“I thought that at first, but he had a vile temper and he liked to see people suffer.”
“He must have been a brute, but also a coward for wanting to hurt innocent people. I feel so sad for Marie when I think she only wanted to do good things.”
“Yeah. I cried when she died; broke down like a baby. That doesn’t exactly make me sound like the big brave explorer does it?”
“Crying has nothing to do with being brave. In my profession I’ve seen plenty of strong men cry. It takes courage for a man to let his guard down and expose his emotions like that. You were mourning the loss of a friend; one who had suffered unfairly. You had every right to be upset.” She squeezed his hand. “I know how hard this has been for you.”
“There’s more,” he said in a grim tone. “I went berserk the last time Orlando was getting ready to go after Marie, and he set his thugs on me. They tied me to a tree and beat me with their fists. Then they gave me these souvenirs,” he touched his scars.
“I can’t begin to fathom the pain you must have suffered.”
“Imagine the sensation of being repeatedly sliced with a razorblade or having several giant paper cuts magnified a thousand times tearing into your flesh. It got even worse when my sweat added salt to the wounds and then the insects started in on me. I was still tied to the tree, and Orlando wouldn’t let the natives help me at that point. As I said, he enjoyed seeing people suffer and watching me gave him a real charge.”
Catherine couldn’t choke back the sob that escaped her.
“Oh my God, Josh.”
“You said you wanted all the gory details,” he reminded her. “The pain was so excruciating I prayed to die. I probably would have if it hadn’t been for Sad Eyes.”
“Sad Eyes?”
“She was the native woman who took me to the missionaries. It was just a name I made up. I never knew her real name. Orlando and his men had left the encampment for a few days. I assume to go back to where they’d nabbed us to see if anyone had turned up with the ransom money.”
“Was Marie ill with fever then?”
“Yes, but I don’t think Orlando knew how bad she was. I certainly didn’t. She died not long after he left, and I had to bury her right away because of the climate. Sad Eyes immediately insisted I leave the camp. I almost stayed in the hope that a rescue team would come, but then I thought about Orlando’s reaction when he found out Marie had died. I knew he’d be furious and given his temper God only knows what he would have done to me in retaliation. I wasn’t in any shape to go through whatever punishment he’d end up inflicting, so I went with Sad Eyes even though I had no idea where she was taking me.”
“I’m surprised she thought you could travel if you were so sick.”
“My illness didn’t really hit me until after we left. That’s when the fever kicked in and made me pretty delirious for a good part of the journey. I remember all that green closing in on me as we made our way through the jungle labyrinth. It was like being trapped in a pot of pea soup.”
“It must have been unnerving.”
“More like a weird hallucination, actually. I collapsed as soon as I arrived at the Daniels’ house and when I finally came to I couldn’t remember anything. I lost months floundering around in a fog.” He looked at her. “My last rational thought before I went under was how it looked as though your dream had come true.”
“Thank goodness Sad Eyes was able to get you away from that horrible Orlando.”
“I take it you don’t know about my second encounter with him, then.”
She shot into a sitting position and stared at him in disbelief.
“Second encounter? You mean to say Orlando came after you when you were with the missionaries?”
He drew her back into his arms.
“No. It was later when Marie’s mother, Jenny, asked me to take them to the spot where our team had camped. They unknowingly hired Orlando as one of the security guards for the trip. He tried to abduct Jenny and when he couldn’t get her, he took another crack at me.”
“I don’t believe this! It must have been like a never ending nightmare.”
“You got that right. He would have succeeded if one of our other men hadn’t shot him. I watched while Orlando’s blood seeped out of him. The more he bled, the better I felt. My only regret is that he didn’t suffer more. I actually wanted to kill him with my bare hands. As gruesome as that sounds, I’m not going to pretend otherwise.”
“Why should you? No one could blame you for feeling that way.”
He drew in a deep breath, like a man would that had just completed a long, difficult journey.
“That’s everything, Catherine.”
She pressed her lips to his mouth, lingering in the kiss.
“I can’t erase what you went through, but I’ll do everything I can to help you put it behind you.”
“It still might take me a while to get rid of these nightmares,” he warned.
“I know. I understand about bad dreams, but I’m going to fill you up with so much good stuff you won’t have room for anything else. We’ve got plenty of time because I plan on us being together until our teeth fall out and oatmeal dribbles down our bibs.”
His mouth twitched in a smile.
“Sounds wonderful.” He pulled her on top of him. “I’d say there’s no time like the present to start filling me up with the good stuff. Or better yet, how about I fill you?”
“I didn’t know the clock had started.”
“It has now,” he growled.
She loved that he was letting her be in control. She sucked on his bottom lip, nibbled at his neck, and tormented his male nipples with her teeth until he groaned. He let her push his hands over his head and hold them there while she assaulted his lips in a breath robbing kiss. She took the kiss deep, and then deeper using her tongue to explore the inside of his mouth.
She slowly scraped her nails down the length of his arms and continued along his ribcage making his muscles twitch with need. She trailed her lips wherever she could reach, arousing him to fever pitch before straddling him. When he finally couldn’t take any more of her sweet torture, he thrust his hips upward and she was there to receive him.
They rode together in a heart pumping, muscle straining ride that had sensations tearing through them. Their rhythm increased bringing them both ever closer to the peak of ultimate pleasure. Bodies strained and giving one last mighty effort, burst together in a deep, shuddering climax. Catherine fell forward onto Josh’s chest and lay there limp and sated while listening to his heart beating a mad cadence.
Ignoring the sweat that slicked their bodies, they cuddled and enjoyed the afterglow of their lovemaking. They talked of the future and made plans; plans that were all the more cherished because they both knew they might never have been.
Josh frowned when Catherine finally eased herself out of his arms and scooted off the bed.
“Where are you going?” he asked raising himself up on one elbow.
She gave him a quick kiss on the mouth.
“To the shower. I have to go to work.”
“Can’t you call in sick?”
“I would, but two nurses are out on maternity leave. I’m sorry, but duty calls. You know I’d much rather stay here with you.”
“No, you’re right. I’ve got an obligation to take care of myself.”
She quirked an inquiring brow at him.
“What obligation?”
“I’ve been asked to go back to Alaska and tie up some loose ends.”
“But you’ve already been gone for so long.”
“I know, but they still want me.”
He tossed the covers aside and stood up making her stomach quiver at the sight of his naked body.
“I just got the call yesterday. They’ve asked me to finish up the job I was working on and I kind of hate to turn them down since I left in such a hurry.”
“No, that wouldn’t be very professional. How long will you be gone?”
&nbs
p; “Depends on the weather, but hopefully no more than a week.”
“A week! It’s going to seem like forever.”
He groaned.
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. Why don’t you bring your things and come home with me now? My aunt is still gone.” She looked around the shabby room and made a face. “It’ll get you out of here.”
“I happen to have grown very fond of this place in the last few hours. I’m thinking of asking the management if I can put a plaque outside declaring this as the spot where Josh Dallas stepped out of the mists and into the light.”
“How sweet. Let me know if you succeed. I’d like to be here for the unveiling.”
He gathered her in his arms and rubbed his mouth along the sensitive cord at the side of her neck.
“What time do you have to be at work?”
“In a couple of hours and I need that shower first.” He surprised her by lifting her into his arms and carrying her back to the bed.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you think? We’ve still got two hours and I’m not about to waste them.”
“What about my shower?”
“We can shower together later and as a special treat I’ll let you wash my back.”
“Oh you will, will you? And what reward will I get for such services?”
He gave her a wicked grin and proceeded to show her in a very satisfying way.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Catherine managed a quick break later that afternoon and called Josh before he left for the airport.
“Be sure and call me as soon as you arrive,” she reminded him.
“You got it. God, I miss you already.”
“I miss you, too.” She looked at her watch. “I’ve got to go.”
“I love you.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the words.
“I love you, too. Come back to me, Josh, as soon as you can.” Her voice wasn’t quite steady.
“Damn it, this is killing me. Do you want me to stay? Just say the word and I won’t go. I’ll tell them I broke my leg or something.”
Just hearing him say that he wouldn’t go made her heart swell with love recalling how there had been a time he wouldn’t have given her a choice.
“No. That wouldn’t be fair to the people who are counting on you, but it means a great deal to me that you’re offering. We made it being apart for a year; we should be able to do a few days.”
“I guess so, but this damn coming and going is a hell of a way to carry on a courtship. When I finish this job in Alaska I’m going to stay put if I have to encase my feet in cement.”
“Don’t think I won’t help you if those feet of yours get the urge to take off again.”
He chuckled.
“I think you would, too!”
“Go now and please be safe, my love.”
“Yeah, and right back at you. Don’t forget to save my place in your bed.”
“The reserve sign goes up tonight.”
“I’d better hang up before I change my mind and end up back on your doorstep.”
>>>>dreams<<<<
Catherine left work the next night in a drizzling rain. It had been an unseasonably wet winter and she was tired of all the rain, especially driving in it. She was more than anxious to get home tonight. Her aunt was due back in the morning, and she wanted to pick up a few groceries and do some light housekeeping.
She was going over a grocery list in her mind when her cell phone rang. She snatched it up while being careful to keep her eyes focused on her driving.
“Hello?”
“Is this Catherine Ashley? I need to talk to her right away. It’s rather urgent.”
The connection was poor and she didn’t recognize the muffled voice. She couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman speaking.
“Yes, this is Catherine. Who is this?”
“You wouldn’t know me even if I gave you my name and that’s not important right now. I’m calling about a Priscilla Mills. I found your name and number in her purse. I called what I assumed was your house first, but got your answering machine.”
A flicker of fear made the hair on the back of Catherine’s neck stand up.
“Priscilla Mills is my aunt. Is anything the matter? Is she all right?”
“She’s here in my house, but I’m afraid she’s not able to come to the phone.”
Fear spread making her heart pound. She had to force herself to focus, as a chill rode slowly across her shoulders.
“What do you mean? Has something happened to her?”
“To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what the problem is except that she’s been crying hysterically ever since I found her wandering in front of my house. She keeps going on and on about losing a baby. She doesn’t appear to have any physical wounds, so I thought you’d rather come for her than have me call the police or an ambulance.”
“Oh dear God! Something must have happened to Tommy.”
“Who’s Tommy?” the woman asked.
“Her grandson. Doesn’t she have a little boy with her?”
“No, she’s alone. Oh my, you mean there actually is a child involved?”
“Yes. I’ll come right away. Where is your house located?”
“It’s a bit difficult to find. I live way up in the hills, you see.”
Catherine listened carefully to the directions.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, and perhaps if you tell my aunt I’m on my way it might help to calm her down.”
“I doubt it since she’s pretty far gone, but I’ll do the best I can.”
“I appreciate that, and thank you so much for calling me.”
“Oh, you needn’t thank me. I’m only doing what should be done.”
Catherine frowned when she hung up. There had been something almost familiar about the tone of that voice just then. But she shook the thought away and gave all her attention to following the directions she’d been given. She was heading into an area she’d never been before and with the bad weather, she knew she needed to concentrate.
Once she left the lights of the city behind and began the long slow climb into the hills, the night seemed to close in on her. The higher she went the more she tried not to think about the way the embankment dropped off into utter darkness. The only illumination came from her headlights casting eerie patterns over the narrow ribbon of road and the sparse vegetation lining either side.
The rain was falling heavier here making the windshield wipers barely able to clear the water away. Her hands gripped the wheel, as she leaned forward straining to see the winding route, while she cautiously negotiated each hairpin curve.
Driving so slowly had her nerves edging up to panic. The need to get to her aunt and find out about Tommy was making her nearly hyperventilate, and she had to keep reminding herself to take in slow, even breaths in an effort to keep calm. If her aunt was as hysterical as the woman said, Catherine knew it wouldn’t help if she fell apart, too.
So far there hadn’t been another car or any sign of lights to show that there were any houses up here. Could she have misunderstood the directions? She prayed not. Looking around, she couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to live in such isolation.
Now that she had the time to think about it, Catherine couldn’t imagine what in the world her aunt would be doing up here. The only thing that came to mind was that she must have somehow gotten lost. Worrying what could have happened to the baby and what state of mind her aunt must be in filled Catherine with renewed dread.
She peered through the windshield wishing she’d thought to get the person’s telephone number. Then again, she doubted if she’d be able to get a signal on her cell phone up here. If only she’d known the drive was going to be so treacherous she would have asked the person to call an ambulance and meet her aunt at the hospital.
She’d about given up the hope of finding anything when she finally spotted lights up ahead. A si
gh of relief shuddered through her and she dared to accelerate a bit more in her anxiousness to reach her destination. Catherine realized she must have finally made it to the top of the mountain when she saw that the road appeared to have come to an end.
But she felt immediate disappointment when she saw what appeared to be the headlights of a car rather than lights coming from a house, as she had expected. She’d obviously made a mistake and drove all this way for nothing. But Catherine began to worry that her aunt might be in the car. She had to be sure.
She pulled up alongside the vehicle and waited for someone to acknowledge her. But when no one appeared after several seconds, she pulled up the hood of her coat to cover her head, opened her own door, and stepped out into the pouring rain.
It was too dark to see inside the car. She tapped on the window expecting it to be rolled down, but it remained tightly closed. Something was very wrong here. For all she knew this might be some nut who had gotten hold of her aunt’s purse. What if it was a man who had lured her here intent on doing her harm? Her heart skipped a couple of beats, but Catherine knew she couldn’t walk away if her aunt really was in trouble.
“This is Catherine Ashley. Are you the person who called me about my aunt?”
She tapped on the window again.
“Hello? Is anyone in there?”
No answer.
The night was silent except for the rain and the sound of a nocturnal animal rustling through a nearby bush. The notion that it wasn’t the only thing that might be out hunting made her wonder if she’d been lured into a trap. A sudden image of Robyn warning her away from Josh popped inside her head followed quickly by Ivy’s spiteful words. Would either of them go to such elaborate lengths to scare her off? Surely not.
But that didn’t mean she was going to hang around to find out the identity of the person inside the car. Whoever they were obviously had a sick mind scaring her half to death about her aunt being in danger. If only she’d thought to double check and call her aunt before she’d started the crazy drive up here. She was hurrying back to her car when she heard the other car’s engine start up. Catherine spun around and saw with horror that the vehicle was coming straight at her.
Dreams~Shadows of the Night Page 20
