Page 170 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Neither sounded appealing to Becca, but Becca wasn’t about to turn down the unexpected offer of friendship. She decided to tell Shayna what happened. “I think someone tried to kill me today,” she said.

Shayna’s cup of tea paused halfway to her mouth. “You’re joking, right?” She put her cup back on the table.

“I wish I were. I was exploring the shoreline, and someone launched a boulder at me. If there hadn’t been a cave to duck into, it would have gotten me.”

“We get rockfalls here all the time. I’m sure it was an accident.”

From the way Shayna was looking at her, Becca could tell the young woman thought her a bit neurotic. “Max showed up and looked at where the boulder came from. He said someone had pried on the boulder. He didn’t think it was a natural rockfall. It was a much larger boulder than usual, he said.”

“Pooh, Max sees the dark in every bright cloud. I don’t believe it for a minute. Maybe Max wanted to play the hero. You’re an attractive woman.”

Becca’s own certainty began to crumble. Maybe she’d seen a flash of a bird or something. “I saw something at the top of the cliff before the boulder came crashing down.”

Mrs. Jeffries came through the door with a tray of cookies as Becca spoke. Her eyes narrowed to slits. “It was the Windigo,” she whispered. “I’ve heard him howling in the night. You must be careful. He is not to be toyed with.”

Becca gave an involuntary shiver. “It’s just a legend, Mrs. Jeffries.”

“Most legends have their basis in fact,” the housekeeper said. “Mind what I tell you, Miss. Stay close to the house and don’t go out at night.” She plopped the cookies on the table and backed away, still looking frightened then turned and bolted for the house.

Becca rubbed her arms. “I haven’t heard that old legend in a long time.”

“I’m surprised you’ve heard it at all.” Shayna shuddered.

“The Windigo was supposed to be a huge creature with a giant head and big teeth, wasn’t it? A demon who ate human flesh?”

Shayna nodded. “Sometimes he is said to wear a headdress and other times to have long, flowing hair. He is supposed to be half human and half beast.”

Becca shuddered. “I’m glad it’s just a legend.”

Shayna grimaced. “Let’s talk about something else. Supposedly cannibalistic creatures remind me of this island anyway. It’s eaten all the good times I used to have.” She looked suddenly tired and defeated.

“We know it wasn’t a Windigo who attacked me,” Becca said.

“I say it was Max.” Shayna said. Her green eyes sharpened like a cat eying a mouse. “Maybe he wanted to be the rescuer. He’s been lonely since Laura died. You’re the first eligible woman who’s been here. All the women in the village are over fifty. The young ones take off for the mainland as soon as they can.”

Could that be true? Becca hadn’t seen any admiration in Max’s eyes, but it could explain what had happened. And Maxwasthere. “Maybe,” she said doubtfully. She thought back to the argument she’d overheard between Max and Tate. “Are you good friends with Max?”

Shayna grimaced. “You’ve been listening to my husband.” She stretched again. “I won’t deny I think he’s one of the most attractive men I’ve ever met. But Iammarried. And he’s very conscious of the fact even though I might be persuaded to ignore that little incidental.”

So Tate had reason to be jealous of Max. But was Shayna hiding their real relationship? Her eyes seemed guileless, and Becca longed to trust her. She needed a confidante.

“Put it all out of your mind,” Shayna advised. “I’m sure it was an accident.”

“There seem to be a lot of accidents around here,” Becca said. “I heard about a boat explosion a few weeks ago just offshore. Were you here then?”

“Sure. I never go anywhere. Terrible thing. It was the old lady’s long lost son and daughter-in-law. They’d been estranged for years and had just reconciled.”

“What was the estrangement about? From what I’ve heard of Mrs. Baxter, she is a sweet lady.”

“Oh she is. But she has a backbone of steel. I never heard what the initial spat was about, but she welcomed them with open arms when they arrived. She was devastated at their deaths. That’s why she went to Europe. But it sounds like even Paris couldn’t comfort her. It would sure comfort me.”

Gram hadn’t been upset enough to attend the funeral. Becca felt the familiar pang of hurt. “What caused the boat to explode?”

Shayna shrugged. “I heard it was a leaky motor. I was right here on the terrace when the boat went off like a rocket. A spectacular sight, almost like the fourth of July fireworks.”

Becca tried not to flinch, but she was sure her face had to betray some emotion. She glanced away. “You say it was Mrs. Baxter’s son and daughter-in-law? That would make the man Tate’s uncle?”

Shayna nodded. “He hadn’t seen them in years though. And I think he was a little miffed they showed up now because Gram started talking about changing her will. Mason was her only living child, and there would have been no money for any of the rest of us. Luckily, they died before she did it. The money is the only reason we hang around here all the time. Someday all this will belong to Tate.”

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