Page 73 of Dangerous Secrets
“Yeah, thatbad.”
Sawyer handed over the cup.“Mytruck’s at the farm.Give me a ride and I’ll fill you in on what’shappened.”
“Is Laney at the bighouse?”
“Yeah.Detectivesinterviewed her this afternoon but kept it short.Keeley and Camare with her, plus Clara, Oscar, and Franny.Good luck seeing Laneywithout a crowd around.”
Walker got behind the wheel of hispickup, took another sip of coffee, then put the rig in reverse.Sawyer told him word was that both Fetterly and Grafton would beformerly charged in the morning.
All good, but all he reallywanted—needed—was time with Laney.
***
Delaney lay on the couch with ablanket over her legs, rubbing Callie’s ears as the old dog lay herhead on a cushion next to her.Clara rested in her easy chair,seemingly lost in thought.Oscar sat on the end of the couch andspoke in his accented English, assuring her the crew could handleopening the farm to the public on schedule.“You got to take iteasy, girl.Don’t feel like you have to be working if you’re notfeeling up to it.We got it covered.”
“We’re still five days offfrom opening day.”Delaney raised a hand to stop his objection.“Iknow I have to take it easy, but I’ll be recovered byFriday.”
“You’ll only be going backto work when the doctor clears you,” Clara declared.
Delaney slumped back against thecouch.She hated being an invalid, and worse, she hated not knowingwhat was going on.
She hadn’t seen Walker since he’d leftthe hospital room that morning.He’d retrieved his phone, butFetterly had destroyed hers, so she couldn’t text or callanyone.
Walker had snuck into her room at thehospital, and now she wondered if that had more to do with himfeeling responsible for her than anything else.She couldn’t standconstantly second-guessing their relationship, but she didn’t knowexactly what their relationship was.Unresolved issues loomedbetween them, but she wanted to believe they were heading to aplace where they could be together.
Cam came out of the kitchen, a dishtowel draped over her shoulder.“Franny made a big pot of beef stewfor when you’re hungry.The rest of us ate while you were napping,and I baked another batch of cheddar biscuits.There’s plenty forleftovers for tomorrow.”Delaney hadn’t been hungry earlier, butnow the thought of beef stew and biscuits sounded aboutperfect.
Clara rose from her chair.“Thank you,Camilla.”
Delaney glanced at her grandmother,then at Cam.There was something about how Clara emphasized Cam’sname that seemed to imbue it with special meaning.
Cam sent Clara a startled look, herface turning slightly pale.
Before Delaney could consider whatthat was about, Franny spoke in her typically cheerful manner.“Wewanted food on hand for you and Clara for the next few days.Camalso brought a Dutch apple-berry pie she baked earlier, so you’reall set for food.”
“Thank you both.I feelwell cared for.”
As much as she loved her people,Delaney was thankful when Keeley began shooing everyone but Claraout the door.Clara, more demonstrative than she’d ever been,kissed Delaney on the cheek before climbing the stairs to herroom.
Keeley sat beside her on the couch.“Guess you’re the lucky one.That cute new doctor in town hasagreed to make house calls to check on you.I should break a leg orsomething.”
“You sound like Antonia.She calls him Doctor Delicious.”
“He is.Certainly moredelicious than broody Owen Hardesty.Isn’t it interesting somepeople have amazing personalities, they’re open and friendly, andothers act like they’re doing you a favor just by sharing the sameair as you?”
“Owen doesn’t strike melike that.He’s a decent guy.Quiet, but decent.”
“You only say that becausehe likes you, in a friends-only way of course, because he knowsyou’re Walker’s.”
“There’s nothing officialbetween Walker and me.”
Keeley smirked.“Okay, let me statethe obvious.Wowza fireworks when you kissed at Easy Money.Hesearched all night and went into a mine to find you, refusing towait for backup.”She used her fingers to tick off her points.“Hewent kinda berserk at the hospital when no one would tell him ifyou were dead or alive.Then he checked himself out of the hospitalagainst doctor’s orders so he could sit by your bed all night.Theguy is head over heels.And as we’ve been friends since forever, Iknow you feel the same.”
“We had sex,” Delaneyblurted.
“What?And you’re only nowtelling me?You’ve proved my point, by the way.”
“I didn’t tell you becauseit didn’t end well.”She couldn’t help laughing at Keeley’sincredulous expression.“Thatpart ended spectacularly, but we had an argumentand weren’t talking, so your point isnotproven.”
