Endangered Hearts (12 page)

She grabbed a pillow and began pounding it on his unprotected head. “Mean what? Oh, you'll be sorry, you jackass. You'll be so sorry."

Laughing, he reached up to grab her wrists and snatched the pillow away to fling it across the room. He pulled her down to lie across his chest and his eyes grew serious. “No, I'll never be sorry. I do love you, Abby. More that I ever thought possible."

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him against her. “Oh, God, Jack, I love you so much."

As he hugged her back, he closed his eyes, and he felt her soft body resting against him. He knew that this was it. There would never be another woman for him. He wanted to be with Abby for the rest of his life. Nothing else was acceptable. “Marry me?"

She drew back to look at him in surprise. “Are you sure?

"I've never been surer of anything."

"Of course, I'll marry you, Jack. As soon as you want. Whenever you want."

"Angel, I'd marry you tomorrow if I could. I never thought I'd ever feel like this about anyone Without you, I'd be lost."

"Oh, Jack. I feel the same way. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you."

"And, Abby, I want babies with you.” He brushed her hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek in his hand. “Lots of little girls with hair like sunlight."

"Oh, I think we'll have to have a few boys with dark hair and melting blue eyes so they can drive all the little girls in town crazy."

Jack laughed in pure delight. “Whatever you say, baby. Whatever you want."

"One thing I absolutely want is to live here on your mountain."

His arms tightened. “Are you sure? I know your home is in Gulf Shores. I'm willing to move if that's what you want."

"I love the coast, and I always will. But the minute I got here, I felt a connection to this place. This is where I want to raise our family and grow old with you."

"Then this is where we'll live. God, I can't believe how perfect you are for me."

She smiled. “Please don't expect perfection, Jack. I'll never live up to it.

"Angel, I never said you were perfect. I said you were perfect for me.” And his mouth closed over hers in a loving kiss.

When they eventually arose from the bed and dressed, they went in to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. Jack lit a fire in the grill on the back deck and put a couple of steaks on while Abby tossed up a green salad. Soon they were sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying their meal while Bear lay beneath the table, happily gnawing away on a bone.

Jack sipped his beer and studied Abby's face. Beneath the surface contentment, he could see the worry that was never far from her thoughts. Her eyes strayed again and again to the uncovered windows on the French doors that led out to his back deck.

"We're safe here, Abby.” He placed his hand over hers and squeezed in reassurance.

She started and looked guiltily at him. “I know. I just can't help wondering where Scotty is. Is he out there right now, watching us? Plotting his next move.” Her mouth firmed. “But I'm going to quit acting like a victim. He is not going to turn me into some weak, whining female. He's starting to piss me off."

"That's right, angel. He's not going to win. We are."

"Yes."

"There's something I want you to consider. I've thought about calling a friend of mine to see if he could come and help us out. No, listen to me,” he continued as she opened her mouth. “Clay Gentry is a private detective, and he knows how to protect someone who's in trouble. If he's not on a case right now, I know he'll come help. It's crazy for us to try to handle this on our own when we have someone who could give us a better chance at catching this guy."

Abby reluctantly agreed. “Yes, you're right. I can't afford to refuse help wherever I can get it. And I would feel better with two of you here in case Scotty goes crazy and tries to hurt someone—especially you.” She closed her eyes briefly. “I'd never forgive myself if he harmed you. But I feel like we might be overreacting a little. I mean, no one's been attacked, or anything."

"We don't want to wait until someone does get hurt or even killed, do we?"

"Nooo. How about this ... if something else happens, we'll call him."

"All right. But no arguments about it. The minute something, anything else unusual occurs, I'm on the phone. I'll feel better with another set of eyes to watch over things."

From the tree line behind the cabin, a figure stood and watched the couple as they leaned in to kiss. Concealed by the darkness of the night and the surrounding bushes, no one in the cabin could have seen the shadowy outline, even if they had been looking for one. With narrowed eyes, the intruder soaked up every movement made by the couple sitting at the table. An evil smile curled over the tightened lips as the couple rose from the table and began clearing the dishes away. What a sweet scene of domestic bliss. Yes, let them enjoy each other now, thought the watcher, because in a few days, they would be parted forever.

The next day Jack and Abby stayed close to home. Abby worked on her book, and Jack hung around the cabin doing various chores and generally getting on Abby's nerves. By late afternoon, she'd had enough. “Jack, you're driving me crazy. Nothing is going to happen to me. You don't have to stand over me like a nursemaid. Go outside and play with Bear or something."

Strolling out on the porch, she heard him whistle for the dog.

A short while later he came back inside, a concerned look on his face. “Abby, I need you to come out and call Bear."

She stood. “He's not out there?"

"No, and I've called him several times. Maybe he'll respond better to your voice."

Crossing the room and stepping through the doorway, Abby began calling. “Bear, come on now, quit playing,” Abby yelled, following her call with the piercing whistle the dog always responded to, but there was still no sign of him. Getting worried, she called once more, her voice sharper, reflecting her fear. Shit. Had Scotty done something to Bear now? What if he had hurt him? Killed him? Her gentle, sweet Bear. She didn't even want to think of that possibility.

"Jack, I don't like this. Bear always comes when I call him. And with everything else that's been going on..."

He slung an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “I know, Abby."

She looked at him with troubled eyes. “I don't know what I'll do if anything has happened to him. He's big, but he's just an old softy. He wouldn't hurt a flea. If Scotty has hurt him, I...” Her voice broke, and she bit her lip to prevent the tears from falling.

"We'll find him. I promise."

They set out together searching through the surrounding woods for the golden retriever. They tried to cover as much ground as they could, but as afternoon faded to early evening, it got harder and harder to see. Abby called and whistled as they looked, but there was no sign of Bear. Finally, they had to admit defeat. “I'm sorry, Abby. It's just too dark to look any more. If we keep stumbling around here, we're going to get lost or hurt. Or we're going to overlook Bear."

"I know. You're right.” She hated to stop searching, but it was obvious that they wouldn't do Bear any good like this.

"We'll start looking again at first light. Come on. Let's go back."

Taking her hand, Jack led her back through the trees to his cabin. Once they'd taken off their coats and drunk a cup of coffee, they settled close together on the sofa. Jack's arm went around her shoulders, and Abby's head rested against his shoulder.

"Whether we find Bear in the morning or not, we're going to drive to town and talk to the sheriff again,” Jack said. “If Scotty's in town, surely someone will have seen him by now. Stone Hill isn't that big.” He looked down into her red-rimmed eyes and bent to drop a soft kiss on her lips. She leaned in to him, moving her arms around his neck. “Come on, angel. Let's go to bed. We have an early morning coming."

Abby followed Jack into the bedroom. She watched as Jack took his clothes off and dropped them to the floor. He was so beautiful. She stripped her own clothing off and joined him in the bed. Pulling the covers up around their shoulders, he pressed her head down onto his chest. Abby lay there staring out into the darkness long after Jack had fallen asleep.

Abby was awakened by the smell of coffee brewing. She turned over, her lashes fluttering open once, twice. Disoriented, she sat up and looked around the room. Where on earth—then the events of the previous night came pouring back. Bear. Bear was missing and there was some lunatic out there stalking her. She rose from the bed and dressed.

The odor of frying bacon drew her to the kitchen, and Abby realized just how hungry she was when her stomach let out a loud growl. Jack stood with his back to the door but turned when he heard her footsteps. “Morning, sunshine."

Looking good enough to eat himself, in a pair of worn jeans and a plain white t-shirt, he gestured with the spatula he held in his hand. “Go sit down, and I'll fill your plate for you.” He placed her food and a cup of coffee in front of her and then joined her with his own. She took a bite of eggs before stealing a quick glance at Jack. Catching her questioning look, he shook his head. “I haven't gone looking yet. As soon as we finish breakfast, we'll head out. Okay?"

She nodded in agreement. He reached across the table stroke her cheek. “We'll find him. I promise."

Thirty minutes later, they set out. They took a circuitous route through the surrounding woods, trying not to go over areas they had already searched the night before. “Bear? Here, boy. Come here,” Abby called repeatedly. Her throat was beginning to get hoarse after two hours of repeating the same phrase again and again. So far, they hadn't seen or heard anything.

Jack walked beside her, his long stride adjusted to match her shorter one. When she stumbled over a fallen branch, he reached out a hand to halt her. “Why don't we sit down and take a break?"

Abby opened her mouth to protest, but then she stopped. He was right. Nothing was going to be accomplished by driving themselves to the point of collapse. “Okay.” She dropped tiredly beside a log, resting her back against the rough bark that pricked through the cotton of her shirt.

"Tired?” he asked.

"Yes. I must be more out of shape than I thought I was."

His mouth quirked in amusement at her statement and his eyebrows rose up with devilment. “I don't see anything wrong with your shape."

Abby's eyes widened, and she turned to stare up at him. “Are you flirting with me?"

"I guess I am.” He quirked his lip up in a lopsided grin.

"Well, well, well, will wonders never cease? I think...” Before she could finish her comment, she thought she heard a noise. “Jack, did you..."

Jack was already on his feet. He nodded. “Yes, I heard it. This way."

Moving toward the odd sound, Jack led Abby through the thick undergrowth. As they rounded a tree, they saw Bear. He was lying down, a pool of blood soaked into the ground at his side. Abby rushed toward him, but Jack held her back. “Stop, Abby. He's hurt. No telling how he's going to react."

She knew he was right, so she stayed back as he carefully approached Bear. The dog was very weak and barely conscious. Jack bent down beside him and reached out a hand to examine the wound in his back leg. Bear whimpered but made no attempt to bite Jack, so he motioned for Abby to come closer. She knelt near the retriever's head and ran her hand across his soft neck.

"It's gonna be okay, Bear. You'll be just fine. We've got you now.” Abby blinked tears from her eyes as Bear attempted to raise his head and lick her hand.

"Move over, Abby,” Jack ordered. Then he maneuvered his hands beneath Bear and picked him up, adjusting the dog's 60-pound weight as comfortably as he could in his arms. “Let's go to the truck. We've got to get him to a vet. I think he's been shot."

They headed back as fast as they could, with Abby leading the way and clearing a path ahead for Jack and his burden the best she could. Pausing only to allow Jack a few moments to rest, it still took them quite a while to reach the cabin. When the clearing came in sight, Abby rushed forward to open the door to the Jeep. Jack laid Bear across the back seat.

Within minutes, they were heading down the winding mountain road. Abby kept her eye on Bear, wincing with every bounce the Jeep made. Bear lay very still, and Abby was worried that they hadn't made it in time. When they reached the main road, Jack sped up, and in record time, he had parked his Jeep in front of the vet's office. Moments later, they had Bear inside being examined by the veterinarian while Jack and Abby waited impatiently for news.

As they sat side by side in the stiff plastic chairs, Jack reached out and took Abby's hand in his own, squeezing it comfortingly. Bear had lain all night long with the gunshot wound in his leg. Would he make it? It seemed like an eternity before the doctor came out.

"How is Bear? Is he going to be all right?” Abby rushed into speech, not wanting to wait another moment.

The doctor smiled at her. “I believe Bear will be fine, Miss Montgomery. He's a very lucky dog. The bullet was not lodged in his body. Apparently it hit him in the back right leg, passing through some muscle mass and then out again. He still lost a good deal of blood,” he added in warning, when Abby took in a relieved breath. “He's not out of the woods yet, but I think he's going to make a full recovery He's a fighter, and that's always a good thing. I'd like to keep him here for a few days to keep a close eye on him and build his strength back up."

Abby burst into tears, and Jack shook the vet's hands. “Thanks so much, Dr. Fisher. You don't know how relieved we are."

The doctor smiled. “I just wish my news were always this good. If you'd like to, you can come back and see him for a few minutes. He's just now coming out of the anesthesia, but he'll recognize you, and I'm sure he'll be glad to know you're here."

Abby and Jack went back to check on Bear and, after making arrangements with the vet for Bear's continued care, they left the building.

They walked down to the sheriff's office to tell Sheriff Tyrell about this latest incident. His concern was obvious. “Well, I have a little information for you, but not as much as I'd like, I'm afraid. Scotty Davenport has not been seen in Gulf Shores since last week, around the time you said you left, Miss Montgomery. It's possible that he followed you here, and that's how he knows where you are. Of course, just because no one has seen him in Gulf Shores doesn't necessarily mean that he's here in Stone Hill. Fact is, I've checked around town, and no one matching Mr. Davenport's description has been seen by anyone. And no single males have checked in to the Azalea Inn. The only new people been around town are a young newlywed couple name of Hammonds and a fancy lady who's car broke down on her way to Memphis. Elvis fan. We get a lot of them around here on their way to Graceland."