you don’t think he’s dead?” Tara demands. “Did you shoot the guy?”
“Why would I shoot him?” Does she really think I’d shoot someone? I’m not above scaring him with an unloaded rifle, but I’d never shoot him.
“Then what did you mean when you said that you don’t think he’s dead?” Her hands are on her hips like she’s about to send me to the principal’s office.
“He followed your mom and me from my farm. He was waiting at the end of the driveway and he stayed right on my tail, so I decided to have some fun with him. I turned off the main road onto a dirt road that most folks don’t know about. I took the turn pretty fast and he missed it, landing himself in a ditch by the side of the road.”
“Did you stop to make sure he was okay?”
“I was going to, but a sheriff’s car was right behind him. By the time I turned around, they were already getting out of their vehicle to help.”
Gwen interjects, “I hope he got a concussion and forgets who he is. That man has been pestering me since the day you and Romaine broke up.”
Tara shakes her head and lets her shoulders sag dejectedly. “What am I supposed to do now?” she asks no one in particular.
“I think you need to move into the lodge,” my mom tells her.
“You mean lock myself in like I’m in prison?”
“It’s a pretty nice prison,” her mom says.
Tara looks around the suite we’re standing in before saying. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful.”
“Honey,” my mom tells her, “it is a prison, but if we can convince that man there’s nothing of interest here, maybe he’ll give up and go home.”
“I’ll stay at your place,” Gwen interjects. “He can photograph me coming and going as much as he wants.”
“What if he stops you and asks why you’re in Oregon?” Tara asks.
I answer for her. “She can tell him that she’s consulting with my mom on expanding the gift shop.” Then I look at my mom and say, “Gwen owned a gift shop in LA.”
“How do you explain my mom being at your house if she’s consulting here at the lodge?”
“I’m also consulting with James about adding a gift shop to his farmstand,” Gwen answers.
Now that’s a great idea, and I say as much. “I’ve been looking for ways to make a passive income, Gwen. Maybe you can give me some pointers.”
“I’d be delighted to!” she answers enthusiastically.
“The suite is beautiful,” Tara says as she walks toward the window overlooking the woods.
“I’ll go back to your place and pack some things for you,” Gwen tells her.
“Don’t bring a lot,” Tara says. “That way if he spots you, he won’t guess what you’re doing.”
My mom interjects, “I think it’s best if you don’t go down to work until we have a chance to scope out the hotel and make sure he’s not staying here. Do you know the man’s name?”
Gwen and Tara both shake their heads. Tara says, “It wouldn’t matter if we did. Scum like him use all kinds of fake names and ID to keep from being identified.”
My mom says, “I’ll bring up some basic groceries that you can keep here in the refrigerator. Then I’ll tell Geoffrey that you had a family emergency and need to take a few days off.”
Tara paces around nervously. “I have responsibilities. Not only do I have every day menu items that need to be prepared, but Thanksgiving is coming up, and then there’s that wedding the day after.”
“Henry and Geoffrey will take care of everything,” my mom tells her.
Tara looks around in a borderline panic. “So that’s it? I’m stuck in this room?”
“You have three rooms,” I point out. “The living room, the kitchen, and the bedroom.” She rolls her eyes at me. I ask, “Will you keep an eye on Penny for a bit? I need to go home and see about getting a home equity loan so I can make all the repairs to my plumbing.”
My mom speaks up, “I’ll give you the loan and then you don’t have to bother with all that paperwork and interest.”
“Mom, I’m almost thirty-two years old,” I tell her.
“And?”
“I’m too old to be taking money from my parents.”
“Does that mean that when I die you don’t want your inheritance?” she asks quickly.
“I don’t like to think about you dying,” I tell her.
“James, just because you don’t think about something doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Look at