CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
EARLIER MARK HAD gotten a call from the Sheridan, Wyoming, sheriff’s department. He’d been waiting to hear from Flint, waiting and worrying. There was no doubt in his mind that Flint had gone off to look for Maggie, so the call hadn’t come as a complete surprise.
“We heard from a woman named Jenna Holloway,” the Wyoming sheriff had told him. “She said she and another woman, Maggie Thompson, had been held captive by a man named Clark Terwilliger at an old roadhouse just across the Montana border. Sheriff Flint Cahill rescued them, but he is still with the abductor in the building. We’re on our way out there now.”
Mark had quickly filled the sheriff in on what he knew. “You’ll call me as soon as you know something?”
The sheriff had promised he would.
Mark now waited, too anxious to do anything but sit and stare at the phone. Flint had found them. He let out a laugh, not surprised given his boss’s determination. Still, it had to be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Mark had never believed in psychic connections, but he couldn’t help but wonder if love hadn’t played a part in it.
He laughed again, telling himself he needed sleep if he was thinking such things. When his phone finally rang, he practically jumped out of his skin.
Praying that the law had gotten there in time, he picked up the phone. “Ramirez.”
* * *
FRANK AND NETTIE were still in North Dakota when they got the call the next day.
“Flint found Maggie and Jenna,” Frank told his wife. “Jenna was shot and is in the hospital, but she’s stable. Maggie is fine.” He filled her in on everything that Flint had told him happened.
“Before we leave town, I’d like to stop by Edna Burns’s and let her know the good news,” Nettie said.
They left the motel and drove the few blocks to Edna’s house. Frank was relieved that the news had been good. He’d heard the happiness in Flint’s voice. This could have gone so badly...
He parked and they walked up to the door to knock. Opening the door, Edna looked surprised to see them, then worried. “Are Jenna and Margaret—”
“They were found. They’re both safe.”
Edna’s eyes filled with tears as she ushered them in. “I was so worried.”
“We thought you’d want to know,” Nettie said after they were all seated in the living room. “Maybe now you can tell us the rest of the story?”
Edna nodded slowly.
“When did Jenna call you and ask about her daughter?”
“A few years ago,” the woman admitted. “She’d found her. She wanted to know the truth. She knew that I’d lied to her. It broke my heart but I was just doing what her parents had asked me to do.”
“They put you in an unbearable position,” Nettie said.
Edna wiped her eyes with a lace-edged hankie from her pocket. “Last March, Jenna called to say that Clark was out again and he’d found her. I was terrified for her and begged her to tell her husband but she refused. She asked me to watch out for Margaret if something should happen to her.”
“But you’d already watched out for Margaret, I’m guessing,” Nettie said.
The elderly woman raised her head and locked eyes. “Jenna had called. She’d seen Margaret in Billings, seen a bruise on her wrist and thought she might be in a situation where she needed help.”
“So you helped her. But it wasn’t the first time, was it.”
Edna smiled sadly. “My friend who was raising Margaret died when the girl was seventeen. I paid for Margaret to go to beauty school. I didn’t have enough for college, but when my husband died, I was able to help a little more.”
“I figure you gave the loan to Maggie for the salon she opened in Gilt Edge,” Frank said.
Edna nodded. “If her parents ever found out what I did...” She shivered. “My sister had warned me not to go against her husband’s wishes. If Les ever found out...”
“Why does your sister stay with him?” Nettie asked.
“I wish I knew. I’ve told her she can come live with me. I’ll never understand what she sees in that man. I think there are just some women who can’t live without a man.”
“Why didn’t Jenna tell Maggie that she was her mother?” Frank asked.
“She’d been made to feel shame for the pregnancy. She never wanted Margaret to know how she’d been conceived. She never wanted her to know about Clark.” Edna smiled. “But she had her hair done there when she could afford it, she told me, just so she could see her. She’d married some older farmer who was tight with money.” She tsked. “Just like her mother.”
“I’m assuming that Jenna married Anvil Holloway to get away from her father,” Frank said.
“And her mother. I’m not sure my sister was any better with her after...after what happened with Clark. They were so filled with shame and blamed that girl.” Edna shook her head. “It wasn’t her fault any more than this latest mess is her fault. It was that man.”
“Clark Terwilliger is dead.”
Edna closed her eyes and crossed herself. “I know it’s wrong to be glad, but I am. He was just plain...evil. I’m not sorry he’s dead. You said Jenna is going to pull through?”
“She is,” Nettie said.
“And Margaret?”
“She’s strong and she has a good man to help her through this,” Nettie said. “A sheriff. They just got engaged.”
Edna smiled. “I would love a happy ending for that child. She hasn’t had it easy. I’m afraid my friend spent much of Margaret’s life looking for the father in her. Whenever Margaret did something wrong, my friend was convinced it was his bad genes coming out. I have to admit, I worried too. Silly, I’m sure, but still, I think Margaret knew something was wrong and I feel bad about that.”
“You did your best to save her,” Nettie said and took the woman’s frail hand. “Thank you for telling us the truth.”
“I should have the first time,” Edna said. “Funny how lying becomes so easy after a while. Maybe if I’d told the truth years ago... How nice it would be not to live a life of regrets.”
“Yes,” Nettie said and looked over at her husband. Years ago he’d asked her to marry him, but her mother had talked her into marrying a different man because his family owned a country store. At that time, Frank was just a good-looking cowboy who could ride a horse or a motorcycle like he was born to it. Too often Nettie thought about how different her life would have been if she had married Frank all those years ago. Maybe they would have had children of their own.
“I have my own regrets,” Nettie said to the woman as she got to her feet. “But sometimes things turn out for the best. Sometimes you get a second chance. Jenna has that chance and so does Maggie.”
“You say Margaret’s engaged to a sheriff?” Edna asked, perking up a little.
“Flint Cahill is a good man,” Frank said. “You don’t have to worry about her anymore.”
* * *
“I CAN’T BELIEVE you asked her to marry you at a crime scene,” Cyrus said the next day when Flint and Maggie walked into the Stagecoach Saloon to cheers and congratulations. It had been thirty-six hours since being rescued from the roadhouse. Flint was moving slowly but much better since getting the walking cast. Nothing was broken, but it would take time for the tendons to heal.
“Such a romantic,” Hawk agreed good-naturedly.
“The timing probably could have been better,” Flint admitted as his family rushed over for hugs—even Cyrus and Hawk.
“The timing was perfect,” Maggie said as Lillie threw her arms around her.
“Welcome to the family,” Lillie said and began to cry. “It’s the hormones,” she said, wiping at her tears. “And we were all so worried about you. I’m so glad you’re all right.”
“Flint, you did have us worried,” Hawk said. “I know you always have to be the hero, but...” He shook his head, and Maggie saw real worry in his expression.
Her future father-in-law, Ely, pushed his way through to shake Flint’s hand and hug him. “Took you long enough to ask her to the post,” his father chastised.
Flint only laughed as he met Maggie’s gaze and pulled her over next to him. “I agree.” He looked at his father. “But I thought you were headed back to the mountains.” For a man who spent most of his time as a recluse, it surprised Maggie too that he was still here.
“Couldn’t leave until I was sure my son was going to be all right. This calls for champagne,” Ely announced and moved to the bar where Darby began to pour. He poured himself water and they all toasted.
Maggie could tell that Flint was touched by his father’s concern. She felt overwhelmed by this boisterous family, but also grateful to be included. She listened to the good-natured ribbing Flint took and saw how much love was in this room. Before that moment, she supposed she hadn’t realized that she wasn’t just marrying Flint. She was marrying his family. She found herself smiling for the first time in days.
“Now, what about the rest of you?” Ely demanded as he put down his glass, his gaze turning to Hawk and Cyrus.
“Another wedding!” Lillie cried and turned to Hawk and Cyrus. “Wouldn’t it be great if it was a triple wedding?”
Her bachelor brothers both held up their hands as if to ward off even the thought.
Flint laughed and pulled Maggie closer. She could tell that he’d hated having her out of his sight even to answer questions about the abduction. But once everything was cleared up with Terwilliger’s death and his leg healed, Flint would be returning to work. He couldn’t watch her 24/7 even though she suspected it would be a while before he felt he didn’t need to.
Maggie planned to take some time off, as well. She still felt jumpy even two days later. This morning, she’d told Flint everything about Gary Long and her relationship with him. She’d told Flint that Gary had contacted her saying he had to talk to her and that if she didn’t meet him he was going to cause trouble. Foolishly, she’d met him in Billings when she’d gone down for the salon event. She’d thought she’d made her feelings clear.
“When I saw him standing in your house... I thought we’d settled everything in Billings,” she’d said. “If I’d thought he’d come to Gilt Edge... I should have told.”
“I should have asked,” he’d said.
“I just didn’t want my past coming between us.”
He’d chuckled at that. “Unlike my past. I was so sure Celeste had taken you,” he’d said.
It would have been Maggie’s first thought if she’d been Flint. He’d told her that he’d tried to choke the truth out of Celeste. She was just sorry that she’d missed that.
After their talk, she’d felt closer to Flint. He’d risked his life to save her. She’d never forget that and said as much.
“And you risked yours,” he’d said with a shake of his head. “I couldn’t believe you’d come back to the roadhouse. But if you hadn’t...” He’d pulled her to him and held her tightly. “That’s all behind us now.”
“Can’t have a triple wedding if these two cowboys don’t even have brides,” Ely was saying.
“Must be time for us to go chase some cattle,” Hawk said.
“You’re not getting off that easy,” Lillie said. “Surely there’s someone in your life other than Cyrus.”
“Hey, you’re going to hurt my feelings,” Cyrus joked. “But Hawk’s right. The cows need to be fed and watered and there’s that tractor to be fixed,” he said as he backed toward the door. On his way out, he patted Flint on the back.
“I suppose this means you’re back in your own house,” Hawk said. “I’d say we were going to miss you, but we hardly saw you.”
“Thanks for everything,” Flint said, his voice cracking with emotion.
“Don’t you want to stay and talk about their wedding plans?” Lillie called after her two brothers as they scurried out. “We have to invite Hawk’s old girlfriend Drea,” she said with a laugh. “I think there are some unresolved feelings between them.” There was a twinkle in her eye that made them all groan before she turned to Maggie. “So tell us everything.”
“We would love to give you a blow by blow,” Flint said, taking his fiancée’s hand. “But we need to stop by the sheriff’s office and then the hospital.”
“How is Jenna?” Darby asked.
“That’s right—she’s your mother,” Lillie said, wide-eyed. “All these years you were told that your mother was dead?”
Maggie nodded. “It definitely came as a shock. She and Flint saved my life.”
“Jenna is in stable condition and expected to recover,” Flint interrupted. “Maggie will tell you all about it at some later date.” He shot his sister a warning look. “She’s been through a lot. Okay?”
“We’ll talk,” Maggie said, touching Lillie’s hand as Flint got her out of there.
“I’m sorry. My family...” He shrugged.
“They’re delightful,” Maggie said, making him laugh.
“Now, that is a word I have never heard used about the Cahills.”
“Watch it. I’m going to be a Cahill,” she joked.
He smiled over at her. “Yes, you are, just as soon as I can get you to the altar.” He squeezed her hand, worried about her. She was putting on a good act, but he could tell it would be a while before she got over the trauma of everything that had happened—maybe especially learning about her mother...and her father.
“I got a text from Mark at the office. He asked me to swing by,” Flint said as they drove away from the saloon. “Is that okay with you?”
“Sure,” Maggie said, looking out at the mountains. “I called the hospital this morning.” They’d stayed at her house, though neither had gotten much sleep. Flint said he thought his house might have too many bad memories. “Jenna hasn’t regained consciousness.”
* * *
VICKI TOOK HARP’S hand and raised it to her lips. His fingers felt warm but so lifeless. Sitting in the chair next to his bed, she fought tears as she kissed his palm and laid it back down on the white sheet.
The doctor said Harp could come out of the coma at any time. Or never. The thought scared her so badly. He had to be all right. She needed him more than ever.
She’d been so shocked when she’d gotten the call. Harp had been attacked on the street by an assailant? She worried about him being a deputy, but two nights ago he hadn’t been working.
“Why would someone do this to him?” she had demanded of the undersheriff.
“It appears he was mugged. His wallet was open on the ground and whatever money he’d had was gone. But he’d managed to hang on to your engagement ring.”
She’d listened to how Harp had had the ring clutched in his one good fist. Mark had speculated that it might be why it appeared he hadn’t fought back. Or maybe he didn’t get a chance.
“Either way, the mugger didn’t get your engagement ring,” Mark had said. “Clearly the ring meant something to him.”
That news had made her cry. If only she’d told Harp when she’d first lost the baby, but she’d been so afraid he would have walked out on her. Just as he’d walked out two nights ago.
But it appeared he’d been headed back toward the apartment, the undersheriff had said, when he’d been jumped. Harp had been coming back to her.
“You’re going to be all right,” she whispered as she smoothed the sheet. “You have to be because I need you. I love you, Harp. We can have another baby.” She began to cry. “Oh, Harp, all I ever wanted was to give you a family.”
* * *
MAGGIE SAID SHE would wait in the reception area while Flint visited with the undersheriff. “I’ll be fine.”
He studied her beautiful face. “Yes, you will.”
Down the hall, he stepped into Mark’s office. “Harp is in the hospital in a coma. They don’t know if he is going to make it,” the undersheriff said.
His first thought was another domestic dispute. “What happened?”
“Apparently, he’d walked uptown and someone jumped him. Beat him up bad with a tire iron. We weren’t able to get any prints off the weapon because of all the blood.”
Flint winced. “Someone he pissed off?”
“That would have been my first guess. But his wallet was empty of cash and on the ground next to him, and Harp had a diamond ring gripped in his hand when he was found.”
“A ring?”
“The engagement ring he had given to his girlfriend. Apparently she’d given it back.” Mark shrugged as if to say “who knows?”
“He was conscious when he was found?”
“He was, but lapsed into a coma before we could find out what happened. From his injuries, though, it appears he was hit from behind and didn’t even get a chance to put up a fight.”
Flint shook his head. “Has his girlfriend been notified?”
“I called her myself. She took it hard. I was worried, with the baby and all, but she told me that she’d lost the baby. She said they broke up before Harp left the house.”
“Think she had anything to do with his being attacked?”
“I don’t think so,” Mark said. “She’s been by his side at the hospital since I called her.”
Flint felt bad for her and Harp. “Might be hard to find his attacker given his past reputation around town.”
“I found the bar where he had a few beers,” Mark said. “The bartender remembers the ring and Harp’s sad-luck story. If he comes out of the coma, he might know who attacked him. If he doesn’t...” The undersheriff shook his head.
“I wanted to get rid of Harp enough times,” Flint admitted. “But not like this. I’ll stop in and see how he’s doing since Maggie and I are on our way to the hospital.”
“I’ve read your report on what happened,” Mark said. “Good work. It will be nice to have you back.”
* * *
MAGGIE WAS RELIEVED when they walked into the hospital and were told that Jenna had regained consciousness.
“Go see her,” Flint said. “I’ll check on Harp and catch up with you.”
As she entered the room, she stopped to study the woman lying in the hospital bed. Her mother. She still couldn’t believe it.
Maggie no longer saw the almost-invisible woman who used to come into her beauty shop. This Jenna was strong and courageous. It was as if she’d finally faced her demons and had now come into her own.
Jenna must have sensed her in the doorway because she turned from where she’d been looking out the window to smile at Maggie. She held out her hand to her and Maggie moved to the side of the bed.
“I’m so sorry,” Jenna said, squeezing her hand.
“All that matters is that you’re okay,” Maggie said, surprised to find herself close to tears.
“I should have told you years ago,” Jenna said. “My aunt thought she was doing what was best for you. She couldn’t bear to see you go into foster care, so she talked her friend into raising you with her financial help. She had to keep it from her sister, my mother.”
“My grandmother.”
Jenna looked full of regret. “None of this is your fault.”
“Or yours. Did they really believe I’d died?” Maggie had to ask.
“Apparently it was something they wanted to believe, but I think my mother knew the truth all along. Well, they know now. The scandal they thought they’d nipped in the bud will be in all the news.”
“Will they—”
“Contact you?” Jenna shook her head. “I’m afraid they wrote us both off years ago. But if you want to meet them—”
“No,” Maggie said. “I don’t need to.”
“Their loss.” Her mother smiled at her. “I am so proud of you. You have accomplished so much.”
“With your help. Flint told me all that you did for me.”
“It was mostly my aunt’s doing because I didn’t have any money.”
“But you talked her into it,” Maggie said.
“She was happy to help as much as she could. She loved you.”
Maggie smiled. “I loved her too. I’m sure she told you that I used to go down to her house all the time. She taught me to bake and sew...” Tears filled her eyes. “We used to fix each other’s hair. I guess it’s no wonder I felt closer to her than the woman who raised me.”
“We might have helped you, but you’re the one who turned your life around.”
“What will you do now?” Maggie had to ask. “Does your husband know?”
“No. It wouldn’t make any difference. I hurt him too badly. He could never forgive me and I don’t blame him. When I left him, I cut all ties. I thought it would be easier for him. I think all I did was hurt him worse.” She shook her head. “He’s a good man. He deserved better, but I was so afraid that Clark would kill him if I didn’t leave.”
“We don’t have to worry about Clark anymore.”
Jenna met her gaze. “He’s really dead?”
Maggie nodded.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through what you did because of me.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You were the real victim. But now you’re free. There is nothing holding you back with Clark gone.”
Jenna nodded, but there was a haunted look in her eyes. Maybe in time, she would forget what the man had done to her.
“You won’t leave Gilt Edge, will you?” Maggie hadn’t realized how much her answer mattered. She didn’t want to lose her mother again.
“No. I’m staying.” She squeezed Maggie’s hand again. “That is, if you want me to.”
“I do.” Maggie bent down to carefully hug her. “Mom.” The word sounded so strange on her lips since it was one she’d never used before.
Jenna held her tightly. “Then I’m not going anywhere.”
* * *
AFTER STOPPING IN to check on Harp, Flint went to find Maggie. Just as Mark had said, Harp’s girlfriend, Vicki, had been beside the man’s bed. She was such a tiny, frail woman and clearly so in love with Harp. He gave a silent prayer that Harp would recover. Maybe there would be a chance for the two of them.
His sister, Lillie, would have said he was becoming a romantic. Maybe he was. He found Maggie as she was leaving Jenna’s room.
“She’s conscious. I would imagine you’ll want to question her.”
“I’ll leave that to Mark, but I will go in and see her. Wait for me?”
As Flint tapped at Jenna’s hospital-room door, he realized Jenna was now his soon-to-be mother-in-law. He owed her his life and so much more. She’d given birth to Maggie. It didn’t matter under what circumstances, as far as he was concerned. He was just thankful to her. She’d saved his life and Maggie’s.
“Come in,” Jenna called, and he stepped inside.
Moving to her bed, he said, “Glad to see you’re better.”
“I’m sorry I put you all through that.”
“That was Clark Terwilliger’s doing, not yours. Jenna, you aren’t to blame for any of this. You were a child when this all began. I just appreciate what you did for Maggie. You saved both of our lives.”
“If you hadn’t shown up at that old roadhouse when you did...”
“You’re safe now. Maybe you can find some peace.”
She smiled, but he could see it was going to take time. “I was going to come see you after I got out of here. I did some things before I left town that I feel terrible about. I shoplifted makeup and stole other things. Maybe I wanted to get arrested and locked up. Anywhere that Clark couldn’t get to me.”
“You were in a bad place,” Flint said. “But don’t worry about any of that. Anvil returned the items you took and paid a fine.”
“He took the blame for me?” She sounded surprised, but then nodded as if she could see him doing such a thing.
“Have you talked to him?” Flint asked.
“No. I’m sure he doesn’t want to see me and I don’t blame him. I’ll get a job and pay him back the money I owe him.”
“I doubt he’ll take it.”
“Doesn’t matter. I have to try,” she said. “I suppose you know why I began writing to men in prison.”
“You were looking for help.”
She chuckled at that. “I thought it would take a hardened criminal to stop one. But I even failed at that. Kurt wasn’t...” She shook her head. “He was a nice guy who tried to help me but ultimately Clark would have killed him.”
“I think I’ve pieced things together with the help of two private investigators I hired to find you. But I have to know how Clark found you in Wyoming.”
Jenna nodded. “I called my friend Dana, Clark’s sister. I knew he was out of prison. Somehow he’d found out that I’d had his child. He was determined to find her. Dana told me that he’d called her and said that he’d found her. I didn’t believe it at first. But Clark wasn’t anything if not smart. Apparently he’d seen me coming out of the beauty shop the last time. He’d seen me crying in my car and knew it wasn’t over my latest haircut. Seeing Maggie and yet not being able to... It broke my heart. I think he took one look at Maggie and knew.”
“So you got his cell number from Dana and called him.”
“I told myself that I was the one he wanted and that he would leave Maggie alone. I had the money Kurt had set aside. I actually thought I could buy Clark off. Or at least make some kind of deal with him. The next thing I knew, Maggie and I were both prisoners in that old roadhouse.”
“Well, that’s all behind you now, and as far as the law is concerned, you have nothing to worry about. Will you stay in Gilt Edge?”
“Maggie wants me to.” He heard the pleasure in her voice.
“I’m glad. Once you’re better, there’s going to be a wedding.” As he left, he knew what he had to do.