sighed. Who was he trying to fool?
He couldn’t leave until he found a way to expose the transplant tourist racket that had led to Olivia’s death.
His eyes focused on a scripture verse.
“‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.’”
A warning?
Nolan stared into the fire.
Lord, I need your help to find the wolves. All of them.
Kate nestled down in the bed and pulled the comforter up around her neck. How could a quick trip to Mercy, Georgia, to retrieve her grandfather’s cross turn into such a disaster?
Tina was dead. The cross was still missing. And Kate was holed up in a house that lacked electricity, tended to by a kind and attractive man.
Not that she wasn’t grateful. Better here than out in the cold. Or in some lonely hotel room. Although as she recalled, Dr. Samuels had said Mercy didn’t have a hotel.
Small town. One physician.
And what about the doc? He insisted a woman she’d known forever had died of a long-term condition Kate had never heard Tina mention.
Add cremation to the mix. The idea of Tina—a live-for-the-minute type of gal—planning her funeral left a bad taste in Kate’s mouth.
Cremation…fire…
Kate’s stomach tightened. The memory of that horrible night three years ago returned unbidden. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out all that had happened.
Trusting and gullible, she had put her faith on the line…faith in a man who’d professed to love her…faith in a God who, she thought, would bless their love.
Only to have her hopes and dreams go up in flames.
Stupid to believe she and Eddie would live happily ever after. She’d learned the hard way fairy tales don’t come true.
She’d been blinded by love. Or had she ignored the signs, not wanting to believe the truth? Living a lie was so much easier.
Until she’d come face-to-face with the reality of his addiction.
The man she’d loved—had thought she’d loved—had transformed before her eyes into a junkie needing the next fix.
The cabin had been Eddie’s private retreat, but he’d begged her to drop by just this once. He’d promised to throw steaks on the grill and have her home by nine so she would be ready for work the next day.
That night with candles flicking in the darkness and the cloying, sweet smell of incense hanging in the air, she’d discovered the true Eddie.
She’d entered a den of evil. The words he’d screamed. The names he’d called her.
He’d mocked her values and her morality, calling her a stupid prude who needed to be taught a lesson.
When he’d grabbed at her dress, she’d fought back, needing to escape.
Kate clenched her teeth, eyes scrunched shut as once again she relived the struggle.
Fear gripped her anew.
“Run, Kate, run,” an inner voice warned just as it had that night.
In her mind’s eye, she tripped, a table overturned. She crawled forward, struggled to her feet.
Somehow she found the door and ran. Ran from the cabin, from his shouts of protest. Ran until her lungs burned and her muscles ached and she gasped for air.
In that instant, she looked back.
The explosion ripped the night in two.
“Oh, God, no!” she cried into the folds of the comforter. The memory too real, too painful.
Tears spilled from her eyes. Her breath caught in shallow spasms. She raked her fingers through her hair and willed herself to gain control. But she couldn’t stop the tears.
She cried for all she had lost that night. For the dreams that had died with Eddie. For the life she’d wanted, had come to expect, that had ended with the fire. For the lie about love she’d believed too long.
She wasn’t worthy of love. Love was for those good enough and deserving enough.
She was neither.
Her father had walked out of her life.
Eddie had betrayed her.
She’d learned her lesson. She’d never love again. The pain was too great to bear.
And she’d carried it too long.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you now. Hold on, honey.” Nolan’s words when he’d saved her from the water slammed through her mind.
Where had that come from?
Crazy.
She pushed the thought away and pulled in another ragged breath.
She needed to escape from all the memories.
Sleep, Kate. Hopefully, she’d find solace in her slumber.
Unless Nolan found his way there.
No. She shook her head. She wouldn’t give him access to her dreams…or her emotions.
That was a promise she had to keep.
By 5:00 p.m., the pungent mix of sausage, tomatoes and Italian seasonings filled the kitchen. Nolan stirred the sauce simmering on the stove and waited for water in the large stainless steel pot to boil.
Dark skies hung outside the kitchen window as desolate as his mood. Ice that had begun to melt midday had refrozen with the evening drop in temperature.
Earlier, he’d walked the property, passed the creek where Kate’s car had broken through the guardrail then plummeted into the icy water below.
The Almighty had directed his steps. Thank You, Lord. Otherwise two women would need to be laid to rest.
Hard to believe Tina was dead. And from a reaction to latex. It didn’t make sense.
If only Tina had been more forthcoming about her condition. She’d been so private, and Nolan hadn’t wanted to pry.
Kate had questioned cremation. But Tina didn’t have much money, and cremation was a cheaper option for her. Nolan shook his head. Right now, he needed to focus on Heather.
With a heavy heart, he stirred the sauce and glanced at his watch. Thirty minutes ago, he’d rapped on Heather’s door and told her dinner was almost ready. Not that he expected his daughter to leave her room.
If only Kate would come out soon,
