An Unsinkable Love(70)
Fred heard the throaty grumble of the Rolls from around a turn ahead, and stopped. The horse immediately dropped his head and began munching grass growing from the middle of the road. He slipped out of the saddle and crept closer. Voices carried through the night air.
"Mr. Eldon? Sir? I don't think I like this. The miss here don't want to go with you. You told me to take her to town 235
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
and that's all right 'cause that's what she said she wanted to do. But she don't want to go with—."
The man's voice cut off abruptly, followed by an odd, watery thud. The woman screamed, and was quickly muffled.
Before Fred could follow the road around a thick stand of trees, an engine roared to life and he heard pebbles ricocheting off bark and rocks as they were thrown from beneath the tires. He hurried around the corner, and watched the smaller car speed away. The big Rolls sat by the side of the road, the engine idling softly. A black lump lay in the dirt beside the open back door. Fred crept closer.
"Blimey, not again!" he muttered. The lump was the young man. He sprawled on his side, head turned away. A horrendous dent distorted the side of his face. Blood and something more solid glistened in the moonlight. A tire iron lay nearby. With a grimace of revulsion, Fred turned away, noticing the empty back seat of the car. The young woman was nowhere to be seen. He turned and ran for Peanut. He made it into the saddle in one try, and soon the startled animal galloped down the road as he clung frantically to saddle horn and mane. He rode into Eldon's dust on the outskirts of town and reined the horse to a bone-jangling trot so he wouldn't overtake his quarry. The small lights on the rear of the car helped him follow as it steered into an alley. It continued straight into the black maw of an open, two-story carriage house. A moment later Eldon appeared and pulled the doors shut, the lock snapping loudly in the stillness of the night. A lamp was lit inside, sending out a pale flickering glow.
236
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
Fred dismounted and tethered Peanut to a convenient downspout, then sidled up next to the garage, careful to stay away from the windows. He heard a car door open and close.
A muffled cry rang out, followed by the sound of a sharp slap.
Footsteps pounded on stairs. The light moved higher and the lower level faded to a dark gray. Fred risked a quick glance through the small, barred window. The car, glinting in the dull moonlight, sat in the middle of the dirt floor, the engine ticking as it cooled.
Chewing his cheek, he wondered, What now?
[Back to Table of Contents]
237
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
Chapter 37
"What are you doing, Melody? Have you lost your mind?"
Malcolm shoved her back in disgust, trying to untangle her arms from his neck. "I only agreed to come out here because you said you needed to talk to me urgently about your father's business, although I thought we settled everything yesterday morning. Obviously, it was a ruse. I'm going back in. I think it's best if you sit with your parents, and please don't come to the house again unless you're invited by someone other than Eldon."
Malcolm spun on his heel, but before he took a step, Melody cried, "I don't understand. If you're not going to marry that Irish girl, what's wrong with me? You used to like kissing me."
He turned back, surprised at the piteous tone in Melody's normally demanding voice.
Then he realized what she said. "What do you mean, 'Now that I'm not going to marry Bree'? Of course I'm going to marry her. This is an engagement party, remember?"
"But Eldon said you'd changed your mind. That you realized you wanted me and you're going to send her home."
Eldon—the bastard—was still trying to stir up trouble. Well, enough was enough. "Melody, go home. I think of you as an old friend, nothing more. I intend to marry Bree because I love her. You've allowed Eldon to feed you lies, even though you're smart enough to know better. I'll talk to your father in a day or so about the mill. I don't intend to let him lose it—
238
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
Father wouldn't have wanted that. You don't need to marry me to save it, so find someone who loves you."
This time, he kept walking. The sound of Melody's sobs followed him down the path, but the need to talk to Bree was far more important than soothing a spoiled woman's feelings.