“Keep a man?” Thaddeus quietly echoed the words, adding the disbelieving inflection that made them a question. “You’re talking about me? I’m the man she has to fight to keep?” When Phoebe nodded to all of it, he asked, “Who the hell does she think she has to fight? Who is her competition?” His eyes widened fractionally as he stared at Phoebe. “You! Jumpin’ Jesus. Of course it’s you. That I should have to be led like a horse to water is humiliating. When I think back on how I enjoyed your company in New York, and then invited you to come here, it’s clear that Fiona must have misinterpreted my interest. And you, merely a young woman and one she calls sister, it never occurred to me once that she would embrace such a cock-eyed notion. No wonder she is pressing you to leave. And apparently she’s taken it in her head that she has to stay behind to make certain you stay away.”
Thaddeus shook his head. “There is no greater mystery than the bent of a woman’s mind.”
Unsure whether she wanted to laugh or cry, Phoebe bit down on her bottom lip so she could do neither. “It is perhaps premature for you to think you understand the bent of this particular woman’s mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“Only that I am not the other woman.”
“But—”
She put up a hand. “You need to speak to Fiona. Make her tell you. I think if you take her away from here, it will be easier for her to talk. The Butterworth perhaps. Or the very nice hotel in Liberty Junction. You could go there. There is nothing so critical to be done here that you cannot be gone for a day and a night or even two. You were weeks away when you visited New York.”
“Remington was here then.”
Phoebe watched Thaddeus closely as she said, “And I am certain that set your mind at ease, but shouldn’t Ben have an opportunity to take responsibility? He must be ready.”
“He is. You’re right. And this is important.Fiona’simportant.”
“Yes.”
“You recommend the Boxwood?”
“I do.” She smiled, reached for his hand, and gave it an encouraging shake. “Be sure to make the acquaintance of one Handy McKenzie, although for the life of me, I can’t imagine how you could avoid it.”
• • •
Ellie Madison sat at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of black coffee, and allowed herself these few quiet moments to simply breathe in the aroma without thinking once of what she needed to do next. She closed her eyes and raised the mug to her lips. Her slight smile was one of regret, of infinite sadness, but it vanished as though it had never been when the back door opened behind her.
Without turning around, she asked, “What do you need, Ben?”
He did not bother asking her how she knew he was the one at the door. Even when he tried to disguise his footfalls, she was never wrong. Sometimes she confused Thaddeus and Remington, especially when Remington got older, butshe never mistook him for anyone but himself. “Don’t need a thing,” he said. “Came to see how you are doing.”
He bent, kissed her cheek, and took a seat in the chair at a right angle to her. Almost immediately he bounced back up to fetch a mug of coffee. “Les burnt the coffee this morning. Scooter and Ralph drank it, but Arnie and I couldn’t stomach it. Don’t worry, I won’t tell them you have good, fresh brew in here.” He returned to his seat. “Did you see Thaddeus and Fiona leave?”
Ellie nodded. “I made breakfast for them.” She had stood at the window to watch the buggy pass the house and roll on down the road. She did not mention this to Ben. It sounded wretched when she thought of it and too unbearably pathetic to speak aloud. “Do you think you have it all in hand? I heard Thaddeus tell Phoebe he had quite a list of responsibilities for you.”
“He went over everything last night. Twice. But that’s his way. He still does it with Remington. There is nothing to do that I haven’t done before. It’s being in charge that’s different. He expressed his confidence in me.”
“He should. You’ve earned it.”
“Have I?” It was an earnest question. His mouth twisted to one side as he scratched behind his ear. “I wonder.”
Ellie firmly set down her mug. “You shouldn’t question yourself. Not only have you earned his confidence, you deserve it.”
Ben regarded his mother candidly. “I know you think so. You’ve always thought so... but at least one of us has to admit that our situation is different than it was.”
“I don’t want to hear it. Did you eat breakfast? Or did Les burn that, too?”
“I’m good.”
In spite of that not being an answer to her question, Ellie stayed where she was. She said, “Phoebe’s still abed. I don’t think she slept a wink last night. I heard her get up several times. Once she stepped outside. I think she’s worried about him.”
“And why shouldn’t she be? I am. After what happened to Blue, we should all be worried.”
Ellie’s fingertips whitened where she pressed them against her mug. She cast her eyes down. “When I think about Blue...” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head.
“I know,” said Ben.
