Her Mysterious Houseguest

But it meant Saari had still been in town on that day. Though it didn’t pinpoint the exact date of his departure, the coincidence had made Mikel suspicious. So, fourteen years later, he was here in Ojibway, where Leo Saari moved to, trying to trace a possible connection between Saari and the missing girl. Though Leo was no longer alive now, surely if he’d brought a red-haired girl with him all those years ago some people around here would remember.

Certainly his father would. Unfortunately, at the moment, Aino was in no condition to be asked questions. But Rachel Hill was available. For questioning, that is. Not for anything else, Mikel cautioned himself, no matter how well she’d fit into his arms.

The chair was so comfortable and the fire so pleasantly warm that he hated to move. All the cottage lacked was someone for him to share this interlude with.

A female someone. In his mind’s eye he pictured a leggy brunette whose soft brown eyes promised a sweetness he didn’t see too much of in the women he knew. She wasn’t all that far away, either.

What harm was there in imagining her here with him? In reality, far from practical, but no problem at all in a daydream. Rachel had worn no makeup, her pink lips, free of gloss, had looked eminently kissable. He recalled her scent, something faintly flowery but elusive, an enticing fragrance that was on the tip of his memory.

If she were here in this chair with him, he might be able to place that elusive scent. And taste those enticing pink lips. Among other things that he’d best not dwell on or he’d be in no shape to go to the farmhouse for supper.

Chapter Two

Once the pasties were in the oven, Rachel went out, collected the cow from the field and led her to her stall in the barn. There, she pulled on her coveralls and sat down to milk her. When she finished she placed the milk in the cooler, shed the coveralls and returned to the house where she washed up.

Eyeing her jeans and T-shirt, she decided to change to a pants outfit more intermediate—not jeans, but not dressy, either. She had no need, or reason, to dress up for Mikel, though she did need a few dabs of makeup. But when she found herself fussing with her hair, she made a face at herself in the mirror, put the brush away and marched out of her bedroom.

In the big old farm kitchen, she set the pine table with everyday dishes and silverware, not wanting Mikel to get the idea the meal was a special event for his sake. It was merely the supper she’d planned for herself and Aino, not a good-china-and-silver-dining-room dinner.

As she finished making the salad the oven chime went off, telling her the meal was cooked. After setting the salad bowl on the table she grabbed a hot pad and removed the sheet of pasties from the oven. She glanced at the phone, which hadn’t rung since the doctor had called to tell her Aino’s prognosis looked promising. He’d said he believed the immediate treatment he’d been able to give Aino had prevented a more serious stroke. And, yes, she’d be notified if there was any change for the worse—which he didn’t expect.

Of course she was still worried about Aino, but that wasn’t why she was as jittery as a teenager on a first date. Which this certainly wasn’t. Inviting Mikel to supper was a mere courtesy and bore no possible resemblance to a date. Well, maybe a little something other than courtesy. She needed to discover exactly why he’d come here to locate a man who’d been dead for seven years, and a good way to find out was to be casually friendly over food.

Transferring five of the pasties to a plate, she set it on the table next to the salad, then plucked the ketchup bottle from the refrigerator and added that. Aino always slathered ketchup on his pasty. Never mind what Martha Stewart might say, the bottle on the table made it all the more casual.

Even though she’d been expecting it, when she heard the tap at the kitchen door she started and had to clear her throat before calling, “Come in.”

“Something smells mouthwatering good in here,” Mikel said as he entered.

She gestured toward the table, wordlessly inviting him to be seated.

“Anything I can do?” he asked, hovering instead of sitting, looking at her with those green hunter’s eyes.

“Just tell me if you want coffee with supper or afterward.”

“After, please.”

When she started toward the table, he held her chair out for her and pushed it in once she sat down, just as though they were in some fancy restaurant. She appreciated his gesture, even though it made her more nervous for some reason.

“I hope you like the pasties,” she said.

“My grandmother taught me early to approach any new dish with a confident heart, as she put it, meaning that I should expect it to be delicious.”

As he spoke, he slid a pasty onto his plate. Picking up his fork, he used it to break through the crust and lifted out a portion filled with vegetables and meat. As he chewed he raised his left hand and formed an approving circle with his thumb and forefinger.

She gestured toward the ketchup bottle. “Aino likes to pour ketchup over his pasty.”

Mikel shook his head. “I don’t fool with perfection.”

Though pleased, she told herself she wasn’t getting any further with her plan to find out why he’d come here. What did he want to know about Leo?

He looked out a window, saying, “Even on a cloudy day you have long summer twilights here.”

Rather than wasting time commenting on northern summer evenings, she tried to find an opening that wasn’t too obvious. “Have you ever visited the U.P. before?” she asked finally.

“No. Do you always get these cold rains in August?”

“Some years. It’ll warm up.” How could she ease him off small talk?

“Did you hear how your grandfather is doing?” he said after a short silence.

“The doctor is optimistic.”

“So that means you won’t have to call his granddaughter in Finland right away. How long before she comes back to the States?”

She had her opening. “Why do you ask?”

“Because I’d like to talk to her.”

“About what?”

He raised an eyebrow. “How about a fair exchange here? You haven’t yet answered my question.”

It wouldn’t do any harm to tell him, she decided. “Eva will be flying back to New York City the end of next week, but, before driving home, I think she plans to stay awhile with the upstate friend she left her car with.”

“So my questions will have to wait.”

“I still don’t understand why you want to talk to her.”

Evaluating her comments, Mikel decided she didn’t sound particularly defensive, just curious. Those soft brown eyes hadn’t blinked too many or too few times and she met his gaze normally. Liars tended to either look away or keep fixed on the person they spoke to.

“I realize you must want to know what I’m doing here in Ojibway,” he said. “Fourteen years ago a girl disappeared from her home back East. Her name is Renee Reynaud and she was thirteen at the time. I’m searching for her.”

Though she didn’t respond immediately, he noted that Rachel’s expression of polite curiosity didn’t change, reassuring him of her honesty. “I don’t understand why you’re searching here,” she said.

“Leo Saari was one of Rachel’s teachers and she sometimes baby-sat his daughter. He left that same New Jersey community about the time Rachel disappeared and I learned that he’d come to Ojibway. I’m checking out every possible connection. I was hoping Aino would be able to tell me if Leo had a red-haired little girl with him when he arrived here, but I don’t want to pester him with questions until he’s recovered. Eva may be able to remember a few things about Renee that might help me.”

“Eva was only eight when her father returned home. She might be rather hazy about an early baby-sitter.”

“You’re protective of Eva.”

Rachel gave him a level look. “Maybe so. I tend to feel like her older sister. But as for asking if Leo arrived here with a red-haired girl, I can answer that. Like everyone else around Ojibway, I know the only people with him were his wife and daughter Eva. Poor Mrs. Saari died not long after they got here.”

He had no reason not to believe her, though he’d ask around to be sure. “I’d still like to talk to Eva, even if I have to wait until she gets back. I don’t expect you to put me up for what may be several weeks so I’ll look for—”

Rachel cut him off. “Aino will be upset if you don’t stay at the farm. It’s his way of repaying you for your timely help.”

Mikel didn’t argue. It suited him to be right where he was, handy to those who might offer some clues to what had happened to Renee. Not to mention seeing more of Rachel, whether that was wise or not.

“Is that what you do for a living?” Rachel asked “Search for missing persons?”

“It’s part of my job, yes.” Which it was. She didn’t need to know those he searched for were usually criminals. “What do you do?”

“I teach English and drama at the Ojibway High School.” She rose and began clearing the table, declining his help.

When she served the coffee, she also brought a plate of chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting. “My compliments to the chef,” he said after the first bite.

She smiled, the first genuine smile she’d given him. “Those are Aunt Sally’s Cocoa Drops, but don’t ask who Aunt Sally is. No one has a clue.”

He’d noticed there was no automatic dishwasher so he said, “I do know my way around a kitchen, thanks to Grandma Sonia, who insisted chores were a unisex thing, not divided into male and female duties. I’ll help you with the dishes as thanks for a great meal.”

“Did your grandmother live with you?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Like you, I was orphaned young. My grandparents raised me.”

“Then you can understand how much Aino means to me. I’d do anything for him.”

She sounded so fierce he smiled inwardly. Rachel was protective of her own, a trait he could understand.

After they finished the coffee and cookies, he pitched in to help clean up and she didn’t argue. He found he enjoyed working alongside her, leading him to wonder what it’d be like if he actually had a permanent home and someone to share it with. Back off from that thought, Starzov, he warned himself. Even if that’s what you wanted, and it’s decidedly not, this gal is off-limits.

“I’m going to the hospital to visit Aino,” she told him when they finished.

Despite knowing better, he wanted to prolong that feeling of companionship. “I’ll drive you, if you like,” he offered.

“Nice of you, but no thanks.”

“Then I presume it’s good-night.” He headed for the back door as he spoke.

She followed, saying, “If you like you can have breakfast here.”

He paused, turning to look at her. “I don’t want to take advantage of your hospitality. Just give me the name of a good place to eat in town.”

“Sylvia’s. It’s near the bridge. Well, good night, then.”

He hesitated, fighting the crazy impulse to kiss her in parting, then left the house. As he sauntered toward the cottage he saw the clouds had parted, giving him a view of the darkening evening sky where a single star shone. He glanced at the black barn and the other outbuildings with the feeling something was missing. A dog, that’s what. Most farms he’d been to in line with his job had dogs that threatened intruders. The Saaris didn’t. Yet here he was, the intruder.

Smoke rose from the cottage chimney, a welcome reminder it would be warm inside. In the morning, he’d have breakfast at Sylvia’s where, if he was lucky, he could begin the process of what his boss called “chatting up the townsfolk,” usually a good source of information if done casually enough. Most people loved to talk.

Once inside, he checked the place where he’d cached his gun to be sure it was there. This wasn’t the kind of case where he anticipated needing a gun, but he’d learned never to take chances. Easing down into the armchair, he stared into the fire, reduced now to half-burned logs licked by tiny flames. Knowing exactly where his gun was reassured him even though nothing threatened him here. Nothing but a long-legged gal with dark hair, warm brown eyes and a body that fit against his just right. He’d avoided brunettes since Yolanda—that treacherous woman from his past—but Rachel was so very different from the women he usually met—no sharp edges, no hidden agendas.

Careful about snap judgments, man, he warned himself. You don’t really know her, just like you didn’t really know Yolanda and your carelessness there damn near killed you.

But Yolanda was in the past. Behind him for good. There was no danger in admiring Rachel. He closed his eyes, imagining she’d come back to the cottage with him. All he had to do was pull her down onto his lap and….

Enough! Damned if he wasn’t fantasizing like a fool high school kid. One with a crush on his English teacher. Which probably every male student in her class did have. Relax. Savor the comfort you’re enjoying here and now. Most cases don’t set you up in such cozy surroundings. Take it easy.

He tried one of the breathing techniques he’d been taught, but Yolanda’s image returned to plague him.

He’d trusted her, been completely taken in by her act. No excuse. A special agent knew better. He’d been lucky not to get booted out of the agency for blowing the case. Would have been if Steve hadn’t stood up for him.

Two nights ago he’d had that blasted recurring nightmare about what had happened. He didn’t believe in dreams as warnings, but, as he eased into bed, he told himself maybe he ought to begin doing just that here and now.

Back from the hospital, Rachel got ready for bed, wondering why on earth Aino had insisted she bring Mikel to see him tomorrow. She’d reminded him only relatives could visit the ICU, but he’d insisted he’d be moving to a regular room first thing in the morning so there’d be no problem. Since this was no time to burden him with any kind of worry, she hadn’t said anything about why Mikel was in Ojibway.

Mikel had told her he didn’t want to question Aino while he was recuperating, but could she trust him to keep his word? Her experience with men other than Leo and Aino had been that they always looked out for themselves first. Why should Mikel be different? And why did she want him to be? What was there about him that appealed to her against her will?

Not his looks, great as those were. She felt drawn to him in a way she didn’t understand. Perhaps it was because they’d shared that worrisome time in the hospital waiting room while Aino was being examined. Whatever it was, she’d do well to forget about sharing anything else with Mikel. He was here only to find a missing girl, and when he discovered she was nowhere around, he’d leave.

Strange, though, she’d had the oddest feeling he was going to kiss her there at the back door when they said good-night. Naturally, she wouldn’t have let him. Would she? Shaking her head, she glanced from her bedroom window, seeing the light still on in the cottage. With a sigh, she slid under the covers, knowing sleep would take its time coming….

The path ahead wound through the trees where deep shadows lay in wait. If there’d been any other way to get where she needed to go, she would have chosen it. If only she weren’t alone, but she knew she had to be, part of the test was being alone. This time she wouldn’t fail, this time she’d reach her goal. Still, she hesitated before taking her first step into that dark woods. She hated not being able to see if any danger lurked in the shadows.

Since there was no choice but to go on, she took a fortifying breath and plunged into the darkness, trying not to panic, not to run lest she lose the trail. Her arms prickled with goose bumps as she felt unknown menace on either side. A noise from behind made her spine crawl with dread. If she turned to look, what might she see? Despite herself, she began to hurry faster and faster, her head turning from side to side as she watched the shadows.

Because she wasn’t paying attention to where she stepped, she tripped and started to fall. But something caught her, held her up. Rescuing her? As she stared at the dark figure who held her, a moonbeam slipped through the trees to light up his eyes. Green hunter’s eyes. She tried to scream but no sound emerged, tried to break free but couldn’t move. He’d trapped her….

Rachel sat bolt upright in bed, heart pounding. For a moment or two the dream clung to her so that she couldn’t orient herself, then reason returned. She was safe in her own room, in her own bed. Safe and sound.

But for how long?

Taking a deep breath, she brushed aside that thought. Rachel Hill could control her own destiny. Hadn’t she been doing just that for more years than she cared to count? She was secure in herself, which she ought to be, considering all the practice she’d had.

Mikel Starzov might be the most attractive and sexy man she’d ever met, but he was an outsider and would be leaving in a week or so. The threat he posed would be gone, and they’d all be safe again.

Why, then, did she remember so clearly how he’d comforted her in the ER waiting room, holding her against him, letting her draw strength from the contact. If she’d felt a tad more than comfort, that was her business. Certainly he’d never find out. It was as simple as that.

But in her heart she knew she wasn’t telling herself the truth. She’d never before encountered a man like Mikel and she was already certain he wouldn’t be easily forgotten.

Chapter Three

The next morning, Mikel found quite a crowd having breakfast in Sylvia’s and no empty tables or booths. A waving hand caught his attention and he recognized the gas station attendant.

“Got an extra chair right here,” the man said. “You’re welcome to it.”

“Thanks.” Mikel seated himself, giving his name.

“Hi, Mikel, I’m Bob and this here’s my buddy, Louie.” Introductions over, Bob asked, “How’s old Aino doing?”

“Pretty good, the last I heard.”

“Seen you with Rachel yesterday—you a relative?”

Mikel shook his head. Choosing his words carefully—questions didn’t work as well as offering small snippets of information—he said, “I knew Aino’s son, Leo. I wasn’t around when Leo died, so this is my first chance to visit Aino.”

Louie grimaced. “That Leo was some magnet for bad luck. First his wife dies, then her folks drop one after the other. Aino’s wife was next to go. Almost like the guy was cursed or something.”

After the waitress came over and took his order, Mikel brought the subject back to where he wanted by saying, “Leo died pretty young.”

“Got himself killed, that’s what he did,” Bob said. “Most often you don’t buy the farm when your car hits a deer, but like Louie told you, Leo was unlucky, poor guy.”

The waitress, bringing Mikel’s coffee, heard the last and said, “The one I felt sorry for was Aino’s cousin. Rachel had to take care of Eva after that. No one else left ’cept Aino. That’s why he took the two of them in after Leo got killed.”

“Heck, Dottie, Rachel must’ve been somewhere in her twenties when Leo died and she’d been taking care of Eva all along.”

“Yeah, but it was different when Eva’s dad was alive.” Dottie threw the words over her shoulder as, coffeepot in hand, she went to serve another table.

“You never get the last word with Dottie,” Louie confided.

“I lost touch with Leo when he moved back to the U.P.,” Mikel said. “Rachel told me he taught in several different towns up here.”

Bob nodded. “Never seemed satisfied in one place. He dragged them two kids around with him—Rachel wasn’t much more than a kid herself then, but she was old enough to look after Eva and that’s what he needed.”

“Just as well,” Louie put in. “Aino was too old to be raising young girls without a woman to help out. It’s different now the girls are old enough—they take care of him.”

Bob, through with his meal, pushed back his chair and rose. “Time to get going. See you around, Mikel.” Louie nodded to Mikel and followed Bob from the café.

Dottie brought the eggs and bacon Mikel had ordered, asking if he wanted more coffee. At his nod, she brought the pot. “You don’t want to believe everything them two characters tell you,” she said.

Looking at the fortyish woman, he noticed her eyes were an unusual aquamarine color. “I didn’t realize Rachel had lived with Leo and his daughter,” he said.

“Oh, sure. It was pure luck for him that the Saaris took Rachel in after her folks died downstate. There she was, waiting, so to speak. Otherwise he’d’ve had to hire someone, and I want to tell you, teachers don’t make all that much money. My sister’s one and I know.”

As he ate breakfast, Mikel wondered why Rachel hadn’t mentioned the fact she’d lived with Leo, raising his daughter until he died. On the other hand, why should she when she didn’t know him? He hadn’t asked her, so he shouldn’t make something from what was probably nothing. It did explain why she felt so protective of Eva.

He reminded himself she was an orphan, as he was. Aino had taken her in the way his grandparents had Mikel.

After he finished eating, he decided to drop by the hospital to ask how Aino was doing. When he did, the receptionist told him Aino had been moved to a private room. “Are you Mikel Starzov?” she inquired. When he nodded, she added, “Aino’s been asking to see you. He’s in room 224. Just down the hall and to the right.”

Mikel found Rachel with the old man and greeted them both, trying to ignore the unexpected leap of his heart when he saw her.

“Good to see you, young man,” Aino told him. “Come closer so I can shake your hand. Doc says if you hadn’t gotten me here so quick I might not be shaking hands with anyone for a while, if ever.”

“Yes, and he scolded you for not taking the medicine he gave you for your high blood pressure,” Rachel added.

Aino waved that away. “I know, I know.” Finished with the handshake, he gave Mikel an assessing once-over, finally nodding. “You’ll do. Call me Aino. Rachel tells me she’s got you set up in the cottage. That’s good.”

“Very comfortable quarters.”

“You did me a favor getting me here, now I got another to ask. Thought I’d be out of here by tomorrow, but Doc says not yet. He says I had a ministroke and that’s why my left arm’s so weak. The leg’s not as bad. So I got to have therapy for it and he’s still got some tests to run. I swear they’re going to drain off all my blood before I get out of here. The point is, I want you to stay at the farm at least till I come home. We lost old Fitzgerald last month and I don’t like Rachel out there all alone.”

“Fitzgerald?” Mikel repeated.

“My rabbit hound. Died of old age. Always name my dogs after someone I know.”

“Someone he knows and doesn’t like,” Rachel explained. She focused on Aino. “I wish you’d listen to me. I’ve told you over and over I’m perfectly all right out there by myself.”

“Don’t want me to get set back by worry, do you?”

She rolled her eyes.

“I’ll be happy to stay in the cottage,” Mikel said.

“Good boy. One more thing. I was supposed to give Rachel’s Girl Scout troop a talk about Johnny Appleseed and why all of us should plant trees whenever we can. Was going to demonstrate how and where to plant a tree. Got a bunch of apple seedlings in cans on the back porch. I’m thinking you could take over for me.”

Mikel had never planted a tree in his life. He hadn’t ever considered planting one, either. Before he could answer, evidently Aino saw the doubt in his eyes.

“Nothing to it, boy. I’d let Rachel do it, but she’s always teaching them things. They’ll take it more serious-like if you doing the talking and the showing. Right, girl?”

Rachel shrugged.

“You know it’s true, that’s why you got me to do it,” Aino said. “So Mikel will be my substitute.” He winked at Rachel. “Teachers know all about substitutes.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Mikel promised, “but I’m not Johnny Appleseed.”