One Small Secret

NATCHEZ GOSSIP COLUMN Letter to Reader Title Page MEAGAN McKINNEY Dedication Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Epilogue Copyright

NATCHEZ GOSSIP COLUMN

Word has it that well-to-do Mark Griffin has returned home to reopen his family’s summer retreat, Blackbird Hall. Wonder how a certain bed-and-breakfast owner feels about the studly CEO popping back into her life. Rumor has it that these two shared one memorable summer eight years ago, and then Mark disappeared without a trace, leaving the proper country girl with a secret. Question is, what will Mark do once the unknown has been revealed?

Dear Reader,

Why not sit back and relax this summer with Silhouette Desire? As always, our six June Desire books feature strong heroes and spirited heroines who come together in a highly passionate, emotionally powerful and provocative read.

Anne McAllister kicks off June with a wonderful new MAN OF THE MONTH title, The Stardust Cowboy. Strong, silent Riley Stratton brings hope and love into the life of a single mother.

The fabulous miniseries FORTUNE’S CHILDREN THE BRIDES concludes with Undercover Groom by Merline Lovelace, in which a sexy secret agent rescues an amnesiac runaway bride. And Silhouette Books has more Fortunes to come, starting this August with a new twelve-book continuity series, THE FORTUNES OF TEXAS.

Meanwhile, Alexandra Sellers continues her exotic SONS OF THE DESERT series with Beloved Sheikh, in which a to-die-for sheikh rescues an American beauty-in-jeopardy. One Small Secret by Meagan McKinney is a reunion romance with a surprise for a former summer flame. Popular Joan Elliott Pickart begins her new miniseries, THE BACHELOR BET, with Taming Tall, Dark Brandon. And there’s a pretend marriage between an Alpha male hero and blue-blooded heroine in Suzanne Simms’s The Willful Wife.

So hit the beach this summer with any of these sensuous Silhouette Desire titles ... or take all six along!

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire

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One Small Secret

Meagan McKinney

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MEAGAN McKINNEY

is the author of over a dozen novels of hardcover and paperback historical and contemporary women’s fiction. In addition to romance, she likes to inject mystery and thriller elements into her work. Currently she lives in the Garden District of New Orleans with her two young sons, two very self-entitled cats and a crazy red mutt. Her favorite hobbies are traveling to the Arctic and, of course, reading!

To the patron saint of lost causes...

One

“We were told this place was private.” The man smirked slightly to the man standing next to him, then straightened his acid-green tie. “We don’t want to see nobody. That’s why we wanted to stay here.”

Honor Shaw looked at the man in the dark suit, not sure how she should react. She’d run a profitable bed and breakfast for eight years by always putting the guests first. But this guy, with his thick Brooklyn accent and malevolent stare, just didn’t seem the type to desire a long, hot weekend in the South’s premier antebellum tourist mecca. And he was demanding a lot.

She cleared her throat, then smiled. “I have five rooms here, sir, and certainly, I’m always glad to accommodate a private party, but I was told you and Mr.—” she took a quick glance at her reservation book but no names were listed yet “—ah, that you and your companion would only require two rooms.”

The man straightened his tie again but stayed silent.

“The spring is a very busy time here in Natchez,” she said apologetically. “The azaleas are blooming, and everyone in the world wants to come here and see our fine mansions.” She picked up the phone at the desk. “I’m really so sorry you’ve been disappointed, but perhaps I can call the Pilgrimage and see if someone at one of the private homes might let out a guest house.”

“No.”

Honor lowered her gaze to the hand that covered hers. A strange chill ran down her spine. Slowly she put down the receiver.

“We’ll stay here. We don’t want no private home-owner snooping around our stuff.”

She took a deep, calming breath. This was how it was when one dealt with the public. People could be polite and friendly or they could be difficult, neurotic and rude. Either way, she told herself, she was a pro. Though she’d only been on this earth twenty-seven years, she’d handled a lot in that short time, including the death of her mother and becoming a single parent. Honor Shaw, of the Shaws of Natchez, could certainly handle an unruly guest without chasing away business.

“I can assure you, we’ll do everything to make your stay as comfortable as possible. I have adjoining rooms in the attic, and that way you’ll hardly bump into any of our other guests. Have you much luggage?” She smiled and handed the man a pen and the register.

“No,” he answered.

“Well, Mr...Metz,” she read, then looked up, “I serve a big Southern breakfast on the veranda between eight and ten. Just let me get an impression of your credit card and I’ll show you gentlemen to your rooms.”

Metz whipped out a platinum card. Honor imprinted it and handed it back. Keys in hand, she nodded pleasantly. “This way.”

The two men followed her, their only luggage an awkward, oversize, black nylon duffle bag.

Once back at the desk, Honor looked at the register again. Larry Metz and Jack Kehher. Home address: Miami. She would never have guessed it. The two looked like they’d just stepped out of a New York Checker cab.

“Boo!”

Honor jumped, then turned around and hugged the eight-year-old girl who’d come up behind her. She’d been so engrossed in her thoughts, she hadn’t even noticed Lockey sneak up on her.

“What’re you doing, Mom?” Lockey asked as she plunked down her backpack onto the antique mahogany sideboard that served as the B&B’s reservation desk.

“Not much. How was school?” Honor swept her hand across Lockey’s brow. The girl smiled and hugged her again.

Everyone said mother and daughter were like clones, both blond, blue-eyed, petite. But Honor saw another in her daughter, especially when the child smiled. Lockey’s grin would start at the right corner and grow from there. After more than eight years away from that grin, Honor still remembered, and the memory of it could pierce her heart.

“Barton Phelps is still teasing me, even after Ms. Gibbons told him not to,” Lockey said with all the fabulous drama of a second-grader. “I hate him, Mommy. I really do. I’m sorry.”

Honor melted, as she always did with her daughter. “Look, it just sounds like Barton Phelps is a little boy with a crush on you, love. I’d just forget him. He’ll go away if you ignore him.”

Lockey looked at her mom in horror. “You mean he likes me? Yeeek!” She ran around the foyer, shaking her hands in disgust.

Honor laughed. But the fun was cut short the second Lockey ran into the black-suited form of Larry Metz and his companion, who appeared at the rear entrance.

Lockey took a step back as if by instinct. On the same impulse, Honor pulled her daughter to the reservation desk and stepped in front of her.

“Is everything to your liking, gentlemen?” she asked, again with her hosteler’s smile.

“We’re going out,” was all Metz offered, as he and Keliher made their way to the front door.

“Well, let me know if there’s anything you need. I’ll be happy to recommend homes to tour—” Honor’s words were cut short by the slam of the door.

Lockey went to her and put her arms around her waist. “Who were those men, Mommy?”

Honor shook her head. “Rude Yankees,” she answered with a laugh. “Never mind them. Let’s see what we have for a snack, and then I’ll need some help picking flowers for breakfast tomorrow. Are you ready?”

Lockey nodded.

Honor took her by the hand and headed for the kitchen. On the outside she was all mom, chocolate chip cookies and fussing over homework. On the inside she was worried.

She didn’t like Larry Metz and Jack Keliher. But her opinion was formed by more than just a vague feeling. She didn’t understand why two men in suits would check into a family bed and breakfast with an oddly large black duffle bag, then leave right afterward with their awkward luggage in tow, as if they were afraid to leave it in the room. Beside the contrast with innocent little Lockey when the child bumped into them, Metz and Keliher looked ridiculous lugging that duffle all the way through the lobby. The thing was big enough to be a body bag.

Honor shuddered. Her imagination was getting the best of her. It was their business what they did with their luggage.

They were probably just disappointed with their rooms and had decided to ditch the place without telling her. That was why they were leaving so soon, and with their bag.

With any other two guests, Honor might have been miffed that they hadn’t given her the chance to correct what was bothering them, but with these two, she found she couldn’t shake the feeling of relief. She didn’t want any shady characters at her B&B. She was a single mother, running a business from her home. Vulnerability was always an issue.

Honor’s relief at the thought that the men might have gone elsewhere only increased as she watched Lockey pull out her math workbook from her backpack.

But then her stomach plummeted when she looked out the kitchen window and saw the sheriff’s car pull into the back drive.

“Doug! Great to see you. What brings you to my quiet little place?” Honor extended her hand. Through the screen door she could see Lockey at the kitchen table starting her homework.

“I’ve come to see if you’ve done married yet, girl.” Doug ignored the outstretched hand and gave her a bear hug.

He was no longer a young man and he suffered from a too-large gut and not enough exercise, but Sheriff Doug Landry was one of the best. During the sixties, when racial fire was raging through Mississippi, he’d taken the townspeople by the throat and told them to get along—that no one under his jurisdiction, black or white, was going to suffer from a random act of hatred. And just as the town had done when the Northern Army had arrived, everyone decided their place was worth saving, so there were virtually no incidents in Natchez. Even now, it was a quiet little town, although tourism, drugs and gambling had arrived, as they seemed to have everywhere.

“Come and sit. Let me make you some coffee. Then you can quiz me on my love life, and I can quiz you on the reasons for this visit.” Honor raised an eyebrow.

Doug laughed.

She showed him to a floral-cushioned seat on the back veranda. He took off his hat and laid it on the white wicker table.

“Okay, shoot,” Honor said archly when the coffee was ready.

“Girl, why hasn’t some man snapped you up? With your looks and sense of humor, how could a man resist?”

Honor chuckled. “They’ve resisted all right. Besides, you know I’m looking for a man just like you, Doug, but unfortunately, Doris isn’t making any loaners.”

He coughed through his laughter. “And that wife of mine asks about you all the time. She’s going to be madder’n a snake if I tell her I left Shaw’s Retreat without a certified acceptance of a dinner invitation. How about Wednesday?”

“I’d love to come. Have Doris call and tell me what time, and I’m there.” She sat down in the wicker seat next to him. “Now, why the visit, Doug? Is something up?”

Doug wiped his brow with the white handkerchief he kept in his breast pocket. “I’m just paying a call to let you know not to be worried about all the cars and stuff that’ll be traveling down this road after tomorrow.”

“Down this road? But this is a dead-end street. What’s going on?”

“Seems your neighbor’s come back, girl.”

Honor shook her head, bewildered. Shaw’s Retreat was a fine Gothic house built in 1850 for Natchez’s first physician, her great-great-great-grandfather. Next door to the property was the old carriage house, which had been sold during the Depression. The carriage house was now home to a nice elderly widow.

“Mrs. Bennett’s been gone? I thought I just saw her,” she said.

“‘Fraid to tell you, girl, but it’s your other neighbor who’s come back.” He pointed to the property on the other side of the house. “Blackbird Hall’s comin’ back to life as of tomorrow.”

Suddenly she wanted to wring her hands and run away like a child. With heroic effort, she glanced casually at the huge acreage that sat on the other side of Shaw’s Retreat. The road ended at the gates of Blackbird Hall, but for years Honor had taken it for granted that the road ended at Shaw’s Retreat, because Blackbird Hall had been boarded up and closed down for as many years as...well, as Lockey had been..

“You’re a thousand miles away, girl.”

Honor shot her gaze back to the sheriff. “I just can’t believe, after all this time, we’re finally going to have a neighbor over there.”

“And what a neighbor. His damned sec‘etary called me and told me that they were sending in a fair army tomorrow morning, so the owner could have dinner there by tomorrow night. That’s when I told Doris I’d better get on out here and warn you ’bout the traffic.”

She did her best to smile. “I’m glad you did. I’d really be wondering what was going on.” Her gaze slid back to the grove of moss-covered live oak trees and the old iron gate that said, in hand-forged letters, Blackbird Hall. Numbly, she walked Doug back to his squad car. After more promises of dinner, he drove off, and she was left to stare again at the grove, the fence and the weed-choked drive that led to a house she knew only too well—because it haunted her dreams almost every night.

Suddenly she felt faint, but denial ran in her blood like an antidote.

Maybe the property had been sold without her knowing about it. It could be another person entirely who was going to show up tomorrow night.

That’s right, she told herself as she went back into the kitchen and grabbed her pruning shears. It might not be him at all.

“I’m done, Mommy. Can I help you with the garden now?”

As if in a daze, Honor looked over at her daughter. Lockey gave her that grin, that beautiful heartbreaking smile, and suddenly Honor knew she was deluding herself. It had only been a matter of time, and now time was up.

Of all the wicked ironies.

He was finally coming back.

Two

In misery, Honor watched the trucks and cars go back and forth from Blackbird Hall. Doug hadn’t been kidding. It looked as if they were preparing for the president himself to visit. The cleaning crew had arrived in two full-size buses, which were even now parked in front of Shaw’s Retreat as if the National Registry house were nothing but a bus depot. Five contractors’ vans were scattered along the road, nearly blocking passage, and men streamed back and forth carrying dropcloths and tool boxes.

“Who are those people, Mommy?”

Honor spun around and faced Lockey, her heart constricting. “They’re just fixing up the place for the owner.”

“The owner? I always thought we owned that place.” The little girl looked up at her, her eyes as large and blue as cornflowers.

“No, darling,” Honor said with a painful laugh. “But I can see how you’d think that. Blackbird Hall’s been locked up a long time. That’s why it’s taking so many people to put it right again.”

“Who’s going to live there?”

“A man. A very rich man.”

“Do you think he has any kids for me to play with?”

Honor felt a stabbing in her chest. “Maybe,” she said in a small voice. “I guess we won’t know for sure until he gets here.”

“What’s the man’s name, Mommy?”

“Does it really matter? We may never even see him. He has a dozen houses. He may come for the night and decide Blackbird Hall bores him.”

“But what’s his name?”

“If...if I recall, his name is Mark Gnffin.”

“Griffin.” Lockey stared down the road from where they stood on the front veranda. “Griffin,” she repeated.

Honor died a little bit mside.

Pulling herself together, she said, “Hey, let’s go to a movie. C‘mon. It’s Saturday. Vergie can watch out for the guests. All-these workmen are getting on my nerves.”

“Griffin. That’s the name those guys were talking about.”

“Those guys?”

“You know. The two guys in the attic. They kind of scare me, Mommy. They talk bad.”

“What were they talking about?” Honor tried to keep her voice even, but it was difficult. She hadn’t been able to hide her distaste when Metz and Keliher had arrived back at the house late last night, the strange black duffel bag still in tow. Now it seemed Lockey had had an encounter with them and formed the same aversion to them.

“I was on the stairs this morning with my dolls, and I heard them talking. Their door was a little bit open, but I think they thought it was closed, because they talked so loud.”

“So you heard them?”

“Yes.”

“You remember all our talks about eavesdropping—”

“I didn’t, Mommy, I promise! I was just sitting on the stairs!”

Honor took both her daughter’s hands in hers. “I know you understand, Lockey. That’s why I’m not mad. I want you to know this is a special case. Tell me what these men said. And why they scared you.”

“They said a lot of curse words, and they talked about how Mr. Griffin was a really rich guy with a lot of treasure in his house. They were watching the house from the attic window, and they said they were going to take Mr Griffin’s stuff, even though that’s not why their boss sent them here.”

Honor could hardly breathe. “Are you sure, honey?”

Lockey met her gaze and nodded resolutely. “I’m sure.”

Without pause, Honor went inside, grabbed her purse and headed for the car, all the while holding Lockey’s hand firmly in her own. She started the car, eased between the two buses and headed for the police station.

“But, Doug, you’ve heard what Lockey said. These guys must be crimmals. They’re going to ransack the Hall.” Honor stared at the police chief from across his desk.

“I hear you girl. I hear you. And I can go and question them, but all that’s going to do is tip them off. And if there hasn’t been a crime committed... well, not much more I can do ‘cept keep my eye on ’em.”

Doug leaned back in his oak swivel chair. He looked at Lockey and gave the child a big grin. “Lockey, darling, why don’t you go see if Acomb is at the front desk. I bet he’d find a nice snack for you. You appear to me to be a mite hungry.”

Lockey looked at her mother.

Honor nodded her consent.

When the girl was gone, Doug leaned forward, elbows resting on his desk, his face lined with concern. “Tell you what, we’ll come and watch the Retreat. You head home and tell those two when you see ‘em that something’s wrong with their rooms and they’ll have to find other ‘comodations. I don’t like you girls staying out there alone with a couple of hoodlums.” He leaned back in his chair once more.

“When they pack up and leave your place, I’ll take them to the station here and question them, check out their identification. That’s the best I can do until something’s been done wrong.”

Honor wondered if her blood pressure would ever be the same. “You’ll have a car outside while I tell them?”

“Yes, ma‘am. I’ll go with Acomb myself.”

“I’ll drop Lockey off with a friend first. Just in case there’s anything ugly. May I use your phone?”

Doug shoved it to her side of the desk. “I don’t think there’ll be any trouble. The child could just be imagining things. Or these guys might really know Griffin and want to rob the house, but until they do, there’s no crime, and hell, they might just move on once they know we got an eye on ‘em.”

Honor nodded, but still the sick feeling wouldn’t leave her stomach.

“Doug, Lockey did get Mr. Griffin’s name right. I don’t think she’s making up stories. And...and... well, I can’t help but think someone should warn Mr. Griffin that someone wants to rob him and Blackbird Hall.”

“Hell the guy ain’t even there yet.” He grunted. “But hey, I’ll go talk to the workmen, see if they can get a message to him.”

“Thanks,” she said as she dialed, relieved that she wouldn’t have to warn her neighbor of the would-be thieves. After all, if she and Mark met during his stay in Natchez, they were going to have enough to talk about.

“Vergie says they already checked out. They’re gone,” Honor said to Doug as she stood in the Retreat’s drive. The traffic on the dead-end road had diminished to one solitary van, and even those workmen were packing it up.

“I sent Acomb to talk to someone at the Hall. I don’t think Griffin’s arrived yet, but we’ll get the word to him eventually.” Doug sat in his squad car, putting down notes on his clipboard.

Honor sighed. “I wonder if maybe Lockey tipped them off somehow.”

Doug patted her arm. “Sometimes crooks just chicken out, darlin‘. If they’re gone, then I say good riddance. Go get your little girl back and have a peaceful night’s sleep.”

Sergeant Acomb, tall and gangly, walked up from the road after talking to the workmen. He nodded to the sheriff and slid into the passenger seat of the car.

“We’ve done all we could. You want me to send Acomb, here, over for night patrol? Don’t mind, if that’d set your mind at ease.” Doug looked at her questioningly.

Honor shrugged. Everything seemed like a nonevent now. Just an hour ago her life appeared to be careening back into Mark Griffin’s. Now, when Mark was finally going to arrive at the Hall, there would be no reason for them to see each other. Because she sure as hell wouldn’t seek him out. She’d tried for that whole first year to reach him in the corporate maze of Griffin Industries, but no matter how many phone calls she’d made to Zurich, no matter how many letters she’d sent, he’d never called back, never gotten in touch with her. By now he probably didn’t even remember her.

A strange knot of tears formed in her throat.

Quickly she said to Doug, “No, you guys go home to your families. This is over with. Thank heavens.” She waved them on, then disappeared into the house to get her car keys, so she could go pick up Lockey.

“G‘night, Mommy.”

“Good night, love,” Honor said, tucking Lockey into her bed.

“I’m glad those guys left.” Lockey peeked at her from beneath the pile of homemade quilts that had been sewn by Shaw women throughout the years.

Honor released a deep dramatic breath. “So am I!” she exclaimed, kissing Lockey on the nose.

“Mommy, remember when I told you they were using scary words?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I remember now why they scared me.”

“You do? What did they say?” Honor leaned down closer to her daughter for comfort.

“They said they were here to kill Mr. Griffin, not to rob him.”

Honor knew her face had frozen into a false mask of calm. “That’s terrible, honey. Is that really what they said?” Her mind raced, checklisting and crossing off dangers. Another bout of horror and panic threatened her, but she fought it back.

“Uh-huh.” Lockey stared at her. “They were just going to take his stuff because they figured nobody else would want it after Mr. Griffin was dead.”