Creighton Manor (24 page)

Gillian awoke to the sound of Tyler running down the hall and Dora yelling after him to stop. She sat up in bed and tried to recall if last night had really happened. The slight headache told her it hadn’t been a dream. Those weren’t the only aches she was experiencing. However, those aches were welcomed. Zachary’s kisses and the way he made her body crave his touch. He said he wasn’t sorry it happened. If she would admit the truth, she wasn’t entirely sorry about it either.

She managed to slide out of bed and splash some cold water on her face before she dressed and headed downstairs. Lotti and Zachary were seated in the formal dining ro
om
, each nursing a cup of tea.

Lotti noticed her first.
“You poor, poor dear. Zachary was just telling me about your adventure last night. How are you feeling this morning?"

"I'm fine." Gillian assured her. Her gaze
found
Zachary’s. He
had risen from his seat
. The swelling on the side of his head had gone down and the bruise
didn’t look
half as bad
as it did last night
.

"Come, dear." Lotti took her arm and led her to the table.

Zachary quickly went to her side and pulled out a chair for her to sit down. He then poured her a cup of tea. The special attention took Gillian by surprise. What was he up to?

Zachary sat down again. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"I’m fine. I was thinking the same thing about you. How’s your head."

He lightly touched his bruised temple. "It's a little tender, but I think I will live."

"Not at the rate you’re going." Lotti snorted, unhappily. "You need to put an end to this Zachary for your sake as well as for everyone else’s."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Call off the bet. Give up your obsession with Creighton Manor and make a home with Gillian and Tyler."

"I can't let it go, not when I'm this close. I have my reasons,” Zachary said as he came to his feet. He looked at Gillian as if he wanted to say more, but couldn’t find the ri
ght words. He inhaled deeply and his eyelids lowered in a deliberate blink of
f
rustration
. “I have to go
.”
He spun on his heels and stalked out of the room.

"He's a stubborn fool." Lotti shook her head sadly.

“Don’t I know it.” Gillian
reached for the silver creamer and added a splash of milk to her tea.
“I believe I’ll take
my tea
out front if you don’t mind.”

“No dear, I don’t mind at all. Some fresh air will do you wonders.”

“Thank you, Lottie. Would you like to join me?”

“I would love to, but I need to tend to some business.” She patted her hand. “Enjoy your morning.”

Gillian went outside to the porch. She spotted Zachary and Tyler taking turns throwing a stick to Molly. She placed her teacup on the table and walked to the edge of the porch to watch them play. Molly barked and ran in and out of the Gazebo before she returned with her prize.

Tyler finally spotted her. “Aunt Gillian!” He waved and ran over to greet her. He threw his arms around her waist, giving her a big bear hug.

"I'm so glad you’re okay." He looked up with his deep brown eyes and smiled.

"I guess you heard about our little adventure?” 

Tyler nodded as he released her.

Zachary had walked over to them. "I knew that he would hear about it sooner or later. I decided it was best that it came from me."

Gillian nodded in
agreement.

There was an awkward silence before Zachary added. "Are you ready to head home?"

Home, but it should be his home. It shouldn’t be hers.
Zachary had welcomed her into his world and she had gladly accepted. She hadn’t wanted to, but she cared for all the Creightons
...
all the Creightons. Her gaze locked onto Zachary’s and like always her body tingled with awareness.
He’s not for you, Gillian. He can’t be.

“Gillian, are you all right?”

She blinked and looked away.
No, I’m not all right.
However, she didn’t voice the words.
She cleared her throat. "I’m ready to go whenever you are.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Cyrus sat at one of the tables in the back of the saloon
, giving him the view of the entire room
.
The place was near to e
mpty this early in the morning. A quiet game of cards was being played at a table near the bar. Cheap cigar smoke wafted in the air, tickling his nose.

Mitzi, one of the
better-
looking saloon girls sat at a
nother
table with one of the
Hendricks
boys. The lad
couldn’t be more than seventeen. He wondered if his mother knew he spent time here. He
cringed when Mitzi let out a squeal and laughed, making him wish she’d take the boy upstairs. Her cackling pried
on his nerves.

He twirled his glass, watching the amber liquid swirl around. He wanted Zachary out of his life and he could almost taste the victory, but he wanted reassurance. He hired Edward T. Willis to check into the matter. He was to report his findings to him today.

Finally, Edward entered the Saloon. He removed his
brown Derby and scanned the room. Cyrus lifted his hand and Edward nodded as he
headed toward him.

"Well?" Cyrus was impatient for the information and
skipped the pleasantries.

Edward slid a chair out and sat down.
"I spoke to Leathers as you asked. Nice gent by the way.”

“I didn’t pay you to befriend the man.” Sarcasm laced his words.

Edward cleared his throat. “Leathers is sure he will have no trouble beating Cannon and his Robert E. Lee."

Cyrus relaxed and sat back in his seat. A slow smile spread across his face. He had a sure bet. Zachary would lose and he would be forced to stay clear of the gambling tables. "Now that is what I wanted to hear." He sat forward again. “Did he say when this race was actually going to take place?" He hoped soon.
He couldn’t wait to see Creighton’s face when he lost.

"Tomorrow. He asked me to keep this under my hat though. Remember they put disclaimers in the paper stating, they wouldn’t stage a race."

"Don't worry; I have no
in
tentions of uttering a word."
He grinned. “Join me in a drink, Edward.”

“Don’t mind if I do, sir.”

“Good, good.” He waved to Vincent, who was manning the bar. “We
need a bottle of your finest
here and two clean glasses if you please
. We have reason to celebrate.”

“Coming right up, Mr.
Locke,” the bartender yell
ed
back.

CHAPTER TWENTY

PRESENT TIME

Samantha made the call to Jerry's office and waited for the receptionist to connect her. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she heard his deep baritone voice.

"What's wrong, Samantha? Stephanie told me it was an emergency."

Stephanie, Jerry’s receptionist
had
wanted her to leave a message, but Samantha insisted she needed to speak to Jerry. "I'm sorry, I didn’t want to disturb you at work, but I didn’t know who else to call. No one will listen to me.”

“Has something happened?”

“Yes, something has happened. I can’t find Gillian
anywhere. She’s gone.”

"She's probably out, shopping or something and lost track of time. I'm sure she'll be back soon
.”

Jerry remained polite, but Samantha didn’t miss the patronizing tone in his voice. "You don't understand,” Samantha hurried to explain. “We were staying aboard the Queen Mary. Gillian went back to the room to change her clothes. When she never returned, I went to find out what was taking her so long. She wasn’t there. She wasn’t anywhere. She’s not on the friggin
’
ship!” 

“You’re on the Queen Mary?”

“Isn’t that what I’ve been saying?”
Her voice rose
hysterically.

“Okay, okay. Let’s think rationally. Did you drive there?”

“We took her car and yes, it’s still in the parking lot. This isn’t like Gillian. She wouldn’t have left without saying anything.”

“Normally I would agree, but Gillian hasn’t exactly been acting like herself lately.”

Samantha understood why Jerry felt that way. Gillian and Jerry had been together for three years. Then Gillian up and ended their relationship as if it had meant nothing.

"As much as I would like to not think about this,” Jerry said, “could it be possible Gillian is with her boyfriend?”

What was he talking about? Gillian didn’t have a boyfriend. Then she remembered. Gillian had told Jerry she was seeing someone else. She didn't want to contribute to the lie, but to explain everything now would take too long. "She can't be with him," she said. "He's out of town on business. He won't be back until next week." She cringed at the lie.

"Oh,” he managed to say. “I had wondered if she told you she was seeing someone else.”

“Jerry, I can’t wrap my head around what you’re feeling right now. I know Gillian hurt you, but if you cared about her at all, please help me here.”

He sighed heavily. “I do care about her, but I’m not sure what I can do except maybe lend some moral support.”

"Thanks Jerry." Samantha gave him the room number before she hung up the phone.

It was the longest hour that she had ever waited, but finally, Jerry knocked on the cabin door. She swung
the door open. He stood
tall, t
anned and completely gorgeous. He was a
k
night
in
shining armor ready to save
the damsel in distress even though
the damsel
had spurned him. Either he was a glutton for punishment or he was one nice guy. She moved aside for him to enter the cabin.

"You were both staying here?" Jerry asked looking over the stateroom for signs of some kind of struggle.

"Yes."

“Was anything missing?”  He turned to look at her.

“No.” She shook her head then stopped. “Wait, her purse. Her purse isn’t here. I'm worried, Jerry. I’m aware she's been acting weird, but I know she wouldn’t just leave and not tell me where she was going."

He shrugged. "I don't have any suggestions, Samantha. I ha
ven't spoken with Gillian since
..
.”

Samantha felt bad for him. He couldn't even bring himse
lf to say, since they broke
up.

Heck, she couldn’t believe Gillian broke up with him either. They never fought. They shared similar tastes. They were one couple she thought would spend the rest of their lives together.

Jerry had dark circles under his eyes and his gaze showed his exhaustion. He wanted answers to what went wrong with the relationship, but Gillian had failed to tell the truth. She put her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry. I should have realized how difficult this would be for you."

"No, it's all right," Jerry assured her. "Gillian and I may not be together as a couple anymore, but I can't just pretend I don’t care about her. I would have been upset if you hadn't called me."

She stared at him for a moment before she nodded. He meant every word. "What should we do? No one here will talk to me. Matter of fact it’s almost like they are afraid to say anything."

“What do you mean?”

“I
t’s
weird. The whole thing has been creepy.” She hugged herself as she nervously glanced around the room. “This room is haunted.”

Jerry lifted his eyebrows.

“No, it’s true. They said so at the front desk, and I can sense that something is wrong with this room.”

“
You’ve let your imagination go wild.
This is the Queen Mary. They offer haunted tours. This room is no more haunted than my house is. It’s just a marketing tool to draw people in.”

“No, it isn’t a marketing tool. When Gillian never showed up last night, I found the receptionist that checked us in, hoping she would help me. Do you
want to know wh
at she had the audacity to say
to me
?”

“Oh this I have to hear.”

“I shouldn’t worry because they always show up sooner or later.”

“What is that suppose to mean?”

“I have no idea, but before I could ask, she was whisked away by another employee.”

Jerry headed for the door turning to look at Samantha as he opened it. “Let’s go find this receptionist and question her a little further, shall we?”