On Ice (Contemporary Romantic Thriller) Page 5

  Mark poured whiskey into a water glass and drank it all at once. What was she thinking?

  He walked around the flat feeling disconnected. No one had prepared his dinner. No one had lit candles or set the table. No one told him goodnight and no one waited for him in the big empty bed.

  He poured more whiskey into his glass and stretched out in the center of the king-sized bed. He stared at the ceiling and visualized Rene’s face. Mark pulled her pillow from under the duvet and held it to his face. Her scent brought tears to his eyes. Why did she do this to me? I’m her husband.

  He finally fell asleep, exhausted by the day’s events. In the morning he awoke groggy and hung over. The enormity of the situation engulfed him. His wife and children were gone. Rene left him and took his children. He struggled to rise but his legs were made of rubber.

  No woman could do something like this. Not to Mark Desmond. No, he wouldn’t allow it.

  She has to be somewhere and I’ll find her. Then she’ll be sorry she was ever born.

  Mark searched for the coffee. Why didn’t she put it where he could find it? He finally located a tightly sealed bag of beans in a canister by the coffee grinder. When he tore it open the beans spilled onto the floor and countertop. He growled and threw the rest of the bag against the granite backsplash.

  He picked up the grinder but stopped just short of slamming it through the window. He stood for a long time, leaning against the counter with his lips pressed together. When he got control he gathered a handful of coffee beans and ran them through the grinder. He managed to start the coffee maker.

  By then he had an idea. She didn’t have any money. He went to his laptop and logged on. He checked activity on her credit card. In a few minutes he knew. She had purchased three one-way tickets to Paris, France. She took his children and left the country.

  The white hot anger was gone only to be replaced by something else... something cold and deadly.

  ~*~

  Maddy and Ted held hands, sipping wine and gazing into the crackling blaze in the fireplace of their cozy suite in the old inn. Their late-night rendezvous took place after they had dined and tucked the girls into their beds in the adjoining room. The inn sheltered travelers for hundreds of years and was said to have been the haunt of local highwaymen who preyed upon wealthy wayfarers. Maddy shivered in spite of the fire.

  “Are you cold, my dear?” Ted asked solicitously. He reached to arrange a woolen throw around her feet.

  “Not really,” she said. “I was just thinking about the romantic history of this lovely old inn. Isn’t it exciting?”

  Ted smiled warmly as he pulled her into his arms. “Exciting?

  “Yes it’s exciting. We haven’t taken a real vacation since Miranda was born.”

  “We went to Barbados just last year.”

  “It was a medical convention. When you take a vacation as a couple that means doing things together.” Her voice level rose.

  “We did lots of things together.” Ted frowned and stared into the dancing flames. “I distinctly remember.”

  “Nooo,” she protested. “When you weren’t in meetings you were playing golf. That does not constitute a satisfying vacation for fifty percent of this partnership. The other fifty percent of us wanted to go dancing and wanted you to rub lotion on us.”

  “I didn’t do that?”

  “Not even once.”

  “Well, I was totally remiss. How can I make it up to you?” He kissed her shoulder.

  “The girls are asleep and it’s raining outside. Here we are in this old inn with a richly romantic history. Do I have to draw you a picture?”

  “I believe I can demonstrate some romance of the here and now.”

  “Please do.” Maddy snuggled closer. “You know I’m a right now kind of woman.”

  ~*~

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Rene awoke with a start. She lay frozen in the strange bed listening to her heart thudding in her chest. Sara snuggled safely at her side, snoring lightly. What had awakened her? Was it a noise? The silence seemed to be wrapped tight around her.

  She remembered the dream and a knot of fear gripped her. Mark's face distorted in anger. His deliberately calm voice making graphic threats through gritted teeth. She couldn't remember the words, but it was always the same: death, disfigurement and harm to those she loved. Peering into the semi-darkness, she inhaled deeply to slow her heart beat. The curtainless window above the bed cast a bright early morning light over the interior. She remembered reading that the sun shone much longer in the summers here than in Houston.

  She gave in to the urge to throw back the heavy covers and stepped into the chilled air of the cabin. Silently, she checked the locks. She heard Seth’s rhythmic breathing from the sofa where he slept. Taking another deep breath of her own, she let it out slowly.

  We're safe here. He doesn't know where we are. He won't find us. As she made these meager affirmations, Rene knew she was deluding herself. It was only a matter of time until he came. I'll be ready for him. This thought shocked her. What could she do? He was vicious and strong. We're here, aren't we? He would never think we could get this far. Maybe I can be ready for him.

  She was not the same woman who had left Texas. She was somehow stronger, clearer. She must find a way to protect her children and herself.

  Rene groped for her watch on the chest beside the bed. Almost four-thirty. Too early but she was wide-awake. She looked for a coffee-maker but found none.

  Rene resigned herself to getting dressed. She slipped into her clothes and stepped outside, closing the door as softly as possible. A prickle on the back of her neck put her on alert as though someone watched her. She tried to shake off the feeling.

  The chill of the air bit at her newly bared ears. She wore a sweatshirt under her lightweight jacket and felt comfortable enough. The almost full moon, sitting low over the snow-capped peaks, cast a neon glow against the cobalt night skies. Rene tried to be as silent as her surroundings.

  She strained her ears but heard nothing. Yearning for a cup of coffee, she sat in the nearest rocking chair. She had watched the sun set. Now she would watch it rise. Leaning her head back, she rocked tentatively. Almost no sound. She didn't want to awaken the children so early.

  Soon she became accustomed to the silence. When she began to relax, a rustle in the brush at the edge of the clearing brought her to full alert. Perhaps a small animal she thought. This time the prickle of fear started at the nape of her neck and ran down her spine. She was sure it wasn't Mark. It couldn't be! She strained her eyes to peer into the darkness under the trees. Rene held her breath as she identified the sound of footsteps. The form coming through the brush was no small animal. In slow motion, she rose from the rocking chair and moved toward the door. She was trapped. No car. No phone. No escape. She located the doorknob behind her, never taking her eyes from the trees.

  Suddenly something huge burst through the brush into the clearing. An enormous animal, a moose or an elk, but it could have been a reindeer, for all she knew. It paused as it sensed her presence. They remained motionless, sizing each other up. A wave of relief washed over her.

  “Hello.” She whispered, testing her voice in the darkness. “You are truly amazing." She felt like a giant fist just released her insides.

  The massive animal lowered its head and began noisily munching the tender grasses in the clearing.

  Rene held her breath for a moment more, then turned the knob and stepped over the threshold, sighing as she leaned against the inside of the door. She turned the locks quickly.

  She gathered the packet of unread papers and cautiously turned on the kitchen light. The children didn't stir at all. Settling herself at the table to carefully inspect each document, she learned that, indeed, Maddy had negotiated a seemingly immense salary that would be paid monthly, plus a large bonus, half of which would be received immediately and the other half at the end of her one-year contract. Though never having used her teaching degree, she knew
this amount was significantly more than the salary paid to beginning teachers in Texas. She folded the documents and placed them beside her purse in case she was asked to produce them later in the day.

  Snuggling in beside her daughter, Rene thought she would get up again soon, but fell back asleep immediately.

  She awoke to find the room washed in sunlight. Sara was trying to climb over her. Rene helped the child reach the floor and watched her make a beeline for the bathroom. When she emerged, Sara went to wake her brother.

  Seth seemed disoriented, looking around sleepily. Rene joined her children on the sofa.

  “Good morning," she greeted them. Seth responded with a huge yawn. “You can get dressed while I make our breakfast.” Walking toward the kitchen area, she said, “I think I saw a moose this morning, or an elk.”

  “Where?” they asked at once.

  “At the edge of the woods. It was eating grass.”

  “Wow!” Seth said. “I wonder if it will come back.”

  “Probably. Pancakes okay for everyone?” She was met with an enthusiastic chorus.

  Shortly after their meal, Rene heard the noise of a vehicle pulling up to the cabin. She peered out the window over her bed, the only window facing the front of the house. Brett was climbing out of the Hummer. Rene ran her fingers through her clipped hair as he knocked at the door.

  “Smells good in here,” he said as she admitted him.

  “We had pancakes!” Sara informed him.

  “I can tell.” Brett smiled down at her.

  “That was wonderful syrup,” Rene said.

  “Old man Pryor makes it every year. He's about a hundred years old and I hope he teaches someone else how to make it before he goes.”

  “Where is he going?” Sara asked him.

  Brett seemed to be at a loss for his usual few, terse words. Rene relished his discomfort. Even Mr. Cool could be rattled.

  “Are you ready to sign your contract?” He changed the subject. “It's in my office. I thought I'd drive you over and see if you need anything along the way.”

  “Great.” Rene helped Sara put on her jacket. “You look different today.” Rene noted that he had trimmed his beard and, although still on the long side, his hair was shorter and neatly brushed. Somehow, this simple act of basic grooming made him seem less fearsome.

  “I was overdue for a haircut,” he said. “My office is in my home. Mrs. Jolly’s looking forward to meeting you.”

  Brett drove them a relatively short distance and parked in front of a multi-level log house. Deep gables overhung large expanses of glass pointing in all directions. The cabin, nestled among tall pine trees, seemed almost organic.

  “I hear rushing water again,” Rene said.

  “That's the Sad Horse River. It curves around by your place, too. I guess I'm used to it.” He led Rene and the children into the cabin.

  A spacious room with high-beamed ceilings and glass on three sides jutted out among the treetops. Rene was drawn to the vast panorama opposite the door. The view of snow-capped mountains beyond pine forests thrilled her, but the sight of the rushing river took her breath away.

  “Let me show you the view from the deck.” Brett opened the French doors and they all stepped out onto a wide deck set under the deep eaves. The pungent odor of pine and cedar mingled with the cool mist rising off the river.

  “This is beautiful,” she said.

  “Mommy, it's so loud!” Sara put her fingers in her ears.

  “It's rushing right now because it was frozen and when it thaws the water wants to make up for being still all winter. It isn't this fast in the summer or fall.”

  “The mist is so pretty,” Rene said.

  “It's due to the difference between the water temperature and the air temperature.”

  After a few minutes they all trekked back inside.

  “Mrs. Jolly!” Brett called. “Come meet the new teacher and her family.”

  “I'm old but not deaf, you know!” A plump white-haired woman entered the room, wiping her hands on a dish towel and peering over her glasses with dark, bird-like eyes.

  Brett made the introductions and Rene thanked her for their dinner and the groceries.

  “It was nothing at all. I hope I didn't forget anything.” She tucked stray wisps of hair up into her bun. “Were you comfortable last night?”

  “Yes, very.” Rene smiled at her. “We watched a beautiful sunset after we ate your lovely casserole and apple pie. It was so kind of you.”

  Mrs. Jolly looked pleased, but continued to protest that she had not put herself out in any way. “It's nice to have little ones in that cabin again.”

  “Children lived there before?” Rene was amazed.

  “In the old days everyone lived in one room. The cabin was in Ben Franklin’s family for generations.”

  “I’m glad a bathroom was added.”

  “Ben's quite a carpenter. He added the loft and built the furniture.” Mrs. Jolly bent down to the children. “Would you like some warm cookies and milk?”

  The children were easily lured to the kitchen while Brett showed Rene into his office.

  “I have your contract here someplace.” He rearranged papers around on his desk. “Here, let me move those things.” The only other chair was covered with small boxes and folders. “I'm sending those samples to be tested.”

  “Is this what you're looking for?” Rene held up some papers clipped together with her assumed name on the envelope on top.

  “Yes. That's it!” Brett un-clipped the papers, giving two copies of the contract to Rene to read before signing. Since she’d read his offer letter she was delighted with the terms, which included the bonus and housing. Rene signed both copies, noting that Brett had already inked in his signature. She handed one copy back to him and he gave her the envelope.

  “Wow!” she said as she saw the amount of the check. “This is great.”

  “Payday is the first of each month and you get the rest of the bonus when you complete the contract. Is the cabin okay?”

  “Yes, but-- There are a few things--"

  “Such as?”

  “I felt so isolated. How about a phone?” Rene saw Brett grin and shake his head. “I know. I don't know anyone to call yet but with two children and no transportation there could be an emergency.”

  “I see. I'll put in a telephone and you can use my old truck. It runs great, but it's not pretty. What else?"

  “The loft is so high. I’m afraid the children will fall. Any suggestions for making it safer?”

  “I’ll look into it,” Brett said.

  “Thank you." Rene was trying hard to maintain her composure, resisting the urge to jump up and down and shout with joy. She doubted that this bear of a man would appreciate her display.

  “I'll show you the truck." He fished a set of keys out of his desk drawer. “We can go around." He opened a door leading to the deck from his office. Rene followed him to a faded red truck parked under the trees. The door creaked when he opened it and swung his large frame onto the seat. He put the key in the ignition and the motor started right up. “Purrs like a kitten."

  “More like a full grown alley cat." Rene smiled at him.

  “Now, Ms. Nichols, this truck may look shabby on the outside but she's had lots of TLC. Nothing but the best for this old girl." He patted the steering wheel affectionately.

  “I promise not to abuse her," Rene vowed.

  Brett turned off the motor and tossed the keys to Rene. “I'm sure you wouldn't know the meaning of the word abuse.”

  Rene's smile froze but she quickly recovered. “Perhaps, not.”

  ~*~

  Rene had all but forgotten how to drive a stick shift. Slowly she maneuvered the truck along the unpaved road leading back toward the town. She tried to stay clear of the deep ruts cut in by heavier vehicles.

  “Sorry, kids,” she said, putting the truck into park. “If I don’t do this, I’ll just pop.” She turned off the ignition and swung her d
oor open. “Yes!” she screamed as she danced around. At first, both children stared at her through the open door and then scrambled down to join in.

  “Yes! Yes! Yes!” they chanted as they whooped and jumped. Rene had to sit down on the rusty bumper to catch her breath, but she couldn't stop grinning.

  Seth came to sit beside her as Sara continued to jump and shout. “Was it something good, Mom?”

  “Better than good,” Rene said. “Brett gave me a big check and this truck to use. And he's getting us a phone.”

  “We can call Aunt Maddy.”

  “We can't do that,” Rene said, abruptly sobering. “At least, not for a while, but we can call for help if we need it---Let's find a bank.”

  “Mom,” Seth said when they were once more bouncing along the road. “What is a tyke?”

  “Tyke?” Rene glanced at him but had to jerk the steering wheel hard to avoid a huge rut.

  “That lady called us tykes and she kept asking us questions.”

  “Questions?” Rene’s skin prickled.

  “Yeah. She wanted to know what we were doing up here all alone. She asked me where our father was.”

  Rene tried not to take her eyes off the road. “What did you tell her?”

  “I said he was dead.” Seth's furrowed brow revealed his discomfort. “I didn't know what else to say. It just came out.”

  “I understand.” Rene frowned.

  “She just kept making clicking noises with her tongue and saying, “poor fatherless little tykes.”

  “I see.” Rene tried to ignore the knot in her stomach. “It can't be helped. We have to try to avoid the subject from now on. I don't want you to have to lie but if you're ever forced to answer that same question, just remember to give the same answer.”

  The bank, a two-story pink granite building with the year 1887 carved over the door, stood in the middle of the main street. Rene opened the heavy front door for the children. The beveled glass and gleaming brass surfaces posed a bright contrast to the dark mahogany walls. They headed for the only teller who ushered them to the office of Mr. Belker, the President.