If fate was kind, all would go well and I could accomplish my objective without being forced to take any drastic action. Without causing anyone physical harm.
Ultimately, though, I’d do what I had to do to achieve my goal.
Because sometimes the end justified the means.
EIGHT
WHY WAS THEREa basket of produce next to the back door?
Pausing at the bottom of the steps to Natalie’s wraparound galérie, Cara took a quick inventory of the items in the crude woven container. Apples, beans, greens, zucchini, and tomatoes.
Huh.
She swiveled around and gave the woods-rimmed open area behind the house a sweep.
No one was in sight, but who except Micah could have left such an offering? He was the only other person on the premises, and he had a garden and fruit trees.
After cradling her laptop in her arm, Cara fished out her key, ascended the steps, picked up the basket, and let herself into the kitchen.
The stink wasn’t quite as potent this morning, but until the mess was cleaned up, the olfactory reminder of yesterday’s crisis wasn’t going to go away.
As she set the basket on the counter, Natalie pushed through the door from the hall, a mug in her hand.
“Good morning, Cara.” The older woman smiled, then wrinkled her nose. “What an awful smell. Did you notice ifthe note I left on the back door for Micah was there when you came in?”
“I didn’t see a note, but I found this.” She tapped the handle of the basket.
“Oh, how lovely. I’ll have to bake zucchini bread.” She crossed to the counter, dug into the basket, and began pulling out moss-wrapped eggs. “Perhaps a Niçoise salad as well, with these and the greens and beans. Such beautiful apples too.” She held up one of the glossy pieces of fruit.
“I assume all of this is from Micah? Steven pointed out his garden while we were walking yesterday.”
“Yes. He often shares his bounty. And if the note was gone, that must mean he went to fetch his tools. I expect he’ll be back soon to sort out the mess in here while we sort out Marie’s journals.”
“Would you like me to put everything in the fridge for you?”
“Yes, thank you. You can set the basket on the kitchen table for Micah to pick up. As soon as I nuke another cup of tea, we’ll be ready to dive into week two of our project. Leave the door unlocked too. I expect he’ll be back soon.”
While Natalie refilled her mug with water, Cara deposited her laptop on the counter and removed the produce from the basket. Her to-do list today included asking a few questions about the groundskeeper, and there would never be a more opportune moment.
“Steven told me that Micah’s been here quite a while.” She kept her tone conversational as she tucked the offerings from the man’s garden into the produce bin of the fridge. “He’s a veteran, right?”
“Yes. I wasn’t keen on him coming here at first, but Papa said the poor man was sinking fast in the outside world and needed a quiet place to regroup.”
“What happened to him overseas?”
Natalie slid her mug into the microwave. “I don’t know any specifics, but it was enough to break his spirit. According to his father, he was a gentle soul with a kind heart and a love for animals before he went into the service. Everyone liked him. But he came home a changed man.” She shook her head. “Despite his somewhat intimidating appearance, the gentle nature is still there, though. He nurses injured critters back to health down at his cabin.”
A different—and sweet—spin on the reclusive caretaker.
“It was generous of your father to take him in.”
“To tell you the truth, I think he recognized a kindred spirit. Papa was a sensitive soul too, and I believe he realized that if he’d had the same experiences as Micah, he could have come out of the war in a similar state.” The microwave pinged, and Natalie removed the mug. “I don’t think he expected him to stay indefinitely, but it’s worked out to everyone’s benefit.”
Cara tucked the last apple into the bin. “Do you ever ... worry about him?”
“In what way?” Natalie joined her at the fridge and reached past her to extract the container of half and half.
“Like in terms of safety.” Cara leaned back against the counter and wrapped her fingers around the edge.
