Leoti Read online

  “Got a little trouble, be warned. The roads are jammed ahead from an accident.”

  Carlton walked over to the car. He saw the direction in which he came. After spending all morning riding around in search of her, he realized that was the one area he hadn’t covered. This was a small town, maybe he knew something.

  He plucked his wallet and removed her picture. “Excuse me, have you seen her?”

  Rex and the Sheriff who were in conversation looked up. Carlton shoved the picture under the cowboy’s nose. “Her name is Josie and she’s missing.”

  Rex snickered. “Josie huh?”

  “You seen her?” Rogers asked.

  Rex nodded. “Yep, feisty young filly. Just left her. Told me her name was Leoti.”

  “What? Where? When?” Carlton’s heart raced.

  “Up the road at Elu’s place.”

  “Take me to her. Take me now!” Carlton hurried around the front of the truck. The Sheriff couldn’t object if he wanted to.

  “I’ll be there shortly, Rex. Can you handle this?”

  “No problem, Sheriff.”

  Carlton slammed the truck door. His heart finally slowed from the erratic drumming through his ribcage. So the Indian had her! What had happened on the side of this road, and why was Josie staying with him? Who the hell was Leoti? What was really going on? If this Elu did something to her, anything to her, he’d wish he’d never laid eyes on her. He’d make sure of it.

  Elu traveled a side road and went around the traffic. Turned out it was an accident. Well Leoti being at home alone with that man and the Sheriff looking for her was a disaster waiting to happen. When he neared the Sheriff’s parked squad car he slowed down.

  Rogers walked to the window. “You got some explain’in to do, Elu.”

  “Where is the man? The man that was with you?”

  “Rex took him to your place. What happened here? That car in the ravine, the woman….”

  Elu sped off throwing the Sheriff back. This couldn’t be happening.

  Elu’s cabin

  Josie took the journal to Elu’s chair and sat. She couldn’t run from her past any longer. And nothing about herself would change her and Elu. She was sure of it. Another thought occurred to her. The memory, the flashback of Elu at a lake, she forgot to mention it. She wondered how that happened?

  Po stood there watching her. She couldn’t bring herself to open it. Not now. “Tell you what sweetie, how about we go for a walk.”

  Po barked.

  “I know. I know. He said stay inside. But I need some air. Besides you will guard me right?”

  Po barked.

  Josie laughed. “Good. Let’s do it.”

  She tossed the journal. When Elu came home she’d read with him there. They’d face it together. The thought of it filled her with content.

  “This is it.” Rex said parking. “Who is she?”

  Carlton ignored him. He pushed the door open and slowly got out. His eyes swept the front of the log-style cabin. What was she doing here? Why would she stay with another man like this and give a fake name? The pain and insufferable feeling of betrayal gripped him. He walked to the door as if in a trance. He knew Josie, knew her heart, knew her spirit, and knew her faith. She wouldn’t abandon them like this. There had to be an explanation. Carlton started knocking on the door and no one came to answer. He peered in through the open windows and didn’t see her anywhere. “Josie!” he shouted. “Josie!”

  Still she didn’t answer. He ran his hand down his face in a full state of panic. He blew out a heated breath and began to pace. Rex walked towards the porch.

  “She’s there. Saw her just ten minutes ago.”

  Carlton frowned. Was she hiding from him? He looked back to the window and inside. He didn’t see anything. He noticed the porch wrapped around the place. He walked the length and circled to the back. On the deck were lanterns over a hot-tub space and an empty bottle of wine. He frowned. Not willing to consider what the set-up implied. Turning he saw someone. Down at the edge of a lake she stood with a dog at her side. Staring out into the water.

  “Josie!”

  Her head turned, she looked back at him curiously.

  “Josie!”

  He hurried down the steps. She didn’t approach but the dog started after him. Growling and snapping his jaws. “Po! Don’t!” she yelled chasing him. “Wait! Po!”

  Carlton stopped. The animal charged at him snarling. Is it a dog? The damn thing looked like a wolf. Black and white with crystal blue eyes, he’d never seen a dog quite like him. The angry snarl on the animal’s face revealed fangs instead of teeth. Its eyes were the color of rage.

  “Po! Baby, stop it!” Josie walked up and petted the beast. She smiled. “Hi. Sorry about that. Are you looking for Elu?”

  Carlton looked on in disbelief. She had a scar on her face, mending, but angrily bruised. She wore a man’s shirt.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “Excuse me?” she said.

  “Josie?”

  Her smile faded. She stood there staring at him as if he was the one that was crazy. And he saw fear in her eyes. It was unmistakable, it was fear. “Josie.” he reached for her and Po attacked. Ripping into his arms and driving him to the ground. Carlton stunned, fought the dog. Josie was on the animal, struggling to drag him off, but the grip the animal had on him cut through his leather jacket and broke the skin.

  “Stop! Stop!” she cried.

  A shotgun blast fired and Po released him. Josie looked up, shocked to see the cowboy with a gun. He’d fired in the air. It was enough to get Po off of Carlton.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said rubbing Po, trying to soothe the animal, who whimpered and licked at her face. “He was trying to protect me.” Tears streamed down her face. She seemed more distressed over the dog than him.

  “Josie, sweetheart, it’s me.”

  “You okay?” Rex asked with the shotgun aimed at Po.

  “Get out of here! Leave us alone!” Josie shouted, glaring at the weapon. Po growled at them both. “Please, just go.”

  ****

  Elu nearly jumped out of his truck before putting it in park. The shotgun blast sent birds from their perched spots in the trees, up into the air like a dark swarm. “Leoti!” he gasped.

  Sheriff Rogers was soon to arrive next. But Elu didn’t wait. He ran around the cabin after them. His heart in his throat, fear gripped him so tight his legs felt like they both had twenty-pound weights on them.

  “LEOTI!”

  Carlton favored his arm, rising. He was still in shock. It came to him quick. She didn’t know him. He could feel the distance between them. “Josie, what happened to you?”

  Rex tried to help him but he shrugged him off.

  “LEOTI!”

  Josie was holding Po, shaking her head at Carlton. Confused. Carlton heard the name Leoti and looked back. It was Elu and he was running fast at them. He stopped at the sight of Rex’s gun and his eyes narrowed. “Now wait a second, Elu—.” Rex backed up raising the gun. “I was just trying to help the boy. You need to put a muzzle on that wolf you call a pet.”

  “Leoti?” Carlton mumbled. “Who the fuck is Leoti?” He looked between Elu and then to his girlfriend. “Your name is Josie sweetheart.”

  She went to the Indian immediately, throwing her arms around the other man in front of him. It was enough to send him into a rage. “Get your fucking hands off her!” Carlton snapped. Elu held her face and checked to make sure she was okay as if Carlton hadn’t spoken. Then his eyes lifted above her head at Carlton. He drew Josie to his chest as she cried, with Po at his side. “She doesn’t have a memory. You have to go. The both of you! Now!”

  “What? Josie! Look at me. Look at me damn it!”

  Josie sobbed. She refused to lift her face from the Indian’s chest.

  “Josie!”

  “Leave! Come back later, you’re scaring her.”

  “What did you do to her? What the hell is this?”

>   “That’s enough!” Sheriff Rogers yelled. Everyone stilled. He marched over with his hand on his gun, surveying the scene. “Rex disarm. Now!”

  Rex lowered the firearm and stepped back. Carlton tried to reach for Josie but Po growled at him again. Her refusal to look at him was breaking his heart. “Sheriff, I want this man arrested. She needs medical attention and he’s keeping her from it.”

  “You have no idea what you’re talking about!” Elu shouted.

  “She’s my fiancé!” Carlton shot back. Josie released Elu. Her head turned, eyes pooled with tears. She finally did acknowledge him. He nodded to encourage her trust. “I don’t know what this man told you, but your name is Josie. Josie Eastman and we’re engaged. You’re an attorney. A famous one. You won the case of a lifetime. No shit sweetheart. Turn on a television. People all over the world know who you are. You have a mother and sister that you love, and a family waiting on you. You aren’t his Leoti.”

  “I—,” she wiped her tears but Elu refused to let her go. “I don’t remember.”

  Carlton smiled. “It’s okay. We’ll get you a doctor.”

  “No. Everyone needs to leave!” Elu snapped.

  “Wait, Elu.” The Sheriff said. “You’ve kept her here? Without a doctor? Without calling the police about the accident?”

  “He didn’t do anything wrong.” Josie said quickly. “He saved my life. I stayed because I wanted to. I needed to.”

  “Needed too? Josie, you don’t know who you are. He tricked you, and abused you.”

  “No damn it! He didn’t.”

  “Elu, you need to come with me,” Rogers said.

  “No!” Josie said protectively. “Sheriff, please. I’m fine. I want to be here. I just need a moment to think. Can you please make everyone leave? Please.”

  “No, Josie, you need help.” Carlton answered for him.

  “Stop it!”

  “That’s it.” Rogers cut in. “Let’s go, everyone, we can sort this out later at the station. Elu, I expect you to come in and pay me a visit.”

  “Wait! You can’t leave her here. Look at her.”

  Josie let go of Elu, actually forced him to release her and went to Carlton. “I’m okay,” she said. She reached for his arm. “You’re the one that’s hurt,” she inspected the tare along his sleeve.

  “Come with me, please, I can take care of you,” Carlton pleaded.

  Josie looked into his eyes. Sometimes love was stronger than memories, or time, it’s bonds unbreakable, especially when it was complete. Staring into his eyes she knew he was a man she loved, completely. She believed him when he said she was his fiancé. Part of her was tempted to go with him and lessen his pain and confusion. Trapped in his gaze she softened, weakened.

  “Leoti,” Elu said in a firm voice behind her.

  She glanced back. Elu stared at her with the same longing. He and Po. She smiled at her protector. She stepped away from Carlton. “I can’t.” she told Carlton. “But come back in the morning. Okay?”

  “Morning?” Carlton said. “I can’t leave you here with him!”

  “Sheriff, can you take him to a doctor? To make sure his arm is okay.” She turned and went to Elu. He took her hand and walked away with her, Po going along at their side.

  “Josie! Josie!”

  When her arm went around Elu’s waist and his over her shoulder, something in him broke. Never in his life had he felt such misery.

  Chapter Seven

  “Elu, please stop pacing.”

  “Who fired the gun?”

  Josie sighed. “It was the cowboy, Rex. We’re fine. No one was hurt.”

  “He fired a gun at you? At Po?”

  “He did it to stop Po from attacking Carlton.”

  Elu stopped when she spoke the man’s name with such familiarity. Josie avoided that look in his eyes. “Just calm down please.”

  Elu ran his hand back and forth through his hair, it was tossed to the side and then back reaching almost to the middle of his back. “I should have gotten here faster. I should’ve protected you.”

  She stared into the empty fireplace. Her heart was a twisted mangled mess. She didn’t know anything in the moment. Just feelings. Lots of them. And oddly one of them was grief. Sending Carlton away, hurting him, it cut her deep, and that confused her.

  “Did you read the journal?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Maybe you should. Maybe… maybe you should read it now.” He turned and stormed out.

  “Elu?”

  He left through the front door not bothering to take Po with him. Her eyes went over to the cast-aside journal. Between those pages were her words, her feelings, and the real truth. Not Carlton’s version or the one that Elu wanted. Just her words. She loved Elu, she wanted a life with him, and she wanted everything. That journal threatened those dreams. Josie dropped her face in her hands and cried. Not sure what else she was left to do.

  ****

  Chicago Illinois

  “So what time does your sister return?” Madeline asked waving off a store clerk who brought out a suit for her. “I told you mauve. That’s not mauve it looks like rose to me.”

  “Yes ma’am.” The store clerk blushed and hurried off.

  Tiffani rolled her eyes. She thumbed through the rack. Lunch was okay, now she would have to fill in the blank her sister left with shopping with Madeline. She wondered if Josie enjoyed these times with their mother. Mostly it just grated her nerves. “Carlton will call and tell….” She bit on her lip realizing her slip.

  “Carlton? Did you say Carlton? Are they back together?”

  “Ma.”

  “Please tell me those two have worked things out.”

  “He went to see her. They’re working things out.”

  Madeline’s mood immediately improved. She smiled. “Well he can talk some sense into her. She has work to do. I was on the phone with her publicist last night. Diane Sawyer wants to interview her, after Oprah. Can you believe it? My baby, she’s changing the world.”

  Tiffani’s phone rang. The store clerk cleared her throat and presented an array of suits for Madeline to inspect, thankfully drawing her mother’s attention away. “Let me get this.” Tiffani said turning away. She moved out of earshot when she saw it was Carlton’s number. “Hey, you and Josie okay?”

  “No.” Carlton said looking down at the nurse wrapping his arm. “How soon can you and Madeline get to Mission Creek?”

  “What?”

  “Josie’s been in an accident.”

  “Is she okay?” Tiffani asked, her pitch so high that Madeline’s eyes cut over to her. She put a hand to her heart because it beat so hard. “Carlton, is my sister okay?”

  “No. It’s complicated. Look, I’ve sent my jet for you. It’ll bring you to Libby, you know where Mission Creek is from there, right? Come as quick as you can, and bring Madeline.”

  “Wait? I want to know what’s going on?”

  “Call me when you’re on your way. I’ll give you directions to the cabin. It’s best I tell you in person.”

  “What happened to Josie?” Tiffani demanded.

  Carlton sighed. “She has amnesia Tiffani, she doesn’t remember any of us.”

  ****

  Josie rose from the chair. She walked past the journal. She needed a minute free of the tornado of emotions she found herself twisting in with no hope of rescue. In their room she found the bed was still in disarray, sheets scrunched up from the night of lovemaking. Last night had been so beautiful. Why did they ever leave that bed? Why? She sighed pulling off the sheets and gathering up the comforters, when her foot hit something. Dropping the haul she looked down. It was a woman’s bracelet. It had to have fallen out of her luggage when she was changing. She hadn’t seen it before. Josie knelt and picked it up. The bracelet looked expensive.

  “Merry Christmas.”

  He smelled so good after a shower. And this morning he had put on a dash of that aftershave she loved. Josie turned toward the wa
rmth of his embrace. And Carlton had one perfectly chiseled body of perfection. Hours spent in the gym, and his favorite sport of boxing had left him fit and trim. It also garnered him a cover spread in GQ. Now when he performed he wore sheer silk shirts, open or no shirt at all.

  “Mmm, morning baby,” she groaned. Josie slowly opened her eyes. Carlton’s face rested in his palm with his elbow keeping it raised off the pillows. In his other hand he had a large square jewelry box. The gift was packaged in something too large to be a ring box. She glanced up into his eyes. Her stomach dropped with disappointment. For two months she had all but drawn him a picture of the ring and proposal she wanted for Christmas. Wasn’t he listening?

  “Open it sweetie,” Carlton said.

  She accepted the black velvet box and opened it. Inside was a platinum bangle bracelet with diamonds trimming the middle. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I got it in Greece. I wanted something special. Babe, things are good right now. For the both of us. I know you’re pissed about the radio interview. Andy thought it best I dodge the question about being in a relationship. But you know you’re my girl. My only girl, Josie. This bracelet proves it. Now when you wear it you can be thinking of me.”

  “Carlton, I… it really is lovely.”

  He kissed the top of her brow.

  “My girl deserves the very best. Name it and it’s yours.”

  “I want to get married!” She blurted out.

  Carlton drew back. The look of irritation on his face made her feel like a fool. Josie bit down on her bottom lip and stared at the bracelet instead of him. “Sorry, it came out wrong,” she said.

  “For Christ’s sake it’s Christmas, can we please talk about anything but this shit again?”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. His rejection made her throat tight and all the emotional control she could summon shrivel. She looked away to keep him from seeing her tears. He turned her face around. She gazed into his eyes. Something was missing from her life. She needed more. And she wanted it with him so desperately. Professionally things were moving at warp speed for them both. When would it truly be about just them? Didn’t he know how much she loved him?