Untamed (15 page)

“And how did he manage to build this place without anyone knowing? How did he get the materials here, or get it built? I mean it didn’t just appear so how did he manage to build a place that no one knew about and more important why would he do that? Why the pretense with that crappy house up front and all this here?

“Who
was
my father, Cam and why did he do these things?”

Cam reached out to take hold of her arms, just above the elbows. “I don’t know, Ellie, and if you don’t want to know, just walk away. But if there are answers in there, isn’t it better to know whatever the truth is rather than spend the rest of your life wondering?”

She looked up at him for a few moments then nodded. “Then open the door, honey. I’m right here with you.”

“Gonna protect me from the snakes?”

“Always.”

One part of Ellie knew it was foolish, that his words were not meant as a real promise or some commitment. He was just trying to comfort. But another part of her succumbed to romantic fantasies and dreams and felt a thrill unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

She told herself she was foolish. Cam Marsh was out of her league. Entirely. The idea that he’d want a future with her was crazy. He could have any woman he wanted. Still, she couldn’t obliterate that foolish romantic inside who wished it were possible.

“My hero,” she finally said and then inwardly grimaced. That had not come out in the teasing way she’d intended.

Cam opened his mouth, and then closed it. She felt his hands loosen on her for a split second and in the next moment, he pulled her to him and covered her lips with his.

And time stopped. The universe held its breath and all that existed was frozen in that moment. There was only the feel of his lips on hers, the way his hands tightened on her arms and the heat of his big body as he pressed closer.

As hard as she tried to fight it, she was lost to the power of his touch. Her hands worked up, as if of their own accord to press against the firm swell of his chest. She didn’t know how long it lasted, but when he pulled back, she felt a bit like a plant denied the warmth of the sun. The world was just a little colder.

“You ready honey?” he asked

She nodded and he released her. Hoping that what lay on the other side of the door would not bring pain into her world, she opened it.

“Oh, Cam.” She breathed as she walked in.

It smelled of cinnamon and sugar, of fresh baked cookies or cake, of Sunday morning latte in bed, of late night hot chocolate on a cold night. It smelled…magic.

“Damn, what is that?” He sniffed. “You’d think it would smell musty, being empty for this long.”

“It’s not even dusty.” She noticed as she wandered into the living area. “It looks like it was just cleaned. It’s… it’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it is.”

She moved through the room to the kitchen. “Cam, look!” She called after opening the door of the refrigerator.

He came into the room. “It’s stocked.”

Ellie opened the adjacent door to the freezer section. It was stocked as well. Cam turned and pointed. “Pantry.” He opened the door. Like the refrigerator, it was stocked as well.

“This is strange,” he said.

“Maybe he’d just been to the store before…”

“That was months ago, Ellie.”

“I know but… but let’s finish looking at the rest of the place.”

A short hallway led off the back of the kitchen. A door to the right led into a laundry room. A door on the left led to a storage area. At the end of the hall was a stairway.

They took the stairs and emerged on the second floor landing. Another staircase led down into the front room and there was one door that led to an enormous master suite with floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the lake. There was a large bathroom along the back wall, complete with a giant garden tub and large walk in tiled shower.

They took the front stairs back downstairs. Ellie walked to the window and looked out. “This is… it doesn’t seem real, you know.”

“I hear ya,” Cam agreed. “Hey, wonder where that door leads?”

She turned and looked in the direction he indicated. There was a door on the back wall. She went to it and turned the door handle. Nothing happened.

“Okay, another oddity.” She looked at him. “No lock and it doesn’t open.”

Cam tried it. The handle turned but the door would not open no matter how hard he tugged on it. “Nope, it’s not budging.”

“So how do we open it?”

“Aside from removing the hinges, I don’t know.”

“So let’s remove the hinges.”

“Probably gonna need a screwdriver or something to let the lock pin in the hinge pried up.”

“I have one at the other place. We could go get it.”

Just then, Cam’s phone chimed. “Sorry,” he said as he looked at it. “I need to take this.”

“Detective Marsh… Yeah, on my way.” He ended the call. “Sorry, I’m needed at the department. I don’t want you staying alone here though, so how about I take you over to the ranch?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I’ll be fine. And I still need to figure out a way to pack up all the paintings.”

“I’d feel better if you went to the ranch.”

“Okay, how about this? Call and make sure it’s okay with Clint and Lily. I’ll find some old blankets to put in the bed of my truck and I’ll load the paintings up and take them over there. It’ll only take a few minutes. They’re all right there in the front room.”

“And you’ll wait for me there?”

“Yes.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

“Okay.” Together they made the trek back to his truck. Cam stopped and turned to face her. “We’ll get to the bottom of all this Ellie.”

She nodded and smiled and he leaned down to give her a soft kiss. This time her arms snaked up around his neck and she was the one to initiate a deeper connection.

His toes damn near curled and for the length of the kiss all thoughts of getting to the department fled from his mind. His big head gave up control to his little head, making him want to scoop her up, take her inside and make love to her all day.

She pulled back and smiled up at him. “I’ll see you later, Detective Marsh.”

“Oh, you will, Miss Whitehorse. You definitely will.”

Her smile brightened a notch and she stepped back. “I’ll be waiting.”

Cam returned the smile and climbed in his truck. He watched her wave as he pulled off. That kiss was really something. He’d been attracted to her since the first time he laid eyes on her, and last night had ramped up the chemistry big time. Now he was having a hard time feeling comfortable in his pants.

Cam was definitely looking forward to getting back to her. A soon as he could.

Chapter Eight

Lily put the last of the paintings in the back of the truck and spread a sheet over them. She used some concrete blocks she’d found stacked at the rear of the house to secure the sheet. It should hold until she got to the Marsh Ranch.

She headed in for her keys and while inside decided she’d pack up her tablet. Since she was going to be stuck on the Marsh ranch until Cam returned, maybe she’d try her hand at drawing one of the horses.

That led to another idea and she ran to the bedroom to get her camera case from the closet. She threw clothes into her old suitcase along with her few toiletries.

She had the camera case strap hooked over one shoulder, the suitcase at her feet that she pushed along with her foot and was sliding her tablet into its case as she returned to the kitchen where she’d left her keys. She didn’t see the big figure of a man in her way until she was standing beside the kitchen table.

He stood in the doorway, a huge man in both height and girth, dressed in dark slacks, with a black hoodie and a ski mask.

That struck terror in her. She placed the tablet on the table to free her hands and started backing up. When she bumped into something, she squeaked and jumped. Hands wrapped around her upper arms and prevented her from moving.

Ellie screamed and the man at the kitchen door reached behind him. When his hand moved forward again, there was a gun in it. “Shut up.”

He walked over closer, keeping the gun leveled at her head. “Now listen very carefully. We don’t want to hurt you, but that’s entirely up to you.”

Using his free hand, he reached inside his hoodie and pulled out an envelope. She looked at it, up at him and then back at the envelope.

“Take it.”

With trembling hands, she took the envelope and opened it. Inside was another offer on the property. This time the price was six hundred and thirty thousand dollars. There was a space at the bottom of the page for her signature.

She looked up at the man with the gun. “I don’t want to sell.”

“Wrong answer. Want to try again?”

Ellie felt like she was going to throw up she was so scared. What should she do? Surely, he wouldn’t shoot her if she said no. Whoever wanted the land couldn’t get it if she died. According to her father’s will, if she died the land went either to her children if she had any or to a conservancy.

“No.” She said, trying to keep her voice from trembling as much as her body.

The man heaved a loud sigh. “Have it your way.”

And then his hand moved. Ellie’s eyes slammed closed. Oh god, he was going to shoot her.

The blow that hit the side of her head would have driven her to the floor had the man behind her not been holding her. She felt something warm run down her face, into her left eye.

The next blow was to her stomach. All the air went whooshing out of her lungs and her body doubled over. Gasping and retching, she struggled to stand upright. But the man holding her shoved her and she fell onto the floor. She started crawling toward the door, desperate to escape.

A kick from the man with the gun stopped her progress and had her curling into a fetal position, pain radiating throughout her body. Ellie had never been so scared. She was going to die. They were going to kill her.

A million things flashed through her mind. Things she wish she had done, things she wished she had not. Words she regretted speaking and words she longed to say. Most of all thoughts of Cam assailed her. She would never have a chance to discover if the attraction between them would turn into something more.

When the masked man knelt down beside her, she whimpered, expecting to feel the gun press against her. “Next time, it’s going to be much much worse, so I strongly advise that you sign. We’ll be back.”

With that, he stood, delivered one more vicious kick and the two of them left through the kitchen door, leaving it standing open. Ellie cried out as she tried to stand and when she failed, she crawled, slowly to the door.

She managed to push it closed and get herself into a seated position with her back to the door. She couldn’t see well out of her left eye and swiped at it. Her hand came away bloody.

Ellie tried to stand and failed. She sat there for a few minutes and tried again. This time she got to her feet. Using the countertop to support her, she made it to her phone.
Please be there, please be there.

Lily’s voice came on the line. “Hey, girl, what’s up?”

“I… I need help.”

Lily’s voice calling her name was the last thing she heard before everything went black.

* * * * *

Cam paced back and forth, five steps one way, five steps back, glancing toward the door of the emergency room every time he turned. They’d taken Ellie in an hour ago and so far no one had given an update on her condition.

“Cam, sit down,” Lily said and patted the seat beside her. “They’ll let us know as soon as they can.”

“What did she say again? Exactly.” He sat down beside her.

“She said, ‘I need help.’ I already told you fifty times. That’s all she said. I called 911 and gave them the address then ran to the barn, got Clint and we headed over. We got there just as they were loading her into the ambulance. She was unconscious. We followed the ambulance here and that’s all I know.”

“It’s been too long. We should have heard something. I’m going to get some answers.” Cam stood again. Just then, a man in blue scrubs exited the emergency room door. He consulted the clipboard in his hand. “Mrs. Marsh?”

“Right here.” Lily stood, as did Clint who took her hand.

The man walked over. “Dr. Padan,” he introduced himself with a British accent. “You are listed as the contact for Ms. Whitehorse.”

“Yes, she’s my neighbor and she called—“

“Detective Cam Marsh,” Cam interrupted. “What can you tell us about her condition?”

“She was quite lucky. She suffered blunt force trauma to the head that luckily did not result in a concussion. Along with that, she has a cracked rib and severe bruising to the abdomen.  Unfortunately one of the blows she sustained ruptured her spleen. She is in recovery now. All in all, she was lucky.”

“When can we see her?” Cam asked.

“She will not be available for questioning until after she leaves recovery and that may take some time.”

“I didn’t mean I wanted to question her in an official capacity,” Cam said. “We’re her friends— neighbors. She has no one else. No family. Someone she knows should be there when she wakes.”

The doctor looked from him to Lily and back to him. “I cannot allow all three of you in.”

“Cam should be the one.” Lily said. “He’s closer to her. And she feels safe with him.”

“Very well,” the doctor agreed. “If you’ll accompany me?”

Cam cut a look at Lily and Clint. “I’ll call.”

“Give her our love,” Lily said and hugged him.

“Will do.”

Cam followed the doctor who led him to the recovery room where Ellie was unconscious. Cam felt rage sing in his veins when he saw her in the bed. The left side of her face was black and blue, swollen and there was a large bandage just below the hairline on her forehead. Her arms were bare and he could see bruises along their length, particularly above the elbows.

He really wanted to slug someone. That kind of bruising came from being held in a brutal grip. God only knew what kind of bruises she had beneath the hospital gown. He pulled the lone chair in the space over beside her bed, sat down and gently took her hand.

“I’m here, Ellie. God honey, I’m sorry. I wasn’t there to protect you from the snakes. I should have been.”

The fear at hearing the news that she had been attacked, waiting for word on her condition and seeing her looking so small and so damaged lying in that bed got the best of him, and Cam did something he hadn’t done since his father died.

He cried.

* * * * *

Ellie heard her father’s voice. He was singing. Ellie didn’t understand the words, but she liked the sound of Papa’s voice. She sat on a threadbare blanket beneath the shelter of an old tree with her doll taking a nap beside her and her pad of paper and crayons on the blanket before her.

Today the yellow sun in her drawing had a big fluffy cloud covering its bottom half. The sun had a big smile and its eyes were pointed down, looking at the cloud. Beneath the cloud, a tree’s arms reached up into the blue sky.

Ellie smiled at the happy drawing. She liked being outside on her blanket. She could hear birds and the murmur of voices from people inside the house, and Papa’s singing.

Two big warm hands suddenly came from behind her and covered her eyes. She didn’t have to guess who it was. Papa’s hands almost smelled of the cigarettes he smoked and his hands were always warmer than anyone else’s were.

“Guess who?”

Ellie giggled and pulled at his hands, wrapping hers around the index finger of each of his. “Papa!”

“What you doing little one? Drawing Papa something pretty?”

“A happy day.” Ellie pointed to her drawing.

“A very happy day.” He agreed and kissed her on the top of her head. He then moved her doll aside, took a seat on the blanket and pulled Ellie onto his lap. “Listen to Papa, little one. Mama and Papa are going away for a short time.”

“No!” Ellie argued. “I go too.”

“No, this time Mama and Papa need to go alone. But you’ll be here with Grannie and you will have fun. We will be back very soon and I will bring you a surprise.”

“What? What?”

“If I tell you, it will not be a surprise. So, you be very good for Grannie. And when we get back we will all go find a fair and you can ride the horses on the carousel all day.”

“The white horse,” Ellie emphasized. “Always the white horse.”

He chuckled and hugged her. “Yes, little one. The white horse.”

“Because he is family.” She intoned words she’d had spoken to her. “White horse is family.”

“Yes. Never forget. Now, give Papa a hug.”

Ellie turned and stood to put her arms around his neck. He held her close for a long time. “I love you little one.”

“I love you, Papa.”

Ellie felt something tugging her from the dream. She didn’t want to leave it. Feeling Papa’s arms holding her made her safe. She wanted to stay there. But something pinched at her arm, something that tore her from her Papa’s arms. She tried to speak but couldn’t force words from her lips. And the pull of sleep reclaimed her, taking her back. Back to Grannie’s.

Grannie sat at the kitchen table, shelling beans. There was a big basket of beans on the floor at her feet and a large bowl in her lap. She’d reach into the basket and get a big handful of beans, put them on the table and then one by one split them open, pop the beans into the bowl and dump the empty shell in an old bucket that sat adjacent to the basket on the floor.

Ellie tried to mimic her movements and speed but Grannie shelled five beans for every one Ellie managed to finish. There had been silence in the kitchen for a long time. It was often that way with Grannie. She did not talk needlessly or to, as she said “hear the sound of her own voice.”

“Grannie, do you think Papa will ever come home?” Ellie asked.

Grannie paused, her hands went completely still, and looked across the table at Ellie. “What makes you ask this, Elana?”

Ellie shrugged. She was twelve, in middle school now and there was a dance coming up. A Father and Daughter dance. Her friends had talked about it all week. It made her feel alone. She had no father and that made her feel like an outcast.

“Why don’t we have any more family, Grannie? You said you had brothers and sisters. Where are they? They must have families. Don’t I have any cousins or aunts and uncles? And what about Papa’s family? Why don’t I know any of them?”

“So many questions, Elana. Why the sudden interest?”

Ellie sighed and told her about the dance. Grannie was quiet for a long time, so long that Ellie thought she was never going to comment and so she went back to shelling beans.

“Your Papa’s people are… displaced.”

“Displaced? What do you mean?”

“Just that they do not often settle down. They move from one place to another and so are difficult to keep track of.”

“And what about your family, Grannie?”

Grannie stood up suddenly, put her bowl on the table, and walked over to the old stove to pick up the teakettle and take it to the sink to run tap water into it. Ellie suddenly felt worried. Grannie fixed tea when she was upset. It calmed her, she said.

“Grannie, are you mad at me?”

“No, child.” Grannie put the kettle on the stove and turned on the burner but did not turn to face Ellie. “It is natural for you to be curious, just as it is natural for you to feel left out when your school has things like this Father and Daughter dance.”

“Maybe there’s someone in your family that could go with me?” Ellie asked with more than a little nervousness. As much as she hated to admit it, she didn’t want to be the outcast, to be the only of her class who couldn’t go because she had no father.