3 The Ghost at the Farm Read online

  It was temporary. A month or two, maybe three, and Otis would be gone. Andy and his family had taken care of her when she needed help, so she owed them. And she always paid her debts.

  She hoped they didn’t expect her to share a room with Andy, because she couldn’t do that again. Andy’s bed was crowded with extra people last night, and she didn’t want to sleep with Andrew or Paulina. Right now, she didn’t want to sleep with Andy, either.

  Otis came into the room and sat beside her. “I never thought I’d get so much attention from Andrew’s family.”

  “He’s not Andrew now, Otis,” she said gently. “He’s Andy Kane in this life.”

  He raked in a deep breath and blew it out. “Yeah, I know, but there are times when he looks so much like the pictures my grandmother showed me, it’s almost as if he’s the Andrew from the past.”

  “Sometimes he is.” Like last night, when he made love to Paulina with the hunger of a man starving for love.

  Otis craned his neck around. “Always wanted to see something my grandfather built. This is downright beautiful.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Andy stood behind the sofa, in back of Julie. “Would you like to see the rest of the house, Otis?”

  “Sure would, but right now I’m tuckered out. Give me a minute to rest first.”

  Andy sat across from them in Dad’s recliner and described all the special places Andrew had built into the house. “Charity hid valuables from Cal, and many were still there when my parents moved into the house.” He walked to the fireplace and took everything off the mantel, then lifted the front to show Otis the little niches in the brick. “Charity had hidden bags of gold coins in here. Same thing in the library. He put levers inside the baseboards, and if you didn’t know what you were looking for, you’d never find them. They opened the backs of the shelves, where Charity hid gold coins, stocks, and letters from her sister. Cal wouldn’t let her keep in touch with her sister, but she found a way.”

  Julie cocked her head. “Why didn’t she just leave her husband?”

  “Fear. He told her if she ever left him, he’d find her and kill her and their son.” Andy couldn’t blame Charity for what happened to Andrew. She’d acted on instinct to protect herself and her son. Nowadays she could have found help. Back then there was none.

  Julie stood. “I should help in the kitchen.”

  Andy took her hand. “We’ll help clean up after dinner. Mom has plenty of help now.”

  Otis pushed himself to his feet. “I’d like to see the library, if it’s on this floor.”

  “It’s my favorite room.” Andy offered his arm. “Lean on me if you get tired.”

  Julie followed them down a short hallway and into the library, where Otis sat in one of the big leather chairs.

  “Nice room,” said Otis. “The carpentry in this place is outstanding and the house is well-maintained. My grandfather, or should I say my grandmother’s husband, wouldn’t let anyone work on the farmhouse. By the time he died, the house was beyond help.”

  “Why?” Julie asked.

  “The same reason he insisted my father take the Bedford name. He hated Andrew Jefferson and everything he stood for, including Andrew’s house. His resentment spilled out on my father and sometimes on me, but mostly on my grandmother. Everyone hated Wallace Bedford, but no one hated him more than those of us who had to live with him. I think my grandmother stayed with him because the farm was in his name, and she didn’t want to lose it.” Otis looked up at Andy. “The farmhouse may be worthless, but you’ll have the part of the land that was important to Andrew.”

  “The strip by the river?”

  Otis nodded. “Yes, sir. The strip by the river. He wanted to build an inn on the river.”

  “We’ll build it,” said Andy. “I’ll update the plan and we’ll build Andrew’s Inn.”

  Julie shook her head slightly. Andy was taking on more work, more responsibility, making promises she wasn’t sure he could keep. He wanted to fulfill Andrew’s dream, but what about Andy’s dreams? What about hers?

  Andy gazed into her eyes, and she knew he loved her on some level, but he didn’t want her now.

  Maybe he never would.

  Over dinner, Billy asked, “Julie, how’s the real estate market?”

  “Dead. The only people selling are the people who have no choice. It’s definitely a buyer’s market, but people are afraid to buy, afraid prices will go down even more.”

  “Can’t blame them for that,” said Charlie.

  “No, I don’t blame them, but whether people can afford to buy their own house or not, they have to live somewhere. If I had extra money, I’d think about investing in a duplex or small apartment complex, somewhere I could rent out the other units to pay for my own rent.”

  “Apartments are a nuisance,” said Billy. “You not only have constant maintenance, someone is always complaining about something, real or imagined.”

  “Isn’t anything selling?” Hannah asked.

  “Business property is selling better than residential right now.”

  “That’s what my agent said, but he’s quitting the business, retiring. He gave me the names of a few other agents, but I don’t know those people.” Billy looked straight at Julie. “I know you. Are you interested in working with me, or are you getting out of the business, too.”

  Surprised he’d consider working with her after all the trouble she’d had in the past few months, Julie said, “I’d love to stay in the business, but after Brent chased away my customers, I wasn’t sure anyone would want to work with me.”

  “Nonsense,” said Kayla. “Billy and I want to renovate one of our apartment complexes and sell the units as condos. Andy would do the design work, of course. There’s nobody better at that kind of thing in the city.”

  “What if they don’t sell?” Donovan asked.

  Billy shrugged. “Then we’ll rent them until the market improves. Julie is right. People have to live somewhere, and it’s always made more sense to buy than to rent. Besides, with the city growing like it is, real estate is a good investment.”

  “I blame the lenders for qualifying people to buy more than they can handle,” said Julie. “It’s crazy to get an adjustable rate mortgage with no limit on the bumps because you can’t afford a fixed rate. You can’t depend on the rates staying down. I’ve lost customers to other agents because I refused to sell them something they couldn’t afford.”

  Billy grinned. “Sounds like we have a new agent, Kayla. What do you think, boys? Think we should let Kayla find us some property for your portfolios?”

  “Your kids own property?”

  “You bet. Will Rogers once said, ‘Land is a good investment, because they ain’t making it no more.’”

  The kids giggled. Conner said, “Daddy said ain’t.”

  The discussion turned to housebreaking the puppies, and the boys bounced in their chairs, excited by the prospect of having their own puppies.

  Michael asked, “When can the puppies come home?”

  “In a few days,” said Otis. “They have to stay with their mother a little longer.”

  “Our mama didn’t want us,” said Conner.

  “We want you,” said Billy.

  “Yes, we do,” said Hannah. “We love you and we’re happy to have you in our family. Just like Otis. He’s part of our family now, too.”

  “He is?” said Michael. “Can we call him Grandpa?”

  “You bet you can,” said Otis. “You can come out and pick pumpkins next week. Don’t want to let them get too big. There’s winter squash, too. When I was your age, I used to help my daddy pick it. This year, you can keep what you want and take the rest in to the food bank.” He glanced at Andy and Julie. “It’s a good year for sharing.”

  Charlie and Otis struck up a conversation about crops. If anyone farmed the land after Otis died, Julie had a feeling it would be Charlie. He was an outdoor kind of person, a man who needed physical activity to thrive. Andy wo
uldn’t do it himself. He and Andrew didn’t like farming.

  Andy asked, “Charlie, can you help with the puppies this week? I need to go back to the office tomorrow, and the puppies need to be fed three or four times a day until they’re weaned.”

  “Sure.”

  “Otis has one of those hand-held sprays in his shower,” said Julie. “It would be perfect for giving Cassie a bath.”

  Charlie grinned at her. “Are you asking me to shower with a dog?”

  “She needs a bath,” said Hannah. “I’m sure she’d like to come in the house with Otis, but after having the puppies, she’s a mess.”

  “The pups are due for worming and shots, too,” said Otis.

  “I’ll take care of it this week.” Charlie helped himself to another piece of chicken. “Looks like the barn could use some roof repair, too.”

  “Not by yourself,” said Donovan. “We’ll take care of it together.”

  Julie looked around the table. This was the way a family was supposed to function. They worked together and helped each other out of love and respect. Charlie may not have a job, but he did his share of the family work without complaint.

  Charlie cocked his head and asked, “What are you thinking about, Julie?”

  “I’m thinking you’re not anything like Susan said you were. You’re actually a pretty nice guy.”

  Charlie slid his chair back, walked around the table, and kissed Julie on the cheek. “You’re too good for my brother. Now you and I could make beautiful music together.”

  Hannah started to laugh, and a second later, everyone was laughing. All but Andy, who glared at his twin brother.

  After dinner, while Julie and Billy talked business in the library, and Charlie and Kayla cleaned up the kitchen, Andy and his parents sat in the living room with Otis.

  “At some point, you’re going to need someone with you all the time,” said Dad. “When that time comes, we’d like you to stay here with us. It’ll be easier for the family to help you if you’re living here.”

  “You don’t have to take care of me. I appreciate the offer, but I’ve never lived anywhere but the farm. When it gets too bad, I’ll go to a hospice or something.”

  Andy rubbed his face. He’d shaved off his beard this morning and it felt strangely smooth. “I could take a leave of absence from my job.”

  Otis shook his head. “No, don’t do that.”

  “Andy and Julie will move in here, too, so Andy can be with you in the evenings,” Mom said. “We have a bedroom and bathroom on the main floor, so you won’t have to climb stairs. Donovan’s father lived with us until he passed away, and we still miss him. You’ll be staying in his room.”

  “You don’t have to make a decision today,” said Andy. “Give it some thought. Just know whatever you decide, you’ll still be an important part of our family.”

  Tears glistened in the old man’s eyes. “I appreciate that, Andrew.”

  Andy had never loved his family more than he did that day, the day they accepted Andrew Jefferson’s grandson as a member of their family.

  Andy glanced toward the library. Julie was hurt and angry, and she probably wanted to distance herself from him, but Mom didn’t know that when she asked her to move into the house. He thought Julie would talk her way out of it, but she didn’t.

  All these issues from the past he’d been trying to deal with, but the one that bothered him the most was the issue from the present.

  Julie.

  Chapter Fifteen

  After Billy and Kayla and the kids took Otis back to the farm, Julie sat in the round alcove off Hannah and Donovan’s living room and played the piano. Her grandparents had given her an old upright when she was a kid, and she loved to play it, although it didn’t sound as good as this spinet. When Mom and Dad had the new house built, they got rid of all the furniture from their old house, including Julie’s piano. Mom offered it to her, but she didn’t have room for it in her tiny apartment.

  Her hands glided over the keys, picking out tunes she thought she’d forgotten. Ten years of piano lessons had stuck in her memory and playing calmed her.

  She’d been manipulated by Andy and his parents today, talked into moving into their home to help take care of Otis. She would have been more willing to move into that dumpy little trailer with the sick old man and take care of him herself.

  Hannah was the ultimate mother figure, taking care of anyone who needed help, and Otis would definitely need help soon. He was doing less for himself every day. He’d need a hospital bed soon, and full-time nursing care. A hospice could provide those services, but the Kane family felt they owed something to the grandson of the man their ancestor had murdered.

  Andy slid onto the piano bench beside her. “Kayla plays and so does my sister. Do you sing, too?”

  “No, I don’t sing, but I miss my piano.”

  “Do your parents still have it?”

  “No. Mom said it didn’t match anything in the new house, so she gave it away. Someday I’ll buy myself one.” Someday was a long way off.

  “Julie, about moving in here. Nobody is going to think less of you if you change your mind.”

  She stopped playing and turned to face him. “What do you want, Andy? Do you want me here or don’t you?”

  He leaned in closer. “Honey, I not only want you here with me, I want you to share the same bed, but after last night, I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to see me again.”

  Unable to watch him looking at her as if his heart were breaking, she leaned on his shoulder and closed her eyes. “I wish it was that easy. I wish I could walk away and forget you, but I’ll never be able to forget you, Andy.”

  His arms came around her and he kissed her temple. “I hope you’ll give me time to work through my problems, honey.”

  “You’ll never get through your problems when you keep taking on more responsibility. First the corn, then Otis, taking Cassie and a puppy, replacing the farmhouse, and now you’ve promised to build Andrew’s inn.” She pulled back and gazed into his eyes. “Maybe this is a selfish thing to say, but there’s no room in your life for me, and I don’t want to share your bed with Andrew and Paulina.”

  “What, you don’t like orgies?”

  “That’s not funny, Andy.”

  Charlie walked over. “What’s not funny?”

  “None of your business,” Andy shot back.

  “Why not invite Charlie, too,” Julie said. “Make it a five-some. Maybe he’d like to bring Gina. Your bed is big enough for six, isn’t it?”

  Charlie looked at Andy and back at Julie. “Do I want to know?”

  “No,” Andy and Julie said together.

  “Good,” said Charlie, “because this is starting to sound kinky, even for me.”

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  Julie slept in Andy’s guest room that night, and in the morning started searching on her computer for investment property for Billy’s kids. He said he wanted them to learn about real estate and the responsibility that went along with it, like paying taxes and maintaining it. But he didn’t want more rental properties.

  “Residential lots in good parts of town would be good,” Billy had said. “Look near good schools and parks. Acreage outside the city limits would be okay, too, property that someday will be worth more. Something they can sell when they’re in high school.”

  She’d asked him about the stock market, and he said they had enough invested in the market for now. Interesting how he taught his children about investing when they were so young. But then, according to Andy, Billy had inherited a lot of money from his grandparents, and he probably wanted to make sure his kids understood how to handle it. It was a learning experience most parents couldn’t afford to give their kids.

  A phone call to the escrow office handling the closing on the farm confirmed the signing would be this week, probably on Thursday. That would mean they’d record the sale on Friday and Julie would get her commission check on Monday. Her credit card bill would be two days o
verdue by then. She could put a check in the mail sooner, but if her commission was delayed by a day or two, the check might bounce. Better to pay late.

  Between sessions on the computer, she did the laundry and changed the beds, making herself useful. She wanted to go out and look at property, but she didn’t have enough gas in her car to go anywhere. As much as she hated to charge anything else to her credit card, it might be necessary.

  Andy came home at five-thirty, tie hanging loose. Since he’d shaved his beard, he looked like a polished professional again instead of a bad boy who worked on a farm and sang about his sexy tractor. One look at his handsome face and she drifted into his arms. Whether they slept together or not, she loved him, and she needed this closeness like she needed air to breathe.

  “Something smells good, and I don’t mean dinner.” He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. “Mmm, it’s you. Imagine that.”

  “Silly man. Hungry?”

  “For you? Always.”

  She smiled to herself and snuggled closer. She’d missed him last night. “I made a pork roast for dinner.”

  “Sounds good. Did I tell you how nice it is to come home to you?”

  “I won’t be here forever, Andy.”

  He stepped back and pulled his tie off. “I know.”

  Julie’s mother had some old-fashioned ideas about love and marriage. She always said it wasn’t right for a woman to live with a man before marriage. But Julie had stopped listening to her mother years ago. For the most part, she loved living here with Andy. When he stayed in the present, the sex was incredible, but Andy’s past life had ruined their last night together. She hoped it didn’t ruin the future, but his life was so unpredictable.

  She pulled back. “How was your day today?”

  “Busy. I have a new project and one of the new designers is turning into a problem. Until today, my boss thought Byron could walk on water. While I was gone, Byron stole elements from one of my designs to put into his own work. The boss couldn’t believe he’d gotten the design finished so soon, until I showed him what Byron had pulled off my computer. All I have to sell is my ideas, my designs, and I’m not going to allow that bastard to steal them and claim them as his own.”