She spotted their car a mile up the dirt road. She ran barefoot across the green grass, her long honey-blonde hair flying behind her.
The twins jumped from the car, ran up to her and smothered her with hugs and kisses. This had been the longest time they’d ever been away. She wondered how she’d be able to handle it when they’d be going off to college in another year.
“Mom, we had so much fun! It’s too bad you hadn’t come along,” Kayla said. “We took a slew of pictures for you to see.”
“Hey, Mom.” Kyle came up and gave her a hug. “You wouldn’t believe the beauty of the Colorado Mountains. I’ll always picture them every time I hear John Denver’s ‘Rocky Mountain High’. I saw for myself why he had so much love for those mountains.”
Sherry and Adam climbed out of the car, carrying their duffle bags, followed by Shannon and Dan.
Shannon gave Cassandra a hug. “How did it go up here all alone?” she teased.
Taking Shannon to one side, Cassandra mentioned that she’d spent the night at Nick’s ranch and told her about the “not so exciting” experience with Jeff.
“What an ordeal,” Shannon whispered with sympathy.
Later, while they all sat at the kitchen table enjoying their lunch, Cassandra mentioned the plans for the weekend.
“Nick invited all of us to go horseback riding tomorrow and then he’s having a bonfire tomorrow night.” The four teens whooped with excitement.
“I’d mentioned to him earlier that open fires aren’t allowed in the suburbs back home, so he invited us to enjoy ourselves at his ranch.”
Everyone thought it sounded like fun. It really was so exhilarating for them.
“Now for the most exciting event of the week,” Cassandra said. All eyes turned to her, and everyone listened intently. “How would you like to take a ride into Huntington on Monday?” She looked over at Kyle and Kayla.
“Sure,” Kyle answered, “but what’s there to do in Huntington that would be so exciting?”
“Oh, I just thought we might take a walk around the Huntington Animal Humane Society.”
They looked at each other in surprise, then back at Cassandra. “Yes!” they exclaimed with a sparkle in their eyes.
“That’s great, Cassandra,” Dan said. “You made a very wise decision.”
“I know, but Nick was the one who more or less talked me into it. He’s going to come along to help us find one that would be a good guard dog.”
Shannon looked at her and raised her eyebrows inquiringly.
The kids excused themselves from the table and went outside. Shannon and Cassandra started collecting the dirty dishes. Dan went into the living room and turned on the television.
“Out with it, Cassandra,” Shannon insisted when they were finally alone. “I want to know everything, and start from the beginning.”
“Okay.” She brushed some hair away from her mouth with the back of her soapy hand. “It all began with some footprints that I spotted in the dirt along the cabin… ”
*
When Cassandra pulled the SUV into the Huntington Animal Humane Society, she’d barely come to a stop when the twins jumped out, anxious to get in to look around. Nick pulled up in the space next to hers. After this, he said he planned to make a stop at the feed store for a load of oats and barley for the horses.
Kyle and Kayla were waiting impatiently. Nick opened the door and stood back for her to enter. After stepping in behind her, he said, “I sure hope we find the right one. These two are as excited as my little nieces and nephews at Christmas time,” Nick said with a laugh, and they entered the lobby.
“Good morning,” greeted the girl behind the desk. She smiled and came around to the other side. “I’m assuming by the look on those happy faces, that you’re here to find yourselves an addition to your family.”
Kyle and Kayla grinned at each other, and she led them into the back room where there were several lengthy aisles filled with kennels. “You can take all the time you need. That’s Barry at the far end. If there’s a dog you’d like to get to know, just ask him, and he’ll be glad to help you out.” Barry sent them a wave and nodded.
Cassandra looked around. They sure kept the place nice and clean. It didn’t have that horrid odor most kennels had. She looked up at Nick, and he seemed to have the same impression.
“The dogs seem to be well taken care of.”
She nodded, and they walked slowly down each aisle, observing every dog. Choosing the right one was so difficult; it almost broke Cassandra’s heart. They would all look up with those sad eyes, just begging to be taken home. She wished she could take them all. Nevertheless, one was about all she’d be able to afford, for the time being.
Nick saw the look on her face and said, “Remember, you need to select one that will be a good guard dog. I know they’re all tempting, but you need to keep that protection factor in mind.”
“Oh, I know. It’s just that I’ve always wanted a small dog to cuddle.”
Kyle and Kayla walked up to them, but by the look on their faces, they didn’t seem to be able to find the right one.
Suddenly, one of the workers entered through the back doorway with a light golden lab. He led the dog toward them and the dog actually looked like she was smiling at them. Her tail wagged a mile a minute. It was love at first sight.
Barry walked over and told them she’d been out for some much needed exercise. “This is Mandy. She’s only one year old,” he said, “but she already knows how to obey most commands, and she loves to run and play. She’s an ideal companion for someone.”
“Why did she end up in here?” Nick asked.
“Her owner was in a car accident a week ago and passed away. He had no family member that could take her. They’re hoping someone would take good care of her and love her as much as her owner had. She misses him a lot. She’s a good dog, very smart, and gets along well with children, adults, and other animals.”
“Mom, we have to take her,” Kayla said, with a smile spread across her face.
“Just look at her, Nick. She looks like such a sweetheart,” Cassandra said.
Nick turned to Barry and asked, “Do you know how she reacts to strangers? For example, if there happened to be a prowler near their home?”
“Her owner was in the process of training her for just that purpose. She reacts exactly as she should. If she hears the command to stay back, she does so. This dog is a fast learner and always wants to please her owner,” Barry said proudly.
“Well, I’d say take her, before someone else does,” Nick said.
Cassandra nodded her head at the twins.
“Awesome,” they both said at once. Kayla knelt down on the floor to hug her and Mandy planted a big kiss on her cheek, while her tail moved back and forth at full speed.
Chapter Thirteen
Cassandra dropped the twins off to visit with Auntie Em while she went to meet with her attorney. They brought Mandy along to show off their new family member.
After chatting for a moment, she told Auntie Em that she’d be back to visit as soon as possible.
She’d had her hair cut and styled yesterday, and decided to wear her beige dress slacks, with a white short-sleeve blouse beneath her brown suit coat. She wanted to look her best while appearing before her attorney.
When Cassandra arrived, the receptionist told her to go right in; Mr. Klondike was expecting her.
Mr. Klondike stood as she entered. “Good morning, Cassandra. Would you like some coffee, or perhaps a cup of tea?”
“No, thank you.”
Mr. Klondike was very short, with salt and pepper hair, and a receding hairline. He smiled with a perfect set of white teeth, and his soft brown eyes always held a caring expression, as though everyone he spoke to was the most important person in the world.
“Please have a seat.” He motioned toward the two chairs in front of his desk.
When she sat, he lowered himself into his own chair and leaned forward, folding his h
ands on the desktop.
“How has everything been going for you?”
“I’m doing pretty well, considering what Jeff has been putting me through.” Moisture blurred her eyes.
“Tell me exactly what he’s been doing, my dear,” he prompted in his soft voice, while he slid a box of tissues within her reach.
After blotting her eyes, Cassandra opened the Manila envelope that she’d brought. She removed printed copies of all the emails Jeff had sent to her, and handed them to Mr. Klondike. While he looked them over, she told him about someone who’d been prowling around the cabin and placed a photograph of the footprints on his desk. Then she presented a copy of the police report and a photograph of the words painted on the window of her SUV. She was thankful Nick had taken pictures of everything.
“When we were still married,” she said, “I’d always felt as though I was treading on eggshells. I was afraid of him. When he drinks, he can be very demanding. He’s been stalking us ever since our divorce was final. I came to inquire if I’d be able to obtain a restraining order to keep him away from us.”
With a look of concern, he said, “I’ll definitely get right on this, Cassandra.”
“Also, I’m convinced that he hired a Private Investigator to locate me. We’ve been staying in a hideaway deep in the woods up in the outskirts of Duluth. He never could have located us on his own. He had no idea where we’d disappeared to.”
She told him about the incident when the security lights turned on, and the car alarm went off in the middle of the night. Then she handed him a photograph of the beer can that she’d discovered lying on the ground next to the SUV.
“Can I keep these emails and photos, Cassandra? I may need them and I’ll keep them in your file. I’ll get started on the restraining order immediately.”
“Yes, that would be fine. Thank you Mr. Klondike, thank you very much.”
She exited his office feeling a little happier, knowing that legal moves against Jeff would soon be put in motion.
Cassandra had left her car in the parking garage next door to the attorney’s office. While she waited for the green light at the exit, she observed a blue pick-up truck as it passed by very slowly. She noticed a deep scratch in the paint on the tailgate, and was positive the vehicle belonged to Jeff. When the light turned green, she immediately turned in the opposite direction. As she sped away, she prayed to God that he hadn’t spotted her.
*
She parked the SUV in Auntie Em’s garage to keep it out of view. After they’d finished dinner at Auntie Em’s, Cassandra told the twins to gather up their belongings, and she’d be ready to leave in a few minutes.
“Why don’t you just stay here tonight, honey? I miss having you around.”
“I wish we could, but I have to get back in order to complete a report for work, which is due to go out tonight.”
“But honey, you can do your work here. You can’t tell me my computer is too old for you to work on, because I purchased a new one just last week. It has everything you’d need on it,” she told her proudly.
“For heaven’s sake, why would you want a computer that size?”
“Well, I was planning to surprise you with my first draft, but I can’t hold it back from you now, dear. I’m writing another suspense novel before I’m no longer able. My life has become so wearisome, that I decided to do something with it before it’s too late. You know as well as I do, that writing has always been my lifeline. It’s what I love and do best.”
“That’s wonderful! Have you started it yet? What will this one be about?”
“I’ve just started an outline so far, and you know better than to ask me that. I don’t tell anyone about it, not even you, sweetheart. You’ll just have to wait and see.” She gave Cassandra a loving pat on the cheek.
After they’d finished the dishes, Auntie Em wiped off the counter, and turned to hang her apron on a hook in the pantry.
“Well,” Cassandra said, “I sure haven’t been keeping in touch with you enough since we’ve been staying at the cabin. Let me have a look at this new computer, and I’ll see if I can pull up my report.”
“Did you hear that, Kayla? We might be staying overnight,” Kyle said with a grin. They’d been listening to the conversation while they stood near the kitchen doorway.
“They’re coming,” Kayla whispered. She tugged on his shirtsleeve. “Hurry!” They rushed back to the living room, quickly sat on the floor next to Mandy, and crossed their fingers.
“Just hold on for a bit, you two,” she said to the twins. “I want to see Auntie Em’s new computer.”
After looking it over, she decided they could spend the night. She’d be able to do her work and actually hand-deliver it to them in the morning. Emma was delighted, the twins were thrilled, and Mandy was happy too; she was in complete ecstasy when she received leftover pot roast for supper.
The next day Cassandra enjoyed spending time with her co-workers when they took her out for lunch. It was great to see everyone, and she gave each of them a hug when she said goodbye.
On her way back to retrieve her family, she made a stop to pick up a case of paper for Auntie Em’s printer. Ten reams should hold her over for the time being, Cassandra thought with a smile.
*
They were almost to the county road turnoff when Kayla just couldn’t wait any longer. “Mom, I really have to go to the bathroom. Could we make a quick stop at that rest area, just before we reach Pinewood Hills?”
“Can’t you wait, honey? It’s not that much further.”
“No, Mom, please stop.”
Cassandra sighed, pulled into the Pinewood Rest Area, and Kayla hopped out.
Kyle stayed in the SUV. “Gee, Mom, I didn’t know they have a campground here. Look, a few tents and campers are set up out behind the buildings.” He pointed toward the rear yard.
“Huh... I’d never noticed them before.”
Kayla climbed back in and Cassandra slowly pulled out onto the highway.
*
Jeff exited the men’s room at the rest area. Drying his hands with a paper towel, he glanced up and saw their vehicle as it drove away.
Shaking his head in anger, he turned on his heel and strode back to his tent. He couldn’t believe they’d actually stopped right here. So close. So close, and he’d just missed them!
Chapter Fourteen
The following week, the twins woke early and headed over to Nick’s ranch, to help him repair more of the fencing. They’d taken Mandy along to let her run through the meadow and get her much needed daily exercise.
Cassandra decided to go for a stroll while the sun was still high in the sky. She needed a break. She’d grown exhausted with all of the work coming in, although she was very thankful to receive it.
While she walked slowly through the meadow, she enjoyed the sweet scent of flowers. She came to the edge of the grassland and approached the dirt road that led to Nick’s ranch. She felt happy and carefree. Further down the road she spotted a cluster of beautiful butterflies fluttering around the wildflowers scattered along the edge of the road. When she slowly passed by them, they flew over to her and swirled around her head. She stopped and gazed up at them, her hands placed on each cheek. She held a big smile, and was careful not to frighten them away.
“You are so beautiful and such distinct little creatures,” she said softly. There aren’t that many butterflies around, these days. It was a rare treat to see so many at one time.
She noticed a truck approaching from behind, about a mile down the road. It seemed to be moving a bit too fast, gathering clouds of dust, and she found it impossible to perceive whether or not it was Nick’s truck. Assuming it would slow down, she stayed on the edge of the dirt road and kept walking. Suddenly, she glanced over her shoulder; it wasn’t slowing down, it was picking up speed.
Panic welled up in her throat when she realized it was coming straight at her. She gasped in terror and choked back a frightened cry, then spun around frant
ically. She leaped back into the meadow, and ran as fast as she could. If she could get to the high grass just ahead, she knew that the creek flowed close by and her salvation might lie there.
It must be Jeff, most likely very intoxicated, as he zigzagged back and forth, acting as though he was playing a game. She tried to run faster when she heard the truck approaching. The wild grass and flowers became thicker and taller, and now reached to the top of her head. She heard the vehicle very close behind.
At last, she spotted the creek and knew this was her only means to stay out of sight. When she approached the edge, she lowered to her knees, then thrust herself into the waist deep water, and quickly submerged. She held her breath as her shirt billowed out with trapped air until it became waterlogged. With her short height, she was able to stay just below the surface as she moved across the rocky bottom on her hands and knees, grazing them. She followed the strong current, which eased the pain on her kneecaps.
No longer able to remain underwater, she frantically lifted her head and gasped for air, just as the truck plunged into the creek and rolled onto its side.
She shivered, and tried to stay very still while she waited. She stood and watched for any movement. Then Jeff’s head and shoulders appeared through the open window.
He looked up, immediately saw her, and hatred blazed in his eyes. His glare burned through her as she slowly moved her hand to her waist and felt for her pepper spray. Attached to her belt loop, she loosened it from the pocket of her jeans. Her clothes were soaking wet, but the pepper spray was waterproof. She crept toward the opposite edge of the creek, and stopped to speculate what her best move would be. With difficulty, she struggled over the rocky bottom, and tried to remain calm, but she was beginning to shake as fearful images began to build in her mind.
When Cassandra risked a glance at him, the color drained from her face. He’d now completely freed himself from his vehicle, and began to wade toward her in a limping fashion.
She turned blindly, and stumbled on the slippery rocks. Frantic now, unable to obtain a secure foothold, she looked behind her. His limp was slowing him down. When the tread on her tennis shoe grabbed support on a large rock, she was able to climb the small bank, and then turned to run north, toward Nick’s ranch.
The Sunny Side of the Mountain Page 7