WindSwept Narrows: #14 Daphne Paddington Read online

  Daphne Paddington

  WindSwept Narrows

  Book Fourteen

  Karen A. Nichols

  Copyright 2011 by Karen A. Nichols

  Smashwords Edition

  Published by Karen Nichols. Copyright, Karen Nichols. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

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  Chapter One

  Daphne Paddington was coming to really enjoy Fridays. The admin personnel were given the option of longer work days for half days on Fridays and most took advantage of the perk. By twelve-thirty a lot of the residents at the child care were on their way home with their parents.

  Then the fire alarm sounded.

  She and Eve had trained the staff on the drills, so she stood to the side, counting and watching, stepping into the late February sunshine with a shiver. The dress she wore was a dark green and stopped just past her knees, the low heels working well as long as she stayed off the very damp ground. She moved to the fencing surrounding the play area for the day care, keeping an eye on the people gathering because of the alarm. Her hand was on the gate at the same time she saw an unfamiliar man speaking to one of her kids.

  She swore softly when she saw Mina Alexander nod, a grin of childish excitement on her face just before she lifted her arms. Daphne shoved the gate open and took off after them.

  Vlad Mircea had just mounted the large chestnut colored horse when he caught sight of the commotion across the large expanse of field. He spoke quickly into the ear piece he wore.

  “Emil…Petar…follow me…Tallon…you have your sling shot?”

  “Yes, Uncle,” came the instant reply.

  “Aim for the man’s ankles…and aim well,” he ordered firmly, his heels kicking into the sides of the horse as the three older men took off toward the man running with the small girl in his arms. He watched the blonde fling shoes behind her before taking off at a run that his horses would envy, he decided, watching her quickly loop her skirt into the belt at her waist out of the way. The long, slender legs easily made short work of the ground beneath her feet.

  “Herd him this way,” Vlad ordered into his microphone, the horses responding to the split second commands of the reins, the men skillful as they came to a careful triangle shaped trap. He saw the small stones strike at the man’s ankles. His nephew needed practice, he thought with a grim smile when the man looked up at the very large animals slowly fencing him in.

  “Get the…this isn’t your damn…”

  Another stone struck him.

  “What is your name, girl?” Vlad asked brusquely.

  “Mina Alexander…what’s your name?”

  “Vlad Mircea…would you like to ride with me?” He moved the large animal carefully closer, his eyes on the man. “I can make her trample you without losing sleep. Hand me the child,” he said coldly, his hand out and wrapping around the little girl. He positioned her in front of him, handing her the reins that dangled. “Hold on…we will take you to the school…Emil…secure him until the police can arrive.”

  “He said he was taking me to see daddy,” Mina said curiously watching the adults around her.

  “Is that your mother?” Vlad asked softly, watching the blonde slow her pace and work on her expression.

  “No. That’s Miss Daphne…she’s a teacher,” Mina waved excitedly. “Lookie, Miss Daphne! I’m on a horse! A real horse!” She called out with a bright smile.

  “A horse…” Daphne came to a stop, her head back and eyes closed. “Thank you…thank you…” She said breathlessly, gathering her senses and breath enough to peer up into the darkest set of eyes she’d ever seen, his hair equally dark and blown by the winds around them, barely touching his ears. She caught sight of a tattoo peeking out from beneath the rolled shirt sleeves.

  “I’m glad we were in the right place to help,” He looked over to see the resort guards taking care of the man his brothers had held. His gaze swung to the ground at the same time another woman came more sedately from the side, glancing from one to the other. “Is that your mother?”

  “That’s Hope…she’s like a mom,” Mina said, holding her arms out and flying into the open palms held up for her. “I went for a ride on the horse, Hope!”

  “I saw that…” Hope looked cautiously from one to the other, quietly shoving the fears away. “I’m heading home, Daphne. Devon, Dominic and Charity are at the press conference downtown. Hopefully…this won’t happen again,” she said quietly, looking up at the man staring at Daphne. “Thank you…” she held up her palm. “Hope Alexander.”

  “Vlad Mircea, my pleasure,” he winked at Mina. “Come see me again and we’ll take a longer ride, alright?” He laughed at her excited nod.

  “I’ll call you later, Hope,” Daphne promised, exhaling slowly.

  “You handled that very well…the child wasn’t the least bit frightened,” he complimented softly.

  “Never show your panic until you’re alone and locked in the bathroom where no one can hear you scream,” she recited slowly, her hands going to lift the edge of her dress with a grimace. “Oh…yech…” She peered down at the moss and mud covered toes, pink edges poking out now and then in the muck.

  “Interesting statement,” He leaned over, his palm extended. “Vlad Mircea.”

  “Oh…yes…sorry…Daphne Paddington.”

  “When I invited you to lunch, Vlad, I thought you’d use the front door,” Logan Sheffield looked from his friend to Daphne.

  “Just a slight deviation from the plan, Logan,” Vlad Mircea grinned. “I’ll see you in a few minutes. Miss Paddington…” he tipped his hand off his head and rode to join the two men waiting, all three horses setting off at a gallop toward the encampment being set up.

  “Friend of yours, Logan?” Daphne held her skirt up and moved more sedately back toward the daycare entrance.

  “I’ve known Vlad awhile,” he admitted, his head shaking. “They had plans to establish their own farm on the other side of Gig Harbor.”

  “Lots of land for sale over there,” Daphne commented absently, stopping and rinsing her feet beneath the outside faucet.

  “They had to run into possibly the only…”

  “What’s the problem?” She asked, unaccustomed to hearing him so angry.

  “Idiots with race issues,” he said, his palm up and stroking over his goatee. “We have one of the most diverse populations in the country in this area, yet you still run into people with a mindset out of the forties.”

  “He’s American. I saw the tattoo…you knew him from the military, didn’t you?” Daphne stared out where the cars and horse carriers were being parked.

  “He’s American,” Logan agreed. “Born here. But he’
s of Romanian descent.”

  “I’m confused,” Daphne shook her head. “So?”

  “Evidently the owner of the property made a comment about being unwilling to sell his property to thieving gypsy’s,” Logan said dryly.

  Daphne felt her mouth open and close twice before she just shook her head. “I don’t believe it…is there anything they can do about it? That should be illegal…”

  “They can stall until forever,” Logan stalked off toward the main entrance with a mumbled. “Have a great weekend, Daphne.”

  “Yeah…you, too,” she scowled and carried her shoes with her into her office, dropping them and going off to play with the kids.

  Blue eyes strayed to the encampment being erected on the undeveloped section of the resort property. Daphne chewed on her lip as she drove toward the Emporium, one heeled toe kicking out at an invisible something as her mind kicked around a combination of anger and frustration.

  She entered the fragrant shop and pulled a stool to the counter, sinking down behind the glass case and watching people. She could hear her aunt singing to herself in the back and announced herself.

  “It’s just me, Aunt Zora,” Daphne opened bottles and sniffed.

  “Such a face,” the older woman tsked as she came from the back, her hands drying in the large apron she wore over her slacks and blouse. The slender, dark haired woman knew her nieces well and this one had the look of confusion etched on her finely carved face. She put a finger beneath the stubborn chin. “Talk.”

  “What do you know of gypsies?”

  Zora decided she could have guessed for hours and not expected that question. “I know what I grew up with. I know what we’re accused of and what the stereotypes are,” she said carefully, pulling a stool forward and sitting down quietly. “This is what’s troubling you?”

  “The United States is made up of all colors. And all types. But they’re all basically people, good and bad,” Daphne said thoughtfully. “Yet…a man selling property is denying the sale because of an ancient prejudice towards what he believes gypsies to be.”

  “Ahh…I have heard from a distant cousin,” Zora offered a small chocolate to her niece. “They are farmers. They want nothing more than to grow everything from vegetables to herbs to flowers. They know of the markets that set up from June through Christmas and would do well there. They would have honey bees and even chickens and goats. They are strict to their children and I can tell you, there is not a thief among them.”

  “Logan has allowed them to camp on the undeveloped part of the resort,” Daphne said quietly. “But it’s so very wrong. I did some research on the piece of land. It’s very large. Nicely wooded and it’s been for sale for several years. It has a huge old house on it along with several barns that look like they’re in very good condition. It needs to be fenced securely, though,” she spoke her thoughts aloud. “I think I should have a talk with Gwen and Eloise,” she hopped to the floor, kissed her aunt’s cheek and grinned broadly.

  “Hmm…I see a plot brewing inside that pretty head,” she commented softly. “I would advise you to speak with the elder if your plot involves the clan setting up camp at the resort. Her name is Anca Cesnia. Tell her I sent you to speak with her,” she said with a wink, chuckling as Daphne nodded, waved and ran off along the corridor.

  Daphne went to her quarters, loaded her printer with paper and sat down for some serious research. She had a map layout of the property printed, studying it and making notes as she bit into the apple in her palm. Staring, thinking and chewing. She placed calls to her cousins, asking them to meet her in the morning for breakfast at the Emporium. She went to sleep late, nodding off to the replies agreeing to meet her at nine.

  Chapter Two

  Daphne had the table ready when the others came in, the little one skipping along and carrying a pack on her back.

  “Hi, Miss Daphne!” Zoe held her arms out and was immediately swept into a hug.

  “You give the best hugs, Miss Zoe,” Daphne told her, rubbing noses before buckling her into the seat.

  “She’s looking awfully cheerful this morning,” Gwen remarked.

  “Hmmm…that’s cause she don’t have a guy waking her up at three in the morning,” Eloise lifted a tall glass of orange juice and drained half of it before surfacing. She sighed thickly. “In the most imaginative ways…”

  “And said guy is still sound asleep?” Daphne asked through her laughter.

  “No…he’s busy working on setting up interviews for Monday,” Eloise frowned at her cousin. “But you are looking very animated…what’s up?”

  “I need your help. Both of you, I think,” Daphne lifted the collection of papers she’d worked on most of the night. “It would be a good thing…consider it as righting a wrong. And…we would get good organic produce, eggs and possibly other stuff, I’m not sure yet on that part.”

  “Half baked schemes…I love it…” Eloise bit into a piece of toast and listened, glancing at the map and digging into the pack at her side. With a red pen, she began making notes on the property map, nodding to herself as she listened.

  “You’ve never taken a loan against shares,” Gwen said slowly, leaning back and offering some apples and grapes to Zoe. “None of us have. The form is simple enough…if Ethan hasn’t rearranged my office too badly, I can easily find them,” she lifted a pen, jotting down an amount and a times three. “This way…there is extra for the fencing and security system.”

  “The help is free…but the materials are another matter. I can get them at cost, but still…” Eloise chewed on a slice of toast filled with scrambled eggs.

  “I would love to be the fly on the wall when the owner finds out he’s been had,” Gwen said coldly, her pale brown head shaking. She pulled out her phone. “Let’s lay some rumors…got time this morning?” She asked, looking from one to the other. “Then let’s inspect our property.”

  Daphne stopped at the office and made copies of the property map for each of them. “I think a large…and I mean large…greenhouse should be erected here…excellent light for spring seeding. It looks like there are four really good wells on the property.”

  “I really do not like this agent,” Gwen said, snapping her phone closed and pacing outside her office. She went inside and found the loan papers that were only valid for members of the family. She blew the dust off and frowned at the laugher and coughing from the others. “Evidently we have a lot of money in the loan fund,” she murmured.

  “What nerve did the agent strike?” Daphne asked, taking up a pen and completing the form with the numbers Gwen had used.

  “Wanted to know if I was bringing my husband along,” Gwen glared at her phone, opening it and tapping in another number. “Brittany, my brilliant real estate guru…are you so very busy? Got a very lucrative sale for you…”

  “Aww…you know you had me at brilliant,” came the rich chuckle through the phone. “I happen to be sadly available. What and where?”

  “And what do you know about an agent named Daniel Curruthers?”

  “Hmm…elitist…out on the peninsula for the most part. Arrogant. Skirts the line of discrimination,” Brittany said dryly, packing up her bag and heading for the car. “I’ll be there in fifteen. Try not to kill him.”

  “I’m not guaranteeing a thing,” Gwen said with a laugh.

  They climbed into Gwen’s SUV, Daphne took the back and read through two books with Zoe on the ride over the wide expansion bridge, taking a left turn toward the undeveloped section of the strip that filled the southern portion of Puget Sound.

  “You invited Mariah?” Daphne waved at the large motorcycle coming up on her side.

  “I did…Eli’s busy with Morgan on the school thing. Besides, she likes this kind of thing and her signature, though not needed, will look really neat,” Eloise said with a bright grin. “Our adopted biker sister.” The girls laughed, watching the bike pull out ahead of them toward the turn toward the property.

  “So you think we jus
t ignore him?” Mariah asked, straddling her bike and hitching the helmet over the bar behind her. “You know what’s going through his head…you three and a woman on a bike shows up…”

  “It’s probably safest,” Daphne said with a low chuckle. “Gwen’s feeling very feminist today.”

  “I don’t blame her,” Mariah stepped onto the ground and swung her leg over, leather chaps fit to her body and her jeans. “What moron in this day and age asks if your husband is coming with you for the purchase of anything?”

  “Evidently this one,” Gwen mumbled, setting Zoe down after telling her to stay close.

  “Is this a farm?” Zoe asked, looking around her, climbing on the low wooden fence and peering over. “I think this was for chickens,” she decided with a nod.

  “Hmm...I think you’re right, kiddo,” Mariah lifted her and they went off talking and checking out the large barn.

  “This could be an incredible family farm,” Daphne whispered, watching Brittany greet the older man and carefully keep him from the women. “I can easily picture some small houses built out of the lumber from the land. Then you’ll have a couple acres easily for planting. According to my information there are four different kind of apples and two pears in the orchard. Also Italian prune plums and even a space set aside with grapes. Wonder if they made wine here?”

  “Yeah…” Mariah called out, setting Zoe free. “The equipment is in the back of the barn. It’s sturdy…very well built.”

  “Okay…who gets to ask for the front door of the house to be opened?” Eloise looked around at the others.

  “It’s my idea…I’ll do it,” Daphne applied her best smile and walked to the man standing with Brittany. “We’d like to go inside, please.”

  “I’ll get it, Daniel, they’re my clients,” Brittany said with a brilliant smile at the man looking less than happy. “He wants a sale really bad,” she said once they were out of earshot.