Chapter Eleven
Isabelle let out a sigh as she put on a pair of sweats and a comfy top, then settled in with a book of devotionals. It was the perfect way to unwind after a long day. Earlier she had fixed herself a simple meal of pasta and salad for an easy dinner. The bridal shower had been lovely. It had felt good to meet new people and to celebrate Piper and Braden’s upcoming wedding. That’s what life was all about, and once she’d stopped feeling mopey about her situation, she’d been able to truly appreciate the scope of what she’d experienced. Back home her family always celebrated birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and graduations in grand style with Brazilian music and amazing food. She missed those moments so much it left an ache in her soul.
Other than the things she’d learned about Connor, it had been a great day. Despite her best intentions, thoughts of the handsome chocolate heir kept creeping into her thoughts. For a variety of reasons, she didn’t want to like him. But she did.
“Focus on something else,” she said as she turned a page in her book. She began highlighting passages and reciting words out loud.
A whistling sound began to resonate from outside her bedroom window. She sucked in a sharp breath. Perhaps it was just the wind. The strange noises continued, shattering her sense of peace and security. Every creak and groan made her almost jump out of her skin. Was someone out there in the darkness? Her pulse began to race. She raised a hand to her throat. Isabelle felt paralyzed with fear. Her mind began to whirl with all the possibilities.
Marshal Kramer had assured her that she would be safe here in Owl Creek. At the moment she wondered if he’d been mistaken. Had danger followed her to Alaska?
She needed to stay calm. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. The passage from Isaiah came to mind, encouraging her not to allow anxiety to outweigh reason. In all likelihood there was some reasonable explanation for the creepy sounds.
Just breathe, she told herself. You’re letting your imagination run wild.
Another loud sound echoed in the house, a boom from the rear. Then she heard a shuffling noise that almost sounded like someone was walking up the steps. Isabelle’s first instinct was to hide. If only her brain could convince her body to move. Her mind flashed back to the terrifying night a man had broken into her apartment and tried to harm her so she couldn’t testify in Burke’s trial. That very moment had determined her future in the Witness Protection Program. She had been fortunate to make it out of the situation alive. And now, all these months later she was still in the grip of unrelenting terror.
Even though she’d closed the door on her former life and assumed a new identity to protect herself, Isabelle was still in jeopardy.
* * *
As Connor drove up to Ella’s dimly lit house, he immediately spotted a few lights glowing from inside the home. He wasn’t sure if he should ring the bell or not.
“Just go home,” he muttered. “Maybe she’s made an early night of it.”
He was annoyed at himself because he was acting like an uncertain teenager on his first date. Normally, Connor was pretty composed, and he didn’t waste time second-guessing himself. He was simply doing a favor for a friend. Humph! Who was he kidding? There was absolutely nothing platonic about the way Ella made him feel. She left him breathless.
He couldn’t sit in front of her house all night. Connor let out a frustrated sigh before taking off his seat belt and grabbing the items Sage had given him before exiting his truck.
As he strode to the door he wondered if he could just leave it at her doorstep. With snow expected to fall in a few hours, it probably wouldn’t be wise. Just as he raised his hand to rap on the door a scream rang out from inside Ella’s house. For a moment he wondered if he’d imagined it. Then he heard it again. A loud, panicked scream.
He pounded on the door, calling out to Ella. Connor pushed his shoulder against the doorjamb, hoping he would be able to gain entry. All of a sudden the door gave way and Ella was standing before him. A look of pure terror was etched on her face.
“Connor! I’m so relieved to see you. I heard noises outside. I think someone was outside trying to break into the house.”
Connor could clearly see Ella’s discomfort. He didn’t want to minimize her concerns, but he knew it would be highly unusual for a break-in to happen in Owl Creek. Because his best friend was town sheriff, Connor knew the statistics. It would be as likely as a heat wave in February.
He gently placed his hands on her shoulders. Connor needed her to stay calm and listen to him. “Ella, try not to panic. Stay right here while I look around the perimeter of the house.” She clung to his jacket, slowly nodding her head as she let go of him. Connor headed outside and walked over to his car, fumbling around in the glove compartment for a flashlight. As soon as he located it, he made his way around the outside.
It didn’t take him long to spot the large branches that had fallen on a portion of the roof. They were pretty massive. No doubt the sound of them had been terrifying. He made his way back to the front of the house and went inside. Ella was sitting on the living room couch with wide eyes. He sat down next to her.
“It was two large tree branches that fell on the house. The noises you heard were probably the limbs groaning before it happened. Nothing to worry about. And I didn’t see any damage to the roof, but you’ll be able to get a better look in the morning.”
Ella simply stared at him with her arms wrapped around her middle. Her whole body was trembling.
“I... I thought I was—”
In that moment, Connor saw it all in her eyes. Terror. Someone had wounded this woman. And she was still living in a place of fear. The scars were visible in her actions, even though she tried to hide them. He’d gotten it all wrong. Ella hadn’t done anything wrong in the past. She had been terrorized, to the point where she thought someone was coming after her. In Ella’s mind the sound of tree limbs had transformed into her worst nightmare. And although he didn’t know exactly who or what was scaring her, he knew it was a very real threat in her eyes.
Connor put his arm around her and pulled her against his chest.
“No one is going to hurt you. Not ever. I won’t let them. You’re safe, Ella.” His voice rang out with intensity. A few weeks ago he hadn’t even known this woman, but he knew he would do everything in his power to protect her from harm. From this point forward, he considered it his sacred mission.
She let out a sob, then raised her fisted hand to cover her mouth. He could tell she was trying to rein in her emotions. The sight of her tears threatened to do him in.
He reached out and wiped away her tears with his fingers. “You’re safe with me.”
“Thank you. But it isn’t your job to dry my tears. I’m beginning to feel like a wet blanket.”