Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
T hey arrived home at half-past eight. The children were in bed, and Sarah had left a note on the breakfast bar.
I let the children stay up until eight. I hope you had a wonderful time.
Sarah
Nick snapped his fingers. “There see. I told you they would be in bed.”
“I still want to check on Jake. He has nightmares sometimes since the last time Greg put me in the hospital, though he hasn’t had any since we started staying here.”
“I guess the fresh air and learning something new has been good for him,” said Nick.
“It definitely has been...for both of us. I start my new job on Monday. And, thanks to you getting me in to register him, Jake also starts school. I can’t keep him out any longer. Despite all the turmoil, he needs to have the stability of school.”
“Well, at least he’ll have Bailey when he heads back. It will be good for them both. I think they are becoming best friends, like us.”
Rachel set her clutch on the breakfast bar next to the note. “I think you could be right. Jake was never allowed to have playdates when we were in New York. I’ve always thought he was missing out that he didn’t have someone like we did. But now, he has Bailey. I think it’s great I could get him into the same school. Thank you for helping me.”
“Of course.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Shall we go peek in on our kids? I know you want to, and so do I. I’m used to kissing her goodnight. It feels weird not to.”
“Yes, that would be nice. I’m the same way with Jake. Ever since he was newborn, I’ve kissed him goodnight.”
Nick took her hand. “Let’s go then.”
They walked up the stairs and split outside their children’s bedroom doors, which were kept closed in case of fire. She’d had his open for the first few days so he wouldn’t get lost, but once he was comfortable in the house, they closed the door again.
Rachel walked quietly into Jake’s room. The light from the hallway illuminated the room enough to see him in his bed. He looked like an angel. She realized, not for the first time, he really was her angel. He’d saved her so many times, just by being there. Greg didn’t beat her up as much when Jake was there until finally he couldn’t stop himself and sent her to the hospital. She’d had to lie to the hospital staff, telling them she fell down the stairs or got hit by a door.
They never believed her but couldn’t prove anything else, so let it go.
She leaned over and kissed his forehead, then tucked the blankets around him before tiptoeing out of the room.
Nick was in the hall waiting. “You seemed to watch him a long time before moving toward the bed.”
“I was just thinking how lucky I am to have such an angel. Although, if you tell him that, I’ll deny it. It would embarrass him greatly, and I would never do that, especially around Bailey.”
Nick lifted his hands in surrender. “I understand. I would never do such a thing to Bailey, either.”
They walked down the stairs together.
“Nick rather than swim, how about a glass of wine and we watch the stars? We haven’t done that in years.”
He put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her close. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. It will be like we are kids again.”
“I don’t think we’ve done it since we were kids. It would have been the last sleepover at your ranch, and we were about twelve. After that, my parents didn’t let us have sleepovers any longer.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, they thought we were too old for sleepovers. I think my parents agreed.”
“They were probably right.” Her heart ached for the children they’d been then. She’d known even then that Nick was special. That he was the one for her. Why hadn’t she trusted herself. “We were too...curious.”
“I was the curious one. You were still?—”
She shook her head. “Nope. We were both curious and having a sleepover would have gotten us in trouble. They were right to keep us apart. I would think that given you’re the father of a daughter, you would feel that more keenly than I do.”
“I think we have a few more years before our children start having those kinds of questions.” He ran a hand through his hair. “At least I hope so.”
Rachel laughed. “Tell you what. When Jake starts asking questions, he’ll come to you for answers and you can send Bailey my way. It’s easier to talk man-to-man or woman-to-woman, so to speak.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I like to think that Bailey can talk to me about anything, but I’m not so sure I’ll have the right answers.”
“I feel the same way. I want Jake to grow into a good man, and I can’t think of a better role model than you.”
He tightened his hold and tugged her closer. “Thanks. I feel the same way about you and Bailey. I hope she’ll be close enough that she’ll ask you all the things that she won’t ask me. I know there will be a lot of things she’ll need a woman for.”
“I’ll be here, Nick, whatever happens. I’ll always be here for Bailey. Now, what about that wine and some stargazing? Do you want to get into our bathing suits first? We are a bit overdressed for stargazing.”
He laughed but moved away. “I’ll get changed into my swimsuit and then get the wine. After you change you can find us two glasses.”
She saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Nick narrowed his eyes before grinning. “You get a move on, missy.”
Rachel ran upstairs and changed into a black one-shoulder swimsuit. Then she headed for the kitchen. After looking through a couple of cupboards, she found the wine glasses. She picked out two of the sturdier-looking ones for the trip outside.
He came into the kitchen, wearing his swim trunks, and carrying a bottle of wine.
“That better be red.”
“I know you like red. You’re the only woman I know who would dare to drink red wine at a sushi bar.”
“I like red wine. I’m not picky, but I like red. I don’t like white, so why should I drink it just because convention says I should?” She carried the glasses.
Nick brought the wine.
She set the glasses on a small square table with a clear acrylic top. It sat between two chaise lounges. Then she laid on one of the lounges, crossed her legs at the ankles and gazed up at the star-filled sky.
“I haven’t seen so many stars since we were kids and took your telescope up on the roof of our house because it was flat. We could see everything and the vastness of it made me feel very small.”
Nick sat on the lounge on the other side of the small table. “I know. It’s a wondrous sight. I still have the telescope. I’m giving it to Bailey and showing her how to look at the stars. Maybe she’ll become an astronomer or an astrophysicist.”
“That would be nice. A scientist in the family.” I can’t believe I’m here with my love, talking about a family together.
“Well, we can’t all be ranchers.”
“I wouldn’t bet money on that. I believe that if you do whatever you love, then it’s not work.”
Nick lifted his glass. “You’re right. To girls...and boys...doing what their hearts desire.”
She clinked her glass with his. “I’ll drink to that.”
They stayed out on the patio and gazed at the stars until the bottle of wine was empty.
Rachel looked at the bottle, then picked it up and tried to pour into her glass. “Uh oh. Looks like we are dry.”
“I can get another bottle but I think we’d both regret that in the morning.” He stood and extended an arm. “Here, let me help you up.”
He pulled her up into his arms. “Well, what do you know? You are just where I want you to be.”
She giggled. “I think you planned that.”
He looked down, a smile on his face. “Maybe. Do you mind?”
“Right now? Not even a little.” She rolled to the balls of her feet and graced him with a soft kiss. “We should go in. I’m afraid of what will happen if we don’t.”
“You’re probably right.” He didn’t loosen his hold.
“We really should.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and enjoyed the feel of being in his arms.
“Yes, we should.”
“You have to let me go.”
His eyebrows slashed downward. “I’ll never let you go, Rach. I can’t. You’re my best friend.”
Her heart softened, and yet she wanted so much more. “I know, and you’re mine. That doesn’t change the fact we need to go inside and get some sleep.”
He took a deep breath, but he released his hold. “You’re right. You get the glasses, and I’ll get the bottle. I don’t want our little terrors to get the wrong idea.”
“They aren’t terrors. They are the best-behaved children you’ve ever met. Although I will admit Jake has been much happier since we came here. I’m kind of afraid to take him back to the house.” She lifted her shoulders.
“Then stay. You don’t have to go.” His eyebrows rose a little with his round-eyed expression. “I hate the thought of you moving back to that place. It’s not safe. Here you’re safe and Jake is safe, too.”
She slowly shook her head. “I can’t do that. I can’t just live here with you permanently.” Without being married. She would never tell him that, though. Rachel didn’t want to risk what they had, but how long could she keep her feelings to herself?
* * *
Greg Bennett had watched the comings and goings on the ranch for more than a week. He’d purchased the best binoculars money could buy and parked his rental in a stand of trees so it wasn’t on the road. Then he walked until he could see the ranch in the distance. He didn’t want to get too close to that guard house or to the cameras he saw around the buildings.
He’d watched them swim and play. The next day he saw Rachel and that man, Nicholas Kincaid, take off in a car and returned about four hours later. They’d obviously been to dinner, but where was the question. Rachel was wearing the dress he’d forbidden her to wear in public. He would punish her for that. First, he had to get to her, and then he had to figure out how to get her off the ranch.
Getting to her was the hard part. He could sneak onto the property, nab Rachel, and then steal one of those fancy cars to get her off the property. He’d learned to hot-wire a car as a teenager. A skill he still had today. But he wouldn’t have her long before that man came after her. Could he punish her and kill her in that time? Or would he just have to kill her without punishment?
Unfortunately, she was usually with that man. Greg really needed her alone or maybe he could take Jake. Rachel would come for him. But there he had the same problem. Jake was usually with the little girl.
He could bide his time. Eventually, he would find her alone. The odds were in his favor, after all.
* * *
Monday arrived and it was supposed to be Jake’s first day of school and Rachel’s first day of work. Trying to get both of them going was difficult.
The kids both wanted to stay home and ride their horses.
Rachel wasn’t having it. She walked them down to the gate. Then Earl let them through and walked them out to the bus stop. She probably should have driven them, but the exercise was good for them all. Earl left his guardhouse to follow them at a discrete distance.
She walked out to the bus and she made sure they were both on it before turning and heading back to the house. Rachel had wanted very much to kiss Jake goodbye, but she knew he would have been mortified if he did that in front of the other children. She heard a car behind her and got over to the side of the road.
The car stopped next to her, the window on the passenger’s side was rolled down.
She bent over to see in. “Can I help you? Are you?—”
“Get in Rachel or do you want me to take Jake instead?”
Her stomach roiled and she backed away from the car. She looked back at Earl who had started running.
Greg pulled out a gun. “Get in the car. Now.” He pointed the gun at her.
When had he gotten a gun?
Not seeing any way out, she opened the door of the nondescript sedan and sat. Where is Nick? How long before he knows something is wrong? Will he be able to find me?
“Put your seatbelt on. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He whipped a U-Turn in the road and headed down the road, toward the highway.
Earl jumped in front of the car with his weapon drawn.
Greg gunned the engine and sped up.
At the last moment, Earl jumped to the side, but the car clipped him and he was thrown.
Rachel screamed, then turned in the seat to see if he got up. She let out a pent up breath when she saw him rise to his feet and run back toward the guard house.
“What do you want, Greg? We’re divorced and you’re violating a restraining order. I have nothing to give you.”
He turned the car toward the highway and gunned the engine.
She jerked back in her seat.
“A piece of paper can’t take you from me. Didn’t you realize that at that house you rented? I’ll always find you, and I’ll always get you to be with me. I don’t care what you’re new boyfriend does. He can’t keep you from me, no matter who he is.”
“You leave Nick and Jake out of this. It’s between you and me.” Her voice was harsh. She was glad it didn’t waver as she spoke. Fear and anger warred within her, and she couldn’t decide which she was more of. “Where are you taking me?”
“To this little out-of-the-way place I found. You’ll like it. It’s small and cozy, out in the country not far from here, and the best part...” He looked over at her. “Do you know what the best part is, Rachel?”
Please, don’t leave me alone with him. Nick, I need you. “No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“No one can hear you scream. And you will scream.”
Her hands began to shake. “You don’t have to do this. You can still go back to New York and continue your life. Don’t do this, Greg. When Nick finds you—and he will find you—he’ll make you wish you were the one who is dead.”
“Your boyfriend won’t find me. I’ve worked it all out. I’ve been watching that house of his for a long time. It wasn’t hard to find. Everything is available on the Internet.”
Could he be right? No, I refuse to believe it. Lord, help me . “You’re wrong. Nick will find me, and when he does, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”
He raised his fist to hit her.
Gasping, she put up her hands to stop the blow.
Greg lowered his fist and laughed. “You still remember to put your hands up, but that won’t save you. You’re mine, Rachel. I’ll never give you up.”
“And what about Jake? What will happen to him when I’m dead and you’re in prison. Not that I want you to raise him, anyway. He’d be better off in the foster system than turning into a monster like you.”
He looked at her, murder was in his eyes as he narrowed them. His nostrils flared. “I don’t care what happens to that whelp. I never wanted him to begin with. That was your doing. I should have had a vasectomy instead of relying on your birth control pills.”
“Jake is the only good thing you’ve ever done. I should have recognized what you are before I married you, but you had that all planned, too, didn’t you? You wined and dined me and made me fall in love with you. Then even after I married you, I didn’t see you for the monster you are. You didn’t show me that side of you for months. I actually thought I was lucky to have caught you.” She laughed bitterly.
“You were lucky. I was a catch. Do you know how many undergrads threw themselves at me? I picked you because you didn’t. You seemed immune to my charms. You were a challenge, and I always did love a challenge.”
“I was lonely and stupid. I know that now. You need to let me go, Greg,” she turned toward him but kept her arms poised to protect her if needed, “before you do something stupid that you can’t take back.”
“I think you need to shut your trap before I shut it for you.”
She knew he would make good on that, so she kept quiet...for a few minutes. She looked up at the bus as they passed it and mouthed help . She felt her body start to shake as she looked out the windshield and passenger window for landmarks. Unfortunately, she saw little but flat prairie dotted with small stands of trees and houses behind the trees. “You know Nick will find me. He has the best security team in the world. They’ll track you and find you. You didn’t cover your tracks that well, you probably even used your credit card to rent this car, especially since they won’t rent them without a credit card.”
He narrowed his eyes.
She was right and smirked. “You didn’t even think about that did you? I know you, and you don’t think before you do something. That’s why I know Nick will find me, and he’ll kill you if you hurt me.”
Greg growled and fisted his right hand.
Rachel prepared for the blow.
He lashed out, hitting her arms as she raised them. He returned his gaze to the road.
If she kept deflecting his blows he would eventually get tired of it and just drive.
He drove without taunting her for the rest of the way to the house she’d rented. She thought he was taking her to the cabin he’d rented but maybe he thought it was too easy to find him there.
“Why are you bringing me here?”
“Because this is the last place anyone will look. You’re “safe” here.” He used his fingers to make the quotation marks.
She looked around as he pulled onto the street her house was on. It was quiet. Everyone was probably at work. “His team won’t take long to figure this out. What will you do when a cop comes to the door? Act like you didn’t hear them knock or ring the bell, as you usually do?”
“Just get out of the car and stop giving me lip.” He leaned over and grabbed her shoulder. “Don’t think about running.” Then he pulled the pistol from his waistband and pointed it at her. “Don’t think I won’t use it.”
“Fine.” Her jaw ached from clamping it closed. “You’ll regret this, Greg. You’re going to regret all of this.”
He clenched his jaw and snarled at her. “No, I won’t. The only thing I regret is signing those divorce papers. You’d still be mine.”
Rachel was infuriated by Greg’s attitude, but she knew she couldn’t show the fear that clamped down on her insides. Her heart pounded in her chest and her whole body wanted to shake, but she kept a tight rein on it. “I wouldn’t. I’d have found a way for us to escape. You’re insane.”
He backhanded her. “Get out. Now.”
Rachel’s face hurt where he hit her, but she wouldn’t show the pain to him. That would only encourage him. She unfastened her seatbelt and opened the door. Upon standing, she looked around, hoping she’d see someone...anyone...who could help. The street was empty.
“Get inside. The door is open.”
She walked up the sidewalk to the front door and went inside. though she knew this would be her end, at least Jake was safe, and that was all that mattered.