Abound in Love (14 page)

Suddenly,
she felt a warm hand on her arm.  She spun around, to see who had a hold of
her, and came face-to-face with Ryan Watkins.  Forcing a smile, she asked, “How
are you?”

He
flashed a high-voltage grin.  “Hey, you know me!  Couldn’t be better.”

Actually,
she didn’t know him, but knew ‘of’ him, since he’d been a year ahead of her in
school, and had been part of Candace’s crowd briefly.  She had never liked
him.  She remembered him as both a braggart and Battle Ground High’s biggest
jerk.  And he’d always struck her as someone to avoid.        

He
smiled into her face.  She noted the smile didn’t reach his eyes, but that his
eyes held a predatory gleam.  He gave a low whistle.  “Wow, who knew?”

“Knew
what?” she asked, struggling for patience.

“Who
knew little ‘mousy’ Laura Landers would morph into this?  My, my, you’re a
regular butterfly.  A swan, even.” 

The
words, spoken in a suggestive tone, made her skin crawl.  She realized abruptly
that he hadn’t looked her in the eye as he’d spoken, but instead, his eyes had
been fixed on her chest.  Disgust filled her.

She
took a steadying breath.  “As ‘nice’ as it’s been to see you, I really need to
go,” she told him.

“Aren’t
you going to ask about me?  Don’t you want to know what I’ve been up to?” he
asked, pretending to be wounded at her lack of interest.

“What
is it you do for a living?” she asked, feigning interest.

“I own
a car dealership in Vancouver, along the Ninety-nine strip,” he told her. 
“Doin’ all right for myself, I might add.”

“Well,
that’s really great,” she told him, forcing a smile.  And then with a nod, she
turned away to continue shopping.  To her consternation, he grabbed a hold of
her cart.

“You’re
not being very polite,” he said, his eyes narrowing.  “What say you forget
about those groceries and the two of us go out?  I’ll show you a good time.” 
The words, spoken again in that predatory, suggestive tone, caused goosebumps
to erupt on her arm.  Instinctively, she understood Ryan wasn’t someone to
dismiss as harmless.

Lord,
give me strength
, she prayed.  “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I have
plans for the evening.”

“Another
time?” he said icily.

She
cocked her head, as if reviewing her social calendar in her head.  “Ryan, I am
sorry, but I’ll only be in town through Thanksgiving.”  She gave a shrug.  “And
then I’ll be flying home.  So there’s really no point in…”

He took
a step closer to her.  She felt his hot breath against her ear when he spoke. 
“Come on, baby.  So you’re going home soon.  That’s all the better.  No ties to
bind…”

Laura
gasped and pulled away.  “I have shopping to do.”

When he
took hold of the cart again, she tugged it away.  She refused to be intimidated
by this vile man. 

He only
laughed, unfazed.  “You’re just like that sister of yours.  You can pretend
you’re all haughty and virginal, but I know better.  I’ve heard about that
sister of yours.  She’s the same now as in high school…”

Laura
refused to respond, though her cheeks had gone red with anger, and she wanted
nothing more than to defend her sister’s honor.  But she realized several
people had heard Ryan and had turned to watch them with interest.  Battle
Ground was still small enough that word of the encounter would spread through
town like wildfire.  She hurried away.

She
finished her shopping and paid for her groceries.  Her hands were still
trembling as she unloaded the cart and stowed the bags in the truck of the
rental.  When she turned to return the cart, she abruptly collided with Ryan.

He
stared at her with unconcealed contempt.  She attempted to go around him, but
he stepped into her path.  She took a step to the right, and he moved again,
blocking her.

“Get
out of my way,” she said, standing to her full five feet tall and struggling to
sound threatening.

He only
laughed and glanced around.  “Parking lot’s fairly quiet,” he observed. 
“Mighty quiet for this time of the day.  Weather must be keeping folks away.” 
His eyes narrowed.    Yeah, we’re just about all alone here.”  He turned to
stare at the only person nearby, a woman who had climbed into her car.  He watched
her until she left the lot and turned back and snared Laura’s gaze.  “Get’s
dark so early these days, doesn’t it?  I don’t know about you, but I like the
dark.”

Laura
read the threat in his voice and shoved the cart into his gut.  She spun and
made a run for her car.  She pressed the remote to unlock it, but she wasn’t
quick enough.  He caught up to her and intercepted her hand.  She felt his face
against her cheek and his body pressed against her back.

“You’re
coming with me.”

“Oh,
no, I’m
not
!” she told him.  She spun around, brought the palm of her
hand hard against the tip of his nose, and then shoved her knee into his groin
with every bit of strength in her.  He dropped to the ground like a rock and
writhed in agony.

Laura
glanced around, uncertain what to do.  She realized she needed to call the
police.  Ryan had just attempted to force her to go with him. 
He’d tried to
abduct her
.

She
fumbled in her purse for her cell phone, but to her utter relief, a patrol car
sped to the scene, followed by a second car.  Her brother-in-law leapt out of
first vehicle and charged toward her, as the second cop followed and grabbed a
hold of Ryan, cuffed him, and hauled him to his feet.

“Laura?”
Dan cried, when he realized it was her.  He took her by the arms and stared
intently into her eyes.  “Are you all right?  Did he hurt you?”

She
shook her head, breathing deeply to still her pounding heart.  “No, but I think
I hurt him.”  She took another deep breath.  “How did you know to come?” she
asked, confused.

“Somebody
told the store manager about a man accosting a young woman in the produce
department.  He was watching as you left the store, and spotted Ryan following
you.  He told us exactly where you were.  Thank God,” he uttered with relief.

“Oh,
okay,” she said shakily.  “Okay.”  She remembered the groceries in the back of
the car.  “Well, I’d better go.  I have perishables in the trunk.”

Dan bit
back a smile.  “Laura, you’ve had a shock, but you need to understand, you’ve
just been attacked by a very bad man.  I’m going to need you to come to the
station so I can take a report.”

“But
the groceries…”

“I’ll
tell you what.  I’ll have someone drive them out to your brother’s place. 
Okay?”

She
gave a shaky nod.  “Okay.”

He
began escorting her to his patrol car.

“I can
drive,” she asserted.  “I’m fine.”  But she wasn’t.  The reality of what had
almost transpired was fast sinking in.  She nearly sunk to the ground.

Dan
wrapped an arm arms her shoulders.  “Come with me, Laura.  Everything is fine
now.”

“But I
have to cook supper.”

He
smiled again.  “I’ll give Thomas a call.  You don’t need to worry about cooking
tonight.”

By the
time Laura arrived at the police station with Dan, the implications of her near
abduction really came crashing down upon her.  She was violently shaking as he
led her to a chair.  She prayed for the strength to pull herself together, and
immediately felt a calming sense come over her.  “Thank you, Lord,” she
finished softly.  “Thank you for protecting me, and for sending Dan.”  She took
a shoring breath.  “Thank you…”

Her
brother-in-law heard the prayer and said a prayer of his own.  He too took a
steadying breath as he realized what could have happened to his sister-in-law. 
“Laura, can you tell me exactly what happened at the store this afternoon?” he
asked.

She
told him about Ryan approaching her in the produce department, and finished by
describing what had occurred in the parking lot.

“He
told you he owns a car dealership?” he clarified.

She
nodded.  “He said he was doing very well.  I take it he was lying?”

Dan
nodded.  “He doesn’t own anything.  The truth is, he was just released from
prison, after doing nine years for…”  He paused, as if hating to speak the
words aloud. 

He
didn’t have to.  Laura knew exactly what he’d been about to say.  Ryan was a
sexual predator and had things gone differently, she might have been his next
victim.

Dan
leaned closer to her, catching her gaze.  “Laura, we’re going to send him away
for a very long time, but…”

She
braced for that qualifying
but
.

“You’ll
be asked to testify,” he informed.  “Without your testimony, he could walk.”

“But …
why?”

“Because,
although there were witnesses—thank God—you’re the only one who can speak to
his actual intent.  Laura…” he prompted.

“Of
course, I’ll testify,” she told him.  There was no way she wasn’t going to do
her part to assure he was locked up once and for all.  What if he had
approached a young teen this afternoon—or a child—someone far less equipped to
deal with him?  They might have been waking to horrible headlines in the next
day’s paper.

Dan
nodded, obviously relieved she was willing to go to court, but turned toward a
door when it burst open.  Thomas and Dalton came charging into the room. 
“Laura!” Thomas cried.  “Oh, thank God you’re all right.”

Dalton,
behind him, looked absolutely stricken.  The color had drained from his face,
and even the bright blue hue of his eyes appeared to have diminished in its
intensity.

She
rose, to assure both men she was okay, when Thomas pulled her into a hug.  “Ah,
sis.  You’re never leaving the house again.  Welcome home,” he said drolly, as
he held her tight.

When he
finally released her, Dalton took her arm and tugged her close to him.  He
peered deeply into her eyes, as if assessing that she was really okay.  She
nearly lost it then, seeing the stark concern on his face. 

He
apparently sensed her composure was tenuous, since he sighed and pulled her
gently against him.  He wrapped her in an embrace and stroked her back. 
“You’re okay,” he soothed.  “You’re okay.  Something told me you shouldn’t have
gone out tonight.  I shouldn’t have let you.”

It
didn’t appear as if he intended to release her any time soon, and she was
hard-pressed to muster the will to pull away from him.   Wrapped in his arms,
she felt … safe.  She felt … treasured.  She felt as if she’d … come home. 

But
that was absurd. 

She
stepped away from him.  “I am okay,” she said, as much for herself as him. 
“I’m fine.”  She turned to Dan.  “Thank you for everything.  Is it all right
for me to leave now?”

He
nodded, and then rose and hugged her, as well.  “I’m so glad you’re all right,”
he said.  “Thank God you’re all right.”

***

Back at
Thomas’ house, they found Macy and Candace, along with Kenny, waiting in the
living room.

The
instant Laura stepped through the door, Candace hurried to her and hugged her
tightly.  “Oh, Laura…”

She
pulled back to see her sister’s face.  Concern—abject terror—was etched on
Candace’s face.  “I’m okay,” Laura assured her.  “I’m fine.”

Macy
approached and wrapped an arm around her, as well.  “Thank God,” she whispered.

Laura
moved away from them, lest she start crying.  Instead, she forced a smile. 
“I’m fine, everybody.  Just fine.”

She
spotted Kenny then, standing off and away from the group.  His little face was
crunched in misery—his eyes wide and fearful.  “I should have gone with you,”
he whispered.  “I shouldn’t have been sleeping.  I could have protected you!  I
don’t do anything right!” he cried. 
“Nothing!”

He spun
on his heel and ran from the room and up the stairs.  Candace gasped, and the
men stood back, shocked. 

Laura’s
heart broke for the little boy.  Clearly he felt responsible for everything
going wrong around him.  “May I speak to him first?” she asked, glancing around
at the concerned faces of the adults in the room.

Candace
nodded and Laura started climbing the rickety stairs.  With each step, her
heart broke a little more for her precious nephew. 

She
found him face-down on his bed, sobbing.  She began stroking his back. 
“Sweetie, I’m fine.  None of us had any way of knowing I would run into a bad
guy.  And you are certainly not responsible for protecting me, nor are you
responsible for any choices the adults closest to you are making right now.”

He
didn’t respond, but continued crying.  

“Sweetie,
please talk to me.  I want to help.”

He took
a shuddering breath, and to her relief, turned to face her.  “Everything is
going wrong, Aunt Laura.  Mom and Dad don’t love each other anymore, and I
don’t know how to make them.  And I know Uncle Thomas is having a hard time,
and Macy too.  And it’s because they’re stuck with me and Krissy.  And then you
come here, and you almost get hurt bad…”  He gave a defeated sigh.  “I
should
have gone with you to the store!  I should have known something bad was going
to happen.”