Elizabeth Pina

Rural Rendezvous

 

 

 

 

Prologue

My life is perfect.

Sarah maneuvered the convertible off the main highway. The warm sunshine and cool November breeze dusted the top of her head, and the Adirondacks beckoned and welcomed her home.

Almost perfect. Her husband’s busy senate life would delay his arrival, but then the three of them would be together again. She rubbed her belly, its small bulge still unnoticeable to a casual observer. “Two weeks and I’ll know what you are,” she murmured, glancing at the miniature white socks on the console beside her. “Then I can do some serious shopping.”

The winding road dipped and straightened, and a large gray cargo van appeared in the rear-view mirror. She slowed to allow it to pass, but it stayed a hundred feet behind. Her fingers grew clammy on the leather steering wheel. A similar van had parked beside her at the store thirty miles back. Where could it be going? Her chest tightened and she forced deep breaths. There were thousands of gray vans on the highways and no reason for any of them to follow her.

The road twisted again and, distracted, she hit the brakes. Her cell phone slid across the seat beside her, wedging against the passenger door and out of reach. The van reappeared and Sarah once more fought panic. She needed to call and hear her husband’s soothing voice. Have him tease her overactive imagination.

She’d almost forgotten the car’s built-in assistance system. With a laugh of relief, she punched the dashboard button to get an operator. Two minutes later, she heard comforting rings.

“Peter Faulkner.”

Sarah frowned at his irritated tone, but then smiled. He wouldn’t recognize the number. She opened her mouth to answer, but a female giggle in the background killed Sarah’s words.

Peter grew impatient. “Hello? Who is this?”

Another giggle, louder, followed by a whisper. “Come on, honey. Hurry up.”

There was a noise. A kiss? Her husband’s voice. Low, sexy. “I’ll be right there, sweetheart. Don’t start without me.” A click signaled the end of the call.

What? Who? Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. Peter, please, no. Not again. The steel band around her chest tightened. You promised.

The final turn, and the lodge lay ahead. The road descended sharply and the mirror showed the van still there. Closer now, it moved to her left as if to overtake. She slowed again and the van drew alongside. Dark windows obscured its occupants. Before she could react, the other vehicle swerved, hitting her car and pushing it off the road.

Down, down. She couldn’t steer, couldn’t stop. Branches tore at her hair and she stared helplessly at the group of pine trees ahead. They halted the car with a noisy thud and pain jolted throughout her body. Sarah frowned at the steering wheel pressed into her abdomen.

 Airbag?

 Blood covered her hands and it hurt to breathe. Dark shadows danced around her face.

She reached for a tiny patch of white.

Romance with a touch of Texas