Awakened (Intimate Relations) (19 page)

“Ow.” He rubbed it, but he was laughing. “It is so easy to get you going.”

“And that, dear man, is why you love me. Because I’m an easy target.”

“Well…” He flashed a bright smile her way. “Among other things.” Then he wriggled his eyebrows and she laughed.

This was really enjoyable, she thought. Relaxed, talking, laughing about silly
normal
things. They needed times like this. Time to kick back and not worry about all the serious stuff they’d been dealing with.

Of course, before she was ready, they were climbing the road at the west end of the dam and the bridge that would take them out Rockpile Road.

*   *   *

Marc had entered the address he’d recovered from his session with Alden Chung into the car’s GPS system, and it wasn’t long before he knew he was close. It had been dark that night so many years ago, but the moment he saw the dirt road leading off of Rockpile toward the lake, he broke out in chills.

For whatever reason, even though he hadn’t even noticed it when they were here on Tuesday, he knew exactly where to turn without looking at the GPS screen. There was a gate that would close off the road when locked, but it was standing wide open at the edge of the pavement just before the road turned to dirt. The open gate was practically an invitation to drive past the ‘no trespassing’ sign. The steel post on the left where the gate would lock had metal numbers screwed into it.

Marc stopped and stared at the post. The gate and the post might be new, but the numbers hadn’t changed. Just to be sure, he pulled out the piece of paper he’d written them on when he and Mandy had gone to see Alden. “New post,” he said, holding the paper up for Mandy. “Same old numbers.”

He stared at the post, the road stretching on ahead, and felt a deep sense of time and place that left him almost dizzy with anticipation. He wanted to get out and walk, but he wasn’t certain how far in they’d find the rock, maybe even the tree, if it was still alive.

He was close. Very close. He knew it.

A truck pulled in behind them, just off the main road, and a man a little older looking than Marc got out and walked over to his car. Instead of just rolling the window down, Marc got out. “Hello.” He held out his hand. “Is this your property?” The man shook hands and nodded toward the dirt road that eventually led down to the shoreline of Lake Sonoma.

“Good afternoon. It is. This is a private road. I’m sorry, but you can’t go down there. I was just getting ready to lock the gate.”

“That’s exactly why I’m here. I’m Marc Reed. I own Intimate Vineyards. Used to be Colonel Mac Phillip’s place, Tangled Vines.”

The rancher immediately smiled, and his entire demeanor changed. “Good to finally meet you, Marc. I’ve heard of you, met your vineyard manager. Nate’s a font of knowledge in this business. We’ve all learned to rely on him. I’m Jeb Barton. I knew Colonel Mac from the time he first developed that vineyard. Beautiful spot. Really something, what happened to him, though. The man went out a damned hero, but we were all real sorry to lose him. His daughter Cassie’s still winemaker there, right?”

Marc laughed. “Of course. Only a damn fool would take her out of that job. She’s good. Of course, she’s also six months pregnant, so we’re all hoping the timing works out. You know how we need our winemakers during harvest.”

Jeb smiled and nodded. Then he glanced out over the rolling hills that sloped down toward Lake Sonoma. “This property isn’t for sale, Marc, if that’s why you’re up here looking.”

Marc shook his head. “I wish that were the reason, Jeb.”

Mandy had gotten out of the car, and now she slipped her arm around his waist. “This is my girlfriend, Mandy Monroe. Mandy, Jeb Barton.” She shook his hand, but didn’t say anything beyond a soft hello.

“Jeb, I have reason to believe my mother is buried somewhere along this road.”

“Buried?” He shook his head. “There’s no cemetery out here that I know of. We’ve owned the property since the early 1980s and I’ve hiked or ridden most of it. Can’t recall a marker of any kind that would denote a grave.”

“No formal grave. I’ve recently learned that my father most likely murdered her in 1984. There wouldn’t be any marker. I was a four-year-old kid and recall a nighttime ride down this road in the back seat of my dad’s car. I remember him digging a hole, saw him carrying a large bundle wrapped in my mom’s favorite comforter. We believe my mother was wrapped in that blanket. I know that the grave was close to a big rock—well, big to my four-year-old self—with an oak tree growing out of one side. What I’m hoping to do is find the location. I don’t want to do any digging. I just want to find it and turn all the evidence we have over to the sheriff’s department. My father has been a free man much too long.”

Jeb stared, open-mouthed. “How did you find out…?”

Jeb glanced at Mandy. Marc hugged her close. “I was having some unsettling dreams. I was able to get through the meaning of them with a hypnotherapist. That’s how I got the address. I saw the numbers on a wooden post. They were that reflective stuff, which is probably why I even noticed them.”

Jeb was shaking his head. “I think I still have that original post, and that’s the kind of numbers on it. And if you’ll follow me, I can show you a rock with a big tree growing out of one side. Might be the same one, but damn.” He was still slowly shaking his head. “That’s hard to believe. C’mon. It’s not all that far.”

If Mandy hadn’t been holding on so tight, Marc might have gone over. He actually felt as if he needed to orient himself before he climbed back into the car. He pulled far enough ahead that Jeb could get by him. Then he followed Jeb’s big Ford pickup along the well-maintained gravel road.

“You okay?” The soft touch of her fingers against his forearm, the concern in her eyes warmed him. He’d lived his entire life without this kind of support, had never realized quite how empty it had been. How much he needed someone, anyone, to believe in him.

Now that he knew, he realized he’d never survive without it. Without Mandy. “I’m better than I might have been. Babe, I am so glad you’re here with me. Thank you. I can’t imagine doing this on my own.”

“I’m glad I’m here. Though I honestly wish you didn’t have this to deal with at all.”

“Don’t we both.”

Jeb pulled to the right and parked. Marc pulled in behind him and got out of the car. Chills raced along his spine, the powerful sense he’d been here before.

With Mandy hanging on to his hand, Marc met Jeb between the vehicles.

“It’s over here.”

Marc and Mandy followed him around a slight curve in the road. Marc stopped. Stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the massive old live oak tree with a twisted trunk, growing so close beside a huge rock that it looked as if it grew directly out of the rock itself.

“It’s the same tree.” He walked forward, tugging Mandy along behind him. “No wonder it seemed so big to me. I remember that the rock was taller than me, and the tree was huge.” He laughed. “The rock’s even taller than you, Mandy.”

“And the tree is still huge.” She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Where were you parked?”

“Right here. He must have turned the car around while I was still asleep. I got out of the door on this side and walked about three or four steps to the rock and peed on it.” He stared at the huge piece of stone he knew as serpentine by its color. It wasn’t actually a single boulder as he’d remembered, but instead part of a larger outcropping of the same blue-green stone with darker striations, the glossy, almost waxy look to it he’d learned to recognize. He glanced at Mandy. “I remember that I felt terribly manly, peeing outside on a rock.”

She squeezed his hand. “That is such a guy thing. I had no idea it began so young. So where do you think your father was digging?”

“Over here.” He held on to her hand and they walked in the opposite direction, away from the big rock.

Jeb had been standing quietly to one side, but then he followed. “Be careful,” he said. “There was a slide here a few years ago. I don’t know how stable the ground is.”

Marc glanced at Jeb, let go of Mandy’s hand. “Wait, please?”

She nodded. “Be careful.”

He pushed through a thick tangle of deer brush. A few feet in, he stopped. This section of the hill had slipped, and erosion had further gutted the section. If she’d been buried here, her bones could be exposed somewhere below, or buried beneath tons of dirt and rocks.

“Damn. I was four years old and it was dark, but I think he was digging right about where this part slid off the hill.”

Mandy came up beside him and took his hand again. “Could he have been closer? Where we’re standing now, maybe?”

“Possibly. It’s been over thirty years. A lot of these plants might not have even been here then.” He’d been so sure they’d find something. “We’ll let Ted know, see if he’s got any ideas.” He pushed the brush aside so Mandy could get through, and then followed her back to where Jeb waited in the shade of the oak.

“Jeb, I’m working with an investigator who mentioned using cadaver dogs if we could get close to where she might be. They’re able to find old bones that have been buried even longer than my mother’s been missing. Ted, the guy who works for me, is ex-FBI, definitely a professional. If he thinks there’s a chance of finding her body, would you be willing to give us permission to search the slide area?”

Nodding, Jeb added, “My only concern is liability. I can’t guarantee the stability of this area.”

“We’ll get it covered, put it in writing in a way that will absolve you from anything stupid we might do, or pay for any damage, however unlikely.” He dug in his pocket for his wallet, grabbed a business card and handed it to Jeb. “Is your number listed?”

Jeb grinned. “Got a website.” He walked back to the truck and grabbed a card of his own, handed it to Marc. “My wife and I don’t live here on the property. We’ve got a place a bit farther out Rockpile Road. I’d feel more comfortable with something in writing, though I’m certainly not going to stop you from looking.”

“Thank you. I’ll be talking to my guy tonight, find out about using a dog. I’ll also get the paperwork to you before we do anything. I’ll definitely be getting in touch with you in the next few days, once I have a little more information.”

“Sounds good. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”

It was a quiet ride back to the house, but only because Marc’s mind was spinning. He’d felt his mother’s presence today, as if her spirit approved of his search. All those years and he’d never thought of her, almost as if she’d never existed. Rather than live with hatred for a woman he didn’t want to remember, he’d consciously pushed her out of his thoughts. His memories of her were growing stronger each hour, as if he had to make up for so much time wasted.

Maybe he felt her closer for a reason. He hoped it was forgiveness. Did her essence still exist, if only in spirit? He’d never know for sure, but he liked the sense of her nearness. Loved the fact he could now bring those good memories back, and in some small way, bring her back as well, if only in his heart.

Now, if he could just get that same spirit or even his own memories to point the way to her remains, it would certainly make their job a whole lot easier.

*   *   *

Marc was quiet on the ride back. Mandy held his hand, doing her best to imagine what was going through his head right now. She was terribly relieved he hadn’t insisted on climbing down that slide to search for his mother. She hoped someone else would find her bones. He was so strong, but in this respect she felt as if he were almost fragile, so deeply ashamed of the way he’d viewed his mother for all those years.

How did you convince a man who had been lied to all his life that he wasn’t at fault? He was so open and loving with Mandy, with his friends. His mother’s love for him must have been powerful; it had to be her influence that had shaped him and not his father’s twisted mind.

She wondered if Ted had found out anything else, if he was getting along okay with Theo. Marc tended to surround himself with really neat people. She liked that he was choosy. Loved that he appeared to have chosen her.

They pulled into the driveway at the cottage and parked under a tree. Marc still hadn’t spoken, but he got out of the car and stood there, staring across the vineyard. Gazing up beyond the valley to the hills beyond the dam. The place where Mandy knew he was certain they would one day recover his mother’s remains.

She stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, felt his ribs expand with his sigh. “Hey, darlin’,” she drawled. “Did you throw in any athletic shoes?”

He turned his head, stared at her. “No. Why?”

“Well, I think we need to get you some so we can go for a run. It always clears my head. Helps me think. Might help you organize your thoughts.”

“It does. I might have an old pair of running shoes in the apartment above the tasting room. C’mon.”

They sneaked in through the back entrance—the tasting room was already busy, but Josie was there helping Cassie and it looked like they had things under control. Marc found a pair of shoes, ratty but still serviceable, and they went back to the cottage. Mandy had brought running shorts, a sports bra, and tank top along with her shoes. Marc had an old pair of what looked like high school gym shorts, and she was really pleased when he decided against a shirt. He had an absolutely beautiful body.

“Traffic is bad out here—the road is just too narrow. Let’s run the service roads in the vineyard. Okay by you?” He finished lacing up his shoes.

Mandy had been so busy watching the bunch and flex of his muscles that she barely registered what he said. “Yeah. Works for me. I don’t want to go too far. We’re taking Nate and Cassie out tonight, aren’t we?”

He stood and held out his hand, pulled her to her feet. “Yep. I really don’t want to have to pull your face out of your plate when you hit the wall at dinner.”

“Bad visual.” She opened the refrigerator and grabbed a couple of water bottles, handed one to Marc and followed him out the door.

It had been foggy this morning, but the sky was clear now with the temperature in the mid-seventies. Absolutely gorgeous. They took off down the driveway to the tasting room and cut off to the left, following a trail that ran north along the creek. Mandy had run a few times with Marc, and he maintained an easy, steady pace that she thoroughly enjoyed. He didn’t seem to have that need to show her how great he was, how much stronger or faster. That was a given—he was taller, his stride longer—so it made the runs more fun when he easily accommodated her shorter legs.