Pages of the Past (Bellingwood Book 9) (21 page)

"Are you certain?"

"Of course I am."

"Let me see what I have here. We'll make it a potluck."

"If you're digging into your refrigerator, it will be a feast."

"If you are certain this will work..."

Polly interrupted her, "Lydia, it will be great. I just don't want to get too far away. Nothing is going to happen, but I'd hate to not be able to be here and have the place explode."

"Thank you so much, dear. I will be over for lunch. Let Helen know that we have this well in hand."

"I'll do it. See you later." Polly put the phone back down on her desk and said, "I knew we could work it out."

"You two are quite good friends, aren't you," Helen said.

"I don't know what I would have done without her. She's taken care of me through the strangest things and keeps me sane when all I want to do is run screaming through the town."

"She's one of the most stable women I've ever known."

"You know, most of us believe that her stability is because of the relationship she and Aaron have."

Helen nodded. "They've always been a good team."

"That's why we're so worried. Lydia is falling apart at the seams because he has quit talking to her. She says he's never done this before."

"He's protecting people he shouldn't be concerned about. You know Aaron. His honor would never let him go back on a promise and he made several long before he met Lydia. They're coming back to hurt him now and he's caught between a very big rock and a very hard place."

"And you know what's going on?"

Helen brushed back an invisible strand of hair, then took her glasses off and rubbed her eyes. "I was a large part of it. He thinks he needs to continue to protect me. But I don't need his protection. I can handle my own troubles."

Polly smiled. "I've known you less than twenty-four hours and it seems to me that you can handle your own and anyone else's you choose to manage. How much younger is Aaron than you."

"Tut, tut, young lady," Helen scolded, shaking a finger at her. "You mustn't ask those types of questions of a lady."

"I'm sorry," Polly said with a nervous giggle. "I didn't mean to ask that. It's just that you are obviously the older sister."

"That I am. But not by much. Enough, though, that I can still tell that boy what to do and expect him to obey."

"That's something I'd really like to see. I've never seen Aaron as anything but in charge."

"Years of practice and self-denial taught him that. Getting beat up by his older sister helped, too."

"You beat him up?"

"Goodness Gracious, yes. He was a horrible child. Mother told us that we weren't allowed to hit or slap or kick. However, we were often encouraged to wrestle out our frustrations. I was old enough that I could take him down in a flash. I sat on him, just to stop him from picking at me. That all changed the summer before he entered high school. I realized he was within months of being able to take me out, so I just stopped, hoping he'd forget those years of torment."

"I'm guessing your hope was in vain."

"He never said anything," Helen mused. "He never threatened me or warned me or anything."

"So you didn't see it coming."

"No, ma'am. Father set up a wrestling mat in the basement for the boys to work out and build up those wonderful Merritt muscles. They had a mighty nice weight set and all of them were taking martial arts. One night on summer break, Aaron asked me to step in to practice with him. I was as naive as a newborn kitten. He took a stance, asked me to rush him and before I knew what happened, I was flat on my back, out of breath. He stood over me and put his hand out to help me up. He said nothing, didn't laugh or taunt me. I stepped back, still not understanding what just happened. Aaron practiced a few more moves and then told me he thought he might have done something wrong and would I consider trying it again. He hadn't hurt me, so what did I have to lose?"

Polly shook her head slowly, knowing where this story was going.

"Yes. Exactly. He flipped me over and I was on my back again. This time, though, he dropped down and straddled my stomach so I couldn't move, then grabbed my hands. I was out of breath and both of us were laughing. In fact, I remember worrying about whether or not I was going to wet my pants. The next thing I knew, he took my right hand and made me swat myself in the face. I was furious! He asked if I wanted more and made my left hand swat myself. I couldn't make my arms resist. I was out of control and both of us were laughing uncontrollably. I realized he was paying me back for years and years of sibling torture and wasn't letting up until I knew exactly what I was receiving."

"How did you get out of that?"

"I cried because I knew I was going to wet myself. When he saw the tears come, he knew he'd gone too far and jumped up. By that point, I couldn't move I was laughing so hard."

"You didn't."

"Oh lordie, yes I did."

Polly let out a snort of laughter. "I can't believe you just told me this story."

"I don't know whether it was harder on me or on him, but both of us learned lessons that day."

"I guess so," Polly said. "The first was not to trust a brother on a wrestling mat."

"You know, I always heard them say 'fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me.' I learned that lesson. You can get me once, but I will never let you get away with it a second time. And as for trusting a brother on a wrestling mat, he learned about consequences of tormenting your sister to the point of ... well, that. He had to clean the mat, not me. Dad heard the entire thing. After I'd finally slunk away, he carried a bucket in filled with hot soapy water and a scrub brush."

"These are the stories I want to know about Aaron. I hope you have many, many more."

"I do, that's for certain-sure, but look at me takin' up your time. I'll meet you upstairs for lunch. I'm going to take a walk. If I am going to have wounded muscles tomorrow morning, I should see the place today."

She left the office and Polly sat back, imagining a young Aaron Merritt looking at his sister in horror. Yes, that would take her through the rest of the day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"Nothing from Jeff and Sylvie yet?" Polly asked Stephanie, walking out of her office.

"They're in Strawberry Point. Jeff called about fifteen minutes ago. They're meeting his friend's father after lunch."

"I hope it's a good day for them." Polly stood in the doorway to the hallway. "I'm taking the dogs out and then having lunch upstairs with Lydia and Helen. If you need anything, call or come get me."

"You really have a lot of things going on."

Polly nodded. "I guess we do. It's kind of fun, though."

"Rachel invited me to have lunch with her in the kitchen. Will it be okay if I'm not in the office?"

"Of course," Polly said. "You know how to turn on the voice mail system, right?"

"Yes, that was the first thing Jeff showed me last week. All I have to do is..."

"No, I believe you've got it. Jeff's a great teacher."

"He's been so good to me. I can't believe he's taking me back to Ohio. You two shouldn't have to do this. You barely know me."

"It might take time for you to fully understand, but once you come to work at Sycamore House, you become part of the family. We'll give you all the freedom you need, but we're there when you need us."

Stephanie ducked her head, a smile on her face. "It's so different than anything I've ever done before."

"I hope it's a good different. Okay. I'll be gone for a while, but don't hesitate to call me."

"Have a good lunch."

Polly went up the steps and snagged two leashes just as the dogs came out of the bedroom to see who was in their house. At the sight of what she was holding, Han bounded across the room and tried to leap in her arms. Obiwan ran over and stood in front of her, his big ole tongue hanging out and his tail wagging his whole body.

"From the looks of it, you two are desperate for a walk. We don't have much time, but let's wander down to the barn and see what's up with the big boys."

She took them back down the front steps and out the main door. The weather had been absolutely wacky lately. One day it was nearly fifty degrees and the next it was in the teens. Fortunately, it was relatively warm today, but she was tired of hanging fog and grey skies.

The snow in the pasture had given way to mud, but the horses didn't care. She chuckled when she watched Demi on his back, rolling around. Ahh, that would be something for Jason to deal with this afternoon. Nan and Nat were actually scampering around the back end of the pasture and all of a sudden, Nan took off and ran toward... her! Nan was happy to see her. She came rushing to the front and then looked straight at Polly and let out a whinny.

"Hello girl," Polly called back. "Are you having a good day?" Nan shook her head and called again. "I know!" Polly said. "It's a great day to be outside." The other three horses joined Nan and watched as Polly and her dogs walked across the yard. Han and Obiwan were preoccupied with their own sniffs and smells so she couldn't move as quickly as she wanted, but she finally hooked both of their leashes onto her left hand and reached up to rub Nan's face with the other. She moved on down the row, taking a minute with each of the horses.

Eliseo poked his head out of the door to Demi's stall and said, "Hello there! I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was."

"This is new," Polly said. "Nan came running to greet me."

"Maybe she misses you."

Polly started to apologize and he put his hands up, "No. I didn't mean it that way. It's good for her to react this way to you."

She backed up and rubbed Nan's face again. The horse reached down and nuzzled Polly's shoulder. "I wish I had a treat for you. You have no idea how wonderful this moment is."

Demi reached across and nipped at Nan's shoulder, distracting her. Then he took off and she chased him across the pasture, the other horses running after them. Polly looked for Tom and Huck only to discover that they were inside with Eliseo. Wimps.

"Let's see if we can get their attention on the other side of the barn," Polly said, guiding the dogs back toward the main street.

Helen Oswald was walking up the sidewalk past the barn as Polly emerged.

"Hi there," she called out. "A beautiful day for a walk. I saw your horses chasing after you a few minutes ago."

Eliseo came out as they were talking. "Hello ladies, it's a wonderful day, isn't it?"

Polly glanced up at the sky. "You're a good man," she said. "I want sunshine."

"If we don't have sunshine, at least we have melting. What do you think, one more good snow before the season is over?"

"I'm such a pessimist about winter," Polly responded. "I figure it will torture us until June."

He smiled at Helen. "Are you going back up to the house? I'll walk with you."

Polly split off from them and started walking south when a red car sped past her, its tires squealing as it tore into the driveway of Sycamore House. She spun around, clutching the two leashes in her hands as she watched it race toward Eliseo and Helen, picking up the pace as it aimed straight for them.

Eliseo turned to see what the noise was and as Polly watched in shock and amazement, he pulled Helen away from the path of the oncoming car, tossing her aside as if she were a child. The driver of the car spun his tires, flinging gravel up as he raced on around the driveway and out the other side. He came to a short stop as a car passed in front, going north. The driver turned south again, heading back the way he had come. Polly was terrified he might make another pass through the driveway and fumbled in her pocket for her phone. Instead, he tore past her, gaining speed. Within seconds, the car crested the hill at the south end of her lot and was gone.

Polly ran as fast as Han would let her. Eliseo was just starting to sit up, his hand reaching out to Helen. Blood covered his face.

"What in the hell was that?" Polly asked, panting from both fear and exertion.

"Ms. Oswald, are you okay?" Eliseo asked.

The older woman rolled over, her face scraped and her hands raw and bloody. Blood was seeping through a rip in her jeans and one of her tennis shoes was three feet behind her.

"Bless your heart, you're something else," she gasped. "No one's ever tossed me like that."

Polly knelt down. "Can you stand?"

Helen flexed both of her legs and then rolled her shoulder and her arms. "I seem to be in one piece, though I lost a dad-burned shoe."

Eliseo stood up and groaned. "That's going to leave a mark," he said. He walked over to her tennis shoe, picked it up and handed it to her.

"Your face is a mess," Polly said to him.

"It was the gravel he spat up at me. Do you have any idea what that was about?"

"We need to call the Sheriff."

"Don't you dare," Helen demanded. "That will just get Aaron all worked up."

"Then I'm calling Ken Wallers at the police station. Someone needs to know what just happened."

"He'll tell Aaron," she muttered.

Polly took her phone out. "I've found that it's easier for me when they know what's happening here. I run into enough trouble that I don't need them to think I'm hiding things."

"Are you ready to try standing up?" Eliseo asked, putting both of his hands out.

"I'd like to tell you that I can do this by myself," Helen said, "but I'd be lying to us both. My legs feel quite shaky."

"It's shock. Let me help you."

"I think I'll let you." She took his arm and started to lift herself from the ground, then released him and sat back down. "A few more minutes," she said. "There isn't enough strength in me right now to do much of anything except sit here."

"The ground is cold. We should get you inside as soon as possible."

"Just one more minute. I won't freeze to death in one minute."

Eliseo took his coat off and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"You're a gentleman," she said, pulling it close. "That's helpful."

Polly stood up as she reached the police office. "Bellingwood Police, how may I help you?"

"Hi, this is Polly over at Sycamore House. Can someone come visit me?" She gave a slight chuckle.

"I suppose so. What happened today?"

"I hate to say that it was a murder attempt..."

"Oh Polly."

"I know, right? But someone in a red car just sped into my driveway and tried to run down Sheriff Merritt's sister and Eliseo."

"The Sheriff's sister and you're calling us?"

"She doesn't want him involved."

"He's going to get involved sooner or later."

"Oh Mindy, I know that, but could you send Ken or one of the guys over for now?"

"Sure. I'll see who is in your neighborhood. Where will they find you?"

"I'm not sure. Just ask at the front. Someone will know where we've landed."

"Take care of yourself. I'd hate to lose our entertainment."

"That's not funny."

"Well. It really is." Mindy chuckled on the other end as she hung up the phone.

"Someone will be here in a bit," Polly said. "Can we get you inside now?"

She stood on one side of the woman as Eliseo stood on the other and they helped Helen get to her feet.

"This is embarrassing," she said, wobbling between them.

"I'm just glad you're okay," Polly said, holding her with one arm while trying to maneuver the dogs with the other.

They got to the side door of Sycamore House and stopped while Eliseo opened the door. Polly reached down and unlatched the leashes, letting both dogs run inside. They knew where they were and there was no one around for them to bother.

"Let me knock on Evelyn Morrow's door," Polly said. "She's a nurse and can check you out to make sure that everything is working properly."

"Everything's working just fine," Helen said. "Now that I'm up and moving, I'm embarrassed. I should change my clothes."

"Nope. Both of you are getting checked out by Evelyn. I insist." Polly put her hands on her hips and stared both Eliseo and Helen down.

Interestingly enough, they followed her meekly to Evelyn's door. Polly knocked. "Evelyn, it's me, Polly. Are you available?"

The door opened and Evelyn Morrow started to speak and then saw the two wounded people beside Polly.

"Oh dear. What happened? Come in here right away and let's clean you up."

Knowing Evelyn had things in hand, Polly realized that she needed to take care of a few things, including her dogs.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," she said and trotted out of the addition into the main building. "Obiwan, Han, where did you end up?"

"They're in here," Stephanie said, stepping into the foyer from the office. "Did they get lost?"

Polly chuckled. "No, they knew just where to go. Jeff has treats for them in his desk."

"Sorry, boys." Stephanie said. "I don't have anything for you."

"I'll take them up to the apartment. Say, Ken Wallers is going to be here in just a few minutes. If I'm not back, would you tell him I will be?"

"Is this about that car speeding through the driveway?"

"Did you see that?"

"I looked through your office window. That was crazy."

"Yeah. He tried to run Eliseo and Helen Oswald down."

"He what?"

"They're back in Evelyn Morrow's room. She's dealing with their injuries."

"Injuries? How bad?"

"Just scrapes and cuts. Thank goodness. I'll be right back down."

Polly slapped her thigh and said, "Come on boys, it's time to go home."

"Is it always like this?" Stephanie asked quietly.

"Oh honey, you'd be surprised. We can always hope that it will quiet down, but better to be prepared for anything, right?"

"Uh huh." Stephanie didn't sound like she was ready to accept Polly's pragmatism.

"Let's go. Obiwan. Han. Follow me." The dogs followed Polly up the steps to her apartment. She opened the door and they went inside, then turned around and wagged at her.