front yard. A rope swing hung from the branch of a tall oak tree.
Saintcrow released Marti’s arm and stood back, giving the two women a little space.
“Marti, I’m going to miss you so much,” Kadie said, blinking back her tears. “Thank you for making my days in Morgan Creek easier to bear.”
Fighting tears of her own, Marti said, “How can I ever thank you?” She glanced at the house. “What if Brad doesn’t want me anymore?”
“He hasn’t remarried,” Saintcrow said. “He still loves you. Now say your good-byes. It’s getting late.”
Kadie hugged Marti. “Be happy.”
“Thank you so much. I don’t know how you did this, but I’ll never forget you.”
Kadie wiped her eyes. “Yes, you will,” she said, overcome by a wave of sadness as Saintcrow captured Marti’s gaze with his. She felt a rush of preternatural power whisper over her skin.
A moment later, Marti was on the front porch and Kadie and Saintcrow had darted out of sight around the side of the house.
Marti glanced around, looking confused, then rang the bell.
A few minutes later, the porch light came on and a man clad in a navy blue bathrobe stood in the open doorway. For a minute, he simply stared at Marti. Then, with a wordless cry, he threw his arms around her. “Marti! Thank God, you’re back. Where have you been all this time?” He looked past her, his gaze sweeping up and down the sidewalk.
“I don’t know,” Marti said. “The last thing I remember is going for a walk . . .”
“It doesn’t matter,” Brad said, pulling her into the house. “All that matters is you’re home. Teresa!” he called, his voice filled with happy tears. “Teresa, wake up! Mommy’s home!”
Kadie wiped the tears from her eyes as she followed Saintcrow back to her car.
She was pensive on the ride home. Rosemary was wrong, she thought. All vampires weren’t monsters. No monster would have done what Saintcrow had done tonight. She would never forget the look of surprise on Brad’s face, the joy in his voice. She only wished she could have seen Marti reunited with her daughter.
“That was a wonderful thing you did,” she said at last. “Thank you.”
“It was a wonderful thing you did,” he replied, sliding a glance in her direction. “I know Marti was your favorite. You spent a lot of time with her. I know you’ll miss her more than you would any of the others.”
Kadie didn’t deny it. She would miss Marti dreadfully, but it had been the right thing to do. Once she had thought it through, Kadie had realized there was nothing for Rosemary to go back to, while Marti’s life was still waiting for her.
Kadie smiled inwardly. She couldn’t remember when she had felt so good. Was Saintcrow feeling good about it, too?
She studied his profile, thinking again how handsome he was. Maybe, if she played her cards rights, she would be able to convince him to let some of the other women go, as well.
Chapter 23
Kadie was roused out of bed early the next morning by someone pounding on the door. Slipping into her robe as she went, she hurried downstairs, wondering who it could be. No one ever came calling at Saintcrow’s house. Belting her robe tightly, she opened the door.
“Jeremy, what are you doing here?” she exclaimed.
“The women sent me,” he said, gasping for air.
“What’s wrong?”
He held up his hand, then bent over, hands on his knees, while he caught his breath.
Kadie stared at him. It took only a moment to realize what had brought him here.
Straightening, he brushed a lock of hair out of his face. “Marti’s missing,” he said. “None of the women were up to the walk, so I volunteered to come and tell you.”
“Missing?” she asked, feigning ignorance. “Are you sure?”
Jeremy nodded. “We’ve looked everywhere. No one’s seen her since last night. You know what that means.”
Kadie nodded. Everyone in town would assume that one of the vampires had killed her.
“I guess we’ll never know which bloodsucker did it,” Jeremy said bitterly.
“Does it really matter?” Kadie asked.
“No, I guess not.” He glanced past her into the house. “Do you like it here?”
Kadie shrugged. “It’s as good as anywhere else.”
“What about Saintcrow? Is he treating you okay?”
“Yes. Better than I expected. When you go back to town, will you tell Rosemary and the others I’ll be there as soon as I get dressed? Or you can wait, and I’ll give you a lift.”