Still staring at the house, Veronica asked, “Where are we going to live?”
Patricia struggled to lift her bulky weight off the ground. “God will take care of us,” She pulled her daughters close. The girls shivered. Both were in slippers and dressed only in their nightclothes.
“The first thing we're going to do is get you warm and dry,” Jean said, approaching Patricia and the girls. She gave them all a hug, holding Patricia the longest.
“Where are Brian and Susie?” Will asked.
“Susie's in her bed, and Brian's keeping an eye on her.”
“Brian?” Will raised an eyebrow.
“He'll be fine,” Jean assured him. She turned to Patricia. “You can come home with us. We've plenty of room.”
“I don't know what happened. The house was cold, so I built a fire. It was fine when I went upstairs to check on the girls.” Patricia stopped, her mind searching for an explanation. A puzzled expression touched her face. “I heard a crash and breaking glass.” She looked at her son. “What do you think that could be?”
No one answered, then Luke said, “I saw a pickup pulling out onto the road from your place this morning. I couldn't tell who it was.”
Robert's expression turned pensive. He looked at Laurel. “I saw that redhead, Ted, stop out on the road a couple days ago. And then again yesterday.”
Patricia put her hands to her mouth. “You don't think someone … ?”
“I don't know what I think, but I'm going to find out.”
After a quick cleanup, Will and Robert headed for Ray Townsend's. “It's Ray. I know it,” Robert said, keeping his eyes on the road and gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.
“I think we need to start with him,” Will said cautiously. “We don't have any proof.”
Robert turned into the Townsend driveway and slid on ice. He corrected, then skated toward a fence running alongside the drive. Finally, regaining control of the truck, he said, “No proof maybe, but he's the one.”
Will had thought it might have been Ray who hired the young men to beat up Robert, but it was hard to believe he would stoop so low as to burn Robert and his family out. Robert stopped the car, threw it into gear, then turned off the key. Will rested a hand on the young man's arm. “Rein in your temper. We don't know what happened for sure. We're here to find out what we can.”
Robert nodded and opened the door. Stepping out of the pickup, he waited for Will, and the two men approached the Townsend house together. It wasn't much to boast about. Like many homes in the valley, it was simple and made of logs, although it was slightly larger than most. They stepped onto a broad wooden porch.
Robert knocked on the door. Celeste opened it. Her face flushed slightly, and she smiled. “Why, Robert, how nice to see you.” She glanced at Will. “Mr. Hasper. Good to see you. What brings you out our way?”
“We need to talk to your father,” Robert said solemnly, swiping a lock of black hair off his forehead. He'd left in such a hurry, he'd forgotten a hat. “Is he here?”
“Yes. He's out back cutting wood.” Celeste's smile faded. “Is something wrong?”
“I just need to talk to your father,” Robert repeated, his voice tight and controlled.
“I'll take you to him. Let me get my coat.”
“No.” Will smiled kindly. “We can find him. Thanks.” He nodded and stepped off the porch, then headed around the back of the house. Robert followed.
The crack of splintering wood told them where to go. Ray Townsend stood on the side of a shed, and he brought an ax down on a piece of pine just as Robert and Will stepped into his vision. The wood split and fell away. Ray looked at the visitors, his mouth set. He rested the head of the ax on the chopping block and leaned on the handle. “Something I can do for you?”
“We have something to say to you,” Robert said.
“I've no time to shoot the breeze.”
“You have time for this.” Robert's words came out sharp and abrasive.
Will stepped forward. “There was a fire at the Lundeens' place this morning. Robert's house burned. Someone was seen leaving the property just as the fire broke out.”
Mr. Townsend picked up another piece of pine and set it on the stump. “And what does that have to do with me?” He swung the ax up over his head and brought it down, ripping open the wood.
“More than once I saw you drive by my place lately,” Robert said, “and one of those men you hired to beat me stopped on the road twice this week.”
Mr. Townsend's mouth turned up in a sneer. “So the roads belong to you? I always thought this was a free country where a person could drive wherever he pleased.” He threw the split wood aside and rested his ax on his shoulder. “None of this has anything to do with me.”
“Someone set my house on fire! And it was one of your men!”
“My men? Now I have men?” Ray lifted the ax and let the end of the handle rest in his left hand. “I don't own anyone. If someone burned down your place, it was his choice. If I were you, I'd go and see … What did you say the man's name was? Ted?”
His hands rolled into fists, Robert stepped toward Ray. The big man held the ax in front of him. “Son, you might want to think twice before coming at me.”
“Robert,” Will said calmly, “this won't solve anything.” He stepped between the two. “Ray, I've given you the benefit of the doubt more than once. No more. You've stirred up a lot of the trouble we've had since we came to this valley. It's true we have no proof you're behind this fire, but if we come across it we'll go to the law.”
Ray let loose with a roaring laugh. “Go ahead, but you won't find any proof. I'd advise you to head back where you came from. I'd hate to see anything happen to you or your family.”
Will struggled to control his temper. He wanted to pummel the man. He glanced at the ax. He'd probably use it, he thought. “Don't threaten my family. You're not running us off. We're here to stay. This is our home.” He took a slow breath. “We can live as friendly neighbors or not. It's up to you.”
“Get off my land. Now.”
