Jackson remained by the desk. It was clear to Noelani that he wanted some time alone with the lawyer.
I napped before dinner, so Im wide awake. The rains stopped. Is it all right if I change clothes and go for a walk?
Fine with me. There are night-lights in the upper and lower halls. Oh, and carriage lamps on the fence posts. The fence marks the perimeter of Bellefontaine.
Is there danger of falling in an abandoned well if I hike out to the cane? I love hearing the wind rustling through the stalks at night. It relaxes me.
Casey, too. Hmm. I guess you have that in common. But to answer your questionno wells. Feel free to wander. Except the rows arent lit.
I wont go into the cane. I doubt your sister would approve of me touching her precious stalks. She gathered her papers and left the two men.
Noelani, Jackson called before she disappeared. Casey idolized Duke. He let her down. Its him shes furious with. Not you.
My mother gave him up, you know. She only spoke to me about him once. She swore she never had any idea he was married when she first got involved with him, and when she found out, she sent him away. To the best of my knowledge, she never asked him for anything. No money. No contact. Nothing. But she never stopped loving him. Which made no sense to me, and Im pretty furious at him, too. Ill see you at six-thirty tomorrow.
Noelani returned to her room, where she tugged on jeans, a tank top and a lightweight white cotton sweater. Pinning her hair into a loose bun, she tiptoed softly down the hall so as not to wake Tanya, Megan or Aunt Esme. In the aftermath of the squall, the night air was heavy. Too muggy for jeans, but Noelani was no stranger to the biting bugs that came out at night around cane.
Bellefontaine in all its glory made her catch her breath, not for the first time. She was used to living in a two-bedroom, single-story duplex. The bedrooms had no glass at the windows, but screens to let in cool ocean breezes.
The minute she stepped outside, Noelani dragged in a huge lungful of the heavy, humid air.
She wandered around front, where she paused and listened to the varied tunes played by the fountains. Closing her eyes, she let the days tensions slowly seep away.
Noelani dug in her pocket and found a stray penny, then made a wish, tossing the coin at the top tier near a carved pineapple decorating the largest fountain.
Something scraped off to her right. Crouching instinctively, she whirled.
Easy. Easy there. A rich, lazy voice reproached her from the darkened porch of the nearby garçonnière. Adam Ross disconnected himself from the shadows and stepped into view. He wore jeans and a white T-shirt, and held a frosty beer.
Ive heard that people throw coins in fountains. Ive never seen anyone actually do it. Is it more effective than wishing on the first night star?
Noelani glanced upward. Id be out of luck tonight. There are no stars.
Adam leaned a shoulder against the rough siding and took another drink. He gestured with the bottle. Its muggy as hell tonight. Want one of these?
Sure. She sauntered toward him. Is the weather keeping you up?
Nah. Im a night owl. Always have been. He bent, reached behind him, opened an ice chest and pulled out another cold bottle.
Staying up alone, drinking the night away, seems a sure path to perdition, she said lightly. She accepted the bottle after he wrenched off the top.
Adam toyed with the idea of suggesting she come inside and keep him companythen he wouldnt be alone. He settled on a different tack. Worried about my soul, sugar pie?
No. But I think you should be. The man was certainly glib with his cutesy endearments. Maybe it was the look in his eyes when he called her sugar pie that made it feel less insulting than when hed thrown sweet thing at her. Anyway, she let it pass.
If itll ease your mind, two of these is my limit. Throughout the day I drink bottled water. How did your meeting go?
She didnt know how to answer without going into the whole convoluted story. And the Fontaines had enough troubles without her spreading tales of their financial woes. Lifting her beer, she sipped, then rolled the cold bottle across her cheek.
That bad, huh? I saw Shelburne Prescott peel out of here right before you came out. Figured something happened.
She shrugged. I went up to change. He stayed to have a word with Jackson.
Too bad you ditched the red dress. I liked it.
Dresses arent exactly conducive to walking in the cane. Im on my way to have a look at it. Thanks for the beer. She wagged the bottle at him and made ready to leave.
Does Jackson know youre out roaming the property this late?
He said it was fine. Why?
Doesnt seem too wise, considering the stuff thats gone on lately.
What stuff?
Well, the kitchen fire was set. Plus, the arsonist cut all the garden hoses before starting the fire. Caseys new harvester mysteriously went poof one night. Shes only recently taken delivery of its replacement. Stuff like that.
Hed managed to stop her cold in her tracks. The Fontaines have enemies?
Adam didnt answer.
Whod do such terrible things?
Maybe a disgruntled former employee. Casey also caught him in the greenhouse office where she keeps records on her hybrids. Supposedly he confessed to setting the blaze. Hes in jail now.
So, if they caught him, I should be okay. Youre trying to scare me, arent you.
Call it erring on the side of caution. The guy swears someone hired him anonymously. Theres no proof. Even so, I think Ill mosey along with you to be safe.
A thrill shot Noelanis pulse skyrocketing. But shed be darned if shed let Adam Ross see she welcomed his attention. How do I know I wont be safer alone than with you? She gazed at him demurely through her lashes.
Youll have to take my word for it, sugar pie. Or if you prefer, Ill escort you straight upstairs to your little ol bed.
Noelani debated whether or not she should deflate his ego, and decided not to bother. She was more concerned about what hed said. If the Fontaines had enemies, by virtue of her connection to Duke, they became hers, too. Come to think of it, Adam Ross had pretty free access to the property any hour of the day or night. Maybe someone should keep an eye on him. Someone like her.
CHAPTER THREE
JACKSON, NICK AND SHELBURNE rose quickly to their feet when Noelani entered the dining room the next morning. Casey stared at her over a mug of steaming coffee, her jade eyes still distant and cold.
Coffee and juice are on the sideboard, Jackson said. If you want what were having, Bettys cooking on the stove out back on the screened porch. Most years its used for canning during hot summers. But until Adam restores the kitchen, Betty will prepare our family meals there.
Coffees fine. Im not big on breakfast. Noelani poured a cup and wondered whether to take a seat next to Prescott or one beside Casey. She chose to be nearer the sideboard, and caught Caseys unapologetic shift closer to her husband.
Noelani blew on her coffee to cool it. Youve got healthy-looking cane, she said casually. Depending on how much acreage you have, your yield could be spectacular.