Love on the Horizon (A Northern Woods Novel) (28 page)

“But I need somewhere to go, and
I should look through my clothes and keep anything that may be salvageable.”

“Let’s just take one step at a
time. It may no longer be livable.  We’ll find out our next move after we’ve
heard what the police have to say.”

She nodded sadly. Sam leaned his
head between the seats and rested it on her shoulder.

“Sam sure has taken a liking to
you.”

Natalie smiled. “That he has,”
she said softly, and placed her hand gently on top of Sam’s head.

“I’m glad we headed back today. I
still have three days left of my vacation, and Sam will be able to get used to
his new home before I return to work.”

“You could leave him with me when
you go to work, if you’d like; that is if I go back there.” She looked at him. He
frowned and rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. “Would that be a
problem? The Colburn Stables Ranch is only three miles from my house.”

Jake wasn’t sure whether to tell
her all that happened while she was away, or if he should leave it all to the
police.

“Let’s wait until you talk with
the officers first. Would you like me to go with you?” he asked when he pulled
into the police department parking lot.

“I’d really appreciate it. I’m
afraid of what’ll happen to me when they find out I faked my death and had been
in hiding.”

“I don’t think they’ll do
anything. You were only protecting yourself. If need be, I’m sure the owner of
the resort would testify for you. He must have noticed the bruises when you
arrived at the cabin, which was soon after you disappeared.”

“Yes, it had been more than a
week when he saw me, but they took a long time to heal. There were so many. My
arms and legs were always black and blue. That’s one of the reasons Carl would
never let me have any friends. When we did go out, I had to wear blouses with
long sleeves and jeans covering my legs. Covered with bruises from head to toe,
I was finally able to escape.

“Will you stay with me?” she
asked nervously.

“Yes, if they’ll allow me to. If
you need a lawyer, I’ll call mine, though I doubt that you will. Don’t worry,
I’m sure things are going to be fine,” he said.

After he found a place to park in
the shade, for Sam’s benefit, he turned off the engine and opened the windows a
bit.

“Let’s go,” he smiled at her, and
again helped her out of the truck. When they reached the entrance, he placed
his hand in hers and reassured her that he’d remain by her side if possible.
“Don’t worry, honey. Everyone will be glad to see that you’re alive, and it’ll
turn out just fine.”

* * *

Natalie told the officers everything
about Carl: how he’d treated and abused her, and the many times he threatened
to kill her. After hours of questioning, there were papers she needed to sign
involving herself and her deceased husband. They informed her of the suicide
note, and that he’d buried all of her clothing in the yard. When she’d answered
all of their questions, they allowed her to leave, with a court date set for
Monday at one p.m.

“I’ll call my attorney, Nattie.
I’m sure he’ll be able to have any fines dropped, or at least keep them at a
minimum, if there will even be any at all. The police sergeant did say the
judge might give you an official pardon since this was a case of domestic
violence, and your life was threatened. Hopefully he’ll pardon the entire
case.”

When they walked out of the
police station, they realized what a beautiful autumn day it had become. They
returned to the truck at last, and took Sam for a walk in the field across the
street. Locked in the vehicle for quite a while, they were thankful the truck
stayed cool while in the shade.

Now with the much dreaded
appearance and disclosure concluded, Natalie would be able to relax and learn
to live a free and happy life. However, first she wanted to see Mariah and
Sarah, to apologize and thank them for trying to help her when she’d been so
deeply in need of assistance, yet unable to accept it at the time.

They finished their walk with Sam
and climbed back into the truck. Jake pulled his cell phone from his shirt
pocket and called Mariah. This time she answered on the first ring. He smiled
at Nattie.

“Mariah, this is Jake.”

“Jake! How are you? Is the
weather still nice up there?”

“It was great, while it lasted.”

“
Was?
Are you back home
already? It’s only Thursday.”

“I brought home a surprise. Is
Nick around?”

“Oh, I love surprises! Nick just
walked in the door. Would you like to speak to him?”

“Yes, please.” He looked over and
winked at Nattie.

Mariah whispered to Nick. “Jake’s
on the phone, and he has a surprise.” She handed the receiver to him.

“Hey Jake, what’s up?”

“Nick, I have a favor to ask.
Will you call Sarah from the phone in your office so that Mariah won’t know?
Ask her to come over to your house immediately. It’s urgent.”

“What’s happening? You sound
excited.”

“You’ll see why when I arrive.
Please call Sarah right away, and don’t let Mariah know.  I’m about forty
minutes from your house.”

“Well, I’m totally mystified, but
I’ll do that. I’ll have to run over to the office for a minute, but we’ll see
you shortly.”

Jake closed his cell phone and
started the truck. “They’ll all be filled with surprise and grateful when they
set eyes on you, honey.”

“That’s wonderful. You’ve been so
helpful; I can’t even begin to thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.”

“The tremendous change on your
face between the time I first saw you and now is a blessing in itself.”

“Yes, the horrific life I had to
live has finally been washed away. I’m now free to do as I please, and enjoy
life to the fullest. I’ll have to get a room at the motel in Huntington until
the court appearance on Monday. Would it be too much to ask of you to drop me
off there when we leave Nick and Mariah’s house?”

“Nattie, you’re more than welcome
to stay at my place if you’d like. I have a four-bedroom house. You’d be able
to have the room of your choice – and you’d be there with Sam when I go back to
work next week. I’ll drive you to Ely the following weekend, if that’s what you
really want.”

“Thank you, Jake. In the past two
weeks I’ve learned that there really are still a few nice men around.” She
smiled at him, and he took her hand in his.

“Well, we’re here. Are you ready
for this?” Jake turned onto the gravel road leading to the Colburn Stables
Ranch.

“Oh yes, I’m
very
ready.”

Five minutes later, he pulled
into the driveway alongside Nick’s garage.

Chapter
Forty-three

Jake jumped out of the truck and
hurried around to the passenger side to open the door for Nattie. He placed his
strong hands on her waist, lifted her from the seat and lowered her slowly to
the ground.
Oh, how I don’t want to let go of her. She’s so beautiful.

He put Sam on his leash. The
three of them entered the corner of the open garage when Nick came through the
doorway from the kitchen. He saw Jake standing there with Sam.

“So this is what the excitement
was all about?” Nick asked with a smile.

Jake brought his arm around from
behind him with a shy and petite young woman attached. Nick’s mouth dropped
open in surprise. At the same moment, Mariah and Sarah stepped into the garage
from behind. They gasped in shock then ran quickly toward Natalie, and almost
knocked Nick over along the way.

“Oh my God, it’s Nattie!” Sarah
screeched in delight.

“Nattie, is it really you?”
Mariah asked excitedly. “You’re alive!” The three women wrapped their arms
around each other and jumped up and down like children. “Everyone assumed you
had drowned when all the divers had been able to find was your car. They
thought your body had drifted far out into Lake Superior. Where have you been?”

“See, Mariah? What’d I tell you?
I knew she was still alive. You look beautiful, Nattie,” Sarah exclaimed.
“Looks like you’ve taken good care of yourself.” When they entered the house,
they asked one question after another. Natalie had no time to answer them all.

“Come into the kitchen and sit
down. We want to know all about it,” Mariah said and led the way. “Would you
care for a wine cooler?” she asked. They both responded with a quick nod and
continued talking.

The men laughed and shook their
heads. They knew the women would be busy catching up on things for quite a while.
Nick pulled out a couple of lawn chairs for them. Sam had been excited too, but
when he received no attention, he just sat beside Jake, quietly watching a
cluster of hummingbirds as they fluttered around their feeder.

Nick grabbed a couple of beers from
the refrigerator they kept in the garage, and handed one to Jake. “So… want to
let me in on this exciting vacation of yours?”

Jake began to tell him all that
happened. He started at the beginning when he found his best friend Sam, to all
that happened that led him to Nattie. When he finished, he stood from the
chair, and Sam watched as his master paced back and forth in front of him.

“Nattie is her nickname which
she’d like to go by. Carl hated it and insisted she use her name of Natalie.”
He looked down at Sam who was walking in circles.

“I’d best take Sam for a walk.
He’s been shut up in the truck for most of the day.”

Nick stood, and the three of them
began to hike across the meadow behind the house. Jake and Nick walked slowly,
enjoying the mild weather. Sam happily wandered ahead of them, stopping every
so often to take a sniff here, there, and everywhere else that dogs love to
stick their noses. When Sam had enough, they turned and headed back.

“Let’s have another beer. I think
you could use one more. Your vacation ended up to be quite an adventure.” Jake
nodded with a smile and a sparkle in his eyes.

In the house, Natalie explained
all she’d been through and where she was able to remain in seclusion. She also
told them how her visitor had stumbled upon her sanctuary. They were laughing
when the men entered, along with Sam, who was welcomed in. Jake told Nick that
Sam is very gentle with children. The men each sat on a bar stool at the
kitchen counter and quietly listened to the women. Sam stretched out on the
floor next to his master.

“So where are you going to live?
You’re going to be staying here now, aren’t you?” Mariah asked. “You certainly
can’t return to your house,” she added, then cringed at the thought. “We have
plenty of room here. If you need a place, you’d be more than welcome.”

“Well…” Natalie looked down at
her hands, blushed, and brushed off a speck of imaginary lint from her jeans.
She raised her face, her cheeks pink. With a coy smile she said, “No offense,
but I’d like to stay as far away as possible from that hideous place I’d been
forced to live in.”

“Well Mariah and I can certainly
understand that, from what we saw over there,” Sarah said quietly.

“Jake offered one of his bedrooms
until I decide whether I’m going to stay here, or go back to the cabin.” She
blushed, and then quickly added, “He told me I could have the room at the
opposite end of the house if I wish.”

“And do you?” Sarah asked.

“Sarah!” Mariah exclaimed.
“That’s none of your business!”

The men were quite amused, and enjoyed
listening to this conversation.

“Do I what?” Natalie asked.

“Do you wish for the bedroom
furthest away from his?”

“Sarah, stop that! You’re
embarrassing her.” Mariah stood and collected the empty bottles from their wine
coolers.

“Well, you girls seem to have had
a nice reunion,” Nick said. “How would everyone like a steak on the grill?”

Jake glanced over at Natalie, and
she smiled. He read that to be a yes, and he nodded at Nick. “That sounds
great.”

“Sorry, but I have to get back to
my family,” Sarah replied. “They’re probably beginning to wonder where their
dinner is.”

“Give your hubby a call and tell
him to bring the boys over here. We’re having a party!” Nick said.

Mariah stood from the table when
Sarah took her phone from her purse.

“I’ll let Bess know she’ll have
the rest of the day off. She can join us if she’d like. The boys will have fun.
They haven’t been together since their fishing trip.”

Jake sat down next to Natalie.
“Are you okay with this?” he asked quietly.

She looked up at him and nodded
with a bright smile. He reached for her small hand.

“I’m glad you’re happy, Nattie.
You deserve time with your friends.”

“Yes, finally,” she answered, and
looked up at him with a gleam in her eyes.

* * *

Mariah and Nick were picking up
the scattered items from the party, mainly from the children. Everyone appeared
to have had a good time. They both stood at the sink to wash the dishes
together.