Maddy had noted the detective’s considerable height as they’d exited the plane, but standing next to him at baggage claim she felt somewhat dwarfed, which wasn’t an often occurrence considering her own height of 5’8”. At what she guessed to be 6’3”, he was also well proportioned, she decided, scanning his profile through her peripheral vision. The sleeve of his suit stretched taut over his shoulders and biceps as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Being a cop, such a size would have its advantages. He ,no doubt, made a formidable adversary for any criminal intent on putting up a fight.

He turned to look at her then and she couldn’t help a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. She hadn’t been staring outright, but the glint in his dark eyes and the slight arch of his brow announced the fact that he’d been aware of her quiet perusal, just the same.

“So, where to now, Just Maddy?” he asked. “Does your gentleman have a place here in town or will you be meeting him at a hotel?”

Maddy tucked a strand of her shoulder length chestnut hair behind her ear and watched the next bag drop to the carousel belt before she answered. “Actually, he has a place just outside of town. I’ll be driving there to meet him.”

“Sounds romantic,” he said, though she caught a hint of skepticism in his expression before he carefully masked it. “Is he part of the farming community or is this just a get-away-from-it-all kinda place?”

“Actually, his father used to raise cattle. The place got to be too much for him as he got older though, so he auctioned off the cattle, sold the place to Jared and moved closer to town. Jared likes the peace and quiet, says it’s easier to concentrate on his art work there.”

Dave nodded. “Can’t say that doesn’t make sense considering the field he’s in. Though I have to say, I think I’d be just the opposite, I’d lose my concentration in the quiet, too used to the noise downtown, I guess.” He stepped forward then and plucked a black suitcase off the carousel as if it were no bigger than a brief case. “Do you see yours yet?” he asked.

“No, but I can manage, thanks.”

“Well then, I guess this is it. It was really nice meeting you, Maddy, and good luck with your gentleman. I hope it all works out for you.” He stuck out a hand.

She took it in an easy grip. “Thank you, Dave. It was nice meeting you too, but I think you’ll be the one needing the luck.” She smiled.

He grinned at that, shook his head, then said, “I can’t count the times it’s come in handy. Take care and be safe. And, oh, don’t forget that little errand you need to run on your way to Neverland.” Without waiting for a reply, he winked, nodded once, then turned on his heel.

Maddy watched his retreating back until the crowd swallowed him up. What an interesting man, she thought, smiling. God help his wife, though, if he had one. He was probably always the cop and he’d be so overprotective she wouldn’t be able to go to the grocery store without a gun being strapped to her hip. She giggled to herself as she hefted her own bag off the belt and rolled it after her as she headed for the rentals.

An hour out of the metropolis Maddy started getting antsy. She’d enjoyed the beautiful scenery; a combination of fields, hills and brush with a backdrop of jagged snow covered mountains, but she was beginning to feel like the turn off Jared had told her about was never going to make an appearance. He’d said she’d see the sign about an hour out of town, and that’s just about how far out she was now. Maybe she was just over-anxious. She just simply couldn’t wait for the very moment they’d be able to lay eyes on one another. After years of longing to reach out and touch his face, she’d finally be able to do that. The excitement of it was nearly overwhelming.

The sun was so bright and the sky so blue that it blinded her at moments. She checked the rearview mirror off and on just to be sure she hadn’t missed the sign. Thank God the little Toyota she’d selected at the rental place was dependable and good on gas, there hadn’t been a place to stop for miles. There weren’t even many houses out this far, she noticed, scanning the horizon. No wonder Jared used the internet as a way to interact with others. He’d have to go a good distance out of his way just to go to a club or restaurant where he could meet people. Even though Maddy lived in town, the internet had been a good interaction tool for her as well. Her job took up so much of her time. It was convenient, and by a stroke of luck, or perhaps it was fate, it had brought them together.

She was just reaching down to change the radio station for the umpteenth time when a sign suddenly emerged in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat. That had to be the sign Jared had mentioned. It was on the left hand side of the road, it had to be fairly good sized if she could see it from this point, and it was the only one she’d seen for at least twenty miles. Her foot pressed down on the accelerator and as the distance to the sign diminished, she could indeed see that it was a large wooden one just as Jared had described. Etched into its pale, weathered surface were the words Acorn Lane, a hint of black paint barely clinging to the letters. Quickly slowing down, she made the left hand turn down the worn dirt road.

A mile on this road, he’d said, and she’d be there. Her mind was racing. Her very blood was racing. She was literally living a dream, one she’d envisioned over and over again, and in so many different ways. Finally, it would soon be a reality, a wonderful reality. She and Jared would at last stand face to face! Her hand flew to her cheek. She slowed and hit the breaks, sliding a little in the gravel. Jerking the car into park and letting it idle, she grabbed her bag out of the passenger seat. She had to freshen up. She had no idea what she looked like at the moment and she wanted to look her absolute best when Jared saw her for the first time.

Turning the rearview mirror to face her, she grabbed a tissue first to blot the shine from her complexion, then popped the cap on her lipstick and applied a fresh coat. Damn, though her dark blue eyes were luminous with excitement, they were slightly shadowed from the restless night she’d had and she’d packed her concealer in her suitcase. Nothing she could do there. She pulled her brush out next and ran it through her think hair, yanking at a few tangles in her haste. That done, she took one last cursory glance, dropped the brush back in her bag and her bag back in the seat.

She jerked the car back in drive, jolted forward, and continued at a pace that was questionable for the rocks, bumps, and twists in the old road. She prayed she didn’t pop a tire but she couldn’t help herself, she’d contained her excitement too long to drive at a snail’s pace. It was down to a matter of minutes and the wait would finally be over. After rounding a bend and mounting a slope, Maddy caught her breath.

Spread out below over a good stretch of land were the remnants of what must’ve once been a flourishing ranch. It was even more beautiful than he’d said. A wrought iron arch with Kessler’s Ranch carved out of it marked the entrance to a graveled circle drive that led up to the full sized porch of an old, but well maintained clapboard two story home. A few yards to the left was a huge red barn as perfect as any she’d ever seen on a postcard. Horses of differing colors directed curious gazes her way. Surrounding them and a good portion of the homestead was a white fence, and dotted throughout the property were gracious blue spruce and pines. To complete the picturesque scene was a giant red windmill and a water tower.

Tires crunching over fine gravel as she drove beneath the arch and navigated the circle drive, Maddy’s mood was quickly tempered when she realized there were two trucks parked at the side of the house. Jared had only mentioned one. Could he have just neglected to mention the other, or did he have company? She hoped the latter were true. The minute she stepped from the car she instantly became aware of the sound of silence. She could literally hear the air it was so quiet. He car door resounded with an intrusive thud when she pushed it shut.

Looking up at the front of the crisply painted white house, she was surprised Jared hadn’t heard the noise and made an appearance. After all, he was expecting her. Yet, all was strangely still…as though no one was home. Up the steps and across the wide expanse of porch, Maddy rang the doorbell. A moment later she heard footsteps from within. He heart pounded hard enough she wondered if it was audible outside her body. Her nerves were so tightly strung she had to concentrate on breathing. When the door swung open and the screen pushed out, her breath hitched painfully in her chest. Her thought process came to a screeching halt. The face that greeted her was not one she recognized.