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“Exactly.” She loved her customers, her community, but she craved solitude, too. Seeking out the beauty in nature fed her soul. She’d often dreamt of making a living with her photography some day.
A harmless daydream she knew would never become a reality. Artists didn’t make steady money. And when it came down to it, she couldn’t bear to sell the store––not the place their grandparents had literally built with their own hands. The business Gran and Gramps ran far longer than they should have to build a nest egg for her and Jason, orphaned way too young.
Pegs eyed her from across the counter. “Don’t make the mistake I did—spending too many years married to your work. Make time for yourself and what makes you happy. All work and no play makes Jane a dull girl.”
Jane snorted, rolling her eyes but appreciating the levity.
Pegs waved a hand dismissively. “Seriously. Just don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. You won’t be much help to anybody else if your tank’s on empty.”
The unexpected connection they’d forged in such a short time warmed Jane’s soul. But Pegs’ comments left her wondering how much of that advice came from hard-won experience. Did Pegs have other dreams? A special man in her life, maybe?
Hard to imagine the kind of man it would take to catch the eye of such an extraordinary woman. She wished she knew the tough, accomplished spy enough to ask. Instead, she picked a much more innocuous topic.
“Speaking of hobbies, what do you like to do when you have the time?”
“Bees,” Pegs replied, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. “I keep honeybees.”
“That’s fascinating,” Jane said, marveling at the revelation.
Lots of ranchers in her area kept bees in their orchards, but she’d never met anyone who wasn’t into doing it purely as a hobby.
Peg’s smile widened. “Bees are clever, industrious, and loyal. There’s something calming about watching them go about their daily tasks. Helps me forget the craziness.”
“Wow,” Jane murmured, impressed by the depth of Pegs’ passion. “But what about the stinging?”
“Ah, well,” Pegs chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. “You have to take the good with the bad. They’re really incredible creatures. Far more than most people I know. Well worth a sting now and then.”
The other woman gave Jane a long, searching look, as if trying to gauge something within her. The intensity of her gaze made Jane feel both vulnerable and seen, an odd sensation that sent a shiver down her spine.
The sound of water shutting off upstairs signaled Bridger’s imminent return. If she was going to ask Jane about the Consortium, now was the time.
She set aside her knife and pressed her hands into the countertop.
“Why won’t Bridger explain about this Consortium? All I know is it’s got something to do with Jason’s disappearance. My brother’s chasing them, or they’re chasing him. Either way, it’s important. I deserve to know.”
Peg swiped the onion scraps into the trash, her movements calm and precise. “You have a legitimate point. I won’t argue with that. But I can’t tell you anything.” She held up a slim hand, forestalling Jane’s protest. “It’s not my place. Not my tale to tell. And I don’t know everything. I’ve been out of the service a long time. I can tell you that whatever’s going on with the Consortium has nothing to do with your ex, Pete. Don’t tell him I said this, but North’s right. We need to focus on one problem at a time.”
Jane sighed, frustration bubbling up inside her. “Can’t he at least tell me what this group has against Jason? Against all of them, I’m guessing?”
“He’s not telling you yet because he cares about you, Jane,” Pegs said softly, her eyes filled with empathy. “A lot. And he doesn’t want you to think less of him because of whatever’s happened in the past. Just leave it at that for now, okay?”
Jane studied the older woman’s face, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to believe her, but the thought of the dangers her brother faced––the unknown enemies lurking in the shadows––terrified her.
“Okay,” she whispered, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. “I just... I wish I knew how to help Jason…and Bridger.”
“Trust me, you’re doing more for North than you realize,” Pegs assured her, reaching across the sink to squeeze Jane’s hand. “Just being here, being someone he can trust and rely on––that means everything to a man like him.”
Not the answer Jane wanted, for sure, but she couldn’t deny Pegs’ sincerity. And the woman’s clear protectiveness over Bridger. Whatever this Consortium had to do with Jason, Bridger and the group had history. Clearly lots of it. Obviously bad.
As if on cue, Bridger appeared at the top of the stairs, his hair still wet from the shower and clinging to his forehead. He wore a clean, black t-shirt that stretched tightly across his broad chest and emphasized the strong lines of his muscles. Jane’s stomach fluttered. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the man who had so unexpectedly captured her interest.
“Mission accomplished,” he called, catching her longing gaze with an almost imperceptible smile.
“Hey,” she replied, her voice a little breathless as she tore her eyes away from him and pretended to be engrossed in the potato in her hand.
Pegs leaned against the counter, watching the exchange with an amused glint in her eyes. “You’ve got it bad, huh?” she asked Jane quietly, her voice tinged with both sympathy and humor.
“Is it that obvious?” Jane whispered back, feeling her cheeks heat up in embarrassment.
