Page 283 of Conveniently Wed
A suspicion grew in the back of Stella’s mind. “How long ago?”
“What does it matter? Louie is missing. I need to find him.”
Bruce tightened his arm around Stella’s shoulders. “When did you last see him and where?”
“I noticed him gone a bit ago. We were down there.” She pointed the river direction again.
“Where have you looked?”
“Not in the barn.”
The three of them went to the barn. The big door was closed, but the smaller entrance was ajar.
“I know I shut it when I left,” Bruce said. He opened it wider. “Let me check first.”
Stella and the woman—“What’s your name?” Stella asked.
“Clara.”
“I’m Stella.” Bruce rejoined them. “This is my husband, Bruce.” It felt good to say that.
Bruce signaled them forward, pressing a finger to his lips, and they tiptoed in. Curled up beside Tippy, sound asleep, lay a child with black hair. He was barefooted.
Clara rushed forward and pulled the little boy into her arms. “Louie, you know better than to wander away. How many times have I warned you?”
“But, Clara, we used to sleep here.”
Clara slowly straightened and faced Bruce and Stella.
“That’s what the straw in the far stall was for,” Bruce said. “It’s time you told us what’s going on here.”
Clara put her brother down with the pup. “Wait here.” She went outside with Bruce and Stella.
“Yes, I slept in your barn. I didn’t see any harm in it. No one was living here. It’s not like I went into your house or anything.”
Stella might have protested the defensive tone, but Bruce put a hand on her back, and she calmed.
“I’m sure we don’t mind if you slept in the barn,” he said. “But you haven’t been sleeping here since we came. Where are you sleeping now? Why are you alone?”
“I’m not alone. I have Louie.”
“You know what I mean.”
Clara sighed, a sound Stella thought could be either resignation or annoyance. “We found an old cabin in the trees. No one lives there.”
Stella shuddered to think of them in that falling-down place.
“And why are you alone?” Bruce persisted.
“We got separated from the others.”
“Who would these others be? When and where did you get separated?”
Her dark eyes flashed defiance. “They would be my stepfather and his friends. We parted ways a number of days ago.”
Stella realized something. “It was you who planted the garden, wasn’t it?”
“We were doing just fine until you came back.”
