AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll tell you what,” he said smoothly, “why don’t we both forget it, just for now?” He smoothed my ponytail, gently tugging on it a couple of times, kissing my forehead. “Okay?”
I nodded, his sweet kiss on my forehead made me tingle and I so appreciated that he'd left me with some pride.
“Now why don’t you scoot off to bathe and get ready for bed? I’ll stay out here and watch television until you’re ready. I want to make sure that you're safely put to bed and no monsters are lingering in the shadows, okay?”
I started to protest, but he held up his hand to stifle any response I was considering. “Ah,” he cautioned, “Just humor me, I want to be sure you’re okay. And maybe you want to wear the outfit Jenna gave you when you come out of the shower?” he winked.
He could be so playful at times and I liked it. I felt safer with Trey in the cottage while I showered. I knew that I'd not left my cottage unlocked or interior lights on when I left for the racetrack. I realized that a couple of people had probably been in and out the last week while I was in the hospital getting this or that for me. I wondered how many extra keys to this cottage were floating around.
Once bathed, I toweled off and put on the nightie Trey had given me. A fair compromise, I figured. I went from the bathroom into the bedroom, turning on the window A/C to cool the room. I'd made my bed up with fresh sheets from the laundry before I left for the race. As I folded the quilt back my stomach lurched—there was no doubt that someone had been in my cottage. I screamed.
Trey was instantly by my side. “What is it Tylar?” he demanded, spinning me around to face him.
“On the bed,” I choked, pointing.
He turned to look and picked up the two blue velvet boxes, opening one that contained a pair of pearl drop earrings, and the other one that held a gold necklace with a single tear-drop pearl pendant.
“I don’t understand,” he turned to look at me, a puzzled expression on his face. “This jewelry's not yours?”
I shook my head, but my response didn’t match. “They were mine,” I explained. “My mom gave them to me the night of my high school prom. She said that they had been the only gifts that my dad had ever given her. She said she wanted me to have them.”
“Go on,” Trey encouraged.
“I wore them that night to the prom with my boyfriend, Daniel.” I noticed Trey’s head snap up when I mentioned Daniel’s name. “I don’t remember a lot about that night because I got drunk. Daniel took me home and carried me into my house. I never saw the necklace or earrings after that. I was afraid to tell Mom that I'd lost them at least that's what I thought had happened up until now. These are even the same velvet boxes she had them in when she gave them to me.”
“This makes no sense to me,” Trey said. “I mean I understand about prom parties, getting drunk, and losing things, but are you sure that these might not have been stowed away? Maybe in that trunk over there that’s hanging open?” He pointed to the trunk I'd sorted through earlier for my riding clothes.
“Well even if that were true,” I argued, “how would they have ended up under the quilt and not just on top of the bed? Trust me I know these were not in the trunk.” I grew more upset.
Trey sat down on my bed and pulled me down next to him. I knew that he wanted to provide a reasonable explanation for the appearance of the jewelry boxes from my past. He wanted me to consider all of the possibilities. I knew that there was only one. “Tylar are you absolutely sure that there is no other way the jewelry could have gotten in your cottage than by someone other than you?” his eyes searched mine.
“I can’t be sure of anything these days, Trey. I feel like I'm going crazy. It scares me.” In two seconds I was enfolded in his strong arms, feeling his warmth around me, keeping me safe. “Trey?” I asked shakily. “Will you please stay here tonight?”
“You know that I will Tylar.”
Relief flooded over me. I knew that I could sleep if he was nearby. He continued, “Tomorrow morning I'm having the locks on your cottage re-keyed.”
He'd get no argument from me on that score. Trey put me into bed, tucking me inside the covers, and gave me a peck on the cheek. That wasn't going to get it for me.
“Trey,” I looked up at him, smiling meekly, “aren’t you coming to bed too?” He looked uncomfortable. Perhaps he thought I was being forward again.
“Tylar,” he replied earnestly, “It'd be better if I crashed out on your couch.”
Oh, I got it. He felt pressured because of what I'd said earlier. He didn’t trust me.
“Good night,” I said to him. “There are blankets and an extra pillow in the closet.”
He pulled the bedding down from the top shelf, turned out my overhead light, and closed the door softly behind him. I heard the low voices from the television and Trey trying to settle in on the couch for the night. He wasn’t going to be too comfortable on that couch, I realized. It was made for a shorter person. A smile formed on my lips as I drifted off to sleep.
A thunderstorm blew in during the night. I heard the loud clapping of thunder, and heavy rain pelting the cottage from all directions. It appeared that the electricity had gone out because my A/C unit sat silent and my digital alarm clock was dark. I could only see flashes of lightning outside the bedroom window. Loud thunderous clapping followed within seconds of each flash.
I was scared and I wasn't sure why. Thunderstorms had never been a particular fear of mine before. I crawled tentatively out from beneath my covers, trying to adjust my eyes to the dark. The only light to guide me was the sporadic flash of lightning that came through the bedroom window. It was enough. I was going out into the living room to climb on that couch with Trey. I didn’t give a damn how much he protested. I did not want to be alone during this storm. I needed his strong arms around me. I felt around for my bathrobe that had been lying across the bed. I found it and shrugged it on. The next flash of lightning guided me toward the door.
I felt my way through the kitchenette, groping cautiously into the living room. Another flash of lightning served to illuminate the room. The couch was empty. No blanket, no pillow, no Trey. What the hell? I hurried to open the front door. I peered out from behind the screen door to see if perhaps he was out on my porch. Nothing there either.
I noticed that the other cottages still had electricity. I could see their porch lights illuminated. Where had Trey gone? Why had he left me alone in this darkened cottage? I wasn't going to stay in this cottage by myself, not with this storm raging all around me. I tied my robe tighter with the belt, and felt for my flip flops just inside the door. I slipped them on and went out onto the porch.
The storm was raging full force. I knew it wasn't safe to be outside in an electrical storm. I couldn't figure out why all the other cottages had power except for mine. I had a sick feeling that my power lines had been cut. Who would do that? I could see down over the hill to the horse barn. It was fairly well lit. Maybe Trey'd been called down to the barn for some type of an emergency. Maybe something was going on with one of the horses. I needed to find him.
