CHAPTER 29
"Adam Pierson?" Asher Devan repeated. "I've never heard of an immortal named Adam Pierson
… must be new." His tone of voice signaling to Mitchell that he wasn't concerned.
"Well whoever he is … he's friend's with Duncan MacLeod … and he and Ms. Ralston are pretty
tight if you know what I mean." Blake Mitchell replied.
"I didn't know my revenge against her would be so complete … first her husband … and now her
lover … " Devan laughed at the thought. "Everything is in place for my 'death' on Tuesday … and
once I've cleared this place I'll be in Seacouver a few days later."
"I'll see what I can do about getting my hands on her before then." Mitchell replied. "But if he
gets in the way?"
"If he gets in the way … get rid of him … get rid of any of them. As long as she is alive …"
"I thought you might want to take him out yourself …"
"It will be enough to see her face after suffering another loss … I don't need to be the hand,
although I would enjoy it."
"Damn … someone's coming … I'll have to hide this phone and get back to you.." Devan replied
before the line went dead.
Back at the house, Beth felt the cold, wet tongue of Barkley on her face. "Shhh boy … shhh" she
whispered, getting him to back off.
She knew Barkley had to go out, but she hesitated to stir. For one thing, Adam was still sleeping
… and for the other … she wasn't ready to move from the cradle of his arms. She'd slept better
than she had in ages, and the way he'd held her so close … the way that as they were sleeping
his face had burrowed into her hair … his gentle breathing against her ear. It was a marvelous
feeling she wasn't ready to let go of … And she wasn't ready to let go because she was afraid
she would never have this again. Adam was her protector … but she had no idea if he felt
anything more for her than friendship. He kept his emotions so in check … it was a mystery.
"Has he always been such an early bird?" She heard Adam's sleepy voice complain as he
moved to look up over her to see Barkley wagging his tail in anticipation.
"Unfortunately … yes." She replied, sliding out from under his arm and stretching as she stood
up.
Adam watched her as she pulled the clip from the little bit of hair that hadn't managed to slip out
while she was sleeping and then stoop to rub Barkley's thick fur, the dark silky curtain falling to
hide her face from him when she tilted her head.
Rolling on his back, he rubbed his eyes … forcing himself to quit watching her every move.
Sleeping with her curled up against him had been an experience he hadn't planned … and one
he knew he couldn't repeat if he had a chance of keeping his heart … and body in check.
He started a little when he heard the back door open. Sitting up quickly he called out to her.
"Wait … let me take him." Adam ordered.
"But it's just the garden Adam." Beth complained.
"You can't be so casual … not when the danger is so close. Let me take him out … and if you
feel like getting some air later … I'll go with you." He insisted, tying his shoes and coming to
stand in the open door.
"You're the boss." She replied, stepping back inside and letting Adam and the dog pass by.
As she closed the door behind her, she felt a wave of nausea. "Not again." She groaned as she
rushed into the bathroom. When she emerged, wiping her face and mouth with a damp cloth,
Adam suspected what had happened.
"Rough morning?" he asked
"I'm ready for this part to be over … of course then I get to look forward to all the other lovely side
effects … " she replied, going to pour a glass of clear soda to try and settle her stomach.
"It won't be that bad … and it will be over before you know it …" he was trying to make her feel
better.
"And you would know this … how?" she laughed.
"I think maybe now would be a good time for me to get that shower." He replied, with a sheepish
grin as he turned to go upstairs.
"Save me some of the hot water …" she called after him, knowing full well the oversized water
heater would provide plenty.
Beth shook her head as she leaned her elbows on the counter. Things were so easy with Adam
… like she'd known him all her life. It had been like that with Craig … of course they'd grown up
together. She thought about Craig and the love they shared, and tears began to stream down her
cheeks. She missed his laugh … his sarcastic sense of humor … the way he'd stay out on the
porch for hours working on a new song on his guitar with a chewed down pencil in his mouth,
ready to jot down chords. They'd had so many dreams … so many plans … her eyes fell on the
package she'd received the night before and an anger raged from deep inside.
She grabbed the packet and stalked over to the fireplace and began tearing each picture into bits.
Over and over she ripped them, until they formed a big pile in the middle of the fireplace and then
she lit it … Beth watched through tear filled eyes as the horrid images curled under the heat of
the flame and became charred pieces of ash.
She hadn't noticed Adam come back in the room. He'd forgotten to grab a stack of towels from
the laundry room and had come down for them.
He watched as she angrily tore the photos and lit them.
"Damn you for taking him." She whispered into the flames. "Damn you."
She heard Adam behind her as he tried to quietly leave the room and her head whipped around
to meet his gaze. "It was so unfair." She admitted. "We had so much more to do together … so
much more."
Adam didn't say anything, but stood without showing emotion as she continued.
"Did I tell you I'd known Craig since we were four?" she asked, wiping her eyes and moving to sit
on the ottoman. "We sat beside each other in every class for twelve years, we shared the
chicken pox and the measles and the flu, and when I went to College in Birmingham … Craig
registered right along with me … even though he didn't care anything about school. He just
wanted to play his music."
Adam leaned against the doorframe, trying not to let her words of loss affect him.
"I knew that's what he wanted … and that he would never leave me. So I gave up my scholarship
and we went back to Nashville for me to finish and for him to do what he loved. We had 25 years
together … 25 … It's more than many people have with the person they love." She paused. "But
it wasn't enough. It wasn't nearly enough." Her voice barely a whisper.
"Would it have ever been?" Adam asked, breaking his silence … knowing the answer.
"No." she replied simply, her eyes moving back to the fireplace. "But he didn't have to be taken
from me like that … he didn't deserve it … he didn't deserve what Devan did to him. His beautiful
voice … all those songs that will never be heard … I never thought I could hate anyone as much
as I hate Asher Devan for what he did to Craig" her voice shook with the anger she felt.
Adam leaned his head back against the doorframe, closing his eyes as he tapped lightly. As
terrible as what Beth had witnessed was … at least she had a face and a name to blame. With
Alexa … it had been a disease … a faceless coward with a clinical name that he couldn't see …
and couldn't face. He could only see it's effects as it claimed Alexa's body bit by bit. She hadn't
deserved it either.
"No he didn't deserve it." Adam replied finally, his voice betraying his emotion.
"I know I should let it go … try to get past it." She continued. "But it's hard … because moving on
means letting go of Craig, and that's like letting go of a hand or foot. He was such a part of me."
"If he was that much a part of you, then you won't ever be able to let go." Adam was talking as
much about himself as he was her. He realized as he spoke, he couldn't talk about this anymore.
"I came back to get some towels." He told her.
A little surprised at how he'd dropped the subject so quickly, Beth watched as he walked to the
laundry room, and said nothing when he turned to go back upstairs.
She thought long and hard about what he'd said … the way he'd looked while he listened to her
… the emotions she saw rising to the surface before he shut down. "He knows what it's like."
She said to herself, realizing for the first time why he seemed to understand her so well. He'd
loved and he'd lost someone … someone who was still very much a part of him.
She stirred the ashes absently with the poker as she thought about what she'd guessed. She
wondered who the woman had been, and what had taken her away. Her heart ached for Adam
and the loss he'd suffered. He didn't deserve it either …
"Adam Pierson?" Asher Devan repeated. "I've never heard of an immortal named Adam Pierson
… must be new." His tone of voice signaling to Mitchell that he wasn't concerned.
"Well whoever he is … he's friend's with Duncan MacLeod … and he and Ms. Ralston are pretty
tight if you know what I mean." Blake Mitchell replied.
"I didn't know my revenge against her would be so complete … first her husband … and now her
lover … " Devan laughed at the thought. "Everything is in place for my 'death' on Tuesday … and
once I've cleared this place I'll be in Seacouver a few days later."
"I'll see what I can do about getting my hands on her before then." Mitchell replied. "But if he
gets in the way?"
"If he gets in the way … get rid of him … get rid of any of them. As long as she is alive …"
"I thought you might want to take him out yourself …"
"It will be enough to see her face after suffering another loss … I don't need to be the hand,
although I would enjoy it."
"Damn … someone's coming … I'll have to hide this phone and get back to you.." Devan replied
before the line went dead.
Back at the house, Beth felt the cold, wet tongue of Barkley on her face. "Shhh boy … shhh" she
whispered, getting him to back off.
She knew Barkley had to go out, but she hesitated to stir. For one thing, Adam was still sleeping
… and for the other … she wasn't ready to move from the cradle of his arms. She'd slept better
than she had in ages, and the way he'd held her so close … the way that as they were sleeping
his face had burrowed into her hair … his gentle breathing against her ear. It was a marvelous
feeling she wasn't ready to let go of … And she wasn't ready to let go because she was afraid
she would never have this again. Adam was her protector … but she had no idea if he felt
anything more for her than friendship. He kept his emotions so in check … it was a mystery.
"Has he always been such an early bird?" She heard Adam's sleepy voice complain as he
moved to look up over her to see Barkley wagging his tail in anticipation.
"Unfortunately … yes." She replied, sliding out from under his arm and stretching as she stood
up.
Adam watched her as she pulled the clip from the little bit of hair that hadn't managed to slip out
while she was sleeping and then stoop to rub Barkley's thick fur, the dark silky curtain falling to
hide her face from him when she tilted her head.
Rolling on his back, he rubbed his eyes … forcing himself to quit watching her every move.
Sleeping with her curled up against him had been an experience he hadn't planned … and one
he knew he couldn't repeat if he had a chance of keeping his heart … and body in check.
He started a little when he heard the back door open. Sitting up quickly he called out to her.
"Wait … let me take him." Adam ordered.
"But it's just the garden Adam." Beth complained.
"You can't be so casual … not when the danger is so close. Let me take him out … and if you
feel like getting some air later … I'll go with you." He insisted, tying his shoes and coming to
stand in the open door.
"You're the boss." She replied, stepping back inside and letting Adam and the dog pass by.
As she closed the door behind her, she felt a wave of nausea. "Not again." She groaned as she
rushed into the bathroom. When she emerged, wiping her face and mouth with a damp cloth,
Adam suspected what had happened.
"Rough morning?" he asked
"I'm ready for this part to be over … of course then I get to look forward to all the other lovely side
effects … " she replied, going to pour a glass of clear soda to try and settle her stomach.
"It won't be that bad … and it will be over before you know it …" he was trying to make her feel
better.
"And you would know this … how?" she laughed.
"I think maybe now would be a good time for me to get that shower." He replied, with a sheepish
grin as he turned to go upstairs.
"Save me some of the hot water …" she called after him, knowing full well the oversized water
heater would provide plenty.
Beth shook her head as she leaned her elbows on the counter. Things were so easy with Adam
… like she'd known him all her life. It had been like that with Craig … of course they'd grown up
together. She thought about Craig and the love they shared, and tears began to stream down her
cheeks. She missed his laugh … his sarcastic sense of humor … the way he'd stay out on the
porch for hours working on a new song on his guitar with a chewed down pencil in his mouth,
ready to jot down chords. They'd had so many dreams … so many plans … her eyes fell on the
package she'd received the night before and an anger raged from deep inside.
She grabbed the packet and stalked over to the fireplace and began tearing each picture into bits.
Over and over she ripped them, until they formed a big pile in the middle of the fireplace and then
she lit it … Beth watched through tear filled eyes as the horrid images curled under the heat of
the flame and became charred pieces of ash.
She hadn't noticed Adam come back in the room. He'd forgotten to grab a stack of towels from
the laundry room and had come down for them.
He watched as she angrily tore the photos and lit them.
"Damn you for taking him." She whispered into the flames. "Damn you."
She heard Adam behind her as he tried to quietly leave the room and her head whipped around
to meet his gaze. "It was so unfair." She admitted. "We had so much more to do together … so
much more."
Adam didn't say anything, but stood without showing emotion as she continued.
"Did I tell you I'd known Craig since we were four?" she asked, wiping her eyes and moving to sit
on the ottoman. "We sat beside each other in every class for twelve years, we shared the
chicken pox and the measles and the flu, and when I went to College in Birmingham … Craig
registered right along with me … even though he didn't care anything about school. He just
wanted to play his music."
Adam leaned against the doorframe, trying not to let her words of loss affect him.
"I knew that's what he wanted … and that he would never leave me. So I gave up my scholarship
and we went back to Nashville for me to finish and for him to do what he loved. We had 25 years
together … 25 … It's more than many people have with the person they love." She paused. "But
it wasn't enough. It wasn't nearly enough." Her voice barely a whisper.
"Would it have ever been?" Adam asked, breaking his silence … knowing the answer.
"No." she replied simply, her eyes moving back to the fireplace. "But he didn't have to be taken
from me like that … he didn't deserve it … he didn't deserve what Devan did to him. His beautiful
voice … all those songs that will never be heard … I never thought I could hate anyone as much
as I hate Asher Devan for what he did to Craig" her voice shook with the anger she felt.
Adam leaned his head back against the doorframe, closing his eyes as he tapped lightly. As
terrible as what Beth had witnessed was … at least she had a face and a name to blame. With
Alexa … it had been a disease … a faceless coward with a clinical name that he couldn't see …
and couldn't face. He could only see it's effects as it claimed Alexa's body bit by bit. She hadn't
deserved it either.
"No he didn't deserve it." Adam replied finally, his voice betraying his emotion.
"I know I should let it go … try to get past it." She continued. "But it's hard … because moving on
means letting go of Craig, and that's like letting go of a hand or foot. He was such a part of me."
"If he was that much a part of you, then you won't ever be able to let go." Adam was talking as
much about himself as he was her. He realized as he spoke, he couldn't talk about this anymore.
"I came back to get some towels." He told her.
A little surprised at how he'd dropped the subject so quickly, Beth watched as he walked to the
laundry room, and said nothing when he turned to go back upstairs.
She thought long and hard about what he'd said … the way he'd looked while he listened to her
… the emotions she saw rising to the surface before he shut down. "He knows what it's like."
She said to herself, realizing for the first time why he seemed to understand her so well. He'd
loved and he'd lost someone … someone who was still very much a part of him.
She stirred the ashes absently with the poker as she thought about what she'd guessed. She
wondered who the woman had been, and what had taken her away. Her heart ached for Adam
and the loss he'd suffered. He didn't deserve it either …