FAITH, ROPE, AND LOVE
by Wendy Heuvel
Chapter 1
Cassie Bridgestone tightened the collar of her winter coat as an icy February breeze whipped by and lifted a dusting of snow from the sidewalk. She tried to dodge the swirling snow, but it hit her square in the face, also sprinkling her friends Lexy and Daniel.
“Pfft!” Cassie wiped her face with her mitten and brushed off the blonde curls beneath her hat.
Lexy shook the snow from her own toque. “Maybe we should have taken the SUV.”
“Really, you two?” Daniel laughed, his blue eyes shining. “It’s only a couple of blocks. Besides, we’re Canadians.”
Cassie narrowed her eyes and swiped her hand across the top of the tall snowbank lining the sidewalk. By the time she packed a nice snowball into her palm, Daniel was about ten steps ahead. She chucked the snowball and hit him square in the back.
“Hey! Watch the present!” He turned and held up the large gift bag in front of his face.
Lexy giggled. “Shame on you, using a baby’s gift for cover.”
“I have no shame.”
Cassie whipped another snowball and laughed as it connected with Daniel’s shoulder. She brushed her hands together to wipe the snow off her mittens and caught up with the others.
Despite the weather being below freezing, it was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Sunlight extended from the grey sky to kiss the snow-covered village of Banford. Smoke rose from the chimneys of the old stone homes, and chickadees flitted from bush to bush, shaking snow off the branches as they landed. A bright red cardinal stood out against the white backdrop as it landed on a birdfeeder swinging from an old maple tree.
Cassie returned the wave of a man shovelling his driveway and took a couple of steps back to watch Lexy and Daniel. Lexy had been Cassie’s best friend for years. She was kinder and more loyal than anyone you could ever meet.
And Daniel, well—he was Daniel Sawyer. The handsome, well-built, big-city photographer turned bookstore owner and her tenant. His rugged jawline and solid muscles made her head spin, and his compassionate and loving personality made her heart spin. Being with him felt like coming home after a hard day of work. Yet, although he now shared Cassie’s faith in God, and she was sure his feelings for her had grown beyond friendship, she still held off from pursuing a romantic relationship with him.
Her heart was tempted, but her mind held her back. She’d learned her lesson after rushing into dating the kind and loving Spencer. His near perfection had clouded her judgement. In the end, he’d been all wrong for her, and she’d had to break it off after a couple of months. Even though it had happened before Christmas, she was still trying to forgive herself for wounding Spencer. There was no way she could also risk hurting Daniel too.
“Are you coming?” Lexy turned around to wait for Cassie. Her puffy white coat, hat and mitts made her blend into the snowbank behind her.
“Sorry. Just daydreaming.”
Daniel hunched his shoulders and shivered. “It’s too cold for that. Hurry up!”
“I thought you were Canadian?”
“I am. But I’m not a narwhal.”
Lexy snorted. “A what?”
“A narwhal. Whale species in the north that thrives in cold waters? The one with the unicorn horn.”
Cassie laughed so hard she nearly tripped. “Really? Of all the arctic species to compare yourself to, that’s the first one to pop in your mind?”
“What would you have said?”
“I dunno. Arctic fox?”
Daniel lifted his chin and smirked. “Huh. You think I’m a fox, do you?”
Cassie threw another snowball in Daniel’s direction and skipped ahead, hoping he wouldn’t see her face, which was a nice shade of pink by the feeling of it. Daniel was a fox. Why couldn’t she have said polar bear? “Fine. How about a willow ptarmigan?”
Lexy shook her head. “Let me guess. That’s a bird?”
“Of course. They’re really cool! In the summer, they’re brown, with a red spot above their eye. But in the winter, their plumage turns white, so they blend into the snow. Their feet are full of feathers to help them walk on the snow, but they also dig out burrows to keep—”
“Oh, look! Anna’s street!” Lexy grinned and pointed.
Cassie pursed her lips together in a mock pout. “Fine. I’ll tell Anna about the ptarmigan. She’ll listen!” She marched ahead to feign annoyance.
“I was listening,” Daniel called after her. “Really!”
Cassie giggled. Anna had first become Cassie’s friend through the Banford Bird Club. Their shared love of birds had instantly bonded them, and they had grown even closer since Cassie had helped clear Anna’s boyfriend, Zach, of a murder charge last summer.
Cassie, Daniel, and Lexy approached a small yellow bungalow with tips of a white picket fence peeking out above the snow. Anna and Zach had just purchased the cute little home in Banford, only a few weeks before their first baby was due to arrive.
Lexy and Cassie had put a housewarming gift bag together with a blanket, wall stickers, picture frames, and a mobile for the baby’s room. Daniel came along to help Zach assemble the crib.
They walked up the freshly shovelled walk, and Daniel knocked on the door.
A very pregnant Anna let them in. “Hi! You made it!”
Cassie had to step to the side to get around Anna’s belly. “Hi! Where’s Zach? You shouldn’t be answering the door. It’s too cold outside. And you should be resting!”
Anna laughed and squeezed the door shut behind the group. “I’m pregnant, not sick.” But you aren’t kidding about the cold.” She rubbed her hands together and shivered.
“Hey, guys!” Zach appeared in the hallway, scratching his beard.
“This place is charming,” Lexy said.
“Thanks. We really like it.”
“I’m so glad you finally found a place you both loved.” Cassie shook her hat out above the doormat.
Anna leaned against Zach. “Me too. Do you want a tour?”
“We’d love one.” Cassie hung her coat on a hook over Lexy’s and grabbed the gift bag from Daniel.
Anna led them through a doorway. “This is the living room.” Two blue fabric loveseats sat against the walls, while a cozy area rug added warmth to the hardwood floors, while a few unpacked boxes sat in the corner. A large picture window offered a grand view of the cute yard and the street.
“This is so nice!” Cassie set the gift bag on the floor and looked out over the yard.
“It’s the perfect place to raise our family. And on a nice quiet street, too.”
“Except for the haunted house across the way.” Lexy pointed out the window.
Zach laughed. “Yeah. I’ve heard those stories.”
“What stories?” Anna rubbed her belly.
“Nothing to worry about, Hon. It’s just an empty house.”
Daniel stepped up to the window. “Which house?”
“Ha! You didn’t notice when we walked by? Where was your focus?” Lexy glanced at Cassie. “As if we didn’t know.”
Cassie ignored Lexy’s comment and pointed the house out to Daniel.
His mouth fell agape. “Wow! Look at that place!” The abandoned, two-storey mansion stood across the street from Zach and Anna’s bungalow. The windows were mostly boarded up, and the roof had missing shingles and even a few holes.
“I know.” Cassie smiled. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“That’s not a word I would’ve chosen.” He furrowed his brows.
“Me either,” Lexy added. “The place should be torn down.”
“I agree,” Daniel said.
“No!” Cassie put her hand on Daniel’s arm. “It has such… charm. Look at the turret. And the covered porch! There’s even a little dormer for a tiny room in the attic.”
“You’ve been in there before?”
“No, but I’ve imagined what it must be like since I was a kid.”
Lexy frowned. “I imagine it’s full of cobwebs and mice.”
“But think of what it must have been like in its glory days.” Cassie sighed.
“I bet it was nice. Before the ghost showed up.” Lexy looked at pale-faced Anna. “I’m teasing. There’s definitely nothing to worry about.”
“Quiet neighbours, anyway.” Daniel grinned. “Ready to tackle the crib, Zach?”
“For sure.” Zach sighed in relief. “I’m about to pull my hair out over that thing.” He led Daniel down the hall.
“Ugh.” Anna put her hand on her back and sighed. “This baby weighs a ton!”
“Well, have a seat then.” Cassie rushed to Anna’s side and urged her to sit. She put a cushion behind Anna’s back to help her friend get comfortable and sat beside her. “We can get the tour some other time.”
“Yes.” Lexy grabbed the gift bag and brought it to Anna. “You can open this instead.”
“Oh, you guys! You’re so sweet. But I’ll wait for Zach.” She set the bag on the floor beside her feet.
Cassie patted Anna’s leg. “How are you feeling? Other than your back?”
“Yes.” Lexy sat on the opposite sofa. “Moving this close to your due date must really be increasing your stress.”
“It’s not too bad. Zach’s been doing almost everything. If you’re going to feel bad for someone, feel bad for him.”
“Are you still sending him to Drummond’s Bakery every day for the cinnamon rolls?” Cassie giggled.
“Not every day, but yes. I thought cravings were supposed to subside in the third trimester, but so far, they haven’t.”
“At least you have a good excuse.” Lexy turned to Cassie and smirked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cassie fluttered her eyelashes, pretending to take offence. “Besides, it’s doughnuts for me. Not cinnamon rolls. Although they can be good too…”
The girls laughed.
“Where’s Caramel?” Cassie asked, suddenly remembering Anna’s cute, brown tabby.
“Still hiding. I think he’s under the bed today.”
“He’ll get used to it. Give him time.”
“I’m not so sure. I’m kind of worried. Any other time I’ve moved, he’s come out pretty quickly. He’s usually not so shy.”
“Maybe he knows the baby’s coming?” Lexy asked. “Do cats get jealous?”
Cassie chewed the inside of her cheek. “Maybe. If he doesn’t come out soon, I can bring Pumpkin by.” She smiled at the thought of her big orange-and-white kitty. “They get along so well, maybe Pumpkin can coax him to come out? She’s used to going places and seeing strangers—like at the shop. It won’t bother her to come here.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks.” Anna placed a hand on Cassie’s arm. “And speaking of the shop, who’s handling it today?”
“Grams and Maggie. They insisted I have a Saturday off.” Cassie thought of her dear grandmother and sister-in-law. She was so blessed to have them work with her at her country store, Olde Crow Primitives. Grams used to own the store, but Cassie bought the building from her a few years ago. Now Grams stayed on to work without having to do all the fussy bookkeeping stuff, as she called it. And Maggie worked part-time, coming in when she wasn’t helping her husband Rick, Cassie’s brother, with his real estate business.
“That was nice of them.” Anna placed her hands on her belly. “What else do you plan to do today? Are you going to look for the eagles?”
Cassie’s face lit up. “Most definitely. I’m going to head over there after our visit.”
“I saw one fly overhead the other day. It was a—”
“And here we go.” Lexy feigned a yawn.
“Oh, come on, Lex. Even you would be in awe of their death spiral,” Cassie said.
“Death spiral?”
“It’s part of their mating ritual. It’s one of the most coveted things to see in the birding world.”
“Not only in the birding world,” Anna added.
“Okay.” Lexy rolled her head back. “I give in. Tell me all about it.”
Cassie sat forward on the sofa. “It’s amazing! The male and female meet high, high up in the sky and lock talons. Then they plummet to the earth while spinning around in cartwheels. They hang on until they’re almost at the ground.”
“That does sound cool.”
“It’s spectacular.”
“How many times have you seen it?”
Cassie sat back and frowned. “Never. That’s why I’m so determined this year. There’s nothing I’d rather see more.”
“Oh, really?” Lexy grinned as the boys returned to the room.
Cassie willed her face to stop heating up, but it refused.
“Say, what now?” Daniel asked.
“They’re talking about birds again.” Lexy crossed her legs. “Eagles this time. And some sort of death spiral.”
Zach sighed. “I’ve heard all about it.”
“Oh, stop.” Anna waved her hand at him. He chuckled.
“Crib all together?” Cassie asked.
“No.” Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re going to give it another try tomorrow. I need to grab some tools from my place.”
“Yeah,” Zach nodded. “I’m not sure which box mine are in.”
“What kind of tools do you need to put a crib together?” Lexy furrowed her brows.
“Hammer, drill, maybe a saw.”
“What?” Cassie laughed. “I’m pretty sure you don’t need a saw.”
“You wanna try? Come look at the crib of a million parts.”
“No, no. I’m good. It’s time to get going to the river anyway. I want to check for the eagles.”
“Let’s all head out then.” Lexy stood. “Anna probably needs some rest.”
“Sounds good. See you tomorrow?” Daniel asked.
Zach nodded. “Sure.”
“Now we have a few minutes to check out the mansion before we head back.” Daniel rubbed his hands together.
“What?” Cassie’s eyes opened wide.
“I want to take a peek. Aren’t you curious?”
“Well, yeah. But—”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Don’t tempt her.” Lexy laughed.
Cassie frowned. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“C’mon.” Daniel winked. “Don’t be a chicken.”
“I’m not chicken. I just don’t want to disturb it.”
“A little late for that.” Lexy raised her brows. “That house has been disturbing for a long time.”
“Very funny. You know what I mean.”
Daniel shrugged. “Well, I’m heading over. Come if you want.”
“I’m in!” Lexy beamed.
“Fine.” Cassie dropped her shoulders. “But only to make sure you don’t wreck anything.”
“Be careful,” Anna warned.
Zach grinned. “And watch out for the ghosts.”
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