“We need to tell Tom. He can protect you and Emma from this horrible man.”
“There is one thing I know. If Peter still wants to find us, nothing will stop him, not Tom or anyone. I don’t want Tom involved. Peter is a ruthless man and he wouldn’t think twice about hurting him.”
“You like Tom, don’t you?”
“I shouldn’t be attracted to him. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of hiding it, but apparently not. You don’t think he knows, do you?”
“The truth is, I suspect he is feeling the same way about you.”
“I don’t believe so, Mary. When he finds out about Peter, he’s not going to want to be involved in my mess.”
“Tom is a good man. He cares about others, including you and Emma. You can trust him.”
Mary reached over and hugged Teresa, causing her to break down and weep. She had not cried in so long. She always had to be strong, especially for Emma. For the first time since her mother died, she felt as though a weight had been lifted. Telling Mary the truth was the right decision.
“You’re safe here. Now go and clean your face. Wake Emma and then we’ll all eat breakfast.”
After Teresa rose and disappeared down the hallway, Mary buried her head in her hands. “Oh William,” she spoke aloud to her deceased husband. “What am I to do?” This was more than she had bargained for, but Teresa was family, and Mary would give her life protecting her and that child. Just as William would’ve.
CHAPTER FOUR
The fall leaves were in prime color. The girls, as Mary had begun to call them, had settled in nicely, now more comfortable with their surroundings. They’d even started becoming a part of the community, attending church with Mary. Emma’s eyes would brighten each time Mary introduced her as her granddaughter.
Life didn’t just change for Teresa and Emma, but for Mary also. Oh, most of her days were still filled with hard work, but now also laughter and companionship. The family of three started taking long walks around the farm like she and William used to enjoy. After church and then lunch, Sundays had become their favorite time to explore the farm. They’d observed some old oak trees along their route, tall as the heavens, as well as some wild turkeys and deer running through the trees and foliage. Mary had never enjoyed her back yard so much.
One chilly morning, Mary discovered a flat tire on her truck. Thinking she’d picked up a nail, she called the local gas station, and the manager sent one of his workers to change it. After he arrived and switched the tire, the man knocked on the front door of the house.
“Grandmother Jones, I don’t know how to tell you this, but it looks as if someone deliberately cut your tire.”
“No…are you sure about that?”
“Yes, ma’am. Plain as day. Take a gander.” The man pressed his fingers against the cut in the rubber, exposing it.
“Oh, dear. Why would somebody do that?”
“I couldn’t say, but maybe you should make the sheriff aware so he can patrol more often.”
“I will and thank you.” Mary handed the man a check to cover a new tire, along with a tip of ten dollars. The work was complete in a jiffy.
Unsure if Peter had found the girls, and not wanting to alarm Teresa, she warned them to stay close to the house because a bear had been seen in the area. A twist on the truth, but she saw no need to scare Teresa until she knew for sure what was going on.
The attraction between Tom and Teresa grew more evident. Deciding to help the two, Mary invited the sheriff for dinner to push along the budding romance. Tom always had moved slower than molasses.
When Tom arrived the next evening, Teresa looked especially pretty, leading Mary to believe she headed in the right direction. Why else would the girl take such extra care with her makeup or wear her prettiest blouse? Teresa had even prepared the meal, which Mary was all too eager to brag about to Tom. The grilled steaks, baked potatoes, squash casserole, and peach cobbler were award-winning perfect. Everyone ate until they could hold no more.
After the meal was finished, Mary turned to Teresa. “Why don’t you show Tom around the farm? No further bear spottings have been reported, and Tom’s armed. It’s such a wonderful evening for a nice stroll. The moon is beautiful. Emma and I will stay and clean up the dishes.”
Teresa’s smile could captivate a toad. “Would you like to go for a walk?”
“I’d enjoy it tremendously.” Tom extended his arm for Teresa.
Mary stood and closed the door behind the couple. “Emma, let’s tackle these dishes.” In no time, the kitchen was clean, the youngster played underfoot, and she relaxed in her old chair.
Mary relished in the night’s accomplishments. Teresa and Tom were getting to know each other, love was in the air, and best of all, she’d been blessed with a newfound family. “Emma, dear, shall we read a book?”
* * *
As the budding couple strolled along the farm, the attraction between the two sparked in the cool air.
Tom radiated goodwill. Safety, strength, and trustworthiness. The kind of man a woman could count on, truly and forever.
Teresa wanted nothing more than for him to take her in his arms and tell her everything was going to be okay. For Tom to be her answer to all her problems. For him to protect her and her daughter from her ex-husband. But how could he? She had not told him the reason behind her stay at Mary’s farm.
With a swift gesture, Tom claimed Teresa’s hand and squeezed.
“Oh!” Startled, she pulled away. Immediately, she regretted the hasty reaction.
Tom leapt to apologize. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so presumptuous. I thought you… we…were feeling the same thing…that I’m feeling. I mean—”
“It’s not you, it’s me. I have so much baggage. Tom, do yourself a favor and run the opposite direction. No sane man would want to get involved with the likes of me.”
“I suppose I’m crazy then. About you, at least. You know, you’re the first woman I’ve yearned to be with since my wife died.”
“You’re a widower. I had no idea. Mary never said anything regarding that.”
“It was a long time ago, when I was young, and before I moved to town. Mary likely doesn’t know. I don’t often discuss what happened. For the longest time, Laurie’s death was simply too painful to speak about. I came here for a fresh start. I didn’t want people feeling sorry for me or being watchful of their words.”
Teresa reached up and caressed his face, enjoying the prickling sensation caused by the slight growth of his beard.
Gently, Tom tipped Teresa’s mouth to his. The power of his kiss made her breathless, and his embrace restored her. The worries of her life faded away for an instant. She longed to stay in this moment forever, but the hoot of the nearby owl drew her back to reality.
“I guess we need to head back to the house before Mary thinks we got lost or something.”
“I don’t want to leave. I didn’t know it was possible to fall for someone so deeply, so fast, until I met you…” Tom wrapped his arms around her, squeezing tight.
Nestled in his embrace, Teresa smiled and replied, “I feel the same way, but I can’t go forward in a relationship until I tell you about my past.”
“Not now. Nothing spoils this moment.”
“Okay, not now. But, we need to return to the house before Mary sends your deputies after us.”
* * *
With their book read, and Emma given her bath and tucked into bed, Mary pulled out her Bible. Relaxing in her rocking chair, she poured over the Lord’s words until Tom and Teresa walked into the house. The entrance of the twosome, all smiles and happiness, told Mary the walk had drawn the couple closer.
“You both look as though you had a good time.”
“We did.” Tom winked at Mary.
“Emma already asleep?”
“Yes. She was yawning, could hardly keep her eyes peeled, so I gave her a bath and put her to bed, oh…about thirty minutes ago.”
“I shou
ld check on her.” Teresa turned to Tom and bestowed a sweet smile on him. “I had a wonderful evening. Thank you for your company.”
“I as well. Thank you for dinner tonight and for the walk around the farm. Perhaps we can do it again shortly.”
“I’d like that.” Hesitating a moment, Teresa turned and walked down the hall.
Tom picked up his jacket. “Well, Mrs. Mary, thank you for dinner and your family’s company tonight.”
“You’re welcome, Tom. Come by anytime.”
Tom was leaving when Teresa burst out of the bedroom. “Emma’s not in her room! She’s gone!”
“What? I put her in bed myself.” Mary stood, following Tom into the bedroom.
No sign of Emma, save for rumpled covers.
* * *
Inspecting the windows in the child’s room, Tom found a pane broken and the window screen missing. All signs pointed to an intruder. The blood rushed from his face, his heart racing.
Tom immediately withdrew his cell phone and called the station. With missing child cases, the sooner officers were on the scene, the better.
He’d never dealt with a kidnapping before, especially one right under his nose. Runaways, sure, and wayward children exploring their worlds. But this was another cup of tea, and a serious, dangerous crime.
Tom focused on Mary, who was leaning on the wall to keep from fainting. “I need to know everything you heard or saw tonight. Even if it seems insignificant. But first, I must speak with Teresa.”
Tears flooded Teresa’s cheeks as she ran from room to room, pleading for Emma to come out from hiding. Grabbing the frantic mother, Tom forced her to sit on the couch. The fright written on her face broke Tom’s heart. Teresa rocked, praying to find her baby.
Needing important information from her, Tom grabbed her chin, demanding her direct attention. “Is there anyone who wanted to take Emma…her father maybe? Someone that might want to hurt you?”
At those words, Teresa became unresponsive, as if in a daze. She resumed rocking back and forth.
“Oh, Tom.” A pale Mary walked into room. “How did I not hear the window breaking?”
“Do you know who could have done this? Tonight, Teresa alluded to me that she has a dark past.”
“It has to be Teresa’s ex-husband, Peter. They’re on the run from him. He’s a dangerous man. Violent. He must have located them. Please, Tom, you have to find that little girl!”
“That’s what Teresa tried to tell me earlier today…but I didn’t want to spoil our moment. I should have let her talk.”
Sirens blasted into Mary’s driveway. A relieved Tom released a sigh, overwhelmed by the situation. He wanted to comfort Teresa and Mary, but also he needed to start gathering information.
As the deputies walked inside, Tom immediately updated the two men with the intelligence he’d gathered so far. Neighbors alerted by the sirens began showing up, and Tom’s top deputy, Roger Neilson, took charge of setting up barriers for the public to stand behind in order to protect the crime scene. Friends called Mary’s pastor and his wife, who showed up almost immediately, and were allowed inside to comfort Mary and Teresa.
The deputies and Tom worked until early morning taking pictures, securing evidence, and searching the surrounding areas, also putting out an Amber Alert. A neighbor down the street reported seeing an old, beat-up white Ford truck parked on the side of the road around the time Emma went missing. An APB was circulated, but so far no one had spotted the vehicle.
Teresa regained her composure and provided the police with information regarding the man they needed to find above all others—her ex-husband.
Peter Gilmore.
Tom refocused his attention to the heartbroken mother.
“Teresa, I need to ask you about the custody arrangement you have with your ex-husband.”
“I have sole custody of Emma. I’ll show you the papers. Peter has supervised visitation rights, but honestly, he never asked to see Emma.”
By that afternoon, the FBI became involved, since it was suspected Peter had crossed the state line with Emma, in order to take her home to Arkansas.
CHAPTER FIVE
“I’ve lost her. I’ll never see my little girl again. He told me he would find me and hurt me in the worst way, and he has...”
The tears returned uncontrollably. With nothing left to do for the case, everyone had vacated the premises except a few officers and Tom.
“Shh...” Tom gathered Teresa in his arms and she cried on his shoulder. He lifted her face to his, wiping away the tears on her cheeks. As he looked deeply into her eyes, he desperately wanted to kiss her, but this was not the time. “I promise you I will find her.”
“I know you’ll do your best, but Peter has a lot of no-good friends, and they would do anything he asked.”
“We have one thing Peter does not.”
“What is that?”
“God. I have been praying on and off all night. God is with us. He’ll guide and lead us to Emma. I just know it.”
“You are right,” Mary said as she walked into the room. “I’ve been on my knees praying, and I’m confident that we’ll find her. Hold onto your faith, child. She will be found.”
Deputy Roger Neilson burst through the door. “Tom, may I see you for a moment?”
The sheriff followed Roger outside, who began immediately explaining. “A suspicious white Ford pickup has been spotted at a motel in Birmingham, Alabama. The local police said the owner called when a man checked in with a little girl fitting Emma’s description. They have the motel surrounded and are sending someone in as we speak.”
“Let me know as soon as you hear anything—good or bad.” Tom stalked back inside, not sure it was in Teresa’s best interest to raise her hopes over what might prove nothing.
“What’s going on?” Teresa demanded. “Is there news?”
“Nothing yet. We’re still working on it.”
Mary served coffee and orange rolls. One by one, she passed them out to all the officers present. Needing a second cup, Tom walked into the kitchen with Mary on his heels.
“Tom, I need to tell you something else.”
“What is it?”
“I’m not sure whether this has anything to do with the kidnapping, but a few days ago, my tire was slashed. I didn’t tell Teresa because I didn’t want to scare her off if the incident was just a couple of mischievous kids up to no good.”
“Thanks for informing me. I don’t believe one way or the other it affects the case. It could have been Peter, but we can’t be certain.”
“Maybe if I had told you earlier about Teresa’s situation, we could have prevented him from taking Emma…” She sighed heavily. “Oh, how I wish William was here. He would know what to do. He would track Emma down and then show that Peter a thing or two.”
“I’ll be honest with you, Mary. I wish William was here too.” Tom had always admired William’s strong, no-nonsense approach to life. If he thought a person was wrong about something, he was not afraid to inform them.
Placing his coffee cup in the sink, he turned to head into the living room. Fatigue plagued his body, his mind unable to focus. He needed a rest, like it or not.
Before he reached the couch, Roger motioned for Tom to come outside.
“The police from Alabama called. It wasn’t Peter and Emma after all. Appears to also be a custody issue. That little girl was returned to her mother.”
* * *
Teresa approached behind them and heard the news. Another dead end.
Quickly, she turned away, wiping tears that puddled and spilled over. We will never find them!
Her mind repeated the bleak outlook. Never, never!
Suddenly her throat closed and she gasped for air.
“You hungry, hun?” Mary walked in, casually glancing her direction, then stopping short. “Teresa?”
Teresa couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. All she could think was that Emma was never, ever coming home. She’d never hold her
baby or kiss her goodnight again.
Mary blurred, disappeared, and reappeared, placing a paper bag over Teresa’s mouth. “Breathe long. Deep breaths in and out.”
The front door slammed behind Tom. “Is she okay?” He ran toward Teresa. Raising her hand, Mary quickly motioned for him not to say anything.
“You’re all right. You’re breathing better now.”
Nodding in agreement, Teresa acknowledged her gasps slowed to normal. Mary removed the bag from her face.
“Are you okay now?”
“Yes.” Teresa inhaled.
“What happened, dear? Was it a panic attack?”
“I guess so. My mind just kept repeating over and over…oh, Mary, I fear we won’t find her.”
“Yes, we will, and that’s that.” Giving her a tight squeeze, Mary added, “My sweet girl, you’re exhausted. Come with me. You’re going to lie down and rest. Tom and I will let you know if any developments occur.”
Mary shot Tom a look as she led Teresa to the bedroom, her eyes motioning to the sofa. His only response was to drag his hands through his hair. Mary stayed with Teresa until she fell asleep, then left and returned to the living room. Tom looked as if he were about to fall over. She marched over to the young sheriff. “Tom, you have to rest too. You won’t be good to anyone if you don’t.”
“I’ll be okay. You heard her. I can’t spare a moment until Emma and Teresa are safe.”
“Oh, I know you care. But don’t argue with me. We need you to be alert and responsive and at this moment you are far from that.”
Within a few minutes of following Mary into the third bedroom, Tom gave into the sleep he had deprived himself of for so long. Mary checked on him and covered him with a quilt she’d made earlier in the year. Closing the door, she went into the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee.
The clock on the microwave read 11:00 p.m. It had been a little over twenty-four hours since Emma went missing. Mary walked into the living room full of strangers, somehow lonely now with Teresa and Tom asleep in the other rooms and their precious baby, Emma, vanished. If only she had heard the window breaking…
A Christmas Gift for Mary Jones Page 3
