by Jan Hinds
Claudia yawned. “I guess I didn’t get enough sleep last night. Walter, you stand guard while I catch a few winks before I head in to open the store.” She yawned again and stretched out on the recliner.
“Mind what I told you before. I’ll slice you open from stem to stern and while you bleed out, I’ll let you watch while I do the same to her. Once we get the land, that developer will buy us out. I’ll live out my days in South America. I’ll slit that prissy Evie Vaughn’s throat right before I leave...”
Claudia’s voice trailed off and ended in a snore. Paige might have missed what Claudia planned had she not been straining so hard to hear her.
Walter yawned and sat down on the couch next to Paige. She looked at him and knew she couldn’t leave him behind. If he fell asleep, she’d never get him out of the house and if Claudia woke up first, she’d kill Walter in his sleep.
Paige seethed. This was about greed and revenge. Had Clauia picked her because killing Paige would break her father’s heart?
Walter’s head lolled back against the couch with his mouth open. Drool dribbled down his chin. No way could she carry him. She had to find help before Claudia woke up.
She slipped the nail file from her shoe and used it to break the tape around her wrists. Silently she tiptoed to the back of the house and peered out the glass window in the door. A warm front had thawed the snow, which only clung to the ground in patches where drifts formed. She snuck outside and took a step toward the garage before she realized she forgot to grab the keys to the car.
She wavered an instant, trying to decide if she should run for help or go back for the keys.
Strong arms wrapped around her body, one hand covered her mouth.
Not again. She fought until a familiar voice whispered in her ear.
“Miss Paige, it’s me, Marcus. Don’t scream.”
Paige twisted in his arms and threw her arms around his neck as he swept her into his arms and ran toward the barn. She kissed his scarred cheek. “Oh, Marcus, I’m so glad to see you.”
“Paige!”
“Cooper?” His strong arms enveloped her and lifted her away from Marcus. She threw her arms around the man she loved, amazed he was there holding her. “Cooper, you’re here.”
“Come on, honey. We need to get back behind the garage.”
Dan Cavanaugh put a hand on her arm. “Paige, how many are in the house? What kind of weapons do they have?”
“It’s just Walter Crawford and his mother Claudia. She’s the one who planned taking me. They were asleep in the living room when I left. I put sleeping pills in their breakfast food. Claudia has a shotgun near her. Watch out for her. Walter said she stabbed her husband to death. She may have killed her father-in-law too.”
A woman’s voice gave a stern whispered order. “Cavanaugh, you and me. We’ll go in the back door. Shore, I should have you up on charges for that stunt.”
Marcus grunted a derisive response. “I don’t answer to the government anymore. I’ll cover the front.” He pulled a gun from a holster hidden under his jacket and silently skirted around the house.
Cooper carried her to the back of the barn, dropping her feet to the ground and shifting his arms to hold her tight.
Stuart Vaughn kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Paige! Oh sweetheart. We were so worried about you.”
She looked up to see her parents’ anxious faces. She ran to her mother and hugged her tight. “Mom, I love you. I’m sorry for all the mean things I said that made you leave. I’m so sorry.”
“Here now. That wasn’t your fault. I should have never left you alone like I did. To think that horrible boy attacked you and you had no one to turn to. Please forgive me for leaving and for using your college fund. All that matters is that my baby girl is safe.” Tears choked her voice. “I love you, too.”
“I’m glad you used my college money. If it wasn’t for being broke, Cooper and I may never have gotten together.” Paige hugged her mother tighter. “Oh, Mom, Claudia is crazy. She wanted to kill you.”
“There, now. She won’t ever hurt any of us again. You’re safe. You’re safe.”
Stuart wrapped his arms around both of them. “I’m so happy you’re okay,” he whispered against her temple.
“Dad. I can’t believe you are all here. How did you get here so quickly?”
Cooper pulled her back into his arms and kissed her lips. “Ted Flannigan has been monitoring you through a game console. He’s at our house and has been in constant contact with Dan, telling him what was going on in the house. Marcus flew us here in a helicopter. He made one phone call and within twenty minutes we were on our way.”
Paige sighed in relief that her scheme had worked. “I was hoping Ted would locate me. Did you tell him I’m safe?” Her knees wobbled and Cooper’s arms tightened around her. “I was so scared.” A shiver ran through her body.
Cooper took off his coat and wrapped it around her. “It’s okay. They can’t hurt you anymore.” He pulled out his phone. “Tina, let everyone there know that Paige is safe. I’ve got her right here in my arms. And thank Ted for us.”
Cooper tightened his hold on her. “Did they…hurt you?”
“No, but Claudia would have killed me and probably Walter too, eventually.”
“What did she want?” he asked.
She explained about Walter’s grandfather’s will, the trust preventing the sale of the land, and Claudia’s crazy plan to have her marry Walter.
Stuart groaned. “This is the land holding up the development?”
“I think she planned to kill us both after that because Claudia is beneficiary of Walter’s will. She was going to force me to marry Walter today.”
Cooper hugged her tighter and whispered in her ear. “Marry me today? I can’t bear to be apart from you ever again.”
“Yes, oh yes. I love you, but how about tomorrow. I didn’t sleep much last night and I don’t want to fall asleep during our vows.” She kissed him and hugged him tight.
“Tomorrow it is. Baby, I love you, too,” he said between kisses. “Sawyer, how about being my best man?”
Sawyer stood at the corner of the garage, watching the driveway. He grinned at Cooper and Paige. “I’d be honored.”
Paige loosened her hold on Cooper. “Sawyer? I didn’t see you there.” She remembered their plan to help her friend, it seemed like days ago instead of hours. “How did it go with Angie?”
“Marcus insisted on waiting for her outside the house. He got video of her father beating her with his belt. Reverend Robeson has been arrested and charged with domestic battery.” Sawyer’s face filled with admiration. “She was more concerned with finding you than having her father arrested.”
Sirens drew closer. Dan joined them behind the barn. “You can come up to the house now. Claudia’s heart rate is dangerously low. An ambulance will take her to the hospital where she’ll be kept under guard until she recovers. Walter is conscious. He only asked if you were okay. He was afraid that his mother hurt you when he fell asleep. He wet his pants when he woke up and saw me towering over him.”
Dan gave Paige a worried look. “Were you hurt? Did he…?”
“No…” She hesitated. She had been unconscious, would she know if she’d been violated? She shook her head. She wasn’t. She was still trussed up with duct tape when she woke up. “No. I’m fine.”
Dan furrowed his brow. “Don’t lie to me. I want him to pay for what he’s done to you. Do you want to go to the hospital and get checked out?”
She shook her head. “He drugged me with chloroform, but I punched him in the nose and kneed him in the groin when he cut me loose. I want to get all the statements taken care of today, if we can.” She grinned up at Cooper. “We’re getting married tomorrow.”
“Is that right?” Dan said. “My offer is still good. It’s not too late if you want to reconsider…”
Cooper angled her away from Dan. “Get your own woman, Cavanaugh. Paige is taken.” He bent and kissed her again,
staking his claim.
Chapter Thirty-two
The little yellow brick church Paige attended growing up was filled to capacity for such a last minute wedding and reception. Paige attributed the quick spreading of the word to Aunt Marty’s local combination book club and gossip circle.
Tina arrived with Angie and Zach late the evening of the rescue, and brought a wedding dress for Paige and bridesmaid dresses for Angie and herself.
Paige tried on the dress and turned her back to the mirror. “Tina, I can’t believe it. If I could describe my dream wedding dress, this would be it. How did you make this so fast?”
Tina grinned. “Remember that wedding dress project I asked you and Angie to help me with last semester? I designed wedding dresses for all three of us. I started yours the week after the Open Hands Auction.”
“You were that sure of me and Cooper?”
Tina hitched up her shoulders in a soft shrug. “I was hopeful for all of us. Still am. Come on, let’s get you out of this so I can finish sewing up the seams. You don’t want them falling apart halfway down the aisle.”
Paige took off the dress. “And you made bridesmaid dresses for you and Angie too?”
Tina’s grinned. “Of course. You didn’t think you were going to get married without us at your side, did you? They’re different styles but made out of the same fabric. I hope you don’t have your heart set on a specific color. I made them out of a soft plum color.”
Paige laughed. “Heck, no. I’m thrilled with anything. I thought we’d all be wearing jeans and t-shirts.”
♥♥♥
Joni and Brent arrived with their families the morning of the wedding. Grace and her family flew into Cleveland and made it in time as well.
The three nieces each wore princess dresses and tiaras, and carried baskets of rose petals that they scattered along the aisle.
Paige waited outside the door to the sanctuary as the nieces, Tina, and Angie preceded her down the aisle. She trembled as she clung to her father’s arm.
Stuart Vaughn patted his daughter’s hand. “Second thoughts?”
She smiled wide when she glimpsed Cooper standing at the front of the church with Sawyer and Zach next to him. “Not in the least. I’m excited. I love him, Dad. I feel like the best version of me when I’m with him.”
Stuart smiled. “I’m happy you found each other. His love for you was evident from the first time I met him. And you look at him the way your mom…” A fleeting sadness colored her father’s features. He smiled at Paige and patted her hand. “Don’t ever lose that look, sweetheart. That look makes a man feel like he can conquer the world.”
Paige studied her father’s face, noting the lingering sadness that he’s hung onto since her mother had left for Europe all those years ago. “Dad, why did Claudia hate Mom so much?”
Stuart paled and beads of sweat broke out on his brow. “Evie and Claudia were best friends growing up. I was best friends with Wayne Crawford. The four of us did everything together. When I married your mom, it wasn’t long before Claudia married Wayne. Only Claudia never paid much attention to Wayne and never noticed his learning difficulties. I always helped him study for tests. He couldn’t read and write much and was allowed to take the tests verbally. He was the nicest man I ever met. I can’t believe she killed him.”
Paige tugged on her father’s arm. “She was jealous of Mom and in love with you, wasn’t she?”
He shrugged. “I convinced myself she wasn’t. I guess I was wrong.” He looked at the front row where Evie sat waiting. “Want to know something? I still adore your mother. I guess I was a disappointment to her. Why else would she take off for Europe and use up your college fund? I was so angry with her. It’s been like a wedge between us ever since.”
Paige knew this was hardly the time or place to have this discussion. Angie was almost to the front of the chapel. She’d avoided guilt for her mother leaving. “It was my fault she left. She started harping about my weight and all my repressed emotions erupted. I knew her immaculate house and cooking skills gave her a sense of worth and I told her she was lousy at both. I felt terrible and was going to apologize the next morning. Only she was gone. I’ve been afraid to argue with anyone ever since then. I’m so sorry I caused you both so much pain.”
“Kitten, it wasn’t your fault she left. You were a child. If she and I had the marriage we should have, she wouldn’t have left. She was the parent and instead, she acted like the teenager. How can I forgive her for trying to destroy your chance for an education?”
“Forgive her, Dad. If it wasn’t for my lack of funds, I may not have ever gotten fake engaged to Cooper and I wouldn’t be getting married to him now.” Paige looked at her mother. “See how Mom is looking at you? I think she still adores you.”
Stuart looked into Evie’s eyes. He squared his shoulders, sucked in his spare tire, and stood taller.
Paige smiled at Cooper. “Come on, Dad, I have a feeling today is a fresh start for both of us. Let’s both go find our happily ever after.”
Stuart patted Paige’s hand that was tucked in his elbow. “I like the sound of that.”
He kept Paige to a steady pace with the music. When they reached the front of the church, he kissed her forehead and passed her hand to Cooper when prompted by the minister.
As soon as Cooper took both of her hands in his, the tension left Paige. Her wide smile matched his and it was if they were the only two people in the packed chapel. Somehow they got through their vows and the moment came when the minister pronounced them husband and wife. “You may now kiss your bride.”
Cooper grinned and raised his eyebrow. His arms slid around Paige, one hand supporting the back of her neck and the other around her waist as he turned her into a dip, kissing her long and hard.
Her hands fisted his suit coat while she returned the kiss, which lasted through him raising her upright and lifting her until her feet were off the floor. He continued the kiss until the minister cleared his throat.
When Cooper’s lips left hers, a smile lit up his face. “I love you, Mrs. Jennings.”
“I love you too, Mr. Jennings.”
The minister spoke to the congregation. “I present to you Cooper and Paige Jennings.” They clasped hands and turned to the congregation, which broke into applause.
Paige smiled as she looked at the faces smiling back at her, old friends she’d known most of her life, and new friends who she couldn’t imagine life without. Gratitude and joy filled her heart for all of them, and especially for her new husband.
♥♥♥
Cooper couldn’t wipe the grin from his face. Still favoring his sore leg, he slowly circled with her on the makeshift dance floor for their first dance. Reluctantly, he let her out of his arms while she danced with her father, and he danced with his mother.
Sylvia’s smile was as wide as his. “I’m so happy for you, son. I only wish your father could have been here too.”
He kissed his mother’s forehead. “He’s here, Mom. Can’t you feel him?”
She closed her eyes and when she opened them she looked expectantly over her shoulder. “I believe you’re right.”
Cooper let his gaze wander around the room, finally resting on Sawyer slumped at a table in a shadowy corner. Sawyer watched Angie and Marcus Shore as they danced and laughed together. “I wonder what’s up with Pierce. He’s usually the life of the party.”
Sylvia patted his arm. “Why don’t you go talk to him? My old bones have had enough dancing for tonight.”
Cooper left his mother with Aunt Marty and worked his way over to Sawyer. He eased into the chair next to him and smiled at Paige still dancing and laughing with her father.
“You’re a lucky man,” said Sawyer.
“Yeah, I know,” Cooper said as he caught Paige’s eye and winked at her. “I never knew I could love someone this much.”
Sawyer grunted. “I’m glad you’re happy. Paige is a great girl.”
Cooper slapped Sawye
r on the shoulder. “Then why so glum chum? Why aren’t you living up to your reputation as a party animal.”
Sawyer barked out a laugh. “My reputation. That’s rich. I wouldn’t be here if the team publicists weren’t focused on me redeeming my reputation. Funny thing is, until two days ago, when I met Angie, I didn’t give a flying fig about my reputation.”
Cooper studied his friend. “That’s why you came to me for the Fit Spa design.”
Sawyer dipped his head. “Sorry. That was the original plan. I was to repair the damage I’d done to the team by recapturing our friendship. At least that’s how it all started. I know I haven’t done anything to earn your trust and you’ve got every reason not to believe me, but I never meant for you to get hurt so badly. Just like the rest of my life, I was jealous of you. I finally had the limelight all on my own and you were going to take it from me. I went a little nuts and asked a couple of guys to rough you up so I could rack up some more plays. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I’d give anything if I could go back and change things.”
Cooper quietly studied his friend. When he spoke, resolve filled his voice. “I wouldn’t.”
Sawyer snapped his eyes to Cooper’s face. “You wouldn’t?”
Cooper shook his head and looked at Paige again. “If I hadn’t been hurt, I’d never have met Paige.” His eyes opened wide in alarm. “I’d have married Suzanne.” A shudder shook his frame.
Sawyer laughed. “You’d be divorced by now too. She wasn’t made for the long haul.”
Cooper looked his friend in the eyes. “I hope you find someone who is in it for the long haul and can make you as happy as Paige has made me.”
Sawyer slapped Cooper on the back. “Thanks, but I think my reputation will haunt me and keep me from finding the kind of happiness you’ve found with Paige.”
Cooper shook his head. “As long as you promise to never even flirt with my wife, I’ll impart my two cents worth of wisdom to you.”