Page 34 of Dangerous Secrets
Delaney caught the surprise in Cam’seyes.“You’re Delaney?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m, um, I—” Whatever Camintended to say, Delaney thought she changed her mind, and insteadsaid, “I heard you’re the person I should talk to about ajob.”
“Who referredyou?”
“No one.I’m new to thearea.But the lady at the motel in Sisters told me you run thisplace and might be hiring.”
“We’re hiring, and boy, dowe need help,” Francesca chimed in.
“Way to play it close tothe vest, Franny.”
“Just saying it like itis.Plus, you always say we’re a team and everyone gets inputaround here.”
Seeing how all their permanentemployees were older than Delaney and had worked at the farm fordecades, operating by consensus might have its drawbacks, but shedidn’t see how else they could do it.
Shaking her head, she said, “If you’dlike to fill out an application, there’s a link on ourwebsite.”
Cam fidgeted with the strap of theheavy backpack hanging from one shoulder.“My phone is dead.Can Ifill out a paper form?”
“Sure.”Delaney crossed tothe checkout counter and rummaged in the drawer beneath it untilshe found an employee application form along with a pen and aclipboard.She handed them to Cam.“You can sit out on the deck andcomplete this.I’ll come out when you’ve had time to do that and wecan talk.”
Franny led Cam to the deck whileDelaney tried to figure out the vibe she was getting offCam.
The woman appeared a little rougharound the edges.Her eyes were shadowed, and she looked thin.Shewas probably naturally slender, but she looked underweight.Add theunderlying sense of wariness Delaney was picking up, and shedecided to be cautious.Reality was the farm would soon open to thepublic and hiring seasonal employees was at the top of her to-dolist.It’d be nice to have someone older than the teenagers whoprovided most of the summer labor.Someone reliable who could workthe morning shift after the high school kids went back to school inlate August.If Cam really did have experience as a baker, it wouldbe a definite bonus.
Delaney took a call from a supplier,checked with Franny on plans for a display, and wrote notes on anevent she was planning for Labor Day to kick off apple season.Itwas close to twenty minutes later until she made it out to thedeck.
Cam sat at one of the square woodentables, her chin resting against her palm, staring across the road.Oscar rode the mower over the grass of the picnic meadow, thedroning sound of the motor drifting with the breeze.He stopped andhopped off, leaving the machine to idle as he pulled picnic tablesout of the way.
The table Cam had chosen was in thedappled shade cast by the bright pink blooms of the bougainvilleagrowing across the pergola and the trio of pines that rose aboveit.Delaney sat opposite her and Cam straightened in her seat, thepen she dropped clattering against the table.
Delaney studied the application form,the boxes filled with neat printing.She raised her gaze to studyCam’s cautious expression.“You didn’t put down a Social Securitynumber, and you put the motel in town as your address.”
Cam picked up the pen again to run itthrough her fingers and gave a jerky nod.“There are reasons forthat.”
Delaney turned over the paper to lookat the back.“You wrote that you’ve done catering and baking, butdon’t say where or when.”She gave Cam a direct look.“That’spretty standard information for a work history.”
Cam set down the pen and spread herhands on the table as if bracing herself.“What I put on theapplication is the information I can give you.I understand if thatprevents you from hiring me.”Her tone sounded strained, like shewas doing her best to present a calm demeanor.She cleared herthroat and her voice became firmer.“I have experience planningevents.I’m a competent cook, but an excellent baker.If you giveme a break, I promise I’ll be a good employee.”She chewed on herlip, then sat up straighter and squared her shoulders.“Your farmis beautiful.There’s history here, like it was built a century agoand hasn’t changed all that much.I love that.This is exactly thekind of place where I’d like to work.If you hire me, I promise tobe here on time, every day.I’ll work hard and do my job well.ButI can’t give you any more information than what I put on theapplication.”
Delaney sighed, resisting the urge torub at the stiffness at the base of her neck where she alwayscarried her stress.
Cam was in trouble,probably running from something.Or, more likely, fromsomeone.Delaney often wondered if that’s why her ownmother had left her at the hospital after giving birth, walking outthe doors and never looking back.Maybe she’d been in trouble andfelt her daughter would be safer without her.Which was proofpositive Delaney was good at concocting stories to make sense ofher mother abandoning her baby daughter.
Shrugging aside her own issues, shegave Cam a level look.“Is your trouble with the law?”
“No.I haven’t broken anylaws, and I haven’t been accused of any crimes.I don’t steal orcheat.I can’t provide references, but I also don’t lie.I hope youcan trust me enough to hire me.”
Delaney was thinking that over whenthe sound of an approaching vehicle had both women looking towardthe road.An SUV with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s insignia onthe side pulled into the small parking area near the retail area.Sawyer stepped out, adjusting his duty belt.He spotted them andraised a hand in a wave as he approached, gravel crunching underhis feet.
“Hey there, Laney.”Heclimbed the steps and crossed to their table.There was a hitch inhis stride, so slight Delaney didn’t think anyone who didn’t knowSawyer well would pick up on it.His focus sharpened and his gazelocked on Cam.
As for Cam, her face blanched of allcolor and her knuckles turned white as they gripped the arms of herchair.Delaney worried she might faint dead away and topple out ofher seat.Cam had said her trouble wasn’t with the law, but Sawyersure as hell made her nervous.
“Sawyer.”Taking a leap offaith, Delaney made her decision.She shot to her feet and grabbedSawyer’s arm.“Excuse us for a minute,” she muttered to Cam andbegan towing him away from the table.“Come with me and I’ll getyou some coffee.”She pulled him through the door and into thebakery.
Sawyer was still looking over hisshoulder when she let him go.“Who’s your friend?I don’t recognizeher.”
