The Farmer's Daughter: The Dragon Dream: Book One

by Robin Janney

  Her father heard the questioning in her voice. He didn’t let go of her hand, which was still twitching, but he increased the pressure of the arm around her. “Yes,” he admitted. “She was.”

  “Am…am I like her?”

  His heart squeezed painfully as he tried to decide to answer her. “I don’t know, Angela. You share some of her traits, some of her personality. You even have something of her in the way you walk. But you have to remember, you’ve experience severe trauma more than once in your life. From Randy, to Derek, to now. You’ve never had a chance to heal properly from any of it. It doesn’t mean you’re sick like her.”

  “It probably doesn’t help.” She shifted to hug her knees to her chest and her father let her.

  “Probably not,” he agreed, his hand rubbing her back as he had the day before. “You’re not going to like this, but you’ll probably have to see a doctor to be sure.”

  Angela managed a watery laugh, wiping her eyes on the tank top she wore. She hadn’t worn one in years. “You’re right,” she said. “I don’t like hearing that. But I think you’re right. Does it have a name? What my mom had?”

  It was a conversation he’d never wanted to have with her, though maybe they should have told her long ago. How much heartache could it have prevented? But there was no going back, only forward. “Back then, they called it manic depression. Today, it would be diagnosed as bi-polar disorder. I can’t prove it, but I think she was schizophrenic as well.”

  “Of course.” Angela rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t rain, but it pours.”

  “Is this why you think Craig doesn’t want you? You know he loves you.”

  “I do,” she agreed. “It’s just…he doesn’t touch me like he used to, Dad. He doesn’t hold me or do that thing with his thumb. And I love it when he kisses my forehead, but that’s all he’s done since I woke up. Except for the last day in the hospital, but then he walked away.”

  “Oh my girl.” Philip sighed, patting her back. “He’s afraid of hurting you. We were never sure what happened that day in the van. You had bite marks on you, and scratches. By the time they could examine you fully after surgery, all they could determine was that you’d had sexual intercourse, but they weren’t able to tell if it was consensual or not.”

  Angela’s face heated. “I guess that means I had sex on my honeymoon. I don’t…” She covered her face a moment. “They tried. In the van. Really hard. I don’t think they succeeded, but I don’t really remember that part. I know I managed to ask why they were doing it, when they’d all been Randy’s friends and they stopped. It was so loud. And that’s when the crash happened, and bullets started flying…and then I was in the other place.”

  He didn’t know what to say to that. But they’d been running into this a lot. It was what it was. Hopefully, her mind would release the non-traumatic memories one day. “You were right, Angela. When you said you weren’t living. You said you chose life, but you’re barely even existing.”

  She nodded her head in agreement. Another fragment of memory came to her, one she didn’t completely understand.

  Go on now…run to the dying man…run Starlight and don’t look back…follow his voice and shine in his darkness!

  But she understood enough. He had told her to run to Craig…not from him like she’d been doing. It was time to change directions. She rocked to her feet and held a hand out to her father. “Dad, can you drive me into town? I’d ask to borrow the truck, but I don’t plan on coming back.”

  A smile blossomed on her father’s face. “Of course.” He allowed her to help him to her feet. He put an arm around her and this time she leaned into his embrace as they walked back to the farmhouse.

  “Do you know if Maggie still lives in the Dodge’s apartment building?” she asked him.

  “Maggie Witherspoon? Last I knew she was still there. Old man Dodge kicked the bucket a few months ago and Everett bought the place from his widow.”

  “Oh. Well good. I hope he’s a better landlord. Either way, I want to see if Maggie won’t fix my hair and then I’ll just walk down to Craig’s from there.”

  Philip laughed. “We’ve been wondering when you were going to fix it. It’s been driving your mother nuts.”

  Angela laughed with him as they walked in through the laundry room, and it was a pleasant sound.

  Her father watched in amusement as she walked directly to the wall phone. He gave his wife a wink as Angela picked up the receiver and dialed a number.

  After a moment, she said without preamble, “I’m on my way. Promise me you’ll be there.” There was a pause. “Jeremiah Craig Moore – promise me.” She must have gotten the answer she was looking for because she nodded her head. “Good. One…” Another pause. “Three!” And she hung up the phone.

  “I just need to run upstairs and grab a few things, I’ll be right back.”

  “No problem,” he told her. As she disappeared deeper into the house, he turned to his wife, grinning in response to the growing smile on her face. “I think it’s going to be the four of us for dinner. Angela’s going home.”

  Maude’s face relaxed. “Oh, thank God!”

  60

  “L

  ucy! Lucy! Angela Carman’s in town!”

  Lucy Bagley looked up from her hedge trimming in time to see the Carman’s blue pickup turning in the center of town, going towards the old apartment building. “Good. Really, Flo. It’s Angela Moore now. They’ve been married since February.”

  “Going up to her old apartment from the looks of things,” said Flo disgustedly. In her irritation, she forgot herself and snipped a branch off her side of the hedgerow. “If they’re married, why’s she been out to the farm for so long? It’s not natural!”

  “Of course, they’re still married,” said Lucy with a shrug. “Maude said whatever’s been going on with Angela after the kidnapping, she just needed time to sort it out and Craig was willing to give it to her. As for anything else, it’s none of our business.”

  Flo fell silent, even as the pickup truck came back through the intersection without Angela in it and turned towards home. Soon she picked up the story she’d been telling about Pastor Mark and some girl from Sawyersville, even though she must have known her friend wasn’t really listening. Like Flo, Lucy kept looking up the street.

  Their patience was rewarded an hour later when Flo spotted Angela walking down the street past the Cupboard.

  “Lucy! Lucy! Here she comes! Maggie’s walking with her!”

  The other woman turned and smiled. “Yes, it’ll probably be some time before she’s comfortable walking these streets by herself.”

  “She’s cut her hair!” Flo exclaimed. “And put flowers in it! Oh, it’s too much Lucy! I have to talk with her!” The gossip began walking down the length of the hedgerow, trimmers still in hand.

  Lucy cut her off at the end of the bushes. “Flo Jamenson, you’ll do no such thing.”

  Flo stopped in shock. Any other time her friend would have been at her side. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me!” the shorter woman said heatedly. “If you bother that girl right now, I swear I will never speak to you again.”

  “But, but…” sputtered Flo.

  “No buts.”

  T hrough a gap in the gauzy white curtains over the narrow windows around the front door, Craig watched his wife’s approach. Her phone call had irritated him at first until he had thought about it. And then hope had sprouted. Since then, he had paced his house, going from window to window, watching and waiting with an impatient Princess shadowing him.

  His wife must have walked down from her old apartment building because plump Maggie Witherspoon was at her side. He was glad she’d had someone to walk down with her…and was saddened by the fact she no longer felt safe walking these country streets alone. But then, the thought of her walking down these streets alone was enough to fuel his own nightmares.

  The two women stopped at the end of the sidewalk leading to his front
door and after a moment, shared a brief hug. After Maggie walked away, Angela stood there looking at the house and it hurt him to think she was afraid.

  He couldn’t stop himself from drinking in the sight of her. Slimmer than she had been, the light blue sundress she was wearing didn’t look like it fit quite right…but it set off the red highlights in her hair (which of course, she didn’t have). Hair that she’d cut even shorter than she had on their wedding day. It ended at her jaw line, and the waves flared out saucily. The feathery ends framed a face which had aged in the past six months; she no longer looked like a teenager fresh from high school but more like the young woman she was.

  His wife had flowers above one her ear, daisies and summer roses. She was so enticing, and she was here walking to his front door no matter what was frightening her. Craig placed a shaky hand on the doorknob, waiting for her to knock.

  Angela stood on the front step for a long moment, aware that every eye in Tyler’s Grove was on her right now. She’d seen Lucy stop Flo, but they remained watching from a distance.

  But that’s not what had her heart racing. Her husband was somewhere on the other side of this door, and regardless of what he ended up deciding, a new life waited for her.

  Taking a deep breath, Angela placed her backpack at her feet and raised a hand to knock on the door. It opened before her knuckles had even pulled back from the first tap and she jumped a little. For the first time, to know he’d been watching her increased her anxiety.

  “Hi,” Craig said softly, trying to remember gentleness. Everything in him wanted to crush this woman to his chest.

  “Hi.” She took a moment to look at him as he stood in the doorway. In jeans and an old college t-shirt, he was a balm to her heart. He looked thinner to her eyes, weary even. And his eyes were filled with both hope and hurt. She didn’t see a scar from where he said the bullet had grazed him, but ‘Not all scars are seen’ were they? “I never meant to hurt you.”

  “I know,” he said simply.

  “I have to say some things before I can come in.” She waited for his nod. “My legal name is Angela Destiny Moore, but my mother named me Starlight Destiny. I’m not sure what my last name would have been when I was born, because my parents weren’t married. Dad’s not even sure. In reality, I am the daughter of a man I don’t know, and I’m pretty sure he’s murdered people trying to protect me.”

  Angela struggled to remember to breathe. That last sentence alone scared her. She could feel panic clawing at her throat. “But in my heart…” She faltered. It was too much. She clasped her hands in front of her, trying to ease their shaking. If she couldn’t get through this, how was she going to finish everything she wanted to say? Why would he even want this?

  But Craig stepped forward, closing the gap between them and took her cold hands in his. “It’s okay, Angel. Go on.”

  His touch strengthened her, but she rushed to get the words out. “In my heart, I am the farmer’s daughter. In my heart, my name doesn’t matter because I am your Angel. I know you still love me, but I don’t know if you still want me!”

  There was more hurt in his expression now, and her feet began to twitch as her anxiety skyrocketed. Her entire being felt like it was vibrating. She forced herself to continue. “I can understand why. I don’t understand how, but you were there when my mom was talking to me. My mother killed herself rather than confront the darkness consuming her. And that kind of crap can be genetic. I could be like her. I’m told I already am, in a lot of ways. I mean, look at me now. So I’d understand if you didn’t want to deal with this for the rest of your life.”

  “What have I done or said to make you question that?” he demanded roughly, anger in his voice.

  “Craig, ever since I woke up you’ve only kissed me on the forehead. Except for the last day I was in hospital and then…” Angela saw understanding dawn in his eyes the split second before his lips cut her off, his hands coming up to cup her face.

  And there was nothing gentle about this kiss which caused the flowers in her hair to fall to the ground. Pure passion and hunger and longing…and all on his front step for all of Tyler’s Grove to witness.

  When he was done, his forehead rested against hers and his hand ran through shorter hair. Between breaths, he said, “I was afraid, Angel. We didn’t know what happened to you…I didn’t want to scare you.”

  “I know that now.” Angela’s hands trembled against his neck. She didn’t even know she’d raised them. “I know now. There’s…two more things I need to share. I mean…”

  Craig pulled away enough to give her space to talk. One of his hands remained against the side of her face. Why did that touch feel…right…to her?

  “Don’t be afraid, Angel,” he said, his thumb moving against her cheek. “When I married you, I was fully aware of what I could be getting into.” He saw the confusion on her face. “I’m friends with a shrink, honey. Trust me, both Kevin and his wife shared their concerns when I was talking about proposing to you. We will face whatever comes…together. Like we vowed. So don’t be afraid to share anything with me.”

  “Okay.” Even though she didn’t remember their vows, he did. For some reason, relief filled her. “Okay. Two more things, I’m going to go easiest to hardest.”

  He gave her a little nod, his hand steady against the side of her face. The touch seemed to be helping her.

  “One of the things I’ve been thinking about out at the farm is…I need to leave Tyler’s Grove. The entire area if possible. I still have things I need to figure out, and even though it might help me remember things better…I don’t want to be here. I don’t feel safe. But I know you like it here, and I don’t want to take you from your store.”

  Craig took a deep breath. He didn’t know what to address first. Easiest to hardest she’d said. He’d follow her lead. “I do like it here, Angela, but without you, it’s emptier. Ever since the day you and your brother came for the movie, this house hasn’t felt like a home. This town hasn’t felt like home. It’s doable. I can take you away, but I have to ask…what are you running from? We can keep you safe no matter where you’re at.”

  “Craig,” she chided gently, sounding and feeling almost like her old self. “Look behind me. Can you honestly tell me we’re not center stage?”

  He did as she bade and gave his corner of the town a once over. And saw all the usual suspects, from Flo and Lucy across the street to a small crowd in the store parking lot and on the side porch. Even the skateboarders had stopped and were watching; he hoped to God they didn’t have their video camera going.

  “Yeah, I see your point,” he admitted. He gave a one shoulder shrug. “It’s a boring little town, honey, and our lives are far more interesting than their own. But they love you too. With one or two exceptions, they’ve all been praying for our relationship to work. And not even one stood by when you were taken. Everything they witnessed when you were taken, shook them to the core.”

  “I know…it’s just…” She closed her eyes, but distress still came through her voice. Her hand came to her chest. “I can’t jump through their hoops any more, Craig. They have all these assumptions and expectations. All they see is the little girl I used to be. And she’s gone. When I woke up in the hospital, something inside me felt different. I just want to figure out who I am and be that person, and I can’t do that when the specter of my past hovers in every corner of this town.”

  There was too much truth in what she was saying. “Look at me, Angela.” He waited for her eyes to open. Some piece of the shadow he’d seen long ago had returned, but there was still a light shining through. “I promise you, I will take you away from here. It won’t be right away, because I’ll have to make plans for the store and this house. But as soon as we can, we’ll have the commitment ceremony your mother made me promise her. Then we’ll leave for my cabin in Montana for a fresh start and work at rebuilding our lives.”

  Her head was nodding, and relief was filling her eyes.

  “Now
, hit me with your hardest. How far back to we need to go? What don’t you remember?”

  “I…” She dropped down to open her backpack. Pulling out a photo, she sighed. Straightening, she flipped it around for him to see. It was one of their wedding photos, though a little tattered. They were center, their friends along the sides. “I don’t remember this, Craig. I’ve tried…my last clear memory is you taking me shopping after they found Harry dead in my apartment. I have a vague memory of us playing cards, Kevin was getting really upset because he couldn’t beat me at poker. It was funny, but I’m not sure where it fits into the timeline. I don’t…” Her voice faltered. “I don’t know if or when you took me to Barry’s Bridge to propose…I don’t know why I keep hearing Trisha Yearwood in my head…”

  Craig cleared his throat. It hurt to think she’d lost some of their most precious memories, but he would start over as many times as needed with this woman.

  “Do you remember when Princess was hit?” The dog at his side gave a quiet yip and Angela nodded her head. “How do I Live by Trisha Yearwood was the song playing on the radio when you climbed back into the truck. I requested it and we danced to it at Judy’s wedding. I played it on my truck radio when I proposed to you, at Barry’s Bridge just like you wanted. And we made love to it a couple times.”

  “Oh.” It’s not that the dying man can’t live without you, it’s that he doesn’t want to. She didn’t know what that meant, but it brought comfort to her. Her face flushed. “Did I…did we enjoy our wedding night?”

  He smiled, a little embarrassed and gave her another one shoulder shrug. “Yeah, we did. Look, Angela, I’ll do my best to help your memories come back, and I’ll help you make new memories just in case they don’t. Starting now.”

  He dropped to one knee before her, holding her ringed hand in his. “You said to be myself that day, and I know this is different. I promise you I’ll take you to Barry’s Bridge again, but for now…Mrs. Moore, will you agree to marry me again, and be my wife?”