Thanksgiving Groom (15 page)

Those were the types of people who might want Penelope Lear. He should have thought about it sooner.

He told Reed and Jake what he thought. Reed agreed. Jake slapped him on the back.

“Tucker, stop beating yourself up for everything.”

Yeah, Jake knew him that well.

 

She'd been tied up in the little cabin for more than twenty-four hours. Penelope had prayed and prayed that someone would find her trail. Every time she closed her eyes she pictured Tucker—his face, his smile.

Common sense always returned, and she remembered that he was just another man her father had brought into her life. But Tucker had been rejected, obviously. Her dad had settled on a man who had a similar background and whose family business would match well with their own.

Tucker had rejected her. She kept going back to that thought. Her dad had approached Tucker, and he hadn't wanted anything to do with her, with marriage to her.

Enough of that. She wasn't going to feel sorry for herself. She was going to figure out a way to get out of this mess. She closed her eyes again and tried to think about a warm fireplace. Thinking about being warm was better than thinking about Tucker. She could hear the digging outside, shovels hitting dirt and stone.

They hadn't caught on yet that she'd given them the wrong location. They were digging away, but she knew that the real spot was somewhere else on this property. She was sure of it. She was nearly positive the treasure was buried near a tree, or a stump.

They were digging near the stream. She smiled. Knowing she had fooled them did give her a little comfort. The fire they'd built, which really wasn't much of a fire, provided no comfort at all.

Her stomach growled painfully. They'd shoved some
bread in her mouth that morning. It had been stale, dry and tasteless. She imagined pecan waffles at Lizbet's. And coffee. She could really use a cup of coffee.

Tucker. She closed her eyes and tried to push away his image, his smile. Instead of dwelling on what she couldn't have, she dwelt on prayer. It had become pretty obvious that if she was going to get out of here, God was going to have to do the rescuing.

“Please, God, send help. What more is there to say? I mean, I could go on and on, but the only thing I really need is help.”

She wondered if He heard. He obviously had other, pretty important issues to deal with. Around the world people were hurting and in trouble. Did she rate high enough for God to put all of His other duties on hold to help her?

The thoughts seemed pretty close to delirious. If they didn't find her soon, she'd be a goner.

The door opened. The man who carried the gun entered. She forced a bright smile because his face was red, either from anger or exertion. He tossed the pan of something they'd cooked for themselves. Oh, anger. She bit down on her bottom lip and went for the scared female routine.

“Where's the treasure?” He slammed his hand down on the old table a short distance away.

“I don't know. If I knew where it was, I'd have dug it up. I told you what was on the map. That's as good as I can do.”

“You need to do better.” He picked up a pen and tossed it on the table and then he pulled a knife out of a drawer.

This was it, then. She'd die here, today. He walked toward her with the knife and she prayed hard. She closed her eyes and when she did, he slit the ropes on her hands and pushed her out of the chair.

“Draw the map.”

“Oh, okay.” She glanced around, looking for something to draw on. That's when she saw movement outside the cabin. Her heart picked up speed and pounded so hard it hurt to breathe.

“Draw it.” Tom—that's what the other man had called him—pointed to the piece of paper he'd put down in front of her.

“Okay, I will.” Her hands were free. Her feet weren't tied.

She considered the odds. She could make a run for it and pray that it was Tucker outside, or she could wait and hope for the best.

With hands that trembled, she started the drawing. Tom relaxed and sat down.

“Will you share the treasure with me?” Penelope really couldn't believe he was so stupid he didn't know who she was.

Tom grunted. “Doubt it. Might be able to persuade me to keep you around, though. I'd probably buy you some pearls to replace the ones you lost.”

Her grandmother's pearls. She couldn't talk, because if she said anything about those pearls she'd cry. She also couldn't glance out the window, because that would surely lead Tom to look out also. She didn't want to give away any rescuer who might be attempting to locate her.

 

“This is it.” Tucker leaned against a tree a short distance from the cabin. Amy took a quiet step forward and gasped.

“What?” Reed stood behind her, his hand moving toward her waist, and then back to his side. Tucker smiled at Jake, because they'd both noticed.

“This is it, Reed. This is the spot on the map. They brought Penelope here. Or maybe she brought them.”

Tucker groaned. “Her photographic memory. They made her lead them to the treasure.”

And this was about as ridiculous and far-fetched as a late-night movie. People didn't get kidnapped or find treasure this way. But then, maybe sometimes they did.

Tucker moved a few steps forward, searching for Penelope. She was in there somewhere. He hoped she was in there. He prayed, really prayed that she was alive. His gaze landed on the man by the stream, digging in an area that was more rocks than dirt.

Penelope had told them to dig there, but Amy was pointing to a tree. She was practically bouncing in a silent pantomime. After all of this, to find the treasure this way seemed pretty unbelievable. It didn't matter to Tucker. What mattered to him was that Penelope was inside that cabin and he didn't know if she was injured, or if she was even alive.

Until she let out a banshee scream that pierced the quiet afternoon. The four of them, Tucker, Jake, Reed and Amy, rushed into the clearing. As they headed toward the cabin, Jake headed for the thug by the river. Divide and conquer.

Penelope ran out of the cabin. She was almost to the steps when a man hurled himself at her. She turned, did a great roundhouse kick and then punched him in the face. She really
did
know karate. The thug staggered back and she ran down the steps toward them. Jake had the other guy by the arms and was dragging him forward.

Tucker pulled Penelope close, holding her against him. She breathed hard and tears wetted his neck. He didn't have time to think or react. Suddenly the man from the porch was coming at them with a gun pointed at Amy, who had gotten a short distance away from the rest of them, including Reed. She jumped back, but he caught her hard against him, pulling her away from Tucker. Reed had gone to help Jake.

“No,” Penelope cried. “Let her go. I helped you find this place. We don't want the treasure. Just let Amy go.”

“No, I don't think so. You all stand back and I'll let her go. But I want you men on the ground, arms outstretched.” The thug held Amy close, the gun to her head.

Tucker shot Reed a look. Reed shook his head and went down. They were going to let these guys go. Tucker knew it was the right thing to do. He knew it, but, man, he was itching to take them in, to make them pay for what they'd done. As he went down, he kept his eyes on Amy, on the guy with the gun.

“Stay on the ground for five minutes.” The guy shouted, still holding a gun on Amy. “Do you understand?”

“We understand.” Reed's voice shook with emotion.
Tucker drew in a deep breath and fought the urge to ignore the warning and go after the men.

He looked up as the men were moving away, Amy still at gunpoint. They were to the clearing when they pushed her aside and ran.

Reed and Jake were on their feet and chasing after the two while Tucker helped Amy to her feet.

“Let them go,” Amy brushed her hands down the sides of her jeans. But she was already moving in the direction of Penelope. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

“I'm fine. I just couldn't find a way to get away from them.”

“But you led them to the treasure.” Amy hugged her tight. “This is it, Penelope. We have our treasure.”

Tucker watched the edge of the woods and breathed a sigh of relief when Jake and Reed returned. They didn't have the two thugs with them. “Where are they?”

“Got away.” Reed hurried toward Amy, but he didn't reach for her. Tucker thought he ought to go ahead and just hug her. Instead the two smiled at one another. “You okay?”

She nodded, smiling big. “Better than okay. They led us to the treasure. Or should I say, Penelope led them to the treasure. And then she told them it was by the creek.”

“It isn't?” Reed looked around. “So?”

“If I'm not mistaken, this is the cabin I've read about in old history journals. And that tree is where the treasure is buried.”

Tucker grabbed a shovel and handed it to her. It was her treasure, she should get to dig. They all took
turns, but in the end, Amy's shovel hit the box. Tucker stepped back and watched as she pulled it free. He glanced in Penelope's direction and she was smiling with tears streaming down her cheeks. This was what she'd wanted for Treasure Creek. She'd wanted to give them this treasure.

“Open it.” Reed stepped forward with a knife. “Maybe you can pry the lid.”

Amy pulled the treasure box back from his grasp. “No.”

Reed's brows scrunched together. “No?”

Amy shook her head. “We'll save it for the Christmas pageant. This box holds something that will change all our lives. I don't know exactly how, but I know that it will, and I want it to be special for all of us, for all of Treasure Creek.”

“You can't be serious.” Reed let out a loud sigh and Tucker could have told him that was a mistake.

“Yes, Reed, I'm serious. I make my own decisions and this is what I'm going to do.”

“I think it's a great idea.” Penelope hugged Amy tight. “I think it's perfect.”

“What if it isn't anything valuable?” Jake scratched his cheek. “Seriously, Amy, what if it's just a time capsule?”

“I'm not listening to anyone. We're saving it for Christmas.”

“Okay, we'll lock it up until then. We need to keep it safe. And keep you safe.” Reed's gaze remained on Amy, and she nodded.

Tucker watched Penelope. She was steady on her feet and smiling, but her face was pale, and dark rings
shadowed her eyes. They still didn't know what she'd been through or if she was hurt. Reed glanced her way.

“Penelope, are you going to be able to make this hike back to town?”

She nodded. “I can make it. I'm tired and hungry, but I'm ready to go home.”

“Did they hurt you?” Reed continued his questioning and Tucker wanted to stop him. But Penelope shook her head.

“No.”

They started down the trail, and as much as Tucker wanted to be the one at her side, Penelope walked next to Amy. The three men followed. It was getting dark and they would have to finish this journey in the black Alaskan evening. Tucker would have given a whole lot of treasure to be back in civilization right about then. He would have given a lot to have people around him who made rational decisions.

But Penelope was safe. She didn't seem to have a lot to say to him, but she was safe.

P
enelope wasn't upset that her parents arrived in Treasure Creek the evening after she was rescued. It felt good to be with them. Her brother had accompanied them and she didn't mind being teased about spa days and manicures. She could even admit that she wouldn't mind a good manicure. And after everything was over she managed to talk her family into staying in Treasure Creek for Thanksgiving dinner at the end of the week.

“How long are you staying?” Penelope walked next to her brother as they left the police station. She glanced back over her shoulder, wanting a last glimpse of Tucker. He was gone. She wondered if he was going to finish loading his truck and head back to Seattle before Thanksgiving.

“I'm staying to eat with you all tomorrow, and then I have business in Hawaii.”

“Business?”

“Maybe not so much business.” David walked with quick, long strides, his overcoat flapping. The cold never seemed to bother him.

“I guess I'm going home.” She tossed a quick look
back at her parents. “I need to settle down and stop putting myself in danger.”

“It wouldn't hurt.” David winked, and his smile softened his angular face. “Pen, do what you want to do. Don't marry some guy that you don't like just because he has the right pedigree or his parents own the right piece of property. Do what you want. If you want to feed children or run a shelter, do it. If you want to get married and stay in Treasure Creek, then stick to your guns and tell Dad that you've made a decision.”

“Right. That's easy for
you
to say.”

“Not really, I had to fight to build the business I wanted.”

“Maybe it's just easier to go home.”

He laughed then. “As if you've ever done the easy thing.”

“I'm not that bad.”

“No, you're not bad, you're just strong-willed. Tell me, sis, what is it that you love about this town? I'm just not seeing it. No night life, not much in the way of restaurants.”

She thought it should be obvious. “It's the people, David. They have so much faith and so much love for each other.”

“Got it.” He glanced around and she wondered if he saw what she saw when she looked at Treasure Creek, or did he just see another small town?

“I see a town that needs a real resort.” He nodded as he made the observation.

“No, David, not here. Please don't do that to Treasure Creek. It would ruin everything.”

“Seriously? You don't want a resort here, with a spa and a classy boutique?”

“No, I don't.”

“I doubted you, Pen, but I think you really have changed.”

Ahead of them, she saw Tucker Lawson walk out of Gordon Baker's law office. He didn't look her way. She wondered if that was on purpose. Not that it should matter. “Isn't that
the
Tucker Lawson, your hero?” David nudged her a little and she slid on the ice. He grabbed her arm. “Sorry, I didn't know you could be knocked off your feet.”

“Very funny. He isn't my hero.”

“Of course not.” David stopped to look for cars before they crossed over to Lizbet's for lunch. “Hey, so what about this treasure? Did you peek in the box?”

“No. Amy insisted it be opened in December, as a Christmas gift to the town.”

David shook his head. “What if it's just a rusty old box with a few crumbled newspaper clippings?”

“Then I guess everyone will be disappointed.”

Including Penelope.

But she had already been disappointed. Tucker was leaving. He hadn't even said goodbye.

 

Tucker stood next to Jake, both wearing tuxedos. The big difference was that Jake was smiling as if he had discovered something more valuable than a long-lost treasure. Bethany, wedding planner extraordinaire, or so Casey had informed them, was fiddling with the collar and telling Jake to stop slouching.

“Seriously, Jake, couldn't we do something less formal, something with jeans and boots, maybe corduroy?” Tucker pulled at the neck of his shirt.

“No, we're not doing something less formal. This is what Casey wants.”

Bethany took a straight pin out of her mouth and shot Tucker a look that he assumed was supposed to put him in his place. “A wedding is important for a woman. It's our big event. We want it to be perfect.”

“I thought the marriage should be the real event. The wedding is the icing. If the cake is stale, the icing doesn't matter.” Tucker grumbled, and he didn't mind that he was testy.

“You've obviously never been in love,” Bethany chided, heading his way with straight pins. He didn't cringe, but he had the good sense to hope she wasn't going to stick him.

“I guess I haven't been.” Tucker stood still as she pinned and lectured him about his posture. He thought about telling her he wasn't a schoolgirl going to the prom. He didn't care about posture or the length of his jacket hem.

But she was talking about love and forever, and for some crazy reason her rambling made him think about Penelope. He hadn't seen her since the day they rescued her. They'd brought her back to town and to her waiting parents, and the Lears had circled the wagons, keeping her surrounded by family and “people.”

The people worked for her father, Tucker assumed. He also assumed they were packing. Herman Lear wasn't taking any chances with his little girl.

But she wasn't a little girl. Tucker glanced out the
window and ignored Bethany's constant chatter about weddings being special and how lucky Casey was to have such a beautiful wedding. And wouldn't it be lovely to have Jake's daughter as the bridesmaid.

Tucker grunted because he wasn't commenting on that little chick. He knew when to leave well enough alone and this was one of those times. Veronica was ornery, pure and simple.

As he glanced around the little shop, his eye caught and held on something he'd seen before.

“That veil over there.” He pointed and Bethany slapped his arm down.

“What about it.”

“Is it reserved, or whatever it is you do with things like that?” Heat crawled up his cheeks and he avoided looking at Jake.

Bethany stood and turned to look at the veil. “Oh, no, it isn't. Someone ordered it, and then she changed her mind.”

“About the veil?”

Bethany laughed, “No, she changed her mind about the groom.”

“Oh.” Tucker wanted that veil. His mouth went dry thinking about Penelope standing in this shop in front of the mirror, that gauzy piece of nothing covering her face.

“Tuck, you okay?” Jake cleared his throat. “You aren't going to pass out are you?”

“Women pass out.”

Bethany pinned his jacket. “No, men pass out. They forget to loosen their knees while they're standing here. Pretty soon, down they go.”

“I'm not going to pass out.” His heart hammered and his brain felt foggy, but he was pretty sure it was about an epiphany, and about an image of Penelope Lear standing at the altar with that veil covering her face, and not about his knees being locked.

“You're pretty pale.” Bethany stepped back. “I'm done with you.”

Tucker stepped down off the stool she had him standing on for thirty minutes, and walked over to pick up the veil. It was soft, not crisp the way he had thought a veil might be. “I want this.”

“It won't suit you.” Jake walked over to the counter to pay Bethany. “But I'll buy the veil if he really wants it.”

“I'm buying the veil.”

Bethany stood behind the counter. “Whatever for?”

Tucker shrugged. “For kicks.”

Or because he wanted to see it on Penelope one more time. And he wanted her in a white dress when she wore it.

 

What town had a Thanksgiving meal that included nearly everyone in the community? The next evening, Tucker knew the answer to that question. Treasure Creek was such a town. They took community to an entirely new level. He stood inside the great hall that was lined with tables, and watched as people took seats. Someone handed him a pitcher of water.

Now, what did he do with that?

“Fill the glasses.” Penelope stood next to him. Man, she smelled good. He wanted to lean in and pull her close, not fill glasses with water.

“Fine. I can do that.” Fill glasses, that is. She had a tub of rolls, and as they walked, she filled baskets on the table.

“My parents are here.”

“I know. I said hello.” He had actually talked to her father earlier that day. It had been a busy day, getting ready for his drive back to Seattle, doing some work around the house, and talking to Herman Lear.

“They like you.” Penelope glanced back over her shoulder. Her hair fell forward and she brushed it back. “I'm staying, you know.”

“I thought you were going back to Anchorage.”

“No, I told my dad that I'm staying here. I bought a house and I'm going to do some work with Dr. Havens.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Could you promise me something?”

She stopped filling baskets. “What?”

He leaned forward—close. “Get a GPS and don't go into the woods alone.”

“You're very funny.” But she laughed, and he was glad.

They finished, and he followed her back to the table where her parents were sitting. “Mind if I join you all?”

Penelope looked surprised. He doubted if she noticed that no one else in her family looked too shocked. Instead, her brother moved down a seat, giving Tucker the place next to Penelope.

Crowds of people were moving through the building, finding seats, moving to new locations with old friends.
Penelope sat very quietly next to Tucker. Finally, she turned to look at him.

“I thought you were leaving, going back to Seattle.”

“I had unfinished business.” He reached for the basket of bread and offered her a roll. She shook her head and he passed the basket to David. “I see.”

“Could we talk later?” Tucker whispered close to her ear, because this really didn't need to be the latest bit of news to run through the grapevine. “I suppose.”

“After we eat?”

“Of course.”

What if this didn't go the way he'd planned? Tucker hadn't really let himself think that until now. He hadn't allowed himself to think that she might not feel what he felt. Even as the thought tried to surface, he pushed it back down. He was going to be an optimist if it killed him.

 

Penelope couldn't stop the trembling in her hands. All through the meal, rather than thinking of all that she was thankful for, she thought about Tucker sitting next to her and Tucker wanting to talk to her. He looked so serious.

She tried to avoid looking at him. Instead, she watched Joleen talk to Harry. Joleen, kind of calm, her voice quiet, and Harry not looking completely cornered or stricken. Penelope was proud of herself for talking Joleen through the finer steps of courting. The gist of it had been about not coming on too strong.

And Delilah. They'd met together for a women's prayer meeting.

Her brother, David, had been wrong. There was plenty to do in Treasure Creek. There weren't any country clubs, and the restaurants weren't fancy, but life was good in this small community. And the new beauty parlor, where she'd gotten her hair done, was hiring a manicurist and a massage therapist.

The dinner she had looked forward to fell apart, though. She couldn't eat with Tucker sitting next to her, talking to the people around them as if everything was great.

Of course, maybe it was great for Tucker Lawson. He was settling up his life here and heading back to Seattle. He'd found the faith he'd lost as a child. He had reconnected with his friends. He'd forgiven himself. She could see in his face, in the way his hazel eyes flashed with warmth, that life was better for him.

“Stop looking so sad.” He leaned close to her ear, and the way he brushed close to her cheek felt as if he had kissed her. He even paused close to her ear.

She closed her eyes. “I'm not sad. I am going to miss you.”

There, she'd said it. And when she did, a tear sneaked out and slid down her cheek. He caught it with his finger and then he brushed his hand across her cheek as gently as if he were touching a hummingbird.

“Come with me.” He scooted his chair back and she slid hers out, but then she hesitated.

If she left with him, she'd fall apart in his arms. She might actually beg him to take her father up on his offer. She might tell him that she'd never loved anyone the way
she loved him. She might forget all of the good advice she'd given Joleen and come on too strong.

“Pen, go with the man.” David winked and gave her a light push when she couldn't quite make her feet move.

It was suddenly a good idea to leave, because tears were burning her eyes and she thought she might be about to fall apart. Lost, abducted, nearly married off to the highest bidder, and now she was losing it? That was ridiculous. She was a Lear. She took a deep breath and pulled it together to follow Tucker outside.

He reached for her hand, and they walked side by side down the street. Christmas lights twinkled around them and they could hear the music from the Christmas store.

“Where are we going?”

“To the park.”

“It's cold to be out for a walk.” She shivered inside the down coat and Tucker's arm went around her, pulling her close.

“Remember when you sang ‘Winter Wonderland.'”

“And you didn't appreciate it.”

He laughed and she leaned closer to him. He sang the lyrics about building a snowman.

She laughed and finished with naming him Parson Brown.

Tucker reached for her hand and pulled her in the direction of the park. “I have to show you what I made for you.”

His voice was husky and light. He hurried and she nearly had to run. “Tucker, slow down.”

“I can't.” He laughed and led her on. “‘He'll say are you married, we'll say no, man…'”