Chapt 40

Erik awoke slowly in the dark of night. He reached over to the other side of his bed and woke up immediately, the absence of Elaine's body making a hole in his heart. He put his head back down and sighed, his hand rubbing the vacant part of the bed where his lover usually was.

It had been two weeks since his return to Capellen, and this was the first time he had slept in the river cabin alone. Every day, Elaine and Erik would smile and talk courteously around others, without even a touch. Every night they would find rapture and comfort in each other's arms. He had grown very used to holding her at night, her soft skin against his, her arms around him. Erik had seen the toll it was taking on Elaine, however. She was very tired every day, since her sleep was being interrupted every night. He usually slept an hour or two more after she left. Every morning he would walk her at least part of the way home, kissing intensely under the cover of the trees as if they would not see each other for weeks.

I guess she listened to me. I told her she should stay home one night and get some rest. Attempts at trying to sleep here were not very successful. I guess that was partially my fault. Erik thought, with a smile on his face.

He was remembering how they used to wake each other up gently through the night, in order to continue their pursuits of pleasure. He closed his eyes and tried to drift back to sleep, but he knew it was a lost cause. He got up, put on his robe and sat down facing the window on his piano bench. The cabin was very quiet.

It is amazing how I went from not being able to sleep with her in my bed, to not being able to sleep comfortably without her by my side in such a short time. I guess my asking her about us might have made her to stay home tonight.

Erik's brows furrowed as he became a touch disturbed. Without being prompted, two days ago Elaine had told him that she wanted to continue to keep their relationship secret. She assured him that she would tell her father about their affair, but only when she thought it was the appropriate time. Until then, she did not want anyone to know about what was happening between them, just in case it would get back to Dr. Dyson. Erik could not hide his disappointment.

"You do not have to tell anyone." He said, looking away from her as they walked up the hill. Within his chest, his heart sank. Elaine stopped short, turning him to face her and raising his chin so that his eyes met hers.

"Erik, I can see you hurting. I am not ashamed of you if that is what you are thinking. What we share is beautiful and real; I just do not know if others would feel the same. Frankly, I don't care what anyone other than my father thinks. I just do not know how he will react. He likes you, yes, but this is altogether a different matter. No father likes to find out that his daughter has been making love to a man, right under his nose." She said, a smirk on her face warming him. His heart opened to her.

"Elaine, what is it that you expect from me? You already have my heart and my soul. I will give you the world, if I am able. All you need do is ask." He said, holding her close in the brisk morning air.

"I just want your love and devotion, Erik," was the sweet reply, as he gazed into her eyes early that morning, "and I will give you mine in return." She graced him again with that beautiful smile.

The gentle, hazy brightness of very early dawn lit up the dark sky ever so slightly. A restlessness gripped Erik. He dressed and headed off to the barn to retrieve his climbing gear.

The view of the sunrise will be astounding from the branches of the Tower today. I have not been climbing since I have returned to Capellen. I wonder if I should bring…no…I should let the dear woman sleep. She has had enough of me this week.

In the cool, misty dawn, Erik draped a rope over his shoulders, retrieved his harness and walked briskly on the path leading to the ridge. He shot a longing glance towards Elaine's house as he left the barn.

Later that morning, Nate walked out to the kitchen in his home. The house was surprisingly quiet. By this time, Roland was usually up and running around, waking everyone up with his child's inexhaustible energy. Nate adjusted his suspenders and made his way up the stairs slowly. He opened Roland's door, to find the room cold. The window was opened slightly, and Roland was not in his bed. His shoes were thrown by the foot of the bed, as usual. It still struck Nate as strange.

"Elaine?" he said, turning to walk down the hall to Elaine's room. He looked in and found the sheets of the bed turned back, but noted that the bed had not been slept in. This did not shock Nate, for he knew that this bed was not where Elaine had been spending her nights as of late. He walked out of her room, scratching his head with puzzlement. He walked back downstairs, into his bedroom and touched his sleeping wife's shoulder gently. She stirred.

"Adele, love." He said.

"Nate? Good morning dear. My, it is late…" she said, eyeing the clock.

"Yes, I know. Did Elaine mention anything to you about taking Roland out early this morning?" he said.

"No." Adele said, sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes. She thought for a moment. "No, she did not mention anything to me. Why do you ask, dear?" She said, becoming concerned herself as she gazed at Nate's worried countenance.

"It is probably nothing. Both Elaine and Roland are not in their rooms this morning."

"Well, they must be together…" said Adele.

"Most likely. It is not like her Elaine to go without leaving as much as a note…"

"Maybe something has happened in the manor house?" Adele suggested.

"I think someone would have awoken me as well, if that was the case, Adele." He said, standing with crossed arms. "I think I will go and check around." He said.

Nate walked over to the barn and saw to the horses. No horses were missing, and all the carriages were accounted for. He gazed towards the river cabin after mounting his horse. He trotted down to the little cabin, his keen eyes searching over the land as far as he could see. He dismounted and knocked on the cabin door. No response. Opening it, he found the bed unmade, but no Erik.

"They all must have gone off for a morning walk or something…" he said, the uneasy feeling letting up just a bit him. He made his way back to the manor house.

Everyone went about their chores as usual in the morning. The absence of Elaine, Erik and Roland was obvious at breakfast. Nate explained it away to all who asked, just as he had explained it away to himself. When it came the hour that patients were arriving at Dr. Dyson's office, and there was still no sign of any of them, Nate's uneasiness started to grow.

The hours continued to pass, and there was still no sign of Roland, Elaine, or Erik. Dr. Dyson became very busy with the number of patients he was seeing, and sent Nate to find Elaine.

"It is very unlike her to do this…she knows how many patients there are today." Dr. Dyson said, his face stern with disapproval. "I do not mind the dear girl having a little time for herself and her son, but she could have at least told us. Please, let me know the moment she returns. I must have a word with her." he said, walking away, shaking his head.

The dread that had taken up residence in Nate's chest increased. He brought together a few men and instructed them to look around the areas close to the house, and to check the paths into the forest leading away from the house for any signs of the missing people.

"So…they are all gone?" Said Bruno, a tone of incredulity in his voice. Bruno looked at the other men. Nate noted the glances back and forth.

"If you have something to say, say it now." Nate said sternly to Bruno. Bruno looked down after scanning the faces of the other men and simply shook his head. They mounted horses and Nate took led the men to check the river cabin for Erik again.

During his absence, the rumors about Erik's past had run rampant on the manor. Many of those rumors about Erik's sordid past were, in actuality, true. It took the better part of the first week for many of the residents of Capellen to become comfortable with Erik's presence again. Erik was oblivious to it, being distracted by Elaine.

Nate was relieved to see the river cabin door open from a distance. Erik walked out of the cabin at the sound of the approaching group of men on horses. Erik greeted them all with a wave. He was covered head to toe with dirt and had dark scrapes on his shirt, leaves all over his clothes. Nate looked around the cabin with a serious expression as he got off the horse.

"Good morning, Nate." Erik said, using a wet cloth to wipe off his face and hands. "I am sorry I have been absent, I went climbing up at the ridge." He said. Erik's smile vanished once he saw Nate's expression.

"Good afternoon Erik. Have you seen either Elaine or Roland today?" Nate asked, looking at him with concern.

"No, I have not seen either one of them since dinner last night. Why?" Erik said, a pang of dread shooting through him. Nate shook his head and looked back at the other men.

"Could I have a word with you alone?" Nate said, walking past Erik, going into the cabin, out the range of questioning ears. Once Erik entered, Nate closed the door.

"What is this about?" Said Erik, becoming more concerned.

"Look Erik, I know that you and Elaine have been...well…together some nights. When was the last time you saw her? Please, tell me the truth." Said Nate. Erik sat down on a chair nearby.

"Nate, you are right, I have been with Elaine nightly for the past two weeks, but I am telling you the truth. Last night she did not come to see me. The last time I saw her was at dinner, I swear." Erik said, his mouth becoming dry and his pulse quickening.

"Damn! I was hoping they were with you. The last time I saw both of them was last night when Elaine was putting Roland to bed. Damn!" Nate said, starting to pace. He shot a look at Erik, wondering if he should question Erik further. Erik stood up, his hands wiping at his face, with a very worried expression. Nate decided that continuing that line of questioning would serve no purpose.

"So they are both missing? Where could they be? Did she tell anyone anything?" Erik began to say, pacing. A sense of panic gripped him.

"No, there has been no word at all. Not even a note." Said Nate, looking at he men through the window who were talking quietly amongst themselves. "I think we should start looking far and wide for them. They could be hurt or in trouble." Said Nate, his heart sinking in his chest.

"Yes, yes of course. I can look on the northwest part of the manor lands, I know there well from my wanderings." Erik said, changing into a fresh shirt quickly. Nate looked back at him.

"I think you should eat something first and take someone with you, Erik." He said.

"No, Nate. I can travel faster on my own." Erik said, opening the door, tucking away his concern. "Could you take me back to the barn, I need to get Caesar. I want to start looking immediately…" He said. Nate shut the door on him.

"Erik, I must insist that you take someone with you. I have my reasons, including not wanting to have to add you to the list of missing loved ones!" Said Nate, standing between the door and Erik. Nate noted the expressions floating over Erik's face, a wild eyed look of panic. Erik stared back into Nate's eyes.

"You don't trust me." Erik said, the realization hitting him like a brick. He turned around and strode back into the center of the cabin. He was now besides himself with anger. "Do you think that I had something to do with this?" He spun around, glaring at Nate.

"Hold on Erik. Let me put you straight. I know you had nothing to do with them disappearing, but some of the men have other ideas. I am sure that seeing your reaction will change their minds." Nate said, growing a little wary of Erik in this unfamiliar, angered state. Erik glared out the window.

"Fine!" He growled. He turned around and rubbed his face roughly, trying to get a grip on himself. Images of Elaine, lying hurt somewhere in the forest rolled through his mind, making him gasp.

Everything started to happen quickly. Erik went with Bruno to the northwest reaches of the manor to search. Other men took the other parts of the manor. Dr. Dyson stopped seeing patients and sent people to look in the village, the church and the nearest town to see if there was any sign of Elaine and Roland. They scoured the houses and checked all the locked doors, inside sheds and in any cellars.

By the end of the day, all efforts were still in vain. By that time, the local magistrate had been called in. A messenger was sent to Angelique's apartment and to the Inn where Adolph had been staying, just to make sure she got the message.

Nightfall came, and the men sent out to search the manor lands returned without good news. Bruno came back alone.

"Where is Erik?" Nate said, as he greeted Bruno by the stable.

"He is like a man possessed. I tried to convince him to return but he said he could not stop. I made him promise to return no later than one hour past nightfall. We rode without stop, without refreshements…" Said Bruno, shaking his head sadly. "I take it that there is still no word?" he asked..

"No trace of them anywhere. No news yet." Said Nate. He looked at Bruno taking the saddle off of a very tired horse. "Do you still have questions about him in your mind?" Nate asked, with folded arms. Bruno looked at him and lowered his eyes.

"I only have shame in my heart for doubting his." Bruno said.

Dr. Dyson was sick with worry, setting up permanent residence in the kitchen, jumping up each time someone else walked in the door. Marjorie never left his side during the evening. Nate remained by the window and ran out when he saw Erik approaching.

"Erik, any news?" he said, approaching the man on horseback. Erik looked up, his face straight with grief. He shook his head no and led Caesar to the barn. Nate followed him into the barn. From the door, he looked, in understanding silence as Erik took the trappings off of the horse. He looked up at Nate, despair in his face.

"Nate, did I do this? Did I push her away? Maybe she did not want to be with me anymore and was afraid, could not tell me…" he said, dropping to the floor, his head in his hands. Nate walked over to Erik, resting a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Now Erik, how could you think that? I have seen you two together. I saw no fear. I did see a very happy woman." He said. "Elaine is not one for feigned affection. You know that she would not take Roland and worry everyone half to death."

"Then where is she?" Erik said, pain in his voice, eyes far away.

"For God's sake, I wish I knew." Said Nate. "We will find her, Erik."

That night, Erik stayed in his old room in the manor house, unable to make himself return to the river cabin. He tossed and turned for most of the night, until he got up in frustration and walked downstairs to go into the kitchen. He walked in on Dr. Dyson, who was staring at a half-empty cup of tea in his hands.

"I am sorry to interrupt…" Erik said, turning around.

"Please, Erik. Do not leave on my account." Dr. Dyson said, the strain showing on his face. Erik nodded and sat down across from him. The men sat in heavy, awkward silence.

"She is my only child. And he my only grandson. If they are gone, I don't know what I will do." Dr. Dyson said, his voice cracking. Erik's eyes closed and he took a deep breath.

"Dr. Dyson, I promise you, I will return her to you or die trying." He said, looking intensely into the patriarch's sad eyes.