A Treasure Worth Keeping

“I don’t expect you to do this out of the goodness of your heart,” Sam said. “I’m willing to pay you whatever you think is fair.”

Evie wasn’t sure why he put her on the defensive. She was usually a very easygoing person. “It isn’t about the money.”

“Then what is it about?” He crossed his arms.

If he could be blunt, so could she. “Why can’t you help her?”

Sam’s jaw worked, and for a moment Evie didn’t think he was going to answer. He thrust his hands into the front pockets of his faded blue jeans. “She…I don’t think she wants anything to do with me.” It was clear the admission stung.

Evie remembered the change in Faith’s tone when Sam had joined them on the beach. Faith was at the age when she was beginning to assert her independence—to try to figure out just who Faith Cutter was and how she fit into the world.

Evie knew from experience the “tweenage” years had a tendency to put unsuspecting parents into a tailspin. Especially parents who weren’t expecting the radical change in their homes when formerly cheerful, compliant kids entered the hormone zone. And if there’d been some kind of upheaval in Faith’s life, the fallout could be even worse.

“She’s been taking off a lot lately.” Sam must have read the expression on her face because he quickly amended the statement. “She’s not at risk as a runaway. Eventually she comes back. She either wants attention or time alone. I’m still trying to figure that out. But today—when she was with you—it was the first time I’ve heard her laugh in months.”

Evie’s heart, which had a soft spot for kids Faith’s age anyway, melted into a gooey puddle. She remembered the glimmer of humor in Faith’s eyes when she’d shown Evie her drawing of Lake Superior. Maybe she’d gone through a difficult time recently, but the faint spark of life—of laughter—hadn’t been extinguished. It just needed tending. Evie gave in. Not because Sam needed her but because Faith did.

Okay, Lord, I’m going to assume this opportunity is from you. But did you have to include Sam Cutter?

“How about two hours a day? After I close up the shop in the afternoon?”

“We’ll make it work.”

“I thought you were going to live on the boat for a few days at a time.”

“You’ll only be here two weeks, but we’ll probably be here longer. There’ll be plenty of chances to take the boat out.”

Even though Evie had agreed to tutor Faith, she needed to cover one more base. The one that would give her a clue whether or not the next two weeks were going to be a battleground. “How does Faith feel about this? Does she know you’re here?”

Silence.

Uh-oh. Evie’s eyebrow lifted.

“She knows I’m here,” Sam finally admitted. “She didn’t seem very happy about it but then she said, and I quote, ‘Whatever.’”

“That’s because it was your idea. The ‘Whatever’ meant she’s not totally against it. Which makes my job easier.” Evie hid a smile at the uncertain look on Sam’s face. Obviously, he had no insight into the workings of an adolescent girl’s mind.

As if his internal defense radar picked up on her smile, the uncertainty in Sam’s eyes faded and it was back to the business at hand. Evie wondered briefly what Sam did for a living. Even in worn blue jeans and a faded black T-shirt, he oozed confidence. She could easily imagine him in an expensive suit, making important decisions in a high-rise office building, miles above the cubicle crowd.

Sam glanced at his watch. “Can you start tomorrow? We can hammer out more of the details then. Faith is spending the evening with a friend, and I promised I wouldn’t be late picking her up. Sophie’s one of those peculiar people who go to bed early.”

Evie ignored the unspoken words just like you that hung in the air between them. “Sophie Graham?”

“That’s right. You know her?”

“I’ve never met her, but Dad has…mentioned…her once in a while.”

“Sophie’s place is just down the road from us. Her dog had a litter of puppies a few months ago, and that’s where I usually find Faith if she’s missing.”

Which gave Evie the opportunity she’d been hoping for. “If you give me directions, I’ll come over to your place tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind driving Faith over here.”

“I’m sure.” Evie didn’t hesitate. Maybe to break the ice between her and Faith, they’d take a walk down the road to see those puppies. And she’d finally get the opportunity to meet Sophie Graham.

Sam waited until he heard the lock on the front door click into place before he strode back to his car.

The antique shop really was off the beaten path.

He paused, scanning the trees that formed a thick wall between Evie McBride and civilization. Her closest neighbor was two miles away. As cautious as she seemed to be, he was surprised she didn’t have any trepidation about staying alone on a secluded piece of property. Not that Cooper’s Landing was a hotbed of criminal activity, but with the tourist season starting, the place drew a lot of people from outside the area.

None of your business what Evie McBride thinks or doesn’t think, Cutter.

All that mattered was that she’d agreed to be Faith’s tutor for the next two weeks.

Faith met him at the front door of Sophie’s home, a drowsy puppy cradled in her arms.

“Sophie is going to let me name this one,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Sophie appeared in the doorway behind his niece. She was close to his father’s age but still a striking woman, her beauty enhanced by the kind of smile that lit her up from the inside out. “I hope you don’t mind, Sam. That puppy is Faith’s favorite, so I thought it was only right that she be the one to name him.”

“I don’t mind.” Sam was about to reach out and ruffle Faith’s hair but caught himself. The last time he’d done that, she’d shrieked and disappeared into the bathroom, emerging only after she’d washed, blow-dried and styled her hair all over again. Later that day, they’d climbed to the top of an observation deck at Miner’s Castle, where the wind had given her a new hairdo that made her look as if she’d been caught in a blender. She’d laughed. Go figure.

“I can’t think of a good name,” Faith fretted, rubbing the puppy’s silky ear.

“Give him one to live up to,” Sophie suggested, resting one hand on Faith’s shoulder. “How did it go with Patrick’s daughter? Did she agree to it?”

“Yes.” Sam didn’t bother to mention the split second when it had looked as though Evie would refuse to help Faith. The split second after he’d mentioned money. She’d looked offended he’d even brought up the subject, and he wasn’t sure why. He didn’t expect her to give up her time for free. “She’s coming over tomorrow afternoon.”

“Why don’t you come in for a few minutes. Faith and I made cookies and we’re just finishing up the last batch.”

Sophie looked so hopeful that Sam didn’t have the heart to say no. She ushered them into a small living room where the sparse furnishings looked old but well cared for. His gaze zeroed in on the man sitting at a desk in the corner, hunched over a computer keyboard.

Jacob had mentioned that Sophie had a son she didn’t talk about very often. And now Sam had a hunch as to why.

“Tyson, would you like something to eat?”

Tyson looked up and scowled. His thin face was streaked with acne scars. Strands of dishwater-blond hair had been pulled back into a ponytail that trailed between his shoulder blades. “I told you I’m not hungry, Mom.”

“You’re going to ruin your eyes staring at that screen all night,” Sophie scolded lightly. “At least turn around so I can introduce you to Sam Cutter, Jacob’s son.”

“Hey.” Tyson barely glanced at Sam.

Sam saw the hurt look on Sophie’s face before she murmured an excuse and disappeared into the kitchen. Faith followed her, still cuddling the puppy.

“That’s a pretty nice setup you’ve got,” Sam said, moving closer to see what Tyson was so focused on. He found himself staring at a blank screen. Tyson had shut down whatever program he’d been working on. A red flag rose in Sam’s mind, especially when he noticed Tyson’s shoulders set in a tense line.

“Thanks.” Tyson’s eyes glittered with resentment at the disruption. He yanked a pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and shook one loose from the package.