Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 1)
Page 32
Timothy slid from the horse’s back, and circled around on foot through the undergrowth. He found a bushy thicket and hunkered down to sight his rifle when suddenly Rebecca reached out from under the bushes and grabbed his arm.
“The baby?” she whispered, in a barely audible rush.
Timothy nodded and held his finger to his lips.
He stepped through the woodland and heard a sharp click.
“There you are bitch!” Dianna stood over Rebecca, her gun cocked.
Timothy lifted his rifle and fired. The bullet found its target and Dianna Weintraub fell to the ground dead.
He hung his head and swallowed hard. Timothy tried to call to his wife. His chest was tightly fixed and he felt strangled, his breathing too constricted to utter a sound.
He saw her move in the thicket. “Rebecca,” he uttered.
“Timothy?” She scrambled to him, her face choked with tears. She threw herself to him violently as they held one another on the damp forest floor.
“The baby. Timothy, where’s the baby?” She shook uncontrollably and clung to his arm.
He pulled her to her feet without a word, nearly dragging her to the horse and flung her onto the Arabian’s back. Jumping up behind her he kicked the horse to a fast run.
“Is she alright?” Rebecca cried, her voice trailing off in their speed.
The huge animal carried his frantic riders swiftly along the narrow road, Rebecca clinging to the horses’ mane, the big hard man against her back.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Timothy reined the horse to a sudden halt, and leapt from the animal’s back. He began to search the area around the overturned carriage.
“Where is she?” Rebecca screamed as she slid from the horse and stumbled hysterically in the road.
Octavia emerged from the woods, her face streaming with tears. Rebecca gasped in terror.
The big woman walked to Rebecca and handed her the baby, sobbing deeply.
Rebecca took her daughter carefully, her face pale with fear and moved aside the blanket to see her infant daughter looking up at her calmly. Her arms began to tremble violently and she held the baby close to her.
“I never wanted it to be this way,” Octavia wept.
Timothy strode to Rebecca’s side and laid his arm across her shoulder protectively, his heart pounding thunderously in his chest.
“Your baby, she’s so beautiful.” Octavia choked. “I thought I was in love. I only wanted you to love me.”
Timothy looked at the big woman, and Rebecca held her baby close as they watched Octavia standing wretchedly in the road.
“She killed him for me, you know? She did it all for me. She said it was because she loved me!” Her cries turned to anger and she snarled.
“She didn’t love me, she only loved herself. The farm is in foreclosure. She needed money. She told me I was in love with you. It was easy for her to convince me because I had no idea what love was.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“It’s right here, though, isn’t it? You see! It’s right there in the baby’s innocent face. I was looking at her and I heard the shot. I know what happened. I know what Mother has done. I knew it had to happen. Your baby smiled at me, and I knew. It was not about love. It was never about love.”
“I’m sorry, Octavia.” Timothy hung his head.
“Don’t be, Tim. You can’t change any of it. You can’t bring back Uncle Finn. You can’t undo what Jude did to that poor horse. No one can do anything more about what Mother did to both of you. What I tried to do.” Octavia doubled over, consumed with grief. After several wrenching sobs she stood up and looked at them both.
“Timothy Elgerson, you were my friend once, and I was never really grateful for that. You take Rebecca home now. You take her and your baby home to Stavewood where they belong.
“I’m going to my mother. Mother thought you could capture love by hating. I don’t hate either of you. I never want to hate like she did.
“Rebecca, you love that baby. Teach her what love really means. She is the most perfect thing I have ever seen.”
Octavia gathered her skirt up around her feet and started up the road, turning into the woodland.
Rebecca buried her face into the strong shoulder of her husband, sobbing softly as she stood with her family in the road and heard the shot from Octavia’s pistol echo through the woods.
“It’s all over, Rebecca.” Timothy Elgerson whispered to his wife.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
The magnificent Queen Anne stood proudly on the hilltop, her majestic turret piercing the dazzling blue sky. Leaded glass windows glittered brilliantly, each facet reflecting the surrounding white pine and deciduous forest, as if the glorious spectacle existed entirely to frame the regal home.
“Welcome home, Rebecca.” Timothy smiled lovingly to his wife and daughter beside him as he pulled the carriage from the road into Stavewood.
The End
Dear Reader,
If you enjoyedStavewood I would be very thankful if you would post a positive review online. Your support is invaluable and I read all reviews. Your opinion will help me to continue to write other books. To leave a review, please visit the page for this book at Amazon. Select “Write a customer review”.
Thank you so much for your support!
Sincerely,
Nanette
South of Stavewood
In book two of theStavewood saga, at the wedding of Timothy and Rebecca Elgerson, the adventure of the family of Stavewood continues. Emma Harris arrives, Rebecca’s cousin from England, having followed the mail-order-bride on her own adventure. On that day Emma Harris becomes more than a guest and begins a new life in beautiful northern Minnesota.
Roland Vancouver, once a successful foreman at the Elgerson mill, attends the ceremony as well. Less than optimistic for a happy future, he can only hope for a miracle. That glimmer of faith puts him in the path of Emma and the promise of love that takes them both on a journey of a lifetime.
Follow the lives of the families ofStavewoodinSouth of Stavewoodand book three,Home to Stavewood, coming soon!
Books by Nanette Kinslow
Stavewood
South of Stavewood
Home to Stavewood
The Secret of Stavewood
Sweet New England
Ill Repute
Pie Crust Promise
The Matter with Margaret