“I hope so. Are you sure you’re not interrupting your painting?”

“Very sure. It’s good to spend more time with the girls. And face it, Jen. Between Clyde on the farm and the manager at the limeworks and Emily’s father at the bank, I can manage my time my way.”

Now it was Erich who took the girls to the stable during the mornings and led them on their ponies. Rooney came over regularly. The sweater Jenny was knitting was going well and she was already starting Jenny on a patchwork quilt.

Jenny was still helpless to explain how her coat got in Kevin’s car. Suppose Kevin did come down, and tried that door on the west porch? It could have been unlocked. Suppose he came in? The closet door was right there. He might have panicked. After all, he didn’t know whether or not a housekeeper slept in. Perhaps he took her coat, planning to insinuate that he’d seen her, started driving away, took the wrong turn, put his hand in the pocket in the hope of finding money, pulled out the key and with that the car went off the bank.

It still didn’t explain the phone call.

After their nap the girls loved to roam in the fields. Jenny sat on the west porch watching them as her fingers knitted the rows of wool or made patchwork squares. Rooney had dug up material from the attic, leftover goods that had been used for dresses long ago, a bag of scraps, a bolt of dark blue cotton. “John bought that blue material for me to make curtains for the back bedroom when he took it over. I warned him they’d be too dark. He hated to admit it but he had me take them down after a couple of months. Then I made the ones that are there now.”

Somehow Jenny could not bring herself to sit in Caroline’s swing. Instead she chose a wicker chair, high-backed with comfortable cushions. Nevertheless Caroline had sat on this porch, sewing, watching her child play in these fields.

She no longer felt the lack of company. Now she always refused Erich’s suggestions of dinner at one of the local restaurants. “Not yet, Erich. I don’t even like the smell of food.”

He began taking the children with him when he went out on errands. They came back chatting about the people they’d met, the places where they’d stopped to visit and stayed for cookies and milk.

Now Erich always slept in the back bedroom. “Jen, it’s easier this way. I can stay away from you if I’m not too near you but I can’t lie beside you night after night and not have my hands on you. Besides you’re a restless sleeper. You’ll probably sleep better alone.”

She should be grateful but she wasn’t. The nightmares happened regularly; over and over again she’d had that sensation of touching flesh, a face in the dark, of feeling long hair against her cheek. She didn’t dare tell him that. He’d surely think she was mad.

The day before he was to leave for San Francisco, he suggested she go to the stable with him. The morning nausea hadn’t occurred for two days.

“I’d rather you be there when the girls ride. I’m getting pretty unhappy with Joe.”

A quick thrill of worry. “Why?”

“I’ve heard rumors he’s boozing it up every night with his uncle. Josh Brothers is exactly the wrong influence on Joe at this stage. Anyhow if you think he seems hung over, I don’t want the girls out with him. I may have to get rid of him.”

Mark was in the stable. His normally calm voice was raised and icy. “Don’t you know how dangerous it is to leave rat poison five feet from the oat supply? Suppose some of it got mixed in with the feed? Those horses would go crazy. What the hell is the matter with you lately, Joe? Let me tell you, if this happens again, I’ll recommend that Erich fire you. Those children ride the ponies every day. Erich’s horse is hard enough to handle even for an experienced rider like him. Give Baron a taste of the strychnine in that stuff and he’d trample anyone who came near him.”

Erich dropped Jenny’s arm. “What’s all this about?”

A red-faced Joe who seemed on the verge of tears admitted, “I was going to put the poison in the traps. I pulled the box in here when it started to rain and I forgot it.”

“You’re fired,” Erich said evenly.

Joe looked at Jenny. Was there something significant in his expression or simple pleading? She wasn’t sure.

She stepped forward, took Erich’s hand. “Please, Erich. Joe’s been wonderful with the children. He’s so patient teaching them to ride. They’d miss him terribly.”

Erich studied her face. “If it means that much to you,” he said shortly, then turned back to Joe. “Any mistake, Joe, any mistake, a stall door open, a dog running around my property, this sort of thing…” He glanced contemptuously at the box of rat poison. “That’s it. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” Joe whispered. “Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mrs. Krueger.”

“And make sure it’s Mrs. Krueger,” Erich snapped. “Jenny, I don’t want the girls riding till I come back. Is that clear?”

“Yes.” She agreed with him. Joe looked ill. There was a bruise on his forehead.

Mark left the stable with them. “You’ve got a new calf in the dairy barn, Erich. That’s why I’m here. Keep an eye on Joe. He was in another fight last night.”

“What the hell is he fighting about?” Erich asked irritably.

Mark’s face closed. “Give people not used to liquor a couple of boilermakers and you don’t need much excuse.”

“Come back to lunch with us,” Erich suggested. “We haven’t seen much of you.”

“Please come,” Jenny murmured.

They walked up to the house together.

“You two go on in,” Erich suggested. “Mark, pour us a sherry, will you? I want to pick up the mail at the office.”

“Sure thing.”

He waited until Erich was out of earshot then said quickly, “Two things, Jenny. I heard the good news about the baby. Congratulations. How do you feel?”

“Much better now.”

“Jenny, I have to warn you. It was very good of you to save Joe’s job for him but it’s a mistaken kindness. The reason he’s getting into fights is that he’s too open about his feelings for you. He worships you and the guys who hang around the bars at night are teasing him about it. Joe would be better off far away from this farm.”

“And from me?”

“Bluntly, yes.”

26

When Erich was leaving for San Francisco he decided to drive the Cadillac to the airport and leave it there. “Unless you particularly want to use it, darling?”

Was there an edge to the question? The last time he’d been away she’d used the car to meet Kevin. “I don’t want it,” she said quietly. “Elsa can pick up anything I need.”

“You have your vitamins.”

“Plenty of them.”

“If you don’t feel well, Clyde will drive you to the doctor.” They were at the door. “Girls,” Erich called, “come give Daddy a kiss.”

They ran to him. “Bring me a present,” Beth begged.

“Me too,” Tina chimed in.

“Oh, Erich, before you go, tell the girls that you don’t want them on the ponies until you get back.”

“Daddy!” There were two wails of protest.

“Oh, I don’t know. Joe came to apologize to me. Says he knows he’s been off-base. He’s even going to move back in with his mother. I think it’s all right to let him take the girls out. You just be sure to be with them every minute, Jen.”

“I’d rather not,” she said evenly.

“Any reason?” His eyebrows quirked.

She thought of what Mark had told her. But there was no way she could discuss that with Erich. “If you’re sure it’s safe.”

His arms were around her. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.”

She walked with him to the car. Clyde had driven it out of the garage. Joe was polishing it with a soft cloth. Rooney was standing by it, ready to come in and sew with Jenny. Mark had come over to say good-bye.

“I’ll call you as soon as I get to the hotel,” Erich told Jenny. “That will be ten your time.”