understand? He needs me…us. If you don’t want to go, I’ll
pay
someone to take me.”
After that singularly telling little speech, Reid frowned, the shadows deepening in his eyes. “You’re being irrational, overreacting—”
“Like father, like daughter,” I said angrily, folding my arms over my chest. “And I warn you, I can be just as stubborn.”
“Then God help us,” he muttered as he turned back to the car. “Have it your way, then. We’ll go. But don’t say I didn’t warn you to wait until daylight.”
And with his threat hanging heavy in the air between us, we climbed back into the car and slammed our doors in unison. Reid started the powerful engine, shifted into first and pulled back onto the road, laying rubber for several yards in testament to his silent anger and annoyance.
As the twilight deepened, we headed toward the mountains that loomed like giant specters on the horizon.
* * *
The road became narrow and twisting, the forest crowding us on either side. Vines with scarlet blossoms hung from the trees, their spent petals weaving a colorful Hansel and Gretel trail in the soft evening light. We circled the mountain until the Caribbean was below us again, aqua blue and dazzlingly beautiful.
I found it hard to imagine living every day with such beauty. The colors were extraordinary, rich and vibrant. The whole island seemed to pulse with an energy that was hard to explain. Just when I found myself drawn to the island, however, I would remind myself of what had happened the night before. And as if to punctuate that point, we passed a man in ragged clothing pulling a cart laden with bloody cowhides.
I flashed Reid a look, but he didn’t seem to notice. His eyes were focused on the growing dusk. He took the hairpin curves at a breathtaking speed. Below us, the Caribbean crashed against huge boulders, tossing spindrift into the air like confetti. There was no guardrail along the road, and I shivered, thinking what one tiny miscalculation could mean.
But Reid was in full control, oblivious to—or perhaps flirting with—the danger. His large hands loosely grasped the steering wheel and gearshift as he maneuvered the car with terrifying competence.
What unnerved me even more was his silence. We went for miles without speaking, and I couldn’t help wondering what he might be contemplating, why his expression seemed so brooding as we drew farther and farther away from civilization.
Why had he been so reluctant to accompany me tomy father’s cabin? Surely he wanted to find Christopher Greggory as much as I did. Didn’t he?
The higher we climbed into the mountains, the darker and more primitive the landscape became. In spite of the light sweater I wore, I became chilled by the deep shadows. The countryside seemed sinister—no longer beautiful, but dangerous and sly. I could see now why Reid had suggested we wait until morning, but it was too late to heed his warning. He was already pulling the car off the road.
So dense was the forest that it took me a minute to see the lane that wove its way into the trees. Reid cut the engine and without saying one word, leaned over and fished a flashlight out of the glove compartment. His hand brushed my knees, and a funny little thrill of excitement raced up my leg.
He straightened, opened his door, and got out of the car. Reluctantly, I did the same, but the butterflies in my stomach refused to settle. My awareness of him was becoming annoying, an irritant.
“We’ll have to walk the rest of the way,” he said, throwing me a veiled look as I rounded the car to join him. “Sure you’re up to it?”
I wasn’t sure of anything at this point, but I wouldn’t admit it to him. Besides, my concern for my father outweighed my fears. I had to find him, see for myself if he was all right.
“Let’s go” was all I said. Then I followed Reid into the shadowy lane that would hopefully lead us to my father.
It was early yet, too early for the moon,
pay
someone to take me.”
After that singularly telling little speech, Reid frowned, the shadows deepening in his eyes. “You’re being irrational, overreacting—”
“Like father, like daughter,” I said angrily, folding my arms over my chest. “And I warn you, I can be just as stubborn.”
“Then God help us,” he muttered as he turned back to the car. “Have it your way, then. We’ll go. But don’t say I didn’t warn you to wait until daylight.”
And with his threat hanging heavy in the air between us, we climbed back into the car and slammed our doors in unison. Reid started the powerful engine, shifted into first and pulled back onto the road, laying rubber for several yards in testament to his silent anger and annoyance.
As the twilight deepened, we headed toward the mountains that loomed like giant specters on the horizon.
* * *
The road became narrow and twisting, the forest crowding us on either side. Vines with scarlet blossoms hung from the trees, their spent petals weaving a colorful Hansel and Gretel trail in the soft evening light. We circled the mountain until the Caribbean was below us again, aqua blue and dazzlingly beautiful.
I found it hard to imagine living every day with such beauty. The colors were extraordinary, rich and vibrant. The whole island seemed to pulse with an energy that was hard to explain. Just when I found myself drawn to the island, however, I would remind myself of what had happened the night before. And as if to punctuate that point, we passed a man in ragged clothing pulling a cart laden with bloody cowhides.
I flashed Reid a look, but he didn’t seem to notice. His eyes were focused on the growing dusk. He took the hairpin curves at a breathtaking speed. Below us, the Caribbean crashed against huge boulders, tossing spindrift into the air like confetti. There was no guardrail along the road, and I shivered, thinking what one tiny miscalculation could mean.
But Reid was in full control, oblivious to—or perhaps flirting with—the danger. His large hands loosely grasped the steering wheel and gearshift as he maneuvered the car with terrifying competence.
What unnerved me even more was his silence. We went for miles without speaking, and I couldn’t help wondering what he might be contemplating, why his expression seemed so brooding as we drew farther and farther away from civilization.
Why had he been so reluctant to accompany me tomy father’s cabin? Surely he wanted to find Christopher Greggory as much as I did. Didn’t he?
The higher we climbed into the mountains, the darker and more primitive the landscape became. In spite of the light sweater I wore, I became chilled by the deep shadows. The countryside seemed sinister—no longer beautiful, but dangerous and sly. I could see now why Reid had suggested we wait until morning, but it was too late to heed his warning. He was already pulling the car off the road.
So dense was the forest that it took me a minute to see the lane that wove its way into the trees. Reid cut the engine and without saying one word, leaned over and fished a flashlight out of the glove compartment. His hand brushed my knees, and a funny little thrill of excitement raced up my leg.
He straightened, opened his door, and got out of the car. Reluctantly, I did the same, but the butterflies in my stomach refused to settle. My awareness of him was becoming annoying, an irritant.
“We’ll have to walk the rest of the way,” he said, throwing me a veiled look as I rounded the car to join him. “Sure you’re up to it?”
I wasn’t sure of anything at this point, but I wouldn’t admit it to him. Besides, my concern for my father outweighed my fears. I had to find him, see for myself if he was all right.
“Let’s go” was all I said. Then I followed Reid into the shadowy lane that would hopefully lead us to my father.
It was early yet, too early for the moon,
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