Embrace of the Enemy (Winds of Betrayal)

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Book: Read Embrace of the Enemy (Winds of Betrayal) for Free Online
Authors: Jerri Hines
get her.”
    “The baby?” Jonathan questioned immediately.
    The look upon her face changed and relief flooded his being.
    “Oh, the wee one. He’s a special one. He is, Dr. Corbett. Such a good little thing. Laughs! Susie has been looking after the poor mite. After what happened to Mr. Gannon, Miss Catherine….”
    Jonathan didn’t pause a moment but headed straight toward their bedroom on the upper floor, bounding up the stairs, three at a time. At the hall’s end their door on the right was shut. His hand eased open the door handle.
    “Catherine,” he gentled his voice. The room seemed as night. The curtains hadn’t been pulled back to let the morning sun in. His eyes adjusted to the darkness to focus on a woman lying within the bed. He could hear muffled crying. He sat on the bed with all the delicacy he could muster so not to disturb her. He reached with his hand and touched her hair.
    “Catherine, look here. I’ve returned. It is Jonathan,” he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
    She slowly opened her eyes…her beautiful, lustrous eyes. Recognition came slowly as she sat up. Her hair flowing down disheveled. She blinked, “Jonathan?”
    She flung her arms around him. “Jonathan? I’m not dreaming?”
    “No, my love. I’m home for a short time,” he said and pulled her tightly into his arms. Rocking her as an infant, she clung tightly to him.
    “Don’t leave me, Jonathan. They’re going to get me. Jonathan, I have needed you for so long. I’ve been so alone,” she cried hysterically.
    He had never seen her so disturbed. He talked to her, smoothed her. Calming her, he looked down upon her face. What the hell had happened to his wife?  
    * * * *
    “Jonathan, she hasn’t been right since the birth, especially after you left. Her father had been deeply concerned, for she hadn’t seemed interested in the welfare of William. Thomas brought in an excellent nurse, of course,” Dr. Jenkins said. He had come when he heard of Jonathan’s arrival. “She had been doing better. Joseph seemed to think almost back to her normal self, but when the arrest warrant for Joseph was executed she collapsed back into her own world. Stephen had helped, but he has had to handle all the problems his father left behind.”
    “Are we sure he had no involvement with his father’s actions?” Jonathan asked sitting behind Gannon’s old desk. “I, for one, wouldn’t trust him. How could he not have known? Suspected? He was close to his father. I might not have known everything, but I knew my father’s intentions.”
    “Jonathan, I, too, question, but we can’t react because of association. I can assure you we did extensive research before we made a move. The damage Gannon inflicted will take time to repair and as you know, some can’t be repaired,” Dr. Jenkins agreed. “It’s extremely unfortunate he caught wind of the trap and escaped. I hear now he’s in New York. I have never wanted to hang someone so badly.”
    “Oh, my God. New York! No!” Jonathan’s face dropped in dismay. “I need to see Lanson, immediately!”
    * * * *
    The silver service gleamed and then suddenly distorted, reflecting a face entering the sitting room. Jonathan glanced from the reflection in the bulge of the pot to the man; Peter Lanson stood before him. He had expected it to have been Catherine, who had promised to leave the bedroom this morning and to join him with William.  
    “Dr. Jenkins informed me you requested my presence,” Lanson said solemnly. He looked tired, but they both did, but not particularly happy to be here either. “And I’m here.”
    “You don’t look as though you care to be,” Jonathan said. “You have nothing to add to what I’ve learned? Much has happened since last we met.”
    “I’m not going to be able to tell you anything you want to hear,” Lanson shrugged. “I realize, Jonathan, much has happened, but to us all. At least you have your wife and child. Besides, the network has every

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