by Linda Conrad
“I’m just a little tired. Surely I don’t need to…”
“Susannah. Samuel has chosen me to be your physical guardian. I will be your husband. Your teacher. And your guide in the way of the Devotees. Please do as I say.”
Oh, brother. “Yes, Jonathan.”
This time he did take her by the hand. “Now, there’s my girl. You sleep now. I have an important errand to do yet this evening and should go. But I’ll send someone to sit outside to make sure you’re safe.”
She was under house arrest? And he was running an errand at eleven o’clock? It sounded fishy to her. She almost opened her mouth to question him but realized in the nick of time that a proper Devotee woman would simply accept what they were told. She would have to tread carefully from now on.
She stood to show him out, still praying he would not force a kiss. Whatever was left in her stomach would come back up if he did.
At the door, he turned, and before she could escape, he placed a kiss on her forehead. “We will have a long, fruitful and significant life, Susannah. Pleasant dreams.”
And then he was gone. She peeked out the front window and watched him go down the front steps and onto the lighted sidewalk. Finally breathing easier, she remained quietly staring at his retreating back. He hadn’t driven; almost no one drove in town. So he must be walking to his errand.
But in a second he stopped in midstride and gazed around as if he was expecting someone to be watching him. Backing up to where she was sure he couldn’t see her, her curiosity flared.
What was going on with him? He was acting so strange.
He began creeping down the street as if he didn’t want anyone to notice him. But there wasn’t anyone on the street at this hour anyway. It was very odd.
On impulse, she grabbed her keys and jacket and inched out her front door. Where was he heading? If she was going to get out of her house, she had to go now before her guard arrived.
After all, if they were to be married, she had a right to know what Jonathan was up to. Or wasn’t that in the Devotee wife’s handbook?
Whatever. She couldn’t help herself. She had to find out.
Chapter 11
Nate had searched every damned barn on their entire property. He’d done it in record time, too. Barely a half hour had gone by since he’d left Sara’s rooms. By now his heart was pumping adrenaline to his body like a gas pedal pumping fuel to a race car.
He was having trouble breathing. And thinking was becoming out of the question.
For the third time, he stopped into the bunkhouse, hoping the young ranch hand had come back from his supper. Sure enough, the moment he walked in he spotted the kid.
“You looking for me, boss?”
Mac must’ve warned him. “When was the last time you saw Susannah Paul? I told you to stick with her while she was outside the house.”
“I did. Honest. All afternoon. She curried a half-dozen horses and then I helped her muck the stalls. She’s a hard worker, that one.”
Nathan gritted his teeth but held his temper. “Where was the last place you saw her?”
“Just finishing up in the barn. I was running a little late, so I told her to go next door to the office and walk back with you or Mr. Pierce. She said she would.”
The ranch hand fidgeted where he stood. “She was fine then, I swear.”
What the hell had happened to her between the barn and the office? “What time was this?”
“Near six. It was late.”
Nathan shook his head. He’d been there at six—right outside the barn arguing with his father.
The sinking feeling in his gut grew worse. “You didn’t see any strangers around about that time, did you?”
The ranch hand straightened up and threw his shoulders back. “No, sir. I wouldn’t have let them on the property. Or if I’d spotted them in the woods, I would’ve notified you right away.”
Nathan couldn’t be bothered soothing this earnest kid’s feelings at the moment. He was too dang worried about where Susannah had gone.
A few of the other hands were still awake in the bunkhouse, playing cards and watching TV. He turned to them and called out, “Hey, y’all, I need your help. Anyone here spot the woman who’s been staying with us on the ranch this afternoon? Her name’s Susannah. We can’t locate her.”
A lot of mumbling and shrugging went on for a few moments. But no one spoke up.
“Talk to the other hands, will you? If anyone saw her at all today, I want to know.”
“You want us to start a search party, boss?”
He didn’t hold out a lot of hope but said, “Check all the barns. I’ve checked them a couple of times myself. This time go over every inch. If she’s injured, she won’t be able to call out. I’ll call Ford McCall. I’m sure he’ll help, maybe organize a few men to search the woods.”
Storming out of the bunkhouse into the crisp and clear night air, Nathan was trying his damnedest to stay calm. With his hands shaking, he flipped open his cell and dialed Ford’s number.
Ford sounded sleepy, but Nathan couldn’t muster the reserve to apologize for waking him. “We have a problem out here, McCall. Susannah is missing, and my gut tells me she’s in trouble.”
“What? Hold on a second.” He could hear Ford yawn and clear his throat. “All right. Say that again.”
“Susannah’s gone. The baby’s here, but the mother’s missing. We’re searching the ranch, but if you could round up some help, we’ll need to check the woods, too.”
He couldn’t breathe but raced on out of breath to say what he most feared. “I think they may have gotten to her, Ford. The Devotees. Somehow they snatched her right off the ranch.”
“Hold on. Calm down. You say her child is still there and safe. But…”
Nathan interrupted him. “Yes, that’s why I’m sure something awful has happened. Susannah would never leave her child.”
“Well, now, I have big news for you, Nathan. That must’ve been just what she did. I saw her…early tonight in town. She was getting out of a car and heading into the boardinghouse where she has rooms. She looked happy enough to me. Some male Devotee I didn’t recognize right off was driving. And a couple more were in the backseat. She smiled at them and waved when they dropped her off.”
Nathan’s knees went weak. His brain could not process what Ford was telling him. It wasn’t possible. He refused—
“Are you sure it was her? You might’ve been mistaken.”
“No mistake. It was definitely her. I know this is particularly hard for you. Let’s hope Susannah comes to her senses.”
Nathan’s stomach churned, and he hung up the cell without saying another word. Not Susannah. It was impossible.
“Hey, boss. You okay? Are the police coming?”
Shaking his head, he turned his gaze to the same young ranch hand. “No need. She’s been spotted in Cold Plains.”
Clinching his fists at his side, he spun to face the kid head-on. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you a chance before. Apparently she left of her own free will. It wasn’t your fault. But I do want to know how those bastards got on and off the ranch without anyone seeing them.”
He suddenly thought of Melody. “We’ll need to set up a perimeter guard. At least two men should ride the fence line at all times. Armed. And everyone should stay alert for intruders. I won’t have those damned Devotees set foot on ranch property again.”
“I’ll tell Mac, sir.” The kid disappeared back into the bunkhouse.
Susannah had gone back—really gone, of her own free will.
With his chin dropped to his chest and his feet dragging through the dirt, Nathan started back toward the house. No one in the family was going to believe this. He didn’t believe it. She’d left her baby.
She’d left him.
He wanted to scream…shout. He wanted to find her and shake some sense into her.
Was it his fault?
Or was it something in her background that she’d never divulge
d that had made the difference? A couple of times he’d known she wasn’t telling him everything. Had some dark secret kept her from trusting him?
Was that what happened?
The crushing sensation in his chest made him cough. And the cough caused his eyes to water. Swiping a hand across his face, he sniffed and blew out a breath of air. He wasn’t sure he could live through this a second time.
He’d been heading toward the kitchen, but right this moment he couldn’t stand to face everyone with the bad news. Where could he go? Was there anywhere on the whole frigging place where he could hide out and lick his wounds?
His feet turned toward Sara’s rooms without him being fully aware of the intent. Stumbling forward, his mind filled with images of Susannah—mental pictures of her standing in the sunshine and smiling at him with that special come-to-me look in her eyes…visions of her lying in bed, Melody at her breast, and inviting him to join them broke what was left of his heart.
It had been the most spectacular few weeks of his life. He’d never fallen for anyone so fast and so hard.
Had it all been a ruse? Had she used him?
Considering everything they’d been through, he couldn’t find any reason for why she would’ve done such a thing. He told himself this must be yet another case of Samuel Grayson winning in the end. His hold on Devotees had to be so strong that it was nearly impossible to break free of the bonds he’d created.
Susannah. Susannah.
She was too sweet. She didn’t stand a chance with those Devotee sharks. Nothing had changed with them. If anything, things were much more dangerous than they had been when Laurel was there. Oh, God.
He burst into Sara’s playroom. It was late, but Kathryn was still sitting on the sofa in a low light.
“Did you find her?” she asked softly.
He could barely breathe again. “She’s in Cold Plains, Kathryn. Apparently she’d rather be there instead of here.”
“But that can’t be. What about Melody?”
The baby. “Where’s Melody?”
Kathryn pointed to the other side of the room, where a crib sat in the shadows. “I didn’t want to take her back to the house until we found her mother.”
He went to the baby’s crib and found Melody asleep on her back and looking so peaceful and unaware that it choked him up again. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he gently scooped up the child and cradled her in his arms.
“Don’t you worry, darlin’. You’re safe here with us.”
At least Susannah had enough sense to leave her baby behind with people who would love her and care for her as if she were their own. Why did she leave?
“I promise you, Melody. I swear on my mama’s grave you will never spend a bad day. I will treat you as though you were my own—more, if that’s possible. No family has ever shown a child as much love as you’ll get with us on the ranch.”
Kathryn came up beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Put her back down now, Nathan. Don’t wake the child.”
Tenderly, he placed the baby back in the crib and turned to Kathryn. “She’ll be all right, won’t she? What about feedings?”
Kathryn led him back to the sofa so they could talk. “Susannah left a couple of days’ worth of mother’s milk. After that, I imagine we can find a good formula. Babies have gotten along on a lot less than this one will have. I’m more concerned about Susannah.”
He felt the hurt and rage like a physical blow. “Don’t be. She made her choices. Let her deal with it.”
“You don’t really mean that.”
“The hell I don’t.” He jumped up and grabbed his hat. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to leave Melody here for tonight. We’ll work out sleeping arrangements and details tomorrow.”
“That’s fine. She’s no trouble.”
He headed for the door.
“Nathan, give yourself a little time. The hurt will fade. But rethink Susannah’s predicament. You can’t really mean to leave her with those awful people.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said without turning.
He was suffocating and needed air—lots of air. Maybe for the first time since his mother died, he would take one of the horses out for a midnight ride.
Anything to forget…anything to ease the pain.
Susannah stayed in the shadows as she followed Jonathan through the streets of Cold Plains. No one was out at this hour. Most people in Cold Plains were asleep.
So where was he going for his important errand?
He wasn’t headed toward the Cold Plains Community Center. And he’d turned away from Main Street and the side of town where restaurants and clubs might be still open and busy.
Was he going to a secret rendezvous? Did this jerk ask her to marry him when he already had a girlfriend on the side?
That didn’t sound much like something a proper Devotee should do. But then sometimes she got the feeling that Jonathan wasn’t such a proper Devotee.
The farther away from the center of town they went, the more curious she became. Jonathan was walking into sections of Cold Plains not yet remodeled. She hadn’t even known this neighborhood existed.
Houses here were older but not run-down. As she crept down the street, trying to keep Jonathan in sight and not let him know she was following, she came to the conclusion that this part of town must be where the locals lived—the local people who grew up in Cold Plains and hadn’t so far decided to join the Devotees.
Before she’d met Nathan, she never thought of those people. Maybe there were more of them around than she knew.
She’d been following Jonathan for almost twenty minutes and was starting to wonder about her safety. They’d left the residential streets and now were walking past abandoned stores and gas stations. When he walked in front of a vacant lot with trees and then turned into some kind of asphalt parking lot up ahead, she took advantage of an old, sturdy pine to hide behind while she tried to see where he was going.
He finally ducked into a building that looked about the size of a small warehouse. She spotted a lighted sign above the door that she had to squint to read.
Jones Brothers Mechanics and Machine Shop. What on earth was Jonathan doing here?
She didn’t dare get any closer. What if he came right out and caught her there?
Settling back against the pine, she decided her position here, in the trees next door, could not be spotted by anyone from the deserted-looking building. But with nothing much left to see, her inquisitive mind began going over the various things Jonathan had said, trying to make sense of all this.
Okay, so Samuel wanted her to marry Jonathan and produce babies. She heaved a deep sigh. But why did Jonathan want to marry her?
To please Samuel…well, sure. But what else? What would he gain by having a wife and children?
Maybe he expected to lead a more public life. What had he said earlier about being promoted? He was moving to a place of prominence in Samuel’s inner circle. But he’d already been made vice-mayor of the town a few months ago. How much higher could he go?
He could take the mayor’s job. But what about the man who was already mayor? What was his name? Oh, yes, Rufus Kittridge. She remembered him. He was a loud, broad-shouldered man with a round face and a huge, toothy smile.
But then where was the current mayor going? She couldn’t think of anyplace higher for him to climb. Samuel was the only person who could tell the mayor what to do. The police chief even took some instructions from the mayor.
Mayor Kittridge could be leaving town, she supposed. But according to Nathan, no one left the Devotees except in a box. And what did any of that have to do with a machine shop? It was all very odd. She couldn’t figure it out.
After standing there for a full hour, half expecting another car to show up, she figured so much for the idea that this was a meeting of some sort.
So Jonathan was a liar. It was not really surprising. But if he was a liar, what else might he be that she didn’t know about? The idea w
as chilling. No way was she marrying a guy she couldn’t trust. He might even be a murderer.
Wishing she could be safe and sound back in her bed with Nathan right now, she started to weep. But that wouldn’t help her. She sniffed away the tears, deciding to start being smart and look for any advantage over Jonathan.
Finding out what he was doing inside this building could be one way of getting something on him that would help to free her. However, she wouldn’t try moving in closer and get caught tonight.
She might be a little naive, but she was not too stupid to live.
And, oh, how she wanted to live, wanted to be a mother to Melody and a lover to Nathan, wanted a future…away from Devotees.
Getting too tired to stay, Susannah came to the conclusion that she’d found out everything possible for one night. She needed sleep…a few hours at least. It would be easy enough to sneak in the back way to her rooms.
Early tomorrow morning she would come back to this place and find out who owned the building. Someone who worked here would know something about Jonathan. She was sure of it.
Before first light, Nathan was up and on his way out to the bunkhouse to give the men their orders for the day. He supposed Mac could do this chore for him, but he’d gotten in the habit and doing something familiar this particular morning made him feel almost normal.
The smell of the raw earth and the predawn dew on the hay made him feel normal, as well. He loved it here…always had.
What a bad night. He’d tossed and turned for a few hours and then had taken his third cold shower in as many hours.
He still didn’t understand. Maybe he never would.
Susannah had claimed to love the ranch as much as he did. And the look in her eyes said she loved him, too. He felt as sure of that as anything in his life.
In fact, her love had changed him in their short time together. He’d been on the verge of becoming an angry old man before Susannah, untrusting and miserable. Due to her influence, he’d forced aside his old issues with the women in his life and learned to trust again.
