Today, he’d try to get Pate involved in the proceedings. Hawke had also relayed to the Congressman about their suspicions that Patrick was still alive, and he had listened and promised to do what he could - but the wheels of justice never rolled swiftly. Of course, his friends had been thankful that Patrick had found another way out. Now, they were just waiting for Lucas to be arrested so they could all testify against him. Patrick was living for that day, too. He hated to stay a ghost one moment longer than necessary, but the longer Lucas or any spies of his thought he was dead – the better.
Now, his main concern was to protect Savannah. The realization that she had been told he was dead cut him to the very core. How she must have suffered! Savannah had loved him – of that he had no doubt. He doubled his fist up and slammed it down on the hood of his rental car. After the lifetime of rejection she had endured, he had never wanted her to know another moment of pain. And even though he hadn’t intended to, he brought her more.
Last night she had responded to him so sweetly. He wondered if she had dreamed of him as often as he had dreamed of her. One thing was certain – he intended to make it up to her. Just as soon as Lucas was in custody and there was no chance she could be hurt, he was going to claim her – that is, if she still wanted him. God – please let her still want him.
When she had left this morning, he had followed her, just to make sure she got to work all right. And when it was time for her to get off – the MP would be there to make sure she got home okay. He didn’t intend for her to be exposed to that idiot for even one moment. And tonight, he’d be back in her bed again. Soon, he’d be more than just a sweet dream for her. Soon, if it were up to him - he’d be her husband.
*****
Savannah was shaking. She had been practically useless at work. Thankfully all she had been responsible for was cataloguing some items for the museum at Erath that had been left to them by a little old ninety year old Cajun woman whose fondest dream was to know her family history would live on.
What had interested Savannah most was the tapes she had made of the little old lady telling her version of the legend of Loup garou – the oyster culling monster. She had always been familiar with the Louisiana version of the werewolf, but his connection to the oyster industry was particularly intriguing to her since this was not the first reference she had heard. One day soon, she would do her own research. One day – when her world started to make sense again.
Today she had left work early, needing to go get her prenatal vitamins filled at the pharmacy. Keeping this baby healthy was so very important to her. She was in such a tizzy that she had left her cell phone - somewhere. She wasn’t sure if she had left it in her bedroom or the car or at work. It probably wasn’t important, but she was so afraid she would miss another call from Patrick. Honestly – she felt as if she was living in the twilight zone.
When she let herself in the house, the first thing she did was take care of Ciara. The dog was still excited and when they went for a walk, it was obvious she was looking behind every tree and brush for Patrick. She turned the lab loose, just to see where she’d go and it didn’t surprise her that she walked a trail around the house and when she stopped at a pair of footprints under her window, Savannah wanted to laugh out loud – but she had this sneaky suspicion she was being watched. So, all she could do was smile. Savannah didn’t know what his game was – all she knew was that she wanted to play. Lord, she wanted to play.
It was all she could do to get Ciara back in the house, but she did it – finally. There were always things to do, but today she was a little preoccupied. She did take a vitamin and cleaned herself up a bit. After all, she might have company in her bed tonight, and she wanted to be fresh as a daisy. Savannah didn’t know where he had been or why he hadn’t returned to her until now – so she was willing to listen. But if he tried to leave her again – this time, she’d kill him herself. Not really – but it was tempting.
*****
It was late – a lot later than he had figured. After he had answered a thousand questions, he had answered a thousand more. Lucas had friends in high places, so this wasn’t going to be a cake walk. Several times he had tried to call Savannah, but there had been no answer. And that scared the hell out of him, but he had talked to the MP and had been assured that she had gotten home and was safely ensconced within the sanctuary of her home.
But he was here now. Last night he had arrived with the intention of waiting till morning to see her, but he was weak – he couldn’t stay away from her. He had tapped on the door a few times, but she hadn’t answered. So
