by Ann Yost
“The brake is the pedal on the floor. Advance the throttle now in a slow, steady motion.”
His head lolled back again. Behind his glasses, his eyelashes fluttered. She prayed he’d pass out before they left the ground.
“Now taxi down the strip giving it more gas until you reach the last barricade, about fifty yards from here. That’s when you’ll pull back on the yoke. The plane will lift off the ground.”
“The yoke?”
“The steering wheel.”
It was an effort for him to speak.
“Then what?”
“Then you’re in the air. You climb until you’ve cleared the tree line and then fly straight. North.” He pointed a shaking finger at the compass.
Lucy’s hands were shaking now and her chest was tight. Claude’s condition had worsened but not enough. He wasn’t going to pass out. He was going to sit there, calmly ordering her to fly to Canada and if she didn’t smash into a tree and kill them first, he’d kill her when they landed. If she could figure out how to land. She had to do something. Now.
She forced her foot down on the accelerator, then stomped on the brake.
Chapter Fifteen
As the Blazer plunged down the turnoff into the airport parking lot Jake’s pulse raced. He could hear the drone of the Cessna’s engine and he could hear the hum of the propeller.
Was Lucy in the plane?
All he could think about was stopping the aircraft before it lifted into the sky. Maybe he could block Moore by driving the Blazer in front of the plane. Of course, if Moore didn’t stop, they’d all die in a fireball.
Sweat poured off Jake’s forehead and slid inside his shirt. It trickled into his eyes. He’d never felt so helpless. He couldn’t let her die. He couldn’t bear the thought of a world without Lucy.
Had he told her he loved her? Maybe. Had she believed him? Probably not. Christ.
He spotted the Cessna turning near the terminal, preparing to take off. Too late. He jammed the pedal to the floor. The Blazer bounced and bucked and caught up with the Cessna but he couldn’t swerve in front of it. He didn’t dare. For a few absurd seconds the plane and the SUV drove next to each other, like a pair of trumpeters in a marching band.
Inevitably the plane nosed ahead. In minutes, no, seconds, the crate was going to lift into the air and Jake would be left on the ground watching the lights disappear. Fear gripped his heart. There was nothing he could do except pray. He sent up a clumsy, out-of-practice but very fervent prayer.
Keep Lucy safe.
He’d just grabbed his cell, intending to direct Homer to contact all the potential landing sites just over the border, when the lights on the Cessna bounced up and down and up and down again, like a damn gymnast on a trampoline. What the hell?
Jake gunned his own motor and raced after the plane. It hiccupped a couple more times then stopped, dead.
Jake was out of the SUV in an instant and racing across the grass when the pilot’s door opened. Lucy’s face was pale and her eyes wide. Relief swept through him like a gale force wind.
“Thank God,” Jake muttered as he caught her in his arms and held her against him as she were the most precious thing in the world to him, which she was, as if he’d never let her go, which he wouldn’t.
“Moore?” His voice was hoarse.
“He bumped his head. Hard.” She spoke into his shoulder. “I only meant to make him sick enough to drop the gun but I may have killed him.”
“How?”
“I alternated the gas and the brake. It made the plane jerk.”
“Very enterprising.” His voice was muffled now by her hair. “What about the gun?”
“Here.” She pushed away from him and raised her right hand.
Goddam. He took it out of her fingers. The safety was off.
“Shit, Lucy.”
He set the safety and slipped the weapon into the back of his waistband. He needed his arms to hold onto the girl he loved.
“We need to call an ambulance.”
His heart stopped. “Are you hurt?”
“No. It’s for Claude. And Shirley.”
Fuck Claude. Fuck Shirley, too. He kept the ignoble thought to himself. “Ambulance is already here.”
He took her to the Blazer and set her gently on the seat then they drove back to the terminal.
“Sheriff?” It was one of the ambulance attendants. “We should check her over. Let me take her off your hands.”
He looked at the E.R. attendant and shook his head. He didn’t plan to let the little witch out of his sight. Ever.
“If you can get the other two to the hospital we’ll meet you there.”
****
Lucy was dazed and tired, the adrenalin rush of the last hour completely dissipated, as she sat on the examining table in the Bangor Regional Hospital. She’d never forget the look of pure anguish on Jake Langley’s face when she’d appeared in the door of the Cessna. He looked shattered. Probably she should feel flattered that he cared that much. Instead, she felt guilty. Once again she’d gotten herself into a world of trouble. Once again, he’d rushed to the rescue. The whole thing was getting old. She eyed Jake slouched in the molded plastic chair. He looked more exhausted than she felt and she felt a sudden, overwhelming need to cry.
“Who’s with the kids?”
“Maxine. And Frank.”
He said it so naturally, as if, hours earlier, he hadn’t intended to send them out of town on a rail. It was a good sign. Maybe Jake had begun to understand that it really did take a village to raise a child. Or, at least, an extra set of grandparental hands. The guilt receded, a little.
The intern, who’d sewn up the side of her head where Moore had clocked her, packed up his things. He told her to stick around for a little while, that he’d be back to make sure she didn’t have a concussion. She stared at Jake’s beloved face.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“For what?”
“I shouldn’t have gone to Shirley’s house tonight.”
He shook his head. “I had Homer watching the mansion. I sensed Moore was about to make a move but I figured any danger was to Paula because she was the cause of his split from Packer and because he’d been stealing from her.” He paused. “If you hadn’t interfered, Shirley might have died.”
“Or not.” Lucy had had time during the long wait at the hospital, to think through the consequences of her actions. “I think Claude had decided he needed a hostage and Shirley seemed like a good candidate. She’d figured out what had happened, that Claude had killed Nate, and why.”
“He couldn’t afford to leave her behind.”
“I think he was wrong. She wasn’t going to rat him out,” Lucy said, thoughtfully. “Shirley knew Nate had screwed them both. I think, fundamentally, she felt sympathy toward Claude.”
“Revenge,” Jake said. “Not as common as greed but still a damn good motive.”
“Could you check on Shirley?”
“I did. When the doc was examining you. She’s got a slight concussion and they’re keeping her overnight. She’ll be fine.”
“Good. And Claude?”
“He’s babbling.”
“Omigod! Because I hit him?”
“Indirectly. He’s dehydrated. He’ll be all right in a few days. Healthy enough to face a long, long prison term.”
It was a sad thought. Suddenly she felt Jake’s warm fingers under her chin. His green eyes were full of an emotion she hadn’t seen before.
“Forget about Claude Moore,” he murmured. “The guy doesn’t deserve your sympathy.” He set his palms on either side of her face and brushed a butterfly kiss across her lips. “The important thing is that you’re all right, Lucy.” He kissed her again. “And, as soon as you’re released, I’m taking you home.”
“My car…”
“We’ll get it later. Right now I want you in my home, in my bed, in my arms.” He shook his head. “I can’t tell you how I felt when I saw that Cessna disappea
ring down the runway. I may never recover.”
“You came after me,” she said, with a little smile. “You’re my knight in shining armor, Jake. You gonna spend the rest of your life rescuing me?”
“Yes,” he said, dropping another kiss on her lips. “I am.”
The vow should have made her happy but she felt another wave of guilt. She wasn’t the second wife that Jake wanted but he cared for her and, more than that, he felt responsible, just as if she were a third child.
Lucy didn’t fight him when he turned the Blazer down Cypress Street. Morning would be soon enough to finally end this star-crossed relationship.
Maxine and Frank, dozing on the sofa, woke long enough to listen to an abbreviated version of events before they went back to the inn. They promised to come back in the morning.
Jake put his arm around Lucy’s waist.
“A better man than I would leave you alone tonight,” he said, in a rough voice, “but that’s not gonna happen.” He led her into his room. “If I fall asleep, I need to know where you are the instant I wake up.”
“Jake.”
He shook his head. “I know we’ve got stuff to iron out. No more talking tonight. Just sleep with me, Lucy.”
Weariness surrounded her, sucked her in.
“You don’t have to ask twice,” she said, stifling a yawn. “This is where I want to be.”
He peeled off her sodden clothing and his own then turned on the shower long enough to shampoo her hair and warm her chilled skin. He was efficient but thorough.
“You’re so good at this.”
“Lots of practice,” he said, wrapping her in a fluffy towel.
She glanced up at him. “Practice?”
“With Sam and Lillie.” A smile flashed in the eyes that had been too solemn all evening.
Lucy was too tired to smile and he seemed to sense it. He bundled her into one of his tee shirts, not bothering with a trip down the hall to her bedroom, scooped her into his arms and deposited her on the clean-smelling sheets.
She shouldn’t be there. It was misleading and not a good idea. But it felt right to be next to him just as it always had.
“Jake,” she started to say.
“Shh.” He rolled over and pressed a warm, dry kiss against her lips then he pulled her against him, spoon fashion. “Just sleep.”
She was aware of the male arousal pressing against her hip but she closed her eyes and slept next to him.
For the last time.
****
Jake returned to consciousness with a sense of contentment that quickly morphed into raw need when he became aware of the soft, sweet-smelling body next to him. He slipped his arms around her waist and moaned as she snuggled backwards and into the cradle of his thighs.
Predictably, the bedroom door opened with a sharp bang and he found himself looking past the dark curls and into two pairs of curious, emerald eyes.
“Hi, Daddy,” Lillie said. “Grandma said you and Lucy was heroes last night.”
“Lucy was the real hero,” he said. He cleared his throat, hoping his daughter wouldn’t notice the huskiness in his voice. “Go on back to the kitchen and I’ll join you. We’ll let Lucy sleep.”
But Lucy must have heard her name. She scooted back against him and heat exploded in his body. He bit back a curse.
“You look funny, daddy,” Sam said. “Kinda red.”
“I’m hot.”
Lucy lifted her head and turned to study him before she smiled at the children.
“You guys hungry?”
“Grandma made us pancakes,” Sam said. “She said you and Daddy is sleepyheads.”
Lucy canted up on one elbow to talk with the children. At the same time she rubbed her backside against Jake’s front. The little witch. He was fast approaching the point of no return and apparently, Lucy knew it.
“Could you help Grandma make more pancakes for Daddy and me while we get dressed?”
Lillie nodded. “Coffee, too, okay, Sam?”
“Okay, Lucy. Want me to bring Lucy, Junior in to see you?”
“What I’d really like,” she said, in a hushed tone, “is for you to read a story to Lucy, Junior. Daddy and I will come find you when we’re dressed.”
“Okay, Lucy,” Lillie said.
“Okay, Lucy,” Sam said.
She blew them air kisses which they returned and then they fled.
“You have a nice touch with the kids,” Jake said. He needed to roll away from Lucy before he did something unforgivable.
“I have a nice touch with their dad, too.” She flipped over so that her mouth was inches from his. She slid her foot down the outside of his leg.
“Lucy,” he groaned.
“We have a little time,” she said.
He wasn’t going to slide into sex, not until they’d worked out their future.
“We need to talk first.” He realized he didn’t sound very resolute.
“I think,” she said, finding him with her fingers, “we need to talk second. Come on, Sheriff. A little reward for a hero?”
His spine stiffened. “A reward?”
“For me, silly. I’m the hero, remember?”
“Hmmm.” Her fingers were stroking with just the right amount of pressure and she smelled so good.
“Please, Jake.”
He hadn’t meant to make her beg. He flipped her onto her back and, with a long, low moan of infinite satisfaction, he slid into the place where he most wanted to be.
A short time later, before he’d begun to recover from a quick, explosive orgasm, she slipped out of bed and headed for the door and her bedroom down the hall.
“Hang on,” he gasped. “One hand washes the other, remember?”
Her eyes widened.
“You wanted to make love, so we made love. I, on the other hand, want to get married.”
Something went out of the blue gaze and he suddenly felt very cold.
“It’s too late, isn’t it? I’ve ruined it.”
She hurried back over to the bed. “No, no, of course not. It’s not that. It’s just that I’ve had second thoughts about my future.” Her words were halting but clear. Jake couldn’t believe what she was saying. “I’ve realized I really want what Ed would call ‘the big canvas.’ That wouldn’t work with a family, Jake.”
The words were like a body blow but he couldn’t blame her. He’d handled this all wrong from the very beginning. The pancakes tasted like sawdust and he must have looked as stricken as he felt because Maxine took one look at him and spoke to her husband.
“After breakfast, dear, I wonder if you and the children could drive Lucy back to Bangor to get her Jeep.”
When they were alone, Maxine made him a fresh cup of coffee and sat down at the table.
“Tell me,” she said, “what’s wrong.”
He told her. Part of him couldn’t believe he was baring his soul to Maxine. The other part of him prayed that she could help.
“So,” she said, when he’d finished, “you’ve convinced her you don’t really want to marry her.”
“She wants a career.”
“Forgive me for contradicting you, Jake, but a woman can have both these days and that particular woman loves you and the twins. You need to tell her she’s got it wrong.” The older woman made a little face. “Lucy’s battled that bubblehead image for too long. She’s not an airhead. You know it and I know. Now you have to convince her.”
“How?”
“Simple. Find a way to tell her that you can’t live without her, Jake. Better yet, show her.”
Maxine regarded him for a long moment. He knew she was trying to tell him something, something he was too much of a thick-headed male to understand.
He shook his head. “She’s an adult. I can’t make her marry me.”
She shrugged. “Then I guess you’ll just have to let her go.”
His back teeth ground themselves together.
“Never.”
****
Lu
cy thought the day would never end.
All she wanted to do was retreat to her apartment and bury her head under her pillow. Instead, she had to talk to the Bangor police about what had happened with Claude and Shirley, then she had to interview both of them and Paula Packer and, worst of all, she had to call Jake to find out what charges he was bringing.
Even then she wasn’t finished, because her family, of course, wanted to hear her version of the attempted kidnapping. At least the latter occurred after a filling meal of Asia’s beef stew and homemade bread.
“You never told us you were taking flying lessons,” Baz said. “Very fortuitous.”
“And way to spike Moore’s guns,” Cam added. “I’d never have thought of that.”
“You were so brave,” Hallie pointed out. “Enterprising and brave. I think we can safely say nobody’s going to confuse you with ‘I love Lucy’ anymore.”
Lucy found a smile for them then she settled down to a half hour of Pigs and Ladders, a variation on the game created in honor of Daisy’s pet pig, Wilbur.
When it was time to say goodnight, Lucy allowed Hallie to walk her back to the apartment. Hallie pulled Lucy’s arm through hers.
“I’m not going to ask what’s going on between you and Jake,” her sister-in-law said.
“That’s very noble of you.”
“Very,” Hallie agreed, “considering I was the one who threw the engagement party.”
“Good point.”
“I just wanted to say one thing, sweetie. I know it has bothered you that Jake and I dated for a bit. I want you to know that I was fond of him and I think he was fond of me. He thought I’d make a good wife.”
“You do make a good wife.”
She laughed. “Thanks.” Her smile was replaced by an earnest expression. “I wouldn’t have made a good wife to him, though, and I think we both knew it. I didn’t love him, Lucy. And he didn’t love me.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
The veterinarian shook her head.
“I’ve seen the expression on his face when he looks at you and I recognize his feelings. They’re the same feelings I have for Baz. That sense that you’ve found your mate.”
“I appreciate you telling me that, Hal.”
