Strangers in the Night (4 page)

Always the critic
. Abbie backed out of the thought, not wanting to be critical herself. Her mind far from her task, she finished up the last of the peaches Leah had cleaned and blanched. She watched as Leah put the hot, sanitized quart jars into the water bath where they would stay for twenty-five minutes.

The women had put up over a hundred jars, and that was after Leah made her prize-winning peach freezer jam. When the jars cooled, she and Leah would carry them down to the root cellar with the rest of the fruits and vegetables they'd already put up for the winter.

Abbie pulled out one of the eight kitchen chairs sitting around the scarred table and was just about to sit when she heard a truck pull in and a door slam. Someone stomped up the stairs and strode across the back porch. The door flew open and Daniel stepped inside.

His frantic gaze ripped from Abbie to his mother and back again. For what seemed an eternity, he stood there, hunched over, tears streaking his face. His jeans, shirt, and hands were splattered in blood. “Nathan is dead.” The words rushed out of his mouth and hung in the air like a deadly gas.

“No…” Abbie doubled over, not needing or wanting to hear the rest.

In the ensuing hours, Abbie learned that Nate had been trampled and gored by the neighbor's bull. He had stepped between old Mr. Olson and the charging animal, hoping to divert the bull's attention. Nate ran toward the fence and the bull charged after him. Nate fell before he could make it. They called her husband a hero, but that didn't make the loss any easier.

Losing Nate had been more than Abbie could bear, or so she thought. While she mourned, barely able to get out of bed in the mornings, Leah took over the funeral arrangements. Leah took over everything, including Emma. They buried Nate in the Campbell family plot behind St. Mark's Church, which stood alone in the country, ten miles from Manchester, Iowa.

Four days later, she lost the baby. Little Ashley Mae lay in the grave next to her daddy, a chunk of Abbie's heart buried with them.

Between grief and pain and losing so much blood in the miscarriage, Abbie felt incapable of doing anything and spent nearly a month in bed. She was thankful that Leah made certain her and Emma's needs were met. Abbie knew now that what she saw as Leah's compassion was simply a gathering of evidence to prove Abbie was incapable of caring for Emma.

On a rainy day in late September, Abbie and Emma boarded the train to Oregon to be with her parents. Abbie hadn't been ready to buy property but planned to stay with her parents until the time was right. When she returned to the farm to pack up their things, she learned that Leah had been given custody of Emma.

In Abbie's absence, Leah had sought help from a judge, an old friend, who awarded her custody. Abbie could move to Oregon if she wanted to, but she wouldn't be taking Emma with her.

She'd stayed at the farm for all of two weeks before the escape. Abbie should have fought the accusations and the court order then and there, but she'd had no fight in her. Severe depression from her losses had drained her. But her survival instincts kicked in, and she made plans to run away.

The day finally arrived. Leah had her quilting bee at the church and Murray had gone to an auction. She, Daniel, and Emma were home alone. Abbie talked Daniel into taking them shopping in Des Moines. She needed clothes for Emma, she'd said. That much was true. The girl was growing like a wildflower.

The escape went off without a hitch. While Daniel waited in a nearby café, Abbie entered a large department store, where she picked up a suitcase set and several items of clothing along with grooming items. Leaving through a different door, she hired a taxi and went straight to the bus depot. She bought tickets to Grand Forks and let Margie know she was coming.

Poor Daniel. She hated using him like that, but what other choice did she have? Maybe when this was all over, she'd call him and apologize. She had at least left a note in the truck so he wouldn't worry that she and Emma had been abducted, but knew it would do little to ease the hurt. Daniel had been a friend. He'd trusted her, and she had betrayed him.

Abbie drew in a deep breath; the scent of new leather and spicy aftershave brought her out of the past.

Jake glanced at her. “A penny for your thoughts.”

“They're not worth that much.” A smile inched its way to her lips.

“Are you having second thoughts?” His gaze fell to her clenched hands, and she pulled them apart to smooth her skirt.

“I'm way beyond second thoughts. I can't get my brain wrapped around the idea of going back home.”

“If it's any consolation, your folks have talked to their attorney. Leo Morrison. That's the friend I told you about.”

It wasn't any consolation at all. Dread rose in the pit of her stomach. She clasped her hands in her lap again to keep them from shaking. “I'm not sure that's such a good idea. Doesn't that mean I'll have to turn myself in?”

“Not right away. Leo will get the entire story and gather all the facts in the case.”

“They should have waited.” She pulled in a long breath. “How much does he know?”

“I left that up to your parents. We want him to have as much information as possible before we get there. When we arrive, you can sit down with him and go over everything.” Jake reached across the back of the seat to massage her shoulder. “It'll be all right, Abbie. Trust me.”

She caught his gaze for just a moment before looking out at the green pastureland of Montana. In the distance, she could see the purple haze of mountains. Her heart quickened at the realization that she'd soon be home.

Trust me
.

Easier said than done.

Jake would have given anything to erase the worry lines etched across Abbie's brow. He'd finally coaxed the full story out of her— about her husband's death and losing the baby. She didn't deserve the treatment she'd gotten from her in-laws. He still couldn't believe she'd actually agreed to travel with him. Fortunately, he'd found a friend in Charlie.

It had been about nine in the evening when he'd heard a knock on his hotel door. He'd opened it and found himself eye to eye with a cop. Jake suspected the shock must have registered on his face, because Charlie held up a hand and grinned—a sort of I-come-in-peace signal.

They'd talked for over an hour. Turned out that Charlie had attended the University of Oregon around the same time Jake had. They parted friends, and Charlie promised to call the next time he visited his parents in Oregon. Jake almost wished he'd been able to confide in Charlie. But that wasn't going to happen.

He'd done all he could do for Abbie at the moment. Now it was just a matter of getting her safely back to Oceanside.

Thinking about his hometown brought on yet another concern. Barbara Nichols.

“You look worried.” The gentle timbre of Abbie's voice brought Jake out of his reverie.

He glanced at her and smiled. “I guess I am.”

“About me?” She frowned.

“No.” He studied her a moment. “You know all those calls I've been making?” He'd tried phoning at lunch and again when they stopped for gas.

She nodded. “I've been wondering about that.”

“I work with a woman named Barbara Nichols. I've been trying to get ahold of her since I got to Grand Forks, but she isn't answering her phone.”

“That's been four days. I can see why you'd be concerned. Does she have family or friends you could call?”

“Her parents live in Portland, but I don't have the number. She may have had to make a trip there—it's odd, though, that she didn't call me at the hotel.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and then reached up to adjust the visor. The afternoon sun was dipping toward the west.

“I suppose I shouldn't worry, but I left a dozen messages with my answering service and even called our secretary. Sandy took some vacation days to be with her daughter who just had a baby.” He was babbling on without meaning to. Maybe he was more worried than he'd been willing to admit. “To make a long story short, Sandy went into the office, heard all my messages, but said there weren't any from Barbara. She wasn't home and her car was gone. Sandy is the one who suggested Barb might have gone into Portland. She'll keep trying to reach her.”

“Maybe you should call the police?”

“I thought about it, but nothing's happened to indicate there might be trouble. I'll see what Sandy says the next time I talk to her.”

Abbie gave him a wan smile. “Maybe she needed to get away.”

He nodded. “Could be. She's been pretty stressed out lately. Speaking of which, I should have Sandy call Barbara's boyfriend. Travis might know something. I'll call again at our next stop.”

And Jake did—every time they stopped for a meal or at a motel for the night. On Tuesday he urged Sandy to call the police.

“They'll look into it,” Sandy told him when he called the office Wednesday morning. “But since her car is gone, they're not apt to do much investigating. Honestly, Jake, I know money is tight for the police department, but you'd think they could do more. At least they're going to keep an eye out for her car.”

By the time they reached Oceanside, his worry had reached fever pitch.

Jake pulled into the Grants' driveway around noon on Friday. While the Grants welcomed Abbie and Emma, he unloaded their bags and personal belongings and deposited them on the porch. He then headed back to the happy group. Jake felt elated that he could be a part of the homecoming. Skye hadn't joined them, and he wondered about that. Had she gone off again?

Jake had only seen Skye once, and to him she looked as though she might die before he could get Abbie home.

“How can we ever thank you?” Carlene said to Jake when he told them he needed to go.

“You're not staying for lunch?” Lyle asked.

“I wish I could, but I need to get back to my office.” Sick with worry over Barbara, he told Abbie and Emma good-bye. Emma cried and hugged him when he tried to leave. Her tears did funny things to his heart. He couldn't ever remember anyone crying for him to stay with them. Oh, maybe one or two high school girlfriends, but never a sweet little girl with a beautiful mother.

“Don't go, Unca Jake. You can stay here with us.” Emma had a headlock on him and Abbie had to pry her loose.

“Jake has to go, Emma. We'll see him again soon.”

“I'll come back, Emma,” he promised. His gaze slipped to Abbie. He was tempted to pull her into his arms and kiss her.

“Thanks for all your help.” Abbie leaned forward and tentatively kissed his cheek.

Carlene hugged him. “Don't be a stranger.”

Lyle shook his hand. “When you figure out all your expenses, let me know and I'll write you a check.”

“You don't need to—”

“Nonsense.” Lyle clapped him on the back. “A deal is a deal.”

Jake wanted to argue. Bringing Abbie back had been a blessing for him. True, the trip had started out as a business deal, but it had become so much more. How did one take money for helping a woman like Abbie and a precious child like Emma—a mother and child he was beginning to care for far too much.

He'd talk to Lyle later. Right now, though, he had to find out what had happened to Barbara.