by Erin Wade
“I should be with you, baby,” Kadence muttered. “I’m worried about you.”
“I’m certain the girls are my daughters,” Faith whispered into the phone, “but I don’t remember anything about them. They’re precious, and I’ve fallen in love with them in the short time I’ve been here, but I don’t remember them at all. They adore Stacy Crawford, and she would die for them.”
“You’ll see Daniel Devon in two days,” Kady reassured her. “You’ll be back in my arms Saturday.”
Faith sighed. “I can’t wait. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, baby, but I must go. My surgery team is ready. I’ll see you Saturday.”
Faith dropped her phone onto the bed and got dressed. She heard the staccato beat of the girls’ boots on the front porch as they hurried into the house.
“Mom?” Lindsey called out.
“In the kitchen, dear,” Stacy yelled back.
“The baby goat is missing. We have to find it,” Lindsey said as Faith entered the kitchen. “There’s a bad storming coming.”
“We saddled two horses for you,” Mary added.
“At least give Miss Faith a chance to drink a cup of coffee,” Stacy said to her children.
“We’ll take the north canyon,” Lindsey continued. “When you’re ready, y’all take the south mesa. We’re going now. The storm is really moving in.”
Stacy stopped her daughters. “Lindsey, the baby is important, but nothing is as important as the three of you. Promise me you’ll return to the house when the rain starts.”
“You know I will, Mom. I’d never take chances with Mary and Kimi.”
Chapter 32
Faith gulped down her coffee. “We’d better go. It’s already getting dark outside. Judging from the clouds, it’s going to be a bad storm.”
“Faith, I want to apologize to you for earlier this morning. I was way out of line.”
Faith nodded. “It’s forgotten. It doesn’t matter who I am. I’m married to Kadence, and I would never be unfaithful or hurt her in any way.”
Stacy led the way to where the horses were waiting. “Is she a surgeon or general practice?”
“Kadence is a surgeon.”
“Does she specialize?”
“She’s a reconstructive surgeon specializing in craniofacial surgery,” Faith admitted.
“Hence the new face.”
“Stacy, I don’t—”
“No matter what you change, there is no way I wouldn’t recognize Mariam Reynolds’s eyes when I gaze into them.”
“I refuse to participate in this conversation,” Faith snapped.
“Well, I have only one question. Are you going to take the girls away from me?”
Faith stared at the blonde in disbelief. “Your daughters are so happy and well adjusted. Even if I were their real mother, I could never take that away from them. They’ve been through a lot, and they love you. I’d never force them to leave you. You’ve been a great friend to Mariam Reynolds. She was a lucky woman to have a friend like you.”
The rumble of distant thunder pulled their attention back to the impending storm. Ominous black clouds gathered overhead as the wind picked up speed, whipping dust devils across the ranch.
“We’d better move fast,” Stacy yelled as they mounted their horses. “This is coming in quicker than I expected.”
##
They searched for the baby goat until the driving rain made it impossible to see beyond their horses’ heads. “Give her the lead,” Stacy instructed. “She’ll get you back to the barn.”
The girls were already in the house when the women rode into the barn. Stacy exhaled the breath she’d been holding. “Thank you, Lord,” she whispered.
They dropped their drenched clothes on the screened-in back porch and hurried to their bedrooms to dry off and get dressed.
A few minutes later, they all gathered in Stacy’s room.
“Mom, we couldn’t find the kid,” Lindsey said, fighting back tears. “Did you?”
“No sign of it.” Stacy gathered them in her arms. “I’m so thankful y’all are back safely.”
“It will surely die in this storm,” Kimi sobbed.
“We’ll go look for it before breakfast in the morning,” Stacy promised.
##
“Maybe its mother will find it.” Kimi squeezed her eyes closed to halt tears that threatened to run down her cheeks.
The world outside lit up as lightning streaked across the sky, followed by thunder so loud that it shook the ranch house. “Sounds like it will go on all night,” Stacy mused. “Who’s up for a game?”
“Mexican Train!” the sisters chorused.
“Miss Faith, do you know how to play Mexican Train?” Mary asked.
“No, but I’m a pretty quick learner.” Faith smiled, eager to do anything that would get their minds off the storm and the baby goat.
“I need to make a quick phone call first,” Faith said as the others dumped the dominoes onto the table. “Don’t start without me.”
“Take your time,” Stacy said. “I’m going to throw together some Texas Chili. You’ll love it.”
Faith’s call went to Kadence’s voicemail. “Hi, honey. We’re about to start a rousing game of Mexican Train. Please call me tonight after you get in bed. We can pretend we’re together. I’ll talk naughty to you over the phone.” She disconnected the call, wondering where her wife was.
The smell of chili cooking and the sound of laughter quickly drove away her melancholy mood. She put on her best smile as she entered the kitchen.
“Sit by me, Miss Faith,” Kimi said, patting the chair next to her. “It’s every woman for herself, so there are no partners.”
The laughter and squeals of delight from the girls eclipsed the torrential downpour outside. As the game ended, Kimi’s eyes began to droop.
“Bedtime, girls,” Stacy noted. “Get your pajamas on, and I’ll come by to tuck you in.”
“Can Miss Faith come too?” Mary asked.
Stacy glanced at Faith. “If she’d like to, I’d love that.”
“Oh yes!” Faith beamed.
Faith and Stacy cleaned the kitchen and put away the game while the girls dressed for bed. “That was fun,” Faith chuckled. “They are great girls.”
“They certainly fell in love with you,” Stacy said. “They’ve never been enamored of strangers. It’s nice having someone my age to share them with.”
“This has been wonderful,” Faith said, motioning around her. “The girls, your home . . . and you are so nice.”
They stood in silence, gazing into each other’s eyes. The moment was interrupted by the sound of Faith’s cell phone. “That will be Kadence.” A smile lit up her face as she scurried from the room.
##
“Miss Faith, get up,” Kimi whispered. “It’s sunup, and we’re going to find the baby goat.”
Faith rubbed her eyes and looked at the little girl sitting on her bed. Kimi was dressed and ready to go. “Mom’s bringing up the horses now. She said to let you sleep, but I really want you to go.”
“Of course.” Faith cleared the sleep from her voice and slipped into a pair of jeans and a Henley. She was pulling on her boots when Stacy walked into her room.
“Did you bring me a horse?” Faith asked.
“Yes.” Stacy laughed. “I knew Kimi would wake you. This shouldn’t take long. There are only a few places we didn’t get to yesterday.”
Faith followed the others into the early morning rain. The drizzle showed no sign of letting up.
“Let’s check along the river,” Stacy directed. “Be careful. It will be overflowing its banks.”
They sloshed their way to the river that cut a path across the ranch. Just as Stacy had predicted, it had swollen to twice its normal size. White-water rapids were visible in both directions.
“There!” Lindsey yelled over the roar of the water. “It’s trapped on that little piece of land off the riverbank.”
“We have to sa
ve him,” Kimi wailed. “Do something, Mom!”
Stacy pulled the rope from her saddle and looped it around the saddle horn. She tied the other end around her waist. “You girls stay back,” she instructed. “I’ll get the baby. When I have it, back my horse up so he’ll pull us both from the river.”
Lindsey nodded and pulled her horse alongside her mother’s as if they had performed the maneuver a hundred times.
“Faith, secure your rope to your saddle horn, just in case I need help.”
Faith did as she was told and strained to keep her eyes on the baby goat and Stacy as her friend waded into the river.
Without warning, Kimi jumped from her horse and ran to the edge of the engorged river. “Kimi!” Faith yelled. “Come back here.”
The words died on her lips as she watched the riverbank crumble, pitching the little girl into the swirling waters.
“Oh God!” she yelled, praying as the turbulent water swept the child downstream. Stacy couldn’t hear their screams over the roaring water.
Faith kicked her gelding and raced along the river’s edge, trying to keep an eye on Kimi as the boiling waters swept her along. Faith wasn’t sure her horse could outrun the raging river.
She kicked her horse harder, and it sprang forward at top speed. Please don’t let him slip and fall, she prayed. Faith saw a wide bend in the river and reasoned that she could ride the horse straight and get ahead of Kimi. If I can just get into the water and catch her.
She reined in the horse and was on the ground before he stopped. She looped the rope around her waist as she ran into the water. She could see Kimi coming toward her at a maddening speed. She let the waters take her and was swept into position to catch the little girl.
Kimi hit her hard as the cutting horse did what he was trained to do—keep the slack out of the rope. Sobbing, Kimi wrapped her arms and legs around Faith and held on for dear life.
“It’s okay baby,” Faith muttered. “Mommy has you.” She clutched the little girl to her, trying to soothe her panic. “Hold on to Mommy. We’re okay.”
Using all the strength she could muster, she kicked her legs and moved toward the shore. She almost cried when the horse backed up a little every time she was able to put some slack in the rope.
Kimi wrapped her arms around Faith’s neck and gripped her tighter. Faith flashed back. Suddenly the swirling water was replaced with a smooth surface as she continued to move Kimi toward the river bank. “Keep quiet, baby, they’ll hear us. Just move along the riverbank. We don’t want to leave tracks they can follow.”
The violent river pulled them beneath the surface, and Faith fought to get their heads above water. She sputtered and clung to Kimi as the cutting horse slowly pulled them toward dry land.
Stacy and Lindsey grabbed the rope and tugged hard, pulling Faith and Kimi onto solid ground. “Oh my God!” Stacy cried, gathering them into her arms. “I thought I’d lost you.”
Faith began to shake as the horror from her past flooded over her. “Come on.” Stacy pulled her to her feet, “We must get you back to the house.”
“The baby!” Kimi sobbed.
“Mary has him.” Lindsey put her arm around her sister and led her to her mount.
##
Faith awoke in strong arms. She tried to push them away. “Don’t,” Stacy commanded. “I’ve held you all night while you cried and relived escaping from your captors. I think you must have a little PTSD. I’m just holding you. Nothing will happen. I promise.”
Faith burrowed into Stacy’s body and went back to sleep as protective arms tightened around her, sending warmth through her.
She awoke the next morning to sunshine and birds singing. The rain had passed, and everything smelled clean and fresh. She closed her eyes against the memories that were flooding her mind. Memories that would require her to make some very difficult decisions.
“I must talk to Kadence,” she mumbled aloud. Kadence and New York seemed so far away—so different from Texas.
##
Faith wore her pajamas into the huge country kitchen, where Stacy was sitting at the island. “Coffee’s fresh,” she said, gesturing toward the coffee pot, steam rising lazily from its spout. “Help yourself.”
Faith filled her cup and refilled Stacy’s. “Thank you for taking care of me last night,” she murmured.
“It was the least I could do,” Stacy said. “You did save my daughter’s life.”
Silence hung like a shroud over the kitchen. “She is your daughter,” Faith said softly. “I’ll never interfere.”
“How can you do that . . . just walk away from them?”
“My mind is flooding with memories.” Faith blushed as she recalled her memories of Stacy. “Some are wonderful, some horrific. Stacy, I killed a man with my bare hands.”
“You did what you had to do to stay alive and save the girls.”
“They’ve been through enough,” Faith said, sighing. “You’ve done a wonderful job of helping them live a normal life. I would never disrupt that by making them choose between us.”
“They don’t have to choose,” Stacy mumbled. “You could stay here and live with us. You know I love you.”
“I am so tempted to do that,” Faith said, “but there’s someone waiting for me in New York. I can’t hurt her.”
“Besides, you love her.”
“More than you could ever imagine,” Faith whispered.
Chapter 33
Friday morning brought warm sunshine and little trace of the storm that had blown through the ranch. Faith dressed in her sharpest business suit and high heels for her meeting with Daniel Devon.
Stacy looked up as the click of heels headed toward the kitchen. “My God, you’re gorgeous. I made you some toast and coffee.” She held out the cup. “I didn’t think you’d want a heavy meal if your stomach feels like mine.”
“Meeting with Daniel Devon doesn’t quite intimidate me as much as it did two days ago.” Faith smiled slightly.
“What are you going to tell him?” Stacy said as she settled on the stool beside Faith. “He has a right to know.”
Faith frowned. “Does he? He’s already buried his only daughter. Once is enough. Besides, I don’t know for certain that Mariam and the girls are out of danger.”
“You mean someone might still try to harm them?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not taking any chances with them or you,” Faith said. “I fear that as long as Tom is an heir to the Devon fortune, the children will be in danger. Not that I think Tom would harm them, but I do think those around him would.”
“Whoa,” Stacy gushed. “You can have your New York and DC. Just leave me alone in Texas.”
“I’m here to find out if there is any way to drive those wolves from your door,” Faith said, picking up her briefcase. “Wish me luck.”
Stacy leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Good luck, Faith.”
##
The past twenty-four hours had been a stream of memories flashing through Faith’s mind. Her wedding. The births of her daughters. The loss of her mother. The horrific moment she realized her daughters had been kidnapped and she was taken prisoner. She relived the beating she had welcomed to give Stacy time to escape with the girls.
She recalled the first time she saw Kadence Pride. She smiled. She was the happiest woman in the world. No matter what happened, sometime tonight she’d be in Kady’s arms.
Faith slowed her car as she approached a guardhouse with gates on either side of it. She rolled down her window. “I’m Faith Pride,” she said. “Mr. Devon is expecting me.”
The guard nodded. “One moment please.” He walked around the car, made a note of the license plate, and handed the clipboard to Faith. “Please sign on the line next to your name.”
Faith did as she was told and handed the board back to the guard. “Mr. Devon’s home is that large white house on top of the hill.” He pointed to the sprawling stucco ranch house ahead of her.
Faith was quite
familiar with the route to the house and everything in it. She had grown up there. She wondered if she could fool her father.
##
Daniel Devon met her at the door. He held out both of his hands, and she placed hers in them. Daniel gazed into her blue eyes—eyes that mirrored his. Before she could speak, Daniel pulled her into a bear hug. “I thought I’d lost you,” he said, trying to clear the lump that had formed in his throat.
Faith hugged him back. “In a way you have. Mariam Reynolds must remain dead, for everyone’s safety.”
Daniel held back stinging tears as he grasped her hand and led her to his office. He closed and locked the door. “I had Barclay make us iced tea and those little sandwiches you love. Now tell me what’s going on.”
“Dad, I don’t think Tom is behind the move to get control of his share of Devon money. I think it’s people he’s involved with. He is so busy trying to clean up the mess Lockleer left that he doesn’t have time to worry about his inheritance. He knows he has to wait seven years for the girls to be declared dead before he can make a claim.”
Faith rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger, trying to ward off a headache.
“I know this is my fault. I’m the one who insisted that Tom be included in the trust you set up for the girls and me. I never dreamed anything like this would happen. What can I do?”
“Get him to renounce his claim to Devon money,” Daniel replied. “If the girls are declared deceased by the courts and I die, Tom will inherit everything. Those less scrupulous people around him could wreak havoc in the world with our billions.”
“Oh Daddy, what have I done?” Faith mumbled. “If I let it be known the girls and I are alive, I fear we would throw ourselves back into harm’s way. If I stand by and let Tom get his hands on the family money it could change the world.”
“I haven’t given you an easy task,” Daniel said, “but it’s one I’m certain you can accomplish.
“Enough about saving the world.” Daniel laughed. “Tell me what happened that changed you into such a beautiful creature.”
Faith related her story from the moment the terrorist had kidnapped her and the children. “And the most incredible team of doctors put me back together. A plastic surgeon, who is more an artist than surgeon, gave me this face. I asked her to give me a face she’d love, and she did. We’ve been married almost a year.”
