Second Time Around (25 page)

Slowly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the small diamond she’d kept in the truck’s glove box. “I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but there will be. And when you find her, she’ll wear your ring with joy and pride.”

A suspicious hint of moisture filled his eyes as he tucked the diamond into his shirt pocket. “Just tell me you forgive me for believing Edward and I’ll be satisfied. I couldn’t stand thinking you hated me.”

“Of course I don’t hate you. You had no way of knowing what Edward was like.”

She hesitated. “What are you going to do now?”

“I’m not sure yet. My family wants me to move back to Montana and open a clinic there, but I haven’t decided for sure.” He shrugged. “It will take me a few weeks to settle things at the clinic here in Watson. I guess I’ll figure it out as I go.”

14“I wish you’d stay, but I’ll understand if you can’t. If you do leave, will you stop and see us first? It would kill Zack if he couldn’t tell you goodbye.”

“I’ll stop by.”

He walked her to the truck and opened the door for her. “I hope McAllister knows how lucky he is.”

“So do I.” She reached for the key, then hesitated. “I do love you, Jared. I only wish it could have been more.”

Leaning into the truck he brushed her forehead with his lips. “No you don’t,” he whispered. “He’s the one you’ve always wanted. Be happy, Lanie, and know I’ll always be there if you need me. All you have to do is call.” Gently, he closed the truck door and lifted his hand. “Goodbye, sweetheart.”

She fought her tears until she reached the end of the long, winding drive, then pulled over. With sobs shaking her frame, she buried her face in her hands and let them come. He’d looked so devastated, so miserable. But even after she’d torn him in half, he’d only thought about her, what would make her happy. Men like Jared Harper didn’t come along every day, and she prayed he’d find some kind of peace.

The sun was sinking low over the mountains to the west when she finally dried her eyes and straightened. It was time to go home, home to her husband and son. And it was way past time to start the life Edward had denied them.

Edward. As she drove, she mulled over what Jared had told her about him. Why on earth had the man wanted to help her with the riding stable? Was he afraid she’d hit Quinn up for child support and thus spill the beans about Zack? He certainly wouldn’t have wanted that to happen. But that didn’t explain the pictures and videos Jared had sent him. Was it possible that Edward had been curious about his grandson after all? Or maybe Jared had simply assumed Edward would want to see Zack and sent them on his own.

The closer she got to the ranch, the more determined she became to get to the bottom of the mystery. She’d have her talk with Quinn tonight, and first thing tomorrow morning they would call Edward and find out exactly what was going on.

* * * * *

Quinn lifted the phone to his ear then winced at the nearly hysterical voice on the other end. It took him a second to identify the caller as Franklin.

“For God’s sake, Franklin. Slow down. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”

“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling every hour since Friday!”

“On the trail ride. I told you about it.”

“Don’t you have a housekeeper or something?”

14Quinn glanced at Duncan. He’d put his sandwich down and was listening to Quinn’s end of the conversation. “Yes, but since no one was on the ranch, she went to visit her sister this weekend. What’s up?”

The sudden silence from Franklin had his nerves standing on end. “Franklin?”

“God, Quinn. I don’t know how to tell you.”

“Just spit it out.”

The lawyer took a deep breath. “It’s Edward. He had a heart attack some time Thursday night. His housekeeper found him Friday morning and called an ambulance.

You have to come home, Quinn.”

Fear had adrenaline pumping in his veins. “Are you sure this isn’t another one of his tricks?”

“It’s no trick. The doctors don’t know how he’s held on this long. He’s been slipping in and out of consciousness, but the times he’s aware are getting shorter. If you don’t leave now, it may be too late. I think he’s only hanging on until you arrive. I can send the jet to pick you up.”

“No.” He tried to think, make a decision. “It would only take twice as long. We’ll take a commercial plane. I’ll call your cell phone from the airport and let you know the flight number. Tell him I’m on my way, Franklin. Don’t let him die.” He hung the phone up and turned to Duncan as his friend pushed his plate aside and stood.

“Edward had a heart attack. You call the airport and see if we can get on a flight. I’ll pack.”

Duncan reached the phone then paused. “What about Zack?”

“Damn.” Quinn took the receiver from his hand. “I’ll see if Lanie is still at Harper’s.” He found the vet’s number on a list by the phone and punched it in. After six rings, he hung up. “They aren’t answering. Sherry?”

Duncan shook his head. “She said she had a hundred errands to run this afternoon.

I doubt if we can find her.”

Quinn ran a hand through his hair. “We can’t wait. He’ll just have to come with us and I’ll leave Lanie a note.” He handed the receiver to Duncan. “Hurry.”

As Duncan dialed, Quinn turned and ran down the hall. “Zack?”

“I’m in here.”

In the den door he stopped and forced calm into his voice. “Hey, champ. How would you like to go on a trip with me? You’ll get to ride on a plane and everything.”

“Really?” Excitement lit his son’s eyes. “Will I have to go to daycare?”

“Not until we get back. Want to help me pack your clothes?”

Zack bounded to his feet and raced up the stairs. Quinn wasted no time following him. He was cramming clothing into a suitcase when Duncan called up the stairs.

“Forget packing our things. We’ve still got clothes at the penthouse. If we rush, we can make the next plane, but we have to leave now.”

15Quinn slammed the lid on the case and snapped the locks closed. “Come on, champ. Let’s get out of here.”

They were going out the door when he remembered Lanie. Shoving the suitcase at Duncan he turned back to the house and grabbed a piece of paper and pen.

Lanie,

Gone to Chicago. Zack is with me. I’ll call when I can.

“Quinn! We have to go!” Duncan’s yell rang through the room.

Cursing under his breath, he signed the note “Quinn” and propped it on the table before running out the door.

15Chapter Twenty-One

Lanie climbed out of the truck, her gaze fixed on the house. It was strangely quiet, with not a single light showing from any window. Only the stable was lit, and she doubted Quinn would be there. A glance showed her the Jeep Quinn had rented wasn’t parked in its usual spot and her shoulders slumped.

Where could they have gone at this time of the evening? She wanted so badly to talk with Quinn, to feel his arms holding her. She needed the comfort he offered. Now it would have to wait a little longer.

Maybe they had driven into Watson for takeout. If so, they would probably be back soon. Feeling better, she reached for the back door only to stop abruptly at the sound of whining coming from inside.

“Spot?”

The pup scratched eagerly at the frame, his black coat nearly invisible in the dark room.

“What in the world are you doing in there?” She stepped through the door and picked the pup up. “I’m going to have Zack’s hide if he snuck you in and then forgot about you.”

Spot tried frantically to wash her face, wiggling so much she nearly dropped him.

“Poor baby,” she crooned. “Were you scared? Come on. Let’s get you outside.”

She set him on the porch, watching as he darted down the steps and made a beeline for the stable. As soon as he disappeared from view, she flipped the kitchen light on.

And froze.

A plate sat forlornly on the table with the half eaten remains of a sandwich, and the smell of burnt coffee drifted from the pot on the countertop.

The fine hair on her arms sprang erect. Something was wrong. Neither Quinn nor Duncan would have left the coffee pot on when they were leaving.

She turned it off and took the glass carafe from the heat. It wasn’t until she faced the table again that she saw the paper propped against the salt shaker.

A note. Quinn had left her a note. The relief that flowed through her was short-lived as she picked it up with a trembling hand and read the message.

The muscles in her legs went lax and she groped for a chair. Dear God. He had left her again, and this time he’d taken their son with him.

* * * * *

15The plane glided to a gentle landing, then taxied to terminal one at O’Hare and came to a stop. Impatiently, Quinn undid his seat belt and reached for Zack’s. In spite of the late hour, his son was filled with boundless enthusiasm over his first airplane ride.

“Are we here?” Zack’s eyes were wide as dinner plates.

“Yes, we’re here.” He scooped the little boy into his arms. “I’m going to carry you so we can go faster, okay?”

“Okay. Don’t forget my suitcase.”

“Duncan has it.” He took a second to hug his son before stepping into the aisle, hoping it would calm his screaming nerves. The need to run, to get to the hospital as quickly as possible was fighting with his common sense. They couldn’t afford to be detained for any reason, and these days, running through an airport was a sure path to disaster.

As they left the gate, a short man dressed in a chauffeur’s uniform blocked their path. “Mr. McAllister. Mr. Delaney sent me to drive you to the hospital.”

Quinn searched his mind and finally came up with a name to match the man’s face.

“Thank you, Charles. Where did you park?”

“Outside the luggage terminal, sir.”

“This way.” Duncan gestured down a hall. “It will be faster if we take the tunnel.”

They pushed their way though the crowd heading in the same direction, Quinn taking little notice of the blue, pink and purple lighting lining the tunnel. In the background, “Rhapsody in Blue” played softly, but the music only increased his anxiety.

He glanced at Charles. The man was making a valiant effort to keep up with them, his shorter legs churning. “Is Franklin still at the hospital?”

“Yes, sir. They took your father to Northwestern and Mr. Delaney has never left his side. I’m sorry, sir, but he said to tell you that Mr. Edward’s condition is deteriorating rapidly.”

They went by the luggage turnstile at a near jog, and Quinn hit the outer door with the palm of his hand, slamming it open as he made straight for the shiny black limo at the curb.

Zack stared around the interior as Quinn fastened his seat belt. “It’s got two back seats. Is it yours, Dad?”

“In a way.” The truth was, it belonged to Zack now, but he couldn’t tell his son that.

It would only confuse him, and the trip alone was enough for him to deal with.

As the limo pulled into the traffic, Quinn turned on the speaker to the front.

“Charles? Go as fast as you can.”

“Don’t you worry, sir.” The chauffeur’s voice sounded mechanical and far away.

“I’ll have us there in no time.”

15Quinn leaned back and closed his eyes, wishing desperately that this was simply another of Edward’s schemes. But he knew it wasn’t. His insides were twisted into painful knots, and sweat beaded his forehead.

He couldn’t even imagine his stubborn, strong father lying in a hospital bed. Other than the bouts of arthritis, Edward had always been healthy as a horse. Was there some sign he’d missed, something that should have warned him his father was ill? Now that he thought about it, Edward had been paler than normal the last time he’d seen him. He had chalked it up as a reaction to the fight they’d had.

Beside him, Zack’s weight increased as his eyes drifted shut. Quinn shifted him into a more comfortable position, then glanced at Duncan.

“What if this is my fault, Dunc? What if the shock of losing the company caused his heart attack?”

“It’s not your fault. Don’t even start thinking it is. If Edward’s heart was bad, this would have happened anyway. You only did what you had to for Zack’s sake.”

“I hope you’re right,” he murmured. “I’m not sure I can live with myself otherwise.”

* * * * *

Lanie’s heart pounded so hard she could barely hear her ragged breathing.

Standing was impossible. Instead she stared blankly at the note crumpled in her hand.

Her baby was gone, stolen by the man she loved, the man she’d promised to trust.

Trust. She shut her eyes tightly and took a deep, painful breath. She had promised to trust him, and until she found out what was going on, she would do just that. There had to be an explanation, and she had to quit panicking and think logically.

Carefully, she spread the note out again and examined it. The handwriting was Quinn’s, but it looked as though he had written it in a terrible rush. The letters were all jumbled together making the words barely legible.

Her gaze shifted to the plate. That and the coffee pot were another thing. Both men were invariably neat, always picking up after they made a mess.

She forced herself to her feet and went through the house, realizing for the first time that the TV was on in the den. The volume was turned down low enough that she hadn’t heard it before.

Upstairs, she checked Quinn’s room. All his clothes were in exactly the same place she’d last seen them. The same proved true of Duncan’s room.

Zack’s was a different story. Clothes were slung across the bed, some drooping toward the floor. A quick scan told her several outfits were missing, as was the small suitcase he used when he spent the night with Billy.

Her first assumption had to be right. Something had happened. Some emergency that forced Quinn to return to Chicago and take Zack with him. He had vowed he 15would never leave her again and she had to believe he’d meant it. The alternative was too horrible to contemplate.

But she couldn’t sit and wait for him to call. Not without going crazy. What if she were wrong? What if he really had stolen Zack?

Running, she raced to her closet and pulled out her leather carry-on bag, cramming clothes in haphazardly. She knew where his penthouse was and where the company offices were located. Somehow she’d find them.