but even you can’t deny she’s peculiar, and getting worse every day.”
Amusement rose as Sadie spied the farm. “I can deny a lot of things, actually. It’s the curse—or the gift, your choice—of a vivid imagination.”
“Do not use the word ‘curse’ in any conversation that involves Molly. If it pertains to the Cove or the Hollow, it’s under an evil spell as far as she’s concerned. Now, using that as our segue, talk to me about the messages you’ve received.”
Sadie pulled into the driveway and, with the park brake set, regarded the sky. Angry black clouds threatened another deluge, but so far so dry. “I know you love ghoulish details, Orley, but I’ve given you all there are, so bury your curiosity and back off. I have pictures to take of what I’m told is a truly spooky corn maze.”
Her cousin made a dubious face at the high field of corn that spread out forever from the side of a secondary barn. “The maze is an okay deal, but the rest of Leamer’s farm creeps me out. Animals die, you cremate or bury them. You do not set up a side business to stuff them for people who are as icky-minded as you are.”
“I’m not here to watch Ben preserve someone’s dead pet. Getting lost in a cornfield has snowballed into a popular October event. Kids love it.”
“Kids are easy marks.”
Sadie grinned. “You weren’t.”
“Neither were you. Face it, kid, we’re Bellams. Nobody expects us to be normal.”
“Then why do you have a problem with Molly?”
Hopping out, Orley zipped her coat. “Partly because she and I are both a few years shy of forty, and while I can see her not being married, I haven’t figured out why it’s never happened for me. I’m not an anal fusspot that people avoid because they’re afraid they’ll wake up with a face full of warts.” She blew at her long red bangs. “That sounds small-minded and mean, doesn’t it?”
“A little.”
“Do you understand why?”
“Because Molly was a straight-A student, and you weren’t?”
“Well, hold the phone, cousin—neither were you.”
Sadie regarded her over the Land Rover’s roof. “How did this get to be about me?”
“It didn’t. It isn’t. I just can’t figure Molly, and I hate it when people compare me to her. She’s a freak, even by Bellam standards.”
“She’s an introvert, Orley, but before we bite each other’s heads off over this, let’s change the subject. Otherwise, you’ll challenge me to a kickboxing match where I’m sure to wind up on my butt, in what I hope, but seriously doubt, is mud.”
“Awkward sentence, excellent call.”
After tugging a short red jacket over her T-shirt and jeans, Sadie crawled into the backseat to hunt through her camera bag. When her cousin didn’t speak, she rolled her eyes. “I can feel your curiosity from here.” Crawling back out, she looked around. “Come on, Ben, I haven’t got all day.... And no, Orley, we didn’t have sex.”
Her cousin strolled closer, smirking. “Does that mean he’s a lousy kisser?”
Sadie sent her a guileless smile. “If you mean Ben Leamer, I wouldn’t know. If you mean Eli, it’s none of your business.”
“Why not? You’re a public figure, he’s a public figure.”
“Eli defends the public, he’s not a figure of it.”
“Public’s public. Also please note, I said kiss, not sex.”
“You’re working up to sex. And what makes you think I’ve kissed him—as if I can’t guess?”
“You have a big kitchen window. No blinds, easy pickup.”
“Yeah, for anyone creeping around the manor.” Sadie made a shooing motion with her fingers. “Creep over to the maze entrance, will you? I need a point of reference.”
Orley’s shoulders hunched. “I don’t like having my picture taken. And I wasn’t creeping. I didn’t get an answer at the front door, so I went around to the back, and there you both were, getting hot and bothered in the kitchen. Being a considerate sort, I opted to retrace my
Amusement rose as Sadie spied the farm. “I can deny a lot of things, actually. It’s the curse—or the gift, your choice—of a vivid imagination.”
“Do not use the word ‘curse’ in any conversation that involves Molly. If it pertains to the Cove or the Hollow, it’s under an evil spell as far as she’s concerned. Now, using that as our segue, talk to me about the messages you’ve received.”
Sadie pulled into the driveway and, with the park brake set, regarded the sky. Angry black clouds threatened another deluge, but so far so dry. “I know you love ghoulish details, Orley, but I’ve given you all there are, so bury your curiosity and back off. I have pictures to take of what I’m told is a truly spooky corn maze.”
Her cousin made a dubious face at the high field of corn that spread out forever from the side of a secondary barn. “The maze is an okay deal, but the rest of Leamer’s farm creeps me out. Animals die, you cremate or bury them. You do not set up a side business to stuff them for people who are as icky-minded as you are.”
“I’m not here to watch Ben preserve someone’s dead pet. Getting lost in a cornfield has snowballed into a popular October event. Kids love it.”
“Kids are easy marks.”
Sadie grinned. “You weren’t.”
“Neither were you. Face it, kid, we’re Bellams. Nobody expects us to be normal.”
“Then why do you have a problem with Molly?”
Hopping out, Orley zipped her coat. “Partly because she and I are both a few years shy of forty, and while I can see her not being married, I haven’t figured out why it’s never happened for me. I’m not an anal fusspot that people avoid because they’re afraid they’ll wake up with a face full of warts.” She blew at her long red bangs. “That sounds small-minded and mean, doesn’t it?”
“A little.”
“Do you understand why?”
“Because Molly was a straight-A student, and you weren’t?”
“Well, hold the phone, cousin—neither were you.”
Sadie regarded her over the Land Rover’s roof. “How did this get to be about me?”
“It didn’t. It isn’t. I just can’t figure Molly, and I hate it when people compare me to her. She’s a freak, even by Bellam standards.”
“She’s an introvert, Orley, but before we bite each other’s heads off over this, let’s change the subject. Otherwise, you’ll challenge me to a kickboxing match where I’m sure to wind up on my butt, in what I hope, but seriously doubt, is mud.”
“Awkward sentence, excellent call.”
After tugging a short red jacket over her T-shirt and jeans, Sadie crawled into the backseat to hunt through her camera bag. When her cousin didn’t speak, she rolled her eyes. “I can feel your curiosity from here.” Crawling back out, she looked around. “Come on, Ben, I haven’t got all day.... And no, Orley, we didn’t have sex.”
Her cousin strolled closer, smirking. “Does that mean he’s a lousy kisser?”
Sadie sent her a guileless smile. “If you mean Ben Leamer, I wouldn’t know. If you mean Eli, it’s none of your business.”
“Why not? You’re a public figure, he’s a public figure.”
“Eli defends the public, he’s not a figure of it.”
“Public’s public. Also please note, I said kiss, not sex.”
“You’re working up to sex. And what makes you think I’ve kissed him—as if I can’t guess?”
“You have a big kitchen window. No blinds, easy pickup.”
“Yeah, for anyone creeping around the manor.” Sadie made a shooing motion with her fingers. “Creep over to the maze entrance, will you? I need a point of reference.”
Orley’s shoulders hunched. “I don’t like having my picture taken. And I wasn’t creeping. I didn’t get an answer at the front door, so I went around to the back, and there you both were, getting hot and bothered in the kitchen. Being a considerate sort, I opted to retrace my
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