Forgotten Enemy (The Powers of Influence Book 1) Read online

  “I think I just need a bit more rest. Then I’ll be fine. I promise.” She replied softly.

  “Cynda,” Rederrick asked politely “Don’t you need to run a few errands in town? Perhaps you could take Collett home along the way. That way, you won’t need to bother making two trips.”

  “You know honey, you’re right. That would work out great. Plus, then we can stop for lunch as you suggested. Collett can rest upstairs for an hour or so until I can go. Some of the stores I need to go to don’t open until ten.”

  Feeling caught up again in Cynda’s manipulations, Collett honestly couldn’t see an alternative. She tried hard to think of one.

  Again, in her soft, weak tone, she suggested, “Maybe I should just call a cab out here. Then you wouldn’t have to go to any trouble. And I could get home to rest.”

  Cade had sat back quietly during the entire exchange, but now saw his chance. With a grin on his face and a sparkle in his eyes he said, “Now, that’s unacceptable… if you’re not feeling up to a little trip into town, then I would be happy to take you home. It would be my pleasure.”

  Collett gave him a sharp, annoyed look. He had done it again. Cade managed to frustrate her with a few short comments.

  It was as if he couldn’t resist taunting her.

  His pleasure, she thought, yeah, I bet, not a chance. She wasn’t sure why she found him so unnerving, but she wasn’t about to put herself in a car alone with him to find out. “You know, on second thought...” She said sweetly, acting as if she was rethinking her previous offer, “I think you’re right… some fresh air and a girl’s lunch might be just what I need.” My pleasure, ha! She thought again.

  Cade offered a smug grin, making her believe he knew she would react just as she had. His chair scraped across the tile floor as he stood, excusing himself with, “Some other time then.” He nodded toward Rederrick, stepped away from the table and replaced his chair carefully. “Cynda,” he nodded as he left the room.

  Rederrick also stood, “It’s all settled then. As a lawyer, I’m sure I can take care of things with the owner of the car and you can get some rest for now. I’m glad we worked this out. Collett, I’ll see you later. If you need tomorrow off, just give me a call.”

  He kissed his wife sweetly on the forehead as he followed Cade out, not even giving Collett time for a response.

  She had a bad feeling about this now. Looking over to Cynda’s smiling face she wondered… How do they keep doing this to me?

  ****

  Collett went up to the guest room to gather her things together. When she walked through the broken doorway, she noticed the soft color of the room with the bed already beautifully made.

  She realized she didn’t have any things. She walked over to the bed and lovingly ran her fingers over the smooth, polished wood of the ornate headboard. This room had so much feeling and warmth to it, just like the people in this house.

  Her nostalgia started to depress her more, so she decided she would go down and wait outside to get some air. She opted to go down the main staircase into the receiving room so she could head out front to the gardens. As she got to the bottom of the stairs, Cade passed her as he headed into the den. He looked at her as he passed, giving her a quick smile that tilted up slightly a little higher on the right side into a smirk. He then offered a cocky wink.

  Collett stared at him as he went by, holding her breath for just a moment, not wanting to have another verbal exchange right now. She wasn’t sure why, but Cade made her edgy. He didn’t stop this time and she let out the air that was burning her lungs with a great huff of relief.

  “Charmin’ man, that one.” The words came from Jenny. Her drawled statement startled Collett.

  Collett looked toward the back of the room at the entrance to the expansive dining room they’d had dinner in the night before. Jenny stood there with a spray cleaner and rag in her hands. She wore long yellow dish gloves.

  “I was thinking more along the lines of idiot,” Collett replied.

  Jenny smiled and made her way to Collett, “Oh, I don’t doubt that. He’s a man, isn’t he? He’s bound to slip up now and again.”

  Collett let go of a little laugh, a real, honest laugh. “So, how long have you known the idiot?”

  “Oh, Mr. Werren has been a part of this family for a real long time now,” came Jenny’s cryptic reply.

  “Is he always so...strange and frustrating?” she asked, looking back toward the den.

  “Oh yes, he is that, but he also happens to be one of the best men I have ever known. He can stir up a room like a nest of angry snakes, to be sure, and sometimes he can make a sane woman want to pull out her hair.”

  Collett knew the feeling.

  “But I’ll tell you this,” she continued, “He can always settle the snakes and he surely knows how to calm the woman…” Her eyes turned sincere and thoughtful as she continued, “But most of all Cade doesn’t have a selfish bone in his body, plus he looks pretty good too. Yep, he’s a charmin’ one alright.” With that, Jenny made her way to the stairs and headed up, leaving Collett with her thoughts.

  She felt a bit of guilt now for her original reaction to him. If everyone here loves him, then he couldn’t be all that bad. Why did she feel so out of sorts around him? Why did she feel like she should stay far away from him? Shaking her head and letting it go, Collett made her way outside into the crisp morning air, to let go of all her troubled thoughts. Besides, she would probably never see him again.

  ****

  It took them longer than expected to get organized for the trip into town. Cynda needed to confirm all her plans with Cade and Rederrick. They went over it twice to make sure they all understood how to keep the women safe.

  Cade dragged his feet on this, truthfully not wanting Collett out of his sight even for a minute. He felt a strong need to protect her. Instinctively, he knew this was a bad idea. In his opinion, this left the women way too open. Reluctantly, he finally agreed that he would follow them as they journeyed into town.

  Then he would discreetly keep an eye on them throughout their trip. All three of them agreed on signals if there was any trouble. They found safe spots that would be defendable. It was a great deal of work. Rederrick insisted on it, however, saying, “It pays to be prepared,” and no one could disagree. They had all learned that lesson the hard way over time and none were willing to forget it.

  So now it was just after eleven o‘clock, and Cynda sat in the car with a silent Collett heading down a two-lane road going forty miles an hour toward the city, rather than using the much quicker interstate. They had all agreed it was safer this way, more controllable. Fewer cars traveled this road, and they did it at much lower speeds.

  Brad Paisley lent them background noise, his voice crooning through the radio. Looking out at the world with fierce concentration, Collett sat in the passenger seat of the black Yukon Rederrick had insisted they take. Cynda wondered what thoughts were going through her mind and how she could ease some of the weight pulling Collett down. Collett looked so defeated. Cynda knew she was losing hope. She had seen that look before. Heaven knows; she had worn that look before. Collett was retreating within.

  Cynda decided she needed to break the silence, and distract Collett from her weighted thoughts. She decided to start small, “Did you get enough sleep? I mean with having that dream and all?”

  “Um, yeah, I think I did. The bedroom you set me up in was very comfortable.” Collett answered tentatively.

  “My daughter, Tracy, loves antiques. She’s the one who put that room together. She has a real skill for it. As far back as I can remember she has loved the history of things, and the feelings she got from old furniture. She always says it is important to have a connection to the past.”

  “I’ll bet she got that from you. Your whole house feels as though there is this warm, loving history behind it.”

  Cynda smiled at the observation. “Well, I’ve never thought of it that way. You see, to me, it has just b
een home. I think you’re right, though. Now that you say it, I see it. It does hold a lot of warm, fond memories for me...I guess that’s what defines home, really: a warm place full of fun and happy memories, trials, and triumphs.”

  Collett felt a deep, aching sadness within her. The emptiness felt like a hole, trying its best to suck her in. At the very same time, she felt happiness for Cynda. Despite her own sad loneliness, Collett felt grateful to have this rare moment with someone she saw as a friend. She wanted happiness for Cynda, for all of them. Yet, another reason she would have to leave.

  She wanted Cynda to know what she meant to her. Cynda had given her a gift better than money could ever buy. She and Rederrick were more than employers these past months; they became friends. She decided right then she would never get another chance to tell her. So she tried to put together some words in her head that wouldn’t give too much away.

  “Cynda, I may forget to tell you later so I thought I would tell you now. I really am grateful to Rederrick and you for all you have done.”

  Cynda noticed Collett’s nervousness and tried to ease it, “Oh it was no big deal. Honestly, I would have never thought to turn you away last night. I felt somewhat responsible.”

  Collett hedged on, “I know you would have never turned me away, and I know you don’t really blame yourself. You’re just a good person. You’re always willing to help. It is a part of your nature.”

  Letting out a heavy breath Collett decided to be more direct. “Let me be clearer now, I am not just thanking you for last night, though, I am thanking you for every day. You have always been so kind and giving to me. To everybody you meet, really. I see how you love people… it’s just a part of you. So I’ll tell you again. Thank you. Thank you for being who you are, and giving me a part of it.”

  Cynda felt the emotion in her throat choke her. She could not let this woman out of their lives. She was a part of them now.

  So she decided to push a little harder. “Collett are you alright, really? You just don’t seem yourself.”

  Pulling away from the serious conversation, Collett forced a big smile on her face then answered, “Oh don’t worry so much. I really am fine. I feel much better this morning. Thanks to your wonderful bathtub and some great ointment, I don’t even ache much.”

  “I am glad to hear it. I just want you to know… I’m here if you ever need to talk. I had three kids you know, and can make a good sounding board. Even better, a shoulder to lean on. I make a great shoulder.”

  This time her smile was sincere. “I believe you would make a good shoulder Cynda...truly I do.” Her smile fell some as she finished the last part.

  “Tell me then, what is troubling you? Maybe I can help. Please? Let me try.” Cynda took a quick glance toward this woman she had come to care for, hoping she would confide in her.

  A small tear started to make its way slowly down Collett’s cheek. She quickly stopped it swiping at it with the back of her hand. Bending and pretending to check her shoe she muttered, “There is nothing you can do.” Then she added barely above a whisper, “Nothing anyone can do.”

  The words were said with such finality, such hopelessness.

  The words struck Cynda hard right in her chest. Cynda’s breastbone hurt from the grief she felt for Collett. They all suspected Collett would run, but now she knew it. If they couldn’t find a way to help her, she might get herself killed.

  Cynda snuck another quick look in Collett’s direction. She noticed her bandage had fallen away when Collett bent down to hide her tears. It took her just a minute to decipher what was wrong with the picture before her, only a moment for it to slam into her brain.

  When the light clicked on in her mind she was so dumbstruck she lost all concentration on the road.

  The long, angry slash that marred her skin the night before was now only a small, pinkish scar of a healed-over wound.

  Collett’s skin wasn’t even puckered, and Cynda couldn’t think past the sight of it.

  “Cynda!” Collett shouted when she saw they were fast heading off the road.

  Cynda hurried and gained a small measure of control by slamming hard on the brakes and tightening her grip on the wheel. She slammed down with enough force that both women were thrown forward with bruising force against their seat restraints, as the screeching brakes halted the vehicle’s momentum.

  Fortunately, this was not a well-used road and there was no oncoming traffic speeding toward them. They now sat in the left lane, right in the path of any opposing traffic.

  Collett looked over at Cynda with shock. Then she noticed in what direction Cynda‘s gaze was focused. Quickly, she reached up feeling her head. She became aware of the bandage hanging by one small piece of medical tape, exposing her secret to Cynda.

  Frustrated by Cynda’s reaction, she tore the last piece of tape away, pulling the bandage free.

  As Collett kept her gaze straight ahead trying to avoid Cynda’s eyes she noticed a moving vehicle further down the road. “Cynda maybe you should move the car, there is a truck headed our direction.” She coolly pronounced.

  Cynda became acutely aware in that moment. She realized she’d upset Collett with her sudden reaction to what she’d seen. She calmly let her foot off the brake, moving the SUV to the proper side of the road. She pulled the Yukon over to the shoulder, and as she did, the old orange truck passed by on the opposite side.

  She knew Cade hid close by near the river watching. The trees offered him cover so Collett would not see him. He would be worrying about what was going on. What made her stop, but Cynda needed to clear this up with Collett right away. She trusted Cade not to move too soon. He had keen eyes; he could see she wasn’t in danger… so she hoped.

  Collett folded her hands and set them in her lap waiting for Cynda to speak. She couldn’t explain it because she didn’t even understand herself.

  Sitting there, Collett stared out in the distance gazing at an opening in between the large, ageless trees; not even realizing Cade was hidden among them. She felt some measure of calm by watching the quick rushing flow of the river. Collett saw there was an unpaved road that ran lower but parallel to the same road that she and Cynda currently sat still and quiet on.

  The sloped ground between the roads held the yellow-brown look of late fall/early winter. There were trees all over, sprouting up from each other’s roots, living timelessly bound together. Every now and then, she spotted a break between the trees where picnic benches or tables sat. Families would stop there she thought. They would have lunch and simply enjoy the gifts of nature’s beauty and family all at once.

  Collett wished she could stay to see the new life that spring would bring to this place. The trees would provide shade to those gathering at the picnic areas. As evening fell, the shadows would inevitably lengthen. Then, as they had many times before, they would stretch to cover the unpaved road. The soft, blossom-perfumed breeze would blow, making the trees dance to a slow rhythm. She knew the cottonwood trees would drop so much cotton it would cover the earth like snow.

  Collett knew these things. She could picture them. She could see the radiant colors that would come after the cold winter passed. Smell the blossom’s fragrance in the air.

  And yet… she could not remember why someone wanted her dead. Collett couldn’t remember how her body avoided serious injury when a two-door Cavalier rolled with her in it. She couldn’t even remember her real name.

  She risked a small hesitant glance in Cynda’s direction, not being able to handle the eerie silence any longer. Collett wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t what she saw. Cynda sat there staring at her steering wheel with a small smile and a thoughtful look, shaking her head slightly.

  Cynda felt Collett’s attention on her so she turned to face her. She smiled, letting out a small laugh “I’m not sure what I thought your secret was, but it wasn’t this.”

  Collett was stunned, confused. She didn’t look horrified; only accepting. Collett wondered why. Would she alwa
ys be so accepting if I told her everything? “Look Cynda, I don’t...”

  The words died in her throat as her body shivered and jerked as feelings poured over her…anger and violent destruction, excitement-filled challenge. Collett could feel it closing in. They were coming back for her already.

  Chapter Seven

  “Cynda turn around and drive. Now! Move! We have to move!” Collett shouted.

  Cynda didn’t question her. In fact, she was already in the process of turning. From Cade’s recounting of last night Cynda recognized the fearful pinched look Collett’s face displayed, and knew it was time to go.

  Just then, they both heard a loud screech of tires, followed immediately by the horrific sound of breaking glass and crunching metal. They both knew that whatever caused the noise, at the source of it would be the evil being that Collett sensed.

  Cynda rapidly flipped the car into a sharp U-turn, tipping the car slightly, but she quickly regained control. When the car fully faced the opposite direction, Cynda pushed down hard on the gas, gunning the engine. The tires squealed against the pavement in protest before finding purchase.

  Once they were speeding forward Cynda yelled, “Collett, what is it? What do you feel? I need to know!”

  Collett felt so confused she could barely think. Things were happening so fast. She snapped her head around to Cynda’s face and stared at her with an unreadable expression.

  Cynda knew there was no time to placate Collett or explain what she knew, or that she dealt with more than her share of supernatural forces. “Collett!” she snapped, “tell me! I need to know, what is it?”

  Collett stared at the woman, unsure of Cynda’s out of character reactions. She answered quietly, “I don’t know.” Then finding her voice Collett stated louder, “I don’t know! I feel it. I can’t see it. I feel a cruel destructiveness. I can’t explain more than that.”