by Diane Darcy
Once again Richard lifted the kerosene lantern and cast its weak light up the side of the hill, a part of him still expecting Melissa to appear.
But they’d searched the entire area several times over, as well as every nook and cranny in Sully’s small cabin. If she were still here, they’d have found her.
He shook his head, determined to throw off the feeling of uneasiness, and lifted his gaze to the cloud-filled sky once again.
He was grateful the rain had let up, but frustrated that the moon still hadn’t made an appearance. It felt like they’d been waiting forever. The moon had to come out sometime. Right?
Anyway, maybe it didn’t matter. Melissa had gone back, so perhaps they simply needed to continue waiting outside and they’d get the same result.
Jessica shivered, despite Sully’s old blanket, and lifted her face from her knees. “Dad, when is it going to happen?”
“I don’t know, honey, let’s just give it a chance.”
“Is Mom okay?” Jessica’s voice quavered as she repeated the question for the fifth time.
“She’s fine.”
Jeremy sank down beside Jessica. “Do you think she’s worried?”
Richard looked from Jeremy’s searching gaze to Jessica’s. “I’m sure she’s just patiently waiting for us.”
Jeremy grinned. “Patiently?”
Richard couldn’t help returning the smile and he reached out to rub Jeremy’s head. “Well, waiting anyway.”
Jessica tightened her arms around her knees. “Dad, I’m scared.”
They all were. “It’ll be all right. Just wait and see.” Richard tried to infuse confidence into his tone. They’d get back. They had to.
Jeremy studied Richard as if trying to discern the truth, and Richard gave him a reassuring smile.
The wind kicked up and blew Jessica’s hair into her face, and she pushed it back, her small hand shaking from cold, nerves, or both.
Protective instincts made his fists clench and the lantern’s wire handle bit into his fingers. They had to get home. These kids needed their mother. His lip quirked up on one corner. He needed her too.
Suddenly, Jeremy jumped up and pointed to the sky. “Look!”
The clouds parted momentarily, one crack, then another, and finally, a silver-lined cloud, a huge one, broke away to briefly reveal the moon, bright and glowing in the sky, before it was obscured once more.
Jessica stood, the blanket dropping to the ground, an expression of hope lighting her face.
Richard blew out the lantern, set it on the grass and breathed in a slow, deep breath as anticipation raced through him. “This is it, kids.”
They waited.
The moonlight pierced the clouds, hid again, then broke through, brilliant and penetrating, a huge gap in the clouds giving them an unobstructed view.
Moonlight washed over the three of them.
Jessica raised both arms, her palms extended.
Jeremy, mouth half-opened, eyes wide, watched with wonder and curiosity.
Richard placed his palms on the backs of his children and lifted his own face. His skin prickled, and welcome nausea kicked his gut. Within moments, his children fell away as the moon hurtled toward him.
Dizziness overwhelmed him and he clenched his teeth and fought for consciousness as he landed hard on the ground.
He turned his head to the right, then to the left. His children lay on the ground and exhilaration pumped in his veins as he recognized the trampoline in the corner of the yard.
His head was heavy, and a deep pit of unconsciousness sucked at him as he realized they were alone. “Melissa?”
She wasn’t there.
Richard passed out.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Hours later, cold air wafted across Melissa’s face and she woke, lifted her drooping head, breathed in fresh air and tried to get her bearings, tried to figure out why her muscles felt so cramped and sore.
It took a moment to realize that a large, imposing figure stood in the dark doorway about ten feet away.
Melissa gasped and a streak of fear skittered through her as she jerked upright. Fear and panic escalated as she remembered she was bound and couldn’t move. She strained against the binding and it all came slamming back. She was tied to a chair; a captive.
Within seconds she realized it was Curly standing in the entry. Her breathing and heartbeat slowed and her head cleared. Her gaze immediately went beyond his still figure into the darkness outside and relief engulfed her. The sun hadn’t risen. Maybe it wasn’t too late?
She’d had hours to think about the way she’d handled Curly and to acknowledge that she’d done it all wrong. A mistake she intended to rectify immediately.
She cleared her throat. “Curly, I’m so happy to see you.” Melissa used her softest, most feminine tone. “Please, won’t you untie me? My arms are aching.”
Her voice seemed to motivate him to action, and he shut the door and moved to light one of the wall lamps. When he’d finished, he turned to study her, and the light behind his head cast his face into eerie shadow while illuminating her own, leaving her vulnerable.
Melissa blinked against the brightness and gave him a slight, and hopefully innocent, smile. “Please?” She lifted one shoulder. “My hands are numb.”
One side of Curly’s mouth tilted up. “Well, luckily, I have something that will make your hands feel much better.” He knelt, his face coming into the light, and gazed into her eyes, his expression serious. “But first, I have to talk to you about something.” He trailed a thumb down her cheek.
She willed herself to stay still, to smile. Time was wasting away. “Yes?”
Curly smiled and lowered his hand. “Two horses are saddled and waiting outside. I want your assurance that you’ll go with me. I want to take you on a trip. I thought maybe we could tour Europe on our honeymoon.”
Her eyelids flickered. Europe? A honeymoon? Well, that was unexpected. Melissa tried to keep her smile in place. “That sounds wonderful.”
Curly looked surprised, hopeful, then skeptical. He searched her face. “You’d be willing to go with me?”
Melissa bobbed her head up and down. “Yes. I’ve thought about it all night and realized you’re right. I’m tired of being poor. Of working myself half to death. Having wealth would mean a lot to me.”
“Would it mean more than anything else?”
She knew what he was asking. Was wealth more important than her family? “Yes,” she said the word easily and with conviction, and felt an immediate ache of pity for her former self. It wasn’t that long ago she’d really felt that way.
“I do want to go with you.” She was surprised the words didn’t choke her. Had she really believed that money was more important than love and family?
“All right, I’m going to trust you.” He immediately set about releasing her hands and legs.
As the bindings loosened, the relief was instantaneous. She rubbed first one wrist, and then the other, rolled her shoulders, neck, and stretched her legs out in front of her. She wasted a few precious minutes flexing her fingers, wrists and ankles. Finally, she stood and walked a few feet away, the numbness, the prickling sensation, and then finally the aching, all quickly left as her limbs returned to normal.
She turned and smiled, a real one this time. She was free, and Curly had just made a big, big mistake.
Melissa headed for the door.
Curly, watchful, jumped forward and tried to stop her.
In triumph, she pivoted, gripped one outstretched arm and twisted, trying to force him down.
Only it didn’t work.
Hours of being tied had left her weak.
Years of working outdoors had kept him strong and agile.
“Oh, ho, ho!” Curly twisted his arm away, spun around and swung her off her feet. In a breath-stealing maneuver he hugged her to his chest. “So that’s the way it is.” He easily lowered her to the floor and lay across her, effectively pinning her to the hard
wood.
Muscles straining, Melissa struggled, but there was nothing she could do to get away.
She was trapped.
Again.
Curly had won.
She struggled in vain for a few more minutes, his heavy chest, and beefy arms cutting off her oxygen. She couldn’t get away, and felt herself growing weaker by the minute. Finally, she stopped struggling and gave up.
Curly chuckled. “All done?”
Melissa twisted her head toward the window, but the glowing lamplight played on the curtain and kept her from seeing if it were dark outside or not. She gasped for air. “For now.”
“Good. I have something for you that might change your mind.” Curly dug into his pocket, releasing his weight sightly, and took out a small box and reached for her hand.
Melissa sucked in oxygen, tried to wrench her hand away and fisted her fingers.
He held her still, unclenched her hand and wrestled a ring onto her finger. “I had this ring made especially for you. It’s the best money can buy, and you deserve it. I want you to marry me. Will you?” Curly smiled down at her, looking happy and pleased with himself.
Incredulous, Melissa stared at him. “Are you stupid or something?” She bucked and tried to get away. “No! Absolutely not! I’m already married!”
Curly chuckled. “We can stay here all week. Or all month for that matter.”
Melissa glanced toward the window again. She didn’t have five minutes to spare. She considered her options and acknowledged that she didn’t have much going for her. He was bigger, stronger and just as determined. So maybe all she really had left was the truth.
“Curly.” She stared up into his dark eyes and tried to let him read the honesty in her gaze. “I love my husband. I love my children.” Her brows furrowed and her heart clenched as she felt the truth of her own words. “Rich or poor. With everything in me. Everything I am. I need to be with them. Please let me go.”
Curly looked skeptical. He shook his head. “You just need some time with me. After a couple of weeks and a lot of good times, you won’t even remember him. You’ll feel that way about me instead.”
She’d lost. Frustration had her eyes closing, burning. Her breath stilled in her chest and a single tear escaped and made its way down the side of her temple. “No, I won’t.” She looked at him again. “You can force me to stay, but you can’t force me to love you. I love Richard. I’ve always loved him.”
Curly flinched. He studied her face for a long moment, disappointment drawing his brows together. Finally, he sighed, rolled off her, stood, and held out his hand.
Warily, she placed her own in his.
He pulled her up. “I’ve never had to force a woman to love me in my life.” He swallowed, the sound audible in the quiet room. “I’m not going to start now. You know where to find me if you change your mind.” His face set in tight lines and he pointed to the door. “So go on. Just go.”
Eyes wide, Melissa searched his face, looking for a trick, but saw only hurt feelings. She ran to the door and wrenched it open.
Melissa rushed outside, but stopped abruptly on the darkened porch. Horror-struck, she pressed a hand to her chest.
The outbuildings, trees, and surrounding hills, didn’t stop her from witnessing the pre-dawn light nibbling at the distant horizon.
It would be morning soon.
Was it too late to get back to her family? Too late to go home?
Melissa strode across the huge, wrap-around porch, down the first step and into the moonlight. Immediately, her exposed hands and face tingled and within seconds her entire body buzzed with sensation.
A peculiar wrenching tugged at her stomach making her feel sick. Dizzy, she raised her face and caught the bright, full strength of the moonlight as she gazed at the brilliant orb in the cloudless sky.
Relief had her catching her breath and the chill, damp, smell of ozone filled her lungs. It wasn’t too late. She could still go home. Even from this location.
Breath hitching, she stepped back into the darkness of the porch and immediately, the tingling and nausea subsided, only to leave her trembling.
She had to think. Where was her family? Could they still go back together? Had they already left her?
If Richard even suspected she was still in the past he would never abandon her.
Never.
The question was, did he know? Did he think she’d gone home, and followed? Or had he witnessed her kidnapping? He’d had no horse to follow with. Was he out searching, even now? Was he staying out of the moonlight, and keeping the kids clear too, trying to find her?
She had no way of knowing.
She took a step again toward the moonlight. She wanted to go home so badly, and this could be her last chance. If she didn’t leave, she might be trapped in the past, alone and without resources for the next three years.
Three long years. She shivered as a breeze cut through her damp clothing.
She swallowed hard and her fists clenched and unclenched. Her immediate future, her chances for happiness could all be gone within the hour if she chose to stay.
All she had to do was simply step out into the moonlight and go home.
Shame burned her skin as she realized that even if they were still here, she had to go. She couldn’t stay another day. Anyway, there was still a chance they’d gone home, right?
All she had to do was step out into the moonlight.
Anxiety burned in her gut, and she looked at the horizon, but couldn’t tell if it were lighter or not.
A horse nickered nearby.
Melissa turned to see two horses, saddled and ready to go, tied to the nearby hitching post beside a cluster of rosebushes. She remembered Curly mentioning horses and a trip somewhere. Her anxiety grew and she wished she hadn’t noticed the animals. She had a way back and she suddenly wished she didn’t have the option.
She looked at the horizon again. Recognized the ridge in the distance and knew exactly where she was; knew exactly how to get home. Could there still be time to get to Sully’s place? Time to find out for sure if Richard and the kids were there? But what if they weren’t even at the cabin, but off looking for her?
How could she know?
Tension clawed at her. She couldn’t wait. If she did, she might lose the moonlight. She had to make a decision and she had to do it now.
She took a step forward and tears burned at her eyes. Chances were, they’d already gone back. She’d simply have to believe that.
Her throat tightened, choking her.
If they weren’t home, she could wait for them there. It would be three years, sure, but she couldn’t survive in the past. Not alone. They could, because they’d be together. If they weren’t home, she’d spend the next three years getting ready for them. She’d have her career to keep her busy. She’d be building a secure future for them all.
Sweat chilled her arms and slicked her palms. A glow in the distance brought tears to her eyes.
The sun would be coming up soon.
She had to do something.
She took a few steps, and stopped at the edge of the moonlight. It would be so easy; just one more step.
She didn’t have a choice.
She lifted her left arm and moonlight bathed her hand. Tingled. The ring Curly had forced on her finger sparkled, the huge diamond giving off a prism of light that danced in the relative darkness.
Melissa’s eyes widened.
Astonishment choked her as she stared down at the ring, unable to believe what she was seeing.
It was her ring! Her wedding ring. The one Richard had given her. The one lying on the bureau back at home. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, but she still saw exactly the same ring on her finger. How could that be?
Her heart started to race as emotion, hot and powerful, poured through her, and she jerked her hand back out of the light and hugged it to her chest.
This was not possible. How could her wedding ring be on her finger? The very ring Ric
hard had placed there with love so long ago? Her mind started to race as she thought about its history. It had been won in a poker match by one of Richard’s ancestors.
Chills broke out on her back, arms and neck.
It had been gambled away by a man who had lost his true love.
She swallowed and tried to get air.
Was Melissa the mystery woman? The woman who she’d disparaged for giving up security for love?
Was Melissa the idiot who had chosen love?
Melissa looked at the horizon, panic thudding her heart painfully in her chest, each breath coming in aching gusts.
Melissa pictured her family out there, waiting for her, searching for her. Tears came to her eyes.
Yes. Apparently she was that idiot.
She did love her family; loved them enough to stay in this backward place with them for three more years if necessary. Enough to give up security for love.
She could not leave until she knew for sure that her family was already gone.
She sprang into action, swinging around and racing for Curly’s front door. She knew exactly what she had to do.
Melissa ran back into the house, and in her haste stumbled over the threshold, barely managing to catch herself.
Curly had been watching from the front window. He dropped the curtain and looked at her expectantly as she came gracelessly through the entry. “Have you changed your mind? Are you staying?”
Melissa felt a twist of sympathy for his unconcealed eagerness and for the way he’d misconstrued her indecision and return. “No. Sorry. I have to give you this.” She tugged off the ring, lifted one of his beefy hands, and placed it in his palm.
Not trusting him, she quickly backed up a few steps. Mission accomplished, and now she was out of there!
Curly stared down at the bit of jewelry, then thrust it back toward her. “Keep it.”