Stranger on the Shore (31 page)

She could see only two possible hiding places—one a tangle of blackberry bushes surrounding a shelf of rock protruding from the hillside, the other a narrow stretch of small trees and bushes growing along a deeply eroded gully.

She chose the thicket, knowing the gully was more logical but hoping the inhospitable environment of briar and bramble would discourage close inspection.

Her hunter was making no effort to disguise his progress. She could hear the crackling sounds of breaking limbs and twigs interspersed with grunts, growls and an occasional blasphemous phrase as he moved closer to the top of the hill.

Sarah circled the copse, dropped to her knees and entered the tangle of berry vines from the low side of the hill. No crushed underbrush or broken limbs would betray her presence from the top of the ridge. Carefully, she crawled toward the center of the thicket.

A shallow indentation in the ground, protected by an overhang of rock at the base of the largest boulder, offered the best cover. Wearily she wriggled her body into the slight protection of the hole and laid still, every muscle tense.

As nature adjusted to the alien presence in the thicket, the twittering of sparrows and the faint scurrying noises of small ground rodents resumed—a welcome indication that, for the moment, she was safe. Sarah's racing pulse and labored breathing slowed. Perhaps she could outwit him after all.

How she wished she'd listened to Sam and Jordan. Especially Jordan. She'd been wrong, wrong about so many things. She knew it now. And she might never have the chance to tell him. The man from Oklahoma would see to that if he found her. She had no illusions about him. He was dangerous.

* * *

"Sarah won't stay on the trail," T.J. said as the two men, still running, entered the woods. "She knows it dead-ends at the river. Watch for any signs of someone leaving the path."

Jordan nodded, not bothering to answer as they raced along the narrow path. He forced himself to repress his memory of the last time he and Sarah had been together at the river. He had to find Sarah. That was all that mattered now.

They spotted the broken underbrush at the same time. Jordan let out an oath. Sarah wouldn't have done that. It meant Jackson knew she'd left the path and had followed her.

Now Jordan took the lead, following the trail of trampled brush with his eyes as he plunged headlong up the hill, taking shortcuts across the rough terrain whenever possible. T.J. was only a step behind him when he reached the area when the underbrush began to thin.

Both men stopped, eyes searching the open space at the top of the hill for any sign of Sarah. They spotted the man at almost the same time.

"There he is," T.J. yelled, pointing toward the crest of the hill.

Jordan raced toward him, but at T.J.'s cry Jackson changed direction and began running parallel to the top of the hill. T.J. lunged after him, felling him with a tackle around the knees. Jordan heard Jackson hit the ground and the air leave his lungs in a
whoosh.
"

"Where's Sarah?" Jordan demanded, standing over the fallen man with clenched fists.

Jackson was gasping for breath, still unable to speak.

"He didn't catch her," T.J. said, calmly flipping his victim onto his stomach and twisting his arm behind his back. "Go on after her."

Jordan looked anxiously from the man on the ground to the top of the hill.

"Go on," T.J. urged him. "I've got this creep. We'll wait for Sam. I reckon you've got about fifteen minutes."

"He won't give you any trouble?"

"Him? Nah. He's finished. Get going. She'll be hiding in the most unlikely place."

Jordan nodded, giving T.J. a grateful look, and began moving away.

"She ought to be glad to see you," T.J. called after him. "Don't screw it up this time."

* * *

Sarah continued her still, silent wait. Was he searching the gully? No. It was close enough to her hiding place that he would have disturbed the birds. But he'd had plenty of time to make it to the top of the ridge. Was he standing on top, trying to decide which way to go? She could imagine him watching, waiting for any sign, any movement that would give away her hiding place. Despite the heat of the day and the perspiration running down the side of her face, she couldn't suppress a shiver.

Seconds crawled by like minutes. The minutes took longer. Still Sarah waited, alert for the cessation of natural sounds that would warn her of approaching danger. Where was he? Could he have fallen? Or turned back? Not likely. She would have to wait him out.

Gradually her tense muscles began to uncoil. She was beginning to think about easing out of the hiding place for a quick look when the birds sounded the alarm. Their sudden commotion was followed by a voice calling her name. Sarah held her breath, afraid that even that shallow sound would give her away.

"Sarah?" the voice called again.

She squeezed her eyes shut.
You can't run away this time.
She told herself.
Stop imagining Jordan's here. Stop imagining you hear his voice. You're all alone. You send him away.

Sarah made herself open her eyes. If the man from Oklahoma wasn't bluffing, if he'd really found her, she'd face him. She was tired of hiding.

"Sarah?" the voice called again. "You can come out now. Everything's all right. T.J.'s got Jackson."

Jackson. Yes, that was the man's name. But that couldn't be—

"Please, Sarah." His voice was more desperate now. "Please answer. If you don't want to see me, I'll go away. But please tell me you're all right."

Sarah was already crawling along the tunnel through the bramble. She didn't give herself time to think about it. She'd heard his voice, recognized it calling to her. She was going to him. Seconds later she was in Jordan's arms.

Jordan held her against him, his arms completely enfolding her as if to prove she was real. He'd been so afraid—afraid for her, and afraid she'd never let him near her again. She was here now, but once she realized she was safe, would she send him away? Would she ever trust him again? Would she give him another chance?

Sarah tilted her head to look into his face. "Jordan," she began, "what are you doing here? How did you know—?" She shook her head, pushed at the limp hair hanging over her eyes and saw his eyes glint dangerously. Her own widened as she tried to pull away. Jordan held her firmly with one arm. With his free hand he brushed back the hair and traced the welt on her forehead with a gentle finger.

"Did he—?"

"I got slapped by a branch," she told him, her voice still a little breathless. "I'm all right, Jordan. Honest. Just a few scratches from briers."

Jordan nodded, a muscle quivering in his jaw as he resisted the impulse to let his lips brush the welt. He stood for a moment, still holding her against him, then reluctantly let her go and stepped back. "We can talk later. It's enough that you're safe for now. Besides, it's a long story..."

Story!
She stiffened at the word and turned her back to him.

"The cavalry will be coming over the hill any minute," Jordan told her. "T.J's anxious. He blames himself for telling you it was okay to go swimming."

"That's ridiculous. He's not my keeper. What does he think he could do? Keep me tied to the farm."

Sarah's head swerved at Jordan's sudden laugh. She gave him a suspicious look. "Did he—?" she began.

"If it wasn't for T.J., we might not be here," Jordan said quickly. "He spotted Jackson's brother. And just in time. That's when we knew Billy Clyde was around."

"I still don't understand"

"We can sort it out later," Jordan told her. "Promise me, Sarah, that when this is all over you'll hear me out."

Sarah didn't answer, but at least, Jordan reasoned, she hadn't said no. He was afraid to ask again. He didn't have another chance, anyway, as his name sounded from up the hill and he looked up.

"Here comes your cousin," he said flatly.

* * *

"I don't understand why Cinda didn't warn you," Sarah's grandmother complained after they'd all returned to the farm. "She's supposed to know these things."

The fact that her grandmother had broached the subject in front of Jordan told Sarah how completely he'd been admitted to the family's circle. Her eyes sought his as she wondered if he understood. The intensity of his gaze made her heartbeat quicken. She forced herself to look away.

"You know it doesn't always work that way, Grandmother," she said. "My guess is that she didn't get a warning because everything was going to work out okay. It did, you know. I wasn't hurt. I'm fine."

"But you said you'd be able to tell if Cinda needed anything," her Grandmother protested.

"That's different. It's true we can usually contact each other mentally. If she needed me for anything, she'd let me know. I could have called for her, too. But she wouldn't have been able to do anything to help today. So I didn't call her. Do you understand?"

They were still in the midst of explanations when Sam arrived at the farm. After assuring himself that Sarah was unhurt, the sheriff had taken Billy Clyde back to town to join his brother.

"What happens now?" Jordan asked.

"Billy Clyde goes back to Oklahoma for parole violation," the sheriff said gruffly. "I don't have anything to hold Lenny on. But I'll put the fear of the righteous in him. Don't think he'll stay around, either."

It was better, Sam explained over Jordan's protests, to send them back to Oklahoma. But the authorities would be alerted. And the next time Jackson was released, Sarah would be told.

Sam had been able to piece together most of the circumstances surrounding Sarah's near-accidents. Jordan was unable to suppress a shudder when he discovered how large a part chance had played in the summer's events.

Billie Clyde had discovered where Sarah lived, and on several occasions, including the trip to Monte Ne, had actually followed her from the farm. The brother had also tried to follow her and Jordan to Eureka Springs. He'd lost their trail temporarily then spotted them later when they were on their walking tour of the town.

But, according to Sam, the two most dangerous incidents, the trip across Bald Mountain with T.J. and the incident at the rodeo had both occurred when the brothers spotted Sarah by accident and taken advantage of the circumstances. It couldn't be proven, Sam admitted, not without a confession, but he was satisfied that was what had happened.

Jordan clenched his teeth at the thought of how closely Sarah had escaped serious harm. Jackson would never get near her again, not if he had anything to say about it.

Dusk had fallen when the explanations were finally finished. T.J. left shortly after Sam, taking Jimmy Joe with him, hoping to distract the boy from the day's excitement with the promise of a movie.

The grandparents excused themselves a short time later, finally leaving Jordan and Sarah alone. Sarah moved to the old-fashioned swing on the front porch, an apprehensive Jordan following. She had welcomed him on the hillside, but he wasn't sure she was ready to accept him back into her life as easily. She would have to. He wasn't giving up. He needed her.

"Jordan, I'm sorry," Sarah said, her voice shaking with trepidation. "I should have listened to you."

"It doesn't matter. You're safe now. I'll admit those two were unlikely," Jordan said. "Even with the pattern, it was hard to recognize. The motivation was there, but not easy to identify. After putting it all together, coincidence played a big part in the attacks. I can understand—"

"No," Sarah interjected. She had to make him understand. "I didn't mean that. I'm talking about that day at the cabin. The stories. I should have listened to you then. I was—"

Jordan didn't wait to hear any more. He pulled her against him, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "Thank God," he whispered. "I was so afraid, just talking on and on because I was afraid to ask if you could ever forgive me for hiding my—"

"No," she protested. You were right. I should have trusted you."

"Hush sweetheart," he said, pulling her closer. "It doesn't matter now. I love you."

Sarah leaned against him, almost frightened to be so happy.
He loved her!
He'd never said that before. Only a few short hours ago she'd believed she'd never see him again. Shaking, she buried her face against his chest.

Jordan held her tightly, his arms trembling. "You have to marry me, Sarah. I can't imagine my life without you."

Sarah's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't speak, but her answer was in her eyes. Her look of happiness made Jordan catch his breath. He captured her lips with his in a passionately tender kiss that promised forever.

Sarah wound her arms around his neck, holding him as she'd never thought to hold him again. Even her dreams, the dreams that had tortured her because she'd thought she'd lost him, faded in contrast with reality.

Jordan explored her face with his lips, kissing her eyes and each freckle across the bridge of her upturned nose before, once again, capturing her lips.

He raised his mouth, drew a ragged breath and lifted her into his lap. "How soon, Sarah? Later this week? How long does it take to get a license in Arkansas?"