by Sharon Dunn
He reached out to lock the front door when the doorknob shook. He pressed against the wall out of view, ready to fire if he had to. The door swung open. Elizabeth stepped in, and she raised her hands. An expression of terror filled her features when she saw Gavin.
Gavin dropped the gun to his side. “Don’t ever do that again. Identify yourself before you open the door.”
Elizabeth still hadn’t regained her composure. “Steve didn’t mean…he didn’t mean to scare you. He came and got me.”
Steve, the man they’d seen outside, stood behind Elizabeth.
Gavin tried to shake off the rising anger. “Why didn’t you tell us to expect him?”
“I didn’t know he was coming. With his injury, he couldn’t do much work. He just came to get some tools to loan to a friend. He didn’t know you were here.”
Steve stepped forward. He was an older man with hair graying at the temple. The “something” Gavin had registered as being in Steve’s hand was the thick bandage he wore around his fingers and wrist.
“I’ll get my tools,” said Steve. “Elizabeth has explained things to me. I’m not going to talk.”
How was he going to protect Julia if Elizabeth turned this place into Grand Central Station? Gavin spoke through gritted teeth. “It would be better if he didn’t come around at all.”
Steve threw up his hands. “Look, sorry for all the trouble. I’ll get my tools and go.” He disappeared around the corner of the lodge.
“Steve knowing we are here raises serious issues.” His anger faded when he saw how upset Elizabeth was. He lowered his voice. “I didn’t mean to scare you like that.”
“It’s okay. You were only doing your job.” She patted her chest to indicate that her heart was slowing down. “I assure you, Julia will be safe here.”
“Not if people keep showing up unannounced,” Gavin said. “Someone knows she’s here. We might have to move her.”
“Please, I haven’t compromised her safety. Steve is trustworthy.” Elizabeth grabbed Gavin’s arm. “She needs to stay here. I want to get to know her.” Her voice softened. “I think she needs me.”
“She hasn’t exactly warmed to you.”
“I know that, and I didn’t expect her to right away, after all the loss she has suffered. But I’m asking you, for Julia’s sake, give me the chance to reach out to her.”
Gavin shook his head and stared at the door where Julia had locked herself in. “I don’t know. Both the doctor and Steve know we are here. Some aspects of this place are less than ideal.” He wrestled with his options. The remoteness, the buffer of land around them and the fact that so far the location was unknown to the followers were marks in the plus column.
Elizabeth leveled her eyes at Gavin. “Neither of those two men will talk. I give you my word. I won’t do anything that puts her in danger.”
Elizabeth’s sincerity touched him. Julia still had some wounds she needed to work through. The tear he had seen earlier revealed that. Maybe another woman could reach her in a way he couldn’t. “I’ve got to get Julia to the doctor. We’ll talk about this when I get back.”
She grabbed his shirt sleeve. “Can we please just be on the same team for Julia, to want the best for her?”
“I do want the best for her. It won’t matter that you guys become best buddies if she’s dead,” Gavin said.
Elizabeth took a step back. Her voice grew even softer. “It could take weeks to find another safe place.”
“I know that.” Gavin headed up the stairs to get Julia. Taking her out in the open had already been proven to be fraught with risk.
“Like you said, we can talk about it when you get back.” She turned away.
When Gavin was halfway across the floor, Julia opened the door and stepped out. The lack of color in her features could be because of her leg, or it could be because she had overheard the conversation. In any case, she had had way more excitement than she needed.
“Is everything okay?” Her voice trembled.
“False alarm. It was just Elizabeth’s handyman,” said Gavin. “Let’s get you to the doctor.”
A few minutes later, Julia got into the passenger side of the SUV. Gavin held her arm to boost her up and keep her from putting weight on the injured leg.
He leaned into the car window. “You doing okay?”
She nodded. Elizabeth stood in the doorway with her arms crossed. Julia hadn’t been able to hear the content of the conversation between Elizabeth and Gavin, but it had sounded heated. Gavin got behind the steering wheel and put the key in the ignition.
Julia’s nerves were raw from everything that had happened. She drew a bag filled with glass beads out of her purse and strung the beads on the silk thread she had brought.
Gavin shifted into reverse and turned around in the gravel lot. “What are you making?”
“A necklace. It was one of the things the counselor and I came up with to deal with anxiety.” She felt as though she had been shaken from the inside.
“So it’s like therapy.” His voice softened. He turned on to the two-lane road that intersected the dirt road. “You certainly had enough happen this morning to stress you out.”
Julia closed her eyes and massaged her temple. “I just don’t like it when people fight about me.”
“That bothered you more than Steve showing up and us having to dive inside?”
The truth was, even though the incident had made her heart race, she had felt completely safe with Gavin close. He knew what he was doing. If she just listened to him, she would be fine. “In a way, yes.”
Marlena had fought with Elijah all the time. Julia would be awakened by the shouting late at night. Marlena had been the only cult member who knew Julia had been kidnapped. At first, the fights were about just leaving Julia on a street and hoping she didn’t remember enough to press charges. When Elijah refused, Marlena’s attachment to Julia grew. Later, the fights became about finding a husband for Julia so she would feel more like a part of the “community.”
“I’m sorry you had to hear us fighting. I like Elizabeth. I think she cares about you. It’s just that I don’t know if the hot springs is the best location.”
She pulled a glass bead out of the bag, pressing her fingers hard against it. She had felt more trusting toward Elizabeth, too. “I don’t want to move again. I can’t run anymore like we had to do on the way here.”
Gavin adjusted his sunglasses. “The lodge has some things going for it.”
“There is no indication that they know where I am.” Julia yanked the bead she’d picked out to the bottom of the strand. “They would have come into the house to get me by now.”
“You’re right about that. I do think we shook them off before we got to the springs.”
“And I would appreciate it if you and Elizabeth would try to get along.”
“I only want you to be as safe as possible,” he said.
“Can we please just stay at the hot springs for now? I don’t know how to explain it, but when I have to stay on the run, it feels like Elijah is still controlling me.” The raw, unexpected pain was evident in her voice.
He drove without responding for several minutes. “This is your life we’re talking about, Julia. It’s in my hands and I want to do this right.”
“I just think leaving would bring on more trouble than staying here. Besides, you’re doing just fine keeping me safe.” She had been impressed with Gavin so far. She needed to call her father and thank him for hiring him. “My father said you guarded some really important people when you were down in Florida.”
Julia noticed a subtle change in Gavin’s expression, as if a veil had fallen over his eyes. He looked forward and focused on his driving. “Why don’t you read those directions that Elizabeth wrote down?”
He really didn’t like her asking questions about his life, especially about his time in Florida—yet another indication that he saw her as just a client whom he didn’t want to get too close to.
Julia unfolded the note Elizabeth had written. The tension that had entered the vehicle was palpable. Maybe she could lighten the mood. “Here we are again, you driving and me navigating, like some old married couple,” she blurted. Mentally, Julia kicked herself. What had made her say such an immature-sounding thing? She might as well just write “Julia loves Gavin” in her school notebook. “I, um, didn’t mean it that way.”
He angled his head and offered her a smile. “Mean it what way?”
“I was thirteen when Elijah took me. I never got a chance to go on dates.” She turned sideways and stared at the scenery. “I missed out on that whole learning to talk to boys thing. Sometimes I say the wrong thing.” The ache around her heart returned.
“It didn’t bother me.” He seemed amused.
Julia focused on stringing beads on her necklace. Though he was maybe five or six years older than her, he would never view her as an equal. Maybe that was why she had a sense he was keeping emotional distance.
“So why don’t you read those directions for me?”
Julia unfolded the piece of paper. “About half a block after the town welcome sign, you’ll see a white building set off by itself.”
“That’s good. Sounds like it’s on the outskirts of town.”
“Less chance of someone noticing me. Is that what you are thinking?”
Something like admiration flashed through his eyes. “Exactly.”
“There it is.” Julia pointed. “That has to be it.”
When Gavin pulled into the lot there were two other vehicles, a battered-looking truck and a compact car. An open field and a closed gas station separated the doctor’s office from the rest of the town. They could get Julia treated and leave without having to cross paths with hardly anyone.
Gavin jumped out of the vehicle and circled around to help Julia out. She was limping even more. He took her arm and placed it on his shoulder. The trust he saw in her eyes floored him. Did he deserve that trust?
“If anyone asks, you and I are husband and wife.”
“We are?”
“Just for our cover. That’s why I thought it was funny when you said we were acting like husband and wife in the car.”
“Oh, I understand.” She slipped past him while he held the door.
When they got inside, a middle-aged woman and her teenage daughter were sitting in the waiting room.
An older man with thinning hair combed against his head looked up from the chart he had been reading at a high desk. “Are you the gentleman who called earlier?”
Gavin nodded, appreciating that the doctor hadn’t dropped any specific information in front of the other people in the waiting room.
The doctor pulled his glasses off his collar where he had hung them. “I understand you cut your leg. So sad to have this happen on your honeymoon.”
Julia raised an eyebrow toward Gavin. “Yes, that’s what happened.” She spoke without taking her eyes off him.
“Just right this way into exam room one.” The doctor addressed Julia.
Automatically, Gavin trailed behind them.
The doctor narrowed his eyes. “I know you are just married, but I’m sure your wife can handle being in the exam room alone.”
Gavin backed away, not wanting to call attention to how closely he watched her, but dreading being separated from her. “I’ll just be in the next room…honey.”
“Okay…honey.” Amusement danced through her eyes as she looked back at him and entered the exam room.
Julia lifted her pant leg. “I didn’t think it was that bad, but it started bleeding again.”
Just as he turned to leave, Gavin heard the doctor say, “Doesn’t look bad enough for stitches.” The doctor closed the exam-room door.
While Julia was with the doctor Gavin flipped through a magazine, but he barely paid attention to it. Though he maintained a surface calm, agitation stirred underneath. He didn’t like being where he couldn’t see her. The waiting room had a small window where he could take note of vehicles pulling into the lot.
“Did your wife hurt her leg?” The middle-aged woman smiled pleasantly. Her teenage daughter slumped down in the chair and rested her chin on her chest.
They must be doing a good job of convincing people they were a couple. “She’s got a bad cut.”
“I noticed she was kind of limping.”
“Yes, it’s causing some pain.” Gavin feigned interest in his magazine. He didn’t want to give out any more information than he had to. While he waited, a woman who was probably in her mid-forties came in and sat down. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Lack of makeup made her pale features look even more washed out. She sat straight as a board in the chair opposite Gavin. Something about the woman was off-putting.
Outside, he heard a car peel through the parking lot. The sooner he could get Julia back to the hot springs, the better.
Twenty minutes later, Julia emerged from the exam room, still favoring her leg, but the color had come back into her face.
She held up a piece of paper. “I have to get some antibiotics to prevent infection.”
“We can get—” He caught himself before he said Elizabeth’s name. “Somebody else to get the pills.”
On the way out to the SUV Gavin noted that two cars went by, slowing down to stare at them as he helped Julia back into the vehicle. Could just be because it was a small town, and they were not locals. All the same, he made a mental note of the make and model of the cars.
Julia exuded renewed energy. “He put a waterproof bandage on so I can still soak in the hot springs. I will be able to do that, right?”
He wrestled with finding a balance between confining her to a dark room with no light and giving her enough freedom so she didn’t go stir crazy. The pool with the wall around it was pretty secure. Steve had come around because he knew the layout of the place. Anyone else would probably go to the front first. “It would be best if I stood watch while you did.” He turned the key in the ignition.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely.
Gavin checked the rearview mirror on a regular basis. Only one car, which passed them when Gavin slowed, was on the road. As he drove, he realized how tired he was. He had slept in short intervals and not very deeply while he was posted outside Julia’s door. All he needed was a couple hours of deep sleep to feel revived.
Elizabeth was dusting in the lobby when they arrived. She straightened, massaging the small of her back. “I’ve talked to Steve. Even if he is feeling well enough to work, he won’t be around until after you two are gone.”
“Thank you. If you don’t mind, I’m going to catch a couple hours of shut-eye,” Gavin said.
“I can help Elizabeth dust,” Julia offered.
“Remember, I said it would be better if you didn’t spend too much time in front of those big windows.”
“It’s always something.” Julia’s voice held a hint of teasing. He was glad to see she had decided to have a sense of humor about the precautions they had to take.
Elizabeth said, “I’ve got some books in our little library that need to be alphabetized. The room only has a small, high window. We can work on that.”
The gravity of the threat they faced seemed to finally be sinking in for Elizabeth. At least she was willing to make adjustments. Her concern for Julia’s emotional well-being went a long way for Gavin trusting her.
“I’ll leave you two ladies alone for a while then.” He trudged across the lobby to the first-floor room Elizabeth had made up for him that he hadn’t even seen yet.
Gavin kicked off his boots, pulled back the covers and fell into bed. Sleep came quickly. His last thought was that he regretted that he had to sleep at all. Elizabeth seemed to be gaining an understanding of the need for vigilance but, given the level of danger Julia faced, he would feel better if he could stay close to her twenty-four hours a day.
EIGHT
Julia pushed open the sliding glass door. Dressed in a lush spa robe Elizabeth had loa
ned her and a swimsuit, the winter cold hit her full on. The collision of the heat from the pool and cold air formed steam on the surface of the water.
Elizabeth had already settled into the outdoor pool. “The hot water feels so good this time of year.” She leaned back and stared at the night sky. “I love being in the winter chill and then easing into the springs.”
It was barely six o’clock and already dark. Elizabeth and Julia had spent the afternoon organizing the library that was in a tiny room in the building that housed the indoor hot tubs. After some kitchen cleanup and a light dinner, Elizabeth had talked her into a soak in the tub, assuring her that it was safe and that there was no need to wake Gavin from the sleep he so obviously needed.
Steam rose off the outdoor pool as Julia eased in, slipping down until the water covered her shoulders. The water was not more than five feet deep. “How long have you owned this place?”
Elizabeth stared up at the night sky, allowing her legs to float out in front of her. “Twenty-five years. Brian and I raised our two children while we ran the place. After Brian died, I decided I was just too old to make any big changes, so I just kept running it.”
“That’s a long time to stay in one place.” How wonderful would it be to be settled, to call a place home and to feel safe there?
“Your mother came here once when you were really little,” Elizabeth said.
“Really?” Julia felt an unexpected spark of interest. In a way, she had closed the emotional door on her mother, even more so after Marlena died.
“It was shortly after we bought the place. You were maybe two years old.” Elizabeth planted her feet on the bottom of the pool and glided toward Julia as the water swished around her. “She loved you so much.”
Her dad had told her the same thing. The memories of her mother were faint at best. She’d seen the pictures of her mother holding her. She had no memory of being loved, only that people told her she had been. Her clearest memories of her mother were of her always saying she was tired and needed to sleep.