Renewing Lost Love (7 page)

Moving down the line Pinky says, “You’ve
already met Skye, this is her husband Dylan, also known as Scoot,
and my boss. He owns Drake Security.”

I look as closely as I can at Dylan’s
handsome face but I don’t see any scar. They must have been pulling
my leg. Skye realizing what I am looking for says, “Here, Jasmine.”
She traces her finger down a tiny crease that looks like a normal
sign of aging.

“Wow, I never would have known. Do you think
the plastic surgeon can help me like that?”

Dylan smiles and says, “My scar was worse
than yours when he started so I’m sure you will be pleased with the
results.”

Pinky continues, “This young fellow is
Damian, Dylan’s son from a previous marriage, a computer genius in
the making. I’m sure you noticed they are expecting a new addition
to the family soon. You met Jesse earlier, she is Stump’s mother,
and this big guy next to her is known as Bear, Clarence Kincaid Sr.
He’s Stump’s father and a legend in his own right. He’s revered by
all of the Marine Corp for his bravery in Vietnam and we are
honored to call him a friend. I’m sure you can tell where he got
his name. When he first came to the ranch he had a full beard and
hair down to his waist. Jesse has done a fine job of cleaning him
up.”

I say, “It’s nice to meet you Bear. Stump
looks just like you. I’ll always be grateful to him for scooping me
up from beside that Montana highway.”

Pinky continues, “Next in line are Goose,
Reginald Willingham and his wife Evelyn. Evelyn is Dylan’s sister
and these two are her children, Jeff and Janie. The twins in the
stroller are their sons Ron and Randall.”

I say, “It’s nice to meet you. The twins are
adorable!”

Pinky continues, “The old guy on the end is
Bob Kenner and you’ve met his wife, Virginia. Virginia is Barry’s
mother. Bob is the foreman on the ranch next door, the Rocking J.
They raise and train very expensive cutting horses. The Rocking J
is owned by the next two guys in line. This is Jacob Murray, former
famous criminal defense attorney, and his wife Jana, their daughter
Dani and twin boys, Zachary and Mason. Next to him is his twin
brother, Jason Murray, rancher and investment counselor, and his
wife Jenny and their son, Neal.

Again I say, “It’s nice to meet all of
you.”

“Over here is Mark Brentwood and I think you
also met Patricia earlier. They are Melanie’s parents.”

Smiling I say, “Oh, it’s so nice to finally
meet you. Melanie has told me so much about you.”

Pinky continues, “You met Stump earlier. His
real name is Clarence Kincaid Jr. but Jesse calls him Rance.”

I place my arms around Stump and hug him
warmly. “Thank you so much. I would be dead if not for you.” Then I
place a warm kiss on his cheek.

Stump turns bright red and says, “It was my
pleasure ma’am. I was happy to assist Pinky in his endeavor to
rescue you.”

Pinky continues, “And last but not least is
the ranch foreman, Bud Wilkes and his wife, Mary. Bud is also a
former Marine and assisted us on several operations before he
retired to work twice as hard on this ranch.”

I smile and turn back toward the whole group,
“It’s really nice to meet all of you.”

After Pinky has introduced me to everyone we
all head to the huge dining room for a sumptuous meal prepared by
the women. I can’t believe the house. The dining room looks to me
to be more the size of a ballroom. It is gigantic. And on the way
to the dining room I saw an indoor pool and two more bedrooms
besides mine and that is just on the first floor. Everything is so
opulent I am amazed that someone actually lives here. It’s the kind
of house I often read about in magazines but I never believed
people really lived in something so nice. Barry Farrady must be
very wealthy.

Over dinner, each of the residents of the
Rock Springs Ranch tells me how they ended up living here. I am
fascinated by the various stories and also comforted to know that I
am not the only one here who has had a less than normal life.

After dinner everyone heads to the indoor
pool area for coffee and conversation while all of the children
swim. I am amazed at the warm welcome I feel from everyone present.
Finally everyone goes to their various homes leaving Keith alone
with me. We return to the great room where sitting on the sofa next
to me, his arm across the back, he asks, “Well, how do you like it
here so far?”

“Everyone is so nice! They have certainly
made me feel welcome and it is nice to know I am not the only one
here with a less than normal background. You’re going to have to
tell me the details of everyone’s story sometime.”

Smiling Keith says, “They’re all very
special. I’ve been really blessed to have such good friends.” Keith
reaches with his hand to straighten the collar on my blouse and I
jump away from him raising my arms to deflect the anticipated blow.
Appalled he says, “I’m so sorry, Jasmine, I didn’t mean to frighten
you!”

Tears springing to my eyes when I realize
what happened. “Oh Keith, I am so sorry! It was just a reflex. I
... I ... oh God!” Horrified, the tears run down my face and I bury
my face in my hands sobbing.

He places his arms around me pulling me
across his lap and then gently pulls my head to his chest and says,
“It’s all right Jasmine. I understand. Really, I do. You know I
would never hit you, don’t you?”

Sniffling I reply, “I know and I am so sorry!
Please forgive me. I need help Keith. I will never get past this
without help.”

“I know Sweetheart, I know. I’ll talk to
Jesse and we’ll work it out. I promise,” answers Keith. He
continues to hold me close while I cry. When I am finally quiet he
places his hand under my chin and raises my face to his. Lowering
his head he gently brushes his lips against mine. Raising his head
and gazing warmly into my eyes he asks, “Would you mind if I kiss
you Jasmine?”

In answer I raise my arms around his neck and
pull his head down to mine opening my lips for his invasion. As he
plunges his tongue into depths of my mouth, I hear him moan with
pleasure and he pulls me closer.

He is drowning in her unique flavor gently
stroking his tongue against hers. It has been so long, so very
long. His heart is pounding heavily and he moves his hand up her
side and cups her luscious breast squeezing gently. Moving his lips
from her mouth down the graceful curve of her neck he can feel the
tight bud of her nipple pressing against his palm and he longs to
take it in his mouth. He feels his control slipping so he removes
his hand from her breast and cups her hip squeezing gently. He
dives back into the sweet recesses of her mouth.

I am overwhelmed with feelings I am no longer
familiar with. James Bixby’s kisses never affected me this way. My
heart is pounding so hard and fast I wonder if I am having a heart
attack and my nerve endings are tingling with remembrance of a long
ago time. When Keith touches my breast I feel it all the way to my
core and long forgotten feelings of longing spring to life. James
never touched me so tenderly or made me long for more. I can feel
moisture pooling between my legs and wonder why. I have the
strangest urge to get closer to Keith, to crawl right inside of
him. I feel so safe in his arms.

The sound of a door closing down the hall
jerks Keith back to reality and he pulls away pressing my head
gently to his chest. Breathing raggedly, he says, “Oh Jasmine, I
have missed you so much! It is a dream come true to hold you in my
arms again. I keep expecting to wake up to find it is all a
dream.”

After a few long minutes of just holding me
close breathing in my unique essence he says, “I thought I was
going to die the day Leaf told me the gator got you. I wanted to
die that day. I killed him you know, that gator. He had your
beautiful hair stringing out of his mouth and I blew his brains
out. I joined the Marines the next day thinking that would be a
good way to die, in service to my country. But then I met the guys
and I found a reason to go on. I’m thankful now that I didn’t step
in front of a bullet like I originally planned.”

“Oh Keith, I am so sorry you had to go
through that. I knew that was the reason James cut off my hair. He
stuffed it and my shredded clothes into a paper bag with a big hunk
of smelly meat then he left the cabin. I knew he wanted you to
believe I was dead.”

“I’m sorry for what you have been forced to
endure Jasmine. I feel so guilty for not looking for you that day,
but I really believed that gator had eaten you. I’m so sorry
Jasmine, please forgive me,” pleads Keith.

“I have nothing to forgive Keith. We weren’t
at his cabin for more than an hour or so. I’m sure we were probably
already gone before Leaf even came to look for me. You wouldn’t
have found me if you had looked.”

Lowering his head, Keith once again kisses me
deeply. When he finally pulls away he says, “I guess I better go
back to my quarters. I certainly don’t want to frighten you and I’m
not sure my control is up to the challenge.” Brushing his lips
against mine one last time he gently moves me from his lap to the
sofa. He says “Sleep well, Sweetheart. I love you.” He rises and
leaves through the front door.

I feel bereft. I felt so safe and loved in
Keith’s arms. I slowly make my way back to my bedroom a dreamy
smile on my lips. I can hardly make myself believe that Keith still
loves me. I never dared dream that after fifteen long years he
would still be single and longing to hold me in his arms, to love
me once again just like he had the night of his Senior Prom. Could
it be true? Will he still love me after he knows the truth about
the horror I have been living? Will he ever forgive me for the
things I have done? Will he wait while I find my way back to
him?

Pinky is floating on air. Holding Jasmine in
his arms is heavenly, a dream he never thought would come true.
After all, the curse had taken her from him and he still has
trouble believing that she is really alive and safe here on Rock
Springs Ranch. He keeps thinking he is living a dream and is going
to wake up devastated. He knows that Bixby is still out there
somewhere and he vows to never let him get his hands on her
again.

Pinky notified his contact at the ATF of the
rescue of Jasmine Leblanc from James Bixby early the following day.
He also confirmed to him that Jasmine was kidnapped by James Bixby
fifteen years ago. The contact agreed to notify the FBI and send an
agent to the ranch to interview Jasmine.

A FBI agent by the name of Richard Dean
arrives at the ranch within hours. After speaking with Jasmine
about the kidnapping he speaks with Stump and Pinky about the
rescue. When Stump confirms that Bixby shot at them as the
helicopter flew them away he agrees to put out an all points
bulletin for James Bixby for kidnapping and attempted murder.

Jesse makes arrangements for me to be
admitted to a specialized psychiatric unit at the same hospital in
Phoenix where Bear and Scoot went for help with their PTSD. Pinky
flies me to the hospital the day after my interview with the FBI
agent. When he leaves me in my room he pulls me into his arms,
gazes deeply into my beautiful green eyes and says, “I love you
Jasmine. I will wait as long as it takes for you to recover.” Then
he tenderly brushes his lips against mine and walks out of the
room.

I watch him as he walks away then shake my
head in disbelief. I know that Keith believes that he loves me, but
he doesn’t know the truth, not yet. He loves the girl I once was
but when he finds out everything I have done since James Bixby
kidnapped me that day he won’t love me any more. I am disgusted and
repulsed by the things James made me do and Keith will be too. I am
dirty and unworthy of his love. He deserves someone he can be proud
of, not someone as ugly and soiled as I am.

******

James Bixby is livid. He is still walking
along the highway in Montana and has had lots of time to think. The
more he thinks about those bastards in that helicopter flying away
with Jasmine the madder he gets. Jasmine belongs to him! Damn it!
When he took time to stop and think about it, he remembered hearing
that the guys that killed Calloway and the others from the compound
in Idaho used a helicopter. He would bet his last dollar that they
are the ones that took Jasmine. All the more reason to take them
out, but first he has to get to Wyoming. No one in this godforsaken
land wants to pick up a hitchhiker anymore. He’s going to have to
steal a car from somewhere.

A little while later Bixby walks into the
outskirts of a small town. Spotting a convenience store ahead he
grins. He might as well kill two birds with one stone. He will rob
the store and then steal the clerk’s vehicle.

Confidently walking into the store, his Glock
cocked and ready in his pocket, he is completely surprised to find
himself immediately staring down the barrel of a forty-five caliber
semi-automatic. He raises his hands asking, “What’s going on?”

The deputy with the gun says, “James Bixby,
you’re under arrest for kidnapping and attempted murder. Put your
hands on the counter and spread your legs.” He hands his gun to
another man standing behind the counter and begins to frisk Bixby.
He removes the Glock from Bixby’s pocket then reaches to grasp his
hand to put handcuffs on him. Taking a chance Bixby backhands the
deputy and bolts back out the door running as fast as he can toward
the woods behind the store as the deputy fires at him. Bixby feels
the impact of a bullet and then a burning sensation in his shoulder
but he doesn’t stop to check it out.

He keeps running through the woods as fast as
he can leaving footprints in the snow and a trail of blood a first
grader could follow. He feels the warmth of blood seeping down his
back and chest. He must be bleeding pretty badly. Damn! He’s going
to have to find someplace to rest up for a while. He is getting
weaker and more desperate when he spots what looks like an old line
shack along the back of a pasture. Carefully making his way toward
the shack, he starts feeling dizzy and by the time he makes it to
the door he is practically crawling. Pushing open the door he
manages to start a fire in the wood stove and then collapses on the
narrow bed sliding into unconsciousness.