Their Divine Doctor(Divine Creek Ranch 9)(49)

He shook his head unconsciously, knowing that as a doctor in the community she couldn’t just move in with them.

Quietly, Duke asked, “What’s on your mind?”

Emma didn’t stir, and Gage realized the look on his face must’ve clued Duke into his thoughts.

Gage sighed softly and replied, “Just thinking I’ll miss her when we get home. I like having her…so close by.” Gage stroked her hair and gently kissed the top of her head.

Keeping his eyes on the road, Duke said, “I was thinking about that earlier.”

“I’m going to miss her, more than ever.”

The kinds of hours the three of them sometimes kept had been a constant challenge, though making time to be together had never been a point of contention. Sitting on the bench seat of the truck, Gage had never felt so relaxed, but he couldn’t account for the hollow feeling in his chest.

“I know what you mean.”



* * * *



Emma sighed heavily as she placed her luggage on the bed to unpack. She should feel happy, relaxed, and refreshed right now. Why did she feel so depressed? She’d just had seven solid days with the men of her dreams. She’d been made love to six ways to Sunday. She should be craving rest, but she just wanted more of them. She heard footsteps above her as she unzipped her bags. If they knew about her pathetic thoughts, what would they think?

While putting her belongings away, she recalled the way the fog had risen during the early morning hours when they’d tree camped. The fog had rolled in and blanketed the water all the way up the tree line so that it felt like they were floating above the clouds. She’d lain there for a few minutes, just staring in wonder at it, and then took pictures so she’d always have the memory.

Once she was done unpacking, she went into the kitchen to make herself a cup of chamomile tea. After she popped the teabags in the steaming water she looked out the window at the overcast sky and decided to crack it open a bit and let in some fresh air. The tea was brewing when she noticed two shopping bags on her kitchen counter. Before the trip, she’d purchased supplies for restocking the medical emergency box she kept in her Aztek. Thinking that might be a great way to distract herself from her Sunday evening blues, she lifted her keys from their hook by the door and went outside to bring the big utility box in.

Stepping out over the threshold she noticed a faded blue van parked across the rural road from the apartment building. The windows on the van were tinted, but she could see someone sitting in the front seat. She thought she’d seen the van parked there before but couldn’t be sure.

Shrugging, Emma walked around the building to the parking lot. The temperature was mild, and the scent of rain was in the air. The cup of tea brewing in her apartment fit her mood. While she was out there, she also checked her mailbox, which was stuffed. She followed the sidewalk back around to her front door and halted in her tracks when she saw a woman dressed in sweats and a man’s heavy camouflage jacket waiting by her door.

“Can I help you, ma’am?” Emma asked, a shiver of unease running up her spine as the much shorter woman made eye contact with her. Intuition told her to back away, but before she could, the woman lifted a revolver from the voluminous folds of the coat and pointed it directly at her.

“Yes. You can do exactly as I say. Turn around and walk casually with me back out to the blue van. Don’t you dare make a sound or I’ll shoot you where you stand.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Gage’s girlfriend. I already know who you are and what you’ve been doing with him.” Righteous anger rang in her clear voice as though she’d somehow caught Emma in wrongdoing.

Emma didn’t believe the woman could be Gage’s girlfriend even for an instant. There was something not right about her. The zealous gleam in the woman’s eyes cautioned Emma to not push her too hard, but she had to know. “I’ve been dating Duke and Gage for a couple of months now. If you’re Gage’s girlfriend, where have you been all this time?”

“Waiting for him to come to his senses. Obviously you’ve been a distraction but not anymore. Do as I said.” She motioned with the revolver for Emma to turn and walk down the sidewalk out to the main road.

The woman nudged her with the muzzle of the revolver, and Emma stepped off the concrete porch and walked past the stairs that led up to the two apartments above hers.

“What is your name?” Emma asked as she turned to look back at the woman. “Where are you taking me?”

“My name is Amy. Not that it is any of your business,” she sneered. “I’m taking you someplace where we can have a chat in private.”