Heart At Risk. Ana Leigh

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СКАЧАТЬ sighed and looked down on Stoneville. Yeah, for damn sure there wasn’t anything sentimental about this “sentimental journey” home. First thing in the morning he’d climb into his car and Vandergriff, Wisconsin, would see the last of him. This time for good.

      Just as he turned the ignition key to leave a car drove up and parked a short distance away.

      As he backed out, the headlights of his car revealed the driver of the other car. He recognized Maddie Bennett at once. What in hell was she doing up here alone? Waiting for some guy, no doubt. And he was probably married. Why else would they meet up here unless they didn’t want anyone in town to see them?

      Well, uptight or not, it figured if she wasn’t still married there’d be some guy banging her. The thought disappointed him. Why did a gal with an angel face and Ava Gardner eyes have to settle for making out with a married man in the seat of a car?

      Suck it up, Bolen. Not your problem. Your problem is that you’re not the guy she’s waiting for.

      Chapter 2

      Maddie’s brief encounter with Kurt Bolen had resurrected memories best forgotten, and she’d been in a near panic ever since. Ten years had only enhanced his dark-haired, brown-eyed handsomeness. She’d had a crush on him from the time she’d first seen him when the Bennetts had moved to Vandergriff her final year of high school.

      Recalling those long-ago days was painful to her now—almost as painful as they’d been then. Since her father worked for the quarry company, they, too, were one of the “Stoners” that the town looked down upon.

      It’s ancient history, Maddie, so why dredge it up?

      She didn’t have to ask herself that; she knew the answer. How often in the past ten years had she driven up here to Poorman’s Peak and recalled the last time she had seen Kurt Bolen—the night of their high school graduation? And now tonight, she’d turned her head and there he was.

      She’d had no close friends that last year of high school and spent most of her time alone, so why she’d even gone to the graduation party at Gertie Karpinski’s was still a mystery to her. After she’d sat in a corner being ignored for two hours, she had decided to leave. On the way out she’d encountered Kurt Bolen sitting on the steps outside.

      Kurt and Joey were part of the same gang, but Kurt had never paid any attention to his friend’s shy, freckle-faced sister. Why should he? Every gal in the school had the hots for him.

      Throughout the evening she’d stolen peeks at him. He’d spent most of his time sneaking drinks from the flask in his pocket and was too drunk to even remember her name. As if he’d ever remembered her name.

      She had declined his offer of a drink, but had gotten up the nerve to sit down and talk to him. It was the first time they’d been alone—and he’d actually spoken more to her than “Hi.”

      When she’d stood up to leave, Kurt had offered to drive her home. Even though he’d been inebriated, she’d accepted. On the way home he’d driven up to Poorman’s Peak and parked. Since it was still early and the party was still going strong, they’d been the only car.

      But kids didn’t come there for the view; they came to make out. In his drunken state Kurt had leaned over and kissed her—and then kissed her again. She could still remember the smell of the whiskey on his breath, and even more intoxicating, the excitement of his nearness and thrill of his kisses. Having worshipped him from afar she’d been too enthralled to resist when he’d slipped the dress off her shoulders and made love to her. It had been the most divine memory of her life, and despite the hardships that followed, she’d never ceased to cherish those stolen moments. He had fallen asleep—or more likely passed out. She’d driven him home, parked the car in front of the shack where he lived and left him undisturbed.

      The next morning she’d overheard Joey telling their mother Kurt had left town. A couple of months later she was certain she was pregnant.

      Determined to raise the child, she’d refused to reveal the father’s name and ignored her parents’ suggestion to abort the pregnancy or put the baby up for adoption.

      Her brother Joey had gone off and enlisted in the marines and shortly before Scotty was born, her parents were shot to death when the bar they were in had been held up. Aunt Beth had taken her in and helped her to raise Scotty.

      With Beth’s help Maddie had been able to go to a junior college in the morning and work the second shift at the quarry. After earning an associate’s degree, and with her aunt as a cosigner, Maddie had been able to borrow enough from the bank to open a bookstore and tiny tea shop. It had been ten years of constant struggle and hard work, but at least her son would not end up as a Stoner.

      And now Kurt Bolen had appeared from nowhere. She harbored no bitterness toward him. How could she, when he was responsible for giving her the most precious thing in her life—her son. But she also realized he could threaten everything.

      Was it fair not to tell Kurt the truth about Scotty? Was she being selfish, and not considering what would be best for her son?

      Obviously Kurt had no intention of remaining in Vandergriff, but what if he demanded equal parental rights? She knew nothing about him or what he’d been doing for the past ten years. He’d been pretty wild when he was younger. She couldn’t imagine turning Scotty over to this stranger on alternate weekends and such. And that could very well happen if Kurt demanded it.

      And what if he was abusive or a drunkard? He’d always drank heavily, even on the night Scotty was conceived. To reveal the truth to him now would only open a can of worms that could have a negative effect on Scotty’s life and her own. No matter how much she’d held on to those girlish fantasies through the years of Kurt coming back to town for her, she was no longer an irresponsible teenager. Her responsibility—and only consideration—was for the welfare of her son.

      She would not let anything or anyone threaten that welfare.

      After checking out of the motel the next morning, Kurt filled the gas tank, went to the diner and ate breakfast then said goodbye to Gertie.

      Once outside he took a final look around, climbed into his car and turned on the ignition. “Goodbye forever, Vandergriff.”

      Last night had resurrected too many memories. He wanted to get back to Milwaukee then home to D.C.

      He took a shortcut on a back road to get to the I-94 Expressway. Nearing an old abandoned quarry that had filled with water during the years, he thought of the many times he’d used it as a swimming hole when he was a kid.

      He slowed his speed when he saw a young boy skimming stones into the water. As he got closer, he recognized Scotty Bennett, and saw that Elizabeth Bennett, wearing a floppy, wide-brimmed hat to shade her face and eyes from the hot sun sat on a rock nearby. Times sure had changed since he was a kid. Back then, no one thought you needed a babysitter when you were a nine-year-old playing outside.

      Kurt tooted the car horn and waved. Scotty spun around, recognized Kurt, and attempted to wave back. He lost his balance, staggered backward and toppled into the water.

      Kurt slammed down on the accelerator and sped to as near the edge of the quarry as he could get. Elizabeth had just reached it.

      “Can he swim?” he shouted to her, dashing out of the car.

      “Not СКАЧАТЬ