Read Online Reid's Deliverance by Nina Crespo - Free Book Online Page B

his will was as unexpected as his death. Caretaker’s fees strained her bank account. The Realtor’s inquiry about selling had prompted her to act. She’d gathered her courage to face what he’d left behind, hopefully answers.
    Lauren hefted the strap of her carry-on over her shoulder. “Yes. It’s time.”
    “All right, but don’t forget to text me. Otherwise, I’ll have nightmares about some wild animal carrying you off into the woods. I’m serious. If I don’t hear from you at least once a day, I’m calling the police.”
    Ari wouldn’t just call the police. She’d demand a search party. “Yes, Mother.”
    “Stop being a smartass, Blondie.”
    The line disconnected prematurely. The joy and pain of solitude and spotty cellphone reception.
    Lauren rolled her luggage up the stone walkway. Fatigue weighed on her shoulders. The last few miles from civilization to nowhere were brutal. The promise of sleep had kept her going. She’d get plenty of rest in between cleaning out her father’s things. The Realtor had said listing the cabin as furnished would help it sell. That meant she didn’t have to worry about moving larger items. She had two weeks, and she’d allotted a week to sort through his things. The final week, she’d enjoy the uncomplicated beauty of the woods.
    She took a deep cleansing breath and walked inside. Particles swirled in the late evening sunlight. As a child, she’d always rushed past her parents to get through the door. Nostalgia crept in along with a pang of sadness. After her parents’ divorce, the annual summer treks had ended. She’d come back with her dad to the cabin a few times, but it wasn’t the same. A joint custody agreement had given both of her parents equal legal guardianship over her. Army deployments, new duty stations overseas, and remarriage had taken him away. Before he’d died, her father had made an effort to reconnect. She’d spent last Christmas with him and his family in Denver. She’d gotten to know her stepmother and stepsister. They’d talked about spending a few weeks together in Mazree.
    Rumbles of thunder and a darkening sky set her into motion. She returned to her car and got the rest of her things. Lightning broke up the gray shadows. A cool, pine-scented breeze seeped through her blouse and jeans. It pushed her into the cabin. She stowed her luggage in the master bedroom and put away the few items she’d brought in a cooler. As the rain pounded, she poured a glass of merlot and leaned on the marble-topped kitchen island.
    Deep brown wood flooring spanned the living room and into the bedrooms. A stone fireplace complemented the blue sectional, matching side chairs, and a wood coffee table. Her father had recently updated the kitchen. He’d also added spa-like touches to the bathrooms and remodeled the deck. The Realtor had said all of the modern upgrades had increased the cabin’s value. The added footage of the loft made the property even more attractive. Lightning flashes lit up the loft. She noted the boxes. He’d dropped them off just weeks before he’d died. He’d joked about the cabin becoming his man cave. He’d planned to enjoy more leisure time there, painting the landscape. Her mother wanted no part in sorting through her ex-husband’s possessions. Grief still overwhelmed her stepmother to the point where she couldn’t. Whatever he’d left in the cabin had meant something to him. Throwing it away without taking a look seemed wrong.
    Lauren peeked through the curtain covering the French doors. No stars were visible. Zigzagged lightning lit up the loose covering over the built-in grill. One side of the vinyl sheet flapped and fluttered wildly in the wind. Crap. So much for keeping dry. She found a rain poncho in her bag. After turning on the deck lights, she squinted against the blowing rain and ventured out. On the second try, she snagged the cover and tied it to the metal loops. On her way past the long wood table with benches,