.

  Either that or offer to give him a new home.

  She headed toward an area near the parking lot where the dog could relieve himself without ruining any landscaping. As she tried to figure out where she could tie him up while she worked, she heard footsteps behind her.

  “Hey, who is this?” came the unmistakable voice that made her picture granite features accentuated by mirrored sunglasses.

  Heather turned to see Rick coming from the general direction of the coach house. “This is a dog the girls found yesterday,” she said. “I tried the animal shelter first thing this morning, but no luck. It’s full, and I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving him in the pound where he’d have a week or two to be claimed before they would euthanize him, so I’m going to find him a home.”

  “Here?”

  “No.” Hope suddenly blazed through her. “Unless...if I can’t find his owner and you want him...”

  Rick put up a hand to stop her. “Not what I meant.”

  She sighed. “It seems no one wants this poor guy.” Except for the twins, especially Taylor.

  Keeping the dog was out of the question. But it seemed finding any owner—old or new—was nothing more than a pipe dream.

  “He’s a nice-looking dog.”

  Rick crouched down to dog nose level and ruffled Kirby’s ears. In return, the dog threw his head around and licked Rick’s hand. Heather smiled at the instant bond. Rick was a nice guy, as he’d proved the day before by fixing the sod cutter for her. She thought about her sister’s suggestion to have a friend escort her to the wedding. But Rick really wasn’t her friend. She barely knew him.

  “What are you calling him?” Rick asked.

  Heather jerked back to the present situation. “Dog.”

  The mirrored sunglasses turned up toward her. “Seriously?”

  “Okay, the girls named him Kirby, but I’m trying not to think of him that personally.”

  Giving the animal a last pat, Rick got to his feet. “Your bringing him with you to work is pretty personal.”

  “It’s not like I had a choice. He was barricaded in the kitchen all night with a makeshift bed and food and water. And he still chewed one of the shoes I left by the back door. I can’t leave him in the house by himself. Who knows what kind of mess he would make? What he might ruin.”

  “He seems pretty young to
me. He needs a kennel. You know, a big cage.”

  “Except that he’s not my dog.”

  Rick grinned at her as if saying, Sure he’s not.

  Flushing, Heather looked around. Anywhere so she didn’t have to connect with his know-it-all smirk. “Now I just have to find a place to tie him up while I work.”

  “What about over there by the coach house?” He indicated the area he meant. “It’s nice and quiet. I’m the only one who lives there,” he said, “in the second-floor apartment.”

  “What, no wife or partner?” she asked before realizing it was none of her business.

  “Nope. I live a solitary life.”

  She tried again. “Maybe you could use some company.”

  “Maybe, but since my future is up in the air...”

  Heather sighed. Too bad. Finding someone to take the dog off her hands this soon would have been too easy, of course.

  She looked over to the coach house with its nice open expanse and a big maple tree for shade. And there was bizarrely long grass to make a comfy bed. Apparently, Rick hadn’t applied his mowing skills—or lack thereof—to that particular section of grass yet. Maybe it was because he couldn’t ride the mower under such low-hanging branches.

  “Looks like as good a place as any. Thanks. I need to get stuff from the car.”

  “Let me help you.”

  “You can hang on to the dog for me.” She handed him the leash.

  Taking it, he said, “Sure. Kirby and I are buddies already, aren’t we, boy?”

  “So you’re a dog person?”

  “I’m an animal person. When I was growing up, no matter where we lived, there were always stray animals that needed to be fed and taken care of. I took as many of them in as Mom would allow, which was quite a few, actually.” He quickly added, “I’m just not in a position to take on an animal now since I don’t know how long I’ll be here.”

  Too bad. He sounded exactly like the person Kirby needed. Heather would never have guessed that Rick had such a soft spot for animals. She had to admit she liked that about him. Opening the back of the SUV, she pulled out water and food bowls, a bag of food and a chew toy, plus a few other toys he’d gotten excited over. She’d gone into one of those giant pet supply stores that allowed owners to bring in their dogs. She’d had to take him inside to get the right size collar. Then he’d instigated her into making some of the other purchases.