Where Shadows Meet(54)

“Our daughter is dead. You killed her.”

“Oh, she’s very much alive, Hannah. She’s been looking for her mommy. She needs you. I’m not good with kids.”

“You—you don’t have her.”

He coiled a lock of hair around his finger. “Are you sure? Hon, we belong together. You know it too. Quit fighting how you feel. No one has ever loved me like you. I’m lost without you. Come home. We’ll settle in Shipshewana. The bishop there has promised to help you repent and come under his guidance.”

Hannah wanted to shut out the seductive sound of his voice. He was always able to make her doubt herself. She desperately wanted to know more, but she knew he was playing with her, toying with the scalding emotions that burned her chest. “Where is she?”

“With me. Don’t you think she deserves a mother and a father?” His voice dropped to a softer pitch, sweet and gentle. “Come home, Hannah, and we’ll forget everything, all the past hurts. I won’t hit you again, I promise.”

Hannah steeled herself against the pleading tone. “It’s a promise you can’t keep, Reece. I don’t believe you have her. Do you have a picture of the two of you together?” Her hands were shaking, and she clutched them together.

“Not on me.”

A siren screamed in the distance, then drew closer. He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I’d better go. But I’ll get proof.”



REECE SLAMMED THE door of his truck. She just didn’t understand yet. Women were the weaker vessel. Why couldn’t she understand he only wanted what was best for her? They belonged together. He only felt whole and strong when she was with him. His life had gone down the toilet after she left. Lost jobs, unpaid bills, too much drinking. But she would come back. He had to believe it.

The sirens screamed past him. He’d have to snatch the kid, get a picture of the two of them together. He hadn’t wanted to have to do that unless there was no other way. The law would get involved. It would have been better for her to come home, then the two of them could go get custody. But the kid was the only thing that would bring Hannah home.

No matter. He’d have it all—that perfect little family everyone craved. The kid would adore him, and Hannah would rush to meet him when he came home from work.

Driving out to the old homestead, where Reece had grown up, the years slipped away. Matt had never taken care of his grandmother the way he should, but Reece would, just as he always did. He stopped at the farmhouse and slipped an envelope containing cash into the mailbox. That should tide her over for another month. He should go see her, but she would disapprove of what he planned to do.

He drove on to Gina’s house. The truck idled in the road as his gaze wandered over the place. They kept it up nice. He couldn’t remember who used to live here, but it was always run-down. A shadow passing the front window arrested his attention. He shut off the truck and killed the lights. Darkness hid his vehicle. Moments later the light flipped on and he could see Matt and a little girl enter the room.

He should have realized Matt would stash her here. He wouldn’t want to run the risk of Hannah seeing her. Reece grinned. He’d like to be around when Hannah realized how Matt had been lying to her all this time.

He stared at the child. His daughter. An unexpected emotion welled up in him as he gazed at her. His. She looked so much like Hannah. Sweet and pure, completely moldable. Why had he thought to give over her training to someone else? Matt could never be the father Reece could. It was up to Reece to raise her to be the right kind of woman. One who obeyed her husband someday. His gaze touched the child’s unruly hair again. He’d made a mistake, but he could fix it yet.



MATT CARRIED CAITLIN piggyback down the hall toward the bedroom. The evening had gone by way too fast. It was great for Blake and Gina to keep her, but she belonged with him.

He eased his daughter off his back and dropped her in the bed. “I’ll listen to your prayers, then I’ve got to go, princess.” He knelt on the floor beside the bed.

She slipped onto the floor beside him and flung herself against him. “I want to come home, Daddy. It’s scary out here where it’s so dark outside.”

“I know. It won’t be for long.” He kissed her again. “I’ll bring you a surprise tomorrow.”

“I just want to come home.”

Matt found it disconcerting to look in his daughter’s eyes, so much like Hannah’s. The problem was never far from his thoughts. “Me too. Now let’s pray.” He was touched to hear her sweet, simple prayer for him and her aunt Gina. And even for Trudy. As she prayed, he added his own plea for forgiveness for the lie he was living. Was it ever okay to lie—even for a good reason? He was Caitlin’s daddy. His role was to protect her. But the blow to his conscience was crippling.

Still, he would endure anything for his little princess. He swelled with pride. She was turning out so well, even without a mother.

She had a mother.

He didn’t want to think about it. As Caitlin’s father, he was responsible for protecting her from people like Reece. She was too young to deal with all this. He kissed her and tucked the quilt around her. “’Night, princess. See you tomorrow.”

“’Night, Daddy.” Her voice was muffled, and her eyes closed.

He tiptoed out the door. The phone was ringing in the living room when he got there, and Gina answered it. “It’s for you,” she said. “The captain.”