High Lonesome (27 page)

He waited.

“I know now that Jack tried to kill me, and I think he’s going to try again. Very soon. That’s why I’m calling.”

Rage boiled, and Scott clenched his fist. “I knew something wasn’t right the moment I met that creep. Pack your bags, honey. I’m on my way. I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”

****

Angela stood at the kitchen sink washing the dinner dishes. Jack and Heather were at the table playing Go Fish. He hadn’t said more than a dozen words throughout the meal, but when Heather asked him to get out the cards, he did so without hesitation.

Angela thought back to the number of times he’d played with their daughter on his own like this. She couldn’t fill up the fingers of one hand. It was strange how she hadn’t been able to remember anything about her life for more than a week. Now she could recall every last detail, down to the hours Jack had spent interacting alone with Heather.

Although he was all smiles while playing with their little girl, Angela could sense his dark mood. He seemed distracted, but why wouldn’t he be? He was hiding so many secrets, secrets that any normal human being wouldn’t be able to live with. It hurt her to think of how Jack had changed. She had loved him once. But the drugs had turned him into a liar, a thief, and an attempted murderer.

She was distracted as well. It took every bit of her strength and composure to keep from shaking. She had to pretend she still suffered from amnesia so as not to tip Jack off. Her very life depended on it.

Running through her mind was the list of things to do before Scott arrived the next morning. Since Jack was pretending to go to work, she and Scott had arranged for him to be at the house at eight-thirty. They would take the forged life insurance policy, the divorce documents, the information about Jack’s bank embezzlement, and her memories of being attacked and waking up in the trunk of the car to the police. Faith was ready to tell what she knew. If all went as they hoped, Jack would be arrested, and she and Heather would be safe and free to start a new life.

Until then, it was imperative that she behave as if nothing had changed. If Jack suspected she remembered anything about what he’d done to her already, there was no telling what he’d be capable of this time. Under all conditions, she had to keep her daughter safe.

He strolled into another room as Angela carried Heather to bed. She tucked the covers up to Heather’s chin and kissed her forehead. While stroking her hair, she sang Heather’s favorite lullaby. Once Heather closed her eyes, she began snoring. Tomorrow, Angela thought, everything would change, for both of them.

For one brief moment, she felt guilty about taking Heather away from her father, but the guilt soon vanished. Jack had brought all this on himself. His selfish and evil choices had caught up with him. Not only had he lost his family, but he’d also lost his ability to distinguish right from wrong, not to mention his freedom, once the police got a hold of him.

Angela wanted to sleep in the bed with her little girl. She didn’t trust Jack not to steal her away in the middle of the night. She walked to the guest room to collect her toiletries and nightclothes. She was ticking off the list of things to do in the morning when she entered the bedroom. Her heart stopped when she saw Jack lying half-naked on the bed. He was propped against the pillows on top of the bedspread, bare-chested with briefs on.

“Is Heather asleep?” he asked.

She nodded, averted her eyes, and walked straight to the bathroom. She had no idea he’d snuck into the guest room. The sight of him so flustered her, she couldn’t even speak to tell him to get out. She thought he’d gone into his office or into the den to pour himself a drink. Pushing the bathroom door partway closed, she turned on the water faucet to splash her face, stalling as she considered how to handle the situation.

“I tucked her in and she was out like a light,” she answered from behind the door. Though she tried to sound normal, her voice trembled.

“Good. I thought we might try sleeping together tonight. I think it’s time. I’ve missed you. Don’t you miss me that way?”

Angela’s stomach began to roll. Sickened by the truth of what he’d done to her and what he’d become, it made her flesh crawl to think of him touching her.

Scott’s face reflected back to her in the mirror. Hot tears sprang to her eyes. He was coming for her in the morning, and he’d told her to pack her and Heather’s bags. He wanted them to return to the High Lonesome with him. But that was tomorrow, more than twelve hours away. Right now, she had to figure out what to do about Jack. She wasn’t sure how to get him out of the room without upsetting him or causing him suspicion. No matter what, she vowed, he would not lay a hand on her.

“Angie, I’m waiting for you,” he called. “You told me you wanted a truce. You said you wanted us to start over again. Well, we always connected in bed. At least, in the early years… Maybe that will bring back some memories. What’s taking you so long in there?”

“I don’t feel well,” she lied from behind the door. Moaning for emphasis, she said, “I guess my dinner didn’t settle well.” She glanced at her image in the bathroom mirror and saw a pale face. But she couldn’t hide all night in the bathroom.

She opened the door a sliver and leaned against the frame, letting her tongue loll out of her mouth. “I have a feeling I’m going to be up tonight.” She placed a hand on her stomach.

“Angie!” The sharp tone of Jack’s voice caused her to jump.

“What is it? I just told you I’m feeling nauseous.”

He glared. “Do you remember when we were first married?”

“I’m sorry, but you know I don’t.”

His eyes took on a distant, dreamy look. “We were happy then, and so in love. We used to make love every day. Please tell me you remember.”

Another woman who didn’t know Jack might have been moved by the genuine expression on his face, but not her. He’d become a monster. She didn’t answer.

“What happened to us?” he asked rhetorically. “What went wrong? Our marriage is not what it should be. You must know that. Whose fault is that?”

“I’m sorry, Jack.” Angela acted as if she was going to throw up and snapped the bathroom door shut. Pressing her back against it, she took several deep breaths in order to regain her composure. You already know the answers to those questions, she thought with bitterness.

“Are you coming out?” he called again, his voice curt.

“I’m sick,” she replied.

After a few moments, she heard him roll off the bed and pad out of the room. When she thought he’d gone, she peeked out of the bathroom, and then dashed to the door and snapped the lock. She waited until she heard the master bedroom door slam shut. Forgoing her sleep shorts and tee shirt, she unlocked the door, crept down to Heather’s room, climbed into the bed with all her clothes on, and held her hand over her heart. It hammered inside her chest.

She prayed a whispered mantra. “Scott’s on his way, Scott’s on his way, Scott’s on his way.”

Chapter Seventeen

The morning sun streamed in through the kitchen bay window. Much to Heather’s delight, a kaleidoscope of rainbow colors danced upon the shiny glass. She spooned a bite of oatmeal into her mouth as she watched, mesmerized. “I see fairies, Mommy.”

“I see them, too, honey.” Angela absentmindedly wiped the counter with a rag as she glanced at the clock. Why wasn’t Jack up yet? It was six forty-five and he hadn’t come down for coffee. Her stomach reeled with anxiety, made worse by the fact that Heather woke earlier than usual and couldn’t get back to sleep.

Why hasn’t he come downstairs?
Angela glanced at the arch leading to the hallway and praying he’d walk through it any moment
.
The thought occurred to her he might not be “going to work.” What if he’d decided to stay home and try to make peace? Worse yet, what if he’d caught on to her?

Angela’s heart sank. She feared her plan was about to unravel like a sweater with a loose thread. Wringing her hands, she told Heather, “I’m going to go check on Daddy. Stay here and finish your cereal.”

“Okay, Mommy.” The little girl was in her pajamas, and her dark hair stuck up on end with static electricity. She giggled as she watched the jeweled colors made by sunbeams flit across the window.

Angela walked down the hallway and stood at the bottom of the stairs. She heard no movements upstairs. Her heart pounded in her chest as she took one anxious step at a time, climbing the stairs until she reached the top. The master bedroom door was closed. Gathering her courage, she pushed open the door and peered in. The bed was made up, as if he hadn’t slept in it.

“Jack?” Entering the room, she rapped on the bathroom door. “Jack? Are you in there?” There was no answer. Glancing around the room, she noticed her vanity drawer was open and some of her belongings were scattered on the floor. He’d been looking for something. She slid the drawer shut. Where was he?

Her throat tightened. Was this a ploy? What if this was a distraction, so he could grab their daughter and run? There was no telling what a drug-addicted man was capable of.
Heather!
Angela sprinted out of the bedroom shouting out his name. “Jack! Jack!” They nearly collided in the hall as he materialized before her like a phantom. Her hand clutched at her chest as she gasped, “You scared me!”

“I’m sorry.” His demeanor was cool.

She tried to catch her breath. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you. Aren’t you going to be late for work?”

He glared. His eyes were bloodshot and the pupils wide open. She remembered seeing that look before—all the times he was high on cocaine, which she remembered now, clearly. She ran her gaze up and down his body, relieved to see he was dressed in business attire, wearing slacks and a dress shirt and tie. “Are you feeling all right?” she asked.

“Of course I’m feeling all right,” he barked. “Never better.” Peering around her into the bedroom, suspicion covered his face like a blanket. “Why were you in my room?”

Thinking fast, she stammered, “I…I came up to look for you. I got worried when you didn’t answer me when I called. I thought you were sick.”

His face relaxed, slightly. “Oh. Well, as you can see, there’s no need to worry. I’m just running a little late. What are you and Heather planning to do today?” His veined, bloodshot gaze continued to bore into her.

“It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day. We’ll probably go to the park. We got so busy we didn’t make it yesterday.” Her heart thumped as his eyes narrowed into slits.

“I guess you had more important things to do yesterday.” Switching from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde, he fired her a disgusted look before stomping down the stairs.

His despicable behavior irked her, scared her, and confirmed that she’d made the right decision when she divorced him. She followed him down the stairs and watched him stagger through the front door. Sighing heavily, she rushed into the kitchen and watched the BMW back out of the driveway and careen down the street. She picked up the phone and dialed Faith.

When Faith answered, Angela filled her in. “I found the life insurance policy and the divorce documents yesterday, but I didn’t have an opportunity until now to call you. Jack was acting very strange last night and this morning. I’m afraid.”

“What are you going to do? You need to get out of that house before he returns.”

“I’m going to the police. I’ve called the man I stayed with in Ghost Rock for help. He’s going to be here at eight-thirty.”

“The rancher?”

“Yes. His name’s Scott Landry. He wants Heather and me to return to the High Lonesome with him.”

“Oh, honey. I’m thrilled for you,” Faith said. “After all you’ve been through, you deserve love and happiness.”

Angela didn’t have time to explain to Faith the complicated relationship she shared with Scott. “He’s willing to help us out,” was all she said. “I don’t have much time. Jack’s gone, but Heather’s already up. Could you keep her at your house for about an hour while I pack? She won’t understand what’s happening.”

“Of course. I’ll be right over to get her.”

Heather had switched on the portable TV and was laughing at cartoons. When Faith entered through the back door, Angela picked up Heather and gave her a kiss. “Mommy has something important to do right now, so Faith is going to take you over to her house for a little while. Okay? I won’t be long.”

“Okay, Mommy.” She smiled at Faith, and Faith scooped her into her arms.

“Is that SpongeBob SquarePants on TV?”

“Yes.” Heather giggled. “He’s funny.”

“He’s on my TV, too. We can watch him together. Then we can work on some puzzles. Would you like that?”

Heather nodded.

“You two have fun,” Angela said. “I’ll come get you in a little bit, honey.” To Faith, she said, “Thank you for your help.”

“I just want you and Heather to be safe and happy. This rancher must be someone special if he dropped everything and is coming to your rescue.”

“He is. Scott’s a good man.”

Faith smiled. “As your friend, I just want the best for you, but I’m sure going to miss you and this little kid so much if you leave.” She nuzzled Heather’s static-cling hair with her nose.

“We’ll see each other again,” Angela promised. “I don’t even know how long we’ll be staying at the ranch. It’s all up in the air until a few things get sorted out.” She squeezed her friend’s shoulder. “Faith, I want you to know that all of my memories have returned, and I remember the bond we share. You are a dear friend.”

“So are you. Now hurry and get your bags packed. Your cowboy will be here soon to carry you off into the sunset.”

After Faith had scurried across the lawn with Heather, Angela descended the basement steps and retrieved a couple of suitcases. She hauled them upstairs and started packing in Heather’s room. She pulled her clothes out of dresser drawers and off hangers, grabbed all of Heather’s favorite toys and games and tossed them into one suitcase, closed and zipped it, and then ran into the master bedroom with the other case.

She didn’t care if she ever returned to this house. All she could think about was leaving with Scott and starting new. She didn’t even want to think about Joanna. She’d take it one day at a time.