Passions of Chelsea Kane Part 6

Through his adult eyes, the chair was nowhere near as big nor the stairs as long, and his father's hand had shrunk from disuse; still, the memories warmed him. Zee was Antonio Pozzi. Oliver's father, whose experience with Italians was limited, had started using the nickname as a way of anglicizing the barber, and If longevity of service meant anything, the 134 nwpasgoxw Of cbehmn IKL~MW uccessful. Zee had been cutting hair in was s Notch for forty-five years. The fact that he still broken English didn't seem to bother Oliver, rge, or Emery any. They didn't want him to . He was little more than an accessory to their tings, not much different from the clock on the the time every I with its cymbalists clapping out hour. "Economy stinks," was Oliver's reply now, spoken with a minimum of mouth movement so as not to isturb Zee's blade. "Economy stinks," George mocked under his breath. In a fuller voice he said, "Th'economy doesn't affect us. Norwich Notch is solid as a rock, always has been, always will be. You shoulda waited, Ollie. You shoulda checked with us b'fore you did something so crazy." His eyes narrowed on the green. "But you rushed out and grabbed the first dollar you could find, and now we got a d.a.m.n woman to deal with. Chances are we'll have an uprising at the quarry. That right, Judd. Judd s.h.i.+fted against the wall. "The men listen to me. I can keep them calm."

"Better get a look at ' before you say that," Emery advised. But Judd had already- gotten a look. The very first day she had come to the Notch he had seen her close up. She'd been fixed in his mind ever since. "That's some dress," George said. "No one around here wears dresses like that.

What's she thinking, doing that?" Emery snorted. "Doesn't know right from wrong is the trouble. What's right for the city is all wrong here.

You've been to the city, Judd. You got to teach her the difference.

Better still, Ollie'll teach her. He's 135 the one brought her here." I "I'm not teaching her a d.a.m.n thing," came a grumbling from the chair.

"I'm just using her money to get my business moving." George stuffed his hands under his suspenders and rested them on the ledge of his belly.

"She keeps walking around like that and she'll get more than your business moving."

"Can say that again," Emery put in. "I thought you said she could do her part of the job out of Baltimore, Ollie. So what's she doin' up here?" Oliver grunted. "How should I know?"

"You're the one's dealing with her," Emery said. "My lawyer's the one's dealing with her." Emery was unimpressed. "So how long's she stayin'?" - "Go ask her."

"I'm not askin' her. She's your partner."

"That doesn't make me her keeper."

"It sure does," George declared. "She's your partner.

You're responsible for her. You have to tell her to leave."

"You tell her to leave," came the directive from the chair. "Judd'Il tell her," Emery said, shooting a look Judd's way. Judd didn't say a word. He had been Oliver's foreman for nine years. Increasingly, but for the iron hand Oliver kept on the purse strings, he had run the company. He hired and fired, doled out praise and punishment, made a.s.signments, taught technique, repaired equipment, squired buyers, and kept a close eye on Hunter. He'd had to do many unpleasant things. Telling Chelsea Kane to leave town wouldn't be unpleasant, 136 he had little use for slick city women, but it d be stupid. Plum Granite needed her money. It ed her connections. Much as it galled him to t it, she had what the company lacked. i,.-He had to hand it to Oliver. Signing her on had a shrewd move. All Judd had to do was keep e men ahead of the work she brought in, and'd be gone in a year. "You gonna tell her, Judd?" George asked.

[email protected] "Not yet," Judd said. He wasn't intimidated by rge, or Emery, or even Oliver. When it came to um Granite, he was indispensable, and they knew ,:Tl '. "Not until we've taken advantage of what she's offering."

Emery, who had shaken out a large handkerchief, took off his gla.s.ses and began to polish the lenses. "She's trouble. I can feel it in my bones.

You really done it this time, Ollie."

"I ain't done a thing."

"You sold half the company to her," George whined. "I didn't sell," Oliver snapped. "She invested. Because you wouldn't give me any more money."

"Is it my fault the FDIC is keepin' a hawk's eye on the banks?"

"Is it my fault you gave out a bunch a bad loans?"

"Is it my. fault you can't keep business coming? Is it my fault you're already borrowed to the limit?"

"Limit's too low."

"So who's talkin' of bad loans?"

"Hold on just a minute. I make my payments."

"What I want to know," Emery said, stuffing his handkerchief back in his pocket, "is what's in It for her?

Why would a fancy city girl want to diddle with usr 137 Dounshy "She's rich and bored," Oliver growled. "Got nothing better to do with her time."

"So what are we goln'to do with her?" George pursed his lips, his eyes on the green. "I'm thinking of one thing. So'll every man in this town who gets a look at her unless she starts wearing a proper skirt."

Piqued by the power of suggestion, Judd's imagination started to roam.

It had been doing that a lot, mostly in the dark of night when his body was hot and restless. At those times he imagined Chelsea Kane without clothes. Using greater self-discipline now, he Imagined her dressed.

"Have her to dinner," Oliver mumbled from the chair. "You have her to dinner," George shot back. "The way I see it, I didn't invite here here, I don't need to be accommodating." To Emery he said out of the comer of his mouth, "Wait'll Margaret gets a look at her." Oliver, s voice rose.

"You leave Margaret out of this." "Does she know about your deal?" Emery asked. "Of course she knows. She's my wife. How would I go about making a deal like this without telling her?" Very easily, Judd thought. Oliver Plum had three soft spots in an otherwise hard heart. The first and most obvious was for the business. The second was for Margaret. After nearly fifty years of marriage, he treated her like fine crystal that might shatter at a hint of shrillness. If he decided that Chelsea Kane's investment in the business would upset her, he might well try to hide it. The third soft spot in Oliver Plum's hard heart was for Hunter Love.

Rumor had It Hunter was Oliver's son, born of an affair Oliver had with a 138 n's wife, but no one had ever confirmed it n found wany ever would. The boy had bee five and alone in the woods when he'd been een raised by a family in Cutters Corner. )liver helped Hunter out of a sense of duty ly ( d Of One of his former workers, but given chil long ris nature, that sense of duty should have pired. Hunter Love had a streak of the rebel He tried a Man's soul. y asked. what did Margaret say?" Emel e." e said irs fine," Oliver barked, "just fin use shebasn't seen Chelsea Kane," a -That s Wc ht to shoot that rge put in, then snarled Oug n dog." e twitch of his hiked his spectacles with th ery wel- right up to her, Judd. A royal e. "He's gone Must sniff the city.

you got Buck e committee. the city, didn't you - x had been when re did, , said. But tha remembered ck was a pup. He doubted the dog women. He sure as h.e.l.l hoped not. much of city nice"

George said; grunt- "Fool thing's being real ded on an Ing. "Old coot of a dog. He paused and ad appreciative note, "He's got a good eye, th ough. She's sure a looker." Emery scolded, "you're too s, George, "Lord sake old for that-" orge argued- "A man is never too old for that," Ge Ooting anoth- Ot too old," Emery said? sh "Judd's n -you gonna keep er, more speculative took his way. on her for us, Judd?" an eye e didn't deem )ve a muscle. H Judd didn't m( s suggestion worth the effort. Emery' it.

"There's an idea. But Gei;[email protected] picked Up On her bet- could get to know You're the right age. You 139 mwrbmu nemhakv ter'n we could. Find out what she's thinking. Make sure she don't get in the way."

"Judd's sworn off women," Oliver called from under the towel that Zee was using to wipe his face. Shows how much you know," Emery called back. "He's got sweet Sara over in Adams Falls to scratch his itch. That right, Judd?"

"City women," Oliver specified, sitting up on the chair, s.n.a.t.c.hing the towel from Zee, and wiping his neck himself.

"City women. He's sworn off city women." "Well," said George, "he can swear right back on for the sake of the company, can't you, Judd?" There were many things Judd would do for the sake of the company, not so much out of loyalty to Oliver as out of loyalty to the men and the town, but cozying up to Chelsea Kane wasn't one. He had long since learned that certain women were Wens, luring men to destruction with their songs.

Chelsea Kane had a song. It had been singing in his blood since he'd first seen her, but he'd be d.a.m.ned if he would heed its call. He preferred his women simple and soft, and it that meant sacrificing an element of excitement, so be it. He didn't care what erotic fantasies Chelsea inspired; he wasn't playing with fire. "Can't you, Judd," George repeated, not so much questioning this time as commanding. "Not me," Judd informed him. "I don't want any part of her." George looked back out the window. "You don't know what you're missing." Judd knew exactly what he was missing. During his years in the city, he had known plenty of Chelsea Kanes. h.e.l.l, he'd been married to one. That 140 ift rawfons of che1wwa!!W t him good. orge rocked back on his heels. "Walker 11 like her. He's from New York." ery disagreed. "Walker can't talk to women. He taft to his computers." Summers, then. He did his training in a hosin Was.h.i.+ngton." is too tall for the doe." en Stokey French. He's got the b.a.l.l.s for it." ery considered that, finally conceding, "Maybe French."

..Judd could have laughed, the suggestion was so urd. Stokey French lived over the bridge, past hospital, in Cutters Corner. Like most others in Corner, he was ji quarryman, and though he had ossed eyes, pockmarked skin, and a perpetual ad of tobacco in his cheek, he thought himself a Kane s gift to women. He might go after Chelse . right, but if she was the kind of woman Judd sus- cted she was, he wouldn't get far. She'd mow him N, down with a look. Laughable indeed. But Judd remained silent. It A ..il .'had been a long time since he had laughed.

He wasn't sure he remembered how. Chelsea stood on the edge of the green with her hands folded in her lap and her face to the sun. Its warmth felt good against the chill that enveloped her each time she thought of Baltimore. All her life she had wanted ties, needed ties, and she'd had them with Abby and Kevin, with Carl, with Harper, Kane, Koo and her work, with an army of friends. Now Abby was dead, Kevin was off traveling, and Carl was marrying Halley. As for the army of friends, 141 Barbam Definsky it had dispersed without her quite realizing how or when. She was still in touch with most of them, some more closely than others, but even the closest had branched off into their own lives. Only now i standing still for the very first time in months, did that hit her. She took a deep breath in an attempt to settle herself, and it helped. The air was fresh, rich with the scent of good things green and growing. The gra.s.s on the common was lush, the white blossoms of the mountain laurel fragrant. Lining the street were gnarled maples and oaks that rose into lavish canopies of leaves, giving the town a fertile feel. Front lawns hosted lilac bouquets yet to be picked. Flowers spilled in bright profusion from every porch in sight. Summer was imminent ' Its harbinger, spring's ripe scent, filled her senses and was heightened by the sleepiness of the town. Nothing stirred.

Contentment seemed to hang in [email protected]! air along with the humidity, slowing life to a crawl. Bird sounds mingled with bee sounds, which mingled with the trickle of water from one tier of the birdbath on the green to another. There were happy child sounds, gentle sounds coming from a place she couldn't see ' but beyond that there was only the silence of the sun warming the air. Nowhere was there anything mechanical-no air conditioner hum, no lawn mower buzz, no pickup growl-and although she knew that all those things would start up in time, for now she basked in rural purity. All was quiet and calm, simple and serene. She needed that. Deep inside she must have known it, when she had packed and left Baltimore so precipitously the day before. The past year had 142 The Pa.s.sions of Chelsea Kane ght one upheaval after another. She needed a in the storm. Fate had brought her here. She drew in another deep breath, released it owly, then, slowly too, turned to take full stock of town center. Behind her, at the base of the en, three large Federal-style houses, corded by t picket fences, looked to be still used as homes. ft and right, rising toward the triangle's apex, i4ere the buildings she had seen before. Viewed at .1eisure, in the glow of the sun, they had the appeal ,:,she had only been able to imagine in March. The library, housed in a small yellow Victorian, had charin, The bakery, its windows filled with fresh [email protected] breads, cakes, and cookies, had spice. The post office had dignity, the general store quaintness, the bank gentility.

And then there was the church, the focal point of the town, to which her eye climbed time and again. Though its wood siding was painted white, the shade of the pines cast it a pale blue. Spilling onto the hill at its side and above, past a small white fence, were the tall, thin slabs that anch.o.r.ed the dead to the town. She wondered who of her flesh and blood was buried there. She wondered who of her flesh and blood wasn't buried there but was alive and well and living in town. She wondered if any of them knew who she was. A dog appeared from behind the law office, caught sight of her, and broke into an easy lope. It was a golden retriever, looking as well kept as the town. Long tail wagging, it nuzzled her waiting hand. "You're a handsome one," she cooed, stroking the dog's head, then its throat when it smiled up at her. It was a friendly animal. Cydra would call that a sign. 143 Though making friends hadn't been one of her tmotives for coming to Norwich Notch, with everything hat had happened in Baltimo she was feeling detached. She could use a friend. re' With that thought in mind, she headed for Farr's. BELL ABOVE THE DOOR TINKLED WHEN entered the store.

It was a screen door this g tly slapping closed behind her. Glancing en nd, she saw that summer was here, too. plays promoted picnic hampers rather than le syrup, colors were brighter, scents lighter. the newsstand, posters touted an upcoming red dish supper, a junior-senior softball game ",benefit the Norwich Notch Historical Society, and Fourth of July Fest. The store looked empty, as Chelsea had hoped it Id be.

Indeed, she had seen Matthew Farr leave a van when she'd first pulled up to the green. She ..',"could do without Matthew. Donna was the one she wanted to see. A small movement behind the cash register caught her eye.

With a smile, she crossed to the counter. Donna looked exactly the same as she had in March, except that the blouse that was tucked into her skirt had short sleeves and the wisps of hair escaping her topknot were curlier. She was frowning at a computer screen, totally engrossed in her work. 145 res "Hi there," Chelsea said, then, when there was no Ponsey "h.e.l.lo?" Only when she stepped closer d14 Donna look u .. lier eyes im ediately lit. Her face broke into a srnile that held excitement and pleasure, or so Chelsea imagine because she needed both. liow are you?

she asked, feeling pleasure of her Own. Donna nodded i a way that said she was just fine, then raised her ows; in return of the question. M great." Chelsea ughed. "I'm back." Mocking grirnness, she dropped --voice an octave and s * ald, "On business." Then-she smiled again and to, ssed a glance behind her. "Everything looks greeat. I JOVe your straw hats." They stood on a hat tree not far from the picnic hampers and conjured up tholights of long, gauzy dresses, Brie, bread, and Wine, and lazy afternoons on the banks of a stream. "Are they locally made?" Donna waved a hand to suggest yes and no. While Chelsea waited for her to explain, she looked torn. Finally with a resigned grimace, she pointed to her ear an'd shook her head. In that instant it struck Chelsea that Donna was deaf. She was stunned, alternately chiding herself for riot having guessed and feeling an overwhelming sorrow. She opened her mouth to say something, then, not knowing what to say, closed it again. Donna came to the rescue, gesturing her around u , e' d e ' a way r ows in sea ' )1)1)[email protected] the counter. She cleared the computer screen of the inventory list she'd been working with and deftly typed in, "I'm sorry. Everyone in town knows. It's a shock when people don't expect it." Chelsea reached in and typed, "I'm the one who's sorry. I should have guessed." In hindsight she saw 146 The Pa.s.sions Of cbasm Kane signs that she'd missed. na's fingertips tapped the keys. "I read lips. n't have to type." ke to type. What about the hats?" e in Vermont. Not quite local, but almost." ey're super. Very romantic." When Donna at her, she rolled her eyes in a wistful way. that's something else," she said.

"I really am on business." know," Donna mouthed. figured you would. I figured everyone would. can't be many secrets in a town like this."

Donna typed, "You'd be surprised." Chelsea looked from her somber profile to the "creen and back. Nudging her hands aside gently, e typed, "Sounds intriguing. Anything you can 7" ' if I don't want to be stoned on the town n." Chelsea smiled. The days of public stonings were er, but there was a message in Donna's words. s like Norwich Notch didn't air their dirty launfor the world to see, and although Chelsea didn't consider herself "the world," since she'd been born in the Notch, Donna didn't know that. There would be time for sharing secrets. "I understand," she typed, then, "Can you help me with something else?" When Donna looked at her lips, she said,. "I'll be spending a lot of time here for the next year. It'll be silly for me to stay at the inn every time I come. I was thinking of buying a place." Actually she'd been thinking of renting one, but she didn't correct herself when the other word slipped out. "Can you recommend a good realtor? The bulletin board at the inn had the business cards 147 Barbara Dehnsky of three."

Taking a notebook from her purse, she read, "Mack Hewitt Brian Dolly, and Eli Whip'@ Donna's fingers'moved on the keyboard. "Mack Hewitt will talk your ear off, Brian Dolly won't say a word, and Eli Whip will tell you only what he thinks You want to hear. The best realtor in town is a woman. Rosie Hacker. Her office is on West Street." Chelsea liked the way Donna thought. "Thanks," she typed in. "How about a health club? Is there one nearby?" No health club. There are aerobics cla.s.ses every morning at six-thirty in the bas.e.m.e.nt of the church. They're open. You could come if you like." 7ve never done aerobics."

"It's fun."

"But I'm tone deaf," she typed. "I can't hold a tune."

"Neither can I," Donna typed back just as Chelsea realized her faux pas, but Donna didn't seem fazed. "The teacher uses music with a p.r.o.nounced beat. If , can feel the beat so can you." Chelsea was te;@pted. She couldn't count the number Of times she had watched aerobics cla.s.ses in progress. Inevitably there were one or two people pathetically out of step. She had always identified with them. Oh, she was coordinated. And athletic. But moving in time to music was something else. Normally the most self-confident of women, she s.h.i.+ed away when it came to dancing. She didn't want to make a fool of herself. So she was a runner instead.

Donna regarded her expectantly. How big is the group?" Chelsea asked. After holding up ten fingers Donna turned and typed, All women. I could [email protected] you around." For that reason alone Chelsea knew she should 148 "M FAW3*M9 Of CJWMW KNW goal was to get to know Norwich Notch, ore people she met In town the better. S, Donna was a lovely person. She liked the doing something with her. " she said. "I'll try it. But if I look like an vnur fault." na grinned. The grin disappeared when she d in alarm toward the back of the store. ea saw nothing there. Apparently neither did a, because she made no move to leave. Nor, , did she fully relax again. She stared broodat the computer screen for a minute, before , "Do you know who I am?" Donna Farr 17 [email protected] typed back. ' Plu I Farr. Oliver is my father." ',,"Chelsea ne er would have guessed it.

There was nh emblance to speak of, though with iver a scowl r and Donna a smiler, any resemance would b minimized. Chelsea wondered how ch an ornery her had sp.a.w.ned such a gentle aughter. N dou [email protected] mother was responsiie tor t-wouldi_ have to be a saint to hat. he woman ve with Oliver. Donna wrote, "People around here are angry ,,about the agreement he made with you. Plum Granite is a family company. You're an outsider." She hesitated, then typed more quickly, "Some consider you the enemy."

"Do you think I am?" Donna7s eyes met hers. After a minute she shook her head. "I made an investment," Chelsea said gently. "I want that investment to pay off, which means getting the company moving forward again. Isn't that what everyone wants?" 149 Awtolm Defins1w ---- Donna nodded and turned back to the screen. "But Plum Granite is Plum Granite." She held her hands above the keyboard as though about to elaborate, then let them fall to her sides and looked at Chelsea. ' know," Chelsea said, and intellectually she did. Emotionally she wasn't so sure. To Identify with a family name so strongly was foreign to her. Likewise to feel part of an ancestral chain. She envied Donna that sense of belonging. "Well," she said, sighing, "if your father and his men do their part, I'll be gone at the end of a year." One year. That was all she needed. With luck she would have her baby, the ident.i.ty of her parents, and more money than ever. She could continue at Harper, Kane, Koo as though nothing had changed. Or she could move on. For a woman without roots, the options were endless. "She's on her way here," Oliver told Judd. He dropped the phone to its cradle and his forearms to the desk. "Just opened two accounts at the bank., One business, one personal. George swears she's planning to stay awhile." He propped his fist against his mouth and glowered at the floor. "Don't know why in the devil she'd do that." Judd didn't know, either. it had been his experience in life that women with the city in their blood didn't come to places like the Notch. They left them. Chelsea Kane must have lost her sense of direction. She must have been blinded by dollar signs-which mystified him, the more he thought about it. Sure, there was money to be made in granite. With modern equipment and skilled marketing, there was business to be won and a profit to be had, but that 150 g of Chdaw ALOW "M rm"lon , finite. A woman like Chelsea Kane could ! greater, far faster return in any one of of different ventures. He wondered why she osen granite. everything ordered?" Oliver asked, spearing with a look. ou bet," Judd said.

Satisfied at the thought of he stretched out on his chair and-,,lowered a A to scratch Buck's ears. For years e'd been ng on Oliver to buy new equipment DT years Id been pus.h.i.+ng to build a facility to cu and pol-stone. For years he'd lobbied to comp, terize the ice. But Oliver was a tightwad if ever here was e and wouldn't hear of any of it. S denly the nds had s.h.i.+fted. It appeared that . e tightwad uld be generous with someone else's money And udd was no fool. He was buying. while the buying good. actually something exciting about it. There was at man didn't dream of building a business? In the case of Plum Granite, rebuilding was the word, *A Judd could take the same pride in that.'It gave [email protected] to his college degree and to the ten years of endless hours he'd worked in Pittsburgh. He had trained well. Now, finally, he could put that training to good use. "Russ and his crew are starting at Moss tomorrow," he told Oliver. Moss Ridge had been earmarked for the processing facility. It was the largest of the active Plum quarries and held enough granite " p ,@e r e to occupy cutters for the next thirty years. "He figures we can get something up and operational by the end of August." "What's wrong with July?" Oliver asked "It's only a shed." 151 B&9WM Deunshy "A shed that's half again as big as a basket court, with b.u.t.tressing and ventilation for heavy equipment, a whole side that opens up, and insulation and heat to keep it operational through winter.,", That's not to mention the equipment itself. It's all", on special order."

"We have to keep ahead of her."

"We will." Oliver grunted. When the distant drone of Hunter's motorcycle whispered in through the open window, his eyes sought Judd s. "He okay? Oliver was a hard man. His face rarely conveyed much beyond disinterest, Impatience, '0'r scorn. When Judd saw vulnerability there, he never failed to be amazed.

"Well, tell me," Oliver demanded, abruptly exas- perated. "I don't have you watching over him for nothing. You're my eyes and ears. You're supposed to talk with him."

"He's not much of a talker."

"Maybe not, but you know him as well as anyone does. He's bein' real crabby. How come?"

Judd wasn't wild about being a snitch. For the most part Hunter was a pain in the b.u.t.t, but there were times when he mellowed. During those times Judd felt sorry for him. Sure, Oliver made his life easier materially. Despite the occasional trouble, he kept him on as a jack-of-all-trades, and Judd was the first one to say that he knew his stuff at the quarry. He could handle any piece of machinery, any explosive, any too], just as Oliver had taught him. But he was hauling around a s.h.i.+tload of emotional garbagejudd could only begin to guess at his aeepest thoughts. The only time he let things slip was when he was half-crocked. 152 He doesn't on scratching Buries head t affect him." ?

it wow Al. As he sees it, there's another it N I is trouble enough take him now. He N the thought Of from YOU. He doesn't like from her. of @icowl at the window, while the growl -Did she hit him WOW" cle grew. rong." And it had nothing to en hit him w ght as an ty. Hunter was straig his s.e.xualil string of women to attest to There w a much. He was a just didn't like any of them n kind of guy- e out,- Oliver muter could figure that oil Pugh looking." @#Hels nice enc as no psychiatrist, ets angry," Judd said. He W rid. One st obvious thing in the wo was the mo e could see it, and Hunter's face and anyon Alt :)uth. was before he opened his 014 him off 0, at's he got to be angry about? I took set him tip in a good home, sent, him to "..street, lothes, and gave him a job. Im , bought him c when he got in trouble- He's one bailed him Out to be angry." lyze the no cause d. it wasn't his job to ana Judd shrugge nter Love, much less to efores of Hu and wher -and even if it were, no one knew e judgments ast. His illegitimacy was whole truth of Hunter's [email protected] athers. They , first of the rumors. There were, the ed about, not within earshot of , bandi ened at ,41eren't ofte n$t the only tongue loos d. But Hunter's was picked up enough S. over the years Judd had hose rumors ,@"Crocker' if even a few Of t to convince him that cause to be angrywere truef Hunter had good 153 The motorcycle roared Into the driveway, then went suddenly quiet. At the same time, a car pulled up and Parked on the street. Buck lifted his head. She's driving a fancy car," Oliver complained, squinting out the window.

"Doesn't she have any sense?" Hunter came in the front door, stalked through the anteroom without a word, and entered Oliver's office. With barely a look at its inhabitants, he planted ills black-garbed self at the window with his back to the room. Chelsea's entrance was quieter.

She paused to talk softly with Fern, who had been working for Oliver for thirty years and was nearly as nervous about Chelsea's coming as Hunter was. Fern slowed down a little each year, but what she lacked in speed she more than made up for in loyalty. Judd had a.s.sured her that her job was safe. He hoped Chelsea was doing the same. At least that was what Judd's ex, Janine, would have done, She was a political creature. She would sweet-talk anyone she thought might be of use to her- The instant she found out differently, her tone Of voice changed. Then Chelsea came to the door of Oliver's office, and Judd felt the same swift kick in the middle that he'd felt three months before. He didn't know what It was about her-whether it was the misty green of her eyes, the gentle upturn of her lips, the elegance of her. legs, or that tumble of auburn curls-but she turned him on. Buck rose from where he'd been lying and went to her just as Oliver let her have it. "DO You know what the people in this town think 154 UM pa.s.sions or hey see someone driving around in a car like I They think that the driver Is an arrogant bee who wants everyone to know how much he has. That what you want to do?" gentle upturn of lips that Judd had admired down, but not in indignagtion.

Janine would been indignant. He might have done fine with But Chelsea looked taken aback, as though she expected a civil, even friendly, welcome and disappointed. He actually felt sorry for her. rowning, she said, "That wasn't my intention at Absently she touched Bucws head.

"What possessed you to drive that car?"

"It's the onl car I own." Y "Well, you'd better get another. It won't do." She blinked. "What will do?"

"A truck." Judd couldn't see her in a truck. "Somehow," she said, "I can't see me in a truck." @'Then a Jeep," Oliver said, and threw an impa-fient hand in the air. "Look at what everyone else is driving.

That'll tell you." Buck kept his head at Chelsea's fingertips and his eyes half-lidded on Oliver. In his insolence, Buck was amusing. "Fine," Chelsea said, apparently deciding not to argue further, and wisely so, Judd thought. The Jaguar wasn't a major issue. But Oliver had a thing with tradition and control. He needed to dictate. To confront him was only to invite more, louder. Chelsea crossed her hands in her lap and looked at Hunter. When he didn't turn, didn't acknowledge her presence in any way, she s.h.i.+fted her gaze to Judd. He felt a tiny aftershock, then another when he imagined he saw hesitation. He imagined that her I L5 eyes skittered away for a fraction of a second before locking on his, as though she didn't want to look at him but was helplessly drawn.

He had a vivid imagination. He didn't imagine the color on her cheeks though. It was there, clear as day, no doubt ; the heat in the air.

The same heat also added curl to her hair and a dewiness to her skin that appealed. Telling himself that he should treat her no differently from a male, he calmly pushed himself to his feet and offered his hand as he would to any other business a.s.sociate new to town. "Welcome." Her grip surprised him. It wasn't b.a.l.l.sy, like Janine's. Janine believed in letting people know from the start that she wasn't a ditsy blond broad.

Chelsea's handshake was firm, but there was a gentleness to it, an improbable softness. Same with her mouth. She wore no lipstick, but her lips were a dusty pink as they curved into a timid smile. Timid? He had a very vivid imagination. He couldn't believe he'd thought that. "Thank you," she said to his welcome. Retrieving her hand, she returned it to its mate in her lap. Oliver's disgruntled voice pulled her eyes from his. "Why are you here?" he asked. "I signed the papers making us partners. My lawyer sent them by courier yesterday. Didn't you get them?"

"I got them. But he didn't say you were coming."

"Of course I'm coming. How else are we suppo ed to work together?" ! telephone. By mail." Very slowly, she shook her head. Oliver sat back on his chair, which wasn't saying 156 The Pamlons of Cbelses Kam h given the straightness of it. His expression as rigid. "Your part in this is money and ounts." ,-"That's why I'm here," she said politely. "I'm ng out a lot of money. I'd like to see how it's spent. And as for accounts, once I know how money is being spent, I can be a more forceful esman.

"Saleswoman," Hunter said. "Well, h.e.l.lo," Chelsea sang. Hunter turned just his head, gave her a warning look, then turned back to the window.

Judd watched for her reaction. She struck him as's e type to comment, however civilly, on Hunter's @,,@,Ivdeness, and for a minute she looked as though @she would. She tipped up her chin. Before any ords came out, though, she lowered it again. He wondered if she found Hunter attractive. -Many women did. His disinterest made him intrigu- ing. He wondered if Hunter found her attractive. "How long you staying?" Oliver asked gruffly: It was a minute before she refocused on him. "At least through the weekend. I have to go home to work for a few days, then I'll be back here for a week or two. I'll be dividing my time between both places. Come to think of it, I may be spending more time here. I mean, it's summer and all. The city is unbearably hot." Judd had the distinct impression that she was improvising, that she really didn't know her plans, which surprised him. Janine had always had an agenda. He a.s.sumed this one did, too. Oliver scowled. "You should have said something. We didn't take your bein' here into account." 157 Awbam Demn9ky "I don't see the problem."

"Of course you don't," he snapped. "You don't know anything about what's going on here."

"Which is why I've come," she said. "Well, I don't know where you're going to work." She looked around. "Obviously not here, unless you've been crating things up to make more room. Is there a purpose for these cartons? Spring cleaning, maybe?"

"We're moving."

"Moving? Where to?"

"Downtown." One look at the twitch at the comer of her mouth and Judd knew what she was thinking.

She was thinking that the center of Norwich Notch hardly qualified as "downtown," as she knew the term. She was also thinking that "downtown"

in Norwich Notch was only two blocks away. She was also thinking that someone was making use of her money already. "I been wanting to do it for years," Oliver professed with a look that dared her to object.

"There's s.p.a.ce to let on the second floor of the Quilters Guild. The ladies own the house. They been looking for a tenant so they can give the rent money to the local soup kitchen. Can't no one argue with that cause." "His wife is head of the guild," Hunter said. Oliver stared at his back. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"No meaning. Just a statement."

"Well, it's unnecessary. The fact is that by selling this place, we'll have enough money to pay the rent over there for ten years.

They're not asking much. It'll be good for them and good for us. We oughta, be 158 The ragslons of Chchwa Kam center of things." He turned back to Chelsea. re, s room up there for an office for me, one for rn, and one for Judd and Hunter. Don't know e you're goin' to work." looked far from discouraged. "Is there a Chelsea floor?"

"An old unfinished attic."

"That'll be fine." "Attic, I said."

"I'm an arc hitect. I work with attics all the time."

"Unfinished attic."

"Add some insulation, some skylights, a, free-standing spiral staircase front and back, and you've doubled your office s.p.a.ce, all for the same rent." Her eyes twinkled. "Think of the storage .,s.p.a.ce you'll have. You can clear the clutter from Fern's office and let the poor woman breathe."

"Fern isn't complaining," Oliver said. "She probably doesn't know how.

Give me time.

ru teach her." Judd had to hand it to her. She had guts. Either that or she didn't understand how truly conirentional the Notch was. "Do that," Oliver warned, setting both fists on the desk, "and you'll be run out of town. Listen up, missy. Just ' you bought into this company doesn't mean you got any right to try to change things around here. You leave Fern be." Chelsea grinned. Oliver's face darkened correspondingly.

"What's that look mean?"

"It means I like the idea of having an attic office. If I make it light enough, I'll be able to put in a drafting table and do my work there. I a.s.sume you're installing plenty of telephones. I'll need two lines. 159 How about a fax machine?" Oliver looked blankly at Judd. The specifies of office equipment were his territory. "I've ordered a fax," he said. "And computers, one in each office, including those at the quarries. They'll be linked, so we won't have to physically run data around.", Computers were his sideline. He had developed a fascination for them in college and had fed it while working in Pittsburgh. Back in Norwich Notch, he had spent his nights designing small business programs that sold for good money. In the process he had kept abreast of the latest technological advances.