Every Move She Makes (13 page)

“No, we have the best of both worlds. I spent my fair share of time shoveling snow when the kids were growing up, and I definitely don’t miss it.” She let out a deep sigh. “Bryce always loved the winters here. That’s why he insisted on buying this house for us. He wanted his daughters to have a place to come to enjoy the snow.”

“They do have a great time when they’re here no matter what the season.”

“So, how are the girls? Ford and I were sorry to miss Lark’s and Jade’s graduation ceremonies. Did you have a party?”

“My mom made a family dinner. Anything more elaborate wouldn’t have been appropriate under the circumstances.” Rachel dropped a bag full of peelings into the trash. “What would you like me to do with the potatoes?”

“Just cover them with cold water. That’ll keep them fresh until I’m ready to add them to the chicken.” Olivia glanced over. “What circumstances?”

Rachel found a bowl and ran water over the potatoes. “I’m sure you noticed Lark’s hair.”

“It’s hard to miss.” Her ex-mother-in-law’s lips firmed. “I admit I had to bite my tongue when I saw her.”

“Lark and I are having a few problems. The hair isn’t the worst of it. I’m afraid she has a tattoo as well.”

“That’s horrible! I’m surprised you let her do something so drastic.”

“Lark didn’t ask my permission. Of course I didn’t approve, and her behavior certainly didn’t warrant a party.”

Olivia released another deep sigh. “Bryce would have had a firmer hand with those girls.”

Rachel sincerely doubted it, but she wasn’t about to say so to his mother. “Lark misses her father very much. We all do.”

“Is that what you were doing while we were camping, Mom, missing Dad?” Lark strolled into the kitchen, her hair still damp from her shower. “When were you missing him the most, when you were cuddled up next to Kane at the campfire or out in the canoe? Maybe the day he took you on that six-hour hike?”

Rachel closed her eyes for a long moment. “Don’t use that tone when you speak to me.”

“Then don’t pretend you miss Dad! If you cared, you wouldn’t have divorced him.”

“We may have been divorced, but I never stopped caring about what happened to your father. You might think you know everything, Lark, but some relationships are complicated.”

“Your relationship with Kane didn’t seem very complicated. He kissed you, and you kissed him back.”

Olivia drew in a breath. “This may not be my business, but who is this Kane person?”

“He’s Mom’s new boyfriend.”

Rachel gave Lark a quelling look. “He’s a friend. We met through my sister, Grace, and then again at the camp this past week.”

“I suppose you have every right to date if you choose to.” Olivia’s voice quavered. “I can’t expect you to remain faithful to my son’s memory forever.”

“Especially since we were divorced when he died.” Rachel set down the bowl of potatoes with a thump.

Hold it together, Rachel.

“It’s okay, Grandma.” Lark squeezed Olivia’s trembling shoulders. “I won’t ever forget Dad.”

“You’re a good girl.” Olivia wiped away a stray tear. “Thank you for your help, Rachel. I think we’re finished in here for now.”

After meeting Lark’s defiant stare with a cool one, Rachel nodded to Olivia and left the kitchen. In her room, she dug her cell phone from her purse and headed down to the lake. She heaved a sigh of relief when Grace answered on the third ring.

“Tell me I can do this.” Rachel pressed a hand to her throbbing temple. “Tell me I can take another couple of days of Olivia’s tortured sighs.”

“Trouble in paradise?”

“It only looks like paradise.” She gazed across the water. “Why did I agree to spend the weekend here, do you remember?”

Grace snorted. “Because you love your daughters? Because Ford is awesome, and you don’t want the girls to think you hate their grandmother?”

“I don’t hate her. She’s sad and pathetic and will never believe her son was less than perfect, but her comments get on my nerves. Anyway, I only love two of my daughters. I want to wring the third one’s neck.”

“Twenty bucks says I can guess which one.”

“No bet. Lark just told Olivia all about my new boyfriend. The woman thinks I’m besmirching her son’s memory.”

“That’s priceless. Did my niece make it up just to spite you?”

Rachel was silent for a moment. “She didn’t exactly make it up. She may have embellished the truth with a few unnecessary labels.”

“What?” Grace’s voice rose. “What boyfriend?”

“That’s the label I’m talking about. I wouldn’t call Kane my boyfriend, but we’re sort of seeing each other. Maybe. If he calls—” Rachel stuttered to a halt. “All right, we made love. Once. Well, technically twice, but we didn’t sleep together. We were in a canoe at the time.”

“Slow down. You aren’t making a bit of sense. You had sex with Kane, and Lark knows about it?”

“No, of course she doesn’t, not about the sex part. She just saw a little hand holding and a kiss and maybe a couple of hot glances.”

“I thought you weren’t going to get involved with Kane? We decided men with major emotional problems are bad relationship risks.”

She sighed. “He’s worth the risk. I really like him, Grace.”

“So this wasn’t just a vacation romance. You’re planning to see him again when you get home?”

“I hope so. He said he’d call.”

“Wow.”

“It all happened sort of fast. One minute we were just friends on a hike, and the next we were making out and half-naked. The guy has the most amazing effect on me.”

“I’ll say. How long did you date old what’s-his-name before you finally slept with him?”

“If you mean Alan, we dated for a couple of months.”

“See. You’re about the least spontaneous person I know.”

“You don’t have to tell me, but Kane makes me feel different. Better. He jolted me out of a boring rut.”

“If he makes you happy, then I’ll welcome him with open arms.” Grace’s voice rang with enthusiasm. “In fact, it’s a win-win situation because I’ll be seeing a lot more of you from now on.”

“How do you figure?”

“Well, you’ll be coming into the city to see Kane, so you can visit me at the same time.”

“I wouldn’t get my heart set on it. He’s still pretty ambiguous about going back to work when his vacation leave is up. I’m hoping he’ll spend a little time in Vine Haven while he decides what he wants to do.”

“Is he planning to quit?”

“I’m not sure, so don’t say anything to Nolan. You are still seeing Nolan, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am.” Her sister’s tone took on an edge.

Rachel laughed. “What has it been, three weeks now?”

“For your information, it’s been four.”

“Wow, Grace Hanover has been with the same guy for a month. I’m surprised I didn’t hear about it on the six o’clock news.”

“Smartass. Do you feel any better?”

“Actually, I do. Talking to you always cheers me up.”

“I’m glad I could help. Don’t stew about Lark. If you and Kane really have something meaningful, she’ll come around eventually.”

“I hope so, but she’s giving me a lot of grief.”

“She’s a teenager. That’s her job.”

“You’re a fine one to talk. Lark reminds me of you when we were kids, and I guess you turned out okay, so maybe there’s hope. Anyway, I appreciate the pep talk.”

“I should get off the phone. I’m making dinner for Nolan, and he’ll be here any minute.”

“You’re cooking? I couldn’t have heard right.” Rachel tapped her cell. “There must be something wrong with my phone.”

“Of course I’m not cooking. I got take out. Drum roll please, it’s not pizza.”

“Amazing. Have fun tonight.”

“I always do. Call me if you need another pep talk.”

“I will. Bye, Gracie.”

Rachel draped an armful of wet towels over the deck railing to dry before heading upstairs to change from her bathing suit to a tank top and shorts. The afternoon spent cruising on Lake Tahoe had gone better than she’d expected. Erica’s high-energy intensity, while tiring at times, held no lingering resentment, though she’d seemed more stressed than usual. Olivia had actually relaxed and offered up a few hesitant smiles. The work Rachel had put into establishing a solid relationship with her in-laws seemed to be paying off. Still, after a full day of putting her best foot forward, she’d kill for some alone time.

Olivia stood at the counter slicing tomatoes when she entered the kitchen.

“If I promise to do the dishes tonight, can I beg off helping with dinner? I’d really like to go for a run.”

“By all means, go. We aren’t having anything fancy, and I did most of the prep work this morning.”

“Thanks, Olivia. Do you know where the girls are?”

“Lark is reading a book on the front porch, and Jade went into town with Ford to get more milk. We’re running low.”

“That’s because my girls drink so much.”

“It’s good for them. Bryce was a bottomless pit when it came to milk.” Her sigh echoed through the kitchen. “I think Ivy and Wes are playing ping pong out on the patio.”

“It doesn’t sound like anyone will miss me. I’ll be back before dinner.”

“We’ll probably eat later than usual tonight, so take your time.”

Rachel left the house, calling and whistling for Daisy. When the dog didn’t appear, she decided not to waste time looking for her. Daisy would just have to miss out on the run. Rachel headed down the driveway and crossed the road then easily found the trail Ford had mentioned, which followed Ward Creek through an undeveloped area of state park land. She ran at a brisk pace, letting her tension fall away. Erica had made a few comments about the cost of the party then clammed up, leaving Rachel to wonder what her problem was. Bryce’s sister usually didn’t hesitate to tell anyone within earshot exactly what she thought.

The peacefulness of the forest worked its magic, filling Rachel with a sense of strength as she worked her muscles. Panting with exertion, she climbed steadily. It was after six o’clock, and the shadows across the trail had grown long. When a sleek coyote stepped onto the path, Rachel stopped. It stared at her through narrowed eyes. Breathing hard, she waited for the creature to move. Suddenly its eyes widened before the animal bolted into the forest.

Strong arms snaked around her chest and neck, holding her immobile.

“Let go!” Heart pounding, she screamed and kicked, trying to turn her head.

“Don’t make me hurt you, Jordan.” The voice whispered in her ear. “I’ve waited so long for this moment. Please don’t spoil it.”

“Let go of me, you freak!” Rachel kicked again, connecting with the heel of her shoe. “I’m not Jordan.” She dug her nails into her attacker’s arm.

He yelped but didn’t release her. “That wasn’t very nice. If you hurt me, I’ll be forced to hurt you back.”

“Who are you?” She struggled to turn, but he held onto her so she couldn’t. “What do you want?”

“You belong to me. You betrayed me at the lake, but I’ll try to forgive you. Don’t fight me, Jordan.”

“Let me go!”

Raising her foot, she kicked backward, connecting solidly with his shin. He swore and smacked the side of her head. Rachel’s vision blurred.

“Stop it. If I have to, I’ll knock you senseless and carry you out of here.”

“Like hell.”

She pried his fingers off her chest and bent them backward. He yelled and hit her again. She twisted and squirmed to free herself. When his erection pressed against her, she tensed with dread. As fear and exhaustion weakened her efforts, voices carried down the trail. Rachel sucked in a breath and screamed.

“No!” It was a bellow of anguish and rage. “Why couldn’t you make this easy? Why?”

Pain exploded in her head, and she fell forward into blackness.

* * * *

Rachel’s head throbbed. A whimper slipped past her lips as she fought to open her eyes. The world spun, and for a minute she was afraid she would be sick. When everything settled into place, her gaze focused on an unfamiliar face, young, male and wearing a bike helmet. With another scream, she struggled against him.

“Take it easy, lady. I’m not going to hurt you. My buddy and I heard you yell and found you lying on the trail. He’s calling 9-1-1.”

She gritted her teeth against the pain. “The man who had me?”

“We saw a dude in a white T-shirt and a baseball cap running down the trail. We were too worried about you to chase him. You were out cold.”

“My head hurts.”

“There’s a big knot on the back of it. I’m afraid to move you. Does anything else hurt?”

“I don’t think so.” Her voice came out in a croak.

“Would you like some water?”

Rachel nodded then let out a moan. He held a water bottle to her lips, and she took a few sips.

“Hey, Isaac, an ambulance and the police are on the way.” A second young man tossed down his bike. “I had to ride a ways to get cell reception. Is she awake?”

The boy holding her nodded. “Did you see the guy who attacked her? The police will want to know.”

“He disappeared. Must have left the trail somewhere.”

“Can I call my family?”

“Sure, but there isn’t any reception right here.” The second boy frowned. “I can ride down the trail and call them for you.”

“Please, would you?”

He nodded. As she repeated the Carpenters’ phone number, he punched it into his cell phone.

“Tell them where I am, but don’t scare them. I don’t want my kids to freak out.”

“Sure thing. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Do you know who grabbed you?” The boy, Isaac, eased her back down and put away the water bottle. “You scared the hell out of us when we saw you lying there, face down in the dirt.”

“I have no idea. He was behind me the whole time. Then he must have hit me so hard I passed out.”

“That sucks. Who would believe some maniac was on the loose out here? I always thought this was a safe area.”

“Can you help me sit up? I feel pretty silly with my head in your lap.”

“Are you sure you should move? You probably have a concussion or something.”

“I’m okay, just a bit shaky.”

Still looking doubtful, the boy helped her sit.

“I haven’t thanked you. Isaac, isn’t it?”