The Extinguished Guest (A Lexie Starr Mystery, Book 2) (18 page)

The group slowly disbursed, and we could hear them muttering about the perils of staying
at the Alexandria Inn as they made their way back to their rooms. It was obvious to
me they were having difficulty believing they'd be safe in their rooms. I couldn't
say I felt completely safe either, even as Stone carried me into his room and placed
me on top of his massive king-sized bed.

"I'll start your bath water, honey. I'm glad we'd decided to have you stay in here
with me tonight. There's no damned way I'd leave you alone in your room now. I don't
want to let you out of my sight."

"Who could've pushed me, Stone? And why? I wish I'd gotten a look at him, but it was
so dark, and I was taken completely off-guard."

"Anyone could've done it, I suppose. But why is someone so intent on causing you harm?
I don't know what to think. But I do know I don't like it. I've just decided to take
you back to your own house in Shawnee tomorrow. And I'm going to call Wendy and ask
if she can be sure to stay with you for a couple of days while you recuperate. If
nothing else, she can at least check in on you periodically during the day, and I'll
do the same. You'll be safe there, and that's all that matters at this point."

"But—"

"My decision is firm. There'll be no debate about it. As long as we're involved with
each other, I'm going to take care of you and protect you as best I can, whether you
like it or not. So you might as well get used to it!"

Get used to it? No problem there. Having a handsome, thoughtful man take care of me,
protect me, and worry about my safety was definitely something I could get used to.
With a contented smile on my face, I closed my eyes and Stone unfolded a quilt at
the foot of his bed and placed it over me. "Now I'm going to draw you a bath, complete
with soft music, lighted, cucumber-melon scented candles, and those dissolving lavender
oil beads you like so much. Holler if you need anything. I'll be back to get you in
a couple of minutes."

By the time Stone returned from the bathroom to inform me my water was ready, I had
fallen into a light, fitful sleep. I was barely conscious of Stone as he removed my
socks and shoes, loosened my clothes, tucked the quilt around me again, and removed
his own clothes to take advantage of the tub full of warm, scented water.

I could soak when I arose in the morning, and I needed the rest more than anything,
I'm sure those were his thoughts as he let me sleep off the after effects of a rough
day.

Chapter 14

"Wake up, sleeping beauty," were the next words I heard. I felt a warm hand brushing
the hair away from my face as I slowly opened my eyes. Stone was gazing at me with
concern. There were deep creases around his eyes as he looked down at me. He was holding
a tray laden with a heaping platter of food and a steaming cup of coffee. "I've brought
you some breakfast, honey. How are you feeling today?"

"Good morning. It looks and smells delicious, Stone. Thank you. I feel a mite rough
around the edges, but pretty good, considering the circumstances."

"Moving around just a bit might take away some of the stiffness, and eating will help
you get some of your strength back. The breakfast is compliments of Crystal. It was
her idea, and she made it for you after she finished cleaning the kitchen following
the meal she cooked for the guests. She's cooked you crisp bacon, French toast, and
two eggs, over hard. Ah, and here's an English muffin with strawberry jam."

"How sweet. She prepared all my favorites. She is such a sweetheart, but I don't know
how I could eat even half of all this."

"Yes, well give it your best try. She asked me what I thought you'd like best. She
really is a sweet, thoughtful gal. And she doesn't seem to mind the thought of another
long day of work catering to all these quirky old blue-haired, Historical Society
nuts."

"They're still here?" I hoped I didn't sound as disenchanted by the news as I felt.
After all, it wasn't as if the inn had suddenly been invaded by a swarm of twenty-pound
subterranean termites. "Haven't all the guests been released to leave this morning?
Last night they were all talking about going home today."

"Yes, but you haven't taken a look outside yet," Stone said. He walked over to the
window and drew open the drapes as if revealing the most hideous sight imaginable.
"Nothing is working in our favor this week, is it?"

All I could see when he opened the drapes was a wall of solid white out the window.
There was a plain, old-fashioned blizzard taking place outdoors. "Holy moly," I exclaimed.
"It must have snowed all night!"

"It's a winter wonderland out there, that's for sure," Stone said. He'd managed to
make
winter wonderland
sound like a purgatory in hell. "There's nearly a foot of heavy, wet snow on the
ground, and another two or three inches are expected. It's still coming down pretty
fast and furious right now. Except in extreme emergencies, the sheriffs department
has prohibited all road travel. In fact, if you get stuck and don't have chains on
your tires, you could be ticketed. None of the guests seemed too upset about being
forced to spend another day here at my expense. They seem content to be waited on
and fed and pampered like world renowned dignitaries while they wait out the storm."

"Oh, I can well imagine. How did Crystal get here this morning? I had promised to
pick her up if the weather was bad."

"She called early this morning. I took your Jeep to St. Joseph at six-thirty and brought
her back. I considered a house full of demanding old fogies an 'extreme emergency,'
and thought it was worth the risk of getting stuck in your four-by-four to bring Crystal
to the inn. I wouldn't have even scoffed at a hefty fine had I gotten stuck and ticketed.
I might've even encouraged them to throw me in jail overnight," Stone said.

"Don't even think about it, Buster. You're not getting out of this that easily."

"No, I'm never that lucky. I told Crystal to bring an overnight bag so we wouldn't
have to try to get her home this evening. The roads may be officially closed by then.
She can use your room downstairs, since you won't be needing it."

"Good idea, I wish we'd thought of that last night." I took a few sips of my favorite
espresso Stone had brought me. I noticed he was eyeing me intently, trying to judge
my condition. I tried to force a measure of cheerfulness in my demeanor to ease his
concern. "Any problems getting around in the snow with my Jeep?"

"None at all. Better start eating before your food gets cold."

"Okay. What time is it?"

"About a quarter after ten."

"It's after ten? I haven't slept that late in ages. Good Lord, Stone, why didn't you
get me up earlier? I feel like the laziest slug alive."

"I thought the rest would be good for you. And with Crystal here, I didn't feel it
was necessary to have you downstairs working in the kitchen. I knew she and I could
take care of the guests adequately. Everyone's had breakfast and they're all milling
around in the parlor, taking it easy this morning. A number of them are playing cards.
They all seem to be in good spirits, at least."

"That's nice," I said. I took another long swallow of the espresso. I felt like I
hadn't had a sip of coffee in days.

"I made an announcement at breakfast that, due to the accident you endured last night,
there'll be no maid service today. Crystal can only do so much, and since this entire
scenario was unforeseen, I'm counting on the guests to make their beds and tidy up
their own rooms today. Crystal will be busy enough just keeping them fed."

"Good for you! There's no sense letting them work Crystal to the bone. Keeping Patty
Poffenbarger fed could be a full-time job all by itself."

"That's what I thought, too. I'm sure cleaning up after themselves while they're guests
at the inn might be considered a real imposition to several of them, but, amazingly,
no one complained about my announcement. When I passed through the parlor a few minutes
ago, they were setting up two card tables and choosing up teams for their game of
pitch. Alma Turner was going into the kitchen to help Crystal make another pot of
coffee, and Patty Poffenbarger was sweeping the front entryway while Otto was outside
shoveling the sidewalk. I made him quit, however, because men our age have a tendency
to drop over dead from heart attacks caused by the exertion of shoveling. I hired
that redheaded young man up the street, named Walter Sneed, to come down and clear
the sidewalks. So, as you can see, things are going along just fine, even while you
lounge around like a lazy slug, as you put it."

"That's a relief. I still feel guilty lying in bed while you and Crystal are working."

"Well, don't! Now you finish up your breakfast. You're not going to get away with
just drinking coffee, so you might as well dig in. While you eat I'm going to draw
you another bath. It might make you feel a little perkier. I ended up using the last
bath I drew for you to wash my own tired body."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"

"Don't be sorry. I was glad to see you could fall asleep. You needed the rest. And
I rather enjoyed those lavender oil beads and scented candles. Although, I have to
admit, I found myself wishing I had a little curly-haired, brown-eyed beauty to share
them with me." Stone was teasing, but I knew he'd been looking forward to a little
romance and intimacy last night. I'd been looking forward to the same things. I vowed
to make it up to him, and it was a promise I'd enjoy fulfilling.

After Stone started the water running in the tub, he ducked his head around the corner
and said, "Since it's no longer possible for you to go home as I'd planned, I want
you to be extra cautious today. In fact, I'd prefer you kept yourself locked in my
suite as much as possible, away from the guests. You can read, watch television, surf
the Internet on my computer, or just lounge around in bed. No talking to guests or
wandering around the inn. Okay? I won't be able to keep an eye on you all day."

"Oh, all right," I said. "But only because I don't want you to worry about me, and
it's obvious someone here is determined to give you cause to worry."

"And they're succeeding. Maybe you can get those featherbed mattresses ordered for
me today. Fire up my computer and do a little Internet surfing."

"Okay, that's a good idea."

"Oh, and by the way, I offered to loan your Jeep to Boris. He told me he was desperate
to attend a vitally important meeting that's scheduled for six o'clock this evening,
and he was concerned about how he'd get to it. I acted like I had no idea what the
six o'clock meeting was about and told him I knew you'd be happy to lend him your
vehicle, which is so reliable in the snow. You don't mind, do you? I thought it was
important he didn't miss the scheduled rendezvous with Mr. Pikstone."

"You're exactly right. It's the perfect solution, actually. My Jeep will be easy to
tail. It practically glows in the dark. And I won't be in need of it this evening,
anyway. Did you get in touch with the authorities on the kakapo abduction? Or has
somebody who can contact the authorities been told about it?"

"Well, I wasn't sure who to contact, so I called the Rockdale Police Department and
talked to Wyatt—Detective Johnston—and he said he'd talk to Sergeant O'Brien and have
O'Brien contact the New Zealand Department of Conservation and whatever authorities
he thought needed to be informed about the situation. Nevertheless, it's in their
hands now, and he assured me there'd be arrests made at the transfer tonight. He promised
to call me later on today with an update."

"Good. I'm anxious to see how it turns out. And I can rest easy today, knowing something's
being done to save the parrots," I said.

"Yes. We've done about all we can do. Wyatt couldn't help laughing about the situation
when I explained it to him. He said it'd be the first parrot-napping case the Rockdale
Police Department had ever been involved in."

"I can well imagine."

"Now, I want you to rest and enjoy your bath. Relax and try not to worry or be involved
in anything that requires a trip to the ER tonight, okay? Boris will have your Jeep,
and my Corvette is absolutely worthless on snow and ice."

I agreed to take it easy and do my best to stay out of trouble. After I polished off
the entire tray of food, I took a long, much-needed, soak in the tub. My stiff, aching
body was very appreciative. I still had a dull throb in my right temple where I'd
struck the railing. I took a couple of ibuprofen tablets I'd brought along in my toiletry
bag. Stone had transferred my toiletries and my garment bag from my former suite downstairs.
I had every intention of lounging around all day, reading and resting, and staying
out of harm's way. My good intentions lasted nearly a full hour.