The Twelfth Of Never: A suspense mystery romantic thriller (24 page)

"Do you know who the bad guys are?"

"I know a few of the players: they aren't nice people,
Joe. To tell you the truth, you wouldn't want to tangle with them. They don't
play fair."

"Just take care of Jenny. It would kill Carla if she lost
her too."

"I intend to," was all Gideon said.

Gideon shook Joe's hand, as if sealing their pact. But there
was no need. Now that Gideon found Jenny, he was not doing anything to
jeopardize her life. He did not know why, but ever since Tuesday when he saw
her in the hospital lobby, he’d felt himself come alive. All he could think
about were her soft hazel eyes and her gentle smile. When he shut his eyes, he
could still smell the sweet scent of jasmine. He ached inside, wanting to be
consumed with all of it. How could he tell Joe that he was willing to die to
keep his daughter safe? It would only sound like a hollow promise, but Gideon
knew it was a promise he meant to keep.

CHAPTER 25

Gideon relaxed somewhat and thought they were only going to
view the back forty. However, after a half hour, Joe took the path along the
cornfield near the farm, Gideon started to get concerned. The path narrowed as
it veered off along the woods, and then when he thought they were lost, the
path ended, and a country road began. It was then Gideon saw the Four Corners
Pub, a favorite watering hole for the locals and his driver.

Gideon turned to Joe. "I don't think we should."

"What's the harm in a beer?"

"I don't like the idea of being away." Gideon looked
at his watch.

Joe turned to him. "Is there something you're not telling
me?"

"No," Gideon lied, not wanting to say too much.
"I guess one won't hurt."

It was early, too early for the troops to gather and make an
assault. Gideon gave Joe ten minutes with his friends, and then got up to
leave, with Joe reluctantly following. Gideon had been away from the house
longer than he was comfortable with.

As they pulled into the drive, Gideon searched the grounds. It
was uncomfortably void of activity. It was only when Carla exited the chicken
coop with a basket of eggs that Gideon breathed a sigh of relief. Joe pulled up
to the tool shed where the two spent more time together. Joe worked while
Gideon kept an eye on the country road.

Finally after an hour of Joe's nonstop talking, Gideon made an
excuse and walked back to the farmhouse. He went into the kitchen. The aroma of
beef stew cooking and fresh apple pie baking sent his taste buds into
overdrive, and for a fleeting moment he forgot the reason he was there. This
was definitely heaven, or as close to it as any man could get. Gideon walked to
the sink, poured himself a glass of cold water, and then glanced around the
room, storing up every detail for his memory book. When Gideon saw the closet
he walked over and opened the door. There tucked in the corner, standing on its
butt end, was the old rusty double-barrel shotgun Joe mentioned earlier. Gideon
reached up for the box on the shelf. He looked inside, and then laughed to
himself when he saw six shells. It was hardly enough to hold off a poacher,
much less Ian.

"What you looking at?"

Gideon turned quickly, staring at Jenny before answering.
"Your father mentioned the gun."

"Did you tell him about Ian?"

"Not exactly, but I did tell him there could be
trouble."

"Gideon," Jenny shook her head. "I wish we
could just leave."

"We can't, I already explained that."

Carla walked into the kitchen. "Will your friend be here
before dinner?" she asked.

"I don't know." Gideon replied, realizing Joe had
told her to expect company and wondering if he also told her there might be
trouble.

Carla walked over to the counter and washed her hands. She
took a stack of plates from the cupboard and handed them to Jenny.

"I'll go wash up before dinner." Gideon turned, but
said nothing and walked out of the room.

Gideon walked over to the phone and dialed Langley. When the
phone was picked up finally it was not Colby on the line, but Phil March again.
Gideon slammed the receiver down, and then picked it up once more and dialed
Colby's private number, but all he got was a recording. Gideon did not trust it
to be secure and hung up again. There definitely was something wrong down at
Langley. He only hoped whatever it was would not reach up to embroil Jenny's
parents.

Gideon walked slowly up the stairs, hesitating at Jenny's
door, the sweet scent of jasmine still hung heavy. He savored the moment, but
all the pretending in the world would not make Jenny his and when the
assignment was over they would go their separate ways. It hurt to think about
that, but it was a reality he would have to face.

* * *

Carla and Jenny busied themselves putting the finishing
touches on the meal. Joe was at the head of the table sipping a cup of coffee
while reading the evening paper. Gideon silently descended the stairs. He stood
for a moment at the door. He wanted that feeling of belonging to this family to
last. He wanted most of all to pretend he never had to run off to save the
world ever again.

"Gideon, don't just stand there. Sit down." Joe said
looked up from the paper.

Jenny turned and glanced at Gideon in the doorway. She had not
realized he was standing there watching her. Jenny smiled, and then started
cutting the pie.

"Do you like apple pie?" Carla asked.

"It's un-American not to," Gideon replied.

"I made two, so if you want seconds, feel free."

"Let the man eat the meal first before you start filling
him full of thoughts about dessert."

"Oh hush up," Carla scolded. "I know where you
were this afternoon, and it wasn't the back forty, plowing."

Gideon glanced at Joe, shrugged his shoulders, and then smiled
sheepishly. It did not take a genius to smell the beer on either man's breath.

They all sat down, Carla said grace while they bowed their
heads in thanks. Gideon had seconds on everything and finally pushed himself away
from the table.

"You want more?" Carla asked as she reached for the
platter of beef.

Gideon raised his hands. "I'll burst," he said, then
leaned back on his chair.

"Pour us more coffee, will you Jenny?" Joe asked.

Jenny got up and walked over to the stove. Gideon could not
take his eyes off her. It was Joe clearing his throat that reminded Gideon
others were in the room.

"Gideon, remember Sam Harrison?" Joe asked, looking
up at Gideon. "He was the man with the sullen look at the end of the
bar?"

Gideon thought for a moment; the bar was filled that
afternoon, but he remembered the face of Sam well. "What about him?"

"He could have been Jenny's father-in-law," Joe
laughed, and then watched the expression on Jenny's face.

Gideon turned to Jenny and smiled. He wondered what kind of
man would let a woman like Jenny slip away.

"It wasn't like that." Jenny snapped. "The only
reason Curt asked me to marry him was for the draft deferment. And you know
that, Pa."

"Whatever happened to the young lad?" Gideon asked,
sipping his coffee while watching Jenny's feeble attempt to defend herself.

Joe cut in, "He was killed over there. Now Sam spends his
days drinking and trying to forget."

"It must be rough?" was all Gideon could muster up
to say.

"It ain't easy." Carla dabbed the napkin to catch
the tear that escaped. She quickly put it down and then got up. Carla walked to
the counter and did not look around for fear they'd see the tears that would
not stop.

"You know, Gideon, this farm has been in the Morgan
family for five generations, there's no one to pass it on to now."

Carla's voice quivered as she turned to Joe. "Now is not
the time to dredge up old wounds."

Jenny glanced at Gideon and rolled her eyes. It was a clear
sign to get off this subject and fast. All Gideon could do was shrug his
shoulders helplessly. It was out of his control. He knew Paddy's death weighed
heavy on Joe Morgan, a fact that was apparent all afternoon, but the effect on
Carla was far worse.

Just then, the sound of tires squealing out back caused all to
turn. Jenny got up and hurried to the window. The black sedan next to the red
sports car startled her at first until she saw the familiar red hair pop out
from behind the car.

Jenny turned to Gideon. "Your friend is here."

Carla wiped away the tears, and then walked over to the
cupboard. "I'll set another place."

Gideon could see by the expression on Carla's face, she also
was thankful for the interruption. He got up and quickly walked out the back
door, taking the steps two at a time before Jake could get close to the house.

The two men stood there. Gideon's back was to Jenny while Jake
glanced up at the window where she stood watching. She knew they were
discussing the situation. Jenny hoped Gideon and Jake would both leave now. She
was certain no one would be interested in her once the truth was known.

Jake followed Gideon into the kitchen. He nodded to Jenny's
parents after Gideon's introduction. Finally without further ado's, Jake sat
down at the table and let Carla mother him with food. Gideon walked over to the
sink where Jenny stood.

"What's up now?" she whispered.

"Why do you think something's up?"

"I could tell by the expression on your face. There's
trouble isn't there?"

"Yeah," he finally said, then turned away from her.

"What is it? I have a right to know."

"They haven't caught up with Ian yet." Gideon leaned
against the cupboard, and then turned his head as he glanced over at the table.

"Don't they know where he is?" Jenny whispered. She
did not want her parents to hear the concern in her voice.

"That's the problem. Seems they followed him to the
consulate and he hasn't come out yet. The Russians aren't giving him up
either."

"Well if they know where he is, then we're safe for
now."

"It appears so, but knowing Ian, it's highly
unlikely."

Jenny sighed. "When do we go back to the city?" she
asked. Jenny stared into the eyes of the man she had come to trust. "I
want this all behind me."

"Jake's pretty tired. I'd feel a lot better leaving him
with your parents after a good night's rest. I thought in the morning we could
leave, if that's okay with you?"

"Can you stand twelve more hours on the farm?" Jenny
sensed Gideon's reluctance to leave all afternoon.

He turned to her. "I could stand a lifetime of it."

"Don't make me laugh," Jenny replied. The idea of
Gideon tending the cows somehow did not seem natural, and then she smiled at
him. "You have this world of intrigue in your blood. You wouldn't give it
up so easily."

"For the right woman I could." Gideon gazed into
Jenny's soft hazel eyes.

Jenny turned away suddenly, not wanting to face what he was
saying. Up until then, Jenny thought it was just a fixation with her photo. It
had not occurred to her that Gideon's feelings for her ran deeper.

She regained control, and then grinned as she turned to Gideon.
"Do you hand all your little frauleins that line?"

"No," is all he said, and then walked back to the
table.

Carla cut Gideon another piece of pie. Jake and Gideon talked
with Joe about the farm. There was no mention about New York or the trouble that
was down there. It was as if they were in another world, where only peace
filled the land.

* * *

After dinner the men went into the living room while Jenny and
Carla cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes. This all brought back old
memories of her youth when they were a family. Jenny missed those days and
almost felt as if Paddy was in the other room with her father instead of
strangers. She could hear the deep voice of her father, and she knew he had
conned someone into playing cribbage.

"Your father is really enjoying your gentlemen
friends."

"I think you have it all wrong," Jenny said.

"It doesn't matter. It's like it was when Paddy was still
alive."

Jenny glanced at her mother cleaning the sink. She could see
the sad expression on her face, as she too was thinking back to a time when
there was no sadness in the family.

"I should have come home more," Jenny said finally
as she touched her mother's hand lightly.

"It wouldn't have made the loss any easier," Carla
said softly.

"Once this mess is over, I promise it will be
different," it was a promise Jenny meant to keep this time.

"We would enjoy that." Carla walked to the back
door, and then looked out. "It's going to be a cool night."

Jenny turned to her mother. "I'll go see if Pa wants
anything before I go upstairs for the night."

Jenny entered the living room where Jake and her father were
sitting at the dining room table. Both men were too engrossed in their game to
notice her or care.

"Where's Gideon?" Jenny asked.

Jake looked up, nodded to the front door. "I think he's
on the porch." He quickly turned back to Joe. "I've got my eye on
you."

Joe raised his hands and deftly shuffled the cards. "I
don't need to cheat to whip your butt."

With a quick flip of the wrist Joe cut the cards and then
offered the cards to Jake to cut them again. But Jake declined and then
patiently waited for the cards to be dealt.

Jenny laughed to herself, turned, and walked out the front
door. Gideon was on the swing at the end of the porch. His back was to her as
he stared at the road.

"Would you like a cup of coffee?" Jenny asked.

"No, thanks," Gideon replied. He never took his eyes
off the road.

"Do you think they will come?"

"Hope not. It bothers me though, about not being able to
get ahold of Colby all day."

"Maybe he's busy."

"I have his private number. It should ring wherever he
is."

"So?" Jenny asked, not understanding what it meant.

"I keep getting Phil, the Executive Director."

"I thought you got a recording before?"

"Yeah I did, but now Phil picks up the line. Something's
not right."

"Now what?" she asked.

"Tomorrow we will be out of here. Jake will stay with
your parents for a day or two, until this blows over."

"Pa will love that." Jenny said. She glanced back
through the screen door at the two men still sitting at the table. Her father
was in his glory having someone at his beck and call to play his favorite game.

Gideon was not paying any attention to Jenny. He was too busy
watching the car that drove slowly up the road. Gideon got up from the swing
when the headlights suddenly went out. He stood and stared into the darkness,
watching the silhouettes of two men getting out of the car and start running up
the road toward the house. Gideon turned to Jenny.