To the guest asking if this had been posted elsewhere...Yes, it was in THP. Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed it then and I hope you are enjoying some of the subtle changes I've made this time around.
Chapter 17
Cedric's evil smile sent shivers up Adeline's spine. She stepped back, wanting to put some distance between herself and the man she had once been married to, a man she had been led to believe he had died from a heart attack. She now knew that was a farce.
Meredith moved to her side. Adeline put her arms protectively around her daughter, wishing that they knew this area better. If she did, she would have pushed Meredith out the door and told her to run until she could find help. But there was no way Addy could send her nine year old daughter out into the woods alone.
"Where's Jarrod?" Adeline asked, realizing that if Cedric had one of their horses, he might have hurt Jarrod.
"Oh, I imagine he's all the way to Lodi by now. Probably has fresh horses."
"You let our horses go," she said in realization. " Why? And why would you pretend to die?"
Again Cedric smiled. "Well, my dear, it was simple really. I faked my death because I knew you would run back to him. I also knew you'd try and find your daughter," his eyes landed on Meredith. She shrunk back against her mother. "I needed to get all three of you together. It was the only way to get my revenge."
"Cedric, please. Let Meredith go. I'll go with you and I won't try to escape. We can leave Meredith here. Jarrod will be back soon. I'll go back with you-"
"Shut up! I don't want you. At least, not just you," Cedric said as he began to walk around the great room. Adeline noticed the gun he wore. It didn't look right on him, not like it did on Jarrod or his brothers. But still, it was a gun and she was sure it was loaded. Adeline looked toward their bedroom. Jarrod had left a gun in their room. He had told her where it was just in case she needed it. If she could just get to it...
"Thinking about this?" Cedric asked, holding up the gun. She balled her fist up in frustration.
"I did a thorough search of the cabin my dear. Now, you two have a seat. We'll just wait for your 'husband' to arrive and then we'll get down to business."
Adeline took Meredith's hand and the two sat on the sofa. Meredith didn't understand what was going on, but she hoped her father would come back soon. Adeline was having the same thoughts. She watched Cedric, noting the look in his eyes. It was almost as if he was insane. She swallowed, the thought scaring her. She had noticed the last year of living with him that whenever she saw him, he looked less stable. She had thought she was imagining it. If he had indeed lost his mind, then they were in trouble. There would be no reasoning with him.
Hours passed. Adeline had to use the privy and she was starting to feel lightheaded from not having eaten. She heard Meredith's stomach growl.
"Cedric, would you allow us to fix something to eat. We've not eaten since lunch."
Cedric looked at her from where he had been watching out the window.
"Fine. But I think you know better than to try anything."
Adeline nodded. In truth, she was thinking of grabbing the large knife she knew was in one of the drawers.
She stood as did Meredith, but Cedric waved her back. "She stays."
"But Cedric, she-"
"She...stays."
Adeline looked at Meredith who nodded to her. Addy smiled at her daughter, thankful she was trying to be brave. "I'll be right back."
Adeline buttered some bread and placed some of the berries on their plates. She abandoned her plan about the knife, knowing it was too risky. She walked back out to the great room and gave a plate to Meredith. They ate in silence, each wondering when the nightmare would end.
With her hunger satisfied, Meredith grew drowsy. She leaned against her mother and fell into a fitful sleep. Adeline was glad she could at least sleep. Cedric continued to pace around the great room, his eyes scanning everything.
The sound of horses alerted them all to Jarrod's arrival home. Meredith sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She was relieved. She knew her father would be able to help them. Adeline tensed, knowing that things were about to come to a head. She had the utmost confidence in Jarrod, but she was afraid of Cedric. It was clear that he had lost his mind.
Cedric looked over at Adeline and Meredith. He pointed to the young girl and said, "Come here."
Meredith didn't move and Adeline tightened her hold on her daughter.
"I ...said...come...here," his voice firm, holding no room for argument.
"Go on, Meredith. It'll be alright."
Meredith stood and walked over to the bad man and he grabbed a hold of her arm. She cried out and he told her to be quiet. They stepped back so that they would be behind the door when Jarrod entered.
"You stay there and don't move," Cedric ordered.
They heard Jarrod as he led the horse that had been tied out front to the barn. Several minutes later, Jarrod's footsteps could be heard on the porch. The door knob turned. For one brief moment Adeline considered screaming out his name to warn him, but Cedric cocked his gun and shook his head no.
Jarrod was tired from his long day. He hadn't been able to find any of the horses and walked all the way to Lodi. When he returned to the cabin, he saw the horse tied out front. He must have wandered back. Jarrod took the horse into the barn and stabled him for the night with the others. He then walked back to the cabin, hoping Addy had something prepared to eat. He was starving. He hadn't eaten anything but some jerky he had packed in his saddlebags since he was wanting to get back to his wife and daughter as soon as possible. He had an uneasy feeling since last night and needed to see them.
Jarrod opened the door and saw Adeline sitting on the sofa. She looked pale, frightened almost. Jarrod went to her immediately.
"Addy, what's wrong. Where's Meredith."
"Here, Papa."
Jarrod turned around. The sight that greeted him turned his stomach. A man that he had never seen before was holding a gun to his daughter's head.
"Who are you?" Jarrod asked, his voice calm, but cold.
"At last we meet, Jarrod Barkley."
The man had an English accent. Jarrod looked to Adeline and she nodded, confirming his unspoken thoughts.
"Cedric," Jarrod said, turning back to him. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
Cedric laughed. "Yes, well, its amazing what people will do for money. It was quite easy to fake my death. As far as anyone who knew me before knows, yes, I'm dead."
"What is it you want?" Jarrod asked.
"Well, you see, that's changed quite a bit over the years. For a long time, I wanted you dead. Fantasized about it quite a bit. And almost succeeded if that imbecile Cass Hyatt hadn't fouled things up. Oh, I must thank you for tying up that loose end for me. Now that Hyatt is out of the picture, I don't need to worry about taking care of him too."
"What do you mean?"
"You haven't heard? Hyatt was killed last week in prison. Seems one of his cell mates didn't like that fact that Cass had lived such a pleasant life while serving time. Gutted him like fish if the report I received was correct."
"I'll ask you again: What do you want?" Jarrod realized he was still wearing his gun. He made no move for it now though. It was too dangerous as long as Cedric pointed his gun to Meredith's head. He would wait, somehow get her away from this man who had so clearly lost his mind.
"Hmm...you are an impatient man aren't you? What I want, is for you to choose who will die."
"Then I choose you."
"Oh no, no, no. That's against the rules of the game. You may not choose me or yourself. You must choose either your wife or daughter. So, who will it be? Whom do you love more, Jarrod Barkley? Or is the question: Whom do you love less? I'll leave the decision up to you."
