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“But it didn’t work out.”
“No.” She walked up to the porch, touched one of the rotting timbers at the corner of the house and sighed. “It’s a shame, though. I’ve seen old pictures of it. This front porch ran the whole length. It really was very grand . . .”
“Let’s look inside.”
“I don’t think it’s safe.”
“I’ll make sure it is before we step on any rotted out boards.”
“But the berry vines; the door is nearly blocked off—”
“Come on. Where’s your sense of adventure?” He took her hand in his and gently pulled her forward. With his free hand he managed to push the undergrowth aside and break a path to the front door. Bees buzzed in the berry vines overhead and the thorns caught in Dani’s hair and blouse, but Chase, bending over slightly to protect himself, was finally able to lead her through the open doorway.
It had been a long time since she’d been inside the house and the years and weather had taken their toll on the place. The wooden floors were scarred and dulled by a thick covering of dirt. Though the stairs were still intact, the banister had long since fallen away and lay in scattered pieces in the entry hall. Cobwebs hung in dark corners and broken glass littered the floor.
Chase reached down and picked up one of the hand-carved balusters, cleaning off the dust to stare at the once beautiful spoke that had helped support the railing. “How old is this house?” he asked, looking around. On either side of the main hall were two large rooms, each with a blackened fireplace on the outside walls.
“I don’t know exactly. Over a hundred years.”
“At least.” Walking into what must have been a dining room, Chase stopped at the fireplace. “It looks like the mason knew what he was doing.” He placed a hand on the ancient bricks and noted the few places where the mortar had begun to crumble. With a frown, he went through an open archway.
Following, Dani walked through the big dining room and down one step into the kitchen. It was a lean-to room, only one story, with a fireplace all its own. There was a huge black pot still hanging from a hook over the hearth. The hinge groaned when Chase tried to wipe the cobwebs from the ancient kettle.
“I’d love to rebuild this house,” Dani thought aloud. Chase looked up at the sagging ceilings and broken walls.
“You’d have to start from the ground up.”
“I know. It’s just a pipe dream, I suppose.”
Chase took hold of her hand. “Don’t ever give up your dreams, Dani.”
She laughed and shook her head. “But I’d never be able to afford to restore this place.”
“If you think that way, you’ve lost the battle before it’s even begun.” He kissed her on the forehead and wrapped his arm protectively around her shoulders. She leaned her head against his chest as they walked through the splintered back door and into the bright afternoon sunlight.
“You do see why I love this land, don’t you?” she asked suddenly, biting her lip and staring at the stark mountains jutting up against the brilliant blue sky. “My family has been here for generations . . . I just can’t stand the thought of these beautiful hills covered with asphalt, burger stands, condominiums and hotels. Is that selfish?”
“I don’t know,” Chase admitted. “Seems like there should be a way to compromise.”
She nodded and walked over to Traitor to get the lunch from the saddle
bags. Chase grabbed the rolled blanket from his horse and spread it on the ground under a rough-barked pear tree.
After sitting down, Dani placed the sandwiches, apples and oatmeal cookies on the old quilt and then poured Chase a cup of iced tea. “Maybe I should just sell out to Caleb Johnson,” she said distantly, but then shook her head. “Maybe if it were anyone else—but it’s just Caleb’s damned take-it-all attitude that drives me out of my skull. The man is poison.”
“I’d like to disagree with you,” Chase said as he took the cup Dani offered. He leaned on one elbow, unwrapped a sandwich and started to eat as Dani poured another cup of tea for herself.
“But you can’t argue the point, can you?”
“Not unless he had nothing to do with the drum of dioxin.”
“Have you asked him about it?”
“Not yet But I’ll have to soon,” he answered, finishing his sandwich.
“What are you waiting for?”
“The right time, I suppose. When I’ve got all the information I need to back me up.”
