by Tracey Smith
“Do you think it’s possible that he was not only paying Mr. Woodard to find us, but also to kill us?” Cassidy asked as they pulled the truck to a stop in the crowded parking lot.
“He was at the house with Lucy after we’d been run off the road, I’ve been considering his involvement ever since then.” Ben admitted. Cassidy nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“We don’t have to do this tonight if you don’t want to.” Ben added, gesturing to the bustling carnival that was laid out before them.
“No. I’d rather be here than sitting in the house.” Cassidy said. Ben climbed out of the truck and walked around to open her door.
“Then let’s make the best of it.” Ben smiled offering his hand. Cassidy smiled back and took his hand as she stepped down out of the truck.
Main Street had been blocked off at both ends, and cars filled each end of the street in make-shift parking lots. It seemed as if all of Cedar Hollow had shown up. The street was crowded with people. Booths had been set up along the sidewalks, some selling homemade crafts and baked goods. Others were set up for playing games and winning prizes.
Paper lanterns had been strung along strings that draped between the lampposts and children ran in the street with sparklers. Cassidy was once again amazed that people still lived this way. This was worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago.
A flatbed truck was parked in front of the barber shop with a teenage band set up on it. They played familiar cover songs as people danced in the street to the music. Ben took Cassidy by the hand as they walked down the sidewalk, stopping at each booth to see what it was offering.
Cassidy stopped to admire some patchwork quilts and learned that the woman who made them was the middle-aged waitress from the counter at Jenny’s Diner. Next they bought some delicious maple candies that had been made by the red-haired receptionist from Mr. Woodard’s office. They skipped the kissing booth, where the attractive brunette girl from the hardware store sat waiting. She glared at Ben as they passed by. Cassidy realized in a town this small it was impossible to turn around and not bump into someone you knew, even after the short time she’d been here.
The next booth they stopped at was a caricature stand. Ben convinced Cassidy to let them draw her picture. She sat perched on the stool while the young artist sketched her and she watched the townspeople as they shopped and played games, danced in the street and gossiped on the corners. If not for the dark mystery that overshadowed her family’s past, Cassidy thought, this could be a very happy little town and not a bad place to live.
As Cassidy gazed around the busy street, she became aware of someone watching her. She turned in that direction and saw Mr. Woodard standing across the street on the opposite sidewalk, staring at her. She quickly looked for Ben who had wandered a few booths down to check out some wood carvings. She looked back across the street and Mr. Woodard was gone. She jumped off the stool, anxiously glancing around.
“Miss, I’m not done with your picture.” The boy called after her as she hurried toward Ben.
“I just saw Mr. Woodard.” Cassidy whispered as she clutched Ben’s arm.
“Where?”
“Across the street, but I don’t see him now. He was watching me.”
“Stay close.” Ben told her, taking her by the arm protectively and scanning the crowd. They made their way down the busy street, back toward the truck that was parked at the other end.
“Where are you two going?” Melissa, the blonde waitress from Jenny’s Diner materialized out of the crowd. “The fireworks are about to start.” She stepped between them hooking an arm through each of theirs and began leading them to the park where most of the crowd had begun to gather.
“I don’t think we’re going to stay for the fireworks.” Cassidy tried to protest.
“You can’t miss the fireworks!” Melissa insisted. Just then a door opened on the side of a building and a flood of teenagers poured out. The crowd was rowdy as they bumped and pushed their way past. Cassidy got separated from Melissa and Ben. She tried to push through the crowd, straining to see through all the bodies. She called Ben’s name but it was lost in the chaos.
She allowed herself to be pushed along with the throng of people. Telling herself that she’d find Ben once they reached the park. She kept scanning the crowd around her, desperately searching for him.
Suddenly someone grabbed her arm sharply and jerked her from the crowd. She was pulled off the main sidewalk into a shadowed alley between buildings. For the briefest moment she felt relief, thinking that Ben had found her, until she looked up and saw Mr. Woodard.
She opened her mouth to scream and he clamped a clammy hand over her mouth.
“Please don’t scream.” He said. “I just need to talk with you alone.” He kept his hand over her mouth until she nodded then he slowly removed it.
“What do you want?” Cassidy asked, glancing toward the oblivious crowd of people that were filing by only a few feet away.
“I need to warn you. You’re in danger. You need to leave Cedar Hollow.” Mr. Woodard whispered in a rush. He still tightly held Cassidy’s arm.
“Even if I leave won’t they find me? Isn’t that your job?” Cassidy challenged and Mr. Woodard’s eyes widened in shock.
“I didn’t know. I didn’t know that’s what he wanted with you.” Mr. Woodard insisted shaking his head.
“Who?”
“Your uncle. When he asked for me to find you, I didn’t know why. You have to believe me.” Mr. Woodard pleaded.
“My uncle is dead.” Cassidy reminded him. “Someone is still trying to kill me.”
“I didn’t know.” Mr. Woodard insisted shaking his head, he looked half-mad. Cassidy wondered if he was actually mentally ill.
“I believe you.” She said in a soft tone. “Thank you for warning me.” She tried to pull her arm away gently. His grip tightened.
“There are things I need to tell you, you need to come with me.” Mr. Woodard tried to pull her farther into the alley. There was no way in hell she was going with him. She planted her feet.
“Tell me here.” She said calmly.
“No, we need to go somewhere safe.” He insisted, still trying to pull her along with him.
“Get your hands off her.” Ben’s strong voice rang through the alley. Mr. Woodard immediately released Cassidy’s arm stepping back away from her. Cassidy ran to Ben and he grabbed her up in his arms. When they turned back toward the alley Mr. Woodard was gone.
“What if he knows something?” Cassidy asked as they drove back up the mountain. “He said he had something he needed to tell me. What if he knows something important?”
“What if he’s the killer?” Ben challenged. He gripped the wheel firmly. Just the thought of someone trying to hurt Cassidy made him furious. “It’s not worth the risk. I think it’s time we went to the Sheriff.”
“With what?” Cassidy asked. “Some old letters and some old rumors?”
Ben considered that. “You should leave.” He said solemnly.
“You want me to leave?” Cassidy asked, she felt as if someone had just knocked the air out of her.
“It’s not safe here. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Ben, I’m not safe wherever I go.” Cassidy said softly.
“We’ll figure out who’s behind this.” Ben promised.
“That’s why I need to talk to Mr. Woodard. I need to hear what he has to say.”
“Do you really think he’s just going to be sitting in his office tomorrow taking appointments?” Ben asked.
“There’s only one way to find out.” Cassidy said.
“You’re not going alone.”
When they pulled up to the house all the lights were out. It was a starry night with a bright full moon. The black house was a stark contrast to the glowing sky. They entered the house and ascended the stairs in silence. Ben walked Cassidy to her room. They stood in front of the door and faced each other. The table light was not li
t, the only illumination came from the moonlight shining in through the window at the end of the hall. Cassidy could feel her pulse quickening as she looked up at Ben’s shadowed face. He watched her intently, his green eyes burning with desire.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” He said puncturing the tangible silence that had followed them up the stairs.
“Goodnight.” Cassidy said reluctantly as she opened her bedroom door. Ben turned away and she stepped inside closing the door behind her.
She leaned back against the door and tried to slow her racing heart. She hadn’t wanted him to go. She tried to shake off the wave of disappointment that washed over her. She pushed off the door and walked to the bathroom.
She looked longingly at the bathtub, but she honestly wasn’t sure if there was water to fill that tub or not. She resigned herself to taking a shower. She turned to her reflection in the mirror and let down her hair, running her fingers through the long strands. She slipped out of her dress. There was a knock at the door.
Cassidy padded across the room nervously. She grabbed a robe and slipped it on, tying the waist as she cracked the door open. Ben was on the other side. She opened the door wide and stared up into his eyes expectantly.
He reached for her waist pulling her against him and bringing his hot mouth down over hers in a demanding kiss. He took several steps into the room, carrying her with him. He kicked the door closed behind him and slowly let her feet slip back to the floor. He reached for the belt of the robe untying it with one swift tug. The robe fell open and slid to the floor pooling at her feet. She stood before him in the pink silk and black lace matching bra and panties that she’d secretly bought at the shopping mall. His eyes took on a feral gleam as he admired her in the moonlight.
He grabbed her small waist lifting her up as he pulled her to him kissing her with a desperate need. She wrapped her legs around him, clinging to him as he carried her to the bed. He unhooked the clasp of her bra pulling it from her arms as he laid her down. He tore away her panties with a swiftness that took her breath away. This wasn’t the slow, tentative love making of the night before. This was raw desire, and she met his passion with her own. Clawing at his back and pulling him down over her as she arched up to meet him.
His mouth was over hers again, probing and demanding. His hand was between her thighs, sliding up to find the pulsing wet heat between her legs. He dipped his fingers inside her, stroking and stretching as he devoured her mouth. She rocked against his hand, needing more.
He rolled to his back pulling her on top of him. She straddled his lap feeling the smooth tip of his erection pressing against her opening. He grabbed her hips and pushed her down, filling her completely. She sat up fully, arching her back and crying out with pleasure. He reached for her face, pulling her down and kissing her as he pumped his hips beneath her. She braced her elbows on each side of his head, kissing him as he thrust inside her.
She broke the kiss, gasping for breath and burying her face against the side of his neck inhaling his intoxicating scent as he pushed her closer to the edge. She pressed back against him as he drove into her, needing all of him.
This was a need like she’d never experienced, a pleasure like she’d never known. She sat up straight, arching her back, taking all of him inside her and a blinding light exploded behind her closed lids. She cried out as she convulsed and she moved with a rhythm that her body demanded. She rode the waves of ecstasy as they washed over her, she rocked against him as the pleasure flowed from her until he finally pulled her away as his body was racked with his own climax.
She trembled beside him, completely sated. They both lay sprawled on the bed and just like the night before Ben reached out and snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her to him.
“Stay with me tonight.” She whispered against his chest as she snuggled up against him. He held her closer and kissed her forehead as they both drifted off to sleep.
As Cassidy floated in that limbo between sleep and awake she thought she could hear Ben whisper to her, but wasn’t sure if she was already dreaming.
“Stay with me always.”
Chapter Fifteen
Cassidy woke slowly the next morning. All of the previous day’s events trickling into her conscious mind, ending with the most intense, passionate night that she’d ever experienced. She let her mind linger on the details of the night before, ignoring the more disturbing revelations of the day. She thought of Ben’s whispered words: Stay with me always. Had she dreamt them?
They hadn’t really discussed their relationship, their future. A wave of anxiety washed over her. What did all this mean to him? It hadn’t escaped her notice that she’d woken up alone, again. She only had two weeks left in Cedar Hollow, and then what? Would she even survive two more weeks? Cold reality came crashing in; regardless of how hard she tried she couldn’t avoid it. There was more going on here than just her and Ben. So much more. Cassidy sat up in bed and saw the note on the nightstand.
Had some work to do in the garden. Didn’t want to wake
you. Should be done by lunch then we can go back into
town to see Mr. Woodard. Please don’t go without me.
XOXO
Ben
She hugged the note to her chest. Whatever this was between them, it meant something to him too, she was sure of it. And somehow that knowledge made the rest bearable. She jumped out of bed and headed for the shower. The warm water helped wash away any lingering anxiety and she emerged ready for the day that lay ahead of her.
Cassidy sifted through her small closet, thrilled that she finally had some decent wardrobe options, also grateful for the warmer clothing. The recent storms had brought with them cooler weather. She chose the mint green cardigan that she’d picked out because it had reminded her of Ben’s eyes, along with a snug fitting pair of designer jeans that she cuffed at the ankle and a pair of matching green flats.
She brushed out her long blonde hair which still held the waves from being braided the previous day, she pinned up the sides allowing the rest to flow freely down her back. Ben had said he liked her hair down. She brushed her teeth and fixed her make-up, feeling better by the minute. Whatever dark mystery was haunting her, they were going to figure it out together. And then once they did they could figure out the rest. Until then, Cassidy resolved to simply enjoy every moment they were given.
She skipped down the stairs and headed for the kitchen. She wasn’t surprised to find Mrs. Owens there. She was busy at work, as usual. The large tray that she typically carried her meals away on was set up on the counter with two bowls of steaming oatmeal. Mrs. Owens was sprinkling a white powder from a vial into one of the bowls and mixing it up as she hummed to herself.
“Good morning, Mrs. Owens.” Cassidy said as she entered the kitchen. Mrs. Owens quickly spun around to face her. Momentary surprise crossed her face, but she quickly schooled her expression and smiled warmly at Cassidy.
“Good morning, dear, I assumed you’d gone out to work in the yard with Ben this morning.” Mrs. Owens covered the serving tray and casually replaced the lid on the vial returning it to the cabinet. “Would you like some oatmeal?”
“Sure.” Cassidy agreed. “But I can fix my own if you were just headed upstairs.” Cassidy nodded toward the covered tray.
“Oh I don’t mind.” Mrs. Owens assured her, retrieving a bowl and scooping some oatmeal from the pot on the stove. Cassidy watched her carefully as she served it up.
“What was that powder that you were mixing in yours?” Cassidy asked casually as she accepted the bowl and sat at the table.
“That was just Mr. Owens medicine.” She explained easily. “Much easier to get him to take it that way.” She winked and smiled conspiratorially. Cassidy smiled back.
“Can I get you anything else, dear?”
“No, thank you.”
“Well then I guess I’ll be headed up.” Mrs. Owens grabbed the tray and Cassidy watched as she ascended the stairs.
She picke
d at her food as her mind raced. Something about the way Mrs. Owens had been tampering with the oatmeal just didn’t sit right with her. She rose from the table and opened the cabinet where Mrs. Owens had stowed the vial of powder. She heard a floor board creak and froze in place, listening intently to make sure no one was headed her way.
After a moment of silence she continued to rummage through the cabinet. Multiple vials and canisters were present holding a wide array of powders, leaves and liquids. There were no prescription medication bottles, no labels on anything. Ben had said that Mrs. Owens relied on home remedies, maybe Mr. Owens “medicine” was some concoction of her own.
Cassidy thought of her unexpected trip to the hospital last week. Was it possible that Mrs. Owens had slipped her something? Her intentions could have been good, the poisoning could have been accidental. Cassidy closed the cabinet and retrieved her bowl of oatmeal from the table. She’d lost her appetite. She scraped the contents into the sink and washed them down, cleaning and drying her bowl to put it away.
She began to wonder how many of her other “accidents” could have truly been accidental. Maybe she really had just had some terrible luck since arriving. The crates falling on her in the shed had seemed completely innocent until viewed through the light cast by other events. It’s possible that really was a clumsy mistake. And the incident at the pumpkin patch, even though Ben had concluded that the rope had been cut maybe it had simply broke. It was an old harness system, the rope had most likely been frayed. Perhaps Ben immediately assumed it was cut because he didn’t want to feel at fault for her falling. Then the poisoned lunch, well that really could have been good intentions gone wrong. All that really left was the car accident.
Cassidy thought of that day, of the pouring rain, the blinding storm. Car accidents happened every day. Had nothing else happened until that point, would she have immediately assumed that the other driver had intentionally run them off the road? Maybe some other emergency was causing that driver to drive erratically. Maybe it had nothing to do with Cassidy at all.
