Rita Herron - The Missing Twin

“I guess I’m not accustomed to men I can count on,” she said.

Caleb rubbed the back of her neck with his thumb, and a frisson of something sweet and sensual rippled between them. “Some men actually care about family and honor, about protecting women and children.”

Madelyn desperately wanted to believe him. “But you don’t have a family of your own?”

Intense pain filled his eyes so quickly that it sucked the air from Madelyn’s lungs. Then a shuttered look fell across his face, and he pulled away.

“I’m sorry if I said something wrong, Caleb.” Madelyn touched his arm, needing to apologize, to make up for whatever she’d said to upset him, but he launched himself to his feet and slanted her a look that warned her that the conversation was over.

Madelyn missed the intimacy she’d felt between them. But he was right to keep their relationship focused on the case.

Still, the anguish in his eyes haunted her. Caleb had his own secrets. Secrets he obviously didn’t want to share. Secrets that had hurt him deeply.

And for once, instead of thinking about her own pain, she wanted to alleviate his.

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To Mother for all the love she gave her own twins…

Award-winning author Rita Herron wrote her first book when she was twelve, but didn’t think real people grew up to be writers. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job. A former kindergarten teacher and workshop leader, she traded her storytelling to kids for romance, and now she writes romantic comedies and romantic suspense. She lives in Georgia with her own romance hero and three kids. She loves to hear from readers, so please write her at P.O. Box 921225, Norcross, GA 30092-1225, or visit her website at www.ritaherron.com.

Caleb Walker —He will do anything to protect Madelyn and find her missing child—anything but lose his heart to the woman and her twins.

Madelyn Andrews —She thought one of her twin daughters died at birth. Now she has reason to believe she’s alive, and she’ll die herself before she’ll give up her search to find her.

Sara Andrews —She knows her sister is alive and in danger. But everyone thinks she’s crazy—everyone except Caleb Walker, the big Indian who can walk on fire. Will he find Cissy in time?

Cissy Andrews —She’s running for her life. Can her sister, Sara, hear her cries for help?

Tim Andrews —The father of the twins abandoned Madelyn and Sara after they lost Cissy. Was he too grief-stricken to stay with them, or was he guilt-stricken instead?

Jameson Stanford Mansfield —The lawyer who handled adoptions for Dr. Emery insists he has no knowledge about the missing twin. Is he lying to protect himself?

Nadine Cotter —A nurse who consoled Madelyn the night she lost Cissy. Did Nadine know that Cissy survived?

Howard Zimmerman —The funeral director handled the memorial service. Did he cover up the fact that the casket Madelyn buried was empty?

Ava and Bill Butterworth —The child they adopted is not Madelyn’s; but they may know where she is.

Rayland and Beatrice Pedderson —Someone tipped off Rayland that Caleb and Madelyn would be coming and asking questions. But Rayland Pedderson talks with his gun.

Danielle and Doug Smith —Is Smith really their last name or are they on the run?

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Fear clogged five-year-old Sara Andrews’s throat. She could see her twin sister running from the old wooden house, stumbling down the porch steps, crying as she raced toward the woods.

“Help me,” Cissy cried. “He’s gonna hurt Mommy!”

The wind whistled, shaking the trees. Leaves swirled and rained down. A dog howled in the distance.

Then thunder boomed.

No, not thunder.

It was the big, hulking man storming down the steps. “Cissy!” the monster bellowed. “Come back here.”

He slapped at the branches with his beefy fists, moving so fast he was nearly on top of her. Then he lunged for her.

Cissy screamed and darted to the right, running, running, running into the darkness….

The monster reached a pawlike hand toward her and snatched her jacket. Cissy screamed again, stumbled and fell to the ground. But her jacket slid off in the man’s hands, and he cursed.

Sweat slid down Sara’s temple. Her heart was pounding so loud she could hear it beating in her ears. “Get up,” Sara whispered. “Get up and run, Cissy.”

As if Cissy heard her, she took a deep breath, grabbed a fistful of dirt and hurled it at the man.

The dust sprayed his eyes and he cursed, then swung one fist toward Cissy. Cissy dodged the blow, pushed herself to her hands and knees and stood. Tree branches cracked. The wind screeched.

The monster roared and dove for her.

“No!” Sara cried. “Run, Cissy, run.”

Tears streamed down her sister’s cheeks as Cissy tried to run, but the monster yanked her by the hair and dragged her back toward the house.

“Help me!” Cissy cried. “Please, help me!”

“No!” Sara screamed. “Let her go….”

Madelyn Andrews raced toward her daughter’s bedroom, her lungs tightening at the sound of her daughter’s terrified sobs. Outside, the wind roared off the mountain and sleet pelted the window, reminding her that a late winter storm raged around the small town of Sanctuary, North Carolina.

Shivering with the cold, she threw open the door, flipped on the sunflower lamp Sara had begged for and crossed the distance to her little girl’s bed. Sara was thrashing around, tangled in the bright green comforter, sobbing and shaking.

“No, don’t hurt her, don’t hurt Cissy…”

Madelyn’s heart broke, worry throbbing inside her as she eased herself onto the mattress and gently shook Sara.

“Honey, wake up. It’s just a nightmare,” she whispered. Although Sara would insist that it was real.

Sara sobbed harder, swinging out her hands as if fighting off an invisible monster, and Madelyn pulled her into her arms. Tears blurred her own eyes as she rocked her back and forth. “Shh, honey, Mommy’s here. It’s all right.”

“Gonna hurt Mommy…” Sara wailed. “Help Cissy. We have to help Cissy!”

“Shh, baby.” Madelyn stroked Sara’s fine, blond hair. “No one is going to hurt Mommy. I’m right here.”

Sara jerked her eyes open, her pupils distorted, her lower lip quivering. For a moment, she stared at Madelyn as if she didn’t recognize her.

“But Cissy’s mommy is hurt,” Sara said in a shaky voice. “The bad man chased Cissy into the woods and he catched her, and…”