by Lynn Landes
Daniel can see the toll this is taking on his father in the depth of his wrinkles and fear in his eyes.
“None. Dad, maybe you should consider…”
Chase glares at him and snarls, “Don’t you even say it!”
“Damnit, I can’t be everywhere.” Daniel tosses his Stetson on the desk.
“No, you can't. The best thing to do is wait.” Chase glances at his watch, “What time was her flight?” Chase asks softly. He doesn't need to say Delta's name, they both know who he's thinking about.
“Two. She should be arriving in Carolina in another twenty minutes,” Daniel snaps.
“I don't blame you for protecting her Son, maybe when this is over, you can see her again.”
“Maybe, but after everything she's been through, I can't imagine that she would want to see me again.” Daniel thinks about the way she tasted, how she felt in his arms last night, and sighs.
“Let’s go to the bar and get a drink,” Chase demands.
Daniel locks up and follows him to his truck. “Sounds good.” A few minutes later they are sitting in the quiet bar at the main lodge and sipping on a beer. The wedding party had checked out, and things are quiet for the moment.
“I can’t keep Abby with her Mom much longer, school starts soon,” Daniel says looking down into his beer.
“What we need is bait. Some way to draw her out,” Chase says looking over Daniel’s shoulder to the lobby entrance with a barely suppressed grin.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Delta states from behind him.
Daniel swears and turns on his stool. Delta watches as a flurry of emotions flash across his face, joy, fear, and anger.
“What are you doing here?” he hisses.
“It’s nice to see you too, Daniel. I have a dinner date.” Her blue eyes flash as she steps up to the bar and orders a martini. Daniel glares at his father before turning to stare daggers at her. His gaze washes over her hungrily taking in every detail. From the top of her blonde hair down her aquamarine sundress to the tips of her silver heels.
“Like hell you do!” He grabs her by her upper arm and practically drags her through the lobby, into his father’s office.
Delta rips her arm free of his grasp as he shoves her inside, slamming the door shut. “Delta, I thought we understood each other. You can’t stay here.”
Delta tosses her hair over her shoulder and points at him. “Yes, I can. In fact, Mr. Matthews, I have a reservation upstairs. My suite became available since the last wedding party checked out.”
“This isn’t a game, Delta! I expected more from you than this immature cry for attention.” The hard set of his jaw and glint in his eye doesn’t quite match the fury building inside of her.
“Well, Daniel. Let’s talk about mature.” Delta drops her purse on his desk and pokes him hard in the chest. “Was it mature of you to push me away? Or buy me a plane ticket without asking me?” Her voice grows softer, but the impact of her next words couldn’t strike harder than they do. Stepping up, toe to toe with him, “I expected more from you than to steal my heart, only to throw it away so easily.”
Daniel closes his eyes or a second, “I’m trying to do the right thing here, Delta.” When he reaches out to touch her, she backs away from him, shaking her head.
“Not good enough. I won’t watch another man I care about, be buried,” her voice breaks. “Daniel. I want to help. The question is do you trust me?” She waits with her heart in her eyes while he thinks about it for a second.
“Of course, I trust you, Delta.” Relief flows through her body. Relaxing for the moment, she steps into his arms. Though he hasn't said how he feels about her, his actions mean more than a thousand flowery words.
“Then kiss me,” she orders and runs a hand up his chest to curl around the back of his neck. Just before his mouth touches her, she whispers, “Make it good, she’s watching.” His body jerks in surprise, but he hides it quickly.
As Daniel inhales the scent he feared he'd lost, he stares at her, fingering his hands through her hair. “Everything about you is beautiful, Delta. When your eyes look at me, I can't believe how lucky I am to be seen by you.” He presses a kiss to the corner of her eye. “Your mouth, when it speaks my name, shakes me to the core,” he gently tastes her mouth. His tongue flicks out, tasting her lips. He deepens the kiss, pulling her closer to him and is rewarded with a tremble from her. “I can't wait to hear you scream out my name, Delta.”
“Daniel…” she whispers, filling the sound with need.
“Not quite like that, louder, longer, as I…” Delta slaps a hand over his mouth and blushes brightly. Daniel roars with laughter. She smiles and steps away only to be jerked back into his arms. “I missed you.” He lowers his head, kissing her again. Daniel pours all of his longings into the kiss, knowing that he almost lost her.
Delta's heart sighs as she breaks away from him. “Good, now feed me cowboy, and I will fill you in.” She grabs her purse, and he leads the way to the restaurant.
Melody watches from a silver Honda Accord in the parking lot. The police are looking for the red jeep, not this car. “Good thing I ditched the jeep. The red would have been way too easy to track,” she mumbles. Her girlfriend, Sophia didn’t understand the need to loan her car to her. It was three in the morning when Melody used the key under the pot by the back door of the rental house to let herself in. “I didn’t mean to wake her,” she whispers, “but she keeps the keys on her nightstand.”
‘It wasn't your fault.' The voice assures her. ‘Did you see her eyes, Mel? It was in her eyes, the lie. She was planning on calling the police on you. You had to stop her.' Melody shakes her head.
“I know, and now we don’t have to worry about her.” Melody shoved her body down the basement steps before showering and borrowing some clothes. After sleeping solidly through the night, she ate and drove to the ranch. The addition of the security was a problem, but the next few days she had no problem tracking Delta’s movements. That morning she had trailed behind her to the doctor’s office and was shocked when they dropped her off at the airport. Delta was leaving!
‘Bitch tricked them, didn't she?' the voice taunts. 'I told you she was evil.'
Melody was following about four car lengths behind when the security guards pulled away. Delta stepped back through the doors of the airport as soon as they pulled off. She was given the keys to a big ford truck with a rental sign on the bumper. The man smiled at her and loaded her bags inside before watching her drive off. Melody wasn’t out in time to follow her, but she didn't need too. She'll head straight to Daniel. “Time's up, Delta. You had your chance to leave.”
Delta had called Chase from the doctor’s office to tell him about her plan. He argued with her until he heard her reasoning, then he caved and planned dinner for two at the gazebo on the pond. It is lit with white lights and can be reserved for romantic evenings.
Delta smiles at Daniel, and they hold hands, having a delicious dinner before heading back to the main lodge. He kisses her softly, and she teases him with her room key. They hurry inside, laughing and holding hands.
“Let me,” Daniel says and opens the door swiftly before kicking it shut and dragging her against his body. Delta throws her purse on the table by the door and kisses him back with the same amount of passion he shows her.
Melody watches from the tree line behind the lodge. ‘Daniel is all over her!’ He walks to the window and grins when her hands slip around his body, before closing the blinds. With trembling hands, she lowers the binoculars and drops them to the ground. “No one makes a fool of me, you will both pay now.”
“Do you really think she is watching us?” Daniel asked softly.
“I’m sure of it. I noticed the car at the gas station this morning. Then again at the Doctor’s office, but I wasn’t convinced until I saw it again at the airport.”
“Why didn’t you call me or the police? Why didn’t the security team call me? What the hell am I paying them for?” Da
niel grumbles and flips off the light nearest the windows.
“I didn't tell them. I suggested they get a coffee while I was inside the doctor's office. I'm assuming they didn't notice it because they didn't see it.” Delta grabs a bottle of water from the mini fridge and offers him one. “I waited at the airport until they pulled off and watched the silver car come around the drop off line. The police wouldn't have gotten there in time, and with that much traffic, it would be easy to lose her. I did the only thing I could think of doing. I called your Dad,” she says with a grin.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“You made it perfectly clear how you felt about me, Daniel.” Delta tries to hide the hurt in her voice, but he winces when he detects it.
“Delta, I’m sorry if I hurt you, but I did what I thought was best. I was trying to protect you.”
“I understand.” She stands up and walks towards the bathroom. “I’m going to get out of this dress.”
He watches her go and runs his hands through his hair. Delta changes into her jeans and t-shirt before slipping her boots on. They are in for a long night. When she steps into the room, Daniel is sitting in the dark on the couch.
“Delta we should talk about us,” Daniel starts to say, but a knock on the door interrupts him.
“Daniel, open up,” Chase yells.
Daniel throws the door open, “It's started. The Gazebo's on fire!” Chase says.
“Stay here, Delta!” He demands and holds up his hand to stop her before she speaks. “No! I need to know you are safe. Just lock the damn door, please!”
“Okay,” she sighs. “Be careful.” He presses a hard kiss to her mouth and leaves with Chase.
From the window, Delta can see the Gazebo, and it's aglow now with hungry flames licking up and around it. Stable hands, Daniel, Chase, and the security team struggle to fight the flames. They grab fire extinguishers and surround the structure spraying foam and CO2 at the fire, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. “I hope the fire department gets here soon,” she murmurs.
When the fire alarm in the hotel goes off Delta is stunned. “Surely she wouldn’t set the whole lodge on fire?” A knock at the door startles her into action. “Fire!” The voice yells outside her door, she can hear people running towards the stairs. Delta hurries to the door and throws it open only to stare down the barrel of a cocked handgun.
“Delta, we’re gonna take a walk together.” Melody smiles at the shocked look on Delta’s face.
“Melody, this is all a misunderstanding. Daniel and I are just friends,” she explains softly.
“Friends!” The gun trembles and her fingers tighten on the trigger, causing Delta to back up a step in terror. “Don’t lie to me! Move to the door.” She jerks the gun gesturing for Delta to move. “Down the hall is the staff elevator, move quickly and quietly.” Melody shoves the pistol into Delta’s back and grasps her by the upper arm. “I will kill you, though I’d rather watch Daniel’s face when you die. The choice is yours, Delta.”
Delta walks into the hall and allows Melody to guide her to the door. Melody punches the button and waits for the doors to open.
“Face the corner!” She orders, shoving Delta inside before punching the close button and chooses the kitchen level. It should be empty by now. ‘Kill her now and be done with it!’ The voice urges.
“Not yet, I want him to suffer first.”
Delta listens to her rambling and tries to turn around. “Melody…” a blinding pain sends Delta to her knees. A trickle of blood drips down her temple, and a goose egg begins to form. Melody slams the gun down and giggles when she screams out in pain from the second blow to her collar bone. Reaching down, she grabs a hand full of blonde curls and jerks Delta's head back. “Don't speak my name again.” The elevator slows and stops. “Get up!” She snarls and releases her hair.
Delta stumbles to her feet, fighting back tears and dizziness from the pain. Melody grabs her upper arm again and shoves her through the massive kitchen. Fire alarms are blaring inside, and all the emergency lights are flashing. Melody has horses waiting by the back exit. Though nervous they're well-trained animals from Daniels own stables.
“We’re going to take a ride, Delta.” She shoves her towards the horse and laughs when Delta stumbles. ‘Tie her hands, so she can’t escape, use the tape we brought.’ Melody nods her head listening to the voice in her head.
“I can't ride.”
Melody shoves the pistol into Delta’s cheek and smiles. “Figure it out, or I will spray your beautiful brains all over Daniel’s prize stallion.”
Delta gasps and looks at the horse. Stamping her fear down, she nods in agreement.
“First, put your hands behind your back.” Delta startles and looks at her only to have Melody punch her injured thigh. Her scream of pain is covered by the blaring sirens.
Melody quickly pulls out the silver tape and wraps Delta’s hands tightly. Giving her a small shove, she giggles as Delta struggles to climb onto the horse. “I can’t do it without my hands,” Delta snaps.
Running out of time, Melody shoves the pistol into her jeans, and orders, “Put a foot in the stirrup.” When she does as ordered, she pushes, and Delta throws a leg over the saddle and almost falls off the other side. “Damn, you're useless! I don't know what he sees in you.” Delta whimpers and throws her body forward, barely managing to stay in the saddle. Melody grabs the reins and quickly mounts her horse, before giving a gentle nudge to the horses.
“Where are you taking me?” Delta mumbles as she fights back wave after wave of nausea from the pain in her thigh and head.
“Easy enough to drop her body in the river. They can't search it all at once.” Melody seems unaware that she's talking out loud to herself. Delta's blood runs cold. She's going to kill me no matter what I do. Using all her strength, she leans close to the horse's mane and kicks him hard, screaming at the same time.
Her scream startles Melody, causing her horse to break into a run and ripping the reins free. Delta’s horse runs in the opposite direction thundering across the grounds towards the pond. Melody struggles to calm her horse and points her pistol at Delta’s retreating back. She takes a breath and squeezes the trigger. Delta yells at the horse and leans in the opposite direction, forcing him to turn again at the last second causing Melody’s bullet to miss her target.
Daniel is shocked when the alarms go off inside the main lodge. The firemen arrive just as he rushes inside. Delta! His heart is screaming at him to run faster but is sure that she will be gone. He races up the stairs and down the hall to an open door.
The suite is empty, “Delta!” He yells. Nothing. Rushing back into the hallway, he runs down the steps outside and asks the first person he sees, “Did you see a blonde, with wavy hair, come this way?”
Frantically he races from person to person asking until he hears a woman say, “I saw two women get into the elevator.” Daniel races back inside and pulls out his cell phone, calling the security team. Daniel orders them around the back to the staff entrances. He skids to a stop when he rushes inside the kitchen and hears what sounds like a gunshot outside. His blood runs cold, “No!”
Delta’s horse races across the field with Melody hot on its heels. She is able to pull alongside the horse and grab the reins, pulling it to a stop, but she can only watch as Delta flies from the horse with a thud.
“Easy now,” Mel murmurs to the horses, as she climbs down. Delta isn't moving, ‘Maybe she's dead.' Her voice mumbles. Stomping over she uses her foot to roll Delta over to her back and checks for a pulse. “Good, I have plans for you.” She laughs when she sees where they are. “Perfect. Time to get this party started.” Dropping the reins of both horses, she raises the pistol and shoots it into the air once more, causing them to startle and race away, just as she intended.
Delta is terrified when the gun sounds behind her, but all she can think is that she needs to get away. She hangs on for dear life until Melody grabs the reins and sends her flying through t
he air and into oblivion. The first thing she notices when she wakes is that her hands are no longer taped together. Instead, they're strapped to some kind of wood. “Help…” she groans and tries to open her eyes, but blood and dirt have caked one of her eyes shut. The pain radiates from her shoulder and hip, and she gasps as the first dose of water hits her in the face.
“Wakey, Wakey,” Melody sings and laughs as Delta coughs and spits out the water.
“Why are you doing this?” Delta stammers and is surprised when Melody squats in front of her and uses a rag to wipe her eyes clean. Gently, she blots at the wound on Delta’s head to makes sure that she can see.
“Shh, it's going to be over soon. Daniel should be arriving any minute.” Delta glances around her and realizes that she's on Sarah Janes' bridge. Melody has tied her arms to the bridge and Delta is kneeling on her knees in the center of the bridge.
“Why am I here, Melody?”
Her red hair dances wildly around her as the wind blows and Delta catches the first hint of the scent that sends terror flooding into her eyes. “No,” she pants.
‘She gets it now. Light the first side.' Melody claps her hands gleefully and listens to the voice. Moving to one end of the bridge, she drops a match onto the kerosene-soaked tresses that support the structure. Three such supports hold the weight of the aged wooden bridge, and each one has been saturated with kerosene. It roars to life and Melody giggles, entranced by the way it wicks up over the wood and spreads slowly. Moving to the other end, she ignores the way Delta struggles with her ties and screams for help.
“Yes, you get it now. Do you think he will make it in time to save you like Beau did Sara Jane?” Melody grins, “I say no.”
“You’re sick, Melody. Let us help you. We only want to get you the help you need,” Delta pleads for understanding.
“Liar!” She jerks a knife free and moves in front of Delta ignoring the way the flames are moving slowly towards them. “He doesn’t care about me! I tried to wait and give him time, but he never even noticed me!” She slices the blade across her own arm and hisses as the pain calms her and sharpens her mind.