A Temporary Courtship

by Jenna Mindel

  Bree stared at the road ahead. There was a sharp turn somewhere on this road that Darren had warned her about. She remembered slowing down... Had they already passed it? No. She spotted a big old farmhouse up ahead, and her memory sharpened into focused clarity. That curve was coming up soon.

  She buckled into the backseat belt and loosened it. She’d need some give in order to make this work. Biting her lip till it bled, she leaned forward enough to see how fast Philip drove. She couldn’t see over his shoulder, but she could reach down to the button that controlled the position of his seat.

  “You have to slow down,” she yelled.

  “Not till we’re there.”

  “But there’s a curve up ahead, and you won’t make it if you keep driving this fast.”

  He let up a little, but not much, and slightly turned his head. “Don’t mess with me.”

  “I’m not.” She clicked the lever to move the seat forward.

  Philip swore and slammed on the brakes. “What are you doing?”

  She kept pushing that seat forward even as Philip tried to bat her hand away. The car swerved and he overcompensated, sending the car out of control.

  They flew off the road, and it felt like they went airborne, floating for a second or two. But it was enough time to let go.

  Bree grasped her knees, tucking herself into an airline crash position she’d seen in movies.

  They hit hard. Her head slammed into the back of Philip’s seat before she was thrown hard against her own.

  Through the haze of Philip’s curses, she heard grass and clumps of dirt whipping against the bottom of the car as they continued too fast through the field. The deafening sound made her head spin.

  Then they stopped with a jarring crunch of metal, a shuddering thud that made her teeth chatter as she flew forward once again. The seat belt bit into her belly, making her heave. Her forehead hit the corner of the driver’s seat and she saw stars.

  In that flash of sparkling darkness, the last thing Bree heard was the poof of a deployed airbag and Philip’s pained groan.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Darren drove east on Middle Village Road. No sign of Philip’s Cadillac. Not that he expected to see it. Darren was a good fifteen minutes behind them. Too much could happen in fifteen minutes.

  What if he hurts her?

  Darren pulled over. Scanning the open fields and tree line beyond, he pushed those what-ifs out of his head before he lost it. He focused on entering Bree’s cell phone number into the laptop and waited for the tracking program to locate it. He’d find them. No matter what, he’d find them.

  State Road. He called in that they’d headed north and he was in pursuit.

  He prayed again for Bree’s safety.

  As for Philip’s...he wanted to rip that guy apart.

  Taking off fast, Darren heard his tires squeal on pavement. He glanced at the screen, but Bree’s cell still showed the same location. He made the turn onto State and drove a mile or so, but no vehicles were in sight. He caught a flash of something shiny on the side of the road and pulled over once again.

  It was Bree’s phone on the ground. He picked up the sparkly case and bounced it against the palm of his hand. He had nothing to go on now. He kicked the truck’s tire before climbing back in.

  Chatter over the wire confirmed two units were heading north as well. The state police and the county sheriff’s department were involved. His gut clenched when he heard the announcement that Philip’s Cadillac had been reported in a crash with airbags deployed by the vehicle’s security system.

  Cold fear clamped down hard as he heard the location. He knew exactly where they’d gone off the road. He got on the wire and announced he was only minutes south and on his way.

  His hands gripped the steering wheel until they hurt. He knew the sharp curve on that road. His thoughts raced faster than his driving. What would he find?

  God, please keep her safe.

  When he finally pulled off the road before that deadly curve, what he saw made him believe God had answered his prayer. The Cadillac was upright and slammed head-on into a small tree. The front end was crumpled in, but the windshield remained intact. It was amazing that the coupe hadn’t flipped and rolled.

  He heard sirens in the distance as he ran toward the vehicle, still idling with a chug, chug and clanging sound. Steam poured out from under the hood. He reached into the open driver’s side window and pushed Philip back against the seat. He looked dazed, mumbling.

  “Where is she?” Darren scanned the interior of the coupe. No Bree.

  “Can’t have her.” Philip’s nose was swollen and red. Darren hoped it was broken.

  He grabbed the guy’s shirt collar. “Where’s Bree?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Darren let go and Philip slumped over. He turned off the engine and reached for the trunk release. Hearing it pop, he went behind the car and searched. The only thing in there was a fancy duffel bag. Darren didn’t bother opening it.

  Slamming the trunk, he turned around and scanned the horizon, finally spotting her in a field.

  Bree ran, tripped and fell. She got up again and ran some more toward a house set way back from the road. Smart girl. She was going for help. And too far away to hear him if he yelled.

  Darren ran back to his truck, jumped in and drove off the road into the field with teeth-rattling speed, beeping the horn as he went. The truck bounced over ruts, but he didn’t let up on the gas.

  Bree stopped running. She looked straight at him and crumpled to the ground.

  Darren slammed the truck into Park and got out at a run. His throat closed up tight, making it difficult to speak. He knelt down and gathered Bree into his arms, whispering, “It’s over.”

  Bree hung on tight, sobbing.

  He stroked her hair, pulling out bits of dried grass, and kissed her forehead. A lump had formed there. She needed medical attention; they were no doubt on the way, signaled by the deployed airbags. He cradled her close, breathing in her scent. She smelled like the outdoors, like spring air and sunshine. His Bree. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you...”

  “I knew you’d find me,” she choked out. “I prayed that you would.”

  He held her tighter, trying to ease the trembling that wracked her delicate frame. Hoping to cease his own shaking. He’d never felt so helpless before. He could have lost her. She could have been killed if that car—

  Darren refused to think about that now. He pulled back and searched her face and body. Other than the goose-egg on her forehead, scratches on her arms and legs and a puffy dark mark on her shin that had the makings of an ugly bruise, she looked whole.

  He brushed hair away from her lips. “Where else are you hurt?”

  She shook her head. “Just sore, nothing serious.”

  “What happened?”

  “I couldn’t talk sense into Philip. He was crazy and wouldn’t stop the car. I remembered this road from when we went to your parents’ house, so I waited for the curve. Then I messed with his seat trying to distract him enough to slow down, get him to stop—” Her bottom lip trembled.

  He brushed his lips over hers, featherlight in case even that hurt. Kissing her was killing him right along with thoughts of how badly that crash could have ended.

  When she deepened the kiss with the same desperation, he pulled her even closer. Grateful for this brave girl, his heart broke with every breath and every murmur.

  The sirens sounded closer. He opened his eyes and spotted the flashing lights from the police and emergency responders drawing near, pulling off the road.

  He cupped her face. “We’ve got to go.”

  “No.” Bree didn’t move. Her brow furrowed and she gripped his forearms.

  He gently pulled her up with him. “I’m right
here. I won’t leave you.”

  She clung to his hand until she climbed into the truck.

  He offered her phone. “The police will want to see this, but you should call your mom. Let her know you’re okay.”

  She nodded. Her face streaked with dried tears, she hit a couple of buttons and connected. “Mom?” Her voice wavered. “No. I’m okay. Darren found me. I’m with him now. The police are here, too.”

  He reached for her hand and felt her tremble again.

  Her eyes filled with new tears that ran down her cheeks. “No. No. Philip didn’t hurt me.”

  He could have.

  Darren felt sick with relief. This could have been worse. Much worse. The urge to rip that guy apart washed over him anew. He grasped the steering wheel with both hands, squeezing tight. Would Bree press charges? Maybe she wouldn’t have to.

  He could arrest the guy, but knew he shouldn’t. He couldn’t be objective and didn’t want his feelings for Bree to come back and bite him. He’d give the police a statement and let them handle it. They’d have enough to haul Philip to jail.

  * * *

  Bree sat on a gurney in the back of the ambulance while a paramedic examined her. Through the open doors, she watched as Philip was questioned by police and then taken into custody. She clutched the edge of that gurney hard, fighting wooziness.

  She’d gotten him arrested.

  Bree blew out her breath. No, that wasn’t right. Philip had made his own choices by coming here. He’d taken hers away by not letting her go. Her heart pounded hard, like when she woke from a bad dream. Her head hurt and her muscles were sore. She wanted to go, get away from all of this. Now.

  Darren spoke with another state trooper and gave her a hint of a smile. The same smile he’d given her when they’d eaten s’mores in front of a crackling fire in his home. The image beckoned her to return there, safe and sound. But that wasn’t home. It couldn’t be.

  The paramedics quit prodding and poking, satisfied that she had nothing worse than a mild concussion. Nothing a good amount of rest wouldn’t cure. They’d nixed her idea of leaving for Seattle in the morning, stating she was in no condition to drive cross-country.

  “Can I please go now?”

  “In a minute.” The state trooper who’d been talking to Darren stood before her. “I need to ask you a few questions.”

  Her gaze flew to Darren’s.

  He slipped next to her, grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Just tell him what happened.”

  Bree swallowed hard against nausea and retold the story.

  The whole time, she thought about Philip’s parents and how they’d react when they heard the news that their son had been arrested. Because of her. Would their business suffer? Would anyone back home find out? Would they care?

  Would their parents remain friends? Doubtful. Her stomach pitched. It’d be easier on everyone if she let this incident go, but she’d let too much go unnoticed for too long.

  “He didn’t hurt me.” The memory of Philip pulling her hair flashed through her mind. If they hadn’t crashed, would he have really hurt her?

  She closed her eyes, searching for direction. What was the right thing to do here?

  “You gave your consent to go with him. Is that right?” the trooper clarified.

  She opened her eyes. “Yes. I didn’t want my mother to ride alone with him.”

  “And why was that?” He jotted down notes.

  Bree looked at Darren.

  He gave her an encouraging nod, but his expression was closed. He was leaving it up to her how much to tell or not tell. He gave her the power instead of taking over and talking for her.

  Time to be heard. She took a deep breath. “He’s been harassing me ever since we broke up with constant texts and calls...”

  Bree explained everything she knew. Philip showing up to tell her about his plans to relocate, the creepy feeling she got when he wouldn’t let her pass by him earlier and even how Philip had been jealous of Darren. She also gave permission to check her cell phone records.

  The state trooper didn’t look a bit shocked.

  It all felt foreign to Bree as she explained how Philip had tried to mold her into what he wanted while they’d dated. Subtly at first, until he wouldn’t let her be who she was. He fought against her dreams and ambitions, but he’d never been crazy like this.

  She’d tried breaking things off with him once before, but his pleas to get back together had been persuasive. Their families had been, too. Feeling trapped, the music residency had come at a perfect time, when she’d needed a clean break with distance.

  “Anything else you can add?”

  Bree gripped Darren’s hand tighter. “That’s pretty much everything.”

  The trooper snapped shut his notebook. “We’ll contact you if we need anything else.”

  “I’m still leaving for Seattle in a couple of days.” Bree could hardly wait to get away and put this far behind her.

  “Noted. We have your number.”

  “Thank you.” Bree followed Darren to the big black DNR truck.

  He held the door open for her. “Isn’t that a little early to leave?”

  She climbed into the passenger seat. “Nope. I want out of here.”

  The ride back to Maple Springs was a quiet one. She glanced at Darren and the hard set of his jaw and wanted to cry. The truck’s console equipped with a laptop and radio stood between them, but soon they’d have half a country separating them. She’d miss him. Surely, he’d miss her too. Wouldn’t he?

  Almost to Maple Springs, Darren pulled off into an elementary school parking lot on the edge of town, cut the engine and turned in his seat.

  Her stomach dipped and rolled.

  He searched her face. “Thank you for helping out with the wild edibles class.”

  Bree’s eyes burned. “You’re welcome.”

  He looped her hair behind her ear. “I mean it, Bree. You’ve helped me face a few things about myself. The way I view people. The way I view you.”

  She swallowed hard as tears ran down her cheeks. This sounded a lot like a goodbye speech.

  “You’ll be surrounded by your family, and that’s good. You need them now. Give yourself some time to get through this before leaving. You did the right thing today by telling the police what’s been going on. You’re a brave woman, Bree.”

  “It didn’t feel right or good,” she whispered. It was all she could manage around the tightness of her throat.

  “I know. I’m proud of how you handled yourself. Using your head may have saved your life.”

  Her chin shook and then her shoulders.

  “Aww, Bree, please don’t cry.”

  She covered her face with her hands. “I’m sorry.”

  Darren got out of the truck, walked around and opened her door. “Come on, sweet. Don’t do this.”

  She sobbed harder when he lifted her into his arms and shifted into the passenger seat. He settled her onto his lap, cradling her close. “It’s going to be okay.”

  It didn’t feel okay.

  What if she had to testify? Philip would make bail, and then what if he came after her again? She leaned into Darren’s broad chest, spent. “I want to go.”

  Darren kissed her temple. “I don’t want you to. Stay here. Stay with me.”

  Her heart pinched with temptation to accept. He was safe and strong. But she couldn’t spend every day glued to his side. She pulled back and searched his face. “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  She closed her eyes. “Please don’t.”

  “We have something here. Why let that go?”

  Kate had said that if their feelings were real, they’d keep. But could they really keep for two years? Everything had an expiration date if le
ft unattended for too long. Visiting only a couple of times in between might spoil an otherwise decent friendship. Unless...

  Bree threw down the gauntlet. “Come with me. They must have conservation officers out there, too.”

  Darren’s face fell.

  In that one look, Bree knew he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Neither of them wanted to risk their dreams on an untried relationship. Darren loved this area too much to leave it. He wanted the supervisor position that would only entrench him further in this county. His home. She’d known that from the start. She didn’t blame him. In fact, she understood. Perfectly.

  “Now you know how I feel,” she whispered.

  He nodded, looking exhausted. “Yeah. I do, and I’m sorry.”

  “Me, too.”

  The thing about vacations was knowing when they were over.

  * * *

  Darren pulled into the drive in front of the Anderson cottage. He wouldn’t linger. Bree needed to be with her family right now. With Joan. A place he didn’t belong.

  Bree opened the door but didn’t get out. “Come in with me?”

  “I’d better not.”

  “Please.”

  She’d been through a lot today, and yet he’d pressed her to stay in Michigan. As much as it hurt to hear her refuse him, he was proud of her resolve. Proud of her commitment. It was something he understood.

  He spotted Joan standing under the porch light with her cane in hand. “But your mom—”

  “Will want to thank you. I’m not getting out until you do.” Bree lifted her chin.

  He blew out his breath and rubbed the back of his neck before climbing out of the truck. He met Bree on the sidewalk. “Only for a minute.”

  She grabbed his hand.

  He threaded his fingers through hers and squeezed. When they stepped up on the porch, he could tell that Joan had been crying. Her eyes looked puffy and her face was red. Despite her uppity ways, she didn’t deserve the frantic worry she’d been put through. He couldn’t imagine the guilt she must feel knowing she’d been so wrong about the golden boy.

  Bree ran into her mother’s arms.