Chapter Thirty Four

“I still can’t believe you racked the guy in the nuts,” Dan said with a wince of pain despite himself.

“I think it’s spectacular,” Rachel said supportively, making Elise laugh.

“I don’t consider myself a violent person at all, but I have to admit it was immensely satisfying,” Elise said with an embarrassed grin.

“And the police arrested him?” Dan asked. “So we’re down at the bonfire having a good ole time and you’re up here, assaulting a would-be rapist and calling the sheriff’s office in. Story of my life – I miss all the good stuff because I’m too busy dancing.”

Elise laughed, taking another sip of coffee. The following morning, she had convened in the lounge with Rachel and Dan, wanting to fill them in on everything that had transpired the night before. The sheriff’s deputy had arrived shortly after her panicked phone call, but had pulled up to the front of the Inn without lights on, so Dan and Rachel – and the rest of the guests – had no idea what had transpired until Elise filled them in over coffee and crullers. “Well, I’m glad it didn’t disrupt the party or the other guests. I didn’t want anything to think a visit from law enforcement was a regular thing at the Inn. Didn’t want you guys to get a reputation.”

Dan was loking at her askance again. “You really kicked him in the nuts.”

“I really did,” Elise confirmed.

“And you two had crossed paths before, right? You said something about that…” Rachel prompted and Elise nodded.

“At… at Timberline. He tried to… he tried to foster intimate relations, and when I turned him down, he got aggressive. Tucker stepped in and tossed him around then banished him to parts unknown. I guess parts unknown was here, so when he saw me, he figured we had unfinished business,” Elise explained, and Rachel looked at her thoughtfully.

“You know, whenever you mention Tucker’s name, you get a funny look on your face. You miss him, don’t you?”

Elise swallowed then tried ot smile bravely. “It’s like I’m missing an arm, not having him around. Does that make me a pathetic human being?”

“No, that makes you one in love,” Rachel said gently, taking her hand and giving it a supportive squeeze. “And there’s nothing wrong with being in love.”

Dan nodded in agreement. “I know… I know there was complications with Tucker and his wife, but if you love him, you guys will find a way. I really believe that – love conquers all and all that.”

“Now you sound like a Hallmark card,” Elise teased and Dan laughed.

“I prefer ‘hopeless romantic’ to ‘pathetic sap’, but believe this: if you miss Tucker, you should go to him. And not that we wouldn’t miss your cooking or your company, but if you say the word, I’ll drive you to Timberline myself right now.”

Elise bit her lip, considering. “I’d be lying if I said that last night’s… incident didn’t give me cause for thought, for rethinking my rigid position on right and wrong when it comes to Tucker. And it made me realize… I’m stronger than I think I am. I think I believed myself to be relying on Tucker, to love him more than he loved me, because I wasn’t worthy of any man’s affection. But I’m stronger, tougher, more self sustaining than I thought. If nothing else, I have Billy to thank for that revelation.”

“That’s a good revelation,” Rachel said with a smile. “Even if the delivery method was suspect.”

The three of them laughed, Elise most of all.

It was true, though. She wasn’t a pathetic mouse, a woman who needed a man to take care of her, or a wimp.

She was just… in love.

In love with a wonderful man who loved her too, and considerd her worthy of his affections.

True, there were complications, but anything could be overcome with enough love, patience and understanding.

And she missed Tucker – and Betsy too – terribly.

Would it be so wrong to run back to Timberline, to throw herslf into his arms and beg him to help her find a way to stay?

Elise thought not going back would be more wrong.

“If I pack this morning, do you think you could drive me over after lunch?” Elise asked, her voice small.

Dan and Rachel exchanged a knowing look, a smile, and a high five. “Would leaving at noon suit you?”

#

Elise leaned over and kissed Dan’s cheek before opening the car door of his beat up blue Chevy truck. “I can’t think you enough for…well, for saving me, in any number of ways. Take your pick, because you really did save me.”

Dan blushed and smiled. “Aw, shucks, ma’am, I live for savin’ people,” he said modestly, and she laughed as she grabbed her suitcase and purse out of the back seat.

“Thanks for the ride… and all the other stuff,” Elise said, feeling strangely choked up at the thought of bidding her new friends farewell, though they had only known each other for a few weeks when she thought about it. “And for pushing me to come back here. I think I just needed someone to give me a shove, to tell me it really was okay.”

“Elise,” Dan said seriously, grabbing her hand and squeezing. “It really is okay. Now, go find your man and have a big sloppy reunion. I love a happy ending to a love story. Do you want me to wait for you to make sure you get in okay?”

Elise shook her head no emphatically. “Nah, that might jinx it.”

“Well, we don’t want any jinxing,” Dan affirmed, giving her a wide smile. “You have my cell phone number, and don’t be a stranger. I expect at least a call or two to fill me in on all the gory details of your reunion. Rachel expects it too, so don’t disappoint us.”

Elise grinned and blushed at the thought of sharing all the sordid details – that wasn’t going to happen. They could get the vanilla version…

“And seriously…,” she said, her voice commanding. “Call if you get in a bind with finding a chef. I’m sure we can work something out, even if it’s just weekends or something.”

“Won’t you and your man be out on lovey dovey dates every weekend?” Dan teased, using a baby voice.

Elise rolled her eyes and slugged him playfully in the shoulder. “Call me. Seriously.”

“Will do. You too,” Dan said with a parting wave as he put the rumbling truck into reverse and slowly backed away.

Elise took a deep breath, blew it out and smiled as she began the long walk down the graveled driveway, already hearing the roar of the waves in the distance. It was mid afternoon, so she assumed Betsy and Rose would be at home, and perhaps Tucker was working from home today…

She picked up her pace, unable to stop herself from speeding up, to quickly bringing her closer to Tucker and Betsy and all that she held dear in the world.

God, she couldn’t wait to hug and kiss them both, to reunite with Timberline, to walk on their beach again…

She decided to just drop her suitcase in the driveway – she could always come back and get it after the reunion – and broke into a full run down the rest of the driveway towards the house, smiling from ear to ear as the sound of Lake Superior grew louder and louder.

She rounded the corner of the house and bounded up onto the front porch, reaching for the front door and then stopping abruptly.

It was locked.

Timberline was never locked.

Who was there to keep out? A passing bobcat?

Only then did she notice that every light was off inside the house, and that the porch and driveway was deserted. No Jed pottering around in the garden, no cars in the drive, no Betsy laughter from the beach, no smells of coffee or cooking from the kitchen…

Where was everyone?

She felt a rising panic as she circled the house once, then again, looking for an open door, a light on, a sign that someone was there.

Nothing.

Timberline was completely and absolutely deserted.

It was as she swiveled around to face the lake that she saw the yellow caution tape customarily used by police to mark a crime scene.

And with that, she sank down onto the step and tried not to cry.

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