Page 99 of Hometown Girl

“I’ll go with you,” Drew said.

Cricket nodded and thanked them, then walked away, leaving the trio and two dogs.

“Since you’re both going out there,” Molly said, “can you take Daisy?”

Beth glared at her sister, who grinned and walked away, pushing postcards on everyone she passed.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“I really can’t believe this woman would continue to use the barn knowing there were new owners. It’s just common sense, really. And how did she stay hidden this whole time? We’re out in the yard nonstop. What barn is she using?” Beth prattled on as Drew drove in silence, two barking dogs in the bed of his truck. He wished he had a way to warn Birdie she was about to be evicted, though he had reason to believe the woman would not go quietly.

And if she let on that he knew she was there, what then? Would Beth kick him out too?

His mind spun with excuses. He should just come clean. He should tell her everything—that he knew about Birdie but didn’t have the heart to make her leave, partly because she was the only person he’d met who’d been around at the time Jess went missing.

But an admission like that would require the whole truth—not just about Birdie, but about why he was there in the first place.

And he wasn’t ready to get into all of that. He didn’t want to show her the secret room in Harold’s closet or the bulletin board he spent his evenings studying. He’d even added to it: Davis Biddle’s business card. The wrapper from a piece of chewing gum he’d swiped off Birdie’s desk. Photocopies from his own collection of articles—anything that might help jog his memory.

So far nothing had.

“I just can’t believe the nerve of some people. If she wants to pay rent, maybe we can talk—we could use the extra income. But to have someone out there not paying a dime? That’s just not how it’s done.” Beth crossed her arms over her chest, working herself up with every mile marker they passed.

Drew half listened. His mind raced through something—anything—to justify his keeping this from her. It was a small thing, really. Why hadn’t he just told her the truth? Was trusting her that difficult?

They reached the gravel road leading to Fairwind, and Beth finally quieted.

“Maybe you’ll like her.” Drew tried to sound optimistic.

Beth scoffed. “She’s a thief.”

He snapped his mouth shut.

“Sorry. I’m just a little bent out of shape.” She glared at the road in front of them.

“Maybe I should talk to her.”

She glared. Wrong thing to say?

“Why, because you’re a man?”

“No, because you’ve practically got steam coming out of your ears.”

She crossed her arms again and harrumphed back onto the seat. “You think I’m overreacting.”

He tapped the steering wheel with his thumb but didn’t answer. He did think she was overreacting, actually, but only because he’d met Birdie. She’d grown on him. Their early evening chats had become a semiregular thing, and though she was certainly in her own world, he’d begun to enjoy the moments she invited him to be a part of it.

“I am. I know. I’m just stressed out,” Beth said. “The money thing, it’s—well, it’s really hard to manage this place. Right now we can’t afford to give anything away for free.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t go in there half-cocked. Maybe she’ll be a great tenant.” He knew better, but what else could he say? There was always the off chance that Birdie loved the natural light enough to pay for it.

They ambled up the gravel road in silence, giving his mind room to roam.

They’d been interrupted, but knowing Molly was digging into Jess’s case only added more stress to the morning. He’d been assured his own record would be sealed, but the longer he stayed at Fairwind, the harder it would be to keep his identity under wraps. Between Birdie and the cold-case files, it was just a matter of time.

Tell her, you idiot.

He glanced at Beth, who was still worked up over the “thief” in their barn. It wasn’t the right time. Yes, he would tell her, but not right when she was already upset about something else. She needed him at the farm. Maybe she’d overlook his dishonesty? Or maybe something would finally fall into place and he’d get the answers he needed so he could go back to Colorado, though judging by the unanswered voicemails on his phone, he was pretty sure he’d be looking for a new job once he did.

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