Four Weeks (19 page)

He should be satisfied. He'd gotten his answers. He knew why his father had bought the stable. To keep Pete quiet. Of course Pete didn't really have anything to tell, but Trent knew his father was desperate to silence his demons and his brother-in-law was only too happy to take advantage of another man's pain.

Trent started pulling things off the dresser and from the drawers. He shoved his clothes into the suitcases he'd brought with him. That first day seemed so long ago.

He'd pay his bill and be out within the hour. He'd leave the island and all its horrible truths behind. He'd leave Louise behind as well. His gut twisted and he fought against the tightness there.

In time, he'd forget about her. He grabbed the small travel clock on his bedside table and brushed against the papers lying there. They scattered to the floor. When he bent down to pick them up he resisted wadding them up in his fists. If only he could go back to that first day on the island.

He should've sold Hawk's and left that night. Trent threw the papers into his briefcase. They represented the wasted lives of everyone listed on them.

Pete's life wasted on hate and the desire for revenge.

His father's wasted life. Trent understood now that his father had loved his mother, but after she died, he'd pushed everyone away, including his own son. The man wasted his life hiding from emotions because he was afraid of pain.

Trent's life had been wasted hoping his father would love him. But not anymore. Soon he'd cut the last tie.

He didn't want to go back to the stable, but he had to. He had to be sure there were no loose ends there so when he sold the place, he'd know that it would be out of his life forever.

AS HE HEADED toward Hawk's, Trent barely noticed the locals dressed for work or the early morning sightseers toting cameras and maps.

Soon he stood under the familiar squeaking sign. The barn door was shut tight. The closed sign wasn't a surprise.

Louise had mentioned in her letter that she'd be taking the day off to go to the mainland. Considering everything Pete and Gail dished out she probably needed some time to herself. Away from him.

Even though he'd expected to find the place deserted, the sight depressed him. A single horse poked his head out to watch him walk past. Trent called to the big animal and its ear pricked up. Its huge brown eyes asked
where're you going?

After standing outside for a few minutes, Trent set off for the barn. He slipped inside and paused to listen. In his mind he could hear the light echo of Louise's laughter. He strained to hear the imaginary sound, but it faded.

He went down the aisle toward the office. He stopped at the threshold and remembered Louise staring at him that first day. Instant chemistry. And they both knew it, even then..

He smiled. She'd been attracted to him, too.

Familiar warmth crept over him. If only she weren't so much like his father. If only she didn't always put her goals first. Things could've been different.

Trent crossed the dirt floor and stopped by the window. It seemed like he'd known Louise a lot longer than four weeks. Would he be able to stop thinking about her in a month? He doubted it.

There was no getting around it. It was going to take him a long time to get over her.

Trent jerked away from the window and shoved his hands in his pockets. Somehow she'd figured out what he'd been looking for. His fingers curled around the note she'd sent with the papers. She'd never given up on helping him. Even when he pushed her away, she still reached out, gently encouraging him to open up and trust.

Trent turned when he heard footsteps coming toward him.

"I thought I'd find you here.” The police chief slipped off his hat and glanced around. “Mind if I take a closer look?"

Trent shook his head. “Go ahead. I don't know that it'll help."

The other man moved off, but spoke over his shoulder. “Sounds like your girlfriend got quite a scare."

Girlfriend? Trent didn't bother correcting him.

The policeman glanced back and smiled. “She must care about you a lot to risk talking with that workman after what he tried to do here. Most women I know would have run off the first chance they got."

"She's a stubborn one, that's for sure."

The older man chuckled. “I'm surprised she isn't here opening up."

Trent spun on his heels and took in everything around him. The rental forms sat on the counter and waited for customers. Some of the horses had their heads out as if they were expecting someone to take them out for the day. Everything was too quiet.

The silence was broken by the tiny mew of that irritating kitten. The trouble-making fur ball scampered down the aisle and reminded Trent of how he'd felt each time he thought of Louise getting hurt. Each time he'd touched her, his body had insisted they belonged together.

The kitten raced past him and then turned back. It turned its golden gaze to him and rubbed against his leg. He surprised himself by not shoving it away.

Trent's reality shifted and he realized it was all wrong. Completely wrong. But he could make it right. It wasn't too late. His gaze darted around the barn then to the policeman. “Do you know what time the first ferry leaves?"

The chief glanced up from the papers he was reading to check his watch. “Let's see. It's Monday. So, ‘bout five minutes I think."

"I've got to go,” Trent shouted as he took off.

TRENT RACED THROUGH the yard and around the curve to Huron Street. As his feet pounded across the pavement he kept thinking about Louise and what she'd done for him.

The way she kept reaching out to him but he'd been too stupid to notice. Like a fool, he'd reacted like his father and hid from his emotions. Even though she'd showed him how much she cared, he'd still refused to take the risk that he might get hurt. Even after her sacrifice he'd been selfish and thoughtless.

He wouldn't waste the rest of his life. He'd take a risk. The most exciting risk of his entire life.

Trent jerked to a stop when he reached the dock. His breath came quickly, causing a few people to turn a speculative stare at him, but he searched past them for the woman he loved.

He tensed when he saw the first crowd of the day loading the ferry. Maybe she'd already gotten on. He pushed through the people as he looked for her. Just as he neared the edge of the pier, he spotted her golden hair. She stood behind a cluster of kids and in front of a sleepy college student. He reached her in five long strides.

He took her arm and pulled her away from the plank. When their gazes connected, he saw the pain in her eyes and hated himself for causing it.

The right words didn't come, so he did the only thing that made sense. He grabbed her and pressed his mouth to hers.

Louise returned Trent's kiss. It was only after he pulled away that she realized what she'd done. She searched his eyes for some explanation.

After he struggled to catch his breath, he said, “I want to stay, Louise."

She wanted to ask him why, but she couldn't get the words out. Had he changed his mind about selling and he wanted to keep Hawk's for himself? Did he want her to be his summer girlfriend? She wanted one thing from him. Forever. Anything else would never be enough.

"What you did for me ... I realize what a jerk I've been. I'm sorry for pushing you away. I was afraid."

Because she'd come to know and understand Trent and because she'd been thinking about what his father had done, she knew the answer, but she wanted to hear him say it. She had to know if he had finally faced up to his past. “Afraid of what?"

"Getting hurt."

Louise looked deep into his eyes. “Everyone is afraid of that, Trent. But you have to take a chance."

"I know, it's just that after my father—"

She cut him off with a shake of her head. “I'm not your father, Trent. I won't push you away."

"I know.” He smiled. “I'm not my father, either. I won't make the same mistake he did."

"I'm glad.” Hope blossomed in her heart, but she held back until he said the words that took her breath away and gave life to a new dream.

"Marry me, Louise.” She pressed her lips together and pretended to consider his wonderful offer. “There is one condition."

"Anything."

"No trial period."

He grinned. “This isn't for four weeks, my love. This is forever."

Melissa Ford lives in rural Michigan with her husband, two sons, and three goats. During the day she assists students with their academic writing at the local community college; her evenings are spent driving her kids around, avoiding housework by playing Scrabble, and of course, working on her next book. Author of both adult and young adult fiction, she enjoys all kinds of stories—as long as they have a happy ending.