Chapter 16 – Bad Omen
"In the course of my life, I have often had to eat my words, and I must confess that I have always found it a wholesome diet."
~ Winston Churchill
Enos and Jaxon returned from the perimeter check to find Drake asleep in a lawn chair and the Duke cousins staring into the dwindling fire. An uncomfortable tension hung in the air and the Duke cousins carried grim expressions.
"I need to talk to ya', Enos," Daisy said, apprehensively. "Will you take a short walk with me?"
As she stood to approach him, Enos explained his plans for the next hour. "I'm on my way to find Jenny and take her to the beach before it gets too late. Can we talk when I get back?"
Jaxon stepped up to open the ice chest and pulled out a beer. "Let them have some time alone, Daisy. We can pitch a few horse shoes while they're gone and talk. That way Drake can sleep. I'll go set it up."
"Yeah, that sounds great, but..." Luke grimaced and stood to join Daisy. "I don't think this can wait. Jenny is already down at the beach. She took a bottle of wine with her."
"Alone?!" A tight ache crept into Enos's neck and climbed up the back of his skull.
Jaxon dropped the ice chest lid. "She did what?"
Enos stood ramrod straight. "Why is she alone?"
"And why is she drinking?" Jaxon fixed his eyes on Daisy. "What did you do now?"
"Now Jaxon," Luke said, quickly coming to Daisy's defense. "Let her explain."
"We had words." Daisy replied, biting her bottom lip nervously. "Enos, I ... I really messed up. She's upset."
"With you, right?" Jaxon snapped.
"Yes," Daisy winced, "and no. I'd prefer to explain it to Enos in private."
"I'll never understand women as long as I live." Jaxon ranted. "This is just fantastic. Jenny has zero tolerance to alcohol. Enos, be careful going after her. She's a bit uninhibited when she drinks."
Enos dropped his shoulders. "Does she have her gun?"
Jaxon snorted, "You're kidding. Right?"
"Ding dang it. C'mon, Daisy." Enos said. "Tell me what happened."
Luke and Jaxon left to set up the horseshoe game and Enos followed Daisy into the trees. When she turned to face him, she couldn't look him in the eye.
"I'm sorry," she said, shifting her weight nervously. She began to explain. "I didn't mean to hurt her feelings, but we were arguing and I got angry. I know it was wrong, but I told her all about our wedding day."
Enos was confused. "Why would Jenny be upset about that?"
"Well..." Daisy clarified her statement to include the details. The longer she spoke, the louder Enos's heart whammed in his ears. When she mentioned the hives, he clenched his fists at his side. Anger simmered in his veins and he abruptly turned away to keep from lashing out and making things worse.
Enos never thought his actions would come back to haunt him like this. Apparently, women fought with their words in a way that was far more painful than a punch to the face or a bruised ego. Daisy finished her confession and he closed his eyes, hanging his head.
Somewhere in the distance, an air horn blew, its lonely cry warning of an oncoming train. To Enos, it sounded more like a bad omen. Jenny was hurting and it was his fault. He wanted to tell her he loved her in the perfect place, at the perfect time. In his mind, that was eight hours away in the Rafter G hayloft, but maybe he should tell her now. Then again, with what she heard today, would she think he was patronizing her?
"I'm so sorry." Daisy said. "Enos, please say something."
Enos turned to face her, his jaw tight. "Go back to camp and stay with Jaxon and Luke. I'm going after Jenny."
"Wait!" Daisy raced after him when he started towards the beach. "I should come with you and apologize."
"The last thing Jenny needs is to see us show up on the beach together. Sorry, Dais, but I'm going alone."
"Sugar, I said I was sorry for bringing up the hives the way I did, but now that the truth is out in the open, we should talk about it."
"Daisy Mae!" Enos spun around, his teeth clenched so tight his molars ached in protest. "Why can't you be happy for me?"
Daisy's expression turned mutinous and she raised her chin. "Because I want you to be with the right woman! Instead, I'm watching you move too fast with someone you barely know! She has secrets, Enos. All of the MacFarlands are hiding something. It has to do with Finn and their mother, but no one will tell me what it is. Sugar, they're from a different world. I don't want to see you hurt again."
"Finn? Daisy..." Enos took a long breath to gather his words. "Maybe Drake didn't tell you anything about Finn, but that doesn't mean Jenny didn't tell me. We aren't hiding anything from each other!"
"If that was true, she wouldn't have stormed away from camp after I told her you break out in hives when you're happy!" Daisy snapped. "Admit it, Enos. You were happier on our wedding day than you've ever been with Jenny."
Enos threw his hands in the air in a futile gesture. "I can't talk about this right now. Just go back to camp before I say something I'm gonna regret."
Enos spun on his heel and trudged away from Daisy, his heart aching painfully. He shoved low branches aside angrily and inwardly berated himself for causing Jenny unnecessary pain.
Daisy didn't follow him. Normally he'd feel guilty for his rudeness, but today he'd reached the end of his patience.
The metallic smell of the water and the smoke from Jenny's campfire reached him before he set eyes on the lake. He stopped in the trees, heeding Jaxon's warning. A red tartan blanket was spread out on the beach, Jenny's blouse was draped over a log by the fire and the wine bottle was nestled in the sand.
Jenny wasn't anywhere to be seen.
Concerned, Enos quickly toed out of his boots and hurried onto the beach, looking up and down the shore for his missing girlfriend. He picked up her blouse. It was damp, as if she'd hung it there to dry. He put it back and picked up the wine bottle, which was half empty. Her boots were on the blanket, along with her .38 special, her Glock, and two retractable batons that she normally kept tucked in her sleeves.
He cupped a hand around his mouth and called her name.
She didn't answer.
Enos looked towards the water and his heart shriveled in his chest. He dropped the bottle in the sand and followed the trail. Jeans, a silk camisole, a lacy bra…
He reached the water's edge where another blanket lay in a crumpled pile. The lake spread out before him in an undulating swath of black satin, but Jenny was still nowhere to be found.
Panic was beginning to take hold when he heard a splash. The moon cast silver light on a series of rippling waves as they spread out in a circle offshore. There was another series of splashes and Enos thought he saw a small hand, or maybe a foot, but Jenny hadn't come up for air.
"Jenny!" Enos panicked. He ran and dove into the water, clothes and all.
The cold water was an icy shock to his system, but he kept swimming towards the dissipating waves. He took a deep breath and kicked beneath the surface, desperate to reach her before she drowned. Every worst-case scenario bombarded him. She could succumb to the cold, pass out from the wine, hit her head on a rock, or be dragged away by some freak current.
He kept moving, desperate to find her before she was ripped from his life. There was a large drop off in the lakebed and the water went from mere feet to an unknown depth. Enos dove deeper, searching for her until his lungs burned for air.
Something grasped his collar and he was suddenly pulled to the surface, choking and sputtering. His feet touched the bottom and he wiped the water from his eyes. He stood neck deep in the water, face to face with Jenny, her features etched with worry.
"Deputy? Are you okay?" Jenny said, breathlessly. Soft hands grasped his face and her eyes searched his. "What happened, love? Did you get disoriented?"
"Me?" Enos's fear got the better of him and he slapped the water with both hands. "Ding dang it, Jenny! You scared th' fire right outta me! Why are you out here swimming alone and drinking? You know how dangerous that is! What were you thinking?!"
Jenny's mouth gaped and she backed away, blinking the water from her eyes.
She shoved her arm through the water, splashing him in aggravation. "I'm not drunk, Enos! I spilled the wine all over my blouse trying to open the bottle so I went for a swim to wash off the sticky mess. I've only had a few sips. I was thinking it would be better to stay away from your ex-fiancé before I ripped her head off!"
Enos's eyebrows jumped. He was still stuck on "my blouse" and the image of that lacy bra in the sand. That meant…
"Possum on a gumbush!"
Enos became profoundly aware of her creamy ivory skin and the way the water caressed the top of her breasts. His palms ached to touch her and heat spread through his body like liquid fire, addling his thoughts.
Jenny cocked a brow and a playful smile graced her lovely lips while she treaded water. "This isn't fair," she said, her voice a sensual purr. "One of us is overdressed."
"That's th' wine talkin'." Enos forced his eyes back to her face. "We should go back to the fire before you freeze out here."
She giggled and cast a come hither look. "I can think of a better way to stay warm."
Enos could only stare with a lopsided grin as she swam closer. She put her arms around his neck and rose from the water like a naked goddess in the moonlight. Droplets clung to her hair and sparkled like diamonds on her ivory skin.
Enos no longer felt the water's chill. He murmured, "Beautiful."
She smiled seductively. He'd never seen a woman so stunning and this woman… she was his. She moved closer, raising slender fingers to touch his lips. Her smoldering eyes gazed up with endless loving emotion and she guided his head down for a kiss.
He forgot about hives, failed weddings, and all the bickering they'd endured. Enos took her waist and pulled her tightly against him with a possessive growl. She was warm and soft and moved like a woman who took what she wanted. She wanted him. Only him.
Pleasure washed over him in a heavenly deluge of exotic sensation. There was only Jenny and the unspoken promise of a love that would last until the end of time.
Enos kissed her, his tongue teasing her lips and enticing her to allow him inside. She responded eagerly, sweeping her tongue warmly against his. He tasted sweet wine and plunged deeper into the kiss as desire surged between them like electricity, pulsing and hot. Enos had never felt so alive.
His eyes slid shut as he surrendered to the passion and his hands began to explore every dramatic curve. She let out a delightful whimper and arched her back to press tightly against him. Slowly, she trailed her talented fingers down his shoulders, sending seismic tremors of anticipation rocketing to his core.
Jenny pulled back, just enough to allow her heavy lidded gaze to meet his. Her green eyes were dreamy with passion and her lips were plump and swollen from his kiss. Then her smile suddenly faltered and pain took its place.
She pushed him away, her brow furrowed as she studied him. Hurt and broken, Jenny's tone turned sharp. "What are you doing out here? I asked Drake to tell you to wait at the trailer."
"Huh?" A cold blast of unexplained fear cut through him. "B-but, I was worried about you! Drake was asleep when we got back. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. That's the problem."
Enos reached for her and she backed further away, her narrow eyes still scanning his face. He touched his check. What was she looking for? Of course. How stupid could he get? Her scowl deepened and she turned to swim for shore.
He caught her arm, ignoring her splashes of protest as he pulled her back to him. Moments ago, she looked so happy, so free. He ached to relieve her pain and would lay down his life just to see her smile.
Enos cradled her against him and said, "Did I ever tell you that I'm allergic to red Jell-O?"
A 'clang' rang out at the campsite, followed by boisterous laughter, indicating the others had found a way to co-exist in harmony.
Jenny glanced at the shore, then turned back to him, her brow crinkled in confusion. "No. I don't think you mentioned red Jell-O before."
"I'm allergic to th' food coloring. When I was a kid, I'd break out in hives something awful. Ma would stick me in an oatmeal and baking soda bath. Doc Applebee figured it out after he saw me with a plate full of Lulu's triple berry Jell-O squares at a church picnic. From then on, he told me not to touch th' stuff."
Jenny rubbed her temple. "Enos, I have the attention span of a fruit fly at the moment. What are you saying? Are you just trying to make me feel better?"
"No, I ain't tryin' to make ya' feel better. I mean ... I am, but… Ding dang it, I'm trying to tell you th' truth." He brushed a thumb over her lips and pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm saying that Miss Lulu was in charge of all the food the day Daisy and I were supposed to get married. I didn't know it would hurt you, hon. I'm sorry."
Jenny gasped and those beautiful lips parted. "Benjamin, what did you do?"
"I snuck into the fridge before the wedding and ate three helpings of triple berry Jell-O."
"Why?"
Enos shrugged a shoulder. "Daisy was marrying me to keep me out of prison. I wanted a marriage based on love, not pity. It didn't feel right, like Daisy didn't respected me. Not in the way you do. You make me feel like a man is supposed to feel."
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Enos kissed her sweetly and said, "If there was such a thing as hives from happiness, I would've been covered in itchy red splotches the first time you kissed me. I've been waiting all my life for you. I just didn't realize it."
"Enos Strate, you're such a mess. I adore you." Jenny lopped her arms around his neck and held tight, a question lingering in her gaze. "Anything else you want to fess up to?"
"Yes ma'am, but let's sit by th' fire before your teeth start to chatter."
They swam ashore and Enos went ahead to retrieve the blanket. He held it up for her, forcing himself to avert his gaze until she stepped into it. He wrapped it around her shoulders and folded her into an embrace, whispering his appreciation of her exquisite form.
She blushed deliciously and he nibbled her ear. The air was chilly and the warm fire became a necessity. She gathered her clothes and he led her to the blanket, where she sat down to dress. Enos turned his back to afford her some privacy and pulled off his flannel shirt to wring it out. He did the same with his t-shirt and hung them next to Jenny's blouse to dry.
While he waited, he rubbed his neck awkwardly and looked up at the stars to keep from peeking over his shoulder. Seconds passed slowly until he sensed Jenny's close proximity.
She draped the blanket over his shoulders and murmured, "You can turn around now, silly. Get out of those wet jeans and come sit with me."
Enos hooked a thumb towards the camp. "Wh-what about Drake?"
Jenny's brothers would kill him if they came looking and caught him with their sister in such a state.
"He's not going to leave the trailers." Jenny tipped her head, "I thought you said he was sleeping?"
"Yeah, but you said he had the instincts of a wolf."
"He does, but-"
"And he's armed."
She waggled her eyebrows. "So am I. Fair's fair. It's your turn." She held up the blanket and looked away. "Pants. Off. Now. You need to get warm before you catch your death."
Who was he to argue? She was armed.
"Yes ma'am."
When he was finished, he wrapped the blanket around his waist and turned around. She had a heated look in her eyes and the red tinge in her cheeks deepened as he prowled closer.
"You peeked."
She giggled. "It was worth it."
He laughed and joined her by the fire. If he was going to die, he might as well die happy.
Jenny sat down with her legs tucked beneath her and rested her head on his shoulder. Her fingers trailed over his chest muscles while she watched the embers dance with the flames. Neither spoke, content to be together in the moment. It was a beautiful night. The fire crackled and popped, the crickets sang their nightly serenade and the stars were so bright he could almost reach out and pluck one from the heavens.
Enos laced their fingers together and lay back in the sand, pulling her into the crook of his arm so they could look up at the stars. "Which one is your favorite?"
"Easy," she pointed to the sky. "That one. Polaris. The North Star. Not because it's bright, but because from our perspective it's a constant. The center of the oldest celestial clock."
"I can see why that would appeal to ya'." Enos turned on his side and draped his arm across her waist.
He studied every inch of her lovely face, the dimples on her cheeks, the way her pink lips formed a perfect heart in the center, and how her long lashes swept her high cheekbones when she blinked.
"Tell me what's on your mind," she whispered, her voice a mesmerizing plea.
"I want to, but I'm waiting for th' perfect day. No fightin' and fussin', no tears, no company…" He moved above her and slowly kissed his way down her neck. She shuddered pleasantly.
"Enos, there are no perfect days. Only perfect moments. I learned a long time ago never to take time for granted. Sometimes, we have to create the perfect time."
Her fingers threaded through his hair as he moved lower, kissing the flawless skin above her heart.
"Tell me," she said, her voice a gentle vibration beneath his lips.
Enos lifted his head and couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. He lost himself in the flames shimmering like gold in her eyes and slipped the tiny camisole strap off her shoulder. He hovered above her, drinking in her essence. Her smile, the smell of wine lingering on her skin, the warmth of her touch. She made him feel so powerful, so strong. He loved her and would always protect her. It was time to tell her so.
His voice turned husky and low. "When we met, I was stumbling through life searching for happiness. It wasn't until you smiled at me on th' Rafter G porch that I understood what I was missing. You're th' reason I live and breathe. I love you, Jenny. I loved you before I knew you and I'll love you until the day I die. If I have any say about it, I'll love you long after that."
She gasped and long lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she blinked up at him.
"I didn't mean to make ya' cry, hon. I'm gonna spend the rest of my life making you happy. Say you'll be mine." Enos brushed away the tears trickling down her cheeks in crystal streams and held his breath.
She took his face in her hands and spoke in a voice choked with emotion. "I'm already yours, mo ghràdh. I love you, too. You've held my heart in your hands since the day we met. I'll never leave you, or betray you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Aw, Jenny." Enos thought he might burst. He captured her soft mouth and kissed her deeply.
A locomotive's air horn blasted loudly near camp, but Enos ignored it and moaned against Jenny's lips. His only focus was the woman he loved and the blissful pleasure building between them. Enos nestled closer, riding the spiraling wave as his hand slid beneath her camisole in search of soft skin. Jenny was equally enthralled and her fingers raked slowly down his back.
The crossing bells began their repetitive ding and flashing red lights bled through the trees. Abby whinnied her displeasure and kicked the panels of her pen. Enos failed to take the cue and put his hormones in check.
He had yearned for this moment all his life, to be with the woman he cherished and know her touch meant she treasured him just as much. Enos wanted to prolong the memory, mark it somehow, so he never forgot how this felt. It took every ounce of self-control to keep from ripping away her clothes and taking her by the fire in the most elemental way.
A second kick from Abby, then a third, echoed up the hill. The horse neighed loudly and Tag answered her distressed call as the train rumbled closer. The moment had to end.
Reluctantly, Enos ended their kiss. Every part of him screamed in protest and begged for the release only her touch would provide.
"I better go check on Abby before she breaks a leg. I want you, Jenny. I want you so much, but I better get dressed and take a walk."
"I'll go with you. I'll never forget this night, Deputy Strate. I love you so much."
"Aw, Jenny." It was music to his ears. "I love you, too."
"We should check on Drake while we're there and get you into dry clothes. Let's leave the blanket here though. I want to come back when we're through."
"Do you think we should take Drake to see a doctor in the morning?" Enos stood and retrieved her blouse, handing it to her before turning his back to pull on his clothes.
"If he can make it to Wyoming, Dan can check him out."
A painful jolt slashed through him at the mention of Dan's name. To Jenny, Gus's wrangler and medic was a good friend. She wasn't aware that he'd become Enos's rival for her affection. He fastened his belt with a concerned frown. This wasn't the time to bring it up. It was tomorrow's problem. They had enough to contend with today.
"Hey, don't look so worried." Jenny pulled on her boots. "It's probably just a flu bug. Drake's fine."
"C'mon. Let's hurry." Enos smiled and took her hand. Together they walked into the trees as the bells continued to clang.
In Drake's disturbed slumber, things were anything but fine. The fever wove a wicked tapestry through his subconscious that culminated in a nightmare that was painfully real.
A full Highland moon was perched above MacFarland land when Drake snuck out of the house. The lantern in his hand cast amber light on the curved footpath as he ran through the trees to the lake. Mam had forgotten to ask the landscaping staff to check for a dead animal by the dock. The smell was so bad he couldn't fish, so Drake decided to take the matter into his thirteen-year-old hands and get rid of it himself, before Finn returned from hiking the West Highland Way with his friends.
He arrived at the lake and started his search. It should've been easy to find the source, but as he followed the stench it took him further out on the dock, not along the shore as he expected. He reached the far end and looked across a rippling expanse of black satin. A blanket of grey mist hovered above the deep water, muffling sound and chilling the air. The eerie silence was punctuated by the clang of a distance buoy bell and the sudden bark of a dog near the manor.
Drake spun around. It was Laird William, his father's dog. Fear trickled through him. Father recently forbid them to leave the house without Captain MacRae. They weren't even to go to the stables unattended. If he were caught out here, he'd get the switch for sure. He had to hurry.
Drake dropped to the dock and stretched out on his belly to hold the lantern over the water. The waves lapped gently against the pilings and he spotted a rope tied to one of them just below the surface. It looked like the mooring line Father used on his sailboat, but it couldn't be. The 'Bonnie Birdie' was in the slip.
Curious, he leaned over to give the line a tug. It wouldn't budge. He sat the lantern on the dock and pulled with both hands. Something gave way under the water and bumped against the side beam with a dull thud. He pulled the rope far to the left, freeing whatever was caught.
The buoy bell clanged away as he worked. It was coming up faster now and he moved quicker, hand over hand, until the sound of displaced water quashed the serene night. As if Hades had opened below him, the rancid stench of rotten flesh billowed upward in an overwhelming, acrid cloud. His find bobbed and rolled over on the surface, revealing what once was a familiar face, but was now all wrong.
Drake jerked awake with a strangled shout. He was awake, wasn't he? The bells continued to clang and he could still smell the horrifying stench of death. Terrifying memories and gory images assailed him in vivid detail. Red light flashed against the trees, tricking his senses and bringing the constable that held his arms tightly behind his back.
('Lad, come with me.')
It was too much. Terror mixed with the helpless ache of bottomless grief. Drake pitched forward. He landed on all fours and threw up.
Daisy had also heard Abby and was on her way back to the trailers, leaving Luke and Jaxon to play one more game. She was emotionally exhausted and just wanted to go to bed. Maybe tomorrow would be a better day. Sharing a trailer with Jenny wouldn't be easy, so she planned to go to bed before she came back to camp.
Jaxon had been more than patient with her tonight. He listened quietly while she explained what had happened with Jenny. He even answered a few general questions about their shared childhood, but just like his siblings, he refused to discuss the obvious tragedy in their past.
When Daisy pried a little deeper, Jaxon danced around the subject of Finn and his mother, but he did encourage her to confide in Emily about all her concerns. It wasn't worth risking the shaky bridge she built in their relationship to push him harder, especially if Emily might tell her everything she wanted to know. The chances of getting it out of Enos were slim to none.
Daisy sighed dismally and rounded the pickup, stopping short when she saw Drake on the ground. He was on his hands and knees, covered in sweat. At first, she thought he was convulsing, but then it appeared he was fighting some unseen enemy. She leapt into action. It was only a second before she reached him, but it felt like forever.
"Drake! What's wrong?" Daisy grabbed the blanket from the overturned chair, covered him and took his shoulders. "I'm here, sugar. It's gonna be okay. It's just a dream. Open your eyes."
His response was frightening. He threw his head back and whirled around. Daisy looked into eyes with a thousand yard stare and a face filled with terror. Drake shouted in a foreign language and shoved Daisy so hard she fell back in the grass. He scrambled away, still rambling on in distress.
Daisy only understood one word. "Jenny."
Stunned, she sat frozen, afraid touching Drake would only make matters worse. Feelings of helplessness quickly became panic and Daisy cried out for help. "Luke! Enos! I need help! Come quick!"
Within moments, Jenny flew around the trailer, her hair trailing over her shoulders in damp waves. Drake was crumpled over his knees with his head in his hands. She rushed forward, dropping in front of him where she began speaking in the same foreign language using soft, but firm tones. It blistered Daisy's pride when he responded. Jenny took his face in her hands and he gripped her forearms until his knuckles turned white. He didn't shove her away.
Up the hill, the train clacked along the rails and the crossing lights continued to flash. The bells became a droning gong that added to the frightening chaos of the moment. Enos arrived, as did Jaxon and Luke.
Enos offered Daisy a hand and helped her to her feet. "What in th' world happened? Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Why was he soaked to the skin? Daisy dismissed the bleak thoughts and replied, "I found him like this and when I tried to help him he pushed me. He won't let me near him."
"Let's give them a little space." Luke said, putting his arms around her and guiding her back.
While Jaxon pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dipped it in the ice chest, Daisy leaned into Luke's embrace. She trembled from head to toe, torn between wanting to comfort Drake and fear of upsetting him more. Helplessness bled into her bones as she watched Jenny ask questions in Gaelic. He eventually began to answer, slowly, as if every sound was agony to create.
Jenny looked to her twin and said, "We need to get him away from these lights, but he's not ready to move yet."
"Here," he handed her the cool handkerchief. "Just keep going, sis. You're doing fine. We'll get him settled and I'll find a doctor in town."
Jenny blotted Drake's forehead with the cold rag and switched to English. "What's number five, Drake?"
His breaths were rapid, shallow pants between each word. "M-14, sniper rifle … d-downstairs ... gun safe." Drake choked. "Jenny, she lied. Finn… He's-"
"Let's do number six." Jenny's face crumpled with empathy. "What's number six?"
Drake groaned.
Jaxon moved closer and took his shoulder. "Your with us now, Drake. Tell Jenny about number six."
"Ruger Bearcat. Revolver, hallway, wall safe." Drake cursed a blue streak. "Bloody hell, the lights."
"You're doing great." Jenny said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Jaxon is going to help you in the trailer. Just keep your eyes closed until we get you inside. I want you to tell him about number seven on the way. Understand?"
"Aye."
Jenny kissed his forehead and stepped back.
"Up we go." Jaxon pulled Drake's arm over his shoulders and stood, bearing most of his brother's weight. "Tell me about number seven. It's your favorite."
"Pattern 1800. Baker rifle. Bayonet. Grandda's den…"
Daisy stood with her jaw hanging at the sight of her guardian angel in such a state. She fisted her hand in Luke's shirt in an effort to control her shaking limbs.
"I'll be right in," Jenny said as Jaxon helped him inside. She closed the door and turned to Enos. "Jaxon and I need to be alone with him. I'm sorry. I may be awhile."
Enos reached her in two long strides and held her tightly against his chest. "I'll go get our things from the beach. Take all the time you need."
Daisy was frantic and peppered Jenny with questions. "Is there anything I can do? Is he going to be alright? What's happening to him? Why didn't he recognize me?"
Jenny sighed and relinquished her hold on Enos. "Please don't take it personally, Daisy. It's nothing you've done. I'll come talk to you when I can. He's going to be okay."
"I reckon you better stay in my trailer tonight, Daisy." Enos offered. "I'll be fine out here."
"I'll stand guard with him." Luke said. He guided Daisy's head to his shoulder and faced Jenny with grave concern. "I've seen that technique used in the military. He had a nightmare earlier today, too. Is he having some sort of flashback?"
She flinched. "Yes. But I'd rather not get into the details."
"You don't have to explain anything, hon." Enos took Jenny's hands and squeezed gently. "Go take care of him. I'll be right outside if you need me."
Jenny reached up to kiss his cheek. "Thank you. Would you unhook one of the trucks? We better take him to a doctor and get something stronger for this fever."
"Yes ma'am."
"I'll give ya' a hand." Luke said.
The men got to work and Jenny reached for the trailer door.
"Jenny?" Daisy's heart felt like it was being ripped from her chest. "I'm here, too. Is there anything I can do?"
"Thanks, Daisy. I think the worst is over. You get some rest." Jenny put on a brave smile and climbed in the trailer.
Drake was on the couch with a cold rag on his forehead when Jenny walked in. She was careful not to startle him as she sat beside him. He opened red-rimmed eyes and reached for her hand.
"Sorry. I dinna ken what happened."
"It's the fever." Jenny pulled the blanket higher and tucked him in. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Aye." He tossed the rag aside and pulled her into an awkward hug.
Jaxon sniffed and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry you have to go through this, Drake. When Katie gets back from Italy, I'll call her and see if there's anything else we can do."
Drake clung to his sister and said, "There's nothing to be done, Numpty. We cannae change the past."
Jenny moved back and wiped her tears. "No, but you shouldn't have to suffer like this. Finn wouldn't want you to hurt this way. We need to find a counselor and get you back into therapy."
"I cannae deal with this again. No' while we're running for our lives." Drake flopped back on the pillow and covered his eyes. "It does no' matter. Finn is gone and Bridgette MacFarland is dead to me. What's done is done."
It was a small bedroom, with a twin size bed and very little furniture. A milk rose lamp glowed softly as Gidget sat on the mattress and stared at her reflection in the dresser mirror. The woman looking back was the epitome of grace under pressure. There was no sign of her violent encounter with Matt. Not a wrinkle in her silk Versace blouse, or a hair out of place. There wasn't even a tear in her eye, but beneath the surface, angry bruises had formed down her left side.
Fear hung over her like a dark storm and she was about to break. She'd been barricaded behind a locked door since leaving the supper table without eating a bite. She even propped a chair under the doorknob, just to be safe. Gidget trusted her sixth sense and something truly evil was coming. No doubt, Matt was a key player in what would transpire.
Monroe had drugged her, taken her to God knows where and cut her off from the world. Before he flew back to New York, he told her he'd return with the European dons, but he didn't say when. Gidget was to be ready, play the gracious hostess, make sure Matt followed his orders, and wait for further instructions.
Wallace Monroe had done things like this before to test her loyalty, but she'd always been able to contact Travis through the FBI. Not this time. She was a prisoner in this place and the phone only accepted incoming calls.
Gidget eased her sore body back on the cheap cotton bedspread and stared at the ceiling with a frown. Even if she could call for help, she didn't know what State she was in, or if she was even in America. She could be anywhere. Canada was a real possibility. It was cold here and the air was thinner, as if they were in the mountains.
It wouldn't be so bad if she was alone, but she was sharing this windowless building with a monster. It would take all of her mental alacrity to maintain a premise of authority with Matt. She feared it was already a lost cause.
Whatever Monroe was doing, it must be terribly important to take such extreme measures. She pressed her palms together and prayed he wasn't setting a trap for the MacFarlands. They should be safe and sound in Wyoming by now.
The timing couldn't be worse. She had been so close to extraction. Travis would've received the evidence he needed to arrest Monroe, but until she was in the clear, he couldn't act on it. Monroe would know she was a traitor and she'd die by his hand. She added another prayer that Travis had safely ferried her colleague out of New York. If anything happened to her, Gidget's only chance to make amends for her past would fall to pieces.
Gidget took a hitched breath and placed a hand over her heart. The jeweled ring hung from a gold chain, safely hidden beneath her blouse. It was all she had left of the life she once knew. She thought of the family she left behind years ago and especially the one she had hurt the most.
She'd failed her firstborn, forever damaged her second and walked out on her twins, leaving her only daughter alone in a man's world. She spent fifteen years trying to forget the worst night of her life, but some things couldn't be forgotten, like the horrifying sight of her son fighting the Constable's grip after finding his brother's body.
Gidget had awoke the next day at a hospital in Fort William, unsure how she got there. She carried fragmented memories of her husband's rage and the fight that left her brutally beaten. She spent years erasing her Scottish brogue and living in denial. It was cruel fate that the worst memories remained, including Drake's last words. They were far more painful than the physical injuries she suffered and still plagued her nightmares.
"Ye said he was hiking with Captain Brannigan! Ye lied to me, Mam! Ye lied and Finn isnae coming home! He's dead! I hate you! Let me go! Stop! Don't touch me! Let go!"
The tears she'd held back for days finally broke through to the surface. Gidget pulled an unfamiliar pillow to her chest and muffled her sobs. Eventually she cried herself out and long hours later, exhaustion forced her to sleep.
