Behind the Mask (4 page)

“You must come again next month,” he said. “Every month. It’s the only thing keeping me alive, Abbi. I didn’t know it would turn out this way. I’m trapped in this predicament. There’s nothing else I can do. Promise me you’ll come.”

Abbi hesitated, remembering Papa’s advice. “I’ll come,” she promised, and the fear in her father’s eyes lessened slightly.

“I must go,” he said, glancing one direction then another. Abbi’s eyes followed his glance, and she realized they weren’t alone. Standing some distance away were two uniformed officers of the Guard. Their presence unnerved Abbi, but her father murmured his good-byes and left with them. Abbi’s ignorance left her frustrated, but she fought to push the episode out of her mind as she rode for home, knowing there was nothing more she could do.

Abbi’s monthly visits to the park quickly became a habit. Gerhard never stayed more than a few minutes, since his uniformed escorts were always eager to leave. During each visit, she exchanged small talk with her father and a kiss as they parted, but they never mentioned the documents or his circumstances.

Gradually Abbi’s concern over her father’s situation became lost in the trivialities of everyday life. With Papa’s instruction and Georg’s help, she carefully trained Blaze into his maturity, gaining a deeper bond with the animal than she’d ever felt with any other. As always, her life was monopolized by her passion for horses, and little existed beyond her secluded world.

Three winters passed while Abbi learned the story of Joseph from the Bible by heart, loving the way it validated the dreams she’d had. But as time passed and Blaze grew, Abbi ceased having dreams of any importance. In fact, the dream that had predicted Blaze’s birth was the last she’d had that was anything beyond nonsense. She began to doubt her
gift,
as Georg had called it, until a morning in late June when she dreamed that her grandfather had left her and she awoke to the news that he had passed away in the night.

Dealing with Papa’s death was by far the most difficult thing she’d ever faced. Even losing her mother hadn’t seemed this hard, perhaps because Abbi had been so young. She’d missed her mother, yes, but Papa had been there at the time to love her and take care of her, and she’d hardly understood death. But this, this was like tearing some tangible piece of her spirit away. In spite of his occasional gruffness and severely practical nature, Josef Albrecht had been a part of Abbi’s everyday existence for most of her life. He’d soothed her hurts and been her strength. He’d taught her to be steadfast and competent. And now he was gone.

Less than a month after Papa’s death, Abbi woke from a dream that left her bound to her sheets, staring into the darkness above her, cold with sweat, her heart pounding. Never had she dreamed anything so clearly. Never had she felt so completely consumed with an emotion too intense to describe. Never had anything been impressed upon her mind with such impact.

As daylight crept into the room, Abbi lay unmoving, attempting to understand the dream. She had seen a series of landmarks, as if she’d been given directions to lead her to some kind of dwelling in the forest. A lodge of sorts, made of logs. And when she arrived and knocked at the door, a man had answered. His hair was dark and his features vague, but the simple words he’d spoken to her were very clear.
Please don’t leave me. I need you
. Over and over, the memory of the dream raced through her mind. The vision she had seen was clear and undeniable, but the images paled in comparison to the way they made her feel. The more she thought about it, the more compelled she felt to follow this esoteric vision.

Skipping breakfast, Abbi dressed quickly and rushed out to the stable. Since Georg was busy elsewhere, she saddled Blaze herself and rode him at a full gallop toward the covered bridge. She often rode here and beyond, since it was the gateway to the foothills that she loved to roam on horseback, but now it took on a whole new meaning. The covered bridge had been the first landmark to appear in her dream. She crossed the bridge and rode beyond it onto the mountain’s bench, her heart racing as she came with little trouble to a clearing where a tree had fallen. She had known this would be here, even though she’d never come this way before.

Abbi guided Blaze over the dead trunk and through some thick foliage, where a trail appeared, just as she had expected. Her speed gained momentum in direct proportion to the pounding of her heart. She knew exactly where she was going, and she knew what she would find. But
why?

The trail was narrow, barely existing at all between closely rooted pines. But she pressed forward without hesitation. Never had her heart responded so zealously. Never had her spirit felt more alive. Never had she been so determined to overcome whatever obstacle might be put in her path. The trail seemed to go on forever. Then Abbi gasped as a huge, brilliant meadow opened up before her, entirely surrounded by thick pines, except for an ominous rock ridge that rose against the uphill side.
Just as she had seen it
. The rock wall rose steep and high, covered with thick foliage that ran into deep forest at both ends. Along the top of the ridge Abbi could see thick clusters of trees, oak and beech, where hundreds of crows lighted, cawing in chorus. Abbi knew there was a way to get to the top of the ridge, but after galloping the entire length several times, she began to question her dream. She could see no way up, and she couldn’t recall any specific memory to guide her.

Abbi finally returned home, disheartened and exhausted. She analyzed the dream over and over, wondering what she might have missed. She slept soundly that night and woke with no recollection of dreaming, but she went without breakfast again and headed up the mountain trail. This time Blaze went almost by his own will, as if he knew the way. When they arrived at the meadow, Abbi examined the rock wall closely. And while she had no recollection from her dream of finding a way through, she
knew
there was a way, and she was determined to discover it. With some time and persistence, a passageway covered by thick foliage finally appeared under her questing fingers. Abbi ignored the deep scratches on her hands as she fought to push the deep thicket aside, revealing an opening in the rock wall. It was barely wide enough for a horse to pass through and rose steeply on both sides, as if the rock had been split open by the finger of God.

“Oh, help,” Abbi muttered, unsettled and uncertain. She took a deep, sustaining breath and began climbing on foot through the narrow opening, certain Blaze would hover close until she returned. The climb was mildly difficult, but it only took a few minutes before she emerged onto a plateau in a thick patch of aspen trees. She was still standing there attempting to gather her thoughts when Blaze emerged from the ridge, snorting at her as if to say that she had a lot of nerve in thinking he would stay behind. Abbi mounted the eager stallion and galloped higher up the mountain a short distance, weaving in and out of trees. She was surprised at how quickly she came to a clearing where a mountain lodge appeared. For a long moment she just stared at it, stunned by how accurately she had seen it in her sleep. She scanned the area, finding no sign of life beyond a wisp of smoke coming from the chimney and an immaculate little vegetable garden near the small stable.

Abbi dismounted and left Blaze’s reins hanging freely, compelled by a force she didn’t understand and couldn’t ignore. She went to the door of the lodge, pausing to look around her. Taking a deep breath, she knocked as loudly as she could manage on the heavy door. Heart pounding, she waited for this faceless man she had seen in her dream to answer. And then what? The possibilities terrified her. When there was no answer, she knocked again. And again.

Glancing around, Abbi wondered what to do. The feelings that had brought her this far would not allow her to turn around and go home now. Attempting to follow her instincts, she drew all her courage and tried the door handle. It opened so easily that she gasped. Holding her breath, she peered inside, calling in a shaky voice, “Is anybody home?”

When no answer came she stepped tentatively inside, wondering who lived here—and why. She had barely taken in the common room in which she stood when the door slammed behind her. She turned and jumped, letting out a throaty scream. She found herself looking into the faces of two very large dogs, one yellow, one black. They growled and she froze until a sharp command broke the air. “Back!”

The dogs retreated hesitantly, and Abbi’s eyes were drawn to a man leaning against the door who was anything but what she’d expected. His bearded face and long, dark hair gave him the appearance of some kind of primeval hermit, but they did nothing to hide the blatant anger in his eyes. His voice was gruff as he asked, “Didn’t your mother ever tell you about Goldilocks?”

Abbi was so taken aback by the question that it took her a moment to come up with a suitable answer. “My mother died when I was very young. I barely remember her.”

“Oh, that explains it.” His flippant manner contradicted the hovering anger in his eyes.

“Explains what?” she squeaked, wondering what she had gotten herself into. Perhaps her dream had come from some horrible, evil source that would lead her to downfall and destruction.

“Growing up without a mother would perhaps explain your being so ignorant and foolish. When Goldilocks went uninvited into a strange house in the woods, she got herself into a great deal of trouble.”

He walked toward her and she backed away, step for step, attempting to keep up the conversation as she did. “What happened?”

“It depends on which version you’ve heard. When my mother told it, Goldilocks ran away and never came back. My father said the bears ate her for breakfast, since she’d eaten their porridge.”

Abbi gasped again as she backed into a wall and found no retreat. He took another step toward her, and she pressed herself as tightly against the wall as she could.

“What are you doing here?” he growled in a voice so angry that Abbi felt certain she would never get out of here alive. For long, grueling moments she attempted to come up with an answer that would make sense. “I asked you a question!” he snapped.

She winced. “Perhaps I should just follow Goldilocks’ example and leave before . . .” She attempted to worm past him, but he grabbed her arm and pressed her back against the wall. He took a step closer to prevent her from moving. She became fully aware of how tall he was when she found herself facing the well-worn shirt that covered his chest.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he snarled. She could feel his hot breath against her face.

Abbi drew courage enough to look up into his eyes, and for a moment she became lost in their blue chasm, as if she might have found something deeper and more sensitive than the man she saw before her. The sharpness of her breathing intensified as a clear memory of her dream catapulted into her mind.
Please don’t leave me. I need you
. The faceless man in her dream had said it with conviction. Abbi’s heart softened, wondering what kind of hurt might be hiding within this wretched man who was trying to frighten her. The compelling quality of her dream came back to her, and she knew with all her soul that she was supposed to be here, that he
did
need her. She was attempting to come up with a way to tell him what she was feeling when the fury in his eyes deepened so hard and fast that she sucked in her breath.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he repeated, “until you tell me how you got here.”

“On a horse,” she said.

He sighed with disgust. “I know that,” he growled. “This horse of yours is outside flirting with my mares. I want to know what you’re doing here, and how you found me.”

“I . . . I . . . just . . .” She scrambled for words to explain, certain that he’d never believe the truth.

“Just what?” he demanded.

“I just . . . happened upon it, and—”

“That’s a lie! This place is far too well hidden to
happen
upon it. Did somebody tell you how to get here? Who was it?” He gave her a moment to answer but she didn’t. Then he shouted, “Tell me, girl! How did you find me?”

“If I told the truth you’d never believe me!” she shouted back.

“What makes you think so?”

“Because it’s so ridiculous I have trouble believing it myself. I don’t know what I’m doing here! I’d rather be home eating breakfast, if you must know.”

He took a step back, as if her honesty and willingness to talk made him relax a little. “Tell me the truth,” he demanded. “All of it!”

“Fine!” She imitated his curt tone. Realizing her knees were weak, she asked, “May I sit down?”

He motioned toward one of two chairs at the sides of a little table and she eagerly took one. Looking up at him towering above her, she wished that he’d sit down as well, but it became evident he wasn’t going to.

While she tried to gather words to begin, he barked impatiently, “The truth! Now!”

Abbi cleared her throat. It sounded ridiculously loud. “Well, you see,” she began with trepidation, “I had a dream, and . . .” His eyes widened dubiously and she felt certain that continuing would be pointless. But she’d already jumped into this; she had to keep swimming. “It’s not the first time I’ve dreamed things before they happened, but . . . well, I had a dream about my mother’s death before she died—and the same with my grandfather, too. And there have been a few other odd things that haven’t meant much one way or the other. I have a friend who says it’s a gift. I don’t know about that, but . . . well—”

“Get on with it!” he growled.

“I had a dream that showed me how to get here!” she shouted, certain he was going to either laugh or hit her. Or both. Silence prevailed long enough for Abbi to gain the courage to look up at him. His expression was inscrutable. Again she heard echoes from her dream.
Please don’t leave me. I need you.

Cameron sat down across from this fiery-haired girl and attempted to take in what she’d said. She looked barely old enough to be called a woman; her calico dress and unruly hair reminded him more of a defiant schoolgirl. Her slight frame and small stature enhanced the childlike look of her, while her eyes revealed something wise beyond her age. She was the first human being he’d laid eyes on in nearly three years. But that wasn’t nearly so unnerving as the reality that he had been found in a place where he’d always felt certain he could
never
be found. A part of him wanted to keep her here. He wanted to talk to her, laugh with her, if only to feel like a part of the human race again. But something bigger and deeper screamed danger—for her as well as for himself. Clearly, she had to leave; there was no question about that. But not until he knew exactly where he stood.