Colby wondered if he was becoming a weak spot for the self-controlled little amazon he held in his arms.
11
Diana found herself at loose ends the next morning. Colby had taken the Jeep to go out to the Thorp ranch. Brandon and Robyn had gone on another hike, this time leaving Specter behind.
By eleven o’clock, Diana was worrying about the resumes she had planned to get in the mail that week.
“What do you say we walk over to the cottage, pick them up and take them into the post office, Specter?“
Specter was stretched out on the porch enjoying the morning sunlight. He didn’t look overly enthusiastic about the prospect of a walk, but he obligingly got to his feet.
Fifteen minutes later Diana opened the door of her cottage with some trepidation. She acknowledged to herself that she was a little afraid of finding that another prank had been played in her absence.
“Colby probably would not approve of us coming back here alone,“ she informed the dog. “He seems to be very big on playing bodyguard these days.“
Specter grunted, obviously unconcerned with Colby’s approval. He bounded straight into the house without any sign of concern and headed for the kitchen. Diana walked in behind him and found the dog nosing around the cupboard where his biscuits were kept.
She fed him two crunchy tidbits and then went into the living room to stuff a few resumes and covering letters into envelopes. Half an hour later she was ready.
“Okay, boy, let’s run these into town. If I don’t find a good job by September, I’ll be back at C and Y.“
The trip into town was uneventful. Diana sent the resumes off with a silent prayer for good luck and headed her compact car back across the bridge toward Aunt Jesse’s place. It was getting close to lunchtime. Brandon and Robyn would be hungry, and Colby might be back from visiting Gil Thorp.
She drove into the yard and parked the car. Specter jumped out and trotted toward Brandon who was sitting alone on the porch.
“I was wondering where you were,“ Brandon said cheerfully. “Figured you’d probably gone into town.“
“You were right. Where are Robyn and Colby?“
“Dad hasn’t come back yet. And Robyn took a book and went off into the woods to read again. Said she wanted to be alone for a while.“ Brandon looked at Diana. “She’s not real happy with the idea of waiting a little while longer before we make up our minds about marriage, you know. And she’s bored. Said she wants me to take her back to Portland.“
“That might be a good idea under the circumstances,“ Diana said quietly.
Then it hit her that Robyn was gone again, vanished into the woods with a book. Robyn had never been around during the periods when an intruder had been rearranging things in Diana’s cottage.
And the angry young woman could conceivably believe she had a motive to get even with Diana.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too,“ Brandon was saying. “I told her I’d drive her back tomorrow.“ He got out of his chair. “You want some lunch?“
“Sounds good, but I think I’ll wait,“ Diana said quickly. “I want to run back to my cottage for a few minutes. Uh, Brandon?“
“Yeah?“ He was opening the screen door.
“Do you happen to know if Robyn is still reading Shock Value!“ As soon as she had asked the question, Diana would have given a fortune to be able to call back the words. Brandon was as bright as his father at times.
Brandon slowly turned to look at her, wariness and concern in his dark eyes. “That’s the book she took with her a little while ago.“
Diana tried to pass it off lightly. “One of these days, I’m going to have to finish that book myself. Colby is getting impatient. I keep telling him that it’s his fault it scares me to death, but I know he doesn’t think that’s much of an excuse. I’ll be back in a few minutes, Brandon. If you’re making tuna, make enough for me.“
Brandon walked to the edge of the porch. “Why aren’t you taking the car if you’re in a hurry, Diana?“
“The walk will do me good.“ She started down the steps.
“Diana, wait! I’ll come with you.“
She whirled to face him. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Brandon.“
He gave her a keen glance. “I want to know, too. I have a right to know if Robyn’s the one.“
Diana stared at him helplessly. “Brandon, I’m just going to pick up a few items I left behind last night. There’s no need for you to come along.“
“You’re going to see if someone’s played another prank, aren’t you? And you think that someone might be Robyn.
She’s out there in the woods alone with her copy of Shock Value. This is the second time she’s read that book and she knows it very well. She also knows you’re reading it.“
Diana drew a deep breath. “Brandon, please, listen to me. I’m just going to pick up a few things I need. That’s all.“
“She could have done it,“ Brandon said slowly. “On the other two occasions the pranks were staged, she’s been off by herself somewhere.“
Diana gave up and started walking briskly along the road. Specter trotted close, sensing the change in the atmosphere. “I don’t think she would do such things,“ Diana said after a moment. “I really don’t.“
“I’m not so sure,“ Brandon said with a calm that disturbed Diana. “She’s got a motive. She really dislikes you.
Blames you in some way for having made me think more carefully about getting married.“
“Be careful, Brandon. Don’t say things you’ll regret later.“ Diana didn’t like the new trace of cynicism she heard in his voice. It reminded her too much of his father. But maybe a certain degree of cynicism was inevitable in the growing-up process.
They walked in silence until the cottage came in sight. And then, when they were a few yards up the drive, Specter suddenly came to attention. The dog began barking loudly. He leaped up the steps and nosed the front door.
“There’s someone inside,“ Diana said, feeling a cold sweat break out under her arms.
“Specter’s tail is wagging,“ Brandon observed quickly.
Diana frowned. “That means he must know whoever it is who’s in there.“
“Maybe it’s Dad.“ Brandon’s relief was obvious as he dashed up the steps. “Maybe he stopped by to pick up your things for you.“