Strangers in the Night

by Patricia H. Rushford

  “Now Leah,” Murray had said, “the girl wants to be close to her family. You can’t blame her. What I want to know is where you plan on getting the money, Abbie. I hear that houses out West don’t come cheap. I know you got money from Nate’s insurance. That might be enough for a down payment, but what’ll you live on?”

  “I have money. My parents set up a trust fund for me and my sister and brother years ago. If I need to, I’ll eventually get a job. I’m thinking I could paint and sell my work.”

  “Humph. How much money are you talking about?”

  “Enough. Around two million.”

  Murray whistled. “That’s quite a chunk. I didn’t know show people got paid so much.”

  “They can if they’re famous. My parents recorded a number of records that still earn royalties.”

  “Why haven’t we seen any of this money?” Leah asked, her eyes narrowing. “Lord knows we could have used some extra cash last year. Did you know we had to mortgage the farm to come up with enough money to ride out the winter?”

  Abbie sighed, wishing Nathan hadn’t kept her financial situation a secret from his parents. “I told Nate I’d help out, but he didn’t want me to. He wanted me to keep it for our own place and now…” She hesitated.

  Daniel came to her aid, as he often did. “She’s telling the truth, Mom. Nate didn’t want her to use her money.”

  Leah picked up her crocheting. “You shouldn’t be thinking about moving. It’s too soon. Emma needs a stable environment.”

  “Emma will be fine.”

  “Will she?”

  Abbie couldn’t answer. Most days she was barely able to function. But she was Emma’s mother. She could pull things together. “Yes. She needs to know her other grandparents too.” She sighed. “I’m going to bed. See you in the morning.”

  She caught Daniel’s eye. He didn’t want her to leave the farm either, but she knew he’d stand by her decision.

  Abbie didn’t go to bed that night. At around ten, she slipped down the stairs and let herself out the back door and down the long driveway. Her walk took her along the fields that now lay barren. The air smelled musty and slightly sour from the rotting vegetation that, once decayed, would be absorbed as nutrients into the already-rich soil. Come spring the cycle would start all over again.

  Was Leah right that the only stable environment was Leah’s home? Would taking her away so soon after her daddy’s death be too traumatic?

  “What should I do, Nate? What’s best for Emma?” Instead of her husband’s reassuring voice, she heard nothing and felt only the chilling wind seep into the fibers of her cotton jacket.

  Abbie knew she could no longer stay on the farm. Her soul felt as decayed as the dead plants littering the field. At the main road, she turned left and headed toward town. She wouldn’t go far, just far enough to clear her head.

  While she walked, Abbie weighed the pros and cons of staying in Iowa against moving to Oceanside. If her heart had any say at all, Oceanside would win. Every time she thought about living near her family, she felt ten pounds lighter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders. But she needed to think about Emma too.

  Lost in thought, questions still unanswered, she turned into the road that led to the cemetery. A light in the churchyard glowed around her, lighting up her watch and letting her know it was a quarter after midnight. She hadn’t planned to walk this far. Or maybe she had.

  Her legs ached from the three-mile trek as she padded through the grass to Nathan’s grave. She hadn’t been here since the funeral. Leah came every Sunday with a fresh bouquet of flowers, mostly brilliant blooms of dahlias from her garden. And every Sunday Leah asked Abbie to come with her. And every Sunday more guilt and anger washed over her. Abbie hadn’t been ready to visit the grave, but Leah couldn’t understand that.

  Now she was here. She dropped to her knees and felt the dew from the grass seep into her jeans. “I shouldn’t be mad at you, Nathan Campbell, but I am. I’m more angry than sad.” She closed her eyes and sat back on her heels. “Why did you have to die? Oh, Nate, what am I going to do without you?”

  Live. She could almost see him sitting there next to her. Be happy.

  “I’m trying.” Abbie saw headlights approach and swing into the church road. She shielded her eyes as the lights swung past her then went out. Daniel jumped out of the truck and started toward her, not speaking until he reached the spot where she was still kneeling.

  “What are you doing out so late?” she asked.

  “Worrying about you.” His tone bore a hint of anger, but she heard compassion as well. He reached down, offering her a hand up. Abbie took it, and he pulled her to her feet.

  “I’m okay. Just needed some air.”

  “Emma isn’t,” he said. “She had a bad dream and was looking for you. She told me you weren’t in your room.”

  “I’m sorry.” She turned toward the truck.

  “She’s all right now. I tucked her into your bed and told her I’d bring you home. She’s probably sleeping by now.”

  Abbie stepped up into the pickup when Daniel opened the door and waited for him to get in. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

  “Glad to do it. You should let one of us know if you’re going somewhere.”

  “I had only planned on a short walk.” She looked over at him. “Daniel, why does your mother hate me so much?”

  “Hate you? Abbie, she doesn’t hate you. She’s afraid you’ll leave us. So am I, when it comes down to it. We’ve just lost Nate, and now you’re talking about leaving and taking Emma with you.”

  “It’s not like you’ll never see us again. We’ll visit. And when she’s older, Emma can come and stay for a week or two in the summer.”

  Daniel picked up speed once he reached the main road. “When are you leaving?”

  “Next Sunday.”

  “How are you getting to the train station?”

  “I was hoping you’d take me.”

  He nodded. “You’re sure that’s what you want?”

  “Yes.” The affirmation sounded like a lie. “I have to do this, Daniel. I have to.”

  Daniel seemed to understand but warned her that his mother wouldn’t let Emma go without a fight. In the end, Leah had won.

  And now they had found her. She knew once she came out in the open that she wouldn’t be able to escape their radar forever. Abbie seriously thought about packing a suitcase and slipping away. She could go back to Grand Forks. Margie would welcome her with open arms. But no, she had told Jake that she’d stop running. She belonged here and Emma belonged here with her. She wasn’t the same woman now as the frightened, grief-stricken widow who had kidnapped her baby and run away. She was a mature woman who would face the dragon and win.

  Abbie ducked her head and uttered a quick apology to God for thinking of her mother-in-law that way. She would hear Daniel out and in the morning she’d call Jake and the attorney. She wished Jake had come for dinner as he had developed a habit of doing, but with Brent in the hospital, he was probably helping Peggy and offering his support. While she missed him, she admired his devotion.

  Daniel was waiting for her in the living room. He’d been talking to Perkins and when he saw her, he stood.

  She glared at Perkins, her temper rising. “You. After that stunt you pulled yesterday, I can’t believe you’d show your face here again.”

  “Huh?” Perkins looked as though he had no idea what she was talking about.

  “You nearly ran Jake and me off the road.”

  A grin lit up his face. “You thought that? I was just speeding up to pass you.”

  Abbie shook her head. “What you did was dangerous.”

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean any harm.”

  I’ll just bet you didn’t. “Let’s go outside, Daniel,” Abbie said. “I could use some fresh air.”

  The air was crisp and cool and Abbie felt a slight breeze through her sweater. Daniel walked beside her in silence as she headed for the
main part of her little town.

  Daniel stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets. “I can’t believe how beautiful and green it is out here.”

  Abbie nodded. “Of all the places we lived when I was a kid, the Northwest is my favorite. I love being near the ocean and in the mountains at the same time.”

  “Perkins was telling me that you and your parents bought this place.”

  “Yep.” She told him about the artists’ colony and shared her ideas. Eventually, the talk ran out and they walked in silence.

  “You said you wanted to talk with me about something,” she finally said.

  He stopped and turned to face her. “First off, I want you to know that I disagree with my mother. Dad and I have been trying to talk sense into her from the beginning.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  “Taking Emma like you did broke her heart. She pushed too hard and her plan backfired on her. She wanted to go to the police, but Dad and I talked her out of it. In a way, I’m glad you surfaced.” He sighed. “And, in a way, I wish you hadn’t. It’s all started again. She’s threatening to call the authorities this time. I told her to wait and let me talk to you first.”

  “Why? To persuade me to move back to Iowa?” Abbie started walking again. “There’s no way that’s going to happen.”

  “Abbie, please, just hear me out. She has the law on her side. Do you really think the court will grant you custody? You’re living in a bed & breakfast. Your sister is using drugs and you’re planning to have her help you take care of Emma. Mom will follow through this time, Abbie. You broke the law when you took Emma. She could have you put in jail.”

  “How do you know all this about me?” Abbie’s confidence seeped out like air in an inflatable mattress. Jake had been so sure of the attorney’s ability to clear her.

  “I had a long talk with Dawn.”

  “I thought you were on my side.”

  “I am. I haven’t told my mother about Skye living with you. She already knows Skye’s history.” He pressed his lips together. “Do you know how bad this looks? You’re planning to live in a commune with your sister, who is a known addict. Are you really willing to put Emma in that kind of danger?”

  “Commune? Since when is my artists’ colony a commune? And come to think of it, what exactly is wrong with a commune?”

  “From what I’ve heard, you’ll have all kinds of artists living out here. How do you know you can trust them?”

  “Where is all of this coming from, Daniel?”

  “I’m just saying that you need to look at the facts. If you were a judge, who would you grant custody to? A woman like my mother, who’s lived on a farm all her life, who is active in her church and is well-established, or a single woman, an artist with plans to build an artists’ colony, who has a drug-addicted sister for a babysitter? Do you even go to church, Abbie? Do your parents? How stable are they? They raised you on the road.”

  “My parents did a great job. Sure, they were entertainers, but—”

  “That doesn’t matter. What matters is how things look.”

  Fear nipped at her nerve endings. What he was saying made sense. If a judge were to choose the suitable guardian for Emma, he’d choose Leah. What had she been thinking?

  “I don’t want you to lose Emma.” Daniel wrapped his hands around her upper arms. “I’ve been thinking a lot about this and I know how we can work things out.”

  “How?”

  “Marry me.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’ve always cared for you, Abbie. You can keep Emma with you and Mom will have her grandchild back. Come back to Iowa, live on the farm. I’ll build you that house you always wanted. I’ll even add an art studio with lots of light.”

  Abbie stared at him. “How could you suggest something like this? You know how I felt living there. We talked about it often enough. And we’re not—I don’t… Your mother hates me.”

  “No, she doesn’t. When you left, she missed you as much as she missed Emma. She hates what you did. But I know she’ll forgive you. Just like I have.”

  “I can’t—”

  He silenced her with fingers pressed against her lips. “Pray about it, Abbie. My mother loves Emma. She deserves to have her granddaughter close.”

  “So do my parents, Daniel. What about them?”

  “They have money. They can come and visit. And stay in our spare room. I’ll build the house big enough.”

  Abbie had no words to give him.

  “I know you don’t love me—not like a wife should love a husband, but we could make a good team. And maybe we could even learn to love each other that way.”

  Abbie turned and walked away, leaving his insane suggestion hanging in the air.

  It wasn’t until she’d gotten ready for bed and reached for the light on the bedside stand that she saw it. A note had been neatly folded and propped up against the lamp with her name on it.

  Her hand shook as she unfolded it. Hi Abbie, Jake called. I told him you were out and he said he’d see you in the morning. Sleep well. Dawn. Relief settled her racing heart back into its parameters. She was far too jumpy.

  Abbie slept very little as Daniel’s comments echoed through her head. Maybe his suggestion wasn’t as crazy as she first thought. What if he was right? Could her plans and her lifestyle cause a judge to rule against her? Could she end up losing Emma after all?

  She’d always gotten along with Daniel. Living with him wouldn’t be so bad, especially if she could be in her own home. If she had to, she would do this for Emma. Much had changed since she’d plotted her escape two years ago. She had matured and moved beyond her grief. There had been times she had even missed the farm. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. She could almost envision herself painting again and possibly working with local artists much as she had in Grand Forks.

  What about Jake? She turned to her side and punched her pillow. Abbie had come to love him, but if walking away from him meant she could stay with Emma, then she had no choice. Abbie prayed herself to sleep, asking for strength and courage and wisdom.

  Morning broke with far too many uncertainties—too much confusion. Emma was still asleep so Abbie slipped on her robe and made her way down the hall following the scent of fresh coffee. Dawn must have heard her, because a steaming cup sat on the counter along with an envelope bearing her name. Dawn gestured toward it. “I found this tacked to the front door this morning.”

  Abbie examined the smudged white envelope, noting the pinprick in its center. Her name had been written in block letters. Alarm bells went off in her head again. “I’m almost afraid to open it.”

  “You think it might be another threat?” Holding her mug in both hands, Dawn rested her elbows on the counter just across from Abbie.

  Abbie hauled in a long breath. “I feel silly. I went through this last night when I saw your note about Jake.”

  “I’m sorry. You were with Daniel and I didn’t want to bother you.”

  Abbie nodded.

  “Would you like me to open it for you?”

  Grinning at her, Abbie said, “Thanks, but I think I can manage.” She slipped her finger under the flap and ripped it open. Inside was a folded piece of notebook paper. She hesitated for a moment before unfolding it. When she did, a lock of gold hair fell to the counter. “What in the … ?” On the note, written in red ink, were the words: It’s time for you to go. Your life is not the only one in danger.

  The hair was the exact color and texture of Emma’s.

  CHAPTER 33

  Adrenaline soaring, Abbie raced back to her room. Emma still lay sleeping, safe and alive, but on the pillow lay several strands of hair. Someone had come in during the night—possibly while she’d been with Daniel—and cut off a lock of her baby’s hair. She gripped the railing on the youth bed, willing her insides to quiet.

  Dawn had followed her in and now placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Thank the Lord she’s okay. We need to call the sheriff.”

  Abb
ie nodded. “Could you? Please. I need to stay here with her.”

  “Of course.” Dawn hurried out and Abbie reached down to pick Emma up. Threatening her was one thing, but this—this blatant violation of her baby… She could hardly take it in. Who would do this? Emma stirred and Abbie held her close. “There, there, sweetheart. Mommy’s got you. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  But was it?

  She lowered herself into the easy chair and stroked Emma’s head and back. When she heard a knock, she lifted her gaze to see Daniel filling the doorway. “Can I come in?”

  “Please.”

  “Dawn told me what happened.” He strode to the chair and kneeled beside her, cupping Emma’s head. A lump caught in Abbie’s throat as she took in his gentleness and read the love in his eyes.

  She blinked away the sudden tears. “Someone doesn’t want me here.” Anger began to replace her fear. She didn’t want to give in, yet what choice did she have? She felt cornered and bewildered.

  “I know. She told me about the first threat too.” He shifted his gaze from Emma to Abbie. “Come home with me. Let me take care of you. Both of you.”

  She read compassion and concern in his eyes. Part of her wanted to say yes. “After the first note, I decided not to allow fear to dictate my life. Giving in to this maniac isn’t the right answer. I can’t let him win.”

  “You can’t take the chance that he’ll hurt Emma,” he said. “You’ll be safe on the farm.”

  “Would we? Nathan wasn’t.”

  He looked away, but not before she saw the pain she’d inflicted. Daniel had been as affected by Nate’s death as she had. “That was an accident. Nate didn’t deliberately set out to get himself killed. It’s one thing to get hit by a car you don’t see. It’s another to step in front of a moving truck.”

  “I know.” Abbie placed a hand on his sun-browned arm. “I’m sorry.”

  He stood. “I’m going home tomorrow. I’d like to take you and Emma with me. If you decide not to come, I’ll need to take Emma. There’s no way I’m leaving her here, Abbie. I have a court order and if I have to, I’ll use it.”