She saw a problem, and she worked out a way to approach it. If that didn’t work, she worked out another way.
Scientists were hard to beat for relentless determination. And Tansy was the best of the best.
When she joined him, he pointed at the roof. “Is that going to be enough to power all your experiments?”
She shook her head. “Not even close. I’m going to get some turbines installed once the weather improves. I’ve got the parts coming in a few weeks.”
That made him laugh. “You’re going to use the lodge for your stuff?”
“Some of it. I’ll keep this cabin too for things that require a bit more privacy.”
And security.
He looked around at the woods and then started walking toward the lake. He wanted to see how visible her cabin was from the water.
It was going to cost a fortune to secure this land. And it would be worth every penny if it kept Tansy safe.
“How would you feel about sharing your space?”
Her head whipped toward him, and her steps faltered for a second. “What?”
Sam shrugged, but didn’t look at her. “Something I’m thinking about.”
Tansy sighed and squeezed his hand briefly before letting him go.
There was a short dock at the edge of the lake. Like a neon arrow pointing at the cabin. So much for secrecy. He turned and saw the fort was definitely visible from a good portion of the lake. He’d need something for perimeter alerts here as well.
“Because of your last case?”
Relentless.
Sam nodded and turned back to the lake. Tansy moved onto the dock. “This one is sturdier.”
He laughed as he realized he’d have to replace the other one. “Why was that one so long?”
“I think it was for the float planes. Once upon a time, Midnight Lake was popular with people who flew in to fish.”
Sam had never been into fishing. Wasn’t exactly a popular pastime for foster kids in a big city. And his sperm donor of a dad certainly hadn’t wasted time of teaching him things. When he’d left for good, Sam had been old enough to be relieved, not disappointed.
Tansy sat on the edge of the dock, which was free of snow. The sun’s rays had reached over the trees and it looked to be a pretty day. The dock was high enough that his feet wouldn’t touch the slush or water. There were patches of both near the shore. He sat beside Tansy and looked out at her land. It was coming to life with the sun and for a while they sat and enjoyed the quiet.
A pair of loons floated off to the north and called back and forth while they hunted for fish.
He heard other birds he couldn’t identify. Full spring wouldn’t be long.
Tansy leaned into his shoulder. “Talk to me.”
He heaved out a sigh. Relentless.
“More of the same. A shitheel of a father who enjoyed beating the crap out of people smaller than him. Drugs. Alcohol. All mixed in with a pile of stupid.”
She gripped his hand in both of hers. She would understand.
“He showed up stoned and the mom refused to let him in. He beat down her door, broke six of her bones, and turned her face into a massive bruise. Then he grabbed his daughter.”
Sam breathed in the clean air.
She squeezed his fingers. “But you found him.”