STORM ON THE HORIZON

by Kathi Macias

Chapter 1

There it was again—that feeling that someone was watching her every move, dogging her every step. For months now it had plagued her, intensifying with each passing day. And yet there was nothing—nothing at all to explain her growing paranoia. Nothing that she could call by name, anyway. Only a vague, creeping sense of foreboding, hovering just overhead.

Kate shivered in spite of the hot, dry wind that blew through the small town of Cedar City, Utah, tossing her short blond curls as she walked out of the bank where she worked and turned toward her lawyer’s office five blocks away. Kate didn’t mind the summer heat that had simmered over southwestern Utah for the last few weeks. What she hated were the long, cold, confining winters when the snow lay white and glistening over the entire town. Everything was frozen during the winter, and cold weather depressed her, reminding her of all she had lost.

Hurrying down the street, she almost stumbled as she remembered the day eighteen months earlier when she had stood, tearless, in the bleak, gray cemetery, clutching her young son’s hand and watching the leafless trees stretching their bare branches beseechingly toward the heavens as her father’s coffin was lowered into the cold, hard ground. She had vowed then to let no one—except the vulnerable, confused little boy at her side—get close to her again. There was just no more pain that she could bear.

Now it was Friday, and she’d taken off work early so she could keep her afternoon appointment with Lyle Montgomery, the lawyer who was handling Richard Waters’ estate. Thank goodness it was almost over. If only she could take more pleasure in knowing that the money would now be hers and that her life was about to change drastically. Of course, that wasn’t the only reason she wanted this estate settlement behind her, for once it was, she would no longer have to endure these horribly uncomfortable visits with Lyle and his green-eyed secretary.

She stopped to wait for a light, resisting the temptation to look back over her shoulder as, once again, she felt the cold breath of the nameless, faceless entity that stalked her. Shaking her head as if to rid herself of her fear, she stepped down off the curb. Moving quickly toward Lyle’s office only half a block away now, she scolded herself for letting her imagination run away with her again.

You’re being ridiculous, Kate Ames. What in the world makes you think someone would be following you? Have you ever seen anyone? Heard anything? Of course not. You’re just letting everything get to you. For heaven’s sake, you’re twenty-seven years old. It’s time to grow up and stop being afraid of your own shadow. After all, if you haven’t learned to take care of yourself by now, you never will. You’re all you’ve got—besides Jason, of course—so you’d better start trusting yourself a little more. Besides, it’s a beautiful afternoon, and tomorrow you and Jason are leaving for the lake. A few days alone with your son, away from all the hassle and tension, and you’ll be as good as new.

She smiled as she thought of her son, six years old now and just finished with first grade. It didn’t seem possible. He was growing up so fast—too fast! She sighed. If only he’d had a chance to know his father. Jason didn’t remember Tony Ames, but he certainly remembered his grandfather. And he grieved for him. Kate knew how often her dark-haired, round-eyed, sensitive young son had gone into his grandfather’s den to sit in Richard Waters’ chair and cry. Jason didn’t understand about heart attacks or death. Does anyone? she wondered. All her son knew was that his grandfather was gone.

Kate and Jason had moved back into Richard’s home when Tony died, and it was the only home Jason remembered. He had been happy there, and Kate was glad of that. She was also glad that Jason’s trips to the den had become less frequent, that his sunny smile lit up his face more often these days. Every time Kate looked into her son’s dark, innocent eyes, she saw Tony—and held on to Jason even tighter.

She let herself into Lyle’s office, dreading the cool reception she knew she would receive from Sharon Williams, Lyle’s secretary. Against her better judgment, Kate had gone to dinner with Lyle a couple of times, but that was months ago. Though the handsome attorney continued to pursue her, she now rebuffed his every advance and regretted having dated him at all. Though she couldn’t deny Lyle’s good looks or his invaluable assistance to her since her father’s death, she wasn’t in the least attracted to or interested in him, and she saw no reason to think that would change in the future. Apparently Lyle’s secretary didn’t share that certainty, and her own obvious attraction to her boss brought out the jealousy and envy in her and directed it straight at Kate.

As soon as Sharon looked up, her neck stiffened. She nodded politely. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Ames.”

“Hello, Sharon,” Kate said. “I believe Lyle—Mr. Montgomery—is expecting me.”

“I’m sure he is.” Sharon stood and looked Kate up and down, her top lip almost curled into a sneer. “I’ll tell him you’re here.”

Kate wondered why Sharon hadn’t just buzzed Lyle on the intercom rather than getting up and going to his office. She decided it was because Sharon enjoyed reminding Kate of their physical differences. Sharon, tall and regal with golden red hair that cascaded, rich and full, down her shoulders and back, made Kate painfully aware of her own small stature. At 5-feet 2-inches tall and 105 pounds, she felt like a child around Sharon. Self-conscious, she patted her short blonde, wind-blown curls into place as best she could.

“Kathryn!” Lyle exclaimed, coming out of his office right behind Sharon. Ignoring his stunningly beautiful secretary, he moved past her toward Kate, his arms outstretched. Grasping her hands firmly in his own, he smiled down at her. “It’s so good to see you again.”

Kate forced herself to return his smile, though she quickly withdrew her hands, even as she caught her breath at the sight of the man who so reminded her of her beloved Tony. But beyond Lyle’s dark, almost enchanting good looks, Kate saw no similarities between the two men. Tony had been so gentle and loving and attentive, and though Lyle tried to come across that way, it never seemed natural to her. And besides, why would such a handsome, successful, professional man as Lyle Montgomery be interested in someone like her? It made no sense to Kate, and she had no intention of pursuing the question.

Putting an arm gently behind Kate’s back, Lyle steered her toward his office, right past the icy glare of Sharon’s hard, green eyes. Kate, reluctantly allowing him to guide her along, didn’t think Lyle had even noticed Sharon—but Kate certainly had.

Behind his closed door, Lyle paused and looked down at Kate. “How are you, Kathryn?” he asked, his voice soft but husky. Lyle was the only one who had ever called her Kathryn. He said he thought the name had an elegant ring to it. Kate told him she had never thought of herself as elegant, but Lyle had assured her she was wrong. The way he was looking at her now, she almost believed him—but not quite. Like everything else Lyle said to her, it somehow seemed disingenuous.

Suddenly Kate realized she hadn’t yet spoken to Lyle. “I’m fine,” she said, trying to sound surer of herself than she felt. Why was it that every time she was around Lyle Montgomery she felt the need to run as far and as fast as she could? He had never been anything but kind and helpful to her, and he had never done or said anything to make her so wary or suspicious. Maybe it was just his unwanted attentions that made her so uncomfortable. Was it simply because he reminded her so much of Tony, and yet was so unlike him? She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I’m just fine,” she repeated.

Neither of them spoke for a moment. Then Lyle cleared his throat. “Well, I’m sure you know why I asked you to come by today,” he said, then grinned. “But I hope you also know I have an ulterior motive.”

Kate felt herself flush, an embarrassing habit she believed reinforced her little-girl image, and one she especially hated when she was with Lyle, as she was sure it only encouraged him to think that deep down she returned his interest, which she most certainly did not.

Lyle indicated the chair in front of his desk. “Let’s take care of business first, shall we?” She sat down obediently, as Lyle remained standing and laid some papers down in front of her.

“This is it, Kathryn,” he said, leaning over her, the scent of his after shave teasing her nostrils. “The last of them. When you sign these, we’re through—with your father’s estate, I mean. Everything is finally settled. As I told you before, the house here in town where you and Jason are living, the cabin up at Panquitch Lake, and all of your father’s assets are yours. I would say, if you handle things wisely, you won’t ever have to worry about money again.”

Kate nodded, doing her best not to resent Lyle’s nearness as she stared at the papers in front of her. “Dad had even more money put away than I realized,” she said.

“He made some wise investments,” Lyle agreed. “But then, with his being a banker all those years, I suppose that was to be expected.”

Kate didn’t answer. She remembered her dad talking about his many investments, but she hadn’t paid much attention at the time. He had been a senior loan officer at the bank for as long as Kate could remember. After his wife died, he had wrapped himself in his faith and in his work—and in raising Kate, even steering her toward a career in banking. With her father being the primary focus of her life as she moved from her teen years into adulthood, she had easily followed his lead, despite the fact that banking held no real allure for her. Her only detour had been when she met and married Tony, and then gave birth to Jason. Though she’d taken a leave of absence when their son was born, she had soon returned to the bank, and had been there ever since.

The smell of Lyle’s aftershave, which might have attracted someone else but served only to make her uncomfortable, brought her back to the present. She took the pen he offered her, trying not to overreact when his hand touched hers briefly, though she was sure he had done it purposely.

“Right here,” he said, pointing. “And here.”

She signed, then set the pen down. “That’s it?”

“That’s it,” Lyle said, pulling up a chair and sitting down beside her. “Now, for my ulterior motive. What would I have to do to tempt you into a nice, intimate, candlelight dinner with me tonight? Just the two of us...to celebrate. What do you say?”

His dark, intense eyes seemed to call to her from some faraway place, somewhere she had no desire to go—not now, not ever. It was as if, uninvited, he peered into her very soul. She knew, of course, that she was being overly dramatic, but she couldn’t help but wonder what he would think of her if he really could. She imagined he would be offended when he realized that, each time Kate looked at him, she was overwhelmed with vivid, poignant memories of her late husband, even as she was repulsed by Lyle’s inability to compare to the man of integrity that Tony had been.

Kate had met Tony Ames right after graduation from high school and had fallen helplessly, hopelessly in love with the tall, good-looking man with the broad shoulders and an even broader smile. But she had never dreamed he could feel the same way about her. In fact, with his pick of any one of a number of attractive young ladies, Kate couldn’t imagine why someone like Tony Ames would even notice anyone as shy and unassuming as herself.

Kate’s father, however, had been more than pleased with the match, and pleasing her father had always been very important to Kate. Especially since, for several years prior to meeting Tony, Richard Waters had been the very center of Kate’s existence.

An only child, Kate had spent the first twelve years of her life feeling loved and safe. Her parents, both devout Christians, had taken her to church and Sunday school faithfully, and Kate had accepted the teachings of her parents and the church without questions. But all of that changed when Kate’s mother, Mary Waters, died of pneumonia on a raw, blustery February morning, two days after Kate’s twelfth birthday. For the first time, Kate found herself with serious doubts about the loving and forgiving God she had been told about all her life. The profession of faith she had made only the year before suddenly seemed hollow and without meaning. But she and her father continued on in the church, while Kate became more and more dependent on Richard Waters with each passing year. By the time she met Tony, Kate and her father had become inseparable. For that reason, Richard’s ready acceptance of Tony made their storybook romance that much sweeter. Tony, who had never known his own father, was more than happy to become the son Richard Waters never had. Tony was also more than happy to adopt Richard and Kate’s church as his own. And so, four months after they met, Kate and Tony were married.

Tony was five years older than Kate, with thick, wavy black hair. His dark eyes left Kate breathless every time she gazed into their depths, which was often. When Jason was born during their second year of marriage, Kate thought her life was complete. Tony’s job as reporter for the local newspaper seemed very exciting to Kate, and his dream of writing books that would live on after he was gone was the most romantic and noble thing she could imagine.

But there had been no books. They were still only a dream when Tony Ames was stricken with cancer. Kate watched him suffer. She watched the handsome face grow gaunt and gray. She watched the broad shoulders droop in pain and resignation. She watched her husband die as snow fell softly outside the hospital window. And then she buried what little was left of her faith along with Tony in his grave.

“Kathryn?”

Kate blinked. She had forgotten about Lyle Montgomery entirely. What was it he had asked her? Oh yes, dinner. She shook her head slowly. “I...I can’t, Lyle. Not tonight. I promised Jason I’d take him out for pizza. And besides, I’ve already told you—”

Lyle sighed and smiled resignedly, holding up his hand and interrupting her before she could remind him that she had repeatedly told him she no longer wanted to date him—or anyone else, for that matter. “I know, I know. An intimate candlelight dinner for two certainly can’t compare with pepperoni and cheese, can it?” He shrugged and raised an eyebrow. “Maybe next time?”

She shook her head. “No. Lyle, I—”

“How about tomorrow night?” he urged, once again cutting her off. “Or the next night? Or the night after that?”

Her irritation grew, as she realized he had no intention of honoring her previous requests to stop inviting her to go out with him and to maintain their relationship on a strictly professional level. But if, as Lyle had said, signing these documents completed the legal transactions associated with settling her father’s estate, she wouldn’t have to deal with Lyle Montgomery again once she exited his office in the next few minutes. The thought filled her with a great sense of relief.

“Even if I were interested, which I’m not,” she stressed, “I couldn’t go out with you tomorrow night, either, Lyle. Or the next night. Jason and I are leaving for the cabin first thing tomorrow morning, so if you need to reach me for any last minute details on the estate, you’ll have to call me there.”

Purposely avoiding eye contact, she stood, gathering her purse as she readied herself to leave. “I’ve taken a leave of absence from my job, starting today, to try to decide what I want to do with my life,” she explained, keeping her voice as steady and as unemotional as possible, as he rose to stand beside her. “All of a sudden, I find I have some options,” she went on. “I mean, according to these papers, I really don’t have to work anymore. And I’ve never been all that crazy about my job at the bank. I really only went into banking because of Dad. Now I’m not so sure it’s what I want. Although I certainly wouldn’t want to just sit around all day with nothing to do. I don’t really know what I want to do with the rest of my life, Lyle, but I think it’s time I found out.”

Lyle reached for her hand, then withdrew when she refused to respond. “Let me help you, Kathryn,” he said, his voice soft and seductive. “Let me help you find yourself, find what you want to do with your future. Can’t you give me that chance? Can’t you trust me to help you?”

Kate swallowed. There was nothing she’d like better than to have Tony here beside her right now, providing exactly what Lyle was offering...but Lyle was not Tony, no matter how much they might resemble one another in looks.

“No,” she said quickly. “I can’t, Lyle. I’m sorry. I’ve told you that before, and nothing has changed—nor will it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some packing to do.”

Lyle nodded, his lips pressed tightly together. “I understand, Kathryn. I’ll call you at the lake if anything comes up about the final paperwork.”

He held the door open for her as she left his office. Kate didn’t look back, but she knew that both Lyle Montgomery and Sharon Williams were watching her as she walked out into the late afternoon sunshine. With all her heart she hoped they were the only ones watching.

Chapter 2

Kate fumbled on her bed stand for the alarm, trying to shut out the ringing noise that had pulled her back from a very deep sleep, but the noise continued. She opened her eyes and squinted at the clock. Eight-thirty. It couldn’t be. She’d set the alarm for seven so she and Jason could get an early start for the lake—or, at least, she thought she’d set it.

She realized then it was the phone she was hearing. Snatching the receiver from its cradle, she answered. “Hello?”

Silence.

“Hello?” she repeated, suppressing a shiver.

Nothing.

She slammed down the receiver and jumped up from her bed, trying to ignore the warning signal buzzing faintly in the back of her mind. “It makes me so mad when people call and then don’t say anything,” she mumbled, grabbing a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved blue shirt from her closet. “But, then again, maybe this time whoever it was did me a favor. I can’t believe I forgot to set that alarm.”

She threw on her clothes, then hurried into the bathroom to brush her teeth, wash her face, and run a comb through her hair. She dabbed on a touch of blush and lipstick, then went into Jason’s room.

“Hey, Sport,” she called, using her father’s nickname for Jason. “Time to rise and shine.” She opened the blinds to let the sun stream into the room and across the bed. Kate smiled as her son rubbed his eyes. “You’ve got porcupine hair this morning,” she teased.

Jason grinned and smoothed his thick, dark hair self-consciously. “Is it time to go already?” he asked.

“Already!” Kate exclaimed. “Would you believe we’re late? I overslept, so we’d better get a move on. We’ll just skip breakfast and eat some fruit on the way, okay? We can have lunch as soon as we get to the cabin.”

Jason was out of bed and sliding into his shoes before Kate realized he was already dressed.

“What did you do, Jason Ames,” she said, laughing. “Sleep in your clothes?”

Jason shrugged and grinned again. “Wanted to be ready for a quick getaway.”

Kate kissed the top of his head, then looked into his dark eyes, dancing now with excitement—the eyes that always reminded her so much of Tony’s. She raised an eyebrow questioningly. “Can you make your bed, brush your teeth, and meet me on the front porch in five minutes?”

“No problem, Mom.”

She hugged him briefly and went to grab the suitcases she had packed the night before. By the time she had everything loaded into the back of their shiny blue SUV, Jason was in the front seat, waiting for her.

“Well, Sport,” she said, climbing in beside him, “we’re off.”

She’d driven only half a block when she realized they had no new reading material with them. With no TV at the cabin—for which Kate was grateful, since she’d never cared for TV and tried to discourage Jason from watching much of it—they both did a lot of reading in the evenings while they were there. Although she kept a supply of toys for Jason at the cabin, along with several games for the two of them to play together, there were times when they both wanted a good book to entertain them. Kate was thrilled that Jason seemed to be developing such an intense love for books.

“Let’s stop at that little bookstore on the way out of town and pick up something to read while we’re at the lake,” she suggested.

“All right!” Jason responded enthusiastically, shoving the last of his banana into his mouth. “Can I get two?”

Kate laughed. “Sweetheart, you can get three—or four. You know what I’ve always told you about books. You can’t have too many of them.”

As she pulled up in front of the store, she was surprised to see the name had changed. “The Book Worm,” she read aloud as they climbed out of their vehicle. “Well, Jason, looks like the place has a new owner. In fact, look, in the window it says, ‘Grand Opening Sale.’ Maybe we can find some real bargains. What do you think?”

Jason nodded, his eyes shining, then struggled to hold the door open for his mother. Kate was tempted to help him, but she knew how important it was for him to do it by himself.

Once inside, she pointed Jason toward the children’s section, then went immediately to the area marked “Fiction—New Releases.” As she looked over the titles, picking up the books to read the information on the inside jackets, everything around her faded as she stepped into the thrilling, captivating world of fiction that had held her spellbound since she was a young child. Other people, other lives, other times and places—it was all here for the choosing.

How wonderful to be able to work in a place like this. She smiled to herself. I wonder if I’d ever get any work done. How could anyone possibly concentrate with all these exciting books around, just crying to be read?

“Can I help you with something?”

Kate jumped. She turned, surprised to find a man standing at her elbow. She hadn’t heard him walk up.

“I’m sorry if I startled you,” he apologized. “I just thought maybe I could help you in some way.”

And then she noticed them—the most amazing blue eyes she had ever seen. Deep, incredibly blue, bluer than the Utah sky. She had always thought her own eyes were blue, but compared to his, they were a washed-out gray.

“Are you all right?” he asked, frowning slightly.

She swallowed and found her voice. “Yes. Yes, I’m fine,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Were you looking for anything in particular?”

“What? Oh...oh, no. I mean, yes. I...we...” She nodded toward the children’s section. “My son, Jason, and I are on our way up to the lake for a few days, and we wanted some good books to read in the evenings.”

The man smiled then, a warm, wide, easy smile that made Kate catch her breath. She hadn’t been able to look past his eyes until now. But when he smiled, it seemed to spread across his entire face.

A nice face, she thought. Not handsome like Tony’s, or even Lyle’s, but nice. Very, very nice.

“Sounds wonderful,” the man was saying.

Kate frowned, struggling to remember what it was they had been discussing.

“I go up there every chance I get,” he continued. “In fact, Panquitch Lake is one of the main reasons I moved here from Southern California. My family’s still there—my mom and dad, brothers and sisters. I had a good business going there, another bookstore. But I sold it to my brother and bought this one, and just left the crowds and the smog behind. That was only a couple of months ago, but I feel at home here already.”

Suddenly his smile faded, and he flushed slightly. “Sorry. You didn’t come in here to hear my life’s story. I didn’t mean to talk your ear off.” He shrugged self-consciously. “I do that sometimes.”

Kate smiled as reassuringly as she could. His sudden shyness was endearing, and she found herself wanting to make him feel at ease. “That’s all right. I don’t mind a bit. Really.”

His face brightened again. “Thank you. And I think I know just the book for you—if you haven’t already read it, that is. Come on over here; I’ll show you.”

She followed him to a section marked “Inspirational.” Oh, no, she groaned silently. Don’t tell me he’s going to try to sell me a Bible or something.

But he didn’t hand her a Bible. Instead, he showed her a thick, hardbound book—a novel set in the deep South prior to the Civil War.

“Oh,” she said, pleasantly surprised. “I love books about this time period. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this author.”

He smiled again, and she knew she was going to buy the book. “You’ll be a fan of hers in no time,” he promised. “In fact, I’d be willing to bet you’ll be back for the rest of her series.”

Just then Jason hurried up beside them. “I found what I want, Mom. See? Three of them. Is that okay? Can I have all three?”

Kate looked at the books. She wasn’t familiar with any of them, but the man beside her was nodding his approval.

“Good selections, all of them,” he said. “And they’re on sale. I highly recommend them.... Jason, is it?”

He held out his hand, and Jason shook it shyly, then nodded. “How did you know my name?”

Another smile. “You mother told me. What’s your last name, Jason?”

“Ames,” Jason said. “Jason Anthony Ames. I’m six. My middle name is for my dad, but he’s dead.”

“I see. Well, that’s a great name, Jason Anthony Ames. My name is Mark—Mark Edward Thomas. And I’m ancient—thirty, to be exact. I’m afraid I’m not named after anyone in particular, but you can call me Mark.”

Jason grinned. “I like your name, too, Mark.” He looked over at his mom. “And that’s my mom. I just call her Mom, but her real name is Kate.”

Mark’s blue eyes twinkled as he shook hands with Kate. His grip was firm and strong. “Is it all right to call you Kate? Or should it be Mrs. Ames?”

“Kate’s fine,” she mumbled, hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt.
“Well,” Mark said, turning back to Jason, “I hear you’re headed for the lake. I’m jealous. I love it up there. One of the best fishing spots I’ve ever found. You going to do any fishing while you’re up there?”

“You bet!” Jason answered. “My mom doesn’t like it as much as I do, but she’s a good sport. She takes me out in the boat and then reads while I fish.”

Mark laughed, a sunny, natural laugh that seemed to roll up from deep within him. “Well, now, that is a good sport, isn’t it? I’d say you’ve got a real nice mom, Jason Anthony Ames. By the way, what are you going to stay in—a tent, a camper?”

“We have a cabin,” Jason answered quickly. “It was my grandpa’s, but he’s dead now.” His lower lip quivered slightly, but he took a deep breath and went on. “He taught me how to fish when I was only three.”

“You’re never too young to go fishing, Jason.” Mark reached out and tousled Jason’s hair. “Or too old, either. Nope, there’s nothing like it. Just as soon as I get things under control here, I’m going to start spending more time up at that lake myself.”

“Wow, that would be great!” Jason exclaimed, his dark eyes shining eagerly. “Maybe you could take me with you sometime.”

Kate was horrified. She knew Jason was young and enthusiastic, but sometimes he said things that embarrassed her terribly. Before Mark could respond, Kate took Jason’s hand. “We’d better pay for these and be on our way, Jason. It’s getting late.”

She looked up at Mark. “Thank you for your help in selecting these books, Mr. Thomas,” she said, trying to fish her money out of her purse with her free hand.

“Mark,” he said.

She felt the color rising in her cheeks again. “Yes. Mark. Well...” She handed him the money and followed him to the cash register.

“Thank you again,” she said as he handed her the change and the bag of books.

He nodded and grinned. “Any time.” He looked down at Jason. “Come back and see me again sometime, Jason. I’d like to hear about all the fish you catch up at the lake.”

“I will. Bye, Mark,” called Jason as Kate hurried him out of the store.

The mid-morning sun was already warm on her back as Kate opened the driver side door, but she shivered as she climbed in, the hair on the back of her neck standing up as, once again, that now familiar feeling of being watched assaulted her senses. She shook her head and put the key in the ignition.

Jason grabbed a book out of the bag as soon as he was settled in the seat beside her. “You’d better not read while I’m driving, honey,” Kate warned. “The road to the lake is full of turns, and you know how you get carsick sometimes. Besides, you don’t want to miss any of that beautiful scenery along the way, right? And it’s only an hour’s drive. We’ll be there before you know it.”

Jason sighed and put the book away. “Okay, Mom, I’ll wait. But you know what?”

“What, Sport?”

“I like Mark. Do you?”

Kate swallowed. Mark Thomas wasn’t exactly tall and handsome. He wasn’t even charming, the way Lyle tried to be. But there was something, something more than those incredible eyes, that smile....

“Yes, honey,” she answered. “I do. I like Mark Thomas.”

Chapter 3

It had been a pleasant, uneventful drive to the lake, with only a quick stop at the entrance to the lake to pick up some groceries from the General Store. Kate and Jason had unpacked immediately, then decided to have lunch out on the deck overlooking the water. As Jason carried the tuna sandwiches outside and Kate poured the milk, she wondered why it was that she always felt so hungry every time they came up to the cabin. She breathed deeply as she followed Jason out the door. Must be this delicious mountain air, she thought, feeling freer and more at ease than she had in months.

“Look at all the boats, Mom,” Jason called, pointing toward the lake. “I’ll bet they’re catching lots of fish out there.”

Kate smiled. “I imagine they are.”

“Can we rent a boat and go out after lunch?”

“We’ll see, honey.” Kate picked up a sandwich. “Let’s eat first and then decide, okay? We’ve got plenty of time, you know.”

Jason smiled back. “I know, Mom. It’s just that I get so excited about coming up here.”

Kate laughed. “You get excited about everything.” She took a bite of her sandwich, watching her son intently. She could tell Jason was having a difficult time concentrating on his lunch, with his heart already out on the lake. She loved his enthusiasm for life. She knew without her vibrant, active son, her life would be very lonely indeed. And unbearably dull.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the peaceful, quiet surroundings. Although there were several cabins nearby, they weren’t visible among the towering cedars and dainty, dancing-leafed aspens that surrounded the lake, giving the illusion of being completely alone, away from the everyday world with all its problems and complications—and pain.

Some of the happiest times of Kate’s life had been right here at this cabin. She remembered coming to the lake as a little girl before her mother died, and then even more often with her father after her mother was gone. This was the one place Richard Waters had seemed able to relax, to escape the cares of the world and the many responsibilities of his job, to put his pain and loss behind him for a short time and regroup.

How very much like him I am, she thought, then smiled. And how like him my son is. Yet I see so much of Tony in Jason, too. His eagerness and inquisitiveness, his sensitivity, even his impulsiveness… I always thought those very qualities were what made Tony such a good reporter.

Kate had often wondered what career Jason might pursue as he grew up. Whatever it was, she was confident he would do it well—and with gusto.

She opened her eyes as a sudden breeze came up, scattering their napkins across the deck. As Jason ran to pick them up, Kate looked across the lake and was surprised to see how quickly the dark clouds had begun to move in.

“Looks like we’re in for one of our afternoon rainstorms, Sport,” she said. “The lake is even starting to get choppy. Maybe we’d better finish our lunch and get inside. You know how fast these storms can move in up here.”

“Aw, Mom, does that mean we can’t go fishing this afternoon?”

“I’m afraid so, honey,” she said, pointing toward the lake. “Look. Most of the boats are starting to head in.”

Jason’s earlier enthusiasm had disappeared, and he looked out toward the lake and nodded reluctantly. “I guess so.” He sighed, holding his unfinished sandwich in his hand.

“Hey,” Kate teased, “this is just the first day, remember? Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we’ll head out as soon as the boat rentals are available, okay? We’ll go before breakfast. It’s always clear and calm then, and when we come back, we’ll make pancakes and bacon. What do you say?”

Jason’s face lit up. “Pancakes and bacon? My favorites!”

Kate laughed again. “Let’s get this stuff inside before that storm gets here. I’ll wash the dishes and you can dry, and then I’ll challenge you to a game of checkers. How’s that?”

Jason was already up and clearing the table. “I love checkers,” he called over his shoulder. “But you know I’m going to win, Mom. I always do.”

The rain started slowly at first, but before long it was coming down in sheets. Tiny pebbles of hail bounced on the roof and skittered across the deck, as the wind blew and rattled the small two-bedroom cabin. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled in the distance, but it only made Kate feel cozier and more secure, safe here with the only one left in the whole world who really mattered to her.

She got out some candles and a kerosene lamp in case the electricity should go off, making a mental note to be sure to buy more kerosene on their next trip to the General Store. There was probably enough for the evening if they needed it, but it was getting low.

After several games of checkers, Kate realized she didn’t have to let Jason win as often now, as he was doing it without her help. When they tired of that, they worked on a large jigsaw puzzle together until Jason decided to go to his room and rummage through his toy box. This was their first trip to the cabin since Labor Day, so the toys seemed almost new to him. When Jason settled down to build with his Lincoln Logs, Kate picked up a pair of binoculars and went over to the large picture window in the living room to look out at the lake below. There were no boats out now. They were all safely tied to the docks, bobbing roughly on the whitecaps whipped up by the swirling winds.

She laid the binoculars down and curled up in the rocking chair with the book she had bought earlier that day. She thought of Mark Thomas, with his warm, charismatic smile and his startling blue eyes, then closed her own blue-gray eyes and tried to picture him more clearly. He wasn’t tall—maybe five feet, eight or nine inches—with sandy blond hair and an average build. In fact, if it weren’t for his eyes and his smile, she might have thought him completely average. She might possibly have not noticed him at all. But she had noticed him. And for some reason she couldn’t understand—a reason that went beyond those magnificent eyes and that winning smile—she knew Mark Thomas was anything but average.

“I’m getting hungry, Mom,” Jason called from the bedroom. “When do we eat?”

Kate laughed and shook her head. “You’re a bottomless pit, Jason Ames,” she called back to him, setting her book aside. Her adventures into the pre-Civil War South would have to wait until after dinner.

By the time they were through eating and the dishes were washed, it was time for Jason to take his bath and go to bed. Kate tucked the covers around his freshly scrubbed cheeks and ran her fingers through his damp hair. Her heart ached with love as she gazed at the sprinkle of freckles across the bridge of his nose.

“Can you read to me a little while, Mom?” he asked. “From one of my new books?”

Kate smiled. “Of course I can.” She grabbed a book off the dresser. “How’s this one?”

Jason nodded eagerly. “I was hoping that’s the one you’d pick. That’s why I put it on top.”

The book was a collection of short stories, all in some way tied in with the Bible. Kate hadn’t noticed that when she bought the books.

Which isn’t surprising, she scolded herself. You weren’t paying much attention to anything when you bought those books—except Mark Thomas.

Jason convinced her to read two of the stories, but then Kate insisted it was past his bedtime. “We have to get up early tomorrow if we want to beat everyone else to those fish,” she told him. “So let’s say your prayers and go to sleep, all right?”

Jason closed his eyes and folded his hands. Before Tony died, he and Kate had always prayed with Jason at bedtime. After that Richard Waters had continued the practice. Kate told herself the only reason she carried on the tradition was because of Jason.

As she kissed her son goodnight and tiptoed out of the room, she decided a nice hot bath was just what she needed before bed. Filling the tub with hot water and bubbles, she lowered herself into the bath, then lay back with her book and began to read. By the time she was midway through the first chapter, she was hooked. It wasn’t until the water began to cool that she remembered where she was.

A few moments later, as she crawled into bed with her book—Just one more chapter and then I’ll go to sleep, she promised herself—she was surprised to find herself wondering if she would always sleep alone. Would there ever be another husband for her? A father for Jason?

She opened her book, determined to put such foolish thoughts from her mind. Of course there won’t be another husband, she reminded herself. Or another father. I’m not about to risk that kind of pain again. Except for Jason, when have I ever loved anyone I haven’t lost? I just couldn’t go through that again….

But as she began to read her book, the description of the tall, dark, good-looking hero brought back painful images of Tony—although the images weren’t as clear as they had once been. That scared Kate, somehow.

From Tony, almost against her will, her mind wandered to Lyle Montgomery, as it always seemed to. She could hardly think of one without thinking of the other. And yet, despite their looks, they really had nothing in common. With Tony she had always felt protected and loved; when she was around Lyle, she felt uncomfortable and anxious to get away.

And then she remembered the cold reception she’d gotten from Sharon Williams the day before. Lyle’s secretary obviously had her eyes on her boss, but for some reason he just wasn’t interested. But he was interested in Kate. Kate couldn’t understand that. She felt so inferior as a woman next to Sharon. She flinched as she thought of the icy stare from those green eyes, the jealousy, the veiled hostility. Just how much did Sharon Williams hate her, anyway?

All the more reason to steer clear of Lyle Montgomery, she thought, opening her book once again. But before she could read half a page, the phone rang.

Kate got out of bed, frowning. Who in the world would be calling her here? No one except Lyle and Mrs. Johnson, her neighbor, knew where she was. Mrs. Johnson would have no reason to call, and Lyle had said he would call only if something came up about the papers. Of course, the number was listed, so anyone could get it if they wanted to, but why would they?

As she walked to the kitchen to answer the call, she wondered if they’d been wrong not to have an unlisted number. It was something that simply hadn’t occurred to them when Kate’s dad insisted on having the phone installed shortly after Tony died and Kate had started coming up to the cabin alone with Jason. The only concern at that time was that the two of them not be isolated.

She lifted the receiver on the fourth ring. “Hello?”

There was no answer.

Kate swallowed and her voice shook. “Hello?”

When there was still no answer, she slammed the phone down as panic clutched at her throat. She covered her mouth with her hand to keep from screaming, then turned and ran to the door to make sure it was locked. She checked all the windows, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

Finally she went back into her room and looked at the book lying on her bed. She knew she wouldn’t be able to read anymore that night. In fact, she doubted she would be able to get any sleep, either. But she had to lie down; she had to rest. She had promised Jason she would take him fishing early in the morning.

Jason! She ran into her son’s room where a nightlight burned, casting dim shadows against the pale, knotty pine paneling that covered the cabin’s walls. Her beloved son was sleeping peacefully, the innocent, deep sleep of the very young.

Suddenly she couldn’t bear to be away from him, not even as far as her own room. She crawled under the covers and lay beside him on the narrow bed, listening to the rain on the roof until she finally drifted into a restless, dream-filled sleep just before dawn.

Chapter 4

Not a whisper of wind stirred the brisk morning air as Kate and Jason sat side by side in the small rented fishing boat, bobbing gently on the chill waters of Panquitch Lake. The sun had just topped the majestic mountains behind them, and its welcome warmth began to penetrate the backs of their bright orange life jackets.

Kate had always thought sunrise to be the most beautiful time of day—at the lake or anywhere—and today was no exception. As the distant chirping of birds in the towering cedars, which extended down almost to the lake’s shoreline, announced the beginning of a new day, she sighed contentedly. Nowhere else was she able to find the peace and tranquility that always seemed to await her at the lake.

Dotted now with other boats full of early-morning fishermen, the lake was a haven to Kate, a refuge from the confusion and demands of single parenthood and a banking career. The occasional faint hum of a trolling fishing boat was the only interruption to her silent reverie. Her fears of the night before seemed to melt away in the light of the rising sun.

She peeked over at Jason. While Kate dangled her fishing line halfheartedly in the water, not particularly caring whether or not she caught any fish, her son clutched his pole with a fierce determination, his brow furrowed in concentration, as if he were willing the fish to bite. They had been out on the lake for over an hour and already he had caught two, but Kate knew that, no matter how many fish he caught, he would never be the one to suggest going back—until his growling tummy got the best of him, that is.

She glanced at her watch. Seven-thirty. She would give him another hour before heading in, she decided, closing her eyes and drifting off into her own private world once again. Myriad images danced through her mind, images of people she had loved—and lost. Her mother, her husband, her father. All beautiful memories, and all tied in to Panquitch Lake in some way. Is this what her life was to be, she wondered. Dreams and memories of the past? At twenty-seven, was it all over for her? Were escapes to the lake only futile, nostalgic attempts to recapture that which was lost to her forever?

Jason’s shout brought her back to the present with a start. Her eyes flew open just in time to see her son tugging excitedly on his bowed fishing pole.

“I’ve got one!” he yelled. “Mom, I’ve got another one, and I think this one’s the biggest yet.”

“Take it easy, Sport,” she advised. “Remember what your grandfather used to say about reeling it in easy. You can do it. That’s the way. Good! Very good, Jason. You’ve got it.”

Jason beamed as he hauled the glistening, flopping rainbow trout on board. Kate’s heart ached with pride and love as she watched him take the fish off the line and add it to the string holding the other two. How could he possibly be grown up enough to do all of that on his own? It seemed that just yesterday he had been a baby, dependent on her for everything.

“Look, Mom,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “I was right. It is the biggest one so far.”

Kate nodded in agreement. “It certainly is,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t notice the catch in her voice. He was getting to the age where “mushy stuff” embarrassed him terribly—unless, of course, it was his idea.

“Well, that’s is,” Jason announced, wiping his hands on his jeans. “I’m ready to go back and eat all three of these fish.”

Kate threw her head back and laughed. Jason’s spontaneity never ceased to amaze and delight her. Just when she had been so sure she would have to drag him off the lake under protest, he decides he is through fishing and ready to eat. She hugged him and planted a kiss on top of his head before he could duck, then pointed at the engine.

“You want to drive?” she asked.

Jason’s dark eyes opened in wonder. “You mean it?” he asked. “All by myself? Can I really?”

Kate shrugged, then nodded. “Why not? You’re the fisherman around here, not me. Just take it slow, and remember how it felt when I let you hold my hand and steer with me.” She winked at him. “There’s only one catch, though. We save the fish for dinner, and stick to pancakes and bacon for breakfast, okay?”

Jason laughed. “You bet, Mom. And thanks—for everything.”

Once again the picture of concentration and determination, Jason carefully steered the boat to the dock. As they hiked up the hill toward their cabin, Kate carrying the poles and Jason trudging along beside her with the tackle box and bait in one hand, his string of fish held proudly in the other, they both fell silent. It took all the energy they had to make the climb in the thin mountain air. There was little oxygen left over for conversation. By the time they reached the cabin, they were both huffing and puffing—and more than ready for a big breakfast.

“I’ll go wash up and then start the bacon,” Kate said. “Why don’t you put the fish in the sink and we’ll clean them after breakfast? Meanwhile, you wash your hands, too, and after that you can set the table.”

Jason plopped the fish into the chipped white porcelain sink, then called out to Kate, “Can we eat outside on the deck? Yesterday you said we could.”

Kate returned to the kitchen, drying her hands as she walked. “That’s what I said, all right,” she agreed, as she searched the refrigerator for bacon, eggs, and milk. “So I guess we eat outside.”

“All right!” Jason exclaimed, opening the cupboard and reaching for the plates.

“Hold it,” Kate ordered, holding her hands up in front of her and turning them back and forth. “Wash first, remember?”

Jason looked down at his own hands and grinned sheepishly. “I guess they are kind of dirty,” he admitted, turning and heading toward the bathroom.

“Use soap,” Kate called after him, but he didn’t answer.

By the time they sat down at the wooden picnic table on the deck, the sun was shining hot and bright, shimmering on the lake below. A few of the boats had come in, but most remained where they had been when Kate and Jason had headed for shore.

“This bacon is great,” Jason said. “And these pancakes are the best ever.” He took a gulp of milk and smiled at Kate, a white mustache covering his upper lip. “You’re a good cook, Mom.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “Only good?” she asked. “Not great? Or wonderful? How about stupendous or…?”

Jason laughed and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “The best cook in the whole wide world,” he said, stuffing another piece of bacon in his mouth.

Kate laughed too, a warm, joyous laugh that bubbled up from deep within, a laugh she was sure that no one but Jason could bring forth from her ever again. But that’s all right, she told herself. As long as I have Jason, I don’t need anybody else—ever. Just the two of us; that’s enough....

“Look, Mom, who are those people down there?” Jason asked, peering over the deck railing at the pathway slightly below their cabin.

“I don’t know,” Kate admitted, looking down at the two people strolling silently past them. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen them around here before.”

“Hello!” Jason called. “Hello down there!”

The couple stopped and looked around just as Kate pulled back away from the railing. “Jason,” she hissed. “You don’t want them to think we were spying on them.”

“Why not? That’s what we were doing,” Jason answered, waving to get their attention. “Up here,” he called out, continuing to wave. “My mom and I are having breakfast, and we were just wondering who you were.”

Kate felt the crimson flush creep quickly up her face. Most of the time Jason’s impetuous nature was a delight to her. Occasionally, however, it proved to be more than slightly embarrassing. This was, without a doubt, one of those times. Resignedly, she edged back to the railing and forced a smile.

“Good morning,” she called down to them. “How are you?”

As the couple’s eyes seemed to focus in on Kate and Jason, the man slipped his arm around the woman’s shoulders in a protective manner. It seemed a tender gesture that contradicted the gruff scowl on his plump, middle-aged face. His eyes narrowed slightly and, although he didn’t speak, he nodded curtly in acknowledgment.

The woman, reed-thin with skin lined from too much time in the sun, didn’t respond at all. The only sign that she was even aware of either Kate or Jason was the fear in her eyes. She seemed frozen, startled by the presence of other human beings. Kate had seen that look before, in the wild, frightened eyes of the many deer that foraged in the woods around the lake. As Kate wondered what, if anything, to say next, her son solved the problem for her.

“I’m Jason Ames,” he announced. “And this is my mom. Who are you? Do you live around here?”

Kate was suddenly aware of the sun glinting off the man’s almost bald head. His jaws clenched, but he didn’t answer. And then Kate saw the look on the woman’s face change as her attention was drawn to Jason. The fear had disappeared, replaced by a look of intense longing and sadness. Suddenly overwhelmed by an unreasonable, unnamed fear, Kate had to resist an impulse to draw Jason close to her.

“I’m Millie,” the woman said, so softly Kate had to strain to hear her. And then she fell silent once again, as if the effort of those two words had drained her of what little strength she had left.

“We’re the Simons,” the man growled. “Al and Millie. We just bought the old Brewster cabin down the way. Bought it for the solitude,” he added, his eyes narrowing even more. “We like to be left alone.”

The conversation obviously over, he turned his wife abruptly in the direction of their cabin and resumed their walk, almost pulling her along with him. But as they walked away, Millie Simons glanced back over her shoulder at Jason—a poignant, wistful glance that lingered a split-second too long, a glance that sent chills down Kate’s spine as she reached out and grabbed her son, hugging him until he squirmed uncomfortably, holding him close as if his very life depended on it.

Chapter 5

“Mom, can we burn the kerosene lamp tonight? No lights. Just the lamp and the wood stove, that’s all. Wouldn’t that be great?”

Kate smiled, as she watched her son dry the last of the dishes from their fish supper and put them in the cupboard, then turn to her expectantly. He had always loved snuggling up next to her in front of the wood-burning stove with nothing but the soft glow of the kerosene lamp to brighten the room. She had to admit, those were very special times, and she, too, cherished them deeply.

“I don’t see why not, Sport,” she answered, drying her hands on a paper towel. “But let’s go for a walk first. What do you say? It won’t be dark for a couple of hours yet. It’s still fairly warm out, but we can take our windbreakers just in case.”

“Sure,” Jason agreed, his dark eyes twinkling as a grin spread across his face. “That would be perfect.”

Kate laughed. “Yes, it would, wouldn’t it? And you can’t get much better than perfect.”

Jason raced off to grab his windbreaker from the wall peg just inside his bedroom door. Kate thought about reminding him not to run in the house, but decided against it. After all, they were on vacation.

“I’m ready,” he announced, hurrying back into the kitchen while he stuffed his arms into his jacket sleeves.

“So I see,” Kate said. “Well, I guess I’d better hurry up and get ready, too, or I’ll get left behind, won’t I? Just let me get my jacket and—”

“I’ll get it for you,” Jason interrupted, turning around and running back out of the room before she could say another word.

The evening air was dry and warm as they made their way down the path away from the cabin. There had been no afternoon storm to interrupt their day in the sun, and the light breeze, which occasionally tossed their hair, was a welcome one, filled with the soft, not-quite pungent scent of cedar. They walked slowly, silently, along the path that wound its way lazily through the canopy of aspens and cedars, the dainty leaves of the aspens shaking and shimmering in the fading sunlight. The crunch of dry leaves and twigs beneath their feet was the only sound that invaded their peaceful domain.

“Mom,” Jason whispered, grabbing her arm. “Look.” He pointed toward a nearby clearing where a graceful doe and her two fawns stood motionless, as if in a freeze-frame, eyes wide and ears twitching almost imperceptibly, scanning the horizon for danger.

“Do you think they see us?” Jason asked softly.

“I don’t know,” Kate answered. “Just don’t move. Maybe they’ll relax, and we can watch them for a while.”

They stood still, watching, waiting, breathing softly. Kate’s legs were beginning to ache when, finally, the doe flipped her tiny white tail, twitched her ears one last time, and hopped gracefully off into the woods beyond the clearing, her two fawns scampering along behind her. Kate breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Jason, who was still staring, enraptured, at the distant stand of trees where the deer had disappeared.

“Aren’t they beautiful, Mom?” he asked, still whispering. “Aren’t they just the most beautiful things you ever saw?”

Kate slipped her arm around her son’s shoulders. For once, he didn’t resist or act embarrassed. She wasn’t sure if it was because there was no one around to observe them or because he just hadn’t noticed.

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