Page 49 of Threat of Danger
Eliot put down his mug. “What is it?”
“Last time I saw that truck, my father was driving it.” The thought left an ache deep in Jess’s chest, as if someone had put a hand on her heart and squeezed.
Eliot took her hand on the table.
As the sudden flash of grief faded, she smiled at Eliot, then went to rinse her mug before padding to the mudroom by the front door for her boots. “Let’s see about that river.”
Eliot followed her. “Would you rather do something else?”
Oh.She stopped. He didn’t sound suggestive but ... Itwasthe first time they’d been alone in the house.
Maybe they shouldn’t rush to their morning plans. Maybe they could stay and talk about why Eliot had really come after her. Maybe they could do more than talk. She liked being strong and self-sufficient, but she wouldn’t mind the comfort and reassurance of a pair of strong arms around her just now.
Eliot’s gaze dropped to her lips. He stepped closer. “Jess, I—”
Gravel crunched as a car pulled up outside.
“Zelda probably forgot her glasses.”
Jess turned to the window, but instead of her father’s old truck, a white van stood outside, from Crowley Sugaring Equipment & Co., according to the calligraphy lettering on the side. The logo was a black bird with a bottle of amber syrup in its beak, the background a red maple leaf.
“Who’s that?” Eliot moved closer to check them out.
If Jess turned, she’d be in his arms. He waited, letting her decide.
She crouched to tie her boots, and Eliot stepped away to give her room.
“My guess would be a salesman,” she said. “They come around this time of the year. If people have old equipment, now is the time when they’re most frustrated with breakdowns. They might order the latest and the greatest in the heat of the moment. In a couple of months, they forget how bad it was and start thinking maybe the equipment will work for another year.”
Jess straightened and watched through the window as a middle-aged man in work overalls came to the door—spiffy haircut, toned body, a noticeable veneer of general polish. He wore work boots, brand-new, not a scuff on them. Jess doubted he’d ever worked a day in a sugar shack, but his outfit was part of his sales pitch. He wanted to look like the people he was visiting.I’m one of you, the overalls said.
She opened the door before he could knock.
“Mornin’, miss,” the visitor said. “I’m from Crowley’s. Don Crowley.” He introduced himself with a wide salesman smile. “I was hopin’ your father might have a moment.” He glanced past her as Eliot stepped up behind her. “Or your husband.”
“My mother runs the business.” The words gave Jess great pleasure to say. “She’s not available right now, but the foreman will be back in a little while.”
“No problem.” Don’s smile bloomed with relief that he’d be dealing with a man. “I’ll wait. Mind if I walk down to see your sugar shack? Looks like a fine place you have set up here.”
“I’ll come and show you around. Let me put on my coat.”
“I’ll be waitin’ out here.” Don backed down the porch.
As Jess closed the door, she turned to Eliot. “You should go ahead. You know the way, right? You wanted to take more pictures and check out yesterday’s cliffs again, anyway. I’ll come as soon as Chuck gets back.”
Their moment of intimacy had passed. Yet she wasn’t truly frustrated with the interruption. And Eliot didn’t seem to be either. Or, maybe he was, because he said, “You sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”
“I won’t be alone with him. Workers are coming and going, and Chuck must have left someone watching the stoves too. He wouldn’t leave the fires unattended. My father burned down the previous barn. Chuck’s pretty big on fire safety.”
Eliot smiled. “I didn’t realize making maple syrup was such a hazardous business. Looks so innocent when it sits in a bottle on the kitchen table.”
“That’s what itwantsyou to think.” Jess smiled back. “I won’t be more than half an hour. Chuck is probably having a cup of coffee at Carol’s with something sweet. Nobody steps foot in Mrs.Fischer’s kitchen and leaves without eating a couple of her strudels.”
Mrs.Fischer was the quintessential German grandmother. She had four girls, three already married with children, the fourth, the youngest, getting married in early June. Zelda was catching Jess up on town gossip little by little.
Eliot left, and Jess showed the salesman around inside the sugar shack. A new guy Jess hadn’t met yet was running the vat. He introduced himself as Zak Summer. He was in his thirties, wide mouth, close eyes, and a permanently friendly expression. A hairnet held back his brown hair. Whatever questions the salesman had about the equipment, Zak answered. He appeared to be a competent worker. Then again, Chuck wouldn’t let any other kind near his vats.
By the time Chuck showed up, took over with the salesman, and Jess went back into the house, Derek had returned. With a surprise guest. The deputy sheriff came with him.
