Love Lost and Found: Little Falls, #2

By Liza O'Connor

Carrie Simmons had the perfect marriage until it fell apart in a single day. One day her husband adored her and their two children, and the next he wanted nothing more to do with her. If not for the people of Little Falls, she could not have survived the months of heartbreak that followed. During this time, her stern boss of four years comes to her rescue time and time again, showing her a kindness she had never imagined possible. Having no hope of reconciliation with her husband, she finally opens her heart to the possibility of new love. Will this time be forever, or will her heart always cling to her first love? The twists of love are unpredictable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Authors Online
• Release date: Jun 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386789246

Liza O'Connor

   Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens in a myriad of genres. http://www.lizaoconnor.com/   

Book preview

Chapter 1

DAN, IT DIDN’T MEAN anything, Carrie insisted, frightened by the hardness in her husband’s eyes. Normally, they sparkled with adoration and happiness when they looked upon her, but not today.

It meant something. His words were soft, but his lean, tall body remained rigid with unspoken anger.

It was just sex. I didn’t want to do it, but I couldn’t stop it from happening. Her voice died off at the end as she realized he wasn’t accepting excuses. I’m sorry. She ran her hands through her silky blonde hair. I love you, Dan. That hasn’t changed. I love you with all my heart.

He snorted softly and stared across the horse ranch at the Montana skyline. All of it?

I do not love Alex Dumas. Right now, I truly hate him. She attempted to approach her husband, but he moved away as if her touch were poison. He then nodded toward Alex’s ranch house.

Then you wouldn’t object if I go inside and blow his brains out?

Her heart panicked. Dear God, Dan must be near insane with rage to even suggest such a thing. He was the town’s sheriff, the best man she had ever known in her life. I would, but not for him...for you. I don’t want the man I love to have murdered someone because of me.

Dan sighed and opened the passenger door to his pickup truck. Instead of helping her in, as was his normal custom, he left her to get in on her own as he walked around and climbed into the driver’s side.

He tore down the gravel driveway and turned onto the highway so fast the back of the truck fishtailed.

Dan, please, if we die who will care for Danny and Alice?

He slammed on the brakes and brought the truck to a complete halt. So you remember our children?

She stared at him in confusion. I didn’t do this to hurt you or them.

Did you think about them when Alex was enjoying you?

No. I wasn’t thinking about you, the children, or my wonderful life. All I was thinking about was this insatiable need for pleasure that I couldn’t control.

His face tensed with fury, but his words came steady and firm. You could have controlled it.

No, I can’t. I know you can control your desires, but then Alex doesn’t come after you. You have no idea the hell I’m in!

You don’t think women come on to me? he challenged.

I’m sure they do, but I don’t think they have one tenth of the seduction skill Alex possesses. I can resist normal come-ons. My problem is with Alex.

Just then a car came roaring up from behind and pulled up beside the truck. Harold Jacobs, the richest man in the county, looked annoyed as he rolled down the passenger window and studied them both. You got engine trouble, Sheriff?

We’re fine, Harold, Dan replied with a calmness that belied his true state. Nothing ever seemed to fluster the sheriff of Little Falls.

The same could not be said for Mr. Jacobs. He had a temper with a short fuse. Then you’re just sitting in the middle of the road for nothing?

Move on Harold, or I’ll have to ticket you for blocking traffic.

You’d have to give yourself a damn ticket first. Harold sped off without waiting for a reply.

Dan flipped on his police lights and took after Harold. When Harold pulled off onto the narrow side of the road, Dan passed him and drove on.

There’s no point in pissing off my boss, Carrie complained.

You should have stayed away from him.

For a moment Carrie thought he meant Mr. Jacobs, her boss, but then she realized he meant Alex. You don’t think I try? Angry frustration filled her words.

Not when I find you at his ranch.

I didn’t voluntarily go there.

When they turned off the highway and onto the road to their home, he stopped the pickup again and turned to face her. Should I be charging him with kidnapping? Did you struggle? Call out for help when you were abducted? Is there any evidence that you were taken against your will?

No. She stared out the window, unable to bear his cold angry eyes any longer. I was already under his spell by the time he walked me to his truck.

Where did he begin his seduction?

Carrie didn’t answer. It would only make Dan angrier and humiliate her further.

I asked you a question, and I expect an answer, he snapped in a voice he no doubt used very effectively with criminals. He had never once in their four years of marriage used it on her, and a physical blow could not have caused her more pain.

Grand Falls, she whispered, trying to stop the tears that now streamed down her face.

A logical place to go to meet your lover. Or it would be if all the police there didn’t know you’re my wife.

I wasn’t there to meet Alex. I try to avoid him!

So why were you there?

Getting my hair styled.

She could feel his eyes drilling into her. She had no doubt if she turned around to face him, she would see disbelief and contempt.

So how long has this thing between you and Alex been going on?

There is no ‘thing’ other than sex.

How long has it been going on?

She cringed at the anger in his question. It was so unlike the gentle and playful Dan she loved. She wished she could refuse to answer, but this hard, angry Dan would never allow for the answer to be left unspoken.

About a month after Alice was born.

The silence was deafening, and his anger radiated like a scorching sun on the summer plains.

You’ve been seeing him for eight months?

I haven’t been seeing him, Dan. I’ve done everything in my power to avoid seeing him.

How many times?

It doesn’t matter.

It does to me. How many times?

Seven. Every month when I’m in my ovulating cycle.

What?

He wants a baby. That is his only interest in me. He has become obsessed with having a baby.

Well, there’s a little problem with that given he’s sterile.

I know you think he is, and I hope to God that’s true, but Alex does not believe he’s sterile. He just thinks his seed is particular, Carrie replied with bitterness.

So, you’re trying to have a baby with him?

No! Carrie exclaimed. She opened the door and got out of the truck. How could you ever think I would want his child?

She didn’t know the man glaring at her. He wasn’t her kind and loving husband who forgave her screw-ups and loved her with all his heart. This was a cold, unforgiving stranger.

I don’t know, he snapped. Perhaps because you are seeing him during your ovulation each month.

I am not seeing him. I don’t want him, and I certainly don’t want his child. I already have everything I could possibly want.

And what was that?

You and the kids. The Refuge and the horses.

He leaned over and pulled the passenger door from her grip and slammed it shut. Well, you’ve still got three out of four. He then tore up the road, leaving her to walk the remainder of the way home.

She was so lost in her misery she couldn’t find the energy to even be angry with him for abandoning her on the side of a mountain. All she felt was used and betrayed. Used by Alex Dumas, but betrayed by Dan. He should have understood. He knew Alex’s seduction ability. When Alex had seduced her before their marriage, he hadn’t held her responsible, because back then he understood. Why couldn’t he understand now? Nothing had changed, except she actually loved Dan more now than she did back then, and back then she loved him more than herself.

She struggled to make sense of it, but an hour and a half later, with her legs aching from the uphill climb, she had progressed no further in comprehending Dan’s reaction. When she saw his truck returning towards her, she hoped he had come to his senses and everything would be all right.

When he pulled up beside her and stopped, she smiled in relief, but one look at his face, eyes hard and unforgiving, her smile faded.

I’m going to stay at the cabin for now on.

You’re leaving us? Carrie stated in shock.

I’m not leaving my kids. I’ll come by and see them while you’re at work. They’ll still have both of us—just not at the same time.

Dan, please don’t do this, she pleaded. I love you—

Turns out that’s not enough, he said and drove off, leaving her standing in shock.

The best thing in her life had just driven off.

Chapter 2

CARRIE STARED AT THE beautiful house Dan had designed and built, with the help of the town, as her wedding present. Until today it had always given her such pleasure when it came into view. Now, it just looked a hell of a long way away.

By the time she crossed the threshold, her legs trembled from fatigue. She collapsed into a big leather chair before she fell and before the tears began again. Alice either heard or sensed her mother’s anguish, and now Carrie’s cries were accompanied by wailing from the baby monitor on the coffee table.

A moment later, Tina, the children’s nanny, could be heard trying to soothe the baby. Carrie stifled her own tears to listen to her baby’s wailing. If she thought her legs would hold her, she would have gone to comfort her girl. When Alice refused to quiet, she called out to Tina. Bring her to me. She sighed in frustration. Tina wouldn’t be able to hear her request over the wailing.

Feeling helpless, exhausted, betrayed, and miserable, she leaned forward and released more tears. Suddenly a gentle hand petted her head.

Don’t cry, Mommie, her three-and-a-half-year-old son begged. Everybody is crying. I don’t like it. It makes my tummy feel sick.

Carrie forced away the tears as she pulled her son into her lap and hugged him tight against her.

You’re crushing me, his muffled voice complained.

She relaxed her grip and apologized.

I forgive you. He gently patted her cheek as somber blue eyes studied her.

God, he looked so much like his father. If only Dan had said those words. The thought almost returned her to uncontrolled weeping. She breathed in, determined to focus on something beside her pain. "Danny, will you go tell Tina to bring Alice to me, so I can stop her crying.

"Yes, please!’ Danny sighed an exaggerated mimic of Dan’s response when he found himself put out with something.

A minute later, Tina entered the room with an ear drum shattering wailing machine in her arms. Carrie held out her arms and Tina most willingly turned over the baby. In just a few minutes Alice stopped crying and fell off into an exhausted sleep.

Thank God! Danny dramatically declared and threw the back of his hand to his forehead.

I’ll second that, Tina muttered. She frowned as she studied Carrie, no doubt noticing her red rimmed eyes. Has something happened?

Carrie glanced at Danny who now had the nervous worried look of a prairie dog that has spotted trouble on the horizon. She knew no matter how softly she whispered, he would hear her.

It’s just been a hard day. I didn’t get my hair fixed as planned. My car is in Grand Falls, and I had to walk halfway up the mountain. Now my legs hurt so bad that I can’t even stand on them. I guess I let it all get to me and I burst out in a moment of great self-pity.

Danny relaxed and approached her. I feel that way sometimes too. Like last week when my frog escaped, and I spilled milk at breakfast, and Daddy scolded me for leaving my baseball glove outside, and the rain had made my glove hard and stinky. It was just too much, and I cried for almost an hour.

When did all this happen? Carrie asked, terrified that with all her other sins, she had become a negligent parent. Shouldn’t she have known if her son had such a miserable day?

Wednesday.

Why didn’t I know?

’Cause I kept it a secret.

But why?

Because you like to be happy and I like you happy. When you’re sad like now, it makes me want to throw up. I don’t like feeling sick.

She passed Alice to Tina and pulled Danny into her arms. I don’t want you to ever feel sick either, but when you have problems or a bad day, it’s okay to tell me.

He frowned. What good will it do? You can’t make my frog return or fix my glove.

No, she agreed. But I can give you something happy to replace the sad feelings.

What?

Kisses, she declared and covered his face and arms with gentle butterfly kisses.

Danny burst into laughter and rolled off her lap when he could bear no more. He then rubbed his stomach and smiled. My tummy doesn’t hurt anymore.

See, I can be useful. She sent him off to find his baseball glove, so she could see if she could make that better as well.

The moment he was out of the room, Tina spoke. Now tell me what’s really wrong.

Dan and I had a disagreement, and he has moved out. She managed to say the words calmly, but the pain in her heart almost stole her breath.

Moved out? But you two are the perfect couple!

None of us are perfect, Carrie said, knowing her own imperfection was her ruin. We all need forgiving at times.

What did he do? Tina whispered.

Just then Danny returned with his glove and their conversation was halted as Carrie choked from the foul smelling wet soggy bundle of leather presented to her. Take that outside and put it in the sun.

But it’s not supposed to be left outside, Danny explained.

"No, it certainly wasn’t. But now it is filled with water and needs to dry out. It’s hot and sunny today. It will dry best outside. Just be sure to bring it in before night.

Danny smiled and carried the odiferous glove out in front of him, as if he were transporting a dead carcass.

The moment he was gone, Tina repeated her question. What did he do?

He stopped being Dan. She had no intention of telling Tina what had happened. Tina was her loyal friend, but she would tell Teddy, and Teddy would tell Maggie, and Maggie would mention it to Wilma, and pretty soon the whole damn town of Little Falls would know that Carrie Simmons was an unfaithful wife who gave up the perfect husband for an egotistical, arrogant, self-centered asshole who thought his needs preceded all others.

What are you going to do? Tina asked, now looking as if she might cry.

I’m going to stay strong for my kids and pray to God that my Dan returns. Her gaze focused on her shoes, as she willed herself to be strong. There is nothing else I can do.

Tina approached and knelt, so she could still see Carrie’s face. What can I do to help?

To be honest, I could use some help. My car is in Grand Falls, parked in front of Girado’s Style House. If you and Teddy could go have a nice dinner on me and bring my car back afterwards, I’d be very grateful. Assuming I can walk tomorrow, I really need to get into work. My paycheck has suddenly become very important.

Dan’s not just going to leave you with all the bills, Tina insisted.

I don’t know what Dan is planning to do.

Well, he can’t just walk off. He has obligations. You can take him to court.

No. If Dan wants to help pay the bills, I will gratefully accept his money. But under no circumstances will I take him to court.

Tina’s voice softened. You still love him...

I’ll never stopped loving him, Carrie assured her in a pained whisper.

"Then don’t send