On Ice (44 page)

“
Why aren’t you dead, you animal?” she screamed. Rene lifted the shovel and smashed it down on him again and again.

~*~

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Fury raged through Rene. Anger pulsed in her veins. No longer weak, she gripped the shovel with both hands. The bear spirit coursed through her being.

She wanted him dead, this man who hurt her child.

As she’d pounded his head and shoulders, she had sincerely wanted him dead. Now, holding the shovel at the ready, she wondered if he really was. He didn’t move but she expected him to rise up like an evil phoenix to disarm her. Brandishing the shovel, she watched him through narrowed eyes.

Disgusted, she scooped the shovel under him, flipping him over. He rolled like a rag doll, falling limply on his back. She glanced at Seth, so still, and stifled the urge to bash Mark again.

Drawing a sharp breath, she noticed how much Seth looked like his father. Both lay still, maybe lifeless. No! She refused to consider the possibility that Seth could die.

“
Please God. Please God,” she continued her chant.

Sara and Ben approached the cabin noisily. They yelled back and forth, stomping heavily up the steps.

“
Mommy! Mommy!” Sara cried out as they stamped the snow from their boots.

Rene opened the door as Ben reached for the knob.

“
Miz Reeny, what’s the matter?” He stared, open-mouthed, at the man sprawled on the floor. “Miz Sara said somebody was hurtin’ you.”

Rene nodded, unable to speak. She pointed to Seth. Ben dropped to his knees. He pulled off his insulated gloves and felt for a pulse.

“
He’s alive,” he announced. “I don’t think we should move him. Did you call the doc?”

“
I--I don’t know,” Rene said. “He cut the phone line. I sent an e-mail to Brett and the doc.”

“
And Dr. Chad,” Sara announced, running to examine Tasha, who wagged her little curl of a tail and licked at Sara’s face.

“
The vet?” Ben asked. “I think this,” he gestured toward Seth and then Mark, “is gonna’ need a doctor.”

“
That,” Rene said, “is my husband. He hit Seth and threw the puppy into the fireplace.

“
Oh, my,” Ben said. “We better get a hold of the sheriff and Doc Lorelei.” He sat at the computer and tapped out a quick message.

Rene felt weak as the adrenaline ebbed. She was shaky, but resisted the urge to weep.

“
You okay, Miz Reeny?” Ben asked. He looked her over critically. “You look kinda peaked.”

“
Me? I’m fine,” she answered. Kneeling beside Seth, she held his limp hand in her own.

“
I hope the doc gets here soon.” Ben crossed the room to look out the small window over the bed, laying a comforting hand on Sara’s shoulder as she cradled the puppy in her lap.

Seth’s eyes fluttered open. “Mom?” he whispered.

“
I’m right here, Seth. Everything’s alright.” Rene brushed his hair back from his clammy forehead. A glimmer of a smile traced his lips as he closed his eyes again. His breathing was stronger and his grip was firm.

Relief washed over her as she squeezed back the tears. Silently, she prayed for Lorelei’s speedy arrival.

“
Miz Reeny,” Ben said.

She looked up to find Mark staring at her groggily. He rolled onto his side and surveyed the scene as though trying to put the pieces together. He struggled to rise and fell back to his knees.

“
Ben, he’s very dangerous,” she warned. “Please get something to tie him up.”

Mark crouched in the middle of the cabin, holding his head and groaning.

“
Miz Reeny, he looks weak as a little kitten.” Ben approached him without fear. “He couldn’t hurt a fly.” He stood a few feet from Mark, looking down at him with an expression of pity.

“
No, Ben,” Rene said. “Please. He--”

Mark sprang from his crouched position, striking Ben under the chin with all his force.

Rene cried out as Ben crashed into the solid wood end table, crafted by his own hand. The table collapsed, sending a small lamp shattering to the floor.

Sara screamed, her voice shrill and hollow as it reverberated off the high beams in the rafters.

Rene shielded Seth with her body, determined to protect him from further injury.

Mark jumped on Ben as he struggled to rise from the remains of the table, striking him in the face. Ben looked almost puzzled, then angry as he wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. He fixed his good eye on Mark and drew his brows together into a frown. Ben launched himself at Mark, swinging his fists as he advanced. His third swing made contact with Mark’s chin.

Mark looked surprised. He wasn’t used to being hit.

Ben drove home his advantage with a punch directly to Mark’s mouth, drawing blood in return. His next blow caught Mark by his right eye. As Ben landed blow after blow, Mark retreated, backing toward the kitchen area. Ben threw him against the counter causing utensils and glassware to clatter. Mark doubled over as Ben punched him again and again in the stomach.

Mark groped behind him and opened a drawer, strewing utensils to the floor. He stumbled, clutching at the next drawer. The contents spilled on top of him as he fell amid the silverware. Knives landed heavily by his legs. He glanced at the large chef’s knife, then up at Ben.

Ben’s gaze fell on the shiny steel blade as Mark grabbed the handle. Ben leaned down, trying to retrieve it, but Mark plunged the knife into Ben’s shoulder. Ben yelled in pain as blood spurted from his wound. He sank to his knees, driving the blade deeper.

Sara and Rene screamed in unison.

Mark released his grip, letting Ben slide to the floor with the knife protruding from his shoulder. An expression of disgust crossed Mark’s face as he stared at his blood-covered hands. He turned to the sink and twisted the taps, sending a torrent of ice cold water into the porcelain sink. He hesitated a moment before pushing his sleeves up and carefully washing his hands and arms with soap. He splashed his face gingerly, rinsing blood from his mouth and cheek.

Ben grimaced in pain, but Mark ignored him, reaching for a kitchen towel to dry his hands.

“
Well Rene, see what happens when you try to defy me? Everyone around you suffers.” He tossed the towel on the counter top and turned to face her, his face a parody of understanding. “I said do you see what happens?” His voice held a threatening edge.

“
Yes. Yes, Mark. I see,” she said shakily. “Please, just leave us alone.”

“
Now, why would I want to do that, Rene?” Mark took a few steps toward her. “So you can tell your boyfriend?”

“
I won’t tell anyone,” she said. Just leave now.”

“
And no one will ever know, right?” Mark cocked his head. “Don’t insult my intelligence, Rene. You would just love to turn me in, wouldn’t you? Who, in this god-forsaken wilderness, is going to believe that I had to stab this cretin in self-defense?” He turned his attention back to Ben, whose pallor had become pasty white. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead in spite of the cool temperature.

“
Mark, please,” Rene began, then broke off abruptly as Mark drove the toe of his boot into Ben’s ribs.

“
And that will teach you to come to the aid of a damsel in distress.” Mark threw his head back and laughed. “Now, I must pay you back for your less than wifely behavior. For shame, Rene! Why would a woman who was given everything throw it all away to come to this wasteland? Why would a woman who lived in luxury run to a bare existence in this shack?”

Rene looked around the homey cabin. She loved the life she had here, but she couldn’t defend it to Mark.

~*~

Maddy peered out the windshield of the four-wheel drive vehicle she’d rented at the airport. The map she clutched was difficult to read as they lurched along in the ruts.

Terrence frowned in concentration, ineffectually attempting to clear the glass.

“
Mrs. Sanders, I’m going to have to turn the heat down. I can’t see a thing.”

“
Oh, very well, Terrence.” She clutched the collar of her mink closer to her throat and squinted ahead. “Wait! I think that’s where we turn. Sad Horse is up ahead.”

Terrence obediently turned at the small sign and shook his head as though wondering why he had done so. “Are you sure, Mrs. Sanders? This looks so desolate.”

“
I think that’s what Rene had in mind.” She pointed to the left. “There it is. Turn there.”

Terrence pulled onto the main street of Sad Horse past a few businesses with frosted windows. He saw what appeared to be a woman hustle out of a bakery and into a red truck.

“
Terrence, pull in beside the truck. We’ll ask her for directions.” Maddy rolled down the window as the woman reached to close the door. “Excuse me!”

The woman paused, staring at her through the opening, her eyes narrowing.

“
I’m looking for my sister. She’s a teacher here.”

“
Of course you’d be her sister,” the woman said. “Doesn’t she look just like Rene?” She turned to the long-faced man sitting beside her in the truck, who also peered at her through the open door.

“
But, yes. She is the exact same person.” His heavy French accent colored his words. “Except, of course, for the hair. Rene’s is shorter and,” he hesitated, making snipping motions in the air.

“
Unstyled?” the woman offered as he nodded.

“
Please,” Maddy broke in. “I’m very worried about her. She’s in danger.”

The man and woman in the truck exchanged a glance.

“
Can you tell us how to get to the place she’s living?”

“
Follow us. We’re on our way there for our lesson.”

“
Lesson?” Maddy raised her elegant brows, thinking these students were a bit older than Rene had described in her e-mails. “Yes, please lead us to her as quickly as possible.”

The woman nodded cheerily, closing the door as the truck drew away from the curb.

Terrence pulled in behind them, trying to stay in the same ruts they cut into the brown slush.

~*~

“
Well, Rene? I’m waiting.” Mark raised his eyebrows in an exaggerated expression of boredom.

“
I can’t say exactly.” Rene averted her gaze, desperately stalling for time. Surely the Sheriff would arrive soon. “People are different. We want different things. I wanted to teach. I wanted to help people.” She jumped as he slammed his fist down on the counter.

“
No! You’re my wife. You’re supposed to help me. You want what I want.”

“
What do you want, Mark?” Rene kept her voice even, trying to keep him talking.

“
What do I want?” He mimicked her tone. “I want what we had!” he exploded. “I want our perfect life back. Why did you have to destroy everything I worked for?”

“
I didn’t mean to hurt you, Mark.” She glanced at her son, his hand gripping hers and steeled her heart against any remorse she might feel for her actions.

“
Well, you did and now you’re going to pay for it.” His tone changed from self-pity to bitterness.

Rene struggled to keep any trace of fear from her face.

He glared at her, his eyes glittering with amusement as he snapped his fingers three times. “You’re just like your sister. I thought I taught you to have more class, but you’re just like her.” He snapped his fingers again. “I’ll show you just like I showed her.”

“
What have you done to Maddy?” Rene felt a tight band squeeze her heart. She wanted to get up from her kneeling position, but her legs were cramped and tingling.

“
I’ll show you what I did to that bitch. It’s only fitting that I do.” He pushed away from the counter, advancing toward her with a twisted grin on his face.

Rene reached for the fallen shovel, dragging herself upright with it. She gasped as her legs were jolted by the tingling pain of a thousand electric needles. Unable to move, she tried to steady her fluttering heartbeat as Mark neared. Where was the she-bear? Where was her fierce, protective spirit? She pressed her hand against the bear fetish lying warm and hard next to her skin. Gathering her strength, she focused her energy on the approaching enemy.

“
What’s the matter, Rene? You look scared. Don’t ever look at your loving husband that way.” Mark laughed, snapping his fingers the requisite three times.

“
Isn’t that what you like, Mark?” Rene was amazed to hear the hard edge to her own voice. “You like to frighten women and children. Does it make you feel like a big man?”

“
How dare you mock me!” Mark’s face suffused with a purplish hue. “I’m your husband! I deserve your respect.”

“
I don’t think you deserve anything from me except loathing.” She saw the effect her words had on him. He reeled under their weight. The tingling in her legs grew stronger.

“
You’re nothing but a bully. You can’t comprehend how kind and loving a real man can be to a woman.”

“
A real man? You mean like your boyfriend? The man you’ve betrayed me with?” His voice broke as he waved his arms in circles. “Answer me. Are you talking about him?”