“I think it’s funny that we’re going out into the woods to find a river to fish when there’s a whole ocean with a pier practically in your backyard,” Demi teased.
Some of Charles’s tension seemed to ease from his shoulders as he shot her a forced smile. “It’s a place with a lot of memories. I grew up going fishing in this little spot. You’ll love it.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Ten minutes later, Charles pulled into a clearing. Demi could see the path that led down to the river. Stepping down from the truck, she helped get the children out of the car seats and grabbed a folding chair. The men loaded themselves with all the fishing paraphernalia and Victoria lugged a rolling cooler behind her.
Paige helped with Aaron while Demi took charge of Brianne. Bringing up the rear, she let Brianne study her surroundings. The little girl clapped her hands and walked to the edge of the path.
“Ladybug,” the little girl said.
“Where?”
“There.” She pointed to a leaf where the insect sunned itself.
“She’s pretty, isn’t she?”
“Pretty,” Brianne agreed, her black pigtails swinging back and forth with the movement of her head.
A twig snapped behind her and Demi turned.
Empty space stared back at her.
Demi turned to Brianne who still watched the little insect with fascination.
A rustle in the bush next to her made her jump and spin.
She could see nothing to cause her alarm, but the hair on her arms lifted and her heart thumped a little faster.
A shivering sensation slid along her spine and suddenly she realized how far ahead the others had gotten. She picked up Brianne in her arms. “Come on, sweetie, let’s go catch a fish.”
“Want the bug.”
“Maybe we can find another one.”
“Want that one.”
Demi carried the little girl who was willing to be distracted with the idea of catching a fish. As she walked the path through the overgrown trees, following where the others had walked only moments before, she cast a glance over her shoulder.
Still she could see nothing and no reason to be alarmed.
But another rustling to her left made her flinch.
She picked up her pace and within seconds saw Charles’s broad back. Relief filled her as she set Brianne down on the blanket someone had placed on the ground.
“Are you okay?” Charles asked.
Demi smiled. She didn’t want to sound silly about thinking someone had been behind her, so she said, “I’m great. When do we get to fish?”
The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Soon.”
For the next half hour, Demi was able to put the creepy feelings aside and concentrate on having a good time with the Fitzgerald family.
With her line dangling in the river, her eyes on Charles and Owen as each man held a child, helping cast and reel to the children’s excitement, she felt peaceful, content for the first time in a long time.
Leaning toward Victoria, she asked, “I have a question.”
“Sure.”
“Brianne spotted a ladybug on the trail out here and was fascinated with it.” Demi held up an empty plastic container. “I thought I’d go find her one she could keep for a few days.”
Victoria smiled. “What a great idea.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Demi walked into the trees, studying each leaf, still wondering how she’d found herself in the midst of such a wonderful family.
She walked a good ways then stopped, remembering the creepiness she’d felt earlier. The feeling of being followed and watched. She supposed she could attribute the noises to an animal in the woods, but…
Nerves rippling, she glanced around. No animals, no strangers, nothing. Just her and the privacy of the woods.
And a pretty little black-and-red ladybug sitting on the leaf near her nose. Smiling, she scooped the little bug in the container, picturing Brianne’s excited glee.
She turned to return to the river, but stopped as she realized she wasn’t quite sure where she was.
The uneasiness in the pit of her stomach returned. Had someone followed them? Followed her?
The longer she stood there, the more the ominous feeling grew. Spinning, she hurried in the direction of the river.
At least she thought it was the right direction.
As she walked, she realized she’d gotten turned around. Sighing in frustration, she turned again and walked in the opposite direction.
Only to come to a small clearing that she didn’t recognize. “Well, that’s not right,” she whispered to herself.
Heart thudding, Demi stopped and stood still.
The woods were never truly silent, but she couldn’t hear laughter from those she’d come with. Closing her eyes, she focused her attention on listening.
And heard the faint sound of the water to her right.
Relieved, she took a step in that direction.
A branch snapped. A bush rustled. She stopped and stood still once again.
The hair on the back of her neck rose, her stomach twisted.
And she felt someone watching her.
At the edge of the clearing, just as she took her first running step toward the sound of the water, she felt a vise clamp around her upper arm and a hand slap over her mouth.
Fear scattered her senses. A scream gathered in her throat. Instinct kicked in and she tried to jerk away. But he was strong. Blood hit her tongue as she twisted against him. His hand slipped and she pulled in a breath.
ELEVEN
Charles glanced at the shoreline one more time. His waders kept his pants dry but the mud sucked at the bottoms of his feet. He didn’t care, he was having a great time, relaxing and enjoying the afternoon with his family—and Demi.
Marred only by the knowledge that his father might have had an affair. And a child.
Another glance in the direction Demi’d disappeared made him frown. He’d watched the exchange between Victoria and Demi and smiled when he saw her tromp into the woods. She was a trouper, willing to try anything, including roughing it a bit in his favorite fishing spot.
But she’d been gone awhile.
As the minutes stretched, so did his nerves.
He started envisioning all kinds of things that could happen. A snake bite, a black bear, a fox…a two-legged creature.
A restless worry hit him. He had to check on her.
Sloshing to the shore, he set his pole next to Victoria. She held a sleeping Brianne. The little girl had given up fishing and crawled in her future aunt’s lap. “I guess that’s why she was so cranky.”
“Probably.” Victoria shot a look toward the woods, her brow furrowed and eyes troubled. “I hope Demi’s okay. She’s been gone a long time.”
“I noticed. I’m going to—”
The sharp scream cut him off.
“Demi!”
He and Owen exchanged a startled look. Charles said to Victoria, “Watch the kids.”
Running toward the sound of the scream, heart thumping in his chest, the waders slowed him down a bit, but determination to get to her side spurred him on.
Crashing through the undergrowth, he slipped, tripped and caught himself. “Demi!” he shouted.
“Charles!” Her piercing cry called to him.
Her voice had came from the left. He turned, ran about a hundred yards and nearly tripped over Demi in a small clearing. She was sprawled on the ground, holding her arm. Blood from a cut on her lip glinted in the sun. A plastic container holding a ladybug lay to her right.
He rushed to her and dropped to a knee beside her. “Are you all right?
What happened? Are you hurt?”
She touched her lip and winced. “A man grabbed my arm from behind and slapped his hand across my mouth.”
“Which way did he go?” Owen asked.
Charles looked up, startled. He hadn’t realized his brother had followed him.
Demi raised a shaking hand and pointed to the woods behind her. “When I screamed, he still tried to drag me, but when he heard you shout, he shoved me away and ran. I turned to see if I could get a good look at his face, but he was too fast.”
Owen exchanged a look with Charles. “I’ll see what I can find.”
He took off and Charles helped her to her feet. Leaning over her, he studied her lip and said, “Let me take a look at that.”
“It’s fine. When he covered my mouth, I bit my lip.”
Still, he moved closer and narrowed his eyes as he ran a thumb over the uninjured area around her lip. “It’s a slight abrasion. You’ll have a sore there for a couple days, but it should heal pretty fast.”
He saw her cheeks heat and realized how intimate his touch could be construed. Clearing his throat, he dropped his hand.
Owen’s approach broke the tension. Then fear flashed back into her eyes and she gulped. Grateful for his brother’s return, Charles asked, “Did you find anything?”
Using a broken stick, Owen held up a small scrap of fabric about the size of a quarter. “I suppose this could be considered contaminating evidence but I didn’t want to leave it out there. I found it hanging on a branch. It’s possible it belongs to our guy. I’ve got a bag in my car. I’ll send it to the lab when we get back.”
Charles looked at Demi. She trembled and his gut clenched in anger at the person who’d done this to her. He couldn’t help wonder if it was because of him.
Then again, the message in her coffee can said that might not be the case. “Maybe we should pack up and leave,” Charles said as he rubbed a hand across his face, weariness seeping in. Would this madness never stop? What would it take to catch the person trying to terrorize him? And now Demi?
Guilt plagued him. Was this his fault? Had Demi’s attacker somehow figured out that Charles was developing feelings for his new nanny and had decided to get at him through her?
He shuddered.
“No,” Demi protested. “I don’t want this to ruin the fun for this afternoon.”
He noticed her trembling had stopped and her eyes glittered with something he hadn’t seen before.
Determination.
Owen shook his head. “Let’s get back to Victoria and the children. I don’t want to leave them alone too much longer.” He grabbed his cell phone. “I’m going to get someone here to go through the woods. I want to make sure this person isn’t living out here.”
Demi rubbed her palms together. “I think he followed us.”
Owen raised a brow. “Why do you think that?”
She shrugged. “I just do.” She kept her gaze on Charles. “I think someone’s targeted us for whatever reason and is doing his best to scare us or torment us. Or…whatever.”
So, she was thinking along the same lines as he was. But was trying to be tactful about setting blame anywhere. He clenched his jaw. They both knew where the blame lay.
Owen eyed her. “And you still don’t have any memory of anything?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
He nodded. “You guys go on back. I’ll wait here for the team that’s coming. I want to show them where to look.”
Charles took Demi’s hand. “Come on, I’ll take you to the river.” He looked at Owen. “I don’t like this one bit. You need to come up with a plan to catch this person.”
Owen pursed his lips. “Working on it.”
Charles grunted. Owen may be working on it, but Charles decided if he had to, he’d take matters into his own hands.
Because no one was going to hurt Demi just because she’d had the misfortune to be in his life.
* * *
Demi was relieved to see the children playing a game of tag, unaffected by her recent misadventure. Victoria, however, looked strained. When she saw Demi and Charles heading her way, she jumped up. “What happened?”
“Demi was attacked in the woods.”
Victoria gasped and grasped Demi’s arm. “Are you all right? Here. Sit down and tell me what happened.”
While Demi filled her in, Charles joined in the game. Then he gathered the twins and Paige, challenging them to a contest of who could catch the biggest fish.
Demi’s heart melted as she watched him with the children. Her fear dissipated slightly. She could feel Victoria’s gaze on her.
Keeping her voice low so Charles couldn’t hear, she said, “Someone’s really out to hurt Charles, I think.”
“Why do you say that?”
Demi gave a slight shrug, wincing at the pull of a strained shoulder muscle. “I think the person who killed Olivia may get away with murder because no one is focusing on finding the real killer. Whoever is causing Charles and me all this trouble may think he’s doing the authorities a favor.”
“You mean, he thinks that if he pushes Charles hard enough, Charles will admit to the murder?”
A sigh slipped out before she could repress it. “Who knows? I think it’s possible.”
Victoria nodded, her eyes on Owen and Paige, the tender expression catching at Demi’s heart. Then Victoria said, “It makes sense.” She turned and caught Demi’s gaze. “It’s obvious Charles cares about you. Even in the short amount of time I’ve spent around you two, it’s clear that he has feelings for you.”
Demi gulped at the woman’s observation. What could she say? It was true. And she definitely had developed feelings for Charles. Victoria gave her a small smile. “I think it’s great.”
“You do?”
“Sure. Charles needs someone like you in his life. He has for a long time.” She bit her lip then said, “Just try not to hurt him.”
Demi let her gaze rest on Charles. She smiled as he did his best to keep a wiggling Brianne from slipping from his grasp and into the water.
“Hurting Charles is the last thing I want to do. I promise.”
“I catch it, Daddy.” Brianne set her little mouth in firm determination and did her best to cast her rod. Aaron copied his sister and Paige giggled.
As the three waded back into the water, Demi caught Charles’s gaze, pulled in a deep breath and prayed nothing else would happen to destroy their peace of mind.
Owen stepped from the edge of the woods and Demi tensed. She stood and walked over to him. “Did you find anything?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry. Just that scrap of material that I sent with one of the guys to the lab.”
She nodded and bit her lip.
A cry from behind made her whirl, wondering what was wrong now.
But it was a happy cry. Brianne giggled and clapped as her daddy helped her pull in a decent-size fish. Aaron cheered his sister’s success and Paige gave a mock pout. “It’s my turn to fish with Uncle Charles. He’s the only one catching anything around here.”
Owen shot her a look that promised he wouldn’t forget about her. Then he raced toward his daughter and caught her around the waist. “I should toss you in the water for that comment, squirt.”
Paige let out a squeal and Demi walked over to settle on the blanket next to Victoria who patted her back. “Don’t worry, Demi, the Fitzgeralds will figure this out.”
“I know.” And she felt sure they would. In time.
But would it be before anyone else got hurt? Or worse?
* * *
Night fell and Charles paced the floor as he waited for his brother Ryan to come back on the line. Just as Charles had answered the phone, Ryan’s other line had r
ung and he’d put Charles on hold.
So now he waited, impatience twisting inside him.
Demi and Mrs. Mulrooney, his father’s housekeeper, had volunteered to tuck the twins in and Charles had let them with a grateful heart. Mrs. Mulrooney had been at the house, putting a casserole in his refrigerator when they’d walked in the door several hours ago.
Charles had to admit he didn’t know what he’d do without the woman who was supposed to be his father’s housekeeper, but she seemed to enjoy doting on him, too. The twins adored her and if she hadn’t said keeping up with them was too taxing at her age, he would have been content to let her be the children’s nanny.
But she wouldn’t have been up for hours of fishing like Demi had been.
They’d finished the day, doing their best to put on happy faces for the children while catching a few fish, but there was no denying it had been tainted for the adults thanks to the attack on Demi.
Ryan finally came back on the line and said, “Owen had to take care of something and asked me to give you a call. They didn’t find much in the woods where Demi was attacked other than some broken branches where it looks like someone was in a hurry to leave. No footprints on that ground, of course, but we sent the fabric Owen found to the lab. Hopefully we’ll hear something before too long.”
Charles blew out a sigh. Nothing he hadn’t expected. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“Sure. We’re not giving up and we’re running Demi’s picture on the news again asking for someone to come forward if they know her or any family members.”
“Good. I can’t believe there’s absolutely no one who knows her.”
“Someone will turn up.”
“Someone legit, let’s hope.”
“Yeah.”
Ryan hung up and Charles realized he and Owen still needed to talk to their father. And he still needed to get Demi home.
Even though it wasn’t dark yet, there was no way he was letting her walk or ride her bike home by herself.
She and Mrs. Mulrooney came into the den. Demi flopped onto the couch and Mrs. Mulrooney picked up her keys.
Charles stopped her. “I hate to ask, but would you mind staying with the children while I run Demi home?”
The Black Sheep's Redemption Page 10
