Behind the Mask (50 page)

“Leaving?” Ramona gasped. “You’re leaving?”

“Yes, I need to take care of some business for my father. There is a conveyance coming through later this morning. Georg will take me to meet it. Everything’s arranged.”

“But you can’t travel alone,” Ramona protested. “What if something were to happen? You can’t travel alone.”

“I’ll be fine,” Abbi insisted. “I’ll be back in a few days.”

Abbi hurried to get ready and pack a few things. She managed to avoid her aunts, counting down the minutes while she attempted to conceal her excitement. She met Georg in the stable, wearing a deep green traveling dress with a matching hat pinned into her hair that Elsa had put up tightly to withstand the journey. Georg smiled when he saw her, and he tied her bag to Blaze’s saddle. He helped her mount and followed her out of the stable. They rode together through the covered bridge, then into a cluster of trees where they waited for a short while to be absolutely certain there was no one in sight.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go up at night?” Abbi asked. “Wouldn’t we be less likely to be seen?”

“Perhaps,” Georg said, “and I usually take supplies up at night. Either way, we just have to be careful. At night it’s harder to see if anyone else is around.”

“Makes sense,” she said. A minute later she told him, “Georg, if he doesn’t figure out that I’m pregnant, I don’t want him to know . . . not yet.”

He looked surprised. “Do you think he won’t notice?”

“I’ve been feeling much better. And I’m hardly showing, actually, but . . .”

“I won’t say anything to him,” he said, “if that’s what you want to know.”

“Thank you,” she said. It was difficult to explain her desire to wait until their marriage was official before he knew about the baby. She didn’t question Cameron’s integrity, but there was a small part of her that wanted to know he would follow through on his promises because of his love for her, not because of any obligation to an unborn child.

They waited a few more minutes, then Georg motioned toward the forest, saying, “I trust you know the way.”

Abbi guided Blaze past the fallen tree and to the forest trail, with Georg close behind. He rode past her when they finally got to the meadow, and dismounted near the ridge. He had the opening exposed by the time Abbi stepped out of the stirrups.

“I believe you can manage now,” he said, motioning her toward the crevice.

“You’re not coming?”

“No. I want to see him, but . . . I think it would be better if I wait until he can taste a little more freedom. It’s difficult to explain, but . . .”

“I understand,” she said.

He kissed her brow. “God go with you, Abbi,” he murmured.

“Thank you, Georg.”

“I’ll see you in a few days. And remember . . .”

“Hope. Yes, I know. For me, as well as for him.”

Georg nodded and motioned for her to go. Abbi moved with little trouble up through the crevice. Georg sent Blaze up after her, and she could hear him putting the thicket back into place below. Abbi took a deep breath to calm her excitement before she mounted Blaze and rode quickly toward the lodge. It was difficult to contain her emotion as it came into view, feeling so much like home to her. How beautiful it looked against the mountainside, surrounded by summer! She thought of coming here last summer. It all looked so much the same. But she was
nothing
the same. If only she had known!

Abbi took Blaze into the little stable, almost expecting Cameron to be there, considering the time of day. But he wasn’t. She removed Blaze’s saddle, settled him into his stall alongside the other horses, and walked to the lodge. She opened the door to be greeted by Captain and Duke. She laughed and rubbed their heads, expecting Cameron to appear. She called his name, but it became quickly evident he wasn’t there. She wondered if he had gone hunting, but his rifle and crossbow were both on the wall. A walk, perhaps. She left her bag inside and ventured toward the high meadow, hoping it wouldn’t take too long to find him. She was grateful to know that Georg had been receiving messages, or she’d be downright worried.

Abbi was surprised at how easily she
did
find him. She stopped at the edge of the meadow, leaning against a tree to catch her breath. She didn’t want him to realize that she was more prone to getting winded in her condition. Abbi drew in a deep sustaining breath, absorbing him into her from a distance. She wished that she had a sketchbook as she took him in. His stance was reticent. She could almost taste his loneliness, and her heart ached for him. His cream-colored shirt clung to his shoulders and chest. He looked exactly as she’d remembered him except for the blanket of wildflowers where he stood. While a part of her wanted to just run toward him, there was something sweet in the anticipation of being in his arms again.
She loved him so much
.

Cameron lost track of the time as he gazed out across the meadow, remembering the times that he and Abbi had ridden Blaze here in the snow. How he wished she could see it now! How he ached to hold her. He glanced around himself, trying to imagine how it might look through her eyes. Gazing upward toward the rocky ledges above him, Cameron wondered if he were going insane. As his gaze had passed over the cluster of trees below, he could have sworn he’d seen her standing among them, blending into the wooded scenery like some kind of forest nymph. He couldn’t resist turning back to look again, knowing full well that he’d see nothing but forest.

“Heaven help me,” he muttered into the breeze. His heart began to pound. Was he hallucinating? Had he gone mad? He closed his eyes and opened them again. A splash of red hair stood out undeniably against an otherwise green background that swallowed up the dress and hat she wore. “Abbi,” he whispered, as if her name might convince him that he was not seeing a mirage.

Abbi’s pounding heart threatened to explode when she felt Cameron’s eyes come to rest upon her. He took a step toward her. Then another. Slowly, with trepidation, as if he dared not move too quickly. She stepped out of the trees and his pace quickened in response.

“Abbi!” she heard him cry as he broke into a run. She took only a few steps and waited, already too weak with emotion to exert any more energy. He slowed, stopping an arm’s length away. Through his labored breathing he asked, “Are you real, Abbi? Are you really here?” She reached out her gloved fingers and took hold of his hand, guiding it to her face. He sighed as if he’d been holding his breath since she last saw him. And then she was in his arms. She couldn’t tell if he was laughing or crying as he buried his face against her throat. She laughed herself into tears, her lips aching to meet with his. But he fell to his knees, pressing his hands to her back, his face into the folds of her dress. She eased her fingers into his hair, holding him tightly against her.

“Oh, Abbi. Abbi!” he muttered. “God truly does hear my prayers. Oh, He does, Abbi. He does.”

“And mine,” she said. He looked up at her face before jumping to his feet in a bout of laughter. Abbi laughed with him as he held her in his arms, lifting her off the ground, twirling with her until he nearly collapsed from dizziness. He finally set her down and took a step back, holding her hands out to her sides as he drank her in with his eyes.

“Look at you,” he said with exuberance. “Such a lady!”

“Do you like it?”

“You look like a queen, Abbi my darling.” He laughed again. “I can’t believe it. But if Georg finds out that you sneaked up here for the afternoon, he’ll have both our heads.”

“Georg brought me,” she said, and Cameron’s brows went up. He looked over her shoulder as if he expected his friend to appear. “He didn’t come through the ridge,” Abbi told him, “but he made certain all was well. And I didn’t come for the afternoon.” He looked confused and she added with a laugh, “I’m staying a few days.”

Cameron felt like a child with a new toy for Christmas. “Is that three or four?”

“Perhaps it could be six or seven.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t push our luck.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t worry about that right now.” She eased closer to him, tipping her head back completely to look into his face. “Perhaps you should kiss me.”

“As you wish,” he said and pressed his mouth over hers. He kissed her long and hard, over and over, holding her against him, keeping nothing back. Then he took her hand and led her to the center of the meadow, where he sat in the midst of the wildflowers, urging her to sit beside him.

“Talk to me, Abbi. Tell me everything.” He tugged at one of her gloves as he spoke, then the other.

“I don’t know that there’s much to tell. My aunts are still harping at me every chance they get. Although they are pleased with the way I’ve become such a lady, or so they tell me.”

“Indeed,” he laughed. “And the captain? Is he still out to win your heart?”

“I believe he is.”

Cameron looked concerned, but his expression was more facetious and Abbi laughed.

“I am doing my best to keep him distracted whenever the opportunity arises.”

“Good,” he drawled. “I think.”

Abbi laughed over his blatant jealousy. It felt so good to laugh again.

“And what of His Grace?” Cameron asked. “Has he come searching out your affection?”

“I’ve not seen him, I’m glad to say.”

“And Georg? How is he?” Cameron eased behind Abbi and searched for her hat pin to remove it. He stuck the pin into the hat and set it aside with her gloves.

“Now there’s some news,” she said. “He’s terribly love-stricken, and—”

Cameron stopped and leaned over her shoulder to see if she was serious. “Georg? Love-stricken?”

“Surely he let you know.”

“He lets me know
nothing
beyond whether or not I can breathe. Tell me—who is this enchantress who has melted Georg’s bachelor heart?” He began pulling pins from her hair as he spoke, setting them into her hat for safekeeping.

“It’s Elsa,” she said.

“What? The lady’s maid?”

“The very same.” Abbi laughed. “Apparently they were both missing me terribly through the winter, and found comfort in each other’s company.”

With the pins removed, Cameron maneuvered his hands through her hair, as if it were fine silk. He pushed it all over one of her shoulders and kissed the back of her neck. Abbi made a pleasurable noise and relaxed her back against his chest. He put his arms around her and eased her closer.

“So,” he murmured, kissing her neck again, “are there wedding bells in the air for Georg and Elsa?”

Abbi turned to face him so quickly that it startled him. She laughed as she said, “They’re already married.”

“Surely you’re joking.” Cameron looked at her sideways. “Georg is
married?
And he didn’t
tell
me?”

“You didn’t tell him that
we
were married.”

Cameron sighed. “Yes, that’s true.”

“In fact, they were married the day before we were. When he let you know he was leaving the country, he was going on a honeymoon.”

Cameron laughed. “That’s incredible.”

“Yes, it is. And they’re expecting a baby.”

Cameron’s expression became severe.

“What is it?” she asked, touching his face.

Cameron shook his head and smiled. “It’s just . . . difficult to believe. I’m truly happy for him. Georg is the best of men.”

“There is one better, in my own humble opinion.” She kissed him meekly.

“Yes, well, at least Georg is free to live his life fully.”

“You will be free, just as he is, Cameron. I know you will.”

He shook his head, marveling at her faith. “How do you know, Abbi? Did you dream my freedom?”

She glanced down and took his hand into hers. “Only in daydreams,” she admitted. “But in my heart, I just know . . . that you will be free.”

“I pray your dreams come true, Abbi, for your sake as well as mine. We should be together. I should be taking care of you. But there is so much uncertainty.” He hung his head and took both her hands into his. “Abbi, there is something I need to ask you.”

“I’m listening,” she said.

“If . . . we fail in proving my innocence, the only chance for me is to . . . what I’m trying to say is . . . if it becomes necessary, would you be willing to leave the country with me? To leave Germany if we have to? Do you think we could start over somewhere else, take on new identities, and be happy? Would you be willing to do that, Abbi . . . if it becomes necessary?”

“Yes, Cameron,” she said without missing a heartbeat. “I would give up all that I own to have a life with you.”

“Oh, Abbi.” He pulled her close and held her tightly. “My dear, precious Abbi. I thank God night and day for having you in my life—even though we’ve been so far apart.”

Cameron lay back on the ground, easing Abbi with him, and the surrounding wildflowers swallowed them. Looking up at her with the sun overhead, her face became lost in the shadows. But her hair caught fire from the light shining through it, surrounding her head like some kind of flaming halo.

“Abbi,” he murmured, touching her hair as if it might burn him, “you are my light. You are my hope.” His voice became husky with emotion as he pulled her to him, holding her desperately close. “You are as essential to me as my air to breathe.”

Abbi couldn’t hold back tears as she noticed the moisture in Cameron’s eyes. She inhaled his presence as if he were
her
air to breathe, then she pressed her face to his shoulder, clinging to him with the same desperation.

Holding her in his arms, Cameron felt all of his emotion disperse into a passion unlike anything he’d ever experienced. He kissed her as if he could pull her inside himself and keep her there forever. She responded eagerly as he rolled her into the blanket of flowers and lifted her skirts into his hands.

“Abbi,” he murmured over and over as he fought to fulfill this starving, thirsting need he had for all that she could give him. Strength filled his weary spirit, and he felt sure he could die here in her arms and have no regrets.

Long after he’d made love to her, Cameron lay in perfect contentment, simply watching her as she sat beside him, leaning back on her hands, the July breeze toying with her hair. When she pressed a hand over his face, he eased closer, nestling his head in her lap.