A Week From Sunday (26 page)

Adrianna!

As Adrianna played the final notes of the song, loud clapping and whistles broke out across the Whipsaw. Even though her head was still full of thoughts about Quinn, she felt her chest swell with pride. Her playing had brought joy to the men in the tavern at Lee’s Point and nothing, not even a misunderstanding with Quinn, could change that.

Smiling, she looked up from the sheet music and scanned the faces in the crowd. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. She was about to turn her attention to the bar where she knew Gabe would be looking on appreciatively, when someone stepped before her, blocking her view. A chill ran down her spine as she thought of Reuben.

“Hello, Adrianna,” a voice said.

Before she even looked at the speaker’s face, she knew who it was. Fear coursed through Adrianna’s veins. It was so palpable, so real, that she felt as if someone were holding a knife to her throat. When she finally brought her eyes to meet his, her heart jumped so hard that she wondered if it was trying to leap out of her chest.

“Ri . . . ri . . . chard,” she managed to say.

Richard Pope beamed down at her with the look of the cat that had just cornered the canary. “Oh, my dear,” he gloated. “You didn’t actually think you would get away from me, did you?”

Even though she was incapable of speech at that moment, Adrianna knew the answer to his question; she had thought she would escape him. With every passing day in Lee’s Point, with every moment she spent
away
from Richard and
with
Quinn, thoughts of the nightmare that awaited her in Shreveport retreated to the shadows. While her fear of being found by Richard had never disappeared, it had lessened. She knew she’d let her guard down, but she’d never imagined he’d find her . . . not here!

“How . . . how did . . .” was all that she could say.

“You could never have gone far enough away,” he explained, inching closer. “There isn’t a corner of this earth that I would not have been willing to search. I would have found you anywhere because we are supposed to be together. You will always be mine!”

As she had when Richard had first declared his intentions, Adrianna felt the strong urge to escape. Even though she was largely paralyzed by fear, she still managed to push herself away from the piano and to her feet so fast she stumbled. She grabbed hold of the piano to steady herself.

“St . . . stay away!” She meant for the words to sound like a scream, but it more resembled a whimper.

“Don’t you understand, sweet Adrianna,” Richard said, moving around the piano stool to once again tower over her. His eyes were wild, dancing in their sockets as he stared at her intently. “I’m willing to forgive your folly. You made a mistake in leaving before our wedding, but I’ve found you now. All will be as it was intended.”

As if in slow motion, every moment from when she left her father’s house began to play itself out before her eyes. One image followed another: packing her belongings, the storm raging, the force of the automobile striking the pickup truck, and waking up in Dr. Bordeaux’s office; and through it all there was Quinn. She was instantly aware of how it felt to be touched by him, to feel his lips against hers, to hear his voice and his laughter. Somewhere beneath the fear that quaked through her body, Adrianna was aware that there was anger as well, anger at Richard for trespassing on what she had found in Lee’s Point, anger at his having inserted himself into her time with Quinn.

“Ne . . . never!” she protested. Pushing herself backward, Adrianna kept her eyes locked on Richard. If he were to make a move, she wanted to see it coming.
Oh, Lord, I’ve got to get away. I’ve got to get away!

Without warning, another spasm of pain shot through her body. This time it was different, stronger, making what had come before seem like mere pinpricks in comparison. It was as if her entire world were turned upside down and shaken, all the individual pieces of her life going willy-nilly, this way and that. The pain struck with such force that it seemed to freeze her in place, making all her limbs useless. Through the haze that drifted over her eyes, she made out Richard as he bent toward her, his hand extended to her, his fingers inches from her skin. She wanted to scream, but when she opened her mouth, no sound came out.

“Hey there. What’n the hell ya think yer doin’?”

Richard turned toward the sound of the voice and visibly recoiled at the sight of the man. Roy Long had ambled over from his usual perch on the bar and now stood before him, a drink still clutched in his bony hand.

“Back away, fool!” Richard barked. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“It sure do,” Roy contradicted him. With a quickness that was surprising, he swatted Richard’s hand away from Adrianna while using the other hand to take a drink. “Ain’t got no idea where it be ya come from, but in’t ’round here, and we ain’t a gonna take too kindly to ya bother’n the lady. Besides, I done told this here young lady that I was a gonna watch out for her and that’s what I’m a gonna do!”

Anger flashed across Richard’s face like lightning, and a sneer curled his lips. Still roiling in pain, Adrianna couldn’t be certain if it was due to Roy’s disagreeing with him or the fact that the shabby-looking man had touched him. “How dare you!” Richard roared. “Just who do you think you are?”

“Name’s Roy Long,” the older man said, straightening his back with pride. Stepping closer to Richard, he added, “Don’t ya ever forget it.”

While the two men argued, Adrianna saw her chance. Pain still rolled through her in wave after unrelenting wave, but she somehow found that she could move her feet. With all the willpower she could muster, she managed to place one foot in front of the other. Salty, hot tears began to slide down her cheeks as she hurried toward the door.

“You’ll not escape me again, Adrianna!” Richard roared from behind her.

“Ya done leave her be!” Roy yelled.

Adrianna was only barely aware of what was happening behind her. Her head swam as she stumbled forward, desperate to escape Richard Pope once again. Before her, bodies seemed to part, eager to get out of her way. She weaved among the tables and chairs, colliding with more than she missed, moving ever closer to the front door. A sharp wave of agony chose that moment to strike, but somehow she managed to retain her balance.

“Ma chérie,”
Gabe called as he stepped out from behind the bar. “What is happening?”

Adrianna ignored him. She knew that he was concerned, just as Roy Long had been when he had interceded with Richard, but she didn’t want to involve others in her plight. No one besides her knew what kind of a man Richard truly was; no one knew what lengths he would go to in order to get what he wanted.

Step after agonizing step finally brought her to the door. She crashed into it, fumbled with the knob, and somehow managed to get through it, stumbling out into the summer night. Above her, the moon looked down accusingly, as if it were watching her every move.

“Oh, my God!” she cried.

Her legs as weak as a sailor’s on his first voyage to sea, Adrianna moved out from between the cars parked in front of the Whipsaw and into the street. The pain that filled her grew in intensity by the second but she would not give in to it, would not relent to being caught once again.

As her vision spun wildly before her, Adrianna became aware of a shape moving quickly toward her from across the street. She could no more make out the stranger’s face than she could count the stars in the sky, but before she could react, the man was upon her, clutching her in his arms.

“No! No!” she shrieked into the night. “Let me go!”

In that split second, when the pair of arms latched on to her tightly, refusing to let go no matter how hard she struggled, Adrianna’s mind careened over the horrible possibility that Richard had somehow managed to get ahead of her, utterly relentless in his pursuit.

“Annie! It’s me! It’s me! Stop it!”

The sound of Quinn’s voice broke through the haze that threatened to overtake her. As she looked up, her vision cleared long enough for her to make out his rough face, his eyes touching her with concern. Sobs began to rack her body, and she quivered in his arms.

“What is it, sweetheart?” he asked intently. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here. If it’s Reuben, I’ll beat the hell out of him.”

Try as she might, Adrianna couldn’t control the emotion that was coursing through her. The pain that had plagued her that night seemed to work itself into a fever pitch, the agony pouring into her like water from a well. Her legs buckled, and the only thing that kept her from falling to the ground was the strength of Quinn’s arms.

“Tell me!” Quinn prodded her. “You need to tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s . . . it’s . . . it’s Richard!”

Before she could utter another sound, the front door to the Whipsaw banged open, and Richard Pope barreled out into the street. As his eyes locked on to Adrianna in another man’s arms, rage consumed him. He strode toward them with purpose, his hand reaching to jerk Adrianna away.

“Get away from her!” he bellowed. “Get away from her this instant!”

The lids of Adrianna’s eyes felt as heavy as the logs cut at the lumberyard. Her breath came ragged and thick, her heart pounding a furious beat. Sweat mixed with tears to wet her skin.

“Who the hell are you?” Quinn demanded.

“I’m her husband!” Richard retorted.

With those words, Adrianna’s knees buckled. Only Quinn’s arms kept her from falling.

Chapter 22

T
HE WORDS HAD
not registered yet in Quinn’s mind when he scooped up Adrianna in his arms and started down the sidewalk toward the doctor’s house.

Adrianna groaned and struggled in his arms.

“Be still, honey, I’m taking you to the doctor.”

“Rich—ard don’t let him—”

“Don’t let him what?”

“Take—me.” Adrianna clung to Quinn. “Quinn, don’t let him take me.”

“He said he’s your husband.”

“He lied,” Adrianna said breathlessly. “He lied, Quinn. He lied.”

“We’ll get that straightened out, but first, I’ve got to get you to Dr. Bordeaux. So be still.” Quinn continued walking down the sidewalk, carrying her as if she weighed no more than a child.

“Where is he?”

“Don’t worry about him. I won’t let him take you, if you don’t want to go.”

“How did he find me?” she murmured.

“What did you say, honey?”

“Oh, oh, oh.” Another pain sliced through Adrianna’s stomach, and she stiffened in his arms. “It hurts, it hurts so much.”

“Where, honey, where does it hurt?”

“My stomach. Terrible pains.” Her head dropped against his shoulder, and she took deep breaths.

“We’re almost there,” he said close to her ear.

“I can walk,” she gasped although she knew she couldn’t.

“Be quiet, we’re almost there,” he repeated.

Fear mixed with pain consumed Adrianna. What she had feared most had happened. Richard had found her, and at a time when she was unable to run from him. Her hand clutched Quinn’s arm. She had to warn him about Richard, that he was utterly ruthless when it came to something he wanted. He would ruin Quinn without batting an eye. Oh Lord, she had gotten him into this. It would be better if she just went away with Richard than to have his wrath come down on Quinn and Jesse.

When they arrived at doctor’s door, Richard was close behind. Quinn kicked on the door with his booted foot. A minute later, the doctor opened the door.

“Quinn!” Her eyes went to Adrianna. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Annie’s got terrible pains in her stomach.”

She threw the door open wide. “Bring her in.” Richard barged in behind Quinn. “Who are you?” the doctor said and turned her back to lead the way across the reception area and into the hall.

“I’m her husband, or soon will be,” Richard retorted belligerently.

“Annie said he’s lying.” Quinn turned the corner into the doctor’s examination room. He gently placed Adrianna on the table but stood close beside her, holding her hand. “Get the hell out of here,” he said to Richard.

“I don’t think you know who you’re dealing with. Adrianna is my responsibility. Her father gave me written consent to take care of her. Stand in my way, and I’ll see to it that you wish you had never set eyes on her.”

“Get out of the way so the doctor can tend to her.”

Richard stood his ground. “If anyone leaves, it will be you. She’s mine.”

“She doesn’t belong to either one of you. She’s of age. She is a person within her own right,” the doctor said angrily.

“She’s right,
mon ami.
” Gabe stood in the doorway. “Need any help here, Sarah?”

“They’re fighting over her like two dogs over a bone. Get both of them out of here.”

Gabe stepped into the room and motioned for Quinn and Richard to leave.

“Not until he goes,” Quinn said and gave Richard a push toward the door.

“Keep your hands off me, you ruffian!” Richard stomped out ahead of Quinn but first he said to Dr. Bordeaux, “Do what you have to do. I’m taking her home in the morning.”