Behind the Mask (51 page)

“It’s cooler here than in the valley,” she said. “The breeze feels good.”

“Yes, summer is nice here now that you’re with me.”

Abbi began picking the flowers around her, giggling as she put them one by one into Cameron’s hair. When he realized what she was doing, he sat up and shook his head, sending them flying. He brushed his hands through his hair, then reached for her, but she jumped to her feet and backed away.

“Wretched woman,” he growled with a laugh.

Nothing was said between them as Abbi wandered aimlessly through the meadow, taking in her surroundings as if she were in some great museum. Cameron sat where he was, watching her with the same kind of awe. He picked several flowers with long stems and idly wove them together, while she picked some of every color and put them into a bouquet, occasionally lifting it to her face to inhale the unique fragrance. Slowly, she ambled back to stand above him.

“What have you got there?” she asked, kneeling before him. Cameron knelt to face her and put the crown of woven flowers over her head.

“There now,” he said, clearly pleased with himself. “Those flowers have never looked prettier.”

Abbi looked up into his eyes. “I love you, Cameron.”

Cameron pulled her into his arms, holding her as close as humanly possible, praying with all his heart and soul that he might soon be free.

They walked back to the lodge hand in hand, and Abbi wore her crown of flowers until long after they had eaten dinner.

“I can’t believe you’re really here,” Cameron said as he sat on the edge of the bed to pull off his boots.

Abbi noticed her book of sketches on the bedside table and knew she’d put it away before leaving. She felt touched by the evidence that he’d searched it out and kept it close. She removed the crown from her head and laid it reverently on the little desk in the bedroom. Then she turned and lifted her bag onto the trunk at the foot of the bed to unpack it.

“What is this?” he asked in mock astonishment.

“No need for Gwendolyn’s things,” she said. “I’ve come prepared this time.”

“So you have,” he said just as she pulled out a bottle of wine that had been carefully wrapped in her nightgown.

His eyes widened as she handed it to him. “Georg sent this. He told me to have you read the card.”

Cameron set the bottle aside and removed the little card that had been tied to it. His vision blurred before he could finish, then he squeezed his eyes shut in silent prayer.

“What does it say?” Abbi asked and he held it out to her, grateful that she read it aloud. He needed to hear it again. “ ‘Here’s to freedom, my friend. Before summer’s end, it will be yours, I swear it.’ ”

Sharing Cameron’s emotion, Abbi sat on the bed beside him, where they held each other and cried. “I pray to God he’s right, Abbi. Or I shall lose my mind.”

“Everything will be all right,” she whispered, lying back on the bed with him. “In my heart, I know everything will be all right.” Cameron held her tighter, wondering how he had ever survived without her.

Abbi found the following day to be absolute bliss as they worked together to do the minimal chores, just as they had done for so long. She loved being outdoors with him, enjoying the warm weather. Together they pulled weeds and watered the garden he had planted, and they took fresh vegetables into the house to eat. In the evening they celebrated their reunion with a fine meal by candlelight, and by sharing the wine Georg had sent. After Cameron poured it out into two goblets, Abbi lifted hers toward him, saying firmly, “To freedom.”

“To freedom,” Cameron repeated with a conviction that was stirring.

Their days together were filled with laughter and passion as they picnicked in the meadow, rode together, and shared long talks by the fire while summer breezes filled the lodge. Abbi couldn’t help but feel disheartened when the message came from Georg that she needed to return and he would be meeting her at midday in the meadow below the ridge. But she reminded herself to appreciate this time she had been able to share with Cameron, and to keep a bright outlook for the future. While a part of her longed to tell Cameron of her secret, knowing he would find a great deal of joy, she felt peace over waiting until they were reunited again. She wondered if he might notice the changes in her body, however slight they were at this point. But his only comment had been, “I daresay you’ve filled out some, Abbi girl. They must feed you better than I did.”

Cameron struggled not to think too much about letting Abbi go, instead concentrating on the perspective their time together had given him. While he deeply dreaded being separated from her again, he felt rejuvenated and replenished, giving him a brighter hope of getting through the remaining weeks of summer.

At midday he helped Abbi down through the ridge, trying to think only of being one step closer to putting all of this behind them. They’d only been in the meadow a minute when Georg emerged from the forest. He stopped when he saw them, and for a long moment the two men stared at each other. The distance was too far for Cameron to make out Georg’s features, but he could feel the kinship they’d always shared. A part of him wanted to get closer, to shake his hand, to feel his brotherly embrace. But for now, the anticipation of sharing such a moment in another place was sweeter. Enjoying Georg’s friendship again was something he’d come to equate with his own freedom from this place.

Cameron turned to Abbi, knowing there was no time for delay. The likelihood of his being seen here was incredibly remote, but Georg would not tolerate risks to any degree.

“There’s nothing I can say except that I love you, Abbi.”

“And I love you,” she said.

They held each other tightly, and he kissed her as if he might never have the chance again. Pulling back reluctantly, he helped her mount Blaze and watched her gallop away. When she reached Georg’s side, she turned back and touched her lips and waved. Cameron returned the gesture. Then Georg held a fist in the air as a gesture of triumph, and Cameron returned that as well. He stood there for several minutes after they had disappeared into the forest before slowly making his way back into his isolated world.

“I’ve decided to take up painting,” Abbi announced at the dinner table. She’d come up with the idea that morning when her reflection in the mirror revealed an unmistakable bulge that had appeared almost overnight in the week since she’d left Cameron. To begin painting seemed a perfect idea. It was something she’d considered on occasion as an avenue to go a step further with her interest in drawing, and now seemed a good time. Not only would it give her something with which to occupy her time, but it provided a wonderful excuse to wear smocks over her dresses. Many of her clothes were high-waisted and full enough to conceal her swelling figure, but there were some that would never hide the truth. Wearing smocks would bring less attention than a change of wardrobe.

“That sounds very clever, my dear.” Ramona seemed pleased. “Very clever.”

“Is this a new interest?” Salina added.

“I’ve done some drawing in the past,” Abbi stated, “but I’ve had an urge to take my creativity a step further.”

“I think it’s admirable,” Lance said. “I wish you well.”

“Thank you, Lance.” Abbi gave him a genuine smile.

“How does one go about getting started in such a thing?” Salina asked.

“I suppose I’ll start tomorrow by getting some of the necessary equipment. Amazingly enough, I saw some oils and brushes for sale the last time I went into town, as well as a book of instruction. I hope someone hasn’t snatched them up.”

“You’re going into town tomorrow, then?” Lance asked.

“Yes, it’s the seventeenth. I need to see my father. I went last month but they told me he was ill, so I’ve not seen him since I returned.” Abbi knew that everyone was well aware of the situation with her visits to her father, and the unusual circumstances seemed to be taken for granted.

“That will be nice for you then,” Ramona said. “Yes, it will be nice.”

“Would you like me to accompany you?” Lance asked, staring intently at her over the table.

“No, thank you,” she replied. “He’s requested that I always come alone.”

“Very well,” Lance said. “You will be careful?”

“Of course,” she added and excused herself to go to bed.

The following morning, Abbi felt anxious to get on her way and ate breakfast quickly. She’d looked forward to seeing her father again ever since Cameron had told her they’d worked together. Of course, she couldn’t tell her father about that. But she longed to see him nevertheless.

“So,” Georg said as he saddled Blaze, “today is the seventeenth.”

“Yes, it is.”

“It’s been a long time since you’ve seen your father. Do you think he’ll be there?”

“I hope so,” Abbi said as she mounted.

“So do I,” Georg said severely. “So do I,” he repeated to himself as he watched her leave.

Abbi rode Blaze slowly toward the park in the center of town, wondering as Georg had if he would even be there. She had not seen him for nine months—a reality that left her unnerved under the circumstances. She was glad to remember that she wasn’t the only person aware of her father’s circumstances. Sitting on the usual bench, she waited nervously until she saw her father approaching with his relentless armed guards not far behind.

“Father,” she stood and called to him. He nearly ran when he saw her. As he hugged her tightly, Abbi believed this was the most enthusiasm she’d seen in him since before her mother had been killed. Perhaps he had missed her.

“Abbi my dear, it’s so good to see you alive and well. I was told that you’d disappeared and I had feared the worst. But you appear to be fine.”

“I’m doing well,” she insisted. “And you?”

Gerhard glanced discreetly toward the guards, who stood just out of hearing range. “As well as could be expected.”

They sat together on the bench and he asked her some questions about her winter away, which she answered cryptically.

“I must confess that I’ve missed you dreadfully, Abbi.”

“I’ve missed you too,” she replied, longing to tell him all of her secrets. How would he react to knowing that she had secretly married the man he had once tried to coerce into marrying her? She wanted to tell him he was going to be a grandfather. But she simply asked, “And so, how have you been all these months?”

“Nothing new,” he stated with his usual tone that indicated he’d rather not discuss his life. “I should be going,” he said as he took her hands into his. He glanced down and Abbi’s heart quickened before she fully absorbed the shock in his expression.

“Where did you get this?” he demanded brusquely, pulling her wrist close to his face to examine the bracelet.

Abbi was so caught off guard that she couldn’t find her voice. Her father looked into her eyes with an intensity that was frightening. “Don’t lie to me, daughter. Tell me where you got it!”

“I, uh . . . the man who took care of me this winter. He gave it to me.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know his name. I told you that.”

Gerhard looked searchingly into her eyes for a long moment, then he tugged at the bracelet, taking it from her wrist. Abbi was upset but too stunned to say so. The bracelet had been on her arm since Cameron had put it there when they’d been married. Her father looked inside the bracelet, squinting to read an inscription that Abbi hadn’t even realized was there. Then he looked away from her, emotion straining his voice as he spoke more to himself. “Could it be possible?”

Turning to look at her again, he asked imperatively, “Abbi, this man, did he know who you are—that you’re my daughter?”

“Yes,” she said, praying in her heart that this would not bring some harm to Cameron.

“Did he know that you would see me when you returned?”

“Yes,” she said again. Then her father looked heavenward and laughed.

The guards approached to indicate their visit was over. Gerhard put the bracelet into Abbi’s hand, kissing her brow as he stood. “I love you, Princess,” he said. “You are a walking miracle.” He turned and left with his escorts.

Abbi willed her shock to subside, but in its place a sick knot gathered in her throat. What if her father was one of those working against Cameron? Had she disclosed something that would put him in peril? She wondered if her father’s circumstances had any connection to Cameron’s. The thought was too incredible to comprehend. But then, she’d learned long ago to respect coincidences. The inscription her father had read inside the bracelet would probably give her a clue, but she hesitated to look at it, not certain she wanted to know. Cameron had said this bracelet was a family heirloom. Perhaps the inscription might indicate something of his true identity. Carefully Abbi looked inside at the tiny lettering, hoping to discover something about the man whose child she carried. What she read left her totally surprised.
To LeeAnna, my forever love, Gerhard
.

It
was
a family heirloom! But it was from Abbi’s family, not Cameron’s. Abbi felt more puzzled than ever as she slipped her mother’s bracelet back over her wrist, wondering why Cameron would have had it in his possession.