His Promise Read online

  Because of that, he’d concentrated on his job and tried to ignore his feelings for her. Actually, he’d hoped that the passing time would change the way he felt about Grace.

  It hadn’t.

  Now here he was again, drawn to the one woman he shouldn’t want . . . but still unable to do anything about it.

  Chapter 4

  John Michael Miller had been kind and attentive and he’d saved Snooze—and her. He’d lent her his coat and was guiding her safely home. He was being helpful in many ways, and she was grateful for it.

  But he was not very good at listening to her.

  “There’s really no need for you to walk me the rest of the way, John. I’ll be fine.” Grace knew she was being more than a little ungracious. But the Lees’ house was looming up ahead and Snooze was getting heavy in her arms.

  And John Michael’s companionship? Well, it was something she didn’t need to subject herself to for long periods of time. Every time she let her mind ease, she found herself rethinking his and Beth’s breakup from a new perspective.

  Found herself wondering if maybe her family had gotten it wrong.

  That there really were more important things to worry about besides weekly visits and plans.

  Maybe what really counted in a relationship were evenings spent in private, when it was just the two of them. When there was no more business to the day, only hours to fill before sleep.

  What if there wasn’t anything there—no contentment or sense of peace, no sparks of desire?

  That would be difficult, indeed.

  “Let me see you safely back.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Please, Grace. Allow me to help you.”

  With anyone else, she would’ve found his words and his offer to be chivalrous. Grace knew she needed to keep that in mind. They walked the rest of the way in silence. As they got closer, his brow furrowed.

  “Grace, I know you aren’t a little girl, but I can’t help but worry about you and this job of yours. Do you ever get afraid to live in all these strange houses by yourself?”

  “Not at all.” Yes, her voice had a new edge to it, but she couldn’t help herself. She’d been doing this job for quite some time now. It wasn’t his place to be questioning it.

  “Are you sure? That is a mighty big home. Some might even call it a mansion. You don’t find being by yourself in this big place off-putting?”

  The house had six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three fireplaces, a library, a dining room, and a breakfast room with something called a butler’s pantry next to it. It had living areas on all three floors. It was the biggest house she’d ever stayed in, that was true. But until that moment, she hadn’t found it off-putting at all. Merely, really big—and never something she would want to clean. Now, though, she felt a shudder pass through her at the thought of living there by herself for another thirteen days. “Don’t worry about me. I’m used to this.”

  “I understand.” Gazing at the stone structure again, he said, “Where do you sleep?”

  “Upstairs. Why?”

  “If someone broke in the front or back doors, you might not hear it if you were upstairs asleep.”

  That was true . . . but why would he say such a thing? “I’ll be fine,” she said again.

  As they neared the front door, he grinned. “All right. I’ll leave you alone. I’m just glad we found Snooze.”

  “Me, too. I wouldn’t have, if not for you.”

  He pointed to the footprints that headed around the side of the house. “Looks like you had quite the time of it, searching around the yard for him.”

  She nodded . . . just as she realized that those were not her footprints. Hers no doubt had been covered up by the falling snow. These? These were fresher and from bigger feet. Staring at the large prints that disappeared off to the side, she wondered who had been there . . . and why they had been walking around the house’s perimeter.

  John Michael touched her arm.

  She practically jumped a foot into the air.

  “Sorry!” He shook his head. “It seems I have a lot to make up for, don’t I? Obviously, you are still upset about what happened between me and Beth. And now I’m bringing up all kinds of issues with you living alone.”

  She was used to staying in other people’s homes all the time. She’d never felt scared. Maybe it was because she always had the owners’ dogs or cats with her, and they were excellent at watching out for their property. Then, too, they were in the middle of cave country in Kentucky, not in a big city like Nashville or Louisville.

  But those footprints . . . they were definitely unsettling. Immediately, she began thinking of all sorts of awful scenarios. Maybe someone had broken into the Lees’ home. Maybe someone was still outside, watching them.

  But if she mentioned any of that to him, John Michael would grow even more concerned. Maybe he’d even try to convince her to call the sheriff or leave.

  She didn’t want to do either of those things, especially since she wanted him to see her as a responsible woman, not a scared and needy child.

  Therefore, against her better judgment, she lied. “Jah. At first I was so sure that Snooze with his little legs couldn’t go very far. I kept walking around the house and calling his name.”

  “You didn’t notice his tracks running toward the woods?”

  Of course she had. “Obviously not.” Hating that she sounded so, well, stupid, she stepped closer to the front door. “I’ve learned my lesson now, though! Snooze won’t be going outside without a leash ever again.”

  “I hope not. You should keep it by the door so you don’t forget it when you leave.”

  “That’s a gut idea.” Of course she was mentally rolling her eyes. Did he not think she did anything right?

  Placing her hand on the door, she murmured, “It’s all over now, though. I better get on inside.”

  “All right.” He paused. “Are we ever going to be okay, Grace?”

  His sincerity punched holes in the many excuses she had had for not forgiving him. It made her feel slightly embarrassed, too. After all, though she loved her sister, she wasn’t unaware that Beth had as many flaws as she herself did. As everyone did.

  And, well, love had to exist between two people. Who was she to judge if John Michael hadn’t felt that he and Beth should be together forever?

  “We are better,” she said at last.

  “Promise?”

  “I promise.” She spoke from the heart, too. She wanted the two of them to be better.

  “I’ll take that. Well, I guess I should go . . . unless you’d like me to walk inside with you and make sure everything is okay?”

  That sense of foreboding she’d been feeling had grown even stronger. For a moment, she considered taking him up on it.

  But to what end?

  “Thank you for the offer, but that’s not necessary.”

  “All right, then. Good-bye, Grace. I hope you and Snooze have a good evening.” He smiled. Another one of those heart-stopping, gorgeous smiles that she used to dream about years ago.

  He turned and walked away before she could summon the nerve to reply.

  She tried to tell herself that the hint of disappointment and loss she was feeling wasn’t real . . . just as she was attempting to pretend that the fresh footsteps in the snow were nothing to be alarmed about.

  Chapter 5

  As soon as Grace released Snooze, he darted into the living room. She stood in the open foyer and listened for any sign that she wasn’t alone.

  She didn’t hear a thing.

  Summoning her courage, she strode to the kitchen, picked up the Lees’ phone, and carried it with her as she walked through the house. She checked the locks on the windows. Made sure the doors in the back of the house were still shut tight.

  When she was satisfied that she was safe and secure, she pushed her fears to one side and concentrated on her job instead. She gave Snooze a bath and dried him carefully with two towels. Then she fed him supp
er and did a load of laundry.

  After she’d taken her own shower and had her own supper, she turned on the Lees’ television. Though she didn’t usually ever turn it on, she’d been desperate to find something to take her mind off her worries . . . and her reunion with John Michael. But even though Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was rather entertaining, his adventures didn’t help ease her mind.

  Eating three scones hadn’t helped, either.

  As the hour grew late, she began reading, hoping to become so engrossed in the pages of the book that she’d forget her own problems. It took a while, and it finally helped. She drifted off to sleep thinking not of her problems but of the heroine in the book she was reading and her trials in the Alaskan wilderness.

  Then, like unwelcome houseguests, her thoughts were invaded again—she was dreaming . . . she was back at home, in her own bed.

  Her bedroom window opened with a clatter. The movement knocked over a candle. Next thing she knew, her quilt was on fire. Afraid and alone, she started screaming and ran for the door, but it was locked. Just as she started banging on it, calling for her parents to help her, John Michael appeared at her window, beckoning her to him. Just as she reached for his hand, her sister opened her door and called her away.

  As the fire tore through her bedding, she froze in her tracks, wanting to take John’s hand to safety but afraid to ignore her sister’s pleas. She was so distraught, she cried out, trying to catch her breath—

  And realized the fire existed only in her dream.

  She’d found it almost impossible to fall asleep after that. She tossed and turned, reliving all her conversations with John Michael and flinching every time the house creaked or groaned. She remained curled up in a ball and thoroughly miserable until she fell back to sleep again.

  Grace woke up late, feeling achy and sore—and far too jumpy. She wondered if she was going to be dwelling on John Michael’s warnings for the next two weeks. When she found herself jumping when a branch fell in the distance, Grace feared it was likely.

  Determined to try to find some ray of light in the last twenty-four hours, she focused on her new and improved relationship with Snooze.

  The dog, however, seemed to have an extremely short memory, for his cuddles were once again a thing of the past.

  He wasn’t grateful that she’d rescued him out of the snow and the dirty pile of straw. He hadn’t appreciated being carried the whole way home, snug and warm next to her body while she lugged him around, all fourteen pounds of him.

  Nope, he was back to giving her the cold shoulder again. Actually, he seemed to be nursing a Great Dane–sized grudge against her. He wouldn’t touch his breakfast until she left the room. It seemed he even liked to dine in private.

  Unfortunately for Snooze, Grace’s whole body was tired, her left foot was slightly swollen from her stumble, and she was emotionally drained.

  “You’re just gonna have to get used to me,” she said as she stretched out on the couch by his side. “This is the coziest couch, and both the fireplace and the Christmas tree are in this room. I’m not going to allow you to have the entire room to yourself.”

  Snooze, after giving her a rather disdainful glare, snorted. Then he flipped over on his side so that his back was to her.

  She sighed and picked up her stationery to write her parents a letter. Her pen hovered over the paper as she tried to think of what to write that wouldn’t sound too sad or lonely. For a moment, she considered sharing how she’d literally run into John Michael, but knew that wouldn’t bring forth any joy.

  The knock at the door was almost a welcome relief. When it was followed by the merry chime of the doorbell, Snooze burst out of his quilt like he was offended.

  Before she could get to her feet, he was at the door, barking and running in circles.

  “Hush, Snooze,” she soothed. “I bet it’s just the UPS man.” He’d come almost every day with a new package. She peeked out the window, prepared to see a man in a brown uniform retreating back . . . but caught John Michael staring back at her instead.

  With a feeling of foreboding, she scooped Snooze up in her arms and then opened the door. “John Michael,” she greeted hesitantly. “Is everything all right?”

  “You know what? I’m not sure.”

  “Beg your pardon?”

  “Let’s talk about this inside.” He took a step closer, then paused. “Please, Grace?”

  “Well, all right.” She gestured for him to enter as best she could, considering that Snooze was both squirming and barking once again.

  John Michael only laughed. After closing the door behind him, he knelt down to where she’d just deposited the dog. “Hey, buddy,” he murmured gently, scratching him just behind his ears. “How are you feeling after your adventure?”

  Snooze, the traitor that he was, wagged his tail and stepped closer to their visitor. He even went as far as to tilt his head up so John Michael could scratch under his chin.

  Grace shook her head in dismay. “He never allows me to do that.”

  “No? That’s surprising.”

  “It’s frustrating, that’s what it is.”

  “He’ll come around, I bet.” John Michael’s lips twitched.

  “One can only hope.”

  When he stood up to face her, all traces of amusement were gone from his face. “Grace, we need to talk.”

  “About what?” She really hoped it wasn’t going to be about Beth.

  “I couldn’t sleep last night, Grace. I kept thinking about yesterday’s adventure.”

  Glad that he didn’t want to rehash the past again, she smiled. “I did the same thing. If not for you, I might have lost Snooze forever.”

  Instead of looking pleased that they were talking about his heroism, John Michael shrugged off her praise. “I wasn’t thinking about Snooze, Grace.”

  “Oh?” Just like that, her apprehension returned.

  “Jah. You see, I was thinking about those footprints. This morning when I was bringing in a stack of wood for the fireplace, I noticed my own tracks in the snow. And that’s when I realized something. Those footprints next to this house weren’t yours. Yours would have been covered up by the snow that had fallen while you were gone.”

  She could either lie or she could tell the truth. “I know that.”

  He blinked slowly, like he was trying to understand her fib. “If you knew, why didn’t you correct me?”

  “I didn’t know what purpose it would serve,” she said honestly. “I didn’t want to worry you, and I didn’t want to start jumping to conclusions and start looking for problems where there weren’t any.”

  “But someone could have been here. You could have gotten attacked.”

  “But I wasn’t.”

  Impatience entered his tone. “Don’t be pert, Grace. I’ve been worried.”

  “I appreciate your concern. All I’m trying to say and point out is that despite your worries, I am fine.”

  He stuffed his hands in his coat pockets. “So, what did you do when you got inside? Did you call the sheriff and ask him to stop by?”

  “Nee.”

  His voice turned even more strained. “Grace, did you do anything last night?”

  She nodded. “I walked around the house and checked all the doors and windows. When everything seemed secure, I went about my business and gave Snooze a bath.”

  A muscle in his jaw twitched. “That’s it? You could have been in danger last night. You still could be.”

  “I was fine last night.” Except for her scary dream. “John Michael, to be honest, I was a little worried last night, but I also know the danger of jumping to conclusions and fearing the worst.” She waved a hand. “Those footsteps could have belonged to one of the Lees’ workers. Mrs. Lee told me that she might have people stop by from time to time to check on the gardens and fixtures they have in the back.”

  “Jah. I’m sure they do a lot of work outside during snowstorms.”

  “I locked the doors, and I’
m careful, too. I’m not going to take chances with Snooze.”

  Staring at her intently, he lowered his voice. “I’m worried about you, Grace. Not the dog.”

  “I appreciate that. Now, would you like to come the rest of the way inside and have a cup of tea or coffee?”

  His dark eyes softened. “I wish I could, but I need to head over to the firehouse.”

  She noticed then that his wool coat wasn’t buttoned and he was wearing his fireman’s uniform underneath. He had on navy blue pants, boots, and a long-sleeved light-blue shirt that had buttons at the collar. The words Hart County Fire Department were embroidered in red on the breast pocket of his coat.

  “The chief is holding a couple of meetings today. I’m not supposed to be on, but I should only be there for a couple of hours.” He shifted and pulled out a card from his pocket. “Before I go, I want to give you this.” He pointed to the printed information. “See, there’s the firehouse’s phone number.”

  “I do know how to call 911, John Michael.”

  “Of course you do. But you can use this number in case you need something that’s not an emergency. Like if you’re just worried or something. Or, um, want to talk.”

  She swallowed. What would her sister say? “I don’t know . . .”

  He curved his hands around her palm and pressed the card there. “Please take it. Knowing that you have a way to easily get ahold of me will ease my mind.”

  She felt her cheeks heat, but whether it was from the touch of his hands or the way he was gazing at her, she didn’t know. “Danke. I will put it by the Lees’ telephone.”

  “Gut.” He exhaled. “All right. I’ll be there for a few hours, then I’m going home and helping my daed. Tomorrow I’m on from seven until the following morning.”

  “All right.”

  s “So call if you need me.”

  “I will.”

  “In two days, I’ll stop by again. Will that be all right?”

  Before she gave herself time to think about the wisdom of that, she nodded. “If you want to.”