A Nightmare From Her Past

By Angie Lambert

The sequel to "A Dream In Her Arms." Rhae Macleod and her partner, Lilly Taylor, are in love and planning to spent the rest of their lives together, but sometimes the best laid plans can go awry. Rhae has elements from her past that rear their ugly heads, and the specter of a former lover that will not allow her to live in peace. Her only anchor in the storm, her rock and foundation in life is Lilly, and Rhae is determined to protect and keep her at all costs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angie Lambert
• Release date: Mar 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310936043

Book preview

A NIGHTMARE FROM HER PAST

by

ANGIE LAMBERT

Published by Angelia Lambert at Smashwords

Text copyright Angelia Lambert 2014

All Rights Reserved

This book is entirely a work of fiction.

Any and all similarities to any person, living or dead is

coincidental and unintentional.

***

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

As always, to my wife and best friend, Kathie.

Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. C.S. Lewis

Chapter One

The woman’s eyes flew open. Had she heard something or did she snort in her sleep? The blue-white light of the TV washed the interior of the room in vague, flickering colors, shadows dancing wildly on the walls. She turned her head toward the hallway door. The tasteful decorations of plush, cream carpeting, furniture upholstered in ivory with soft blue and red stripes, and expensive tailored drapes escaped her recognition as she looked around the room and tried to decide if the noise was real.

She was slumped in an overstuffed wingback chair, her shoes tossed carelessly to the side, and her tailored slacks were bunched up to her calves as her legs sprawled before her on a leather ottoman; a whiskey tumbler sat upright on the floor under a limp hand hanging at the end of a numb arm draped over the side of the chair. Her fingers tingled as she flexed them. Her darkly dyed hair was plastered to her forehead with light sweat and a trail of saliva ran from the corner of her mouth to her chin. She reached up to wipe her face, trying to clear the cobwebs and her manicured nails lightly scraped across her nose.

She was still drunk; her face was a gray, pasty color, and her tongue was thick inside a dry, fuzzy mouth, but she was certain she had heard something. Her insides twitched nervously when she stood, wobbly at first, and she braced herself on the back of the chair before taking a step. Leaning on the inside of the door, she peered into the hall. Her bleary eyes tried to focus in the dim light from the kitchen. It was very quiet.

She didn’t know the time or how long she was passed out. Not long enough; her pulse banged a steady tattoo inside her head as the liquor in her stomach heaved with a new wave of dizziness.

There! Was that the sweep of a flashlight beam over the floor? She turned unsteadily and kept her hand on the wall as she walked into the semi-dark dining room on panty-hose covered feet, then walked through a second open door into the kitchen. To her left was the breakfast table where her ex-husband and his uppity, gay daughter ate together all the time.

Queer bitch, can’t even return her mother’s phone calls, as if she didn’t have a mother, one who was in serious financial straits.

The door to the patio was open, and a little breeze brought a wisp of fog into the house. The vertical blinds were opened to one side; that was the noise she heard, the sound of the mechanism drawing the heavy blinds. The recessed lights under the cabinets glowed weakly, dimmed low for the night. She didn’t see the black shadow walk behind her from the dining room. She heard the rasp of a footstep and whirled around almost slipping, catching the edge of the table behind her for support. A figure emerged from the darkness and stood before her.

Dressed all in black, the person said sarcastically, You’re drunk, aren’t you?

Thaas no your conncern, her words slurring as she tried to sweep her right hand around to point at the door. Get outta mah house!

As they stepped closer, she looked the figure up and down, trying to decide what they were wearing. It looked like a black, one-piece suit made of thin fabric and a hood; even covering the feet, only the face was visible. The intruder was of average height but their build was hidden by the suit. A small shotgun held by hands wearing black latex gloves came into her view. Short, black, and lightweight, the .28 gauge with a two shot, over and under barrel was pointed at her chest.

They were three feet away and cocking their head to the side like a curious puppy when she recognized them. The drunken bravado fell right off her face, her slack features becoming tense with fury. A cold perspiration broke out all over her body and she clenched her jaws tightly, raising her chin imperiously.

You know, you’re not a very popular person.

Why should I give a fuck? she stammered, suddenly sobering, staring at the muzzle of the shotgun.

Because no one cares if you live or die. Isn’t that sad?

Again, why should I care?

Sweat poured off her face. The intruder could smell the alcohol oozing from her pores.

Don’t you think that if you had made more friends than enemies in your life, you wouldn’t be so desperate now?

Anger flaring her nostrils, she spit the words, "I know you don’t give a damn."

They shrugged, saying, You’re right. Any last words or messages?

Fuck you! You don’t have the guts, you fucking…

The shotgun was raised higher, aimed quickly, and one barrel fired at close range. The majority of her head splattered the breakfast table and wall behind her; a bloodied piece of skull bone the size of a golf ball bounced of the wall, hitting the floor on its curved side, and spinning like a top. She crumpled to the floor like a puppet without its strings, smacking the hardwood with a thump.

Without speaking, the intruder walked out to the patio door into the moonless dark, barely pausing to listen for any neighborhood activity, not even a dog was barking. Leaving the door open, they stepped off the deck, slung strap of the shotgun over their chest, and set off in an easy jog toward the woods. A silent shadow in the mist that melted into the trees like oil.

Chapter 2

March 13, 2009

My God, she’s killing me.

Lilly leaned her head back and took a very deep breath, holding Rhae’s mouth to her breast. Sighing with the sweet torture, Lilly poured all her soul into loving this woman. She would give Rhae MacLeod anything she wanted, do anything she wanted and love her until the end of their lives. Suddenly, the torture stopped.

Lilly opened her eyes to see Rhae staring at her with a blatant, fierce light in her dark eyes. You’re so beautiful. I love you.

I love you, too, Rhae, Lilly breathed as Rhae dropped her lips back to Lilly’s shoulder.

Rhae did that sometimes; she usually didn’t close her eyes while they made love, telling Lilly constantly how she loved her, but Rhae also would draw back to see the passion in Lilly’s eyes and the flush of her skin.

In the deepening twilight, Rhae continued making love to Lilly and completely unbuttoned her blouse. Though it was still cool in Tennessee in early spring, they left the house with their dogs, Jasmine and Georgia for a walk by the lake, holding hands and talking about their day. At a grassy spot under a large willow, Lilly turned and slipped her arms inside Rhae’s coat and stretched up to kiss her. And kiss they did.

A fire was always brewing between them and while Lilly only wanted to make out for a minute or two, at the moment, she could hardly stand on her own feet. Her blouse and bra were open to the evening air with Rhae’s warm mouth searing her throat and shoulder before going back to Lilly’s lips. Her weight settled into Rhae’s arms and she pulled the hem of Rhae’s cotton pullover out of her jeans, her hands seeking the warmth of Rhae’s lower back and hips.

Rhae turned her loose so she could take off her own coat and lay it on the ground. When they were lying beside each other, Rhae touched Lilly's cheek and leaned over to kiss her again. Lilly wrapped her arms around Rhae's middle and pulled her two-thirds of the way over her own chest. Rhae giggled as Lilly’s nails scraped a trail around her ribs.

Rhae stopped kissing her long enough to get a breath and whispered to her, I want you so fucking much.

Lilly never said a word as Rhae's chilled fingers touched her warm skin, slipping under her skirt and up the back of her thighs. They were both breathing hard as Rhae directed Lilly’s movements, feeling Lilly through her panties.

Just slide them off your hips, sugar.

When Lilly had done as Rhae asked, Rhae’s hand was already on the way in. Slowly, she teased Lilly, moving her hand in so far, but coming back. She brushed the hair and came back to her hip. Rhae was sucking the nipples on both of her breasts and Lilly was so ready. But Rhae kept teasing her until Lilly took Rhae's hand in her own, pushing it farther down and holding it there.

Please, Rhae. If you need help, I can show you. Stop teasing me. Rhae chuckled softy.

Rhae’s fingers were still cool enough to cause Lilly to pull a deep breath as Rhae parted her. The heat surrounded Rhae’s fingers as she moved them inside. Slowly in a circle, Rhae explored and went back to work on Lilly's breasts to ramp up the urgency. As Lilly whispered that she felt good and she was about to come, Rhae kept up the rhythm she set and made sure Lilly came slowly, sweetly, and completely. She held Rhae's hand still to feel the tremors that were left over and Rhae counted the little convulsions as they faded away.

I love you so much, sugar. I love the way you come for me. I love everything about you.

Lilly rolled onto her side and into Rhae's arms. Rhae touched Lilly's bare bottom and told her, You’ll get a cold with that hanging out.

Everything is hanging out; you got in my clothes quick and…

Don’t be trying to pretend that wasn’t what you wanted; you had every intention of seducing me out here.

I only wanted some attention and affection; if you have a problem supplying that…

Nope, no problems, Rhae interrupted. I'm just sayin’ it was your plan to…ahh, screw it! I had every intention of getting into your clothes; I admit it.

I love you. It was my intention, too. Now my butt’s cold.

I really love that you’ll fuck around with me anywhere, even on the ground, Rhae said, laughing as she pulled Lilly up and into her arms.

Anywhere, anytime, girl. Count on it. You’d be half naked now if you weren’t already sick with that head cold.

You aren’t afraid of catching my cold?

Lilly smirked, saying, I can’t stop kissing you for any reason; it’s a chance I’ll have to take.

They were redressing Lilly when Jasmine and Georgia came crashing through the grass at full speed. Two enormous fawn Mastiffs with large heads, black muzzles, and big smiles slid to a halt at Lilly’s feet.

You chasing each other, girls? Lilly asked as the dogs plopped down on the ground, hassling.

You know nothing around here is big enough to be chasing them, Rhae snickered. At a hundred and forty-five pounds apiece, the dogs could take out a mountain lion. The dogs grinned up at the women, drool running off their tongue at a frightening rate.

I’m just glad they waited as long as they did. Lilly’s arms encircled Rhae’s waist and pulled her close to kiss her. I’ll take care of you shortly.

Rhae grinned as widely as the dogs as they turned toward the house.

The big cabin was cozy with a fire burning and beef stew was simmering in a slow cooker. Rhae and Lilly each took a bowl of the steaming food to the table with fresh bread on the side.

Rhae, a thirty-eight year old former advertising executive, sold her company to her employees the fall before and Lilly loved coming home to the smells of chili, stew, or even breakfast during the cooler weather. The winters were mild, not much snow in west Tennessee, but it stayed chilly from December to March; even into April, it could rain a person into depression. That day was the first day in a week that it hadn’t rained or stormed; the sun was bright all day, giving them a sense of spring being just around the corner.

Their wedding anniversary was coming up and they were making plans to have a party at their home. Lilly was taking a month off work from her therapy/counseling practice in Jackson to go travelling in the Caribbean with Rhae. They were so excited about the trip and planned to spend a week with their friends, Cynthia and Caroline Dean, at a villa in Belize. Rhae was also turning thirty-nine on their anniversary and she had asked for something special for her birthday. She wanted Lilly to retire, too.

We can travel everywhere and it’s not like you have to sell your practice. You don’t have to take extra time when we go on our excursions to hunt.

To hunt. Like they were after eight-point bucks instead of child molesters and rapists. But once Rhae heard about them from her friends in law enforcement, those kids were relocated or the predators were caught; they didn’t get far out of Rhae and Cynthia’s reach. The whole idea was that their ‘hunt club’ wasn’t part of the legal system and therefore they were not bound by the same rules and regulation as cops and social workers. Rhae didn’t need search warrants and subpoenas; she had back-up when she needed it but for the most part, they worked outside the law when a child was in danger. They had taken a little boy out of his mother’s boyfriends home that past January because a social worker had repeatedly told the mother the boy was not to be left alone with the man. The boy’s mother didn’t believe the child was anything but clumsy and refused to see the abuse that was happening right before her eyes.

But Rhae had veered away from her normal course in that case; she didn’t call social services a third time. Rhae and Cynthia watched and waited. When the opportunity presented itself, they took it; when the boy disappeared, he literally disappeared. Neither of the parents knew where the child had gotten off to or had a clear explanation of where he had been in the hours leading up to the disappearance, even though he was only three years old.

Rhae had watched the boyfriend for a week and knew he was locking the boy in a closet to go out with his buddies while the mother was supposedly at work. Rhae and Cynthia decided to take things into their own hands; when the guy sneaked out one night about 9pm, with Cynthia watching outside, Rhae broke into the house and tore it apart until she found the boy and took him away. Keeping it all quiet for three days, Rhae then moved the boy to the home of a friend, of a friend, of another friend in Arkansas who had a child the same age. The boy was given to a childless couple, waiting to adopt. Through several relays, Rhae received a note from the anonymous couple, thanking and assuring them that if there ever was another anonymous child to come up for adoption in that way, they would surely be available for the opportunity.

Part of the story Rhae hadn’t counted on was that the mother and her boyfriend didn’t report the missing child for four days. The third time that Rhae called social services, they went back to the mother’s home and the child was gone; the mother and her boyfriend went to jail for child endangerment charges until a month later when the child had not been found alive, they were charged with murder.

Lilly looked over at Rhae and smiled; Rhae’s dark eyes were smiling back as she tried to win over her wife. Rhae’s long chestnut hair was tied back, her feet were bare, and her long legs were stretched out from her chair as she folded her arms over her chest. Looking comfortable and casual in her jeans and a wool fisherman’s sweater, Rhae watched Lilly with her dimples showing and the loveliest look on her face. That was the look that Lilly couldn’t resist and it was hard to concentrate on the subject as she watched Rhae’s lips with every word she said.

I know, sweetheart. Lilly hesitated, looking away to keep from giving in. I worked hard to build my practice. I’m not sure I want to not have to go to work. That didn’t sound right, did it?

Rhae reached out and took her hand. Lilly’s green eyes looked up and Rhae could have melted into the floor. Rhae would never want to force Lilly into something she didn’t want to do and Rhae caught the slight mist of tears in Lilly’s eyes, her dark brown hair falling over her forehead.

They had been on several trips during the past year, including a wine tasting tour of Napa Valley; Lilly loved good wines, but Rhae was a better judge of scotch, her sense of smell so sensitive to common things most people ignored. And they had taken a three week trip to Scotland the previous summer for their honeymoon. But they both had so many places they wanted to visit and explore.

Rhae reached to lift Lilly’s hair away from her face, saying, I’m not even gonna force you to spend every minute with me, sugar. How about we see how next month goes and if you can’t stand it, we’ll compromise.

Lilly went to sit across Rhae’s lap, wrapping her arms around Rhae’s shoulders and holding her close. We have all the time in the world, sweetheart; I’m not going anywhere without you and I can always take a week or two off for us to travel. I’m not saying I’ll never retire, but I’m not even thirty.

Oh, I’m old so it’s only natural…

No, I did not say that!

That’s how it sounded, sugar.

Lilly lowered her lips to Rhae’s and kissed her good. If nothing else, she knew exactly how to change the subject in RhaeLinn MacLeod’s head.

Early the next morning, Lilly was sleeping peacefully when Rhae came bounding up the stairs and hit the middle of the bed running. She hopped around Lilly on her knees until Lilly responded with threats.

You keep me up half the night making love then you wake me before its daylight good! What the hell?

Guess what, sugar? Rhae continued to bounce around like a kid. You’ll never guess what!

Rhae, stop it. I don’t want to guess. I want to sleep.

Cranky butt, what’s wrong?

I just told you. What is it?

Rhae’s late lover and partner, Jacy, had died in a car accident almost two years previously. But it was a year later that Rhae found out Jacy was molested by Janet Parker, a woman twelve years her senior. When she was only thirteen, Jacy had become lovers with a woman she believed to be only nineteen years old. Jacy was an avid journal keeper and she had several sets of journals she contributed to on a regular basis. When Rhae found the journals on Janet Parker, she was livid.

Those words explained some of the hell that Rhae went through living with Jacy. Those words led to Rhae’s hunting Parker down; though it had taken almost a year, Rhae had finally tracked the bitch to a different farm in Texas.

We found her! We found her! Rhae flopped down beside Lilly and cuddled her up, saying, Somebody went to extra lengths to hide, but Janet Parker is in Texas, just in Uvalde County, not the town.

What? How did they find her? Lilly was wide awake now.

"My detective found out that she bought a farm about forty-five miles from her original house. It took a bit for