“Anna, I’m Regan Carmichael, and I’m very pleased to meet you.”
She glanced up. “Pleased to meet you, too,” she whispered, holding Regan’s gaze for only a moment.
Regan took in Dr. Lee. He was wearing a gray suit as if this were an important occasion and he looked very handsome. Regan wondered if Anna knew why she’d been invited.
“Shall we go inside?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Spring said to Regan, “I’ll come back for you at sunset.”
Anna said, “You aren’t going to eat with us, Aunt Spring?”
“No, lamb. Not this time.”
“Oh.” It was apparent the child was disappointed.
Dr. Lee said, “I’ll see Miss Carmichael back, Spring.”
Regan was surprised by that but showed no reaction.
“Okay. Have a good time.”
Spring drove off in her wagon and Dr. Lee gestured for Regan to enter the house. Inside, she took in the heavy ornate furniture with its faded velvet and suede upholstering. It was as if someone had stuffed the small parlor with three rooms worth of furnishings, and it made the room terribly crowded. She paused at the sight of the large portrait over the fireplace of a smiling woman in a blue walking ensemble. Beside her were two brown spaniels. Her features were so much like Anna’s, Regan asked, “Is that your mother, Anna?”
“Yes.”
“She’s very pretty. You favor her a great deal.”
“I killed her,” she confessed softly.
Regan froze and stared wide-eyed at the somber little girl and then at her father who appeared equally appalled.
Regan said, “I’m sure no one feels that way, Anna.”
The girl nodded. “Great-Aunt Minnie does. She tells me every time we visit Mama’s grave.”
Before Regan could respond, her father knelt, took his daughter’s small hands in his, and said earnestly, “Anna, you didn’t kill your mother. Minnie is wrong to have told you that.” It was apparent from his voice and manner that this was the first time he’d heard Anna express this and Regan’s heart went out to him.
He added, “And I’ll tell Minnie she’s never to say such a thing to you again. Ever. I promise.”
Anna nodded and he rose to his feet.
A male voice asked, “Is this her?”
Regan turned to see an older gray-haired man whose size and heft reminded her of a grizzly.
Face still showing concern for his daughter, Lee said, “Regan Carmichael, my grandfather, Benjamin Lee.”
“Pleased to meet you, sir.”
He made a grunt that could have passed for a greeting but only to someone hard of hearing. Regan said, “I’m looking forward to us getting acquainted.”
By the terse set of his gray whiskered jaw, it was obvious he wasn’t like-minded, but she didn’t let his attitude bother her. Anna was the person she needed to win over. Grizzly Ben would have to wait his turn.
“Let’s eat,” he grumbled. “Food’s ready.”
The small dining room sported a good-sized table with wood so dull, it apparently hadn’t been polished in years. The chair backs were equally dry. Smiling falsely, she took the seat Lee indicated directly across from him and Anna. She hoped the grandfather could cook.