The Husband She Can't Forget

“Thanks, Luke,” she said through trembling lips. “I’ll always treasure it.”

“I know.”

Luke reached into his pocket and took out his keys.

Carly felt an unexpected surge of relief. Although she’d been anxious since Luke’s arrival, she had tamped down the strongest feelings of regret, sorrow and angry betrayal. She had thought those feelings had been conquered long ago, but she’d been wrong. Now he was leaving and she wouldn’t see him again. The emotions he’d stirred up could be laid to rest for good.

Deep in her own thoughts, she barely noticed that Luke hadn’t moved toward the door. When she did, she gave him a questioning look. “Is there something else?”

He tilted his head and glanced away from her then back. He rocked slightly on his heels.

“Luke...?”

“There’s something else I need to tell you, Carly.”

CHAPTER FIVE (#ucc99e727-5c38-55d1-bea2-9a06ee719293)

“SO, TELL ME,” Carly said, studying Luke’s solemn face.

“At my aunt and uncle’s barbecue, I mentioned buying property. I bought the property next door.”

“Next door?” Carly frowned. “Next to Tom and Frances? Are you going into the cattle business?”

“No, next door to you.”

“What?” She stared at him, not quite able to take in what he was saying. “You can’t mean the Withers place?” She jerked a thumb in that direction. “Why?”

“It has certain...aspects I need.”

“Aspects? You mean rocks? There’re plenty of those next door. But I’ve got news for you—there’s no door, or anything else over there. Not even a shed or a shack where you could hang a door.”

“Um, I know.”

“Why on earth would you want it?” She rubbed her forehead, trying to make sense of this. “The soil’s so poor and rocky a goat couldn’t survive on it. You can’t grow grass on it to graze cattle. The only thing that place has going for it is the stream that empties onto my land, right below my apple trees, which has long since brought most of the topsoil with it.” She held her hands up, shoulder height. “And if this rain keeps up, I’ll have the rest of the topsoil by July. That’s why Martin Withers couldn’t sell the place after his dad died and the county condemned the house and outbuildings. It’s worthless.”

“Not completely.”

“Yes, completely, unless...” She paused, trying to remember what someone had mentioned recently about the land. “Except I heard there was an offer from someone who wanted it for—”

“My uncle bought it.”

“Tom? I thought it was purchased by a group of hunters looking for private land to hunt deer and birds.”

“They were interested, but Tom bought it for the same reason and sold it to me.”

Now Carly’s mouth dropped open. None of this made sense. “For hunting? Since when did you become a hunter? You never shot a gun, except at a carnival. You never wanted to kill anything. People change, Luke, but I can’t believe you changed that much.”

Luke shook his head. “I didn’t, Carly. I haven’t. I’m not interested in hunting or in topsoil. I’m not a farmer. I’ve got another project in mind.”

“Another project? What kind? I’m telling you, nothing can grow there. It’s only shale and...”

Eyes wide, her face draining of color, she stared at him. “Is that it? The shale?”

“Yes.”

Horrifying thoughts turned over and over in her mind. “For fracturing shale to get out the oil? Fracking? Luke, you can’t do that. You must know about all the problems it’s caused. Besides, it’s never been considered worthwhile in this part of Reston County.”

“I do, but—”

“Earthquakes, polluted water.” She threw her hands wide. “My place is downstream from you. I use well water on my plants. It will ruin my gardens, my apple trees. My livelihood. This is an organic garden, Luke. I’ve worked hard to get it established. Do you have any idea how many tons of topsoil I’ve bought, hauled and spread? It’s taken me years to get this place established. This could ruin me.”

“I know that, Carly. I’m not trying to ruin your land.”

“Oh, it could simply be an unintended consequence? That makes me feel a whole lot better.”

“Carly, calm down. It’s not like that.”

Panic pushed at her as her mind conjured images of parched crops and blackened fields. Breathing hard, she tried to get her rage and disappointment under control. “If it’s not fracking to get out the natural gas, what is it?”

“It’s another extraction method that’s being developed. I’m afraid that’s all I can tell you right now. The scientist I’m working with, Dr. Shelby Wayne, is keeping it under wraps because previous ideas and processes have been stolen.”

“Is this so-far secret method as harmful as fracking?”

“Dr. Wayne has run endless computer models factoring in every possibility, and she assures me it’s safe. But, to tell you the truth, we haven’t done extensive tests yet.”

“And what about the aftermath of extracting oil? All the polluted water that has to be injected deep into the substrata, where it causes earthquakes?”

“I know that, Carly. We’re trying to develop a process that will avoid that.”

“You’re trying, but you don’t know your so-far imaginary process will avoid those consequences? You’ve run computer models but you haven’t done tests? So you could ruin my land, anyway, for...for old times’ sake?”

“Of course not.”

“Then for an experiment. Why, Luke? Why here? Why now?”

“To stop an actual fracking operation.”

“What? Like I said, it hasn’t been considered worthwhile to extract oil and natural gas in this part of Reston County. Who is—”

“My father.”

Carly shook her head, trying to clear her increasing confusion. “Your dad? When did he get into the natural gas business? I thought he was in real estate development.” She looked up. “I thought you were in real estate development. In Dallas. In fact, when we drove to Toncaville today, you made it sound like you’re still a carpenter. Did you deliberately try to fool me? Were you laughing at me the whole time?”

“Of course not, Carly. I wouldn’t do that.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me sooner? Was that what the ride into Toncaville was all about? Bragging about my produce, helping me rescue tortoises?”

“You invited me, remember?” He pointed to Wendolin’s hope chest. “I’d honestly forgotten about the letter.”