Surviving With Love

by Vickery, Rebecca J.

  Cord answered before she could. “She can find them. Your daughter is an expert at what she does. I’ve never worked with anyone better.”

  “Since you know the general area where these men are, wouldn’t it be a good idea to call the authorities?” Sam was still looking for a safer plan to keep Stacey out of harm’s way.

  “If the authorities get too close, Thompson or his men will dispose of the boy and slip away. I think it’s better to get our hands on the bonds. Then we’ll have some negotiating power.” Cord looked at Stacey to see if she agreed.

  “Dad, I agree with Cord. We can’t do anything to cause them to hurt Marcus. I have to do this regardless of what you think is best for me.”

  The fax machine beeped twice and began to print. Cord moved to it and picked up the picture of a well-groomed man with a blond flattop, cold green eyes, and a thin straight mouth.

  Stacey went on, “But, Cord, would it hurt to have dad and Morris ask around town and show the pictures? They might find out something useful while we go get the bonds. I mean—you are going with me aren’t you?”

  “Of course I’m going, Parker. I can’t leave you to the bears,” he tried to insert a lighter note. “And it probably wouldn’t hurt to ask around Lowell. As long as I have your word, Sam, that you and Morris will just gather information and won’t try to act on anything until we get back. Any kind of move these guys see as a threat will endanger Marcus even more. I don’t want the parents to know this, but they’ve killed before and they don’t have a lot to lose.”

  “I understand. I’ll make Morris agree before I tell him what we’re going to do. You two go get packed up and I’ll clean up,” Sam told them.

  “I need five or six copies of this fax, Stacey. You go ahead and I’ll find you in a few minutes.”

  “Okay, I’ll be at home. Dad will show you.” She left the room, but stopped outside the door realizing that for some reason Cord wanted to talk to her father alone.

  Once Stacey left the room, Cord moved to the copy machine and set it to run several duplicates of Thompson’s picture.

  “She is really very good at tracking and survival, sir. I’ll be there to make sure nothing happens to her,” Cord assured Sam.

  Sam sat down in a chair in front of the desk. He looked tired and absently rubbed his bad knee. “She must be. Good at her job, that is. She’s in great demand. It worries her mother and me, but she is so determined to do this job. We try not to say anything. Then something like this comes up.”

  “It must have been hard, losing a son,” Cord quietly said to Sam while sorting and checking the copies.

  “She told you? She never talks about him.” Sam sounded surprised.

  “Yes, sir, things have a way of coming out on the trail. I admire and respect your daughter very much,” Cord turned to face Sam. “I’ll do everything I can to protect her.”

  Cord wasn’t shocked to hear Sam ask, “Who’s going to protect her from you? I can tell you find her attractive. And my daughter has very limited...”

  “I know, sir. Stacey and I discussed that there can’t be anything between us. I’m too old for her, in experience as well as age. The job I do doesn’t invite a family life. I won’t take advantage of her or how she thinks she feels about me.”

  Sam looked carefully at the man in front of him. “I’m going to hold you to that, Cord. I’m also going to trust you to keep my little girl safe,” he stood and held out his hand to Cord. This time Sam’s handshake was warmer, like that of an old friend.

  Cord felt accepted by this man whose sense of family he envied. “I’d better go catch up with your daughter. I don’t want to start out with her in a huff. Here are the pictures you’ll need.” He handed Sam the copies.

  “She’s a lot like her mother when her temper flares up. Redheads, you know.” Sam smiled slightly. At the office door, Sam pointed right. “Go through the exit and follow the walk straight back into the trees. The house is back there.”

  “Thanks Sam.” Cord walked down the hall and out the rear door. The dark shape of Saddleback Mountain towered over the treetops. Cord followed the stone walkway as it curved gently around to the two-story cedar house. Cord knocked on the front door and looked around as he waited. Growing up here must have been great, he couldn’t help thinking. But this kind of life had its own tragedies and rough spots he was discovering.

  Stacey opened the front door and stepped back for him to enter. “Sorry, I was upstairs. Did you assure my dad that you don’t have designs on my virtue?” She led him into the family room.

  This young woman always surprised him. “I tried to convince him I would bring you back safely,” Cord admitted to a part of their discussion.

  “I don’t think they’re ever going to accept that I can look after myself. Not even when I’m fifty,” Stacey shook her head. “Come on in the kitchen. You can help get the food ready.”

  “I think it’s nice you have a family who cares,” Cord reminded her. Large bags of nuts, trail mix, and dried fruits covered the butcher-block island in the center of the kitchen. A box of smaller plastic bags indicated what they were about to do in preparation for their trip.

  Stacey pointed to a stool then took a seat across from him. “You’re right. I know I should be thankful they care. I forget some people don’t have that luxury.” She handed Cord a scoop and some bags. “You can work on the trail mix.”

  “How many do you want?”

  “Depends on how long we’ll be gone.”

  “One day,” he suggested hopefully.

  “Yeah, right,” Stacey replied. “Better figure on at least three days. And that’s if we can get a chopper to take us in right away.”

  “I’ll call and the chopper will be here. What time?” Cord sealed the first bag and started on another.

  “As early as possible. I want to get this done and bring Marcus home.” She finished filling a bag and sealed it. They worked quietly for a while then put everything away.

  “Would you like some coffee?” Stacey offered.

  “If it’s not too much trouble,” Cord agreed.

  She measured coffee into the basket of the coffeemaker and flipped the switch. “If mom were here she’d insist you have the grand tour. But I’ll give you the nickel one as I gather my stuff.”

  Cord poked his head in and out various rooms as Stacey pointed to them. He particularly appreciated her parent’s huge master suite and bath upstairs.

  Continuing the tour, Stacey led him to one door where she paused slightly. Then she shrugged, opened it and entered, explaining briskly, “This was Sammy’s room. We use it at Christmas sometimes, but most of the time it just holds memories.”

  Cord stepped in and looked around. Other than some framed photos on the dresser and a glass front cabinet filled with mementos, it was like any other room. He walked over and picked up a photo of a much younger Stacey and a large boy with the same color hair and similar blue eyes. His hair was naturally curly in spite of the short cut and he had his arms around her from behind. Their smiles were almost the same.

  While replacing the picture, another caught his eye. A slightly older Sammy and a very pretty blond were dressed for a party. “This girl looks like...”

  “It is. Sammy and Cathy were dating pretty steadily. They went to that party a few weeks before he died. It took her a long time to get over him.”

  “Were you best friends that far back?” He put the frame carefully back on the dresser.

  “Not really. We grew close after Sammy disappeared. The fact that she was two years older didn’t matter anymore after we cried together over the phone in the middle of the night a few times. She started coming here to be with me to talk and our friendship grew from there.”

  “She’s obviously still part of the family. How does Morris feel about it?” Cord asked as he followed her across the hall.

  “He accepts it. He’s become a very good friend as well as someone I work with. Particularly since I introduced him to
the woman he married.” Stacey opened the door and walked in.

  He knew this was her room without being told. It smelled like her. Framed photos were carefully arranged on either side of the windows, but what caught his eye was the unusual painting hung over the bed. A fierce knight, dressed in black, mounted on a white unicorn was holding a woman. She was smiling up at him with amazing blue eyes. Her slim arms clung to his neck and her hair was a wild tangle of curls almost the exact shade of Stacey’s. They were leaving a forbidding, dark castle and riding down the path into a forest.

  “To live happily ever after,” he whispered. Touched deeply at seeing her dreams exposed this way, Cord cleared his throat and said, “She looks like you.”

  “A little, I guess.” Stacey shrugged. “Cathy bought it for me right after she and Morris married. She said she finally understood what I had been talking about.” Stacey reached in the closet and got her pack. “Ready?”

  As they went down the front stairs, Cord looked at the old portraits of Stacey’s ancestors hanging on the wall. It had to be nice to know exactly where you came from. He once again found himself jealous of a closeness he had never experienced. An unusual emptiness filled his chest and he focused hard to drive it away.

  Lucy burst energetically in the front door and greeted them. “There you are. Morris is looking for you two. Sam told him the call finally came. Do I need to get your food ready?” Lucy asked and continued on toward the kitchen.

  “Cord helped me, mom. We were going to have coffee and go talk to Morris after Marie is in bed.”

  Lucy turned and raised her finely arched brows at Cord about to ask a question but his attention was obviously elsewhere.

  Cord watched Stacey load the food into her backpack. He needed to remember to switch some to his pack, later. Letting his eyes drift over her, he relished every curve and feature as she reached, twisted, and turned.

  Lucy smiled to herself. He doesn’t even realize how he feels about her, yet. I remember when Sam first looked at me like that. Lucy sighed. “Stacey, it’s after ten. Marie went to bed over an hour ago.”

  “You’re kidding, mom. We’ve been here longer than I thought,” Stacey quickly finished loading the pack. “Gosh, we’ve got to get going.”

  “Did you show Cord the house?” Stacey nodded and Lucy went on, “You know I didn’t even think that you might be more comfortable here.” The lady of the house reached out and touched his hand. “I’m sorry, Cord, my mind just hasn’t been with me at all today.”

  “That’s understandable, Lucy. There’s been a lot going on and the room at the lodge is fine for tonight.”

  “You’re going with Stacey, then? That’s good. I never like her going off alone. When you get back, I insist you stay here with us. I assume you’re leaving at daylight?”

  “Yes ma’am, thanks for the invitation. We want to start as early as possible. I still need to call the pilot and confirm the arrangements.”

  Stacey hugged her mom. “I love you. I’ll probably be gone when you get up.”

  “I love you, too, honey. You be really careful.” Lucy returned the hug and kissed her daughter’s cheek before turning to this man who would be with her baby girl. She put her hand on his forearm and squeezed. “You be careful, too.” Cord was grateful for the small woman’s concern.

  “We’ll be fine, Lucy. We made a pretty good team on the last trip.”

  Returning to the lodge, they went up to knock on the door of the Haleys’ room.

  Cathy opened it quickly and grabbed Stacey’s hand to lead her into the room.

  “Is Morris here, too?” Stacey asked.

  “Yes, he’s here. Come on in and sit down,” she insisted. They stopped in the small sitting area in the front portion of the room. Marie was asleep in one of the double beds.

  Rubbing his face with a towel and with his shirt hanging open, Morris came from the bathroom.

  Stacey and Cathy took the small sofa, while the men pulled two chairs closer. Talking quietly to keep from disturbing Marie, they discussed the call Thompson made and what Stacey needed to do.

  Morris admitted he had intended to go with them until after he talked with Sam.

  A few minutes later Cord excused himself to place the call to the pilot.

  “I like him, Stacey,” Morris told her. “I see why you called him. I definitely wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of him, though.”

  “He was so good with Marie. He understood she needed to help Marcus,” Cathy said gently then paused. “Weren’t you put off at first by how—well, how fierce he looks?”

  Stacey laughed. “No, he made me too mad to think about it. I kept thinking I couldn’t wait to tell you what a jerk he is. Then, it just never bothered me. I think his face shows a lot of character.”

  “That’s a story I’ll have to hear. He’s the one we talked about isn’t he?” Cathy whispered.

  “Yes,” Stacey answered briefly.

  “Okay, what is this about?” Morris asked as he dabbed at his face with the damp towel.

  “Just girl talk, sweetheart,” Cathy told him. She turned back to Stacey with pleading eyes. “You do think Marcus is okay, don’t you?”

  “I know he’s fine, Cathy. Those other two boys weren’t hurt when we reached them, tired and hungry, but okay. These men have even more reason to take care of Marcus. We’ll contact you as soon as we can. Try not to worry.” Stacey and Cathy hugged before she left to find Cord.

  He was waiting a short way down the hall. “The chopper will be here at six. Can you be ready by then?”

  “Sure. Do you want to raid the kitchen with me? I missed dessert.”

  “Sounds interesting,” he answered. “But don’t you think we should go to bed?” It was almost midnight and they needed to be up early.

  “Oh, is that an invitation? Tsk, tsk. And after your talk with dad,” Stacey taunted and wagged her finger at him.

  “I almost forgot what a mouth you are, Parker,” Cord grinned. “Come on, lead me to the kitchen.”

  In the lobby, the lights were dimmed. As they entered the darkened kitchen, Stacey flipped on a light and went straight to the large stainless refrigerator door. Laughing, she motioned for Cord to come look inside. A note leaned against two parfaits at the front saying, ‘I knew you couldn’t resist and I thought you might bring a friend. Love, dad.’

  Cord laughed as Stacey grabbed the two desserts, picked up two spoons, and headed for the back door.

  “Parker, what are you doing now?” He tossed the note and followed. Following this woman was becoming something of a habit, he realized.

  “Taking you to my favorite eating spot.” She smiled at him and shoved open the door.

  Cord saw the back deck, trees, and distant shadows.

  Stacey walked to the deck railing then held out a dessert glass to Cord.

  Joining her, he took the parfait dish and a spoon from her.

  She scooted up onto the wide railing and sampled a large spoonful of chocolate mousse and whipped cream. “I love it out here.” Stacey started talking between bites. “Especially in the summer, late at night, when there’s a full moon. You can see the top of the mountain from here.”

  Cord leaned on the rail, close to her hip but not quite touching, and pointed with his spoon, “Those light patches up there. Is that still snow?”

  “Yeah. That’s where it has built up on the upper runs and in the crevices. It will be the last to melt. I’ve seen some of those spots make it until the first week of June several times.”

  “Do you ski?”

  “I do, but I’m no expert. How about you?” She licked a glob of cream from the back of her spoon.

  Cord’s stomach contracted at the sight of her pink tongue flicking at the lucky utensil. He swallowed hard and tried to shift his attention somewhere else. “I manage, but I’m far from good. I haven’t tried it in a while. I see why you like it out here,” He told her as he looked up at the stars scattered like diamonds overhead. The amber
lamps at the steps of the deck and along the walkways weren’t bright enough to black out the night sky. The air was fresh and clear with an occasional whiff of pine. “I haven’t met your boyfriend. Was he upset that you called me?”

  “I don’t have a boyfriend.” Stacey glanced at Cord from under her lashes to see how he took the news. “Derek and I aren’t seeing each other socially anymore. He was off today.”

  “Why did you stop seeing him? Not because of me?” Cord put his empty dessert glass on the deck rail and searched Stacey’s blue eyes with his.

  “No, it was because of me. I realized I wasn’t being the honest person I profess to be. I didn’t mean to let him believe things could get serious. He’s a friend and that’s all he’ll ever be.” Stacey shook her head and admitted, “He didn’t take it very well when I told him.

  “I’m sure you told him you want to be friends,” Cord grimly responded.

  “Why would that bother him so much? Explain why we can’t be friends.”

  Cord thought for a moment before answering. “If a man progresses to the point past friendship with a woman, he sees her differently. Her touch and smell, even her feel are all about something—different—after that. It makes it very difficult to ever see her as he did before. The male psyche just isn’t wired that way.”

  “So, what you’re saying is that Derek can’t get past the idea of me as a lover to go back to me as a friend?”

  “That’s pretty simplified, but basically the idea. At some point in the future it might happen, but not right away. I think we should go in and get some rest. It will be a long day tomorrow.” And if I stay out here any longer, I’m going to kiss her. When he decided to fly out here and help, Cord intended to treat her like a sister. He wasn’t going to encourage her misplaced interest by indulging in physical contact. After years of self-discipline, he knew he could get through this. He would just stay focused and avoid temptation as much as possible.

  Stacey slipped off the rail without protest but disappointed he hadn’t made one move to touch her. She yearned for him to hold her and make her forget about Marcus if only for a little while.

  Cord held the door and waited for her. As she brushed by, he almost groaned at the scent of her hair and the light swish of her hip near his thigh. Gritting his teeth, he knew he would be in trouble if he didn’t put some distance between them for tonight.