Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) (6 page)

Cora opened her eyes, grimaced from the pain in her head, and focused on the first thing she saw—a sign, Emergency Room. Turquoise curtains made mock walls on both sides of her. She peered through the opening in the curtain at the people bustling about, muffled sounds came over an intercom system. She squinted in the bright lights and found an IV in her arm. She frowned from the pain but also from confusion. The beeping of the machines by her side irritated her raw nerves.

A nurse came to her side and checked her pulse. “Where am I?” Cora managed.

“You’re at the hospital, honey. You’ve been through a terrible ordeal.” The nurse pushed buttons and adjusted tubes.

“Am I okay?” Cora pulled her right hand out from under the heavy blankets and touched her forehead. Her entire body trembled.

“Oh yes. You’re just here for observation. Paramedics found you unconscious, and you had some abrasions, so they brought you in.”

“Is my family here?”

“The O’Reillys? Yes, I’ll get them for you.”

Oh yes, she wasn’t at home with Mom and Dad, nor was she with the Buchanans. She was with the O’Reillys.

The nurse returned promptly with Pearl and R.L. Pearl rushed to Cora’s bedside. “Cora, I’m so glad you’re okay.” Her hands with their long fingers and manicured nails gently patted Cora’s leg.

“Hey, dear.” R.L. patted her leg also, but firmly, exhibiting his concern in a more urgent manner.

“What happened to me? All I remember is running in the woods and hiding behind a tree.” Cora tried to sit up.

“Lay still, darlin’,” R.L. said. “Your call saved your life. You evidently escaped the cabin just in time.”

“I was so scared. All I could think about was getting home. I mean—back to the ranch. Am I really okay?”

“I believe so. The doctor said as soon as you regained consciousness you'd be able to go home. He wanted to ask you a few questions and make sure you were not harmed in any way other than what’s obvious.”

“Pearl, I think I’m fine other than these cuts and the concussion. I don’t—I didn’t get attacked like that.”
Thank you, Lord, that he didn’t rape me!
“I remember getting lost. And then I blew a tire. But then I don’t remember what happened. Wait! Someone crashed into my car!” She shook her head. “I don’t understand. If only I hadn’t decided to ride through those back roads, taking my time getting home, none of this would have happened. I didn’t have my phone with me, so after my car got hit, I had to walk to get help. Out of nowhere, someone came up behind me and knocked me over the head. The next thing I knew, I was in that disgusting place all tied up.”

“You poor dear.” R.L. clasped her hand.

“I struggled to get free. I cut my hands on a metal tool chest in there. Then I found the phone hidden in a cabinet. While on the phone with the operator, the truck came back. It was so loud, almost deafening. That’s when the operator told me to get out of there. I knocked open the window and ran for the woods.” Cora cried as she recounted her ordeal, shaking uncontrollably.

“Honey, don’t think about it anymore. What’s important is that you’re safe now.”

“I know. How did they know to call you?”

“A nurse recognized you from Ms. Lottie’s, and they called her.”

“Good evening, sir, ladies.”

Everyone turned to see a mid-forties man in a dark suit standing in the opening of the curtains. His loosened tie languorously hung around his neck. R.L. stood. The man shook his hand.

“How are you?” R.L. said.

“Fine, just fine. I’m Detective Ikeson, Ms. Buchanan. How are you doing?”

“I’m better, now that I’m safe.” Cora wiped tears from her eyes.

“I came to let you know we have a lead on the person involved in your kidnapping.” He loosened his tie a little more.

“You do? Is it anyone I know?” Cora started crying.

“I don’t think so. There’s a gang of guys kidnapping and”—he met her eyes—“raping women as some kind of initiation. We’re pretty sure your incident had to do with them. Did you hear the reports on the news about the missing women?”

“I did hear something the other day. Oh, my gosh!” Cora threw her hands up to cover her mouth. “Why would they have wanted me?”

“Any number of reasons. Wrong place at the right time. Maybe you wandered into their territory. We’re investigating the cabin where we found you, searching for any DNA we can find. We have a good lead on the other missing women. We’ve turned it over to the FBI.”

“Wow, I can’t believe it!”

“You’re a lucky young woman. I have to get back to the office. Here’s my card. Please call if you have any questions.”

When the detective walked out through the opening in the curtains, Cora let out a sigh. “I can’t believe this. I guess it was all worth it, though, if they have a lead on the criminals.”

“You could have been killed. You’re so lucky you got away.” Pearl shuddered.

“Luck had nothing to do with it. God was guiding me the whole time.”

“Praise the Lord,” R.L. said.

“I bet you all were panicking when I didn’t make it home for dinner.”

“We were worried even before that. Cook got home hours before dinner and said you should have been home after your errands. We were about to send Rex out to look for you when the police called,” Pearl said.

A nurse came to check on Cora, and then a doctor came in. The doctor reassured her she was okay to go home, but she needed to take it easy for several days. The bump on her head was bad, and the cuts on her wrists would take time to heal.

Cora was thankful to be going back to the ranch. “What about my car? Did they find my purse? What about all my boxes from home?”

“Don’t worry. They retrieved everything,” R.L. assured.

When Cora got home from the hospital, Rex was sitting on the front porch swing with Susie. “Hey.”

“Hey, Rex.”

“Cora! You’re home!” Susie jumped down from Rex’s lap, her face framed in ringlets from sweat.

Cora knelt down and received the child in a big hug.

Rex walked to the porch steps. “Are you feeling better?”

“I guess. But still weirded out a bit. I can’t believe I was kidnapped.”

“Yeah, that's weird. Well, I’m glad to see you’re up and moving around. I thought maybe you’d decided to leave unexpectedly.”

“No, I wouldn’t do that.” Cora searched Rex’s eyes. There was something in the dark mirrors. But what?

“I wouldn’t blame you if you did. After the way I treated you.” He looked away.

“Don’t worry about it, Rex. We’re good.” She batted the thought away with her hand. “Listen, I’m pretty tired. I’m going to lay down for a while.”

“Okay. I’ll see ya after a while then.”

Cora played blocks with Susie in the playroom. Somehow a month had passed, and the August sun now blazed down and cracked the soil of the Southern Hope Ranch. Cora’s physical wounds from the kidnapping had almost healed. Her nights still included dreams of the cabin and her captor but were slowly improving. Rex was cordial with her now, and that solved her only issues with remaining there. She no longer felt she had to prove herself to him.

“Knock, knock.”

“Come in, Pearl. We’re playing blocks and just finished up our tea party a little while ago.”

“That sounds like great fun. I’m sure Susie is enjoying herself. Did you ever call your parents or your in-laws and tell them about the kidnapping?” Pearl sat in the chair by the window.

“No. I figure I can tell them about it when I go home to visit. Since my name wasn’t in the news, I decided to keep it under wraps for now.”

“I guess you’re right. We’re taking good care of you anyway.” Pearl smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“You sure are. How are you doing, Pearl?” Cora placed a book on the shelf.

“Oh, I’m fine.” She sighed.

“You sure? Something seems to be bothering you.” Cora studied Pearl, the woman who usually spread light all over the house.

“Gramma, do you want some tea?”

“Sure, Sweetie.” Susie offered Pearl a tiny cup of imaginary tea, held carefully with her chubby fingers and then ran to her dollhouse to play.

“Thank you.” A tear slid down Pearl’s face.

“Pearl? What is it?” Cora sat beside her.

“I’m worried about Rex. He has so much on his mind with the ranch. And Susie. And I’m disappointed with his choice in women. I’ve prayed his relationship with Veronica wouldn’t last long. But it seems they’re getting serious.” She sighed.

“I’m sorry. He’s a fortunate man to have parents who love him so much.” Cora could offer no more. She had her own opinions about Rex and his problems, and they were better kept to herself.

“I’m not so sure he feels that way these days. I think he resents our involvement in his life.”

“I’m sure that’s not the case, Pearl.” Cora offered a smile.

“We had so hoped once he began to date again, he’d date someone like you.”

“Like me? You mean a homeless woman who borrows trouble? I’m not so sure I’m a good catch right now, Pearl. I’ve got my own issues I’m dealing with.” Cora laughed.

Pearl chuckled softly. “None of that matters. You’ve got a good heart. It’s evident in the way you’ve taken so much care of Susie.”

“She’s an easy child to love, Pearl. You all are easy to love.” But a twinge ran through Cora’s heart at her untruth. Rex wasn’t as easy for her to love as the rest of the family.

Chapter 6

Cora watched the late-night news in the family room with R.L. and Pearl after getting Susie to bed. She snuggled up on the loveseat with a blanket and a cup of decaf coffee. Even though summer graced their days, fall gently crept into Southern Hope, and the air conditioning kept the house too cool for her liking.

When the news anchor announced a report on another missing Columbus woman, and the reporter on the scene alluded that the incident was tied in with Cora’s kidnapping, she and Pearl exchanged a knowing look. Following the missing woman story, the news anchor told of the death of a drug dealer who’d been missing for a year. She said the name wouldn’t be released until family members were notified. Cora needed no name. The details given described only one person—Clark Buchanan.

Cora practically choked while trying to swallow and excused herself from the family room. She said nothing to Pearl or R.L. because they didn’t even know she had a husband, let alone the details about him. She fled to the safety of her room and picked up the telephone to call Ben and Judy. She hated to wake them if they were asleep, but she had to know.

“Hello,” called a weak voice.

“Judy? It’s Cora. Did I wake you?” Cora feared her suspicions were accurate.

“No, Sweetie. We weren’t asleep.” Her voice was sad. Silence hung heavily on the line.

“I called...because...I was watching the news...”

Judy interrupted, “Yes. It was Clark. We received the call an hour ago. We haven’t been able to call you yet.”

No longer able to hold back her feelings, Cora burst into tears. For a year, she’d expected some kind of news, but this hurt worse than she’d imagined. “How did it happen?”

“Cora, it’s Ben. Judy can’t talk any more. Clark was hiding out somewhere in Nevada, and bounty hunters tracked him down. He wouldn’t surrender, so they had to shoot him. They say he died instantly,” Ben said softly.

“Thank you for telling me. I knew when I heard the report on the news it had to be him. I need to go. I need to be alone. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Cora rushed out of her bedroom, down the stairs, and outside to the back porch.

When she sat in the swing, the floodgates opened, and she sobbed uncontrollably. If only she could run, or hide, or lean on someone, or something. Oh, she didn’t know what she wanted….

“Cora?” a familiar voice called from out of the darkness.

Cora jumped but couldn’t stop crying. She couldn’t even look up.

Rex crossed the porch and sat next to her on the swing, gently placing his arm around her shoulder. “Cora, are you okay?” Rex paused. “Well, I can tell you aren’t okay. What is it?” His voice was deep and comforting.

After several more minutes of weeping and sniffling, Cora swiped her eyes with her fingers and looked up into Rex’s dark eyes, soft for the first time. “I received some bad news from home.”

“Florida?”

“No, South Carolina.” The words choked her. “I found out my husband was shot and killed this morning.”

“Husband?” Rex stiffened but did not remove his arm.

Cora raised her hand. “Yes. I know...you didn’t know I was married. Your parents didn’t know either. We’ve been apart for over a year. He disappeared one night. He was a...” More tears fell.

“Take your time.” Rex moved closer to her and took her into his arms.

Cora relaxed against the strength of Rex’s warm, muscular body. “We’d been happily married—or so I thought—for a while, when he was suddenly arrested for smuggling drugs into the country. I had no idea if it was true or not. He got out of jail on bond, and that night he disappeared. I’ve spent a whole year hoping and praying he’d return. I couldn’t go on with my life until I heard from him. When I came to Lewistown, I was on my way to Florida to be with my parents. I still hoped Clark would come for me, but I’d nearly given up.”

“He’s been gone as long as my Patricia.”

Cora turned toward him, gazing into his face so close to her own. He was obviously in anguish too. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have dumped all of my problems on you.” She wiped her nose with her hand.

“You’re not dumping. I’m glad you did. It’s nice to know someone else can relate to how I feel.” He chuckled and gave her a wink.

“I’ve been expecting to hear this news for a long time. I thought I’d prepared for it and accepted it even. Not until I actually heard he was dead, though, did I realize how much it still hurt.”

“I can imagine.”

“I think what hurts the most is he just up and left me. He didn’t even say good-bye, or try to take me with him. He simply vanished. I thought our love was so strong. Finding out he’d kept things hidden from me was devastating.”

“I’m sure he didn’t want you to get dragged into his mess. He probably only wanted you to be safe.”

“I guess so. He could’ve changed his ways, though.”

“Probably easier said than done.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

“I still grieve over Patricia, after all this time.”

“But at least you found someone else.” Cora weakly smiled.

“No, someone else found me.” He slumped.

“What do you mean?” Cora cocked her head.

“I met Veronica at Wild Bill’s, and she’s wild all right. She drinks and smokes too much and uses the worst language. She’s quite different from my Patricia.”

“How appealing…” Cora shuddered. “Why do you date her?” How could he date a woman with eyes so cold they cut right through anyone she disapproved of?

“She takes my mind off things. She’s only out for a good time. I don’t have to worry about her trying to lasso me, if ya know what I mean.” Rex chuckled again and smirked, not seeming to notice Cora’s condescension.

“I see.” Cora moved away from him. “Well, thanks for hearing me out. You have a good shoulder for crying.”

“Did I say something to offend you?”

“No, not at all. I’m frazzled right now. I think I’ll go inside and tell your folks my news.” Cora stood from the swing.

The fact that Rex chose to be with this type of woman and that he was blind to Veronica’s obvious plan to snare him weighed on her like a backpack full of rocks on a mountain hike.

“What will you do now?”

“I’ll stay a little longer, if it’s okay. I really love Susie. Spending time with her now will take my mind off things.”

“I understand. I’m glad you’re staying. I think it’s better for Susie that you’re here right now.” Rex smiled.

Cora turned to leave. “Thanks.” She needed to get past her obsession over Rex’s lifestyle. She was his daughter's caretaker, not his keeper.

She returned to the family room and told R.L. and Pearl about Clark. They offered to fly her to Columbia for the funeral if she needed them to.

Soon after, she retired to her room and called Mom and Dad. “Hey, Mom.”

“Cora.” The ice in Mom’s voice chilled her all the way through. “I wondered when you would call.”

Cora wiped at a tear that slid down her cheek. “I’ve been busy at my new job.” She didn’t tell her about the kidnapping. “Did you hear the news about Clark?”

“Yes, I did. Are you planning to return home?”

“Not yet, Mom. I’m going to South Carolina for Clark’s funeral. The Buchanans will need me to be there for them.”

“I see.”

Cora closed her eyes. “I’ll be home soon.”

“I understand. They are important to you.”

Cora groaned under her breath. Here came the guilt. “You’re important to me too, but I need to get this behind me. Tell Dad I said hello.”

“Sure.” Mom hung up.

Cora cried herself to sleep, praying for God to bring her peace.