Three-Year Rule Page 7

  As she climbed the porch steps, she could hear voices and laughter. He clearly wasn’t alone. She knocked on the door and shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. Joshua opened the door as soon as their eyes met he stepped outside closing the door behind him.

  “Elizabeth,” He said softly, “I thought you were staying in New York for a couple more days?”

  “I can tell.” Elizabeth glared at him. “If you wanted to see other people all you had to do was tell me.”

  “What are you talking about?” Joshua asked confused.

  “I know we agreed if we wanted to move on that we would break it off before taking another lover.” Elizabeth began.

  Joshua shook his head no and reached for her, “Elizabeth, I have no idea what you are talking about but now is not the time. I’ll call you in the morning and we can meet for lunch.”

  Elizabeth pushed his hand away and glanced past him at the door, asking, “Is that all you are going to say? You can’t discuss it now? You don’t even have enough respect for me to tell me to my face?”

  “Beth, I don’t have time to explain at the moment and you aren’t making any sense.” Joshua said, “Please go home. I will call you tomorrow and explain everything.”

  Joshua turned around and went back inside, closing the door behind him. Elizabeth stood staring at the door in silence. She glanced down at the ground suddenly feeling very foolish. She was acting like a child. If he had moved on, then there was nothing to discuss.

  She turned and climbed back in her truck as tears streamed down her face.

  Chapter Five

  Amy snatched the papers from Elizabeth’s hands and headed for the front door. Amy smiled softly at Elizabeth and said, “Are you sure you don’t want to take these to him yourself? You haven’t been to the house since before your tour.” Elizabeth answered her with a silent stare. Amy sighed and spun, heading for the front door. She called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the bright morning air, “You’ll have to speak to him eventually. He’s been calling you every day for two weeks. He’s not going to give up.”

  Elizabeth called after her, “Stop at the store, get some salad and dressing please. I’ll have lunch ready when you get back.” She opened the refrigerator and pulled out some chicken breasts to marinate.

  Amy turned the Mini around and headed down the driveway. She picked up her phone and called Randy. “Hey babe! She’s alone, wind him up and set him loose.”

  Randy grinned at the sound of Amy’s voice. He walked out his office door and climbed into his truck as she spoke. He chuckled and said, “You make it sound like we are on a secret mission.”

  “Oh but we are.” Amy’s voice replied through the phone as he started his truck.

  Randy added, “Roger that and wish me luck. If Josh even suspects what we are up to I may not survive the encounter.”

  Amy laughed and said, “See you in a few minutes.”

  Randy headed up the mountain to the construction site. When Randy arrived, the sight of the house stunned him. It had three peaked abutments that stuck out from the front of the house giving it almost a Victorian look yet with a rustic flare. The large two-story house was filled with windows and the lot it sat on was hardly disturbed. The full size trees and natural underbrush of the area came right up to the side of the house as if the house sprang from beneath the surface as naturally as the trees.

  There were several pickup trucks sitting on the small area of open dirt that was to become the front yard. Randy pulled up behind Josh’s truck and parked. He turned to gaze through the trees to the right of the house. A few hundred yards through the trees, he could see the frame of a stable under construction. Randy walked up to the open door and went inside to look for Josh.

  He found Josh in the kitchen area with several of his men gathered around a table. Josh glanced up when Randy walked in and waved him over. The workers scattered as Josh shook Randy’s hand.

  Josh said, “What brings you all the way up here?”

  Randy grinned and said, “I wanted to see how the house was coming along. It’s gorgeous,”

  Josh nodded and said, “Let me show you around. There's a huge deck on the back overlooking the valley.” Josh began as they headed out the back door. “We installed an oversized fire pit on the deck area. It faces toward the length of the deck. We installed a large gas barbeque grill on the far end as well. It allows Beth a lot of space for a couple of bistro sets or couches and tables.”

  They toured the inside of the house, which was still drywall. They finished Randy’s tour and headed out the front door as Josh explained, “The appliances should be arriving soon and the bamboo flooring. The furnace and ac are installed so we should be finished in a few weeks.”

  Randy stopped a few feet from his truck and turned to face Josh. He asked, “Have you talked to Elizabeth lately?”

  Josh frowned and gazed past him toward the trees. He said, “She won’t take my call. I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  Randy took a deep breath and began, “I think I know why she’s avoiding you.”

  Josh turned to meet Randy’s gaze asking, “What is it? She was so upset the night she came to my house. She wasn’t making any sense. Did you tell her about my kids? Is that it? She’s freaked out because of Molly and Jake?”

  “No,” Randy met his eyes with a stern gaze and continued, “I could be completely wrong about this but I though you should know just in case it’s true.” Randy swallowed hard. He didn’t like lying to Josh but this was for his own good. He and Elizabeth were perfect or each other and it was his fault the situation got so far out of control. “Amy told me that Elizabeth has been sick. She’s been throwing up a lot, especially in the mornings.”

  “What?” Josh asked as he stared at Randy in confusion. “Throwing up? In the morning …”

  Suddenly Josh’s face went pale and he took a step back from Randy. Amy drove up the drive, parked and stared at them for a moment before opening the door and climbing out. Josh’s blank stare moved from Randy to Amy as she walked slowly up to them with the paperwork from Elizabeth in her hand.

  “Beth is pregnant?” Josh stammered at Amy before she could say a word.

  Amy’s eyes opened wide. She looked at Randy and said, “You told him?”

  With that, Josh was gone. He rushed to his truck and drove over a small section of brush around Randy’s truck then roared down the driveway. When his truck disappeared around the bend, Amy and Randy slapped their hands together in a ceremonial hi-five.

  Elizabeth opened the back door allowing Charlie access to the backyard. She opened the old charcoal grill and used her tongs to place the chicken breast on the plate in her hand. Charlie dashed around the backyard barking like crazy at the trees. Elizabeth called her name and waited at the door while Charlie ran past her into the house.

  Elizabeth placed the plate of chicken on the table and went to the fridge to get the pitcher of lemonade and pasta salad she had made earlier. Amy should be back any minute. She would give her another five minutes then call to see where she was. Suddenly Charlie rushed to the bay window next to the table and began to bark furiously. Elizabeth placed the pitcher, bowl of pasta salad on the table, and glanced out the window to see why Charlie was barking.

  She gasped at the sight of a large brown bear charging across the grass toward the house. It was clear by the bear’s momentum it was not going to stop. Elizabeth screamed, “Charlie! Come here!” She glanced at the shotgun that sat on top of the kitchen cabinets, and then back at the bear that was only a few yards from the house. There was no time! She screamed Charlie’s name again and ran for the front door. A huge crash sounded behind her as she threw open the door and ran outside. She headed for the large tree that grew next to the house and began to climb.

  She heard Charlie barking and snarling in the house as the bear roared and growled. Charlie began to yelp. Elizabeth screamed her name in panic, “Charlie! No! No! Not my Charlie!”

  Su
ddenly Charlie flew out of the house and ran across the lawn to disappear into the trees. Tears streamed down Elizabeth’s face and a sob escaped her lips as she watched Charlie disappear into the forest. She screamed after her, “Run! Charlie! Run!”

  The bear came slowly out the door and glanced after Charlie but did not follow. Instead, it moved to the tree where Elizabeth was and began to climb. Elizabeth scrambled up the tree and on to the roof of the house. She glanced desperately around for an escape route. There was nowhere to go! If the bear reached the roof, she was dead!

  Elizabeth ran to the edge of the roof and prepared herself to jump when the roar of a truck engine came through the trees. Her heart jumped as Josh’s truck rushed up the driveway. She jumped and waved her hands screaming for help.

  Josh’s eyes caught Elizabeth’s movement on the roof. She was jumping up and down screaming at him and pointing at the front corner of the house. Josh’s eyes went to the tree, his breath caught in his throat at the sight of the bear. It was almost to the roof. Josh gunned the truck and then slammed on the breaks as he reached the house. His gun was already in his hand before the truck stopped.

  Josh threw open the door and screamed at the bear. “Hey! Here! Come down here! Come and get me!” Josh moved closer to the house to get a clear shot at the bear. He could no longer see Elizabeth and had to assume she was still at the far corner of the roof, but he wanted to be certain his aim was away from her. The bear hesitated and glanced down at Josh then began to slide back down the tree. Josh fired two shots at the bear and it fell from the tree. Josh walked cautiously up to the bear and shot the bear twice more in the head. He immediately ran to the tree and began to climb. His heart was pounding.

  “Elizabeth?” He shouted as he climbed. “Are you all right? I killed the bear.”

  “Josh!” Elizabeth called to him rushing back to the tree as he reached the roof.

  Josh nearly sprang from the tree to the roof to reach her. He pulled her into his arms and held her as relief filled him. Elizabeth clung to him, trembling. He pulled back from her and checked her for injuries. Then pulled her against him and kissed her passionately. When he released her, he whispered, “You scared me half to death. I don’t know what I’d do if you were suddenly gone.”

  “I’m not hurt.” She smiled through her tears then gasped, “Charlie! We have to find her. She fought with the bear then ran off into the woods.”

  Josh took hold of Elizabeth’s shoulders and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll find her. Just try to stay calm. You don’t want to upset yourself any further.”

  Elizabeth stared at him in confusion. Then turned toward the tree saying, “I’m fine, let’s go.”

  “NO!” Josh grabbed her hand and pulled her back from the edge of the roof. “I’ll go get the ladder out of the garage and you can use that to get down.”

  Elizabeth frowned at him and said, “Josh, I’ve been climbing trees since I was six years old. I think I can navigate this one just fine. Besides, Charlie could be hurt there’s no time to waist.”

  She walked to the edge and reached out to grab the tree. Josh came up beside her and said, “Let me go first so I can help guide you down.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes and stepped back allowing him access to the tree. When they reached the ground, Josh scanned the yard and said, “Which way did she go?”

  Elizabeth pointed to the right of the stables and they rushed in that direction. When they reached the trees, Josh saw blood on the leaves of a large bush but didn’t react. He didn’t want to alarm Elizabeth. Instead, he stood in front of the tree and allowed Elizabeth to pass. Josh suppressed the urge to rush blindly into the woods and find Charlie. He needed to stay close to Elizabeth, she’d been through a lot and he wanted to avoid any further animal contact. The scent of blood was in the woods now. It was entirely possible a coyote or even a puma could be close by.

  Josh scanned the brush as they walked Charlie had to be badly hurt to leave a trail of blood the odds of finding her alive were slim. He braced himself for Elizabeth’s reaction when they found Charlie.

  It didn’t take long before Elizabeth found blood on the grass. “Charlie!” Elizabeth cried and ran in the direction the blood trail. Josh chased after her. Charlie lay only a few yards ahead of them. She was lying under a bush covered in blood. Elizabeth fell on her knees beside Charlie sobbing. Josh knelt next to her and examined Charlie.

  “She’s alive,” Josh said and quickly scooped Charlie up and rushed back toward the house. Elizabeth followed closely behind and sprinted across the lawn when they cleared the trees. She opened the hatch of her SUV and ran into the house to grab her purse, keys, a towel from the bathroom and pulled a blanket out of the closet then rushed back outside. By the time, she returned Josh had Charlie in the back of the truck and was heading for the driver’s door.

  “I’ll drive,” He ordered reaching out for the keys.

  Elizabeth tossed him the keys then climbed in the back with Charlie. She pressed the towel against the blood flow coming from Charlie’s neck and chest. Her chest was ripped open revealing muscle and veins. Elizabeth pulled the blanket around her as best she could. Josh pulled his cell phone from his back pocket and called Randy.

  “Randy,” Josh began, “Don’t talk, just listen. A bear attacked Charlie we’re headed to the vet. I don’t have the number on my phone can you call him and let them know we are coming?”

  Elizabeth brushed the tears from her eyes and called to Josh, “Tell Randy the bear crashed through the bay window into the house. Ask him to find Amy and make sure she knows what’s happened.”

  Josh glanced at the rearview mirror at Elizabeth then said, “Randy, the bear apparently came into the house through the back bay window. I’ll get a couple of my guys out there to board it up and we’ll need to have the bears carcass removed, it’s by the front door.” He paused, “Yes, I shot it. Is Amy with you? Yes, we will meet you there.” Josh glanced back at Elizabeth and asked, “How’s Charlie?”

  Elizabeth met his gaze in the mirror and said, “She’s still breathing. I’ve put pressure on the wound. She’s not moving at all.”

  Josh turned onto the main road and speed toward the veterinarian’s office that sat on the edge of town. He tried to concentrate on the road, it was difficult. Elizabeth had to be in her first trimester and she’d had quite a shock. He worried the roller coaster of emotions and physical exertion might cause her to lose the baby. He glanced back at her again and asked, “How are you doing? Are you sure you’re all right?”

  Elizabeth sighed and answered, “I’m fine, I saw the bear coming. Charlie was barking at the window so I looked outside and saw it charging across the lawn. I couldn’t get to the gun ...” Elizabeth’s voice broke.

  Josh said, “You did the right thing. Even if you reached the gun, it might not have been enough. Running was the right thing to do and climbing the tree. There’s nothing else you could have done.”

  When they reached the veterinarian Randy and Amy were there waiting for them. They rushed to the back of the truck as Josh pulled up. Randy opened the hatch and Elizabeth climbed out. Randy scooped up Charlie and followed Josh to the front door. Amy began to cry at the sight of Charlie’s blood soaked fur. Elizabeth hugged her and they rushed inside after Randy. The Vet was waiting for them and had Randy take Charlie straight into the small Operating Room at the back of the building.

  The receptionist stepped in front of Josh and the girls and said, “I’m sorry but you should wait out here. Dr. Morse will talk to you as soon as he’s determined what course of action can be taken.”

  She motioned toward the seats that lined the windows. Randy returned as they moved to the seats. Amy went to the reception desk to deal with the paperwork as Josh and Elizabeth sat down. Elizabeth leaned against Josh and buried her head on his shoulder. He held her as she cried, grateful she was not the one rushed into surgery.

  Amy and Randy returned and sat beside them as the doctor appeared. He walked quick
ly to them and said, “Charlie is badly hurt. The good news is the bear barely clipped her, it’s a single wound but it’s deep. She’s lucky to be alive; most dogs don’t survive a bear attack. However, she’s lost a lot of blood. However, there is still a chance she could survive if you consent to surgery. There is internal damage. I’ve slowed the bleeding but we have to act fast. If you don’t want the surgery we should put her down immediately, she’s in a lot of pain.”

  “Do the surgery.” Elizabeth said quickly rising. “I’ll sign any forms you need, just save her.”

  Josh rose with Elizabeth and asked, “Will she recover fully if the surgery is successful? Will her pain be gone?”

  The doctor turned to the receptionist and motioned her near. Then turned back to answer Josh, “If she survives the surgery she should have a full recovery. The question at this moment is whether she’s strong enough to make it through. I’ll do everything I can. If you want to stay you should get comfortable, this will take a couple of hours.”

  “Thank you,” Elizabeth said as he turned and walked away.

  Josh disappeared into the back and returned a few minutes later with four bottled waters. Elizabeth was pacing in front of the windows wringing her hands as she walked. Josh handed Amy and Randy a water then went to stand in front of Elizabeth, blocking her way. She stopped and stared blankly at him. He took her hand and led her to a seat. They sat down and he opened the bottled water and handed it to her.

  “You need to stay hydrated.” He said quietly, and then asked, “When is the last time you ate?”

  Elizabeth glanced at Amy then said, “I was grilling chicken for lunch on the back porch. I just finished setting the table when it happened.”

  Josh asked, “If Randy and I run to Sadie’s and get some burgers will you eat?”