by Mills, Lisa
“Get a firm grip!” Manuel ordered, “And let me know when you’re ready.”
“Can you lower it a few more feet?” she called.
The rope dropped down a little further, giving her the extra length she needed.
Isabel pulled her knees to her chest and slipped her foot through the loop he’d tied at the end of the rope. Grasping hold with her hands and locking her other leg around the rope, she called up to him. “Get me out of here, Manuel.”
The rope went taut. As Manuel hoisted her out of the water, her weight caused the rope to twist and spin, bumping and banging her against the rock walls. She adjusted, taking more weight on her hands and using the foothold as a counterbalance. Her arm muscles strained with the task and were soon shaking violently and burning like fire. The light at the mouth of the well grew larger and brighter, but not as quickly as Isabel would have liked.
“Hurry, Manuel, I don’t know how much longer I can hold on!”
“You can do it, Isabel. Hang in there, girl.” His voice sounded strained, and Isabel realized how much effort he was expending in cranking the winch.
She closed her eyes and gripped the rope, trying not to think about the pain in her muscles or the raw skin on her hands. Soon, two strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her over the rock ledge that surrounded the well. She and Manuel collapsed to the ground, panting and clinging to one another.
“What happened?” he asked between jagged breaths. “I left for just a minute and when I came back you were in the water.”
“I thought I saw someone, but when I called out your name, no one answered. The next thing I knew, the rope gave.” A chill of terror ripped through her and left her whole body shaking violently. “I thought I was going to drown. The rope got tangled around me and—” Frightened sobs broke off her words.
Manuel pulled her closer and stroked her back. “Shh. You’re safe now.”
She pressed her face into his shoulder and wept until the emotion abated. “I can’t go back down there, Manuel.”
He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I wouldn’t ask you to.”
She swiped at her eyes, feeling foolish. “I don’t think we’d find anything anyway. The bottom of the well is too deep. It’s not accessible enough, and there were no loose rocks or niches in the walls. The pearls aren’t down there.” She met his eyes, begging him to agree. Another trip down that shaft was out of the question no matter how much she wanted to help.
He nodded and pulled her to her feet. “I trust your judgment, Isabel. You have a knack for this sort of thing. Rodrigo seemed fascinated with that well, but maybe that’s all it was—a fascination. We’ll concentrate on the terraces.”
She picked up a length of rope and stared at it. “I can’t believe the rope broke. It was almost new, wasn’t it?”
Manuel’s face darkened. “It didn’t break; it was cut. The edges were clean, not frayed.”
Isabel stiffened. “Someone followed us here?”
Manuel looked away, his profile tense. “I didn’t see anyone, but that would be my guess.”
Her gut tightened and twisted into a knot. “I’m scared, Manuel.”
He turned and gathered her in his arms, heedless of the water dripping from her clothes and hair. “I’d never let anyone hurt you, Isabel. You can trust me.”
His strong arms offered comfort and safety, and she allowed herself to relax. She would let him bear the burden of worry until she had time to recover.
As if sensing her need, Manuel tightened his hold. “From now on, we’ll be more cautious. But don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”
Seventeen
As she neared the jeeps, Isabel startled and ducked behind a tree. She’d been so lost in thought that she hadn’t noticed the person sitting on the hood of the vehicle until she was almost upon him. She peeked around the trunk of the tree and breathed a sigh of relief. Raúl. Chiding herself for being so jumpy, she went to greet him.
“Hi, Raúl.”
He smiled as if he’d been expecting her.
She walked to the jeep and leaned against the hood next to him. “How did you get here?”
“I had one of the locals drive me this far. We found the jeeps, but I didn’t know where you’d gone from here.”
“Our camp is a ten-minute hike away. Have you been waiting long?”
“Two hours, maybe.”
“Sorry. If I had known you were coming, I would have met you. Maybe we should have invested in a satellite phone for the expedition. It’s probably the only way to get a signal this many miles from civilization.”
Raúl smiled, flashing his dimples. “It’s okay. I didn’t mind the wait, and you’re here now.”
“Which reminds me, I came to get another jug of fresh water. We can use the ground water for washing up, but it’s best to use processed water for cooking and drinking. If you’ll help, we can carry back twice as much. That will save me a trip later this week.”
“Sure, I’ll help.”
She pushed away from the hood, but Raúl’s hand on her arm stopped her.
“Before we go, could we talk?” The tone of his voice suggested a serious conversation.
Despite a sudden wariness, she nodded. “Okay.”
He turned his warm brown eyes on her, and his pleading expression pulled at something inside her. “Is there any hope for us?”
So, he wanted to go there? Well, maybe it was time they talked. He needed to know there was no chance of a further romantic relationship. Yet having experienced the kind of pain he now suffered, she tried to find a gentle way of relaying the message. “There is no ‘us’ anymore.”
Agony filled his eyes and lined his face. “I miss you, Isabel. I miss you so much it hurts.”
His vulnerable admission grated against the barely healed damage he’d inflicted on her heart. Why couldn’t he have realized his error sooner and saved them both the pain? “I thought we agreed to move on. From what I’ve witnessed, I’d say you have. How is Esperanza, by the way?”
He shook his head, shame and regret clearly displayed on his handsome features. “I admit I’ve tried to distract myself in an attempt to forget you, but it’s no good. No one measures up.”
His quiet declaration mocked her, tainted her emotions with the bitter reminder of his betrayal, and she couldn’t keep the hurt from her voice. “You forget, Raúl, I’ve seen your other women. If anything, I’m the one who can’t compete.”
He trailed a finger over her cheek, his eyes begging for a word, a sign, a scrap of hope. “You don’t know how beautiful you are. Your beauty was what first attracted me to you. That day in the coffee shop, your shy glances and blushing cheeks—you were so surprised when I paid you attention. At first I thought you were toying with me, acting demure to pique my interest. After our first evening together, I realized you had no idea the effect you have.” He smoothed a lock of her hair between his fingers, a look of wonder on his face. “I wanted to be the one to offer you that revelation, to watch you blossom as you discovered yourself.”
His raw honesty opened her soul and probed until it found the wonderful memories of times they shared. He’d played the knight in shining armor and rescued her from her struggles, feeding her self-esteem and filling the lonely void in her life. Nothing could erase the elation she’d felt those first weeks and months of their relationship. Even she could not deny the intoxicating effect of his love and affection. But everything changed the day she’d found him on his yacht in the arms of another woman. She couldn’t erase the memory, nor could she live as if it didn’t matter. It did.
“What are you asking me?” she sighed.
His fingertips trailed over her arms. “Don’t abandon me, Isabel. I’ve never been able to hold onto the good things that come into my life. My father rejected me; my mother despised me; my business practices have not always been ethical. But you are good and moral and pure, and I need some of that in my life. I need you to help me be a better man.”
A gentle prompting drew her focus within and beckoned her to search deeper than the memories and longings clouding her mind. Time spent each morning in prayer and meditation had sharpened her discernment to a keen edge. Now, truth cut away her illusions, revealing God’s plan with startling clarity. He had brought Raúl into her life for a purpose, just not the one she initially assumed.
Seeing the wisdom of His handiwork, she surrendered to the leading of the Spirit. “You see good in me, Raúl?”
“Yes.”
“And you want that kind of goodness in your life?”
He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it. “More than I can say. Come back to me.”
She smiled through the tears in her eyes. The truth had been there all along. Why hadn’t she seen it? “You don’t really want me, Raúl. You want what’s inside me.”
His look of confusion prodded her to explain.
“The purity and goodness you feel in me comes from God. It’s Him you want—you just don’t realize it yet. I don’t have the power to give you what you need. No woman does. Only God can satisfy. If you ask, God will heal the hurts of your past and fill you with the peace you’re searching for. He offers a satisfaction without compare.”
She waited in silence, allowing him to consider her words, silently urging him to recognize and embrace the gift God offered him. She felt the hosts of heaven holding their collective breaths, waiting in expectancy for his answer.
“Does Manuel believe as you do?”
Not the question she’d anticipated, but a fair one. “Yes.”
“Do you have feelings for him?”
“I do.”
His face registered the blow she’d dealt to his heart. “He’ll never amount to anything, Isabel. Women who fall in love with poor men like him sentence themselves to a hard life. I could offer you fine clothes, a comfortable home, travel. Anything you desire, I could give it to you.”
She stared at him, perplexed. Maybe he hadn’t heard her message, or maybe she’d explained it poorly. Surely, she had not imagined the weight of this pivotal moment. “Some things are more important than money.”
“Like what?”
“You just finished telling me you want goodness in your life! Your money hasn’t brought you peace or contentment. It won’t make me happy either.”
“Tell me, what will?”
“I would be very happy if you would ask God to be a part of your life.”
“Then would you love me again?”
She smiled softly. “I think we already determined that we’re worlds apart on a lot of issues. God is just one of them.”
His face clouded with anger. “If you don’t love me anymore, then just say so. You don’t need to hide behind your God.” He slid off the hood and stalked away, leaving her stunned and smarting.
The accusation came as an unexpected slap. She’d offered him the greatest treasure she could give him, something infinitely more valuable than herself, and he’d seen it as a rejection and an insult. She’d felt God’s presence in such a tangible way, followed His lead, certain of a successful outcome.
Raúl stopped a short distance away. Hands on his hips, he glanced around in confusion, looking like the lost lamb that he was.
Show him the way. The Holy Spirit’s prompting thrust Isabel from her self-pity and made her realize Raúl had not rejected her, but God. If God was still willing to pursue Raúl’s heart, she could do her part to help.
She walked toward him. “Look, Raúl, I don’t want to argue with you. I’m hungry and I’m sure you are too. Let’s go back to camp, and I’ll make you some dinner, all right?”
When he didn’t answer, she laid a hand on his arm. “I could still use some help carrying the water.” She raised her eyebrows in invitation and offered a conciliatory smile.
The tension seemed to drain from his body, and his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Of course I’ll help you, Isabel. Lead the way.”
A glimpse of his old charm surfaced. As they unloaded the water jugs, she wondered if Raúl’s charm would extend to Manuel and whether Manuel would tolerate Raúl’s presence. The men had never discussed the ominous note Isabel found in Santo Domingo, but she knew Manuel wanted answers.
As she led the way to the camp, she dreaded the unavoidable confrontation.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Isabel chopped up a piece of fresh papaya and offered it to her two sullen dinner companions. As she’d expected, Manuel’s eyes flashed fire the moment Raúl stepped foot into the camp, and Raúl did nothing to ease the tension. The moment Raúl saw his competition, his penitence evaporated. He slipped into his arrogant persona, taunting Manuel with subtle jabs and insults.
Manuel’s tolerance amazed her. Never once did he show any anger at the verbal slights. Though obviously wary and protective, Manuel didn’t inflame the situation by responding to Raúl’s pettiness. For his admirable behavior, Manuel earned Isabel’s respect despite Raúl’s attempts to discredit him in her eyes.
After she’d finished her food, Isabel rose and gathered the dirty dishes. When she took Manuel’s plate from him, he grabbed her hand and gave her a meaningful look. She knew what he was about to do.
Kneeling beside a plastic tub they used for washing dishes, she watched Manuel stand and approach Raúl. “I need a word with you.”
Annoyance flashed over Raúl’s face. “I have nothing to say to you.”
Manuel crossed his arms over his chest, his face showing determination. “I’d prefer to talk away from the camp.”
Raúl stood and jabbed a finger into Manuel’s chest. “Let’s talk about why you haven’t found the pearls.”
“We can discuss business if you’d like, but first we’re going to talk about a personal issue.”
“I am not interested in your personal affairs.”
“Someone has been threatening Isabel.”
Raúl’s gaze darted to Isabel, and she thought she saw a flash of fear. He turned back to Manuel, and anger replaced the expression. “What makes you think I know anything about that?”
“The police showed Isabel pictures of the man suspected of burning her apartment. She saw him again in Santo Domingo when he shoved that note in your pocket.”
“What note?”
Manuel slid a piece of paper from his pocket and offered it to Raúl. “If you need to refresh your memory….”
Raúl’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared at the evidence. He snatched it out of Manuel’s hand and made a show of looking it over. “I don’t know where this note came from or what it means.” He wadded it up and tossed it into the fire.
Manuel grabbed a handful of Raúl’s shirt and crumpled it in his fist. “Isabel is in danger. This isn’t the time for deception and games.”
Raúl knocked Manuel’s hand away, looking offended at the insinuation. “It’s clever of you to try to cast blame on me.”
Manuel stepped back, his posture taking on wary lines. “What are you talking about?”
“I looked into your background before I hired you. I should have known better than to do business with you.”
Manuel’s fists bunched and his shoulder muscles knotted. “You had better have some proof if you intend to make accusations like that.”
“You think I don’t?”
“I know you don’t.” Manuel turned to Isabel. “I have no idea what he’s talking about, Isabel. I swear.”
Raúl sneered. “You can only pretend for so long. She’ll find out, you know.”
“Find out what?” Isabel walked to their side, unable to stay out of the conversation.
“Manuel has an interesting history. His last coworker ended up dead.”
Manuel’s eyes narrowed to hard slits. “That was an accident.”
“Like the accident at Isabel’s apartment?”
She turned to Manuel. “Is this true?”
Manuel looked hurt. “He’s lying. I thought you trusted me.”
Raúl grabbed her shoulder. “That’s wh
at he wants, Isabel. You haven’t found the pearls because he doesn’t want you to. He’ll delay the discovery until he’s sure he can control you. If you don’t cooperate, he’ll arrange an accident.”
Manuel looked ready to explode. “I love her. I would never hurt her.”
Isabel’s eyes snapped to Manuel’s face. Did he just say he loved her? Happiness bubbled up inside her like a fountain. She wanted to stop the conversation and linger there in that bit of sweet knowledge, but Raúl’s angry voice cut into the moment, shattering the magic.
“How convenient. A woman is always more pliable after she gives her heart to a man.”
“You would know, Raúl. You’ve been using her all along.”
With her head and heart reeling, Isabel decided she’d heard enough and stepped between them. “Stop it! All this arguing is getting us nowhere.”
Manuel wrapped his fingers around her arm. “You can’t possibly believe him. You know he’s a liar.”
“I have my faults, but I’d do anything to protect Isabel.” Raúl slapped Manuel’s hand away. “Let go of her!”
Manuel shoved Raúl and a scuffle ensued. Isabel tried to pull them apart but was knocked to the ground. Her startled cry as she thudded into the dirt snapped them out of their fits of anger. They stepped away from each other and stared down at her with similar looks of chagrin.
She bristled. “I want both of you to take a long walk.”
Raúl tried to help her up. “Isabel—”
“No, Raúl! Start walking. If you cared so much about my safety, why would you leave me alone with a man you thought to be dangerous?”
Manuel looked pleased, as if exonerated by the question.
His reaction angered her. “And you, Manuel, obviously have some secrets you should have discussed with me.”
“But, Isabel—”
“Just leave, both of you. I need some time to think.” She pushed to her feet and dusted herself off.