Dianne's Destiny

by Winona Bennett Cross

  “You know damn well she’s missing, you sorry SOB.” Sam bulldozed past Simon.

  “Wait. You can’t enter my home.”

  “Sure we can. The officer there has a warrant to search your home, office, and the home of a street thug named Larry Soileau.”

  Simon took the warrant and examined it. He moved to sit on the entryway chair.

  Dianne hastily dressed and stepped out of the bedroom. “Sam! I knew you would come. Is Kip safe?”

  “Dianne, thank God! Yeah, Kip’s safe. He’s waiting.”

  “How did you find me?”

  Simon shot to his feet. “You have no right—”

  Sam pointed a finger at him. “You shut up. You’re in enough trouble as it is.” Simon fell silent, his lips clamped in a mutinous pout. Sam turned back to Dianne. “Of course, we suspected Simon. The man, Larry Soileau, got sloppy and left fingerprints in the basement and on the shell casings. We have him in custody. He’s copped to being hired by Simon. Has audios of conversations and some written instructions.”

  Simon glared at Dianne when he was being cuffed and read his Miranda rights. “I’ll be out by tonight. Don’t let your guard down. I’ll be back to get you. No one humiliates me and gets by with it.”

  She let out a humorless laugh and shook her head. “I didn’t humiliate you, Simon. You did that yourself.”

  Chapter 22

  Kip tried to relax with Jocelyn and Ricochet in the restaurant of the hotel. Time felt like it was dragging. His concentration was gone. He rubbed his hands on the thighs of his jeans.

  “Well, look at that.” Ricochet smiled and stood.

  Kip and Jocelyn turned to see Dianne walking through the door with tears flowing unchecked down her face. Kip jumped to his feet, knocking the chair to the floor. He broke into a run, scooped Dianne up in his arms, and kissed her. Her soft lips against his was the most amazing feeling in the world. What would he have done if he’d lost her?

  When they broke the kiss, Dianne looked past him at Jocelyn who was sobbing into a tissue.

  Dianne moved to her friend and put her arms around her. “Hey. It’s okay. I’m fine.”

  “I’m sorry. I should never have let you go down to the basement.” Jocelyn cried. She touched Dianne’s bruised cheek. “He hit you?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m safe now. How could you have known what was going to happen? I’m thankful that I was only here for two days before I was found. Fast work.”

  Kip slipped an arm around her shoulders. He didn’t want to stop touching her, reassuring himself she was here…she was real. “We need to wait for Sam and the detective before heading home but it shouldn’t take long. I think Sam is going to get Simon extradited to Waurika for the cattle, and the detective has an arrest warrant in Wichita Falls for the kidnapping. Simon may fight, but he’s in trouble. It will take more than his status to get him out of this one.”

  Jocelyn nodded and looked at Dianne. A mischievous smile lit her face. “I brought you something. Maybe it was a good luck charm?”

  She reached into her bag and pulled out the ugly ass doll Dianne seemed so fond of. Dianne laughed and took the thing from Jocelyn. “Rosa! Maybe the curse worked against Simon.”

  “Yeah.” Jocelyn winked. “And maybe true love can break the curse.” She took the doll from Dianne and slid it back into her bag. “I’ll hold onto this for now. Just wanted you to know she was pulling for you.” She turned to Ricochet. “Hey, how about we go take in some sights? Leave these two alone to talk?”

  Ricochet frowned. “What’s there to see here but buildings and traffic?”

  Jocelyn rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Can’t you take a hint?” She looped her arm through his and led him to the door.

  Kip turned to Dianne. “Maybe we should go somewhere a little more private? I’ve got a room upstairs.”

  Dianne nodded. “Sounds perfect.”

  ****

  The ride up the elevator was silent. Dianne was elated, yet filled with dread. Kip was happy to see her, happy she was alive, but did he want her in his life? Or, was he going to tell her it was over…for good?

  Determination filled her. She wouldn’t give him that chance. Not until he heard what she had to say.

  He stopped in front of room four-thirteen and used the key to let them in.

  She preceded him inside and turned as he shut the door behind them. He opened his mouth, but she held up a hand. “Before you say a word, I have some things to say to you.” She drew in a deep breath for fortitude. “I missed you terribly, all these years, I never stopped missing you or regretting my choice.”

  “I miss—”

  “I said, let me finish,” she interrupted. “I know I don’t deserve your trust, your forgiveness, but I promise you, I will do everything I can to earn it. I love you. I’ve always loved you and always will.” She paused, biting her lip. Kip crossed his arms over his chest and watched her with narrowed eyes. Waiting. What was he thinking? His expression didn’t reveal even a hint of his emotion. “Anyway, being back in New York, even briefly, made me realize this is not the place for me. I could never be happy here. All I want is to be back in Waurika—with or without you—but hopefully, with.” She took in another breath. Silence stretched between them. “Well? Say something.”

  He grinned. “So, now I have permission?”

  She nodded.

  He stepped to her and took her upper arms in his hands, staring down into her face. “I missed you too. I love you too, and I can never be truly happy without you. I was hanging onto the mistrust, the bitterness, because I was afraid of being hurt again. But, I didn’t know what fear was until I thought I’d lost you.” He pulled her against his chest and pressed his lips against her hair. “I never want to feel like that again. Never want to lose you again. Even for a second.”

  Tears of joy rose in her throat. She leaned back to look into his eyes. “Oh, Kip…do you have any idea how happy that makes me?”

  “Hopefully, as happy as you make me.”

  He bent his head and claimed her lips with his. Her anxiety fled, and she had a feeling she’d never need those pills again.

  ****

  Simon sat alone in a jail cell. Fear continually tightened his gut. The rough fabric of the jumpsuit made him itch. He remained dumfounded that he was in jail, particularly for a man of his stature. He considered firing his team of attorneys. Inept bastards. He stood and grasped the cold, steel bars. “Guards! Guards! I demand to speak to someone in charge.”

  A burly guard sauntered to Simon’s cell and hit his knuckles with a wooden baton. “You don’t get to speak to anyone. You’re in here until you make bail. Then, it won’t take long before you’ll be sent to the big boy prison. You’re a big shot lawyer, you should know that kidnapping across state lines is really bad.”

  “I must speak to him. I’ve had threats made against my life. I’ll own you when I get out of here,” Simon growled.

  “Everybody’s had threats in this joint. Sit down, shut up, and bide your time. You’re the only one in the cell, for now. No one will get at you. Not saying they won’t try. Hell, some guard might get at you because you’re such an arrogant bastard.” The guard laughed and walked away.

  Simon listened to the jeers of the inmates near his cell who had heard the exchange. His heart beat so fast it felt like his chest would explode. In fact, a heart attack might be a blessing. He paced back and forth feeling like the cliché of a tiger in a cage. His mind worked in circles, nothing made sense. He laughed with scorn when he thought of that damned bone doll of Dianne’s and its curse. No way it would have caused this nightmare. Too much like a fairy tale. Whatever it was, he was furious. Someday he would make everyone pay for his humiliation.

  Chapter 23

  Three weeks later, Dianne walked with Kip to the barn. He slid the doors open. White twinkling lights lit the walkway between the rows of stalls. Several horses slept in the corners, groomed and well fed. The lights made their coats gleam. E
mperor stretched his neck over the gate, his ears pointed directly at Dianne. He nickered. “There’s my boy. I have treats for you.”

  Dianne rubbed his face and scratched his ears, then put her forehead on his face. Loving this horse was easy.

  “Dianne?” Kip spoke from behind her.

  “Hmmm,” she purred.

  “Do you remember the foal Honeybee had just before you left?”

  Dianne lifted her head and frowned. “Sure do, he was a feisty little guy.”

  “I’ve been waiting fifteen years to give you your graduation gift. You’re giving him sugar right now. Emperor is that colt. He’s all yours.” Kip pushed some straw to the side with his boot.

  Dianne squealed, making Emperor toss his head back with a whinny. She flung herself into Kip’s arms. “Thank you so much. He’s the greatest gift ever! Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Kip squeezed her tightly, released her, and nodded toward Emperor. “Check out his halter.”

  Dianne opened the gate and walked under Emperor’s neck. “Let’s see, it’s purple. Still my favorite color. Wait. There’s a ribbon on it.” She stepped back, puzzled.

  He nodded. “It’s the rest of your gift.”

  She untied the ribbon. An emerald ring, her birthstone, was tied to it. “Oh, my God.”

  Kip settled his hands on her shoulders. “I bought this ring fifteen years ago. Saved two years for it. Will you marry me?”

  She smiled. “Yes. Only if you forgive me. And, trust me.”

  “I do forgive you, trust you, and I love you. Always have, always will. How about a moonlight ride?”

  Dianne leaned in and pressed her lips to his ear. “I’d rather head to the house and go upstairs.”

  A word about the author...

  Winona Bennett Cross lives in Durant, Oklahoma with her husband. She has two sons, two daughters-in-law, two dinosaur-loving princess granddaughters, and a cat.

  Winona is a retired Labor and Delivery nurse and nursing educator. She dreams of owning a horse and believes dreams can come true. She is a member of RWA, OKRWA, CHRW, HHRW, and OWFI.

  Ms. Cross enjoys hearing from readers and can be reached at:

  nona143writer@yahoo.com

  http:www.winonacross.blogspot.com or http://winonacross.blogspot.com

  Thank you for purchasing

  this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.