by Webb, Peggy
He leaned back to let her have her fun. He loved watching her laugh, especially since he knew he was the reason for her laughter.
“Books are more fun with popcorn,” he said.
“Hmm,” she nodded, still absorbed in his book.
“I think I’ll go back to the kitchen and pop some.”
“Hmm.” She nodded, still chuckling over the chapter.
He was halfway to the kitchen when the phone rang. “I’ll get it,” Catherine called.
“Just tell them I’ll call back,” Tyler said, continuing toward the kitchen.
He got all the things he needed to pop corn. From the den came the muted sounds of Cat’s voice. Tyler smiled.
He loved having a woman in the house. He decided that domesticity suited him.
“Who would have thought?” he mused aloud. “After all these years.”
He had the oil in the popper when he heard the loud thud from the direction of his den.
“No-oo. Oh, God. No-oo.”
Tyler ran. When he reached the den Catherine was sitting on the floor still clutching the receiver.
“Catherine. Sweet.” He knelt down and caught her shoulders. “What is it?”
“That was Billy Joe.”
“He called here?”
“He has Angel.”
“I suspected as much.”
Tyler led Catherine to the sofa. Her hands were cold, and she still shivered. He settled her onto the cushions, then fetched a blanket from the hall closet. He wrapped her carefully, crooning soothing words to her as he worked. Then he sat down beside her and pulled her into the crook of his arm.
“What did he say, Catherine?”
“He said that he had something I wanted, and when I started to hang up he said, ‘Angel will die if you hang up on me.’ What could I do, Tyler? I had to listen.”
“We’ll get her back. Don’t you worry.”
“Then he said he loved me.” The floodgates were open. Tears streamed down her cheeks and words poured from her mouth. “Do you know what his idea of love is? Manipulation, control. He used to hit me, Tyler...”
“I know, love. I know.” He pressed her head against his chest. “Shh. You don’t have to talk about it. I’ll take care of everything. Nobody will ever hit you again.”
“He said, ‘The only way you’ll ever see this elephant alive is to come back to me. You belong to me.’ “ Catherine buried her face in the front of his shirt. “I’d rather die than go back to him.”
“You don’t have to. I won’t let you go back.”
Catherine leaned on him. He could feel her struggle for control. She was not a weak woman, had never been a weak woman. It enraged Tyler that a man like Billy Joe could have the power to make cry. He wanted to charge into the Wainwright compound on a white horse and wipe Billy Joe off the face of the earth. If he were living in Camelot he would have. But he was not in the days of knights in shining armor, no matter how hard he wished to be. He would have to come up with a modern solution to a modern problem.
“Don’t worry, Cat. I’m going to take care of everything.”
She lifted her head then and cast off the blanket. “I thank you for your concern—and your protection. But this is my elephant and my life.”
“Catherine...”
“Don’t you see?” Her color was back and so was her temper. “I can’t keep running away. I can’t keep hiding.”
“You’re not hiding; you’re with me.”
“I’m hiding, Tyler, hiding behind your strength and on your farm just as surely as I hid myself away at the circus.”
“Billy Joe is a madman. Running away from him was the only solution.”
“Maybe so. But then I had only myself to worry about. Now I have Angel. I won’t do anything to jeopardize her life.” She shook her fists in the air. “And I won’t let Billy Joe have her. I won’t.”
“That’s my girl!”
She sprang from the sofa and began to pace. “I have to make plans. I have to do this just right.”
“You don’t have to worry about a thing, Cat. I’m going to get Angel back for you.”
“How?”
“Billy Joe has broken the law. Not only did he steal the elephant, but he transported her across state lines. That’s a federal offense. I’ll notify the proper authorities, and you’ll have Angel back in no time.”
Catherine planted her hands on her hips and studied him for a long while. All sorts of emotions played over her face—relief, hope, anger and finally, determination. If Tyler lived to be as old as the mountains, he would never tire of her.
“No,” she finally said.
“It’s the only way, sweet.”
“If we send the law, he’s liable to harm Angel before I can get her back. He said he would, Tyler. I know Billy Joe. He always makes good on his threats.”
“Cat, listen to me. A federal offense means the FBI will be involved. These people are trained professionals. They can deal with anything—even a madman like Billy Joe.”
Cat’s chin came up. It was a fiercely proud gesture he had seen many times before—and a determined one.
“I have to go myself,” she said.
“I can’t let you do this, Catherine. It’s too dangerous.”
“If I don’t go, I’ll never be free.”
The spirit he loved so well shone in her face as she warmed to her subject.
“Don’t you see, Tyler? Billy Joe became a dragon in my mind. I have to slay him, face-to-face. It’s the only way.”
She shivered then, and a spark of fear darted through her eyes. Tyler wanted to pull her into his arms and shut out the rest of the world.
“Are you still afraid of him, Cat?”
“Yes. He’s an evil man, capable of great cruelty.”
“And yet you’re willing to face him.”
“I must.”
“He’s a madman. Since you’ve been gone he’s abused several women, all with dark hair.”
She touched her hair, and the fear shone clearly in her eyes. “He’s still punishing me.”
“Yes. You can’t go back, Catherine. Face him, later—after he’s safely behind bars. But not now, sweetheart. Let the authorities handle this. I have a man working for me in New Orleans. If he can get some of those women to press charges, we’ll have enough evidence to lock Billy Joe up for the rest of his life—transporting stolen goods across state lines, assault and battery, maybe even attempted murder.”
“He’ll kill Angel. If I don’t show my face, he’ll kill my elephant. I know this, Tyler.” He tried to hold her gaze, tried to will her to listen to reason. She turned away under the guise of shelving her book. “I’m going to face Billy Joe and nothing you can say will stop me.”
“Not without me, you don’t.”
“This discussion is closed.”
Catherine left him standing in the middle of his den. She was a hell of a stubborn woman. He figured that any ordinary man would have cussed a blue streak. But he was a cut above the ordinary man. He would just have to figure out a way to change her mind.
o0o
From: Catherine
To: Belinda, Clemmie, Janet, Bea, Molly, Joanna
Re: Angel
Billy Joe has Angel. He took her as a ploy to get me back. I have to face him and I’m going to! But so far, I don’t have a plan. Tyler wants to go with me, but if Billy Joe sees him, he’ll kill Angel. What am I going to do?
Cat
From: Molly
To: Catherine, Clemmie, Janet, Bea, Joanna, Belinda
Re: Advice
I’m going to ask Daddy – and Sam, too! They know everything and everybody!
Molly
From: Clemmie
To: Catherine, Janet, Bea, Joanna, Belinda, Molly
Re: Alone
Don’t go alone. That’s all I can say!
Clemmie
From: Joanna
To: Catherine, Janet, Bea, Belinda, Molly, Clemmie
Re: A plan<
br />
I saw something like this on Castle the other night where they used a wire to hear what was going down during the bust. Maybe you could wear a wire and somebody big and mean could be listening to make sure you’re okay.
Joanna
From: Belinda
To: Catherine, Clemmie, Joanna, Janet, Bea, Molly
Re: Babies
Oh, I hope no harm comes to the poor baby elephant. But you can’t rescue it by yourself, Cat! Let Tyler help you! Quincy looked at your horoscope, and it says that your future is bright and it includes somebody famous! I don’t know that I believe all that stuff, but Quincy swears by the stars!
Belinda
From: Janet
To: Catherine, Joanna, Clemmie, Bea, Molly, Belinda
Re: Get the FBI
The stars, my ass! Get the FBI! And for God’s sake, don’t go off on your own, Cat! I know you’re tough as nails, but you’re not that tough!
Janet
From: Bea
To: Catherine, Joanna, Clemmie, Janet, Molly, Belinda
Re: Echo
Ditto everything Janet said! Do not make me turn on the six o’clock news and the coroner hauling you off in a body bag! You hear me now, Cat?
Bea
Her friends were right, of course. Cat powered down her computer and went to find Tyler. They had lots of planning to do.
o0o
Catherine was going to face Billy Joe alone.
She would have only three minutes with him, and she would be wired. Tyler and the FBI had insisted on those conditions. Three minutes was all she needed to tell him that he no longer had any power over her, that she could survive his letters, his phone calls, even his theft of Angel. Nothing he could do or say would ever make her go back to him. She would be free.
Tyler saw the change in Catherine as soon as they came within sight of the Wainwright mansion. She looked as if a light had been snuffed out inside her. He reached for her hand.
“I’m here, Catherine.”
“I’m glad, Tyler.”
“You have three minutes, Catherine. And then I’m coming in with the FBI.”
“I know.”
“Remember to turn on your microphone.”
“I will.”
“The FBI can hear every word that’s said. They’ll come in sooner if there’s any trouble.”
She took a deep breath, then reached for the door handle. “See you in a little while, Tyler.”
“See you.” He could barely speak. He could barely think.
As he watched Catherine walk toward the front door of the Wainwright mansion, he wanted to run after her and pull her back into the safety of the car.
“The FBI is here. Nothing can go wrong,” he whispered. But the sound of his own voice was not reassuring. He glanced down at his watch. Catherine had been gone a minute. She was inside the house now, probably facing Billy Joe.
What would he do? What would he say? Tyler wished he had agreed to wait in the FBI van; then he would know exactly what Billy Joe said. But that wasn’t wise. Just hearing the sound of the man’s voice would probably have set Tyler running to Cat’s rescue.
Sweat broke out on his forehead. He glanced at his watch. She had been gone two minutes, and each one an eternity.
Had she told him she was free? Had she said that he no longer had any power over her? Or had Billy Joe grabbed her and dragged her off to his bedroom? Even now was he ripping off her clothes?
Tyler forced himself to calm down. If anything had gone wrong, the FBI would already be storming the house.
He glanced at his wrist again. Three minutes. Relief washed over him. He could go inside.
He stepped from his car, nearly tripping into the arms of the FBI.
“You boys know how to creep around, don’t you?”
“It’s time to go in, Mr. West. Everything is smooth. She’s coming out.”
They ran silently toward the house, heads down and weapons drawn. Just as they reached the door, Catherine walked out. Her face was pale in the sunshine, but she was smiling. Tyler held out his arms, and she ran straight to them.
“It’s over,” she said.
Inside the house Billy Joe screamed, “Catherine, come back.”
The FBI entered, and Tyler hurried Catherine to the car.
“We’re going to take a short drive until they get him out of there, and then we’ll come back and let you load up Angel.”
Catherine nodded. She didn’t look back when they left the Wainwright compound.
“If you want to talk about it, I’ll listen,” he said.
“No. I said everything I needed to say. It’s over.”
Tyler reached for her hand. “Did I ever tell you how to catch a unique rabbit?”
“No.” Her color was coming back. So was her smile.
“You ‘nique’ up on it,” he said.
Catherine threw back her head and laughed. But Tyler didn’t miss the moisture in her eyes. Laughter through tears was a favorite Southern emotion. It was the best catharsis in the world.
o0o
They didn’t go back for Angel until Tyler was certain the FBI had had time to do their job and be gone. He didn’t want Catherine to ever face Billy Joe again.
One of the agents had stayed behind to help oversee the return of the stolen property. Angel stood in her chains, in a large metal building, her head bowed.
When Tyler and Catherine walked in, the baby elephant trumpeted with delight. Catherine ran across the sawdust, laughing and crying. Angel wrapped her trunk around Catherine, and if Tyler hadn’t known better he would have thought the elephant was going to squeeze her in two.
“Happy endings.” The FBI agent wiped a tear from his eye. “That’s the best part of my job.”
o0o
It was very late by the time they got back to Ocean Springs. Everybody was exhausted except Angel. She wanted to play.
Tyler leaned on the fence watching Catherine cavort with her enormous baby. With the outdoor lights shining on her hair, she looked like a vision from heaven. His own personal angel.
Something squeezed his heart, and he knew it was fear. The danger was over. The baby elephant was safe. Catherine no longer needed his protection. She no longer needed him.
Would she leave tomorrow? Or would she wait until the day after? More than anything in the world, he wanted to stop her. He wanted to pull her into his arms and vow his undying love.
But he had seen the damage Billy Joe had done. He had seen Catherine’s valiant fight for freedom. The only way he would win her was to let her go.
Chapter Twelve
It took two days for Catherine to work out the details of leaving with her three elephants. The day she left, Tyler stood in his driveway watching the enormous vans come up from the elephant enclosure. He was sorry to see the elephants go. Over the last few days he had become fond of them, especially Angel. She had a puckish sense of humor that he enjoyed.
Catherine, who was in the lead with her house trailer, halted the caravan and got out.
“You’re beautiful with the sun in your hair, Catherine. Someone should paint you.” What he really wanted to say was “Don’t go.” What he really wanted to do was carry her upstairs to his bed.
“Tyler...” She squeezed his hand. “You’ve been magnificent, a real hero. Thank you for everything.”
“For everything, Catherine?” He couldn’t resist asking. He guessed he wasn’t that much of a hero after all. A true gentleman, a real hero would have let her go with a mere thank-you.
“Yes, Tyler. Especially for the little moments of magic you provided. Even the kisses.”
That was his Catherine. Always bold, even when she had been afraid.
“Be happy, Cat. Find your Camelot.”
“You, too. Goodbye, Tyler.”
She left quickly, without turning back. As her caravan slowly snaked its way toward the road, Tyler realized he hadn’t spoken what was really on his mind, a first for him.
; The last vehicle in the caravan was Elmer’s trailer, driven by Mickey the Clown. Mickey drew to a halt beside Tyler and leaned out the window.
“Catherine told me everything you did for her. I just want to thank you.”
“I love her, Mickey.”
“I know that. And she loves you.” Mickey scratched his head. “I tried to figure it out—her leaving you, but for the life of me, I can’t. I guess I’m getting too old to understand the ways of young folks.”
“She has to know she’s free, Mickey. And as much as I want her to stay, I have to let her go. That’s the only way I can ever hope to win her.”
“Does that mean you’re not giving up?”
“This is just a minor setback, marriage, Mickey. You have my cell phone number, Mickey. Call me every day. I want to know everything she does. I want to know when she laughs, when she cries. I want to know what she has for breakfast and what she has for dinner. I want to know everything about her.”
“Including who she sees?”
“No. I don’t want you to spy.”
“You look mighty confident she won’t see another man.”
Tyler merely smiled. Mickey scratched his head once more, then saluted and headed down the road.
Tyler stood in his driveway until the caravan was a tiny speck on the horizon. Then he turned and went back into his house. His muse had gone to Japan or wherever she went when he needed her and she didn’t want to come. But he sat at his desk anyway and turned on the computer. His plan was to turn it on and start typing, as if he knew exactly what he was doing; then his muse would get curious, or maybe even jealous, and come flying back to sit on his shoulder and whisper in his ear. That was his plan, anyway.
What he ended up doing was staring at a blank screen, dreaming of Cat. Would she see another man?
He shut off his computer and got a bottle of wine from the kitchen. Then he went to the wicker rocker on his front porch. He was going to get good and tipsy right in the shank of the morning, right there in his rocking chair with the sun shining down on his head. He might even rant and rave and stomp and gnash his teeth. He figured he was due a little unbridled madness.