by Jen Talty
Nothing.
He reached out, clutching the door handle to the right. At the last minute he decided to go with the door on the left. In one swift motion, he threw back the door, weapon drawn and sucked in as much oxygen as he could.
“You bastard,” he cursed.
“Welcome to the party. Looks like I get to go out with some style.” Wilcox smiled as he waved his gun from Shauna to Jessica.
Both of them sat, bound and gagged in chairs. Jessica was crying and pale. Shauna was eerily calm.
“You’re gonna die, Wilcox,” Travis held his gun, pointed right between his eyes. Killing a man never seemed so damned enjoyable.
“I know. Ain’t life grand? But who will you save?” Wilcox lowered his gun and pointed it in Shauna’s face. “So pretty. And a good fuck, too.” He licked her cheek, then took his gun to Jessica’s temple. “But she’s so innocent. I just wish I could have been her first, her only.”
Travis forced his eyes to hold focus and he tried to calm his trembling hands. He held the trigger so tight, he was actually afraid he might shoot. Shooting at the wrong time would cost one of them their lives. Not something he was prepared to live with. What the hell was Howard up to outside?
“Only one way in this place,” Jeff said, as if he read Travis’s mind. “God, this is great. When I heard she was coming here, I came right there in my pants. And to think, I had her before you did. That must kill you.”
The anger coursing through Travis’s body tensed his muscles to the point of pain. He’d never, not in his entire life, had ever felt pure hatred in his heart. Not something he ever wanted to feel again.
A scratching noise caught his attention and he glanced toward Shauna. Her eyes shifted toward her feet and then back to meet his.
He wanted to smile, but couldn’t give his hand to Jeff. Shauna would know the right moment to make her move.
“I’m going to make sure you rot in hell,
Wilcox.” Travis shifted and Shauna jolted her body forward.
Crack. Thud!
Shauna’s chair crashed forward and Travis kicked his leg up, knocking Jeff’s gun from his hand, but Jeff reached for something behind his back. “Don’t move!” Travis yelled, but Jeff moved.
Pop!
“Jesus! You shot me you asshole!” Jeff screamed, dropping to the floor holding his blown kneecap.
“Hold it right there.” Travis kicked Jeff in the chest as he tried to get up. “Move again and it will be considered self-defense. A few counseling sessions and my conscience would be clear.” He stepped down hard on Jeff’s chest, looking him in the eye.
Nothing human lurked behind his cloudy gray stare. The man was as cold as the dead fish on the kitchen table. Travis narrowed his eyes, moving the gun closer to the small space above his nose. The urge to shoot surged through him with such force he didn’t recognize himself.
“Agent Brown.” The stern voice behind him made him back off. He blinked, realizing this soulless man looking up at him wasn’t worth it.
“Read him his rights and help me get Shauna and my niece untied.” Gingerly, Travis took the gag off his young trembling niece. She sobbed uncontrollably as he removed her bindings and took her into his arms.
“Shh, baby. It’s over now.” He stroked her hair. “I have to check on Shauna.”
“I’m fine,” Shauna said softly, rubbing her wrists. A sense of sadness engulfed her eyes as she turned from him.
“Let’s get both of them checked out.” Detective Howard placed a hand on Shauna’s elbow and guided her out the door as another officer read Jeff his rights and handcuffed him.
Travis lifted his niece in his arms and carried her out of the death filled cabin. Not only had the stench grabbed a hold of him, but he’d almost succumbed to his deepest fear. He’d wanted to kill Jeff.
An ambulance was waiting down the road, along with a dozen agents, a few locals, the state police, Jake and his brother Bill.
Hours passed as Travis and Shauna gave their stories, separately. Standard procedure. Jessica was reunited with her parents, physically unharmed. When all should be well, Travis saw his world come crashing down.
“Are you okay?” he asked Shauna, helping her down from the back of the ambulance. He touched the bruise on her blood-streaked face.
“I thought I would feel different.” She hugged herself, pulling away from him.
“So did I,” he admitted and tried to take her in his arms. He’d spent so many years searching for this one man. The feeling of capturing him had been anticlimactic. His only real thoughts were with all the innocent victims who might be able to rest in peace.
And his aching heart.
She stepped back, eyeing him suspiciously. “I have to put this part of my life behind me.” Her eyes were welled with tears.
“Don’t push me away.” Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. “We need to talk.”
“No.” She put up her hands and stared at him with extreme resolve in her eyes.
“I understand how hard this has been for you, but just give it some time.”
“You understand nothing. I need to end this chapter now. All of it, including you.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but the officer coming up behind Shauna spoke first.
“Can I give anyone a lift?” The sheriff asked.
“Please.” For a brief moment, she stared at Travis.
He was unable to say the words flooding his mind. No matter what he thought, or felt, he was still Marie’s brother. Every time Shauna looked at him, she would be reminded of what had happened.
“Goodbye,” she said softly, then turned and walked off with the sheriff.
He stood on the lonely road and watched the last police car roll away, with Shauna in it. She opted to get a ride home from a perfect stranger. Clear as the moon in the sky, she didn’t love him.
“Why me?” He tossed his hands wide, staring up at the heavens. Angrily, he wiped the tears that stained his face. Knowing she’d never turn around and fight for something that didn’t exist for her. He hopped in his pickup and prayed for the light of day.
Chapter Sixteen
The following morning, Shauna lay in her bed and stared at the ceiling. It would take a few moments before she could make herself move, without throwing up. She blinked, then blinked again. She should be happy. She could finally put her past behind her for good and move on to something brighter.
She had nothing to fear for the first time in her pathetic existence, yet she was truly afraid. Not of being harmed, but of being alone. Before, her loneliness stemmed from her desire to make sure a killer was put behind bars.
Well, Jeff Wilcox was on his way to hell. Just as she got home, Scott called to tell her Jeff had tried to escape and the police had to shoot him, again. She suspected that’s what he’d wanted all along.
With great care, she lifted her covers and rolled to the side. Her stomach gurgled. “Crap.” She flew from her bed, making a beeline for the bathroom. Staring down into the depths of her toilet as an empty stomach attempted to squeeze out nothing, she knew the pregnancy test that sat on her kitchen counter was now a reality. She had to take it.
“Okay, plus sign, you talk to him; negative, you don’t.” She filled the little drip thing with her sample and then walked away. She found herself flipping through the channels as the three minutes ticked by. Then four. Then five.
Unable to put it off any longer, she padded to the bathroom and snatched the test. “Damn.” A big plus sign filled the results window. If she didn’t tell him, she would be no different than Gina. Well, she was better than that.
She wouldn’t get rid of the baby. Timing couldn’t be worse, but she loved the baby, and she loved its father.
She wouldn’t marry him. Loving him had nothing to do with it. His damned nobility had everything to do with it. He would probably do the dinner and roses thing. Get all sappy, all for the sake of putting on a good front.
But Travis did
n’t love her.
It was okay that he went for his niece first. That was the right thing to do. She was his flesh and blood. But even after all the commotion had settled down, he had seemed distant. He didn’t really try to touch her. She didn’t let him and he didn’t push it. Actually, he’d backed off immediately, even letting her walk away into the night with another man. A man in love would fight, especially Travis.
So why was she in such a damn hurry to shower, change, and jump in her borrowed car? Hell if she knew, but it had to be done. Her pulse picked up speed as she pulled off the Northway and headed toward Travis’s parents’ house. Scott had told her that he had headed up there for a few days.
Her stomach flipped as she pulled in right behind his pickup. She didn’t know what she was going to say, or how she was going to say it, but she needed to be strong. She took a deep breath and knocked fiercely at the door.
****
After filling his family in on all the sordid details, the last thing Travis expected was his mother’s lecture on how to treat a lady, but that is exactly what she did. Then his father piped in and even little Kamy told him he was a real stinker.
The following morning he sat out on the dock, alone. He sipped his coffee wondering how to approach Shauna. He needed to talk to her. Apologize and beg for forgiveness if necessary. No point in denying it, he loved her. He wondered what she would have done if he had chased after her last night.
He had no idea what she felt for him, but running away from this part of her life wasn’t the answer.
“Hey, Uncle Trav.” Jessica appeared next to him.
“Hi, precious.” He took her by the hand and pulled her down on the dock next to him.
“You haven’t called me that since I was nine.” She smiled sweetly. Almost like nothing had happened.
He touched her bruised face. “I’m so sorry, Jessica.”
“I know.” She took his hand. “I was so scared. He knew all about Aunt Marie, and Shauna, and you. He said he killed Kirk.” The tears formed in her eyes.
“Kirk’s fine. Your mom and dad are going let you visit him today.”
She smiled like the kid she was. “Really! They told you that?” She squirmed.
“Shh, it’s our secret.” He kissed her cheek, amazed by her resilience.
“There you are.” His mother sat down, taking Jessica by the hand and dangling her feet in the water. “Your parents are looking for you, dear. I think they have a surprise for you.”
Jessica jumped. “Thanks, Grandma!” She
planted a kiss on her grandmother and then giggled as she scurried away.
“You’d never know she had nightmares all night.” His mother looked out over the lake.
“That may happen for awhile,” he said, solemnly.
“Here.” She held out a small box.
“What’s this?”
“Grandma’s engagement ring.” A tear fell from her eye, landing in the lake.
Everything happens for a reason. “That was meant for Marie.” He squeezed the box, refusing to open it.
“It was meant for the youngest living grandchild.” She pushed it under his nose.
“I can’t.” He stood. “That ring was meant for Marie.” He repeated with defiance.
“Now it will be Shauna’s.” With dignity, his mother rose and stood inches from him. Her face lined with love and determination.
“She doesn’t love me. She wants to shut the door on the past, on us, on me. Save it for Jessica, or even Kamy.” He tried to turn from her, but a stern hand squeezed his forearm.
His mother narrowed her eyes. “Marie would want her to have it.”
“You’re not listening to me, Mother.”
“Because you’re not making any sense! Have you told her you love her? You do love her, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do,” he admitted.
“Then you have to tell her.” She shoved the box in his hand. “At least tell her and give her the chance to deny it.”
She turned on her heels and gasped. “Travis,” she whispered.
“What’s the matter? Mom?” he questioned, staring at her flushed face.
“She’s here.” His mom gently tugged his ear, smiled and then glided up the stairs.
He froze. Unable to move. His pulse quickened as he looked up toward the house. There stood the woman he loved.
His equal.
His life partner.
He shoved the box in his denim shorts and blinked. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and find the right words, the perfect words. He cleared his throat as she approached.
“Hi, Travis.” She made eye contact.
“I love you,” he blurted out like a moron.
“Say what?” She stared him like he was a total idiot.
“I mean…umm…oh, Christ, what the hell. I love you, Shauna Morgan, and I want to be your partner forever.” He pulled the box from his pocket and with trembling hands, he took out his grandmother’s engagement ring. “Marry me?”
He took her hand, kissed it, and looked at her. “God, would you say something? Anything?”
She opened her mouth, but only gasped as he slid the ring on her finger.
“Was that a yes?”
She nodded and threw her arms around his shoulders. “Yes.” She kissed him.
But he wasn’t prepared for the onslaught and he tumbled backward.
Splash!
“Shauna.” He came up from the chilly waters, searching, but she was…
Splat.
She popped up, squirting water in his face.
“You little brat. Get over here.” He found her arm and yanked her to him. “Tell me.” He kissed her lips once.
“What?” She smiled, her eyes sparking in the sunlight.
He tugged her toward the dock and helped her up. “Tell me.” He pushed down on her back, putting his full weight on her.
“Do I have to?” She smiled, devilishly.
“If you don’t, I’ll have to take the ring back.” He lifted her hand, admiring the sparkling diamond that was almost as bright as her smile.
“When did you get this?”
“It was my grandmother’s. She used to tell me that everything happened for a reason. I never believed her, until now. My mother just gave it to me right before you showed up. Why are you here, anyway?” He pulled his head back and stared at her.
“Your grandmother’s?” she whispered. She threaded her fingers through his hair. “I love you.” She looked beyond his eyes to his soul and touched the deepest part of him. “I love you,” she whispered through her tears.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart.” The water dripping from her eyes tugged at his heartstrings.
“I can’t help it. Your grandmother’s ring? I don’t think I’m good enough.”
He brushed his thumb across the purple mark below her eye. “I promise to love you every day I breathe.” He kissed her, barely touching his lips against hers. Then, abruptly he pulled back. “Why did you come here today?” he questioned. His curiosity was going to get him in trouble.
Her face brightened in the morning sun. “Mostly, because I love you.” She cupped his face.
“I love you back.” He lowered his lips to hers in what he intended to be a promissory kiss, but it quickly got out of hand. Her lips were soft and sweet under his. Her tongue rushed forward, eagerly searching for the warmth of his and sent his reasoning tumbling into the water.
“Now that’s what I call sucking face,” Adam yelled from the porch. “Ouch, Grandma!” Adam yelped.
“Get your butt back in this house right now, young man,” Bill barked. “Give them some privacy.”
Travis, as gracefully as he could muster, lifted Shauna to her feet. “I think we need to go face the firing squad.”
She chuckled. “Ya think we might have surprised them just a little.”
“Nope.” He took her by the hand and led her toward the house. His family seemed to expect them to end up together t
he moment she walked into his life.
When they entered the kitchen, his entire family stood there, with smiles and just waited.
“Well?” Rita questioned.
“She said yes.” Travis felt his heart flutter with the purest sense of joy he’d ever known.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” Bill laughed.
His mother placed her hands on Shauna’s shoulder. “You bring a part of her back to me. I thank you for that, but mostly, I thank you for letting this family love you, for you.”
“I’m sorry—”
“Hush, child.” His mother’s finger pressed against her lips. “You have nothing to apologize for. Just make sure my son makes you happy.” She took her in her arms.
Travis rubbed his eyes, hoping no one noticed his tears. The last thing he needed was to be teased, once again. He waited as each member of his family hugged his fiancée. He smiled at the thought, and then frowned. This could be interesting. His mother would actually be able to plan this wedding, and she knew it.
“Let’s get these two lovebirds into some dry
clothes and start planning this wedding. I have so many ideas. How about December? That should give us enough time. You’ll make a beautiful winter bride…”
****
Shauna, swallowed hard, and tried to listen to Rita’s babbling, but a December wedding? It was July. She would be fat by then. That was the last thing she wanted for her wedding. Oh, my God! Was she totally out of her mind. She said yes, when she promised herself she wouldn’t cave to him, but noble he wasn’t. Not this time. He loved her. She felt it right through to her core. But she still had one more secret to tell him, but this time she knew she’d make him happy.
“Shauna?” A warm tingle shot up her spin.
She smiled. “Hmm?” She looked at Travis.
“December? Any objections?” he whispered in her ear as they made their way into the kitchen from the front porch.
“I don’t want a December wedding,” she said a little too loudly, because the whole room quieted and stared at her.
“Goodness, I’m sorry. I got so carried away. What do you want, dear?” Rita put down her pen and gave her the mother look, the one she seemed to use to get her way.