The weather had turned chilly today, bringing a cold wind from the east. Autumn was touching the leaves on the trees, turning them orange and red. She loved this time of the year, but she couldn’t enjoy it now. Next month would be her mother’s death anniversary... which meant it was hers and Terrick’s separation anniversary next week. Was it any wonder she couldn’t celebrate the cooler weather and the change of nature this time?
A movement from outside caught her attention, and she blinked to focus. Andrew walked out of the barn, swiping his leather gloves against his jean-covered thighs. The sun hit his sheriff’s silver-star badge, making it shine.
Bella quickly moved off the window seat and set her teacup on the nearby table before dashing out of the house. Andrew looked at her with surprise.
“Bella, why are you home? Isn’t it Wednesday? I thought you’d be in town.”
She had so many things to say to him, but she didn’t know which question to ask first. “I’m not going into town today. Besides, I have taken a position with the Wentworth family as their daughter’s teacher.”
His eyes widened, and his face turned red. “You work at the Wentworth Estate?”
“Yes, and before you start shooting off your mouth, let me tell you that you cannot believe what Garrett has told you. Terrick Wentworth is not a beast.”
The color in his face flamed, and he grasped her shoulders. “Bella, please believe me when I tell you that Terrick Wentworth is a beast.” His chest rose and fell quickly, and his nostrils flared. “You don’t remember much about the year you turned sixteen, but I do.”
Her hopes lifted, and she prayed her brother would be able to finally answer her questions. “Then tell me why I need to stay away from them. All I know is that they are a nice family, and they have treated me like I’m part of the family.”
Shaking his head, Andrew turned and pushed his fingers through his hair as he paced the ground in front of her. “You don’t understand.”
“Then make me understand.” A sob caught in her throat. “Andrew, I remember bits and pieces of that year, but they don’t match up with what Terrick has told me, and I want to know why.”
Andrew stopped and looked at her. “What has Terrick told you?”
“That we were in love, but Mother wanted me to have a few more years left of my youth before I married. Mr. Wentworth wanted Terrick to build his own empire before we married, which was why we couldn’t see each other for seven years.”
Her brother arched an eyebrow. “He didn’t tell you about abducting you?”
Bella gasped in shock. Her heartbeat sped faster, and her head pounded with disbelief. “Terrick didn’t abduct me.”
“How do you know? Do you remember it?”
“No, but Terrick said—”
“He’s lying to you,” Andrew shouted. “That whole family has been a thorn in our parents’ sides for years. You can’t believe anything they say.”
Tears stung Bella’s eyes, but it was the frustration growing inside her that made her want to scream. “Just tell me what happened to me when I was abducted.”
Andrew exhaled slowly and stepped closer to her, grasping her upper arms. “Mr. Wentworth took you from the library and into the woods by his estate. He was preparing for you and Terrick to leave town and get married.” He took a deep breath. “Search parties were looking for you all day, but it wasn’t until the next morning when you were found. There was a panther by your side, guarding you, and the cursed animal wouldn’t allow me or Father to get to you.”
The panther? No, that couldn’t be right. “Andrew, the panther tried to attack me the other day. Why would you think it’s trying to protect me?”
“I don’t know. All I can tell you is what I saw.”
“Did you try to kill the beast?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“No. Father thought the animal was Terrick.”
She snorted a laugh. “Why on earth would he think that?”
“Because Terrick is cursed. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. When we found you in the woods, the animal was protecting you. Only Terrick wanted to protect you. When I tried to shoot the panther, he ran away. That was how we were able to rescue you and bring you home.”
Still, there were so many questions buzzing through her pounding head. How could she believe any of this? And there was no way she’d believe Terrick could change into a beast. “How do you know it was Mr. Wentworth that abducted me?”
“Witnesses in town described him.”
“And how do you know he wanted me to run away with Terrick?”
“Why else would he take you?” Andrew shrugged.
“So, you have no proof?” She threw up her hands, breaking free of his hold. “Andrew, you are just like Garrett, believing the gossip in town.”
“Then why would he take you into the woods?”
“I don’t know, but believe me, I’d love to find out what really happened.” Closing her eyes, she breathed slower, trying to make the pounding in her skull ease up so that she could think again. After a few moments, she opened her eyes. “Andrew? Tell me, truthfully. I’m an adult, and I deserve to know the truth.”
He nodded. “Yes, you are old enough to handle reality now.”
“Was our Mother... a witch?”
His mouth hung open, and he blinked with wide eyes. “Are you insane? Why would you think that?”
Her headache wouldn’t let her go into details. Besides, she still needed to do as Terrick had suggested and find the proof she needed. “Don’t worry about it.” She swished her hand through the air. “I’ve been very distraught lately, and I’m not thinking straight.”
“Bella,” his voice was calmer this time, “you have been under too much stress lately, and I take responsibility. I should be helping you with Father more, but my job as the sheriff—”
“Andrew, I’m fine. Father is fine. If we need your help, I’ll send for you.”
Frowning, he nodded. “Go back inside. Until the panther is found, I don’t want you out here.”
She rolled her eyes and snickered. “Why? According to my brother, the panther protects me.” Bella shouldn’t have made her voice so sarcastic, but she couldn’t help it. Andrew’s story didn’t match Terrick’s description at all, and she honestly didn’t know which one to believe. She must listen to her heart. That was the only way.
“Are you coming inside?”
He shook his head. “No, I just came to check on the horses. The other day I noticed one had a cut on his leg.”
“Fine.”
She turned away from him and went back into the house. The warmth from the fire heating the room touched her skin. She hadn’t realized how cold it was outside until now.
From the other room, her father chuckled. She stepped into the room and glanced at him reading the newspaper as he sat in his cushioned chair with a blanket over his legs. At least his mind had somewhere to go. If only she could get hers on the right track.
Bella sighed and rubbed her forehead. Perhaps she needed to lie down and rest. She hadn’t gotten much sleep last night.
“Oh, not again.” Her father grumbled loudly.
She snapped her gaze toward him again, half expecting to see that he’d dropped something, or had spilled his teacup that sat on the small table next to his chair. Instead, he was still reading the paper.
“What’s wrong, Father?”
“That cursed animal is back.”
Her first reaction was to look out the window to see if the panther were here, but since her father couldn’t see out the window from where he sat, he couldn’t have been talking about that.
She moved to his chair and stopped. “What cursed animal?”
He pointed to the newspaper. On the page was a sketch of a panther. Although it wasn’t the one she saw the other day, it was similar. The heading above the picture was Wild Animal on the Loose. “What do you mean the panther is back?”
“The animal is cursed.”
She narr
owed her gaze on her father, trying to study his expression and read his thoughts, which were probably as jumbled as her own. Andrew had also referred to the panther as cursed. “Why do you think the animal is cursed?”
“It keeps showing up. It won’t leave us alone.”
She squatted to his level and looked into his eyes. “When did you see the panther, Father?”
“Years ago. You were sixteen. The animal was protecting you, and then he showed up again not long after your mother died.”
She sucked in a shocked breath. Father actually remembered that part of his life? It had been a long time since he’d said anything about his dead wife. Or were his words the mumbling of a man whose mind had gone mad? Yet, they matched what Andrew had said.
“Was that the only time you saw the panther?”
Her father’s gaze lifted from the newspaper, and he twisted around to peer toward the window and pointed. “I see him lurking in the woods.”
Fear clutched her throat. Was her father telling the truth? And why would he see the animal, and yet this was the first time she had? Well, that she could remember, anyway.
“When have you seen him lurking in the woods?”
“Last night after you had gotten home. He stayed and watched the house until late in the night.”
She wanted to scream with frustration from the confusion spinning in her head. It was hard to know if her father was rambling nonsense or telling the truth. Yet, he had mentioned her mother’s death, so perhaps he was in his right mind for now.
“Father? Who... cursed the panther?”
Slowly, his attention moved to her and their gazes locked. For the first time in months, she could see the lively father she had remembered growing up with, instead of the sickly, insane man. “Who, Father?”
“I did.”
NINE
BY MID-MORNING, TERRICK was ready to scream. He was up at the crack of dawn, and he went to the library and stayed there until he could solve the confusion with Bella’s book. Sadly, he couldn’t. The book she’d given him to study was definitely written for those that practice witchcraft. He wasn’t sure Bella could find something to go against his theory, but for her state of mind, he hoped she could.
He limped out of the library, leaning heavily on his cane. The cooler weather had made his leg stiff today, but he wouldn’t think about it. Be grateful, Bella had told him. A smile tugged on his mouth, and his heart lightened. This was why he loved her so much. Her heart was so kind, and she’d always had a positive outlook on life.
“I’m grateful for...” He paused, trying really hard to think of something to be happy for. “I’m grateful that Bella is back in my life.” Even though she couldn’t remember their time together, he wouldn’t give up trying. Little by little, she was remembering.
“I’ll have to agree with you on that one, son.”
Terrick’s father’s voice startled him, and he swung around to see his father leaning against the door frame of his study. Grumbling under his breath, Terrick wished he had noticed the man earlier, then he wouldn’t have spoken aloud.
“Good afternoon, Father.” Terrick stopped and met his father’s gaze.
The older man moved away from the door and met him in the hallway. His father clamped a hand on Terrick’s shoulder. “How are things coming along, son? As I’d just said, I’m happy Bella is back in our lives. I’ve been impressed with what she’s done with Ana.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed a change in Ana, too.”
“And, I might add, I’ve noticed a change in you.” His father winked. “Since Bella’s return, you don’t seem as grumpy.”
Terrick chuckled. “That’s because I love her. I always have. But it’s difficult not to remember that you were the one who wanted us apart for seven years.”
His father’s forehead creased. “I was only going along with Mrs. Walsh. It was her idea to have you apart for seven years.”
As Terrick studied his father’s serious expression, he wondered just how much his father knew – or at least what exactly the man had been keeping from his own son.
“Father? What do you know about Lucinda Walsh?”
His father’s awkward laugh told Terrick what he wanted to know. The man was keeping secrets.
“Lucinda? Why would I know anything about her?” His father turned and walked back into his study. “Bella was the one who came to the house to see you, not her mother.”
Terrick followed closely behind. “Father, I want the truth. Now!” He glared at his parent. “Don’t you think it’s time you told me what’s really going on? I blame you – and Lucinda – for ruining mine and Bella’s lives. I think you owe it to us to tell me the truth.”
His father sat behind his desk, relaxed back in his chair, and linked his fingers across his middle. The man’s expression was sober, and Terrick hoped his father would finally open up.
“Son, I’m sorry you blame me. All I wanted was for you to be happy, and if I had allowed you to marry Bella when you were both so young and immature, your lives would have turned out miserable.”
“Who are you to say that? You aren’t God, because God lets us choose for ourselves. Instead, you took that from Bella and from me. Both you and Lucinda.”
“Well, you have to agree that Bella was young.”
Terrick shrugged. “I know a lot of women who were married at that age. In fact, Bella’s own mother was that age when she married Marcus.”
“I’m sorry, son. All I know is that it felt right to have you wait.”
Terrick sat on one of the chairs in front of his father’s desk, mainly to rest his leg. “But what about Lucinda? What do you know about her?”
“Nothing.” His father’s gaze dropped to the desk as if he were looking for something.
“Stop lying to me,” Terrick growled irritably as he hit his fist on the desk. “For once, would you tell me the truth?”
His father’s gaze jumped up and met Terrick. “I don’t think you can handle the truth.”
“Try me. I’m stronger than you have ever given me credit for. You’ve always thought you needed to control me, but I’m telling you now, I am my own man, and I want the truth.”
Groaning, his father leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. “Lucinda...” He took a deep breath before lifting his gaze to Terrick. “I’ve been in love with Lucinda since Bella was a little girl.”
Shock slammed into Terrick, and he choked on a breath. Thankfully, he was sitting, or he would have been on the floor by now. “You were in love with Bella’s mother?”
“Marcus was rarely ever home since he traveled around to sell his inventions, and I took it upon myself to help the woman around her farm and with the animals. There were days when they didn’t have any food, so I gave her some of ours.” He shrugged. “She was very grateful for my help, and over time, our friendship became more. It was inevitable.”
“Were you... lovers?”
“Oh, no. Lucinda wasn’t that kind of woman, which I respected. But I know she loved me just as much as I loved her.” He sighed heavily. “Then, when you and Bella found each other and fell in love, I thought it was a wonderful idea. If I couldn’t have her mother, then Bella should be able to love and marry my son.”
Terrick shook his head slowly. “That doesn’t make any sense. If you approved of the idea, when why make us wait seven years?”
“Lucinda convinced me it was best for both of you. She wanted to make sure her daughter was really in love with you. She didn’t want Bella to marry the first man that came along and follow in her mother’s footsteps.”
Finally, things were starting to make sense – all except for one thing.
“Father? Was Lucinda a witch?”
The older man laughed. “Well, if she is, she had enchanted me for years.”
“Seriously, Father. You sound like an adolescent.”
“Yes, I know. It’s hard not to feel giddy whenever I think of Lucind
a.”
Terrick couldn’t help but grin. He knew that feeling well since Bella made him smile a lot. “But in all seriousness, was she a witch?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because of Bella’s memory loss. The only thing she can’t remember is the time she spent with our family and me.” Terrick relaxed in his chair. “Bella has a theory, and it makes sense. She says her mother probably cursed her to forget everything about me because Bella had been so miserable after we couldn’t see each other any longer.”
“That does sound like something a mother would do, but... Lucinda loved you, Terrick. She knew you would make Bella very happy.”
Confusion filled his head once again. Something wasn’t right. “Father, you’re twisting your words. Why would Lucinda want us apart for seven years if she thought I’d make her daughter happy?”
The look in Terrick’s father’s eyes let him know that the older man was pondering the question. Finally, maybe he had just hit the nail on the head of this whole fiasco.
Soon, the light of awareness flickered in Terrick’s father’s eyes. The man sighed heavily as his shoulders sagged.
“Marcus.”
Terrick cocked his head and narrowed his gaze. “Marcus was against his daughter marrying me?”
His father’s frown deepened. “Marcus must have suspected my feelings for his wife. And, if that were the case, he would not have wanted Bella anywhere near our family.”
A pain in Terrick’s gut twisted. “Would Marcus have dabbled in magic?”
His father shrugged. “Who is to say what the man did. His mind was always in the clouds with his inventions. They were more important to him than his family, from what I observed. So, perhaps, if he did know something about witchcraft, he could have been the one who made Bella forget.”
Terrick released a low groan. “And if he had, then he would be the only one to know how to remove the spell.” He shook his head as his gut twisted harder. “And now that the man is insane, I don’t see that happening.”
Bella's Beast Page 7
