Afraid (14 page)

A deer? An elk? A bear? Julie's eyes swept the edge of the wooded area, and she saw something moving near the base of a large pine. Then she blinked and the shape was gone. Perhaps it had been one of the lodge cats. Aunt Caroline kept several strays to keep down the mice population.

One more lap, and she would go back to the lodge. Julie began to skate again. The blades on her skates made soft shushing sounds against the ice, and she smiled as she fell into an easy rhythm. As she glided past the far end of the rink, she felt an uneasy prickling at the back of her neck. Eyes were watching her. From the trees.

“Hello?” Julie's voice was shaking as she called out. Perhaps one of her classmates had forgotten something and was coming back to get it. “Is anyone there?”

But there was only silence. Silence, and the sensation of breathing, back in the pines where the shadows were deepest. Someone was there. Julie was sure of it. And that someone was watching her!

Suddenly the sun dropped behind the mountain peak and darkness began to fall. She'd forgotten how quickly light faded up here in the mountains. Julie's breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed off from the rail and raced toward the warming house. There was barely enough light to see. And someone was watching her! Waiting for darkness to fall!

Her fingers fumbled frantically with the laces and she pulled off her skates as fast as she could. Where was he? Out there somewhere, waiting for her to come out? But she couldn't stay here. She had to get back to the safety of the lodge!

Then she heard footsteps coming across the ice, straight toward the warming house in a direct path. Heavy footsteps. A man's footsteps!

Julie dropped to her knees and scuttled under the wooden bench. Her heart was beating so hard, she was sure he could hear it. He knew she was in here. And now he was coming to get her!.

Then the footsteps paused, right next to the warming house. “Julie? Are you still here?”

Lights blazed inside the warming house, and Julie blinked in confusion. Ross's voice. Ross was here.

“I'm just . . . uh . . . putting on my boots.” Julie slid out quickly and plunked herself up on the bench. There was no way she'd let Ross Connors catch her acting like a terrified child!

Almost immediately, Ross stuck his head around the corner. “Sorry, Julie. I would have turned on the lights sooner, but I thought you came in.”

“No . . . I decided to skate a little longer.”

“Are you all right?” Ross looked worried.

“I'm fine. And I'm ready to go.” Julie pulled on her boots and stood up. “Ross? Were you standing out there by the pine trees?”

Ross shook his head. “I came from the other side of the woods. Why?”

“I . . . uh . . . I just thought I heard something in the trees, that's all.”

“And it scared you?”

Ross gave an amused chuckle, and Julie quickly shook her head. “No, not at all. I was just curious.”

“Well, it was probably a raccoon. They get pretty hungry this time of year, and they start coming up to the lodge at dusk. That's why we keep our garbage in the shed.”

Julie nodded and smiled. “Of course. A raccoon. I should have known.”

Ross took her skates and slung them over his shoulder. As they started walking up the trail to the lodge, Julie considered it. No, not a raccoon. And not any other type of animal, either. She was sure that a man had watched her from the shadow of the pine tree. And whoever he was, he'd intended to scare her!

 

Julie dressed in a red-and-black-plaid skirt and a red sweater, and brushed her long blond hair until it was shining. She pulled it back with a red velvet ribbon and glanced at the clock on her dresser. It was almost six, and she'd told Aunt Caroline she'd be downstairs at seven to handle the switchboard.

Since she was early, Julie took the elevator to the basement and headed for Red Dawson's taxidermy shop. Aunt Caroline had asked her to pick up Red's invoices so the bookkeeper could do the billing. Julie wasn't really looking forward to going into Red's shop after dark. She'd gone down for the guided tour on her second day at Saddlepeak Lodge, and the sight of the realistically mounted animals crowded into the small basement shop, had made her feel nervous and jumpy.

As Julie pushed open the door and stepped inside, she saw that the shop was deserted. Red must be working in the back. Normally, the space was well lit, with spotlights aimed at Red's prize specimens, but now there was only one dim light over the counter. The door to Red's workroom was flanked by two animals that looked powerful and dangerous, even though they'd been rendered harmless by some lucky hunter. There was a mountain bobcat on the left, mounted in a crouching position on a heavy tree branch. Its mouth was open in a snarl of rage to expose its long, sharply pointed teeth. Julie shivered and turned to the right, but she felt even more nervous as she looked into the small, sightless glass eyes of a wild boar. It seemed to be barreling straight at her, its wicked-looking tusks about to impale anything in its path.

Julie jumped as the door opened suddenly and Red Dawson stepped out into the shop. His bulk filled the doorway, and he was wearing a canvas apron that was covered with stains and bits of hair and fur.

“Julie. I thought I heard someone out here.”

Red didn't look friendly. She'd probably interrupted his work. Julie tried to smile, but it was difficult. “Aunt Caroline sent me to pick up your invoices.”

“They're in that folder.” Red pointed at a manila folder on the counter. “Tell her the bear rug is finished, and I'll ship it out tomorrow.”

Julie nodded, and picked up the folder. “Thanks, Red. I'll tell her.”

“You want to see it?”

“Uh . . . sure.” Julie kept a smile on her face, even though she didn't have the slightest desire to see the bear rug. “Where is it?”

“In the back room. Come on.”

Julie took a deep breath as she followed Red into the back room. A combination of harsh smells assaulted her as she stepped into the huge work space, and she wrinkled up her nose.

“You get used to the smell after a while.” Red turned to grin at her expression. “You want me to turn on the fan?”

Julie shook her head. “No, that's all right. It reminds me of biology class, that's all.”

“That's what Vicki used to say.” Red's grin disappeared. “She didn't like it down here, either.”

Julie's eyes widened as she glanced around the workroom. Banks of fluorescent lights hung over a row of wide tables that appeared to be made out of giant planks of wood several inches thick. Their surfaces were scrubbed clean, but Julie could still see stains. An impressively large array of knives hung in a rack over the tables, and there were molds in the shapes of animals stacked up against the wall. Even though the workroom was clean and well lighted, it still reminded Julie of Dr. Frankenstein's basement laboratory.

“What do you think of my grinning bear?” Red lifted a heavy bundle up to one of the tables and spread it out.

Julie gasped as she stared down at the huge bear rug. The bear's head was still attached, and its mouth was open. Its eyes gleamed yellow in the reflected light and its teeth were long and sharp. Red seemed to think that the bear was grinning, but it looked more like a snarl to Julie.

“That's . . . uh . . . very impressive,” she said.

Red reached out to stroke the coarse fur. “Can you see any holes?”

“No I don't see any.”

“Good. He's patched in eleven places. I used up almost all the scrap fur to get a match.”

Julie nodded. “Well, I can't see where you patched him. You did a wonderful job, Red.”

“Vicki used to help me sometimes. She had a good eye for things like that. She seemed to be really interested in taxidermy . . . for a while.”

Julie hesitated. Should she ask what had happened? Red seemed to be in a mellow mood, and she was curious. “Did Vicki lose interest?”

“You could say that.” An expression of pain flickered across Red's face, but it was gone so quickly Julie wondered if she'd imagined it. “Are you interested in taxidermy?”

Julie hesitated again. She wasn't, not really, but she didn't want to hurt Red's feelings. “I think it's fascinating. But it's also kind of . . . uh . . .”

“Creepy?” Red smiled, and he looked friendly again.

“Yes. Your animals are beautiful, in a savage sort of way. But don't you get a little nervous, working here alone at night?”

Red threw back his head and laughed. It was a good sound in the big, silent basement room, and Julie joined him. Then he slipped an arm around Julie's shoulder and hugged her. “There's nothing to be nervous about. These animals are dead, and they're perfectly harmless. It's just like people. It's only the live ones that can hurt you.”

 

On the way up from the basement in the elevator, Julie thought about Red. From what he'd told her, it was clear that Vicki had dumped him. The comment Red had made about dead animals and dead people stuck in her mind, and Julie shivered slightly. Had he been talking about Vicki? Vicki had hurt Red while she was alive, but now that she was dead, she was harmless.

The elevator doors opened, and Julie stepped out into the lobby. It was still early, only six-thirty, and guests wouldn't be arriving for dinner until seven. This was a perfect time to find Donna and see how they'd decorated the private dining room.

Julie let herself in through the double French doors and walked through the deserted restaurant to the small private dining room. One wall was glass, and it had a lovely view of the snow-covered grounds, which were lighted at night with low spotlights. The other walls were wood paneled, and there was a huge stone fireplace with a portrait of the founders of the lodge, Julie's great-great-grandparents, hanging over it.

Julie walked over to the long table which was set up in the middle of the room, surrounded by twenty red leather chairs. Ten standing ice buckets were lined up nearby, champagne chilling in each of them. Julie recognized the distinctive label—Dom Perignon. This must be a very important dinner party. She'd noticed that Dom Perignon was the most expensive champagne on the menu, over a hundred dollars a bottle!

There was a smile on Julie's face as she glanced at the table itself. Three bouquets of fresh flowers had been arranged on the white linen cloth, red roses peeking out from lacy white baby's breath and delicate green ferns. Aunt Caroline had told Julie she'd taken a class in flower arrangement so she could do the centerpieces for the tables.

Silver gleamed and crystal wineglasses sparkled under the soft glow from the recessed lighting overhead. And to add a touch of warmth and comfort, someone had started a cheery blaze in the stone fireplace.

“Nice, huh?” Donna came in, carrying a stack of china plates. “We always go all out for one of Mr. Stratford's parties. You never know who might be coming. I've waited on senators, and movie stars, and a bunch of millionaires. Of course, none of them bring their wives.”

“Why not?”

“Dick Stratford supplies the women.”

“Dick? That's short for Richard, isn't it?”

Julie frowned as Donna nodded. Another R. There were so many, she'd have to start keeping a list. Ross, “Rock,” Ryan, Richard Stratford, Red Dawson, and even Uncle Bob, since his name was Robert!

“Dick Stratford's got a whole phonebook full of gorgeous young girls.” Donna looked amused. “And they all want to be invited to one of his parties. You'll see what I mean when they get here.”

Julie nodded. She should have guessed. Ryan was smooth, and he'd obviously had plenty of practice with his father's women. “What does Mr. Stratford do?”

“You mean besides drink, and sleep with gorgeous women, and throw money away?”

Julie laughed. “Yes. What does he do for work?”

“He doesn't. Oh, he flies to New York every week or so to check on his magazine, but that's it.”

“Which magazine?”

“Fantasy.
Have you heard of
Playboy,
or
Penthouse?”

Julie nodded. “Of course. Mr. Stratford's magazine is like that?”

“Sort of. Except it has less articles. Paul's got a stack of them under his bed, and it's mostly just pictures of naked girls.”

“And those are the girls Mr. Stratford brings to his parties?”

“You got it.” Donna began putting out the plates. “At least he doesn't bring them in naked. Mrs. Hudson wouldn't let him. They're dressed . . . but barely.”

Julie raised her eyebrows. “Who's helping you serve tonight?”

“Mrs. Larkin. Your aunt won't let the boys work Mr. Stratford's dinners anymore.”

Donna was grinning, and Julie had to ask. “Why not?”

“Because Paul dropped a whole bowl of creamed spinach last year, when he recognized September's top model.”

The two girls burst into laughter, but they quickly sobered when Julie's uncle came into the room. He was frowning.

“Isn't that table set yet?”

“It's almost ready, Mr. Hudson. All I've got left are the water glasses.”

Donna set out the rest of the plates and hurried back to the kitchen. The moment she was gone, Uncle Bob turned to face Julie sternly. “Don't bother Donna when she's working. She's slow enough as it is.”

“Yes, Uncle Bob.” Julie's eyes flashed with protest, and she quickly dropped her gaze. Donna wasn't slow. Aunt Caroline had said she was the best waitress at the lodge.

“I need you on the switchboard, Julie. One of our guests wants to place a call to France.”

“All right, Uncle Bob.” Julie turned and hurried to the lobby. There was something wrong with Uncle Bob tonight. He was just as crabby as the day she'd arrived, and this time there were no German guests to frustrate him.

It took only a few moments to place the call. Julie spoke to the international operator in English and the Paris operator in French. At least her foreign language skills were helpful. Uncle Bob couldn't complain that she wasn't pulling her weight here at the lodge.