Authors: Lorraine Nelson
“It was snowing. Walt seemed to be looking up,
one hand reaching out as if to defend himself, but when the knife went in, he
never moved. He was already dead.”
“Abby, tell your father to call Michael and get
him back here.”
Abby ran from the room but was back within
minutes. “He’s on the phone with him now.”
Lynne closed in on her sister. “The hand you
saw, can you describe it?”
Rena closed her eyes as if to make the image
clearer. “Left hand, black leather glove, tan-colored jacket sleeve.”
“Wow! That’s eerie,” Lynne remarked.
“You’re telling me,” Rena said. “I just wish
they’d go away.”
Hurried footsteps sounded in the hall and
right, Rena? Abby said you cut yourself.”
“Just a nick, Daddy. I’m okay.”
“All right. Good. I need to call Luke to clear
any drifts then go shovel the steps. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“And I’ll be glad when this storm lets up,” said
Lacey.
“Amen to that. I really don’t like shoveling all
that much. Keep dinner warm for me,” he said as he left.
“Oh, God! Dinner!” Lacey rushed to the stove and
rescued the pasta just in time. Abby had taken over the chopping, and Lacey
added onions and peppers to the frying pan. The meal was soon ready, but no one
felt much like eating. She added a stick of wood to the wood stove and set the
pot toward the back to keep warm.
The coffee was ready and Lynne poured. By mutual
agreement, without a word spoken, they carried their mugs to the living room to
sit and wait.
****
“Thanks for coming back so quick,”
“No problem. I was surprised when Rena told me
about her premonitions earlier. Funny that she’s never had them before coming
here.” Michael stood and faced the house, a frown line puckering his forehead.
“I know. It’s been worrying her. She thinks she’s
going crazy.”
“Do you believe her?”
“About the visions? Hell yeah. She walked into
my kitchen for the first time and knew exactly where everything was. Then the
dream came. That’s why she freaked when she met Walt at the bar. Now she feels
as if she should’ve warned him somehow.”
Michael shook his head, snow flying everywhere. “Nah,
he wouldn’t have believed her anyway. You know Walt. All bluff and bluster and
not a serious thought in his head.”
“Yeah. Let’s go in. It’s too cold and miserable
to stand around out here.”
“Right behind you, buddy.”
They removed their outdoor gear before entering
the living room.
“Howdy, ladies,” Michael said as he sat down
across from Rena. “I hear you have some information for me.”
“Yes.”
He took a notebook out of his pocket and a micro
recorder then spoke the date and time into it and who he was interviewing. “Okay,
Rena. Whenever you’re ready. Tell me what you saw.”
“It was more what I didn’t see, but here goes.”
Rena’s voice was clear and concise as she
relayed the images with words. She didn’t try to paint a ghastly picture or doctor
it up with flowery language. She just spoke the facts as she interpreted them.
“Great recall, Rena. Your information may just
help us nail this guy yet. So, just to recap, Walt wasn’t killed here and our
killer is left-handed.”
if in pain.
“What is it,
What are you thinking?” Michael asked.
He looked up, straight at Michael. “You might as
well read me my rights. I’m left-handed, I wear black leather gloves, and I own
a tan jacket.”
Lacey jumped up and ran to him, hugging him
close from her perch on the arm of his chair. “I don’t believe it.”
“Oh, man. Are you confessing?” Michael asked.
“Hell, no! But the evidence sure enough points
to me.”
“I’ll keep this part of the investigation quiet
for as long as I can,
killer, but it sure sounds like you’ve made an enemy or two somewhere along the
line.”
“Michael, you know me. I’ve never hurt anyone,
except maybe Lucas when we were younger. He sure liked to wrestle.”
“Really? I never knew that.” He smiled and
stood. “Thank you, Rena. If that’s it, then I’ll hit the road.” He reached into
his back pocket, took out his wallet, and withdrew a white card. “Here’s my
card. It has my direct number and my cell. If you have any more visions, call
me, anytime, day or night.”
Rena took the card. “Thanks for not thinking I’m
crazy.”
“Not for a minute. The department has been known
to work with psychics from time to time, but I’ll try to keep your name out of
it for as long as I can. We don’t want the killer coming after you.”
“Gosh, no. I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
When Michael left, the room was quiet…too quiet.
“Anyone want to watch a movie?” Lynne asked.
“Sure, but shouldn’t we eat first?” Abby said.
“Good idea. I’m starving.”
****
Once the girls had gone to bed, Lacey pulled
Rena saw, are you,
“It doesn’t look good, honey. What if Michael
can’t find the real killer? Pressure from his peers and the community will
force him to make an arrest, and so far, I’m the likeliest suspect.”
“But you couldn’t have killed him. You were with
me all night.”
“The autopsy report isn’t in yet. We have no way
of knowing how long he’d been dead and lying out there.”
“What a mess. I hope Michael finds some answers,
and soon.” She’d been leading him toward the den. Once inside, she closed and
locked the door.
“Lacey, the girls? What if they go looking for
you?”
“I don’t care. They know I love you and I’m not
leaving you alone tonight.”
He placed his palms on either side of her face,
his thumbs gently caressing her cheek. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“You swept me off my feet in
don’t think I’ve touched ground yet.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
“Maybe not, but we’re together now. Let’s make
the most of it.” She reached up and pulled his head down, touching her lips to
his…once…twice…then allowed him to take control as his arms came around her and
he lifted her against him. His kiss plundered, took, and gave so much more. She
was dizzy with desire by the time they made it to the bed.
This she could do for him. And for herself. She
never wanted to be without him again.
****
Lacey rose and dressed as dawn lightened the
sky. She went upstairs to shower and change, only to find Rena sleeping in her
bed. As quietly as she could, she gathered up her things and tiptoed into the
bathroom. When she emerged, Rena was sitting up in bed, a confused expression
on her face.
“Good morning, honey. Sleep well?” Lacey asked
as she sat on the edge of the bed.
“Yeah, I guess. But how did I get here?”
“I assumed you’d come looking for me during the
night.”
Rena scrunched up her face as if thinking. “Not
that I remember. Don’t tell me I’ve taken up sleepwalking too.”
Lacey moved to smooth a strand of Rena’s hair
and tuck it back over her shoulder. “You used to sleepwalk when you were a
little girl.”
“I did?”
“Yeah, whenever you were upset about something.
I quickly learned not to let you go to sleep until your mood had calmed.”
“Do you really think they’ll arrest Daddy?”
“No, I don’t. Michael will discover the truth.
Is that what’s bothering you?”
“Yes. It seems my latest vision might have
sealed his fate. I’m sorry, Mama.”
Rena’s eyes filled with tears and Lacey hugged
her close. “You saw what you saw. Not telling Michael would be sort of like
withholding evidence. Don’t worry about your father. He’s a tough old nut. He
won’t crack under a bit of suspicion. If anything, he’ll do what he can to help
Michael find Walt’s killer.”
“So he doesn’t blame me? He’s not mad at me?”
“Heavens, no! He’s proud of you for being
willing to share your visions.”
“Really?” Rena asked, sitting back and taking a
swipe at her eyes.
Lacey reached for a tissue from the nightstand
and passed it to her. “Really. He loves you, child. He would never think badly
of you for doing your duty.”
“Thanks, Mama. I think I’ll go get dressed now.”
“You do that. I’ll go put the coffee on.”
“Okay. Be down shortly.” She rose from the bed
and walked to the door only to turn back before opening it. “I’m glad you and
Daddy are working things out. Be happy, Mama.”
Lacey smiled, remembering the night and waking up
in his arms. “I am.”
After Rena left, Lacey made the bed and headed
to the kitchen.
Cameron stood looking out through the patio
doors to the field beyond. The snow had finally stopped, but the wind was still
drifting snow against the house. His back steps were covered again. You’d never
know the area had been swarming with police yesterday except for the ribbons of
yellow crime scene tape blowing in the wind.
How had
his life come to this?
He’d
finally been reacquainted with the love of his life and had three lovely
daughters he’d never known about, yet he could be arrested at any moment
now…for murder. Should he send them back to
remembered Michael’s warning not to leave town. Would they even be allowed to
go with a murder investigation under way?
He turned as footsteps sounded in the hallway
and tried to fashion a smile for Lacey as she entered and breathed life into
the room. Her skin resembled a creamy porcelain, but touching it was like
handling the finest of silks. Her long red hair, a testament to her Irish
heritage, curled in artful disarray around her head. She was beautiful. She was
his, but would she be willing to stay on at the ranch, to wait for him if he
was arrested?
“Good morning, love. Sleep well?” she asked.
“With you lying beside me, how could I not?”
kiss. Desire rose anew and passion invaded their kiss. Soon, it wasn’t enough. He
held her a little away to look into her eyes, seeing in their emerald depths
the desire he felt. “Could I convince you to come back to bed with me?”
“You could, but Rena should be joining us any
minute now. I told her I’d put coffee on.”
“Ah, foiled again.”
her to take mugs from the cupboard. “Coffee’s already on.”
“Are you all right,
“I’m fine, but this entire mess bothers me. Who
would hate me enough to frame me for murder? I just don’t get it.”
“Trust Michael to find the truth. That’s all we
can do.”
both cups to the table. He sat with his back to the door.
Out of sight, out of mind. Nope. Didn’t apply to this situation at all.
“Lacey, what will you do…if…?”
“Don’t think for one minute that I’d run out on
you, Cameron Manning.” She reached for his hand where it rested on the table,
clasping it firmly between hers. “You invited us here and we’re staying,
regardless of what the future may or may not bring.”
“Right, so what do you say we take the girls out
on the snowmobiles today?”
Lacey smiled at him, her eyes lighting up with
joy. “That’s the spirit!” She glanced outside. “It’s not too windy?”
“No, we’ll stick to the trails through the woods
and the trees will break the wind.”
“Who’s breaking wind?” asked Rena as she headed
for the coffee pot.
nothing else. We were just talking about taking the snowmobiles for a ride.”
Rena turned to him, a perplexed look on her
face. “What does that have to do with having the toots?”
This time
and watched as Rena blushed in embarrassment. She recovered fast and soon
joined in the laughter. It felt good after the tension.