Legacy, page 23
Andy sobbed, once, choking it off a second later. “How do you know?”
Jo had a little flash of guilt at the memory of her ex, Elsa. She’d certainly hurt her, that was true. But this was different, this feeling she had for Andy. It made her want to be a better person, the kind of person who would sacrifice anything for Andy’s sake. She knew she could spend the rest of her life proving that to her, if that’s what it took, and never lose patience with her in the process.
“I just know,” she said.
Andy sobbed again, and Jo lay down into her arms. Andy’s grip was hard, almost painful, but Jo didn’t complain, letting her cry herself out. She made little soothing sounds and rubbed her hands up and down Andy’s back, reminded, suddenly, that Andy had done the same thing for her before. The idea was comforting, somehow, as if they were in this together, supporting each other already. The idea that someone had hurt this woman enough to make her feel this way was awful, gut-wrenching, even, but she knew she could help Andy regain her confidence with enough time together.
“I’m sorry,” Andy finally said, pulling away to wipe her face. “I’m kind of a hot mess.”
Jo winked at her. “But you’re my hot mess.”
Andy smiled, her eyes growing distant and uncertain again. Jo touched her shoulder. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Andy shook her head. “No. Not right now. Some other time, maybe. But maybe not. Is that okay?”
“Whatever you want, Andy. You don’t have to tell me anything you’re not comfortable talking about.”
Andy’s eyes searched her face, and she nodded. “Thanks. It’s just…I’ve spent too much time thinking about her already. I’ve let her ruin…things before.” Her face constricted with pain. “It’s not something I’m proud of.”
Jo sat forward and kissed her. “Well, I’m proud of you.”
“You are?”
“Yes. I can’t wait to show you off to the rest of my family.”
Andy almost flinched. “All of them?”
Jo laughed. “Yes—all of them. Even the Republicans.”
“Wow. You are brave.”
Jo grinned at her. “No, seriously, I want you to meet them. We’re having our annual family reunion in a couple of weeks—we could get it all done at once. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.”
Andy’s face crinkled with pleasure and then fell. “Oh, shit. I can’t. I’ll still be on fire duty.”
Damn, Jo thought. She’d forgotten about that.
Andy looked worried again. “I can see if I can switch with someone, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do it so late.”
Jo squeezed her hand. “It’s fine, Andy. Don’t worry about it. We have our reunion, but almost all of us get together during the holidays, too. Maybe you could come to Thanksgiving. You’ve never seen so many German-Americans outside of an Octoberfest.”
Andy smiled, but weakly, and Jo saw that worried uncertainty start to creep into her eyes again. Jo had to do something to get rid of that, once and for all. She put her hand on Andy’s naked thigh. Andy’s eyes widened, and a little color rose to her cheeks.
“Lights on or off?” Jo asked, keeping her voice low and commanding.
Andy licked her lips. “On.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jo let her arms go slack, the muscles in her shoulders burning with exertion. The window looked good—better than it had before, in fact. They’d had to replace the whole frame in addition to the pane of glass, and she was painting it with an all-weather sealant. Carter and Daniela were sealing the other windows and were almost finished. This was the last task on Carter’s list, and a funny, almost delirious jubilance built in the pit of Jo’s stomach. They’d worked hard, the five of them.
Two weeks ago, when they’d first gotten here, it hadn’t seemed possible that the place would ever be livable again. Now here they were, and the cabin had never been in better shape. Sure, the water faucet still turned on by itself, and, by the newest estimate, the roof would take thousands of dollars to replace properly, but both of those things seemed minor in the face of what they’d accomplished together. She only wished Rachel and Meg could see it now.
Meg had gotten out of the hospital with minor injuries, but, from what Carter had reported after she and Daniela visited her yesterday, she wasn’t willing to come back up here. Jo knew why—she understood better than anyone else. She’d felt that powerful, compelling will bending her into submission. Meg didn’t have the same connection to this place that she did, so she didn’t have any reason to return.
Still, Jo thought, things had been quiet since she found the letters three days ago. Nothing had happened inside or outside the cabin to suggest anything strange. Nothing moved on its own, and she hadn’t had the faintest sensation that the man was still in the woods. Now that they had most of the story of the cabin’s past, she was beginning to wonder if it was all over, back to normal. Maybe it was safe to be here on her own again.
She wouldn’t have to worry about that any time soon, however. Andy, Drew, and Kevin could be here at any time. The six of them planned to have lunch and let Kevin see the place. Then the others would leave together, and she and Andy would stay. Jo had called her boss at home yesterday morning and asked for and received three more days of vacation. She and Andy would be here together until Wednesday, and Andy would help her take some of the equipment down and back to her place in Fort Collins. Andy would leave for fire duty Thursday, and Jo would go back to work. Just the idea of parting for two weeks made Jo feel a little sick, so she kept driving the idea of it to the back of her mind. They would have these three days together, anyway, and she planned to enjoy every minute of it.
Carter appeared from the side of the house, looking bright. “I’m done!”
“Me, too.”
Carter was grinning, almost wildly. “I can’t believe it. I really can’t. If you had told me two weeks ago that we would finish—”
“I know. It’s hard to believe.”
“Even with all that shit happening.”
This was as close as Carter had come to admitting something had happened in days, and Jo almost called her on it. She let it go. Carter had to come to things on her own terms, not hers.
“When will they be here, again?”
Jo glanced at her watch. “Any time now.”
“Good. Daniela’s inside getting lunch together, so it should be ready for them.”
“She’s the perfect housewife.”
Carter grinned. “Not really. She’s just the only person who can cook worth a damn.” She put a hand up to shield her eyes, squinting into the bright sunshine. “The picnic table is filthy. I’ll go wipe it down so you can get ready.”
Jo glanced down at herself and then wrinkled her nose. “Thanks. I’m a mess.”
“Hell, yes, you are. I’m embarrassed to be seen with you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Carter laughed. “But seriously, go change. That shirt looks like you’re splattered with blood.”
The wood stain was bright red on her shirt and pants. “Thanks. I’ll do that.”
With the windows cleared of brush and branches and cleaned, the cabin was much brighter inside than it had been, but it was still much cooler and darker, and it took her eyes a moment to adjust. Daniela had her back to the front door, so she didn’t notice Jo come inside. Jo stomped her feet a couple of times, and Daniela jumped slightly before turning around, a knife in one hand, a piece of bread in the other. She made a face at Jo.
Jo laughed. I know, I know. I’m changing my clothes.
Daniela put the knife and bread down. Good. Andy would probably just leave if she saw you like that.
I love all the support I’m getting from my family today. Really makes me feel good about myself.
Daniela’s face split into a mischievous grin, and then she walked across the room, pulling Jo into a hug before stepping away. You know I’m kidding.
Jo nodded, smiling now. Daniela began to turn away but then paused. She looked hesitant, uncertain, her face clouded and her lips downturned.
What’s the matter? Jo asked.
Daniela’s eyes were a little wet now. I’m just so happy we’re friends again, Jo. I’m sorry I let all those hurt feelings go on so long. We should have made up months ago. That was my fault, not yours.
Jo shook her head. No way. It was both of us. And I’m glad, too. We’re more than friends, Daniela. We’re family. Family sticks together. She squeezed her shoulder. It’s over now, okay? No more guilt.
Daniela nodded. Agreed. Let me finish lunch so you can get ready. She paused, smiling. I’m so glad for you, you know. Andy is really great.
Jo simply smiled and headed toward the second bedroom. As she walked past it, her gaze was drawn to the photograph of Aurora and Sarah and the boys, now hanging in pride of place over the fireplace. Carter and Daniela had been just as pleased with it as she was. She couldn’t wait to talk with her family about it later this week, knowing they would be as surprised to see the family resemblance. She had asked Kevin to make another, smaller copy to show them.
She closed the bedroom door behind her, smiling at the memory of a very embarrassing incident about three years ago. She’d told some of the story to Rachel two weeks earlier, but Daniela had sworn her to secrecy.
She, Elsa, Carter, and Daniela had been up here together for the Fourth of July weekend. That afternoon, Sunday, the four of them had been doing different things. Elsa and Carter had been climbing together somewhere in the park, and Daniela had been pruning some of the trees around the cabin. Jo knew Carter and Elsa would be gone for hours yet, and it had been very hot. She’d come inside after working on one of the fences and taken off most of her sweaty clothes. She’d thought she was alone, so she lay down on the sofa in her bra and underwear and dozed off.
The next thing she knew, someone was kissing her, and when she opened her eyes, Daniela was partially draped over her, kneeling on the ground, entirely naked. Their eyes had met, and Daniela had suddenly realized her mistake, jumping up and running away. Jo had pulled on her shirt and shorts as fast as she could, and when Daniela emerged from the bedroom, fully dressed, they’d stared at each other for a beat before almost falling down with laughter.
When they were rational again, Daniela had made her swear on everything sacred to her that she would never tell anyone about what had happened. And she hadn’t. Their secrecy had less to do with any jealousy their respective partners might have felt, and everything to do with the fact that the experience had been theirs and theirs alone. Sometimes, when she was out with Carter and Daniela, she and Daniela’s eyes would meet, and she would see Daniela suddenly stifle a giggle, clearly remembering that moment. It was their private joke.
Jo sat down on the edge of one of the beds and pulled off her clothes, throwing them in a heap in the corner. The cabin was always cooler than it was outside, but the room was positively chilly right now. It was much darker back here, as well, at the rear of the house, and Jo reached over to switch on the bedside lamp. Goose bumps rose on her arms, and she rubbed them, hard, to warm them. She got to her feet and jumped up and down to warm up. The day was fairly warm, and it hadn’t been this cold in here even last night, as far as she could remember. It was strange.
She had a little basin of water with soap in here, and, moving as quickly as possible, she used a rag to wash her face and under her arms, shivering as the cold water touched her skin. She’d taken a shower before she left the station, but she’d been outside, sweating, most of the time since. Her fingernail beds were filthy and her hands covered in stain, so it took her a couple of minutes of hard scrubbing to get them clean again. She ran some water through her hair and sighed. It would have to do. Hopefully Andy wouldn’t mind. She must be getting used to my filth by now, Jo thought.
She was also approaching the last of her clean clothes. Originally, she’d planned to go home today, so she’d brought only one extra pair of underwear. She sniffed a few of her shirts, chose the cleanest, warmest one to re-wear, and had just pulled it over her head when someone grabbed her from behind. She let out a shriek of surprise, and suddenly a hand was over her mouth, sealing it off. She struggled, but the strong arm around her arms and waist pinned her arms inside the shirt.
The hand over her mouth tasted bitter, sweaty, and was frigidly cold. She bit into it as hard as she could and heard a grunt of pain. The hand clamped down harder, painfully pushing her lips into her teeth, and she jerked harder, swinging her head backward. It connected with what she thought was likely a chin and heard a crack. Another grunt of pain followed, and then the arm around her tightened, squeezing her so fiercely and with such viselike strength she began to have trouble breathing. She struggled harder, trying to twist free, her muffled screams barely audible. The grip on her body was too strong—she was nearly immobilized.
Little stars began to appear in her vision from lack of air, and she made herself stop struggling. Her nose was uncovered, but the arm around her chest was so constrictive she could hardly expand her lungs. Her nose whistled with the effort of trying to get enough air, and the stars increased and began to cloud her vision. Any second now, she realized, she would pass out.
Her assailant’s hand, the one around her body, started to slide up, moving up from her stomach. She bucked as hard as she could, again bringing her head back with all her might. She kicked backward with one foot, connecting with a leg. None of this did anything to stop the hand, which was now clamped painfully over one of her breasts, squeezing.
The assault stopped as soon as it had begun, and her scream finally broke free. She quieted almost at once, struggled to get her arms into her sleeves, and whirled around, looking everywhere for him. The room was brightening, almost as if a cloud had moved away from the sun, but the sunshine had nothing to do with what was happening. He had come, and now he was gone again, just as he had before. He brought those shadows with him everywhere he went.
She caught a whiff of the air and wrinkled her nose. She smelled a sour odor in here—fetid, rotten, like carrion on a hot day. The room was even colder than before, and she shivered hard in the chilly air. She blew out her breath and saw it swirl in a billowing cloud in front of her face. She backed away from the smell and cold until she hit the door, still searching the room, but saw nothing there.
A knock behind her made her jump and jerk away from the door, and Daniela opened it, peering in.
Hey. I saw the others arrive out front. You ready to eat?
Daniela hadn’t heard her, of course, and neither had anyone else. Jo made herself stand upright and nodded. Sure. I’ll be right there.
Daniela’s face creased with concern. Are you okay? You’re…I don’t know. Different, somehow. Worried?
Jo shook her head. I’m fine. Just nervous. She hated lying, but she also couldn’t bring herself to tell Daniela what had just happened. The experience was still too new, too raw, and too terrifying.
Daniela nodded, and then she recoiled in disgust. Jesus. What the hell is that smell?
The outhouse, I think. It’s just outside that window. Needs more lime.
Daniela’s face was still pinched, but she seemed to accept this explanation as she walked away, leaving the cabin out the front door.
Once she was gone, Jo relaxed, almost sobbing with relief. She didn’t want anyone to know what had just happened. She started shaking then, her knees going weak, and stumbled over to one of the beds, sitting down on it heavily just as her legs gave out. She continued to sit there, trembling, adrenaline coursing through her.
Finally, when the room warmed again, and the smell dissipated, she took several long breaths and rose. Her legs were a little weak, and she was worn and tired, but she felt relatively steady on her legs again. She threw one more glance behind her and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“So you’ll be in touch?” Carter asked.
“Yes, of course. I’ll call you when we reach my place. Should be Wednesday evening some time.”
Carter was frowning, her gaze darting back and forth between Jo and the cabin. She seemed afraid of it. Jo felt that way herself, especially after what had happened in her room this morning, but Carter’s fear was somehow worse. Even with the evidence of the letters and the hidden compartment in the dresser, even with the nearly identical stories she and Meg had shared, Carter had remained a skeptic. Now, as she prepared to leave, she finally seemed to believe—almost as if she could believe now that she wouldn’t be staying here any longer.
Andy put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Carter. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Carter looked up into her face, and some of the fear in her eyes seemed to fade. “Okay, but please be careful.”
“Don’t let the ghosts get you!” Drew said, then made a spooky, ghostly sound and wiggled his fingers.
Kevin batted at his arm. “Hey! Don’t be rude.” He smiled at Jo. “I’m sorry. You would think he would be more understanding, given that he’s so superstitious.”
“Am not!”
Kevin pulled out Drew’s necklace—a four-leaf clover sealed in rosin. Drew snatched it back and stuffed it under his shirt again. “So sue me. I’m Irish—we’re all superstitious. That doesn’t mean I believe in ghosts.”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Anyway, Jo, thanks for having us up here. I’d love to come again sometime and get some photographs for the exhibit.”
Kevin was already coordinating an exhibit at the museum next summer featuring Aurora and Sarah. It would form part of a series on the queer history of Estes Park, set to run all of June.
“Your family has kept the cabin in such great shape,” he said. “I don’t think there’s another one like it this old still standing in the whole state—maybe anywhere in the US.”
Jo felt a distinct sense of pride. “Any time you want to take photos, just call me, and we’ll set it up. We have to work around my cousins’ schedules up here, but usually at least one weekend a month is free. You should get pictures in every season. It’s gorgeous all year.”
