Strangers in the Night (19 page)

“Is he all right?” Abbie and Jake asked together.

“He's alive. We only found him a little over an hour ago,” Jeff said. “Peggy called us last night around midnight. Brent worked into the night sometimes, but never that late. We started looking for him. Finally found his truck in the river. He'd managed to climb out through the window and make it to shore.”

Abbie could hardly take it in. She immediately thought about Perkins and the scare he'd given her and Jake on their drive into Portland. “Do you know who did it?”

“Brent said it was someone driving a rusty red pickup. We found it alongside the road about a mile from Cold Creek.”

“Sounds like Floyd Hunter's old rig,” Jake said.

Abbie's thoughts jumped back to that day a couple of weeks earlier when she'd left Emma with her parents and driven to Cold Creek to talk with Brent. The pickup had been sitting off to the side of the road.

“It is Floyd's,” Jeff said. “I talked to him this morning. He told me he hadn't driven it for a while and seemed surprised when he opened the shed and it was gone. I think he's telling the truth. Seems strange, though, that someone would go to the trouble of taking Floyd's old truck.”

“Maybe he's lying,” Abbie said. “I don't know if it means anything, but when I first came to Cold Creek, his wife made it clear that they didn't want the town sold. I got the feeling they'd stop me from buying it if they could.” Abbie also told the men about the pickup being parked near her parents' home.

Jeff made a notation in his black book. “I'll keep that in mind, Abbie, but I really doubt that Fred and Elsie would do much more than complain.”

Abbie wasn't so certain of their innocence, but she let it go.

“This is crazy.” Jake ran a hand through his hair. “Who'd want to hurt Brent?”

“Perkins?” Abbie heard herself say. The two men looked at her, apparently expecting her to go on. “Everything points to him. He was dealing with Barbara before she went missing. He's staying in Cold Creek, even though it's no longer on the market. He still wants the property, and maybe he thinks he can muscle his way in.”

“Abbie's right. Perkins is up to something.” Jake told Jeff about the incident they'd had coming into town. “It's like he's putting on the pressure and hoping Abbie will give up.”

“That would be hard to prove, and I can't make an arrest because you suspect someone.”

“You could question him,” Abbie said.

“And I will.”

Jeff and Jake left together. Jake promised to come back that evening. “We need to talk,” he whispered in her ear as his lips brushed her cheek.

She didn't have much time to think about his comment or about all the bizarre happenings in Cold Creek. Emma, having awakened from her nap, had climbed into Abbie's lap to snuggle. The blanket she held was a favorite that Leah had made when Emma was born. The fraying worsened with every wash, but Abbie didn't have the heart to throw it away.

While she held and rocked her little one, Abbie let her mind wander back to Iowa and the farm and Nate, Daniel, Leah, and Murray. Though Nate's death and Leah's hostile takeover had spurred her to leave, there were good memories as well. No one could have been a more loving and doting grandmother than Leah. Having Emma was the one thing Abbie had done right.

Abbie was different now. She had come through the pain of losing Nate and Ashley. And Leah hadn't pressed charges. There had been no warrant for Abbie's arrest. She had taken good care of Emma and shown herself to be a worthy mother. Abbie considered calling Leah. The least she could do was to let her know that she and Emma were safe.

Abbie erased the thought. She couldn't take the chance. On paper, Leah still had custody. Abbie couldn't bear the thought of losing her baby—not even for a moment. Maybe once her attorney was able to reverse the guardianship issue, maybe then. They all deserved an apology—especially Daniel.

Once Emma had fully awakened, Abbie gathered their things and bid her siblings and parents good-bye, promising to come back the following day. “My offer still stands,” she told Skye. “When you feel up to it, come out to the B&B and help me take care of Emma.”

“I'll think about it.” Skye apologized again.

Abbie kissed her forehead. “You're forgiven. Just don't go back there again.”

“Don't worry. I won't.”

After hugs, Abbie headed back to the B&B via Oceanside Hospital, where she picked up a floral arrangement and card to take to Brent. Peggy greeted her as she stepped into the room. “Abbie— I'm glad you came by.”

“I brought flowers. I feel terrible. If Brent hadn't been working on my project, this wouldn't have happened.”

Brent frowned. “You have nothing to feel bad about, Abbie. I've suspected things weren't right for a while now, but never thought anything like this would happen.”

“What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “I thought maybe some kids were just fooling around in the hotel at night. Or maybe a transient needed a place to sleep. Things were out of place, but nothing was taken or damaged that I could see. I locked up every night, but whoever it is must have a key or found another way in.”

“How odd.” Abbie settled into a chair, Emma on her lap. “You're sure nothing's been taken?”

“Not that I could see.” Brent winced as he shifted in bed. His casted leg rested on a stack of pillows. “I mentioned it to Jeff and the sheriff. They didn't think the incidents were connected to being run off the road. I tend to agree. The sheriff thinks old Floyd had a few too many and didn't even know what happened.”

Abbie didn't know what to think. She visited with her new friends for a few minutes more and then said her good-byes and drove out to Cold Creek. So many things had happened, and Abbie felt they were all tied together somehow. With Emma tucked into the seat next to her, she mentally ran through the recent series of events, beginning with Barbara's death. Perkins had claimed to be the first to put down earnest money, but Jake insisted her parents' offer had come in first. Then, there was the note telling her to leave while she still could.

She'd gone ahead with the purchase and Perkins decided to stay at the B&B. Why? Then, on the way to Portland, Perkins acted as though he meant to force them off the road. Had he wanted to frighten them? Of course, it was possible that he was just a careless driver. She couldn't forget the article in Travis's kitchen drawer or the possible connection with the bank robbery. And now, Brent, her contractor, had been run off the road and injured. Add to all of these events Brent's report about someone doing something in the saloon at night, and she came up with nothing.

What did it all mean? And what could she do about it?

Abbie sighed and turned her attention to Emma, who was chatting with her baby doll. The events were disconcerting at best, but at least she and Emma were still safe.

An older model Desoto was parked in the space Perkins had used. Had another guest checked in?

“Here you go, sweetheart.” She helped Emma out of the car and handed her the doll. “Go on inside. I'll be right there.”

Abbie grabbed their jackets and the doll suitcase before heading inside. As she pushed open the entry door she heard her daughter speaking to someone. She heard another voice as well. One she hadn't heard in two years but recognized immediately. She dropped everything and stared, openmouthed, at the man hunkered down in front of Emma.

“Daniel.”

He straightened and held out his arms. Abbie, tears already sliding down her cheeks, ran into them. “I'm sorry, Daniel. I'm so sorry I used you. I didn't know what else to do.”

“Shh. It's all right.” His arms tightened around her. In the next moment, he lowered his head and kissed her.

Abbie pushed away from him. “What—what was that?”

Daniel dropped his gaze to the floor. “I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking.”

She apparently hadn't been thinking either. What confused Abbie was not that he had kissed her, but that for one heartfelt moment she had kissed him back.

Any joy she might have felt at seeing him shattered when her senses returned. “How did you… Why are you here?”

He looked down again, reminding Abbie of how quiet and shy he'd always been. She didn't need an answer. Somehow he'd found her and if he was here, Leah couldn't be far behind.

“You know why I'm here, Abbie. I came to take Emma back home.”

He spoke so softly Abbie had to strain to hear him. “I can't let you do that, Daniel.”

He sighed, a pained expression on his face. “I'm afraid you don't have a choice. I have a court order.” He reached into his shirt pocket and produced a letter.

She glanced at the legal document, stomach roiling. It had been signed by the same judge who'd given custody to Leah.

“I was supposed to bring a police officer with me.” Daniel folded the letter and placed it back in his pocket. “But I couldn't do that. I wanted to talk to you first.”

“Talk to me?” She drew Emma to her side and the child wrapped her arms around Abbie's leg as if she knew and felt Abbie's alarm. “About what?”

“I don't want you and Emma to be separated.” Daniel folded his muscular arms across his chest. He reminded her so much of Nate. He had the same build—sinewy and all muscle. His brown eyes seemed to plead with her.

“It's not going to happen. I have an attorney.”

“I know. That's how we learned you'd come here. Your attorney was asking questions about the case. A friend of Mom's at the courthouse got wind of it and—”

“I can't believe this.” Abbie ran a hand through her hair. So much for discreetness and confidentiality.

“Look, Abbie, if it's any consolation, I don't want…” He glanced down at Emma. “Please hear me out. What I have to say could be best for all of us.”

Daniel had been more than a brother-in-law during her years on the farm. He'd so often acted as her confidant, easing away her frustrations and anger with Leah and even at times with Nate. Even though he was Nate's younger brother, he'd always seemed wiser.

She needed to listen to what he had to say. He deserved that after the way she'd used him.

“This isn't a good time.” Abbie lifted Emma into her arms. Suddenly shy, Emma buried her face in her mother's neck.

“No hurry. I'm spending the night here. We can talk later.”

She nodded.

“You look good.”

“So do you.” He hadn't changed much except for a few crinkles around his eyes.

“Emma sure has grown up.” He smiled and the tension between them seemed to melt away. “Don't suppose she remembers me.”

Abbie sighed. “She was only two.” Remorse wove itself into her heart. She'd taken Emma from this kind, gentle uncle who had adored her. “Emma, this is your uncle Daniel.”

Emma raised her head.

“Can you say hi?”

She shook her head and hid her face again, but this time she was smiling. Abbie tickled her. “You silly goose.”

Before long, Daniel and Emma had become buddies and Abbie couldn't help but wonder if, on some deep level, Emma remembered him. Abbie had relaxed some too, and at dinner that night she marveled at how this soft-spoken Iowa farmer had refit himself into their lives. He seemed to harbor no ill feelings toward her, and for that, she was grateful. Everyone at the table—Dawn, Keith, and Cassie—seemed to like Daniel. They talked about his trip and about how long he planned to stay.

“If you want a job,” Keith said, “we could use a hand with the remodeling Abbie has us doing.” He began telling Daniel about Brent's unfortunate incident. “I'm taking over the house, but I'm sure Travis could use some help over at the hotel.”

It was the most Keith had spoken since Abbie had met him. In fact, she hadn't seen him that much, with the family taking most of their meals in their private quarters. As he spoke, a strange sense of déjà vu came over her. Her mind went back to the newspaper articles and bits and pieces of information she'd pored over at Barbara's parents' home and to the sketch of the bank robber.

Keith caught her looking at him and winked, dispelling her thoughts. “Oops. I'm overstepping my bounds here. Abbie's the boss.”

Abbie pushed aside her suspicions. Keith resembled the bank robber but then, so did hundreds of other men. “No problem, Keith. Daniel could work with you and Travis if he wants, but he's probably not going to be here for long.”

“I appreciate the offer. Might take you up on it.” He glanced at Abbie. “There's nothing I hate worse than having nothing to do.”

Keith nodded. “I'll show you around tomorrow.”

Keith and Cassie went into their private quarters shortly after dinner so Cassie could finish her homework. Abbie helped Dawn with the dishes, after which she assisted Emma with her bath and tucked her into bed. As she did so, Abbie found herself looking forward to visiting with her brother-in-law. After Nate's death, he'd been her rock and her best friend.

She remembered all too clearly those days after the funerals.

Leah blamed her for losing the baby, and Abbie had willingly absorbed the guilt. If she'd taken better care of herself, eaten better, maybe she wouldn't have miscarried. But Nate's death had left such an enormous hole in her heart she nearly ceased to exist. The doctor had told her that she was not in any way to blame. Her baby girl had had a heart defect and even if Abbie had carried her to term, little Ashley would have died soon after her birth.

Daniel had told her time and again not to take his mother's words to heart. “It's her way of grieving,” he'd say. “She'll get past it.”

But she didn't. Leah's disapproval grew more evident each day, and Abbie found herself spending more and more time thinking about going home to her parents. “I'd like to settle down there. Buy a house,” she'd told Leah one day.

“Leave the farm? What about Emma? She needs us.” Leah rolled her eyes and shook her head. “That is by far the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard. You and Emma belong here.”

“Now Leah,” Murray had said, “the girl wants to be close to her family. You can't blame her. What I want to know is where you plan on getting the money, Abbie. I hear that houses out West don't come cheap. I know you got money from Nate's insurance. That might be enough for a down payment, but what'll you live on?”

“I have money. My parents set up a trust fund for me and my sister and brother years ago. If I need to, I'll eventually get a job. I'm thinking I could paint and sell my work.”

“Humph. How much money are you talking about?”

“Enough. Around two million.”

Murray whistled. “That's quite a chunk. I didn't know show people got paid so much.”

“They can if they're famous. My parents recorded a number of records that still earn royalties.”

“Why haven't we seen any of this money?” Leah asked, her eyes narrowing. “Lord knows we could have used some extra cash last year. Did you know we had to mortgage the farm to come up with enough money to ride out the winter?”

Abbie sighed, wishing Nathan hadn't kept her financial situation a secret from his parents. “I told Nate I'd help out, but he didn't want me to. He wanted me to keep it for our own place and now…” She hesitated.

Daniel came to her aid, as he often did. “She's telling the truth, Mom. Nate didn't want her to use her money.”

Leah picked up her crocheting. “You shouldn't be thinking about moving. It's too soon. Emma needs a stable environment.”

“Emma will be fine.”

“Will she?”

Abbie couldn't answer. Most days she was barely able to function. But she was Emma's mother. She could pull things together. “Yes. She needs to know her other grandparents too.” She sighed. “I'm going to bed. See you in the morning.”

She caught Daniel's eye. He didn't want her to leave the farm either, but she knew he'd stand by her decision.

Abbie didn't go to bed that night. At around ten, she slipped down the stairs and let herself out the back door and down the long driveway. Her walk took her along the fields that now lay barren. The air smelled musty and slightly sour from the rotting vegetation that, once decayed, would be absorbed as nutrients into the already-rich soil. Come spring the cycle would start all over again.

Was Leah right that the only stable environment was Leah's home? Would taking her away so soon after her daddy's death be too traumatic?

“What should I do, Nate? What's best for Emma?” Instead of her husband's reassuring voice, she heard nothing and felt only the chilling wind seep into the fibers of her cotton jacket.

Abbie knew she could no longer stay on the farm. Her soul felt as decayed as the dead plants littering the field. At the main road, she turned left and headed toward town. She wouldn't go far, just far enough to clear her head.

While she walked, Abbie weighed the pros and cons of staying in Iowa against moving to Oceanside. If her heart had any say at all, Oceanside would win. Every time she thought about living near her family, she felt ten pounds lighter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders. But she needed to think about Emma too.

Lost in thought, questions still unanswered, she turned into the road that led to the cemetery. A light in the churchyard glowed around her, lighting up her watch and letting her know it was a quarter after midnight. She hadn't planned to walk this far. Or maybe she had.

Her legs ached from the three-mile trek as she padded through the grass to Nathan's grave. She hadn't been here since the funeral. Leah came every Sunday with a fresh bouquet of flowers, mostly brilliant blooms of dahlias from her garden. And every Sunday Leah asked Abbie to come with her. And every Sunday more guilt and anger washed over her. Abbie hadn't been ready to visit the grave, but Leah couldn't understand that.

Now she was here. She dropped to her knees and felt the dew from the grass seep into her jeans. “I shouldn't be mad at you, Nathan Campbell, but I am. I'm more angry than sad.” She closed her eyes and sat back on her heels. “Why did you have to die? Oh, Nate, what am I going to do without you?”

Live
. She could almost see him sitting there next to her.
Be happy
.

“I'm trying.” Abbie saw headlights approach and swing into the church road. She shielded her eyes as the lights swung past her then went out. Daniel jumped out of the truck and started toward her, not speaking until he reached the spot where she was still kneeling.

“What are you doing out so late?” she asked.

“Worrying about you.” His tone bore a hint of anger, but she heard compassion as well. He reached down, offering her a hand up. Abbie took it, and he pulled her to her feet.

“I'm okay. Just needed some air.”

“Emma isn't,” he said. “She had a bad dream and was looking for you. She told me you weren't in your room.”

“I'm sorry.” She turned toward the truck.

“She's all right now. I tucked her into your bed and told her I'd bring you home. She's probably sleeping by now.”

Abbie stepped up into the pickup when Daniel opened the door and waited for him to get in. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

“Glad to do it. You should let one of us know if you're going somewhere.”

“I had only planned on a short walk.” She looked over at him. “Daniel, why does your mother hate me so much?”

“Hate you? Abbie, she doesn't hate you. She's afraid you'll leave us. So am I, when it comes down to it. We've just lost Nate, and now you're talking about leaving and taking Emma with you.”

“It's not like you'll never see us again. We'll visit. And when she's older, Emma can come and stay for a week or two in the summer.”

Daniel picked up speed once he reached the main road. “When are you leaving?”

“Next Sunday.”

“How are you getting to the train station?”

“I was hoping you'd take me.”

He nodded. “You're sure that's what you want?”

“Yes.” The affirmation sounded like a lie. “I have to do this, Daniel. I have to.”

Daniel seemed to understand but warned her that his mother wouldn't let Emma go without a fight. In the end, Leah had won.

And now they had found her. She knew once she came out in the open that she wouldn't be able to escape their radar forever. Abbie seriously thought about packing a suitcase and slipping away. She could go back to Grand Forks. Margie would welcome her with open arms. But no, she had told Jake that she'd stop running. She belonged here and Emma belonged here with her. She wasn't the same woman now as the frightened, grief-stricken widow who had kidnapped her baby and run away. She was a mature woman who would face the dragon and win.

Abbie ducked her head and uttered a quick apology to God for thinking of her mother-in-law that way. She would hear Daniel out and in the morning she'd call Jake and the attorney. She wished Jake had come for dinner as he had developed a habit of doing, but with Brent in the hospital, he was probably helping Peggy and offering his support. While she missed him, she admired his devotion.

Daniel was waiting for her in the living room. He'd been talking to Perkins and when he saw her, he stood.

She glared at Perkins, her temper rising. “You. After that stunt you pulled yesterday, I can't believe you'd show your face here again.”

“Huh?” Perkins looked as though he had no idea what she was talking about.

“You nearly ran Jake and me off the road.”