Into the Wilderness

by Traci DePree

“You lost the ring?” Kate said, moving closer.

  “I don’t know...Let me think.” Rebecca held up her hand. “Okay, I wore it at the restaurant last night.”

  “I remember seeing it on your hand. And it was there when we had coffee after we got back home,” Kate added.

  A look of relief spread across Rebecca’s face. “I remember now. I took it off when we did the dishes. It’s in that little dish next to the sink.”

  Marcus exhaled as if he had been holding his breath. “You scared me to death!”

  Chapter Five

  With the men gone, Kate and Rebecca had the afternoon to themselves. It was a rare luxury to spend the day with her daughter, one that Kate wasn’t about to take for granted. They headed to the Country Diner for lunch. It was another warm, sunny day, so they had decided to take the convertible instead of Kate’s Honda. They drove down the streets of Copper Mill with the top down, in no particular hurry. People were in their yards, drinking cider in their lawn chairs, playing catch with their children, or raking leaves and burning them in small piles along the gutters.

  “I’ve never seen anyone do that,” Rebecca remarked, pointing to the burning leaves. She turned her head to watch as residents stood guard over the piles, rakes in hand.

  Kate gazed ahead. She couldn’t stop thinking about Marcus’ odd behavior the night before. If it had anything to do with those two men, what could they possibly have wanted with Marcus so many miles from home? If only she could talk with Livvy about the situation, but considering Livvy’s current state of mind, she didn’t think that would be such a good idea. Maybe she could do a little digging on the Internet instead, though she wasn’t exactly sure what she would be looking for. And spending quality time with Rebecca was her first priority.

  They turned onto Smith Street and pulled into a parking spot in front of the Country Diner. Located directly across from the Town Green, the restaurant was a gathering place for locals, especially on Sundays. People could set their clocks by when each round of after-church guests came through the door. The Episcopalians were always the first to arrive after early service, usually around nine forty. The Baptists were next, generally swooping in at ten fifteen, with the Presbyterians arriving shortly after them. The folks from Faith Briar were the last brunch crowd of the day, since their service ended around noon. Kate and Paul were often among the clientele, unless there was a special event or a potluck going on at the church. That afternoon, the restaurant was hopping with customers, though it was later than Kate’s usual arrival time. The scent of barbecue and Reuben sandwiches filled the air.

  Loretta Sweet, the owner of the diner, was standing behind the counter. Her gray hair was caught up in a net, and dark circles ringed her eyes.

  “You a single woman today, Kate?” Loretta smiled at Kate.

  “I guess so,” Kate said. “Paul and some of the men from the church left for a camping trip in the Smokies this morning, and I’m enjoying the day with my daughter Rebecca, who came all the way from New York City to see her lowly old mom.” Kate put her arm around Rebecca and squeezed her shoulders tight.

  “Mom! Are you kidding? I’m so happy to be here with you!”

  Loretta gave a little snort, then said, “Well, ladies, enjoy your day together. LuAnne’ll be right out if you want to take that empty booth over there.” She pointed to the blue vinyl booths, with matching Formica tabletops, next to the plate-glass window that looked out on Smith Street.

  Kate grabbed a couple of menus from the side pocket at the counter, then she and Rebecca made their way to the booth. Along the way, Kate greeted several acquaintances who were eating lunch and exchanged pleasantries.

  Rebecca slid into the booth, and Kate handed a menu to Rebecca as she took her own seat. They read in silence for a few minutes. Finally Rebecca closed her menu and placed it at the end of the table.

  “I’m starving,” she said, smiling into her mother’s eyes, a look of contentment on her face. “It is good to be here...,” she said, “with you.”

  Kate reached over and patted her hand. “And it’s good to have you here.” A realization of how much she missed her daughter came over her, and she swallowed back the emotion.

  “What is it?” Rebecca asked.

  “It’s just nice to spend some time together,” Kate huskily replied. “Life goes by so quickly.”

  They paused in comfortable silence and turned their attention to the beautiful day beyond the plate-glass window. Cars rambled along at a leisurely pace up and down the street, and families set up Sunday picnics across the way on the Town Green.

  “So, tell me more about what’s happening with you.” Kate finally broke the silence.

  “What’s to tell? You pretty much know everything.” Rebecca tapped her chin. “Of course, there’s always more I could say about Marcus...” She blushed.

  “So you really love him?” The image of Rebecca smiling at Eli Weston flittered through Kate’s mind. The two certainly seemed attracted to each other, and she wondered what Rebecca thought about it.

  Rebecca shrugged. “How did you know that you really loved Daddy?”

  Kate thought for a moment before answering. “I couldn’t imagine life without him,” she said simply. “He brought out the best in me, made me feel like I could do anything. And I respected his faith; he had such an infectious love for God.”

  Rebecca looked away, her face pinched as she squinted into the distance. Kate held her tongue, hoping her daughter would eventually confide in her. She always did in her own time.

  “Did you and Daddy always get along perfectly?”

  Kate laughed. “I remember some pretty good arguments. He can be so stubborn!” She paused. “Why? Do you and Marcus argue a lot?”

  Rebecca shook her head. “No, not really. Though he can be moody sometimes. I don’t always know why, either. He doesn’t often tell me what’s going on in his mind. I’m sure it was hard on him not having his dad around when he was a kid.”

  Kate nodded. “I’m sure it was. How old was he when his parents divorced?”

  “Like thirteen?”

  “A hard age. Especially for boys. Does he talk about it much?”

  Rebecca shook her head. “He doesn’t like to dwell on it.”

  “There are good things about being that way, I suppose,” Kate said. “It keeps you living in the moment, I’m sure. But if he hasn’t acknowledged the hard times in his life, I wonder if the hurt manifests itself in other ways.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, nothing in particular,” Kate said. “Just that sometimes people who’ve gone through hardships seem okay until something traumatic happens, and then...”

  Kate realized that Rebecca seemed tense about the turn the conversation had taken. The girl leaned across the table, worry filling her eyes. Kate touched her hand. “I’m not talking about Marcus; I’m just talking.”

  Kate paused, and her gaze drifted out the window, where a slow-moving car came to a stop next to the convertible. She scooted over in the booth to get a better look.

  “What is it?” Rebecca asked, following her mother’s gaze. “Who in the world is that?”

  Kate could see two dark-haired men in the car, though she couldn’t see their faces. The driver pulled an older-model, blue Cadillac El Dorado into a parking space in front of the diner, and the two got out. Kate strained to see their faces, and when they turned toward the diner, her pulse quickened. Rebecca gasped, and Kate knew she was thinking the same thing: these were the same two men they’d seen at the Bristol the night before, the ones Marcus had been so eager to get away from. The taller of the two glanced quickly up and down the street, then the men walked in separate directions alongside the convertible. The top of the convertible was down since it was such a gorgeous day. The men stood over it for several minutes. Kate could see that they were in a heated discussion.

  “What are they doing?” Rebecca said. “Should we go talk to them? Did the little one just open the glove
compartment?”

  Kate had glanced at Rebecca, so she’d missed seeing whether he’d opened the compartment.

  “We should call the police,” Rebecca said.

  “If they took something, we will,” Kate said, trying to still the beating in her chest.

  The men returned to their car and backed slowly out of the parking space. Rebecca shot to her feet.

  “I’m going to see if they took anything.” Then she disappeared out the door. The men had driven away and were now out of sight. Rebecca came back a few minutes later.

  “Nothing seems to be missing.” She shrugged her shoulders and slumped back into the booth. “I don’t get it,” she said, meeting her mother’s gaze. “What do those men want? I know you saw how Marcus flipped out last night. It was so weird.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about that,” Kate began, “but I wasn’t sure what to say. Is Marcus in some kind of trouble?”

  “I can’t imagine. He doesn’t even go over the speed limit! He’s so particular. And to be honest...” Her words fell away as LuAnne Matthews appeared from the back, bearing two glasses of water that she set on the table. The heavyset, redheaded waitress was winded and stood there a moment while she caught her breath.

  “Sorry about the wait, ladies!” she said at last in her bubbly way. Freckles danced across her ruddy nose and cheeks. “I had to run to the store for more hamburger meat.” Then the waitress stepped back and eyed Rebecca. “You’re Kate’s youngest, right?” she asked, offering a hand.

  Rebecca shook hands with her. “Yes, ma’am. I’m Rebecca. All the way from New York City.”

  “I heard you were in town on a surprise visit.”

  “You heard?” Rebecca asked wide-eyed.

  “Small towns, honey,” LuAnne explained. “Everyone knows everyone else’s business.”

  LuAnne fingered the jeweled eyeglass holder that she always wore around her neck. “Now, have you two figured out what you’re in the mood for?”

  “I’d like the pulled-pork sandwich,” Rebecca said. “And a dinner salad with a Coke.”

  LuAnne busily wrote the order on her pad. Then she looked at Kate.

  “I’ll take a Reuben with Thousand Island dressing on the side.”

  “Okeydoke,” LuAnne said and moved to the next booth.

  After LuAnne returned to the kitchen, Kate tried to recall what she and Rebecca had been discussing. “You were talking about Marcus?” she prompted.

  “Yeah. This trip was so unlike Marcus. He isn’t usually such an impulsive person. I’d hoped he might pop the question, that maybe that was the reason for him being so jumpy. He doesn’t usually act that way. But now I don’t know...”

  There was such anguish in Rebecca’s expression that Kate’s heart went out to her. “So, he’s never been in trouble before?” Kate ventured.

  Rebecca shook her head. “No. His dad was in some kind of trouble, but I don’t know what, really. Then he started the moving company with Marcus’ older brothers and sister.”

  “Did Marcus want to join the family business?” Kate wanted to steer the conversation to a lighter topic for Rebecca’s sake.

  “Not really. Marcus wanted to leave home for the big city, try to make it as an actor...same old story.”

  “Yes, I think I know a girl like that,” Kate teased.

  “By the way, did I tell you I got a callback?” Rebecca said.

  “Callback?”

  “You know, Mom. When you audition for a part, and the director wants you to come back for another audition.”

  “Oh! That’s so exciting! Is it a play I’d know?”

  “No, I don’t think so,” Rebecca said, then her eyes clouded.

  “What is it?” Kate asked.

  “Oh,”—Rebecca waved a dismissive hand—“it’s nothing.”

  “Is it about the play?”

  “It’s about...well, there are a lot of shows that...I mean, just look at Grease or even—”

  “What are you trying to say, honey?” Kate leaned closer so she could speak in a quieter tone. “That the content of this show is something I might not approve of?”

  Rebecca shrugged. “There are elements of good and bad in every show, Mom. That’s called a plot, you know?”

  They’d had this conversation countless times before. Or at least conversations like it, about what to do when less-than-stellar roles came knocking. It had been one of Kate’s biggest objections to Rebecca pursuing this dream to be an actress.

  She waited for her daughter to go on. The last thing she wanted to do was start an argument.

  Rebecca tucked her blonde hair behind her ears and said, “It’s a new play. Very off-, off-Broadway. I haven’t gotten as many auditions as I’d like, and to get a callback...”

  Kate knew she was hedging.

  “Well...it’s about this...brothel.” Rebecca said the last word under her breath.

  “Brothel?” When Kate realized she’d raised her voice, she lowered it to a harsh whisper. “So, you’re trying out for the part of a—?”

  “No, Mom!” Rebecca snapped. “If I got the part, I’d be the...madam.”

  Kate felt the blood rush to her face.

  “I know it’s questionable, but I just want to act so bad, Mom,” Rebecca continued, as if she could read her mother’s thoughts. “If this is all there is right now—”

  “Oh, Rebecca. Are you sure you’re not just making excuses? I think you should take up whatever career you’re gifted for. And you are an incredibly gifted actor and singer. But in every career, there are always opportunities to make good and bad choices. It’s up to you, honey, to make the right decision. I just want you to be sure that following through with this role is the right thing to do.”

  Tears filled Rebecca’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks, causing her mascara to run. “I’m not doing anything bad, Mom. I just...” She shrugged again and sighed. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

  “Rebecca,” Kate began.

  “I am an adult, you know!” But even as she said the words, Rebecca couldn’t have sounded more like a child.

  “I know. And I will trust you to do what’s best.” Kate took a bite of her Reuben, giving a much-needed break to the conversation. As she glanced out the window, she thought of Marcus and those strange men. She prayed silently that they had no ill intentions toward Rebecca. Her daughter wasn’t the savvy sophisticate she pretended to be. She was still a girl from Texas, and she was easier prey than Kate wanted to admit.

  Chapter Six

  After lunch, Kate and Rebecca decided to take a fall drive, as much to calm their nerves as to enjoy the day.

  The crisp, beautiful day seemed to improve Rebecca’s outlook. Kate smiled to herself: that had been the way it always was with her youngest. Rebecca didn’t know how to stay angry. Her good-hearted nature would take over, and not long after a heated argument, she’d be laughing and enjoying life again. It was one of the things Kate liked most about her—that she didn’t mope and fret. Melissa, Kate’s eldest daughter, could be that way—a bit indignant until she received the apology she felt she deserved.

  As they drove in silence, Kate continued to worry about Rebecca’s life in New York; she just couldn’t help it. There were so many ways a young, naive girl could get herself into trouble. Kate worried more about the spiritual decay that took place in the soul of a person in that kind of profession, with the constant tugging to accept more and more questionable material, to socialize with people who could lead a young woman like Rebecca down the wrong path.

  Kate understood that it must be tempting for Rebecca to accept a role she wouldn’t even consider if better offers were coming in. But there had to be a line in the sand that Rebecca would never cross. There just had to be. And if playing a madam in a brothel wasn’t it, then what was?

  Kate glanced at her daughter, who seemed to be relishing the drive. Rebecca was an adult, Kate reminded herself. She would have to find her own way in the world, even if it meant taki
ng the harder path. It was difficult for a mother to let her children make decisions on their own, especially when she thought they might get hurt. Every instinct inside her was telling her to hold them tight and keep them safe. But Kate knew most of all that safety was not something she could control, but it was something she could pray for. A comforting thought flooded over her. My children, and everything I love, belong to God. I can trust him with them.

  IT WAS WELL AFTER TWO O’CLOCK by the time Kate and Rebecca arrived home. Rebecca had dozed off in the passenger’s seat.

  As Kate approached the house, she recognized a blue El Dorado car sitting on the left side of the driveway. It was the same car they’d seen at the diner earlier that day. But she hadn’t noticed the New Jersey license plates before.

  New Jersey? Kate didn’t know what to make of it, but she quickly memorized the plate numbers just in case. As she pulled up to the right side of the car, two men appeared from around the side of the house and came toward her. Panic seized her as she realized that the men may have been in the house. She reached for her handbag and frantically dug around for her cell phone so she could call the police. But her handbag was so stuffed, she couldn’t find it quickly enough.

  Rebecca stirred in her seat when Kate began rifling through her handbag and lifted bleary eyes toward her mother. “What’s going on?”

  “Stay in the car, honey. Try to stay calm.” As the men reached the car, she forced herself to remain cool and collected.

  “Mrs. Hanlon?” one of the men said, bending over and resting his hands on the door. He was dressed in pleated slacks and a light-colored Oxford shirt.

  “Yes?” Kate said, not moving her hands from the steering wheel.

  “We’re lookin’ for someone. You mighta seen him,” the man said.

  Kate noted a distinct East Coast accent when he spoke.

  “Who did you say you were looking for?” Rebecca asked, eyeing the man and sitting up straight in her seat. The second man was standing behind him. He was taller than his partner, and more trim, with a deep cleft chin and penetrating dark eyes. His partner was a stump of a man with black, slicked-back hair, wide features, and a flat nose. His pale eyes bored into her, and he had a peculiar way of standing with his feet spread wide yet slightly pigeon-toed.