Hearths of Fire (35 page)

C
harlotte slowly opened
her eyes and the events of the night before came rushing back until she was sitting
up in bed. She was naked, with no idea how that came to be and she kept a hold of
the sheet to her breasts. She looked around her room and wasn’t sure how long she’d
slept or even had an inkling of the time of day. There did seem to be light behind
the shades on the windows, but it was hard to tell the exact hour. Her bedside clock
wasn’t shining its green display as usual and she wondered if Neal had unplugged it.
Unfortunately, turning her head reminded her of the minor injury to her neck. It was
still quite sore, but as long as she was alive, she’d get over it eventually.

Throwing off the covers, Charlotte brought her legs over the edge and scooted forward
until her feet hit the carpet. She dug her toes into the soft strands and looked down.
She was still here to enjoy the little things that made daily life endlessly diverse.
How was it that something so small could overwhelm her senses? She imagined that she
was feeling this way because she had survived. There was a medical term for it, but
she found herself unable to shake the syndrome.

Voices could be heard from somewhere in the house and Charlotte wondered if it was
the team. It had taken the rest of the night and into the morning hours to answer
the federal agent’s questions and by the time she was done, Catori Starr and her team
had wrapped up their professional services. Neal had brought Charlotte back to the
house and she’d been grateful that he’d not let go of her hand the entire time. He’d
heard everything she had to say and she’d been there when he’d given his statement
as well. She was relatively sure that Starr had something to do with Neal being able
to stay with her. Charlotte wanted to thank the other woman for that, so she walked
to her dresser and threw on a pair of sweat pants and a mismatched sweatshirt. She
snatched a hair tie after she’d utilized the bathroom and then made her way to the
kitchen.

“Mandy?” Charlotte hadn’t expected to see her sister, but the moment she’d caught
sight of her brought tears to both of them. They held each other until a light cough
could be heard and then Charlotte drew away, placing her hands on Mandy’s cheeks.
“It’s over. We’re safe.”

“I’m so, so sorry,” Mandy said, her bloodshot eyes evident that it would take a very
long time for her to get over what had taken place. “Becky was taken because of me
and they almost k-killed you. I didn’t want to believe it, even when I’d overheard
those women at the compound. But now—”

“They didn’t succeed,” Charlotte reassured her, pulling her in for another hug. “I’m
here. Becky’s home safe and you never have to see those awful people ever again.”

Charlotte knew it would be hard for Mandy to cut ties with a young man that she’d
thought would be her husband one day. Regardless of what a person has done, the feelings
you had for him or her didn’t just fade away into nothing instantly when you learn
they aren’t who you thought they were. They remained like litter after a parade and
she would eventually have to deal with the mess. The only thing Charlotte would be
able to do was be supportive and be there for when Mandy was truly ready to let it
all out.

“Robert and Garreth are being charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and so many
other counts that they’re too long to list.” Neal spoke from his chair at the kitchen
table. When Charlotte released her hold on Mandy she turned to see the man that she
hoped would hear her out when they had time alone. There were many things she wanted
to tell him, but for now being close to him would have to do. Her heart lifted when
he held out his hand. She gratefully took it and the comfort he gave by wrapping his
arm around her waist as he drew her to him, although his gaze was set on Mandy. She’d
folded a leg underneath her as she sat in one of the chairs, shredding the tissue
that she held in her hands as she listened to what Neal had to say. “There are several
of their followers, such as Sally Jenkins, who will be charged as well. In fact, many
of the inner circle are trying to make deals to limit the amount of time they’re looking
at. Bottom line? Ashes to Dirt is done.”

“I still can’t believe Sally has been involved with the cult this entire time and
reporting my whereabouts, Mandy’s, and basically any information she could gather
to the Ashes.” Charlotte pulled away from Neal only to take the seat next to him.
Their hands had stayed connected and when he squeezed them lightly, Charlotte knew
that things were going to work out just fine. “What about the other members that didn’t
have a clue as to what Patricia and Robert had planned?”

“They’ll be released and looking for somewhere they can belong. They all lost everything
they had when they hooked up with the Ashes.” Neal shifted so that he could easily
address both her and Mandy. He looked well rested and Charlotte knew he’d fallen asleep
with her, but not how long he’d been awake. She glanced at the stove to see the display
reading six o’clock in the evening. “Let’s hope they make a better choice next time
around, although it’s doubtful. They certainly won’t get their money back. The Ashes
had little cash on hand, so whatever they obtained from their followers has been spent.”

“And Becky?” Mandy asked, looking between the two of them for answers. Brad must have
dropped her off recently since she was still asking questions. Charlotte had wanted
to personally thank him for what he’d done as well, but it looked like it wouldn’t
happen today. “How is she? Is she mad at me?”

“No, kiddo, she’s not mad at you.” Neal was shaking his head at Mandy’s question,
although Charlotte could see that his answer meant the world to her. “The federal
agents took her to the hospital to get checked out. The Ashes didn’t harm her and
they fed her three times a day. Physically she’ll recover just fine.”

“You said she was kept underground in a—”

“Mandy,” Neal said in a gentle tone that eased Mandy’s tension, “why don’t you go
over to her house? She was asking about you and I promised her that once you got home
you would be right over. I think it’s important for the two of you to be together
right now. I’ll take you over there though, since I don’t think it’s wise for you
to be alone just yet. If you want me to come back to pick you up later, I will…or
you can spend the night. Either way, just let me or Charlotte know.”

Mandy was nodding her head but looking at Charlotte for confirmation. There was an
unspoken question that hung in the air. That’s when she understood that Mandy was
worried about her physical and mental condition as well.

“Mandy, I’m fine. They didn’t get a chance to hurt me. It was all over in a couple
of hours.” Charlotte reluctantly released Neal’s hand and leaned forward to place
her fingers over Mandy’s. “Go spend time with Becky. Neal’s right and I think it will
do the two of you good. Then when you get home, you and I can huddle up under our
favorite blanket on the couch and talk about our futures—whether that’s tonight or
in the morning, it’ll be our time.”

“Okay,” Mandy said in agreement, clearing her throat twice. She still looked a little
skeptical regarding Charlotte’s claim of being okay, but she didn’t know how else
to reassure her sister. Being in this kitchen with the two people who meant everything
to her was validation she was alive and well. “But I’d like to come back here in a
few hours if that’s all right? I just need to be home.”

“I’ll come back for you around twenty-one hundred hours. That’s nine o’clock for you
civilians. That’ll give you two girls some time.” Neal waited for Mandy to stand before
he did, and then he lingered in the kitchen for Mandy to collect her phone that was
in the living room. The moment she was out of sight Neal reached for Charlotte’s hand
and pulled her out of the chair. “I’d hoped you would have slept longer. How do you
feel?”

“I’m glad you’re still here,” Charlotte whispered the truth, searching his green eyes
for any evidence that he was thinking of leaving tomorrow. She wanted to ask where
the team had gone but she wasn’t sure she was ready for that answer. “Thank you for
taking Mandy over to Becky’s house. I’m going to take a quick shower while you’re
gone and then I’d like for us to talk.”

Neal’s facial expression was hard to read, but Charlotte could see that he wasn’t
tense like before. His shoulders were relaxed and there seemed to be a calming aura
that surrounded him. It gave her hope that he would really listen to what she had
to say and when he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her, she breathed
deeply and inhaled his clean fresh scent. She’d known from the damp ends of his hair
that he’d already taken a shower. She breathed in once more, wishing she could bottle
his smell.

“Be good,” Neal murmured, kissing the top of her head. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”

Charlotte felt him pull away and she had no choice but to let him go. Neal walked
through the doorway and into the living room, his voice fading as he and Mandy left
the house. She wrapped her arms around her waist, looking around the kitchen she’d
grown up in and had made her own home. She loved Hearth, but it had taken her a very
long time and a life threatening event to understand that a town wasn’t home—it was
the people you were with. Would Neal forgive her for past mistakes and agree with
her now? Or was it too late to change things?

*

Neal used the
spare key to unlock the door, and even though Robert and Garreth Ashe were in custody,
Neal still took the time to look around the neighborhood. The sky was clear so the
moon shed its light on the areas where the streetlights didn’t. The nights were now
getting downright cold and the dead leaves had started to fall. They were rustling
in the slight breeze that had picked up during the day as a northern low pressure
weather front blew in. The houses surrounding Charlotte’s residence were lit from
within and he could even see a couple of television sets broadcasting the nightly
news through the open windows.

Everything was as it should be with nothing ominous in the air. Evil had been thwarted
last night and the townsfolk could rest easy. Neal breathed in deep, loving the smell
of autumn and burnt hardwood logs that carried through the air. This was his hometown,
but it wasn’t his home anymore. He had a new life in California…and he didn’t want
to go back alone because technically San Diego wasn’t home either just yet. His place
was with Charlotte, but could he ask her to give this up?
Her
home? The bookstore? Her life-long friends and neighbors? There was only one way
to find out—he had to ask.

Pushing open the front door, Neal entered the warm house and listened for sounds to
indicate if she was still in the shower. He couldn’t hear any running water so he
quietly closed the door and made sure the deadbolt was turned. He tossed the keys
on the side table in the entry hall as he continued through to the living room and
further on into the kitchen, down the back hall until he came to her bedroom. And
there she was…waiting for him.

“How is she?” Charlotte asked from her place on the bed. Her damp hair hung over one
shoulder and her freshly cleaned face made her look years younger. She was wearing
a small white terry cloth robe and what he hoped was covering her lack of anything
else underneath. Her concern for Mandy was automatic and that was one of the things
he loved about her. “It’ll take a while, but I think she’ll come out of this stronger
in the end.”

“With you looking out for her, Mandy will do just fine.” Neal leaned against the doorjamb,
taking in the beauty that he’d missed out on for over eight years. “And you? You’ve
got more strength than any six women I’ve ever met combined. It’s me I’m worried about.”

“You?” Charlotte’s voice raised an octave and her lips remained parted as if she wasn’t
quite sure how to respond to that. Neal started the process of removing his shoulder
holster, wanting to get more comfortable for what lay ahead. It didn’t take her long
to rebound and want clarification. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Well, let’s spell it out.” Neal pushed himself off the frame and made his way closer
to the bed. He stopped briefly to lay his weapon on the dresser, where he also leaned
down to untie his boots. “One, Hearth is now safe for the townsfolk, including you
and Mandy. Two, Mandy is now free to live her life and go to nursing school without
the threat of Garreth hanging over her head.”

Neal finally removed both boots and placed them alongside the dresser. He then reached
for the sweater he’d put on earlier and drew it over his head, making sure he pulled
his T-shirt along with it. He let them drop to the floor.

“Three, you have your bookstore, your neighbors, your friends. This is where you’ve
lived your entire life.” Neal unhooked the button of his jeans. Something stirred
inside of him as Charlotte had kept her eyes glued to his every movement. Her blue
eyes had deepened and her fingers were now stroking her damp hair, which was drying
at a rapid pace and springing into those natural waves he loved so much. It was time
he told her so. “Me? I have until the beginning of next week before I return to San
Diego—basically a ninety-six hour liberty pass. The team was given additional leave
for pulling off not one but two successful missions. Unfortunately that means I’m
returning to an empty apartment—by myself.”