Jack shook Fabrizo awake. "C'mon, the storm's over."
Fabrizo looked around, eyes blurred with sleep. The room was bathed in light. "What time is it?"
"A little after nine," Jack said. "We musta fell asleep last night."
"The girls'll be worried."
"I hope so," Jack said. Fabrizo shot him a puzzled look. "If they're worried about us, that means they're alright," Jack explained.
They dressed quickly and left without breakfast. If they hurried they could be home in just over an hour. The soggy ground slowed their pace, however, and they found themselves climbing over felled trees and limbs. "It was hardly a road to begin with," Fabrizo said. "Now, it really isn't one."
"It'll take forever to clear this out," Jack said. "We'll need help if we wanna finish before the first snow." He pulled his cost tighter around him. Snow wasn't far off. They might see it in just a couple of weeks. The storm hadn't just taken down trees; it had also taken the temperature down even further.
"I'll be glad to get home," Fabrizo said. "A hot breakfast and hot bath, and then I'll explain everything to Lucy."
Their spirits lifted as the house came into view. They hurried toward it, sliding through the mud. The knot in Jack's stomach tightened as they got closer. "Something's not right," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"Look," Jack said. The door was ajar. "Rose wouldn't leave it like that." They paused, listening to the silence. It pressed in on them, thick and eerie. Fabrizo nodded, and Jack pushed the door open with his foot. They stared at the destruction within. Jack's blood turned to ice. He knew what happened. It was his greatest fear come true. "Maybe—Maybe she's still here," Fabrizo said weakly.
Jack didn't answer. He stepped inside. He saw the blood spattered on the floor, and he felt sick. He'd done this; it was his fault. "Rose," he whispered.
…
Cal offered no resistance. They carried Rose and Lucy back to the house. Lady followed along, staying close to Rose. Tom kept the shotgun at Cal's back as they walked. He tied him to a post on the back porch. Cal slunk to the floor, glaring.
"We'll have to get the doctor," Tom said. Lucy was standing with Billy's help, but she was pale and shaking. Her face was bruised. Rose lay in Adam's arms, limp and barely conscious. Her skin was hot to the touch; her face and throat were an array of black and blues; blood soaked through her skirt.
"I'll get him," Billy offered.
"Take Lucy upstairs first," Tom said.
"What about the sheriff?" Adam asked.
"That can wait," Tom replied. "He's not going anywhere."
….
They put Lucy to bed. Billy helped her change into dry clothes with only a little embarrassment. He averted his eyes and focused on the problems at hand. It was more difficult with Rose. They couldn't leave her in wet clothes, but they didn't feel comfortable removing them. She wasn't their sister, after all. "The doc can do it," Adam said.
"It'll be an hour before they get back," Tom pointed out. "She can't stay cold that long."
"Poor thing. She looks about gone already."
"And that's why we have to do what we can for her," Tom said.
They kept their eyes away from her body as they stripped her wet layers and replaced them with a clean nightgown from Lucy's drawer. Adam blanched when he saw the blood. "Is she hurt worse than we thought?" he asked.
"See if you can catch Billy," Tom said. "Tell him to fetch Mrs. Pembroke first. There should be a woman here."
"Alright."
"And go see about things at their place," Tom added. "Find out where Jack is." In the midst of everything, Fabrizo had been forgotten.
…
Jack couldn't see. The room swam before his eyes, and try as he might, he couldn't make it stop. "Here," Fabrizo said, putting a glass of cold water in his hands. Jack stared at it. "Drink it," Fabrizo said. "Or splash it on your face. Whatever'll help."
Jack took a sip, but swallowing was impossible.
"The kitchen looks normal," Fabrizo said. "It must've happened in here."
"I knew something was wrong," Jack said. "I knew I shouldn't have left her."
Fabrizo wanted to reassure him, but what could he say? The broken furniture, the smashed window, the blood on the floor all spoke for themselves. Rose was gone. The dog was gone. And Lucy, if she'd been there, was gone too. His own fears threatened to choke him. He fought against it; both of them couldn't fall apart. "We have to look for her," he said.
They met Adam on the porch. "Where were you?" he cried. "Do you have any idea what happened?"
"We were in town," Fabrizo said. "The storm caught us. Where are the girls?"
"They're over at our place," Adam said. He cocked his head at Jack, who stared, unblinking. "Is he alright?"
"It was a shock," Fabrizo said. "What we found." He touched Jack's arm. "Jack? The girls are alright. Lucy's brothers found them. They found Rose."
"Rose," Jack said, more to himself than anyone else. He looked at Adam as if seeing for the first time. "You know where she is? You've seen her?"
"Why don't you two go on over there?" Adam suggested. "Tom'll explain everything. I'll see to things here."
Jack nodded. "Yeah, we'll do that."
"Thanks," Fabrizo said.
Normally, Fabrizo could run as quickly as Jack, but as they ran the two miles it was a struggle to keep up with him. They didn't bother to know before going in. "Rose?" Jack called. Tom appeared at the top of the stairs. "Where is she?" Jack said.
"Up here. Lucy too."
Jack didn't say a word; he just leapt up the stairs and followed Tom's nod to the right door.
"Can I see her?" Fabrizo asked. "Lucy?"
"For a minute," Tom said. He glanced behind him. Seeing Jack was out of earshot he added, "She's in better shape than Rose. They're both hurt and sick, but Rose doesn't look good. She-I'm not sure, but I'm afraid there might be more wrong," Tom said. "I sent Billy after the doctor and the mid-wife. She may be able to help."
Fabrizo shook his head. "Poor Rose. She told me…."
"So then…."
"Maybe," Fabrizo said.
"Did Jack know?" Tom asked.
"She was waiting to tell him."
They stared at the closed door for a moment. "I know Lucy'll want to see you," Tom said. He had questions he intended to get the answers to, but for now, seeing the girls safe and cared for was enough. Whatever happened, whoever the man on the porch was, Jack and Fabrizo weren't involved with him. Tom was certain of that.
…
Jack gazed down at Rose. He could clearly see the fingermarks around her throat, on her arms, the handprints left behind on her face; the damage inflicted by Cal was vividly colored and impossible to look away from. The sick feeling took hold again. Jack dropped to his knees and picked up her hand. It burned in his. "Rose," he whispered. "My Flower-Girl. My Petal." He kissed her fingers. "I'm so sorry. I should never have left you alone."
Gently, he kissed her cheek. The heat radiating from her couldn't be ignored. "What happened?" he wondered, brushing back her hair.
Rose's eyes cracked open. "Jack?" Her voice was a rasp.
"I'm here, Rose. It's me."
"Cal….He…."
"Ssshh. I know," he said. "You're safe now. You and Lucy. Her brothers found you. He can't hurt you anymore."
"I was afraid…he'd find you…."
"Don't worry about me," Jack said. "Just rest." He kissed her again, barely moving his lips across her bruised skin. "You're safe, Rose-Petal. I'm here. I won't leave."
Jack closed his eyes and lay his head against her hand. He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard the door open. He jerked up, muscles tensed. Tom held up a hand. "Just me," he said. "I've got someone here to help Rose." He stepped aside and a middle-aged woman came into view. She wore her dark hair in a neat bun; her eyes were alert and clearly missed nothing. Recognition flashed in them. "Well, if it isn't Jack Dawson," she said.
"Mrs. Pembroke," he said.
"I hear your wife's having some trouble."
"She-" Jack looked at Tom.
"Let's go downstairs a minute, Jack," Tom suggested. "The doctor's with Lucy. He'll look in on Rose when Mrs. Pembroke's finished."
"But Rose—" Jack began.
"Will be just fine," Frances assured him. She put a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be back up here before you know it."
Jack kissed Rose's hand again before allowing himself to be led into the hallway. "What's going on?" he asked.
"That's what I'd like to know," Tom said. "C'mon. Let's talk downstairs."
Jack hesitated, his hand on the doorknob. "Yeah, alright," he said. "You deserve to know everything."
…
Lucy's room was bright. A braided rug was on the floor; it matched the curtains. The walls were a pale blue. Fabrizo sat in a chair next to her bed. He'd been there since the doctor left. She slept lightly. Her hand was warm, but he could tell the fever wasn't strong. Her face was bruised on one side. He felt guilty for his relief at her condition, but he felt even worse about her involvement in all of it.
"This shouldn't have happened," he said. "It has nothing to do with you." He pressed her hand to his cheek. "I'm sorry, Lucia. I didn't know. I never thought….When Jack was worried I told him he was overreacting. If I'd listened, if we'd come back right then, maybe…" He kissed the corner of her mouth. "I love you," he said. "I knew I did, but I was afraid to admit it. You….I didn't know if you'd feel the same. I don't care anymore. Lucia, you need to know. I want to be with you."
"You love me?" she whispered. Lucy half-opened her eyes. "Really?"
"You heard all that? I thought you were asleep."
"Mostly, I was," Lucy said. "I thought it was a dream."
"It's not a dream. I'm here, Lucia. I'm so sorry," Fabrizo said.
"It's not your fault," she said. "I'll be alright. He didn't hurt me very much, and I'm not that sick."
"He shouldn'tve been able to hurt you at all."
"Is Rose alright?" she asked.
"The doctor's with her," Fabrizo said.
"Good."
"I don't know what would have happened if your brothers hadn't been there," he said. "When I think…I can't think about it."
"I'm surprised they didn't kill him."
"Where is he?" Fabrizo asked.
"Outside. Or he was."
"You're sure?" he said.
"I'm sure it's him," she replied. "Her husband."
"She told you?"
"Last night," Lucy said. "She told me everything. We ran out into the storm and hid in the cave. It's near here. He found us this morning, right before my brothers did."
"They might not've killed him, but Jack will," Fabrizo predicted. "And if he doesn't-"
"Don't talk like that. I don't want you thinking that way."
"Lucia, what he did-"
"I know what he's done," Lucy said. "But you're too good a man for that. You're all too good for it."
Fabrizo kissed her. "Ti amo, Lucia."
"I love you too. Really, Fabrizo, I do," she said.
It wasn't the wild, youthful love she'd had for Jack. That would never fully go away. This was different, deeper, more nourishing. Sweeter. It was a feeling she could trust.
…
"Ordinarily, I'd say it's none of my business," Tom said. "But this affects us now. Lucy got involved, and-"
"I'm sorry," Jack said. "You don't know how sorry I am. I feel awful she was hurt. It's my fault, and I can't ever thank you enough for helping Rose like this."
"Of course we helped her. Even if Lucy hadn't been there, we woulda helped," Tom said. "Now, who in the hell is he? What's this about? And where were you two?"
"Me and Fabrizo went into town yesterday morning," Jack explained. "Before the storm. We thought it wouldn't take long. Rose stayed behind. She said she wasn't feeling well. I didn't wanna leave her. I had this feeling….It kept getting worse the longer we were gone."
"So the storm kept you in town," Tom said.
"Right. He must've seen we were gone. He was probably waiting for us to leave, the bastard."
"Who is he?" Tom asked again. "Someone you met-"
"No, he's-" Jack paused. "Tom, I'm gonna tell you something we've tried to keep secret. It doesn't matter now, I guess. I said I'd tell you everything, and he's already found us. Rose and me….we're not married, not technically. She-"
"Good God, that's her husband?" Tom said incredulously.
"No," Jack said. "Well, yeah, in a way, but not to us."
"You can't just go off with someone's wife-"
"She's my wife," Jack said forcefully. "I love her. You saw what he did to her. That's not the first time. He hurt her before. When we met she was so afraid and so sad." Jack shook his head. "I couldn't leave her there. She wanted to go with me. Even if she hadn't loved me back, I woulda helped her escape. Tom, you gotta understand I-"
"I do," Tom said. "I probably would have done the same thing."
"I'm so sorry he hurt Lucy. She's not-"
"Lucy will be alright," Tom said. "I'm not excusing what happened. This isn't over as far as I'm concerned, but she's in better shape than Rose. Much better shape. I guess he wasn't really interested in her," he added grimly. "She didn't say much before we put her to bed, but she did tell us she got away yesterday. She went back to help Rose. Why she didn't just come get us, I don't know. Guess she wasn't thinking straight."
"If she hadn't gone back…." Jack let out a heavy breath. "I can't think about that."
"He's out back, you know," Tom said. "We've got him tied up. We-"
"What?" Jack cried. "He's still here?"
"Sure. We-"
Jack turned on his heel and was halfway to the back door before Tom could say any more. "Jack, what are you doing?" Tom asked. "Adam's going after the sheriff, and when-"
"Sheriff can't help," Jack replied. "Not with him."
"Sure he can. We all-"
"No." They stepped outside. Cal lifted his head. His face was a stone mask. "The law won't touch him," Jack went on. "Not with his money. Will they?" Cal didn't respond. His eyes were mocking.
Jack didn't intend for it to happen. He moved before he realized what he was doing. The kick was well-aimed, hitting Cal square in the kidney, the full force of Jack's seething emotions behind it. Cal sucked in his breath and clenched his jaw but made no sound. Jack kicked again. "No-one'll do anything!" he yelled. "And we'll have to keep hiding!" Another kick. "That's what you want, isn't it?" He grabbed Cal's hair and jerked his head back, smacking it against the post. "We won't," Jack said in a deadly calm voice. "We're not gonna be afraid. If I hafta kill you now-"
"Jack." Tom took hold of his arm. "That's enough."
"Tom, you don't understand-"
"I do," Tom said. He looked into Jack's eyes. "This won't help Rose. If the law won't touch him, what do you think'll happen if you kill him? Be smart, Jack."
"Are you saying we do nothing?" Jack cried.
"I'm telling you to wait for the sheriff," Tom said.
"And I told you-"
"Trust me," Tom pleaded. "We'll get him."
Jack stared at Cal, whose mouth turned up in a sneer. "I don't know if I can believe that."
"You're suffering from delusions if you think anything will come of this," Cal said. "Anything that benefits you, anyway."
Jack moved toward him. Tom held him back. "No," he said. "Let's go see about the girls. There should be news by now."
…..
Lucy, it was predicted, would make a fast and full recovery. She needed only rest and plenty of food and drink. "I'd like to stay awhile," Fabrizo said. "If I can."
Billy looked at Tom. Adam looked at Rom. "I think that would be alright," Tom said. "She'd like to have you here."
"I want you to know, if I could've done anything to protect her, I would have," Fabrizo said.
"I suppose you know," Tom said. "All about Rose?"
"I knew. I was with them when it started, when they first had trouble with him."
"If you knew there was a threat, you should have told us," Adam said angrily.
"I didn't know-"
"You knew it was possible," Billy argued.
"I didn't think he'd find them," Fabrizo said. "I never thought Lucy would be involved. I wouldn't let anyone hurt her, ever. I love her."
"We know," Tom said. "Your intentions are good. This wasn't your fault."
"Rose—" Fabrizo began.
"Rose is going to stay here until she's strong enough to go home," Tom said. "It's too cold to move her even just a few miles." He glanced up at the ceiling. "Which means Jack'll be staying here too."
There was a knock on the door. They waited while Billy answered it. He came back with a sturdy man with salt and pepper hair and a thick mustache. "Sheriff's here," Billy said.
…..
Jack lay next to Rose, one arm over her, the other beneath her head. She drifted in and out of sleep. She had cooled down some, but not enough. He could tell just by looking at her. When they told him about her condition they tried to make it sound better than it was. Just a fever brought on by exposure, the doctor said. A flu. She'd get over it. There was an unspoken If lurking in that statement. Jack sensed it. If it didn't get worse. If she still had the strength to fight it. Her injuries and the ordeal she'd suffered through had drained her energy. Losing the baby sapped her even further.
Frances assured him it meant nothing about her health. "She'll be able to have others," she said. "It might have happened anyway. When it's early you can never tell." She told him Rose would heal quickly, but he saw the dress, stuffed in a bucket and hidden in the kitchen. He saw the blood and knew there was more to it; this wasn't as simple as Frances wanted him to believe. Nor was it a random occurrence. If Cal hadn't been there it never would have happened. Jack was certain of it.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered. "I woulda stayed with you." He wondered if she knew what happened or if it was lost in the trauma. Part of him hoped she hadn't even known she was pregnant yet. That might spare her from being told she wasn't anymore.
Jack knew when it happened. At first he wondered. They were always careful. But no, not always. There was that night when they wanted each other too much to think. He remembered kissing her belly, her hands in his hair, her arms around him-Jack opened his eyes and moved closer to her. That night was over. Looking at her pale, bruised face, he feared they wouldn't have another like it.
Jack tensed as the door opened. Billy stuck his head inside. "Sheriff's here," he said.
"Alright."
AN: Next week I'll get back to posting two chapters. I'm sorry it took so long to get last week's up!
