Eternal Oath

by Jewel Quinlan

  Falk racked his brains, trying to think what to do. Coming to the church had been a mistake. They should have gone with his original plan. Why had he agreed to circle back?

  The sound of male voices came from out front. He pulled a trowel from his waistband and positioned himself between Linda and whoever came.

  The whole moment in time felt surreal. All around them, birds chirped in forest, and the creek bubbled with a joyful sound behind them. Sunlight made every leaf and twig stand out in sharp distinction in the cool air of day. Yet, despite all those things, Falk tensed himself for battle. Getting ready to harm people he’d known for years. He tucked his hair behind his ears and clenched his fingers tighter around the gardening tool, ready to leap out at any second.

  “Stay here,” he whispered to her. He wanted to move closer to the corner of the church so he could peer around and see what they were doing.

  She shook her head. “No! Don’t leave me!” she whispered back. “Don’t leave.” Her fingers clutched at his sleeve.

  “I’m just going to see if they’re coming,” he said. “I would never leave you.” And again, with those words, an ethereal feeling reverberated through him again, filling him with conviction. They would never be parted. He would see to it.

  “Okay.” Her hands unclenched from the fabric of his shirt.

  He moved as quietly as he could toward the corner of the building, his every sense drawing taut.

  A few steps away, he felt Linda tug at the back of his sweater. He turned around. “I told you, I’ll just be a sec.”

  But she shook her head at him. “No. Look!” She pointed back at the building, at its base.

  At first, he had no idea what she showed him, but then, as he moved closer, he saw it. A small, square, dark opening there at the base. Together, they knelt next to it.

  It looked like a window to a basement, but, on closer inspection, he found it was an opening to a crawl space beneath the house. Thank God! He pulled the small flashlight from his pocket and shined it inside. Not long enough to get the full layout, but enough to see about three feet of vertical space, and nothing near the entrance for them to stumble and make noise on.

  He motioned to Linda to climb through. She went without hesitation, and he followed right after her. In the dark, they scooted back farther from the entrance through damp and cobwebs and other nasty things they could not see, but neither of them breathed a single noise of complaint. Instead, they settled down to listen.

  “See anything?” came Andrew’s voice.

  “Nothing,” said Jensen.

  “I told you their tracks keep going on up ahead.”

  “Hmm.”

  The sound of steps came from the stairs, and then the main doors rattled as someone tried to open them.

  “Come on. We’d better keep going. They’re getting pretty close to town,” Andrew said.

  “This’ll just take a second,” Jensen replied. “Don’t forget the door to the greenhouse was locked as well, but they somehow got in and hid there.”

  Andrew grunted.

  Falk’s mind spun. How did they know they had been hiding in the greenhouse? They had come and gone without leaving a clue. They must have gone back and checked. But he was disrupted from his musings as a loud noise sounded from the church doors. Bang! Bang! Bang! It sounded like someone throwing their body against the doors again and again.

  Linda moved closer to Falk’s side, and he wrapped an arm around her. They held still as the threat above tried to find its way in.

  Soon, the sound of wood splintering and the thud of footsteps on the floor rang overhead. Hinges squeaked as closets and so forth opened and closed and crashes as furniture was overturned.

  Linda flinched underneath his arm at a particularly loud noise, but other than that, she remained quiet and motionless.

  “We have to be ready to move,” he said. “Do you have a tool handy? We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

  “Yes.” She pulled a spade from her belt. He could make out its point in the dim, dusty light.

  “Good.” He eyed the vents leading to the crawl space. Would they even notice them? Would they check? Was it safe to go out the way they came? After a short internal debate, he decided it was. The way they’d come in was the farthest vent away from the main doors where the men were. He crawled toward it, and Linda followed him. They paused to the side of the entrance and waited.

  “Told you they weren’t in there,” Andrew said. “They’re down the trail. If we’d kept going, we could’ve had them by now.”

  Instead of responding to Andrew’s petulant tone, Jensen said, “Let’s go.”

  Thuds sounded on the stairs again and then the roar of engines and the bikes started up, followed by the pelting sound of gravel as they took off down the trail.

  “We can’t go in to town,” Falk told Linda. “But we have to get out of here. Fast.”

  Chapter Eleven

  They burst around the side of the church, across the path, and into the forest, running as fast as they could. Their circular path took them back to the creek but farther from where it intersected the stone bridge, heading upstream. They probably left tons of signs behind them, showing their direction, but running was their only option. Linda could imagine Andrew and Jensen charging down on them with the bikes, running them through with knives, and her heart pounded in response.

  Doing their best to obscure the trail, they walked in the water. They couldn’t run on the moss-covered rocks, so they had to stick to the shallow parts, ears straining for any sound of the dirt bikes as they went. But Linda doubted they heard much over the gurgle of flowing water.

  “What do we do now?” she called out to Falk.

  “Maybe you should tell me,” Falk replied. “Have you had any other visions that would help us?”

  “No. None.”

  They reached a wider part of the creek and were slowed even further, trying to not trip on holes and pockets beneath the water’s surface. But there wasn’t much of a shallow.

  “It’s no use,” Falk said after a couple minutes of slogging along. “We’re going to have to go along the bank.”

  Linda could have cried with relief. Her toes were so numb she feared she might lose one.

  They waded out of the water to the bank and began running.

  Linda focused on the ground as she went, doing her best not to stumble and fall as she picked her way over and around the mix of brush and rocks. But she was tired. The high level of adrenaline coursing through her disappeared a while back, and the spurts of panic and frantic activity drained the last of her reserves. It had been impossible to get her heart and breath under control when her mind was consumed with survival. To top it off, it seemed like an eternity since they’d last eaten or drank anything. Her stomach grumbled in response to her thoughts and twisted in a tight knot.

  As hard as she tried not to, she stumbled. Her toes caught on a root half buried in the dirt, and she went sprawling. Her palms were scraped and bloody from cushioning her fall on the gravel. She gently swiped them together as she sat back on her heels, trying to get the dirt off.

  “We can’t keep this up,” she panted. “Where are we even going anyway?”

  “The lake.” Falk held a hand out to her. “It’s not much farther. And look, the rest of the way looks a lot smoother.”

  Linda tilted her head, trying to think what was near Baron Lake. It was small and remote, a place the locals went fishing, but that was all. Her father and Falk used to go all the time, but she’d never been into baiting hooks and sitting in the sun.

  She rose and dusted the dirt off her pants. “The lake. Okay, and then what?”

  He took her hands in his and inspected them. “These are going to need cleaning and some antiseptic. You should wash them in the creek for now.” He pulled her closer to the water and, bending down with her, massaged her hands in the water.

  Strands of golden-blond hair
fell around his face, their color reflecting the sunlight. It had always fascinated her. She often wondered if names existed for every single one of the many shades the strands held. As Falk washed her hands, she could make out the shape of his light-brown lashes against his cheeks. Despite the splash of icy water on the scrapes on her hands, she felt a flush spread within her.

  Falk had always been strong and beautiful. Sometimes she wondered if he knew how alluring he was. The girls in school had flirted with him and envied Linda’s closeness with him. When she was younger, she’d sometimes felt like his shadow, a moth drawn to the light. But later it became clear he enjoyed her company and it had helped her to see her own value and filled her with a confidence she didn’t think she would have had without him. They had always been good for each other, she mused.

  He looked up at her, the clear depths of his eyes reflecting her feelings. For a moment, they gazed at each other, and Falk reached up to trace a finger down her cheek.

  “We’re going to be okay.” He stood, pulling her with him. “They’ll have a hard time finding us once we get there.”

  “Get where?”

  “The Swenden family has a cabin up here, and I know where the spare key is hidden.” He gave her a mischievous wink.

  “Thank God! I’m about to collapse from exhaustion.” If the Swendens had a place there, it had to be the only one. The lake was as secluded as it got.

  “Well then, come on, slacker. Bet I’ll beat you there,” he teased and went trotting off ahead of her.

  She grinned. Although she didn’t fish, and the jagged, heart-spiking course they’d just come through had been hard for her to tackle, running along smooth ground was her thing. She’d competed in several marathons since the age of fourteen. Obviously Falk was doing what he could to snap her into that mode. The one where she had the grit to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The bursts of running and hiding they done had made it impossible for her to settle into that mode. But now she reached deep within herself for it. She took control of her breaths, shook off her fatigue, and the feel of her wet socks squishing around in her shoes, and focused on the ground ahead of her the same way she would a racecourse. One foot in front of the other and steady breathing was what it was all about. Somehow, the thought of an end point to their journey filled her with new energy, raising her above her fatigue and making her forget her hunger sapped reserves.

  Within minutes, she found her second wind, her body thrumming harmoniously at a familiar task. It was amazing how having a goal to reach, safety, could make things so much easier. The last of the distance ticked by, and soon Falk began breathing heavily and lagged behind. The endurance he’d built up working in the woods, and playing sports like soccer in school, had served him earlier this morning, but he was at the end of it now whereas she had more to give from her training. She taunted him on the way to keep him going. A little farther the creek went under the main road and they climbed the grade up to the asphalt.

  Either way, the bare stretch of highway came and went through the thick cluster of forest.

  “The lake is around the next bend,” Falk said. “There are trails to five different towns from here. We can spend the night and, in the morning, continue on the trail to Peony. I think it will be safe. It would take a miracle for them to figure out where we went and catch us.”

  “Good,” Linda breathed. The sun had long since passed midday, and they had a few more hours until it got dark. “Are you sure we shouldn’t stay on the road and try to flag a car down?”

  Falk shook his head. “We can’t chance it. They’re too close as it is, and if they are the first to get to us…. Well, no one will hear anything where we are.”

  “Okay. Guess you’re right.”

  He cocked his head back the way they came. “I don’t hear anything, so I think we’re in the clear for now. We can slow down for a bit and catch our breaths.”

  Feeling safer, they continued at a walk, hand in hand down the road.

  “Do you think Sarah is okay?”

  “I’m sure of it,” Falk said. “No one could be craftier than her. How else do you think she got me to eat peas when I was young?”

  Linda laughed. “That’s right, she did. What in the world did she say to convince you?” Falk detested peas. He’d always said they were like nasty little land mines that exploded with a sweet and chalky consistency in the mouth.

  “I can’t tell you.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m sworn to secrecy. Besides, if I tell you, you might try to use it against me some day.”

  “True. I need all the help I can get.” Linda chuckled. “You’re really stubborn sometimes.”

  “Last I checked it was a signature Hartmann trait. Look at your father.”

  She sobered at his words. “Do you think they did anything to Dad?” Linda asked, her voice low.

  “No. They must be waiting for nature to take its course,” Falk said. “I’m kind of glad he’s in the hospital now. Not much they can do while he’s there.”

  Before them, the road opened up to a view of the lake. It twinkled blue and peaceful, and different birds swam across it or waded at its edges. Had it been any other day they would have stopped to enjoy the sight of it.

  “This is it. We turn here.” Falk motioned to an almost hidden dirt road to their right.

  Linda followed him as they walked up it. It turned steep almost right away and forked in a few places, but Falk never faltered. Tired, soggy, and hungry, Linda was about to ask Falk how much farther when he came to a stop and she almost ran into him.

  There in front of them stood a small cabin shrouded by the forest. The logs it had been made of camouflaged it with the forest. It had four steps leading up to it, a green shingle roof, and a stone chimney.

  She let out a long sigh. “What a beautiful sight.”

  Falk grinned at her. He pulled the key from its hiding place underneath the staircase and opened the door.

  The contrast between the inside and outside was distinctive. A fine Persian rug lay on the floor before the fireplace where a brown leather couch was flanked by chairs with gray, geometric patterns. The small kitchen beyond contained stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops. Through the doorway to the left lay a bedroom, and Linda caught a glimpse of a thick down comforter on a bed that had several pillows arranged at the head of it.

  “Wow,” Linda gasped. “You never would have guessed how nice this place was from the outside.”

  Falk moved toward the fireplace. “Exactly what Mr. Swenden had in mind. He wanted a place remote and peaceful for his fishing trips but also a place Mrs. Swenden would still come with him.”

  “He outdid himself. This place is magical.” She paused. “Let me guess. There’s no phone here.”

  Falk shook his head. “You guessed right. No TV either. It’s supposed to be a getaway.” He pulled two glasses from the cupboard and filled them with water.

  “Great,” Linda muttered.

  “Why don’t you go on in to the bathroom and take a shower? Should feel good after what we’ve been through today,” Falk suggested, handing her a glass. “I’ll see if there’s anything to eat.”

  Linda couldn’t help making a scoffing noise as she took the cup and walked toward the back bedroom. “You, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and luxury furnishings but no phone. I should be ecstatic, but not today.”

  Falk’s chuckle trailed after her as she left the room. The master bedroom was as nice as the rest of the place, and, after bemoaning her appearance in the mirror, she stripped down so she could stand under the warm shower water. It stung or soothed her depending on which area of her body it touched. She leaned against the tiled wall, head down, to enjoy it as it seeped through and erased the chill that had laced through her. As she soaked, she pondered the events of the past few hours.

  Why would loyal servants in their household attack? The question had circled round and round in her head since everything had begun,
but she had yet to think of an answer. There had to be more to it than what she saw, but what?

  What did Jensen and Andrew have to gain if she and Falk died? And her father? They weren’t relatives. Nothing would be passed down to them. They had no rights to any of the Hartmann wealth. If they were lucky, her dad would have left them a monetary bonus out of appreciation. Something generous no doubt. Why would they risk losing it? The depth of their betrayal stirred a sick feeling inside her.

  She sighed and opened her eyes. Whatever was going on, it wouldn’t be resolved right now, without any more information. Better to make use of the fragrant pink soap in the tray….

  After her shower, Linda found a robe in the closet and went to join Falk in the kitchen. The wonderful smells coming from it inundated her nostrils and made her stomach twist in ravenous hunger. Despite having excellent stamina, she was running on emergency reserves.

  “You look refreshed,” Falk commented. He stood at the stove stirring something in a pot.

  His gaze skimmed her form, making her aware of the fact she wore nothing beneath the robe.

  “Mind keeping an eye on this stuff while I take a shower, too?” He held the spoon out to her.

  “Not at all. What are you making? It smells good.” She took it from him and moved to stand next to the stove.

  “Spaghetti. They had all the ingredients, even some premade garlic bread in the freezer.”

  “Yum!”

  He gave her some instructions regarding the pots on the stove and then told her how long to cook the bread waiting on a cookie sheet on the counter for the oven to preheat. Then he gave her a hug from behind and kissed her on the cheek. “See you in a couple minutes.”

  Chapter Twelve

  They ate in silence, both so hungry their full attention centered on shoveling food into their mouths. The warm spaghetti and salty garlic bread was exactly what they needed. Falk had even lit a fire in the fireplace, and before long the cabin became toasty warm. Afterward, he invited Linda to sit on the couch with him so they could enjoy the dancing flames.