Page 64 of Operation: Integrity

“That’s going to have to be centered enough or I’ll have to move over.” He gripped the side of the heavy stone chimney.

She laughed. “Naw, go back to the left about two inches and you’re good.”

Sam affixed it with double-sided tape, then slowly climbed down. He’d been watching for Kelly to appear, but she hadn’t come yet. She had talked to him a few times about how excited she was to join in the Thanksgiving festivities, but that didn’t mean she’d want to bethere all day. Too much time with people still wore her out.

Anna sat along the wall with her feet curled under her and her nose in a Bible Lacy had gotten for her. The woman was bookish, almost to the point of avoiding people to be in a book. He couldn’t blame her. While she’d known the dangers of being a missionary, that couldn’t ever really prepare a person for going through what she had. She and Edwyn seemed to be getting along so far, and she’d even gone for her first ride the day before.

He wandered over the buffet, still clear of any food outside of a tray of meat and cheeses, and one with pickles and various olives. He wasn’t interested in sampling at the moment. His mind was on Victoria. She was always there for the guys, acting motherly even though she was younger than most of them.

“Vicky, how are things going?” He grinned, knowing she’d take the bait.

“You know I hate that name.” She gave him a fake scowl. “And I’m wishing Teddy was here. He did more heavy lifting in this kitchen than I realized. I guess I’d hoped he would be back by now.”

Connor didn’t talk about his dad much, and mentioning Teddy often made Connor terse so no one knew anything. “Have you heard when he’s coming back? His trip seemed sudden.”

Victoria snorted as she mixed a huge bowl of salad greens. “Sudden. You could say that. He didn’t even tell me he was going. I found out the day he didn’t show up to help me. Now, mind you, he didn’t have to. He’s not technically on my staff. But when a man is in here helping literally every day, you get used to his presence and startcounting on him.” She huffed, whipping open the huge refrigerator and shoving the bowl back inside.

“I’m sorry. Anything I can do?” Not that he was any good in the kitchen, but Teddy probably hadn’t been at first either.

“No. I’m fine. It’s just that . . . I thought we were better friends than that. And before you get your thoughts turning to the romantic, that man is old enough to be my father. That’s not it at all. I just like having him around. He’s a good soul and I’m worried about him. What if his leg goes stiff from the polio and he’s somewhere he can’t rest? What if something happened to him and no one knows because he didn’t tell anyone where he was going?” She sighed. “I’m worried. End of story.”

He slowly nodded. “We all are.”

Connor came in holding his phone in front of his face like he was in the middle of a phone call on speakerphone. Odd, since he usually wanted privacy for that sort of thing. Sam gave him a wide berth so he didn’t feel like Sam was eavesdropping, but he couldn’t miss Connor’s loud part of the conversation.

“You’re still up north? What are you doing there? It’s Thanksgiving. Why aren’t you home?”

The voice on the other end sounded like Teddy, but different, too What was the older man up to? Sam waited until Connor hung up and jabbed the phone in his shirt pocket.

“Hey, what was that all about?” Sam asked.

“Dad. He won’t say why he’s gone. Just that he still needs time. He’s not secretive, so this is driving me crazy. What could he possibly be doing hundreds of miles away that is so important that he can’t come home for hissecond favorite holiday?” Connor swiped his sleeve across his brow.

“Is he doing something for Wayside, or maybe for the Haven?” Lacy asked as she joined them. “I know you planned on opening up The Haven next month, in time for Christmas.”

Connor shook his head. “No. He would’ve told me. Since his health isn’t great, he turned all ranch business over to me when I started Wayside. He’s happy about The Haven, but doesn’t plan to live there. It’s for families and he feels he’s not a family. This is just not like him.”

Sam didn’t know Teddy as well as some of the other men, because Teddy didn’t like coming to the kennels. If his leg went stiff on him, walking was difficult. Even though he’d never stepped on one of the dogs, he still worried that he might, so he avoided the place completely.

“Well, we can sit here wondering and worrying or we can do what we should’ve done from the beginning and let me call him.” Lacy grinned. “He’s never kept a secret from me. I don’t think he can.”

“Well, you could’ve chimed right in when I was on the phone with him,” Connor said with more anger than he usually showed when Lacy was around, proving just how wound up he was about his dad.

Lacy laid a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, I know you’re worried, but I have no right to step on your toes or stick my nose into your private call, even if it was on speakerphone. But if you want me to call him and try to find out what’s going on. Just ask.”

Sam backed away from what suddenly felt like a private moment. Lacy always knew just what to say to calm down a rare sighting of Connor’s agitated side. He was nothing like what he’d been at first, which wouldn’thave been good for human trafficking victims. In fact, the very idea would’ve been bad. It was Lacy that had shown him how to be empathetic. Sam prayed she would open her heart back up to Connor like she did for the people who came to stay here.

“Hey,” Kelly’s voice behind made him grin as he turned around.

“Hey, good to see you. Want to help set up?” He wasn’t sure if she’d want to be a part of that or not.

Edwyn came in just after her and waved to Sam. “Hey, Sam and Connor, can I talk to you for a second?”

Sam glanced at Edwyn and back to Kelly. He knew which person he’d rather be with. She giggled for a mere second before she tilted her head toward Edwyn. “Go. I’ll sit by Anna for a minute and see what she’s studying. I’ll help when you’re done.”

She wanted to help, to participate. She was doing great, and he was elated. The moment he joined Edwyn though, his elation died. “What’s wrong?”

Edwyn glanced between the two of them and lowered his voice. “I know Dominic and Spenser left while Kelly was in the hospital since the risk was neutralized, but there’s a new danger and we could use their expertise.”

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