Hard Evidence by Roxanne Rustand Page B

maybe she’s getting a little worse. She refused to come to town with me once. When I got back, she’d opened a can of soup and let it boil dry on the stove. And,” Janna added at Tessa’s frown, “I’d made her a big lunch just before I left.”
    “Anyone could make a mistake,” Tessa retorted. “I have, though of course you wouldn’t. You were always perfect.”
    Janna took a slow, steadying breath, praying for patience. Years ago, she’d abruptly left the family ranch the night of her high school graduation, after yet another painful confrontation with her mother. Though only two years older than Tessa, Janna had been like a mother figure to her two younger sisters, and they’d surely felt abandoned. She had no illusions about ever being able to bridge the old ravines of hurt and anger without God’s healing. But for Claire’s sake, at least she had to try.
    “I’m just saying that I’m worried about her. We all agreed that Mom would never tolerate a live-in caregiver at the home place. That she’d never, ever agree to residential living. It’s fine that she is staying here. I just need to hire an employee, someone who’d be here during the day and who could keep an eye on her—and Riley—if I have to leave for a while.” Janna bit at her lower lip. “Unfortunately, I can’t afford the salary until I have more paying guests.”
    “How close is that?”
    “Until the entire place is ready? Late fall, maybe—which means I’ll miss much of the tourist season this year. But the best four cabins should be ready by early July.”
    Tessa walked several yards away, then spun back on her heel. “I know of one person who might be willing to come all the way out here. Lauren Young just graduated from high school, and she’s had a few rough spots in her life, so she could use a break. I’ll get you her number.”
    “Thanks. I’ll give her a call.”
    The pickup’s horn blared, and both sisters turned to see Claire leaning across the seat, her hand at the steering wheel.
    Raising a hand in a vague farewell, Tessa jogged back to the truck and climbed behind the wheel. “I’ll bring Mom back tomorrow evening,” she called out of the window.
    Feeling guilty at her sense of temporary freedom, Janna started back to Cabin Five.
    Another couple hours of work and the arrival of the appliances would make it completely ready for Michael and his son. One cabin down, nine to go. The soft spring breezes coming over the mountains brought the crisp scents of pines and air so fresh and clean that it almost hurt to breathe. And Rylie, bless her heart, had been entertaining herself all morning while staying close by. Since the discovery of the bones, Janna had barely let the child out of her sight.
    “Hey, want to go for a hike with me?” she called out.
    Rylie immediately dropped the stick she’d been throwing for Maggie and came running. “To the waterfall? Can we go that far?”
    “Hmm…we’ll see.” Janna checked her watch. “We can go for about an hour—unless you want to take a picnic along. Since Grandma left and the Robertsons went to town, it’s just you and me.”
    Rylie’s eye’s danced. “A picnic!”
    Fifteen minutes later they were on their way up the trail, just past the last cabin, with a backpack of food and Maggie racing around them in circles.
    “I don’t think we’re likely to see any wildlife at this rate,” Janna said dryly when the little dog raced ahead, barking after yet another butterfly.
    “That’s good.” Rylie shivered and hugged herself, grinning. “I don’t want to meet the bears.”
    “Bears?”
    “Ian says it’s scary out here because there’s lots of bears, so I shouldn’t come out here by myself.”
    “He does, does he?” Janna mused. “I might need to have a talk with him about those bears. But he’s right—I don’t want you to go on any trails by yourself. You could get lost back here.”
    Rylie nodded, her eyes big and serious.
    “Do you remember