Finding a Hero, page 26
“Yes, you are.”
He loved the owl-like blink she offered. Chuckling, he repeated, “Yes, you’re moving your things in here. With Rachel’s blessing, this is now our room.”
Her beautiful smile spread so that her whole face glowed in the lamp's soft light. He leaned forward as he pulled her close and kissed her in the middle of her smile. Rachel was across the hall, safe and secure. Shiloh was in his bed and moving into his room. He couldn’t imagine what he’d done to deserve such a bounty but was determined to show her how much he loved her.
Staying quiet, he made love to the woman who held his heart.
32
Rachel slid her backpack off and set it at her feet as she sat on the low brick wall near the steps leading to the football practice field. Jack settled next to her, sitting close enough that his arm touched hers from shoulder to elbow. The butterflies started fluttering again, and even though she wanted to twist her body to stare into his face, she didn’t dare move, afraid his arm would no longer be touching hers.
“I don’t want you to get in trouble with the coach while sitting here with me,” she said. “I could go wait in the office until Shiloh gets here.”
He ducked his head slightly and grinned. “Nah, the coach likes me. Anyway, we always have some time before practice. He looks over some of the homework and grades of some of the guys who are struggling first.”
She leaned in slightly and teased, “Isn’t that reason you should be down there?”
He moved his arm from next to hers, and for a second, she feared he’d been offended. But his arm slid around her back, and his hand cupped her shoulder. He pulled her in slightly to his side. “I’ll have you know I’ve got straight A’s so far. And that includes an A in English because you’re studying with me.”
Her brain short-circuited at the feel of his arm around her, and she couldn’t think of anything to say. The butterflies in her stomach were now in full flight, and as she turned her head, it became evident how close they were. She stared straight into his eyes, their faces only a few inches apart. The always-sure-of-himself Jack suddenly appeared uncertain.
“I’m glad you moved here,” he rushed.
At the same time, she spoke, “I’m glad we moved here.”
They both grinned, and a nervous giggle slipped from her lips. His arm tightened slightly, and she loved the feel of being so close to him. She wanted to say more, but she really wanted to hear what he had to say.
He hesitated, his brow crinkling. “I’m not glad for the reason that you and your aunt had to move, and I’m really sorry about your parents. But it’s just that I really like you, Rachel.”
She couldn’t imagine hearing sweeter words and continued to hold his gaze. She wanted to say so much. But for someone who’d lost and rebuilt their world several times, wanting something too much was terrifying. His fingers gripped her shoulder, just enough that she felt his steady presence. Emboldened, she gave voice to the feelings inside. “I really like you, too.”
He leaned forward, and her breath halted in her lungs as longing and uncertainty battled for supremacy. His lips brushed against hers, featherlight and soft. As they separated, her gaze never left his. That was when she knew she could see her future looking back at her. And her lips curved gently.
The sound of a vehicle approaching broke the moment, and she looked up to see Shiloh turning into the parking lot. She and Jack stood up at the same time, and as his hand dropped from her shoulder, she instantly felt the loss. While she knew she would have blushed bright red if his arm had stayed around her as her aunt drove closer, she still would’ve loved the affectionate and claiming gesture. Her smile felt slightly brittle until she felt his hand reach out and his fingers link with hers. As Shiloh parked nearby, she glanced into Jack’s smiling face and hopeful eyes and realized she’d never forget that moment.
He reached down and snagged her backpack, and with their hands still linked, they walked over to Shiloh’s car. “Hey, Ms. Wallen.”
“Hi, guys,” Shiloh said, smiling wide, as she stepped out of her car, still wearing her Seafood Shack T-shirt and jeans.
“Well, I’ll get down to practice,” Jack said.
He turned to Rachel, and she wondered if he’d kiss her again. Instead, he just squeezed her hand and winked. Then with a wave, he turned to grab his own backpack and headed down the stairs toward the practice field.
Cooped up all day, Shiloh longed for some fresh air and sunshine. Constantly vigilant, she’d spied Rachel and Jack sitting on the brick wall as soon as she pulled into the parking lot. And she’d witnessed their sweet kiss.
She walked over and hugged Rachel, then inclined her head toward the same wall she and Jack had been sitting on. “I’ve been indoors all day and would love some fresh air. Want to sit for a few minutes with me?” Bumping shoulders with her niece, she teased, “Although I’m not as much fun as your previous companion…”
Rachel blushed bright red as they sat on the wall, facing away from the parking lot and gazing down toward the practice field.
Shiloh’s thoughts swirled around her head, tangling and untangling as the warm, late fall sun beamed down on them. “I remember the day you were born.”
Rachel’s surprise at Shiloh’s words was evident as she jerked slightly, her head twisting around to stare at her aunt. “Really?”
“Rebecca was the picture of health all during her pregnancy. She went into the other town to see the doctor, but you were born at home with the community midwife. You were red and wrinkly and squalling. I thought you were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my life.” She smiled at Rachel, whose grin was equally as wide.
After another moment of silence, she continued, “I always thought I’d have a child of my own, but that was never to be with Edward and me.”
Rachel’s hand reached out to grasp hers. “Oh, Shiloh, I’m so sorry.”
“Life is a journey full of twists and turns, Rachel. Paths that lead us through the darkest nights, the brightest sunlight, highs and lows, agony, and ecstasy. I can’t give you any reasons for anything that happened in our past.” She held tight to their clasped hands. “But I can tell you that you’ve grown into a beautiful, sweet, smart, amazing young woman. I knew the day you were born, and I held you in my arms that I was blessed to have you in my life. I am still blessed to have you in my life.”
A tear slid down Rachel’s face, and she leaned her head over, resting it on Shiloh's shoulder. “I’m blessed, too,” she whispered in return.
Shiloh squeezed her eyes shut and leaned her head back, the sun casting its brightness over her closed eyelids, making everything feel warm and light. Kissing the top of Rachel’s head, she smiled. “So, tell me about your first kiss.”
Rachel sat up quickly, unable to keep the grin from her face. “Oh, Shiloh, I like him so much. I know we’re young. And I know he’s the first boy who ever kissed me. And I know the butterflies in my stomach, and the shooting stars I felt are just part of being so young, but… oh, I don’t know. I just really, really like him. And he told me that he was so sorry about my parents and so sorry for the reason I had to move here, but that he also really liked me, too.”
Shiloh’s heart felt as warm as the sun on her face at the idea of Rachel’s first love with someone as sweet as Jack. She still remembered the first blush of love when Edward kissed her for the first time. And she very much remembered the burst of passion she felt the first time she kissed Joseph. “I’m glad, sweetheart. I’m so glad.”
After another moment, she squeezed Rachel and said, “Let’s head home. I want to cook dinner tonight.”
Rachel giggled. “Joseph’s mom did bring an awful lot of casseroles, didn’t she?”
“She’s an amazing cook, but yes… I feel like we’ve done nothing but eat casseroles lately. What would you say to some fried pork chops?”
“Yes!” Rachel enthused.
Turning toward the parking lot, their attention was diverted by a car pulling in closely. Most of the parking lot was empty, the students having been picked up by parents or buses. She didn’t recognize the man behind the wheel, but a strange prickling moved down her spine. Shoving her hand into her pocket, she curled her fingers around her phone, whispering, “Have your phone in your hand.”
Feeling Rachel stiffen next to her, she knew her niece understood. And when the man stepped out from the back seat, she was glad she’d listened to her intuition. Isaiah.
His black hair was slicked back, and his dark eyes narrowed. Wearing his typical black pants and black coat, he stalked forward. Another man climbed from the back seat, one of his minions she recognized.
Yet as he moved closer, she was struck by how much smaller he appeared than she’d remembered. He had never been a large man, yet his presence had always seemed so frightening, so in control. Now, he simply looked like an average man with an unpleasant countenance.
“Mistress Wallen,” he said, stopping about five feet in front of her, his lips forming a sneer that seemed more comical than sure.
“Isaiah,” she said, pressing Joseph’s number on her phone, still in her pocket.
His hawkish eyes narrowed, raking over her as he leaned forward. “Besides dressing like a common woman, I see you’ve forgotten my title.”
“I assure you, I haven’t forgotten a thing. Not. One. Thing. And right now, you're trespassing on school property. So I advise you to climb back into your vehicle and leave, preferably back to Pennsylvania, since we have nothing to discuss.”
Spittle flew from his mouth, and she was glad he wasn’t close enough for his poison to land on her. “I was willing to give you my name! I was willing to make you Mistress of the community. Now, you’re nothing but a fallen woman. But no matter.” His gaze slid to the side. “Rachel will do well.”
Her hand shot out, reaching toward Rachel, and Shiloh pulled Rachel behind her. “You’ll touch her over my dead body.”
His lips curved in a Grinch-like smile. “That can be arranged.”
Her stomach curdled, and she fought back the urge to hurl. “Like you had my parents killed? Rachel’s parents? Your own uncle?” Seeing his surprise, she continued, “I know what you did. I know you tampered with their brakes. I also know you had a hand in Edward’s death.”
“You are a simple woman and know nothing.”
“I knew enough to escape you, didn’t I? Escape, and make sure you never got your hands on the family land.”
“I have no problem convincing the Kendalls to sell it back to me very cheaply once Rachel is my wife.”
Rachel gasped behind her, which only served to steel Shiloh’s spine. “You’re not very smart, are you? You’re being investigated for the murders you had a hand in. The IRS is also investigating you.”
He waved his hand dismissively, although she saw the nervous twitch on his face. “The IRS can’t touch me. God will give me his protection.”
“You’ll be lucky if God doesn’t strike you down by lightning,” she said. “But if you’re really that stupid, keep going, and you’ll find out what life in prison is like.”
“God instructed me to get rid of those in my way.”
Blinking, she shook her head as her heart threatened to pound out of her chest. “What do you mean?”
He snorted, straightening to his full height, the expression on his face giving evidence that he thought she’d be awed by his explanation. “My uncle had no vision. My uncle was willing to keep living the way he’d been raised. Simple. Poor. Relying on the goodwill of those in the community to help. But I knew the land God had placed us on gave me a vision. I tried to get him to understand that we could further God's work if we collectively gathered the land in our name.”
“Further God’s work? By selling it to a developer who wanted to extend his ski resort?”
“The money we would have made would’ve been a fortune.” His voice was condescending, as though she were too ignorant to understand the concept.
“And how is a fortune godly?”
“Just like my uncle thought being poor was more godly, I knew God had no problem with us being rich. But no… he refused to listen. I approached your parents and Thomas, hoping to convince them they would follow God’s will if they turned over their land to the community.”
“And when they didn’t, you had them killed,” she said, her chest spasmed, caught between grief and rage.
His face darkened. “Making sure they were dead was simple. Insisting my uncle take the mountain road. A cut brake line.” He shrugged, adding, “So much easier than I thought. I thought your weak husband would be easy. I couldn’t believe it when he dug in his heels. But I was willing to wait as I made sure I gathered more land from the others. When he was the last holdout, I knew God wanted me to get rid of him, too.”
Her body shivered, but she felt no fear. “I don’t know if you’re just pure evil or insane. Maybe a combination of both. But you’ve lost. You don’t have the land. While you’ve been down here stalking Rachel and me, the authorities have stepped into Plineyville and taken over. From what I understand, plenty of people are ready to crawl out from underneath your oppressive thumb and tell them everything they want to know. Have you checked your bank lately? Your assets are frozen. And the developer you wanted to sell land to? They already know the trouble you’re in. So, Isaiah… you lose.”
“Whore!” he screamed, his arm flying out as he backhanded her across the cheek. His face contorted into a maniacal expression as he reached out and grabbed her arm, jerking her to the side.
She and Rachel still had clasped hands, but this only served to bring Rachel closer to him. With his other hand, he grabbed Rachel by the arm. “She’ll be mine!”
The man with Isaiah rushed forward, but Shiloh caught him by surprise when she kicked out, her foot catching him in the groin. He dropped to his knees on the pavement, and the man behind the steering wheel climbed out of the car, rushing forward. Wondering how she could take all three, she watched as Rachel kicked Isaiah in the shins.
An SUV squealed to a stop next to her car. “Get your hands off her!” A yell came from the side as a blur rushed past Shiloh and barreled into Isaiah.
She whipped her head around to see Joseph straddling Isaiah, and his fist cocked just before he sent it flying into Isaiah’s face. Isaiah grunted, then tried to cover his head, pleading for mercy. She raced to Rachel and pulled her back away from the entangled limbs as the sound of sirens filled the air.
“Rachel!”
Jack vaulted over the low brick wall, not stopping until he had Rachel wrapped in his embrace with another hand around Shiloh. The sound of sirens filled the air. Colt leaped from the sheriff’s SUV, and other deputies swarmed from their vehicles. Ignoring the man still clutching his crotch, he pointed his finger toward the driver and barked, “Move one fuckin’ muscle, and I’ll shoot.” He got to Isaiah just as Joseph shoved his hands down on Isaiah’s chest to push him up to a stand.
As Colt hauled Isaiah to his feet and cuffed him, Joseph followed Jack and headed straight to Shiloh. His gaze raked over her, settling on her stinging cheek. The blue of his eyes darkened, thunder clouds billowing in their depths. Wrapping his arms around her back, he enveloped her in his embrace.
Colt moved to the others as the deputies led the three men away. Her gaze shot up, and she said, “He confessed. He confessed to all the murders as well as trying to take everyone’s land—”
“I know, I know, we got it.”
She blinked. “But how?”
Joseph looked down and gently cupped her uninjured cheek. “When you dialed me, I was able to hear everything. At the same time, Rachel dialed 911 from her phone, so the dispatcher has it, too.”
Colt looked at Jack and grinned. “Good work, son.” Turning to the others, he explained, “Jack looked up from the field and saw a man talking to the two of you. As he raced up, he had his phone on video, so we’ve got him hitting you as well as grabbing Rachel.”
Shivers raced through her body, and Joseph’s arms tightened. “So that’s it? Is he really gone from our lives? And from the community?”
“I was on the phone earlier this afternoon, and the detective was already opening up a new case. At this point, Isaiah is in a shit load of trouble and will most definitely spend time in prison. As for right now, he’s going to our jail.”
“It’s over, baby,” Joseph whispered in her ear. “You did great. You and Rachel were great.”
She leaned back, her lips pressed together, her insides still shaking with adrenaline. “You know… he seemed… smaller.”
Joseph cocked his head to the side. “Smaller?”
“I remember him as being so much larger than he really is. Why is that?”
“Before, you were frightened. He held power. He held control over you, making you feel small. But now, you’ve learned what all you can do on your own. What you’re willing to fight for. That gives the power back to you.” His arms tightened slightly, still holding her close. “And now you can see clearly what he really was.”
She placed her cheek against his chest and observed the deputies putting the handcuffed Isaiah into their cruiser. His companions were also being escorted to other cruisers.
“Smooth sailing from now on.”
She lifted her gaze to him and smiled. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
She heard footsteps and glanced to the other side toward Rachel, whose gaze was on her. As though Joseph and Jack recognized their need at the same time, they loosened their arms, and the two women clung together, tears flowing freely. Her heart ached for the destruction Isaiah had left in his wake, but she thanked God for Rachel in her arms and the new friends and loves surrounding them.
