Dreams (Part Two) (Dreams #2)(5)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

The big dog stood with his front paws planted on the top step and sampled the night air as Colby drew Gil away from the door.

“About those pranks someone played on Diana,“ Colby said quietly.

“What about ‘em?“ Gil leaned against the porch railing and fished a cigar out of his pocket.

“There’s no question that my son’s ex-girlfriend was behind the last one. But she swears she had nothing to do with the first two little jokes. Brandon believes her. And I’ve got a few questions, myself.“

“That right?“

“I can see Robyn cooking up one prank as an act of childish revenge. She’s young and impulsive, and she was furious that Brandon had changed his mind about marriage. But I don’t see her as the type to wage a deliberate campaign of terror against Diana. And that’s what was going on before I pulled Diana out of that cottage she was renting and moved her in here with me.“

“You think Robyn might have set up just one scene from your book after hearing about the other two scenes?“ Gil asked shrewdly as he carefully lit the cigar.

Colby braced one hand against the railing. “I think it’s a possibility.“

“Who?“

“That’s the hell of it, Gil. It could be almost anyone from Margaret Fulbrook or Harry to some jerk I beat out on River Road twenty years ago. It wouldn’t take much to figure out that one sure way to get back at me would be to frighten Diana. If there is some lunatic running around who thinks he’s got a score to settle, he’d better figure out fast that this is a game two can play. When I find him I’m going to teach him that I won’t let anyone hurt Diana.“

“Not everyone in town is carrying a twenty-year-old grudge, Colby. You caused a lot of trouble when you were a kid but you weren’t quite as much of an SOB as you think you were. In fact, you became some kind of local legend the day you left town. People around here never forgot you. And after you started writing those horror novels, they talked about you more than ever.“

Colby grinned. “Be careful what you say around Diana. I’ve got a reputation to protect. And if I did turn out okay, it’s because of you, Gil, and you damn well know it. You had a way of pulling me up short whenever I got too close to the line. I owe you for that.“

“I couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t had something to work with. You always had what it took to make it. Not like Eddy Spooner.“

“Eddy turned out okay, too. He’s holding down a job, isn’t he?“

“Eddy’s weak. He was weak as a kid, and he turned sour when he grew up. He failed at the army, failed at marriage and failed at everything else he ever tried.“

Colby scowled. “I heard his marriage broke up} but that’s no big deal in this day and age. What’s this about the army?“

“He was discharged early. Didn’t you know that?“

“No.“

“Something about him being temperamentally unfit for the service.“

“That’s hardly a crime,“ Colby muttered. “I wasn’t too fond of the army myself.“

“Let’s face it. For Eddy, pumping gas in Fulbrook Corners is as far as he’s going to get and deep down inside he knows it. I feel kind of sorry for him.“

Colby stared out into the night, thinking of the bleak resignation he had seen in Eddy’s eyes the other day. “Yeah.

So do I.“

There was silence for a while as Gil puffed on his cigar. Eventually he spoke. “I’ll keep my ears open about that other business for you. I can have a word with Roy Barnes, if you like. He’s a good man. Done a decent job as sheriff around here.“

“Thanks, Gil.“

“You’re real fond of that little lady in there, aren’t you?“ Gil’s eyes gleamed in the moonlight.

“Yeah.“

“Why’d you come back here after all these years, Colby?“

“Why in hell does everyone keep throwing that question at me?“

“Legends inspire curiosity,“ Gil said dryly. “So what’s the answer?“

“I’m not sure,“ Colby admitted. “Do you believe in fate, Gil?“

“No.“

“Neither do I. But sometimes I get the weirdest feeling that maybe I came back here this summer just so I’d find Diana.“

“Sounds like a good enough reason to me.“

2

She was trapped inside the grotto. She could not leave until her warrior husband came for her. She was a woman of great power who had never needed a male, but now she desperately needed the man who had fathered the child on her even as he died. There was a danger in the outer cavern, a threat to both herself and the babe she carried. Only the warrior could save her from the terror that hovered in the darkness beyond the grotto. For the first time in her life, she needed the help of a man. The knowledge terrified her.

The warm mist from the pool enveloped her, clouding her senses. Soon the pain would start.

“No.“ Diana sat straight up in bed, her heart pounding, her eyes wide open as she stared into the darkness.

“Diana.“ Colby was awake beside her, reaching for her. He pulled her tense body into his arms. “What is it, honey?

What’s wrong? A bad dream?“

Specter arrived at the edge of the bed and thrust his nose against Diana’s bare leg. He whined inquiringly.

Diana took a deep breath, patted her dog and then patted Colby. “It’s all right. I’m okay. Just another one of those dreams.“ She made no move to pull free of Colby’s embrace. His arms felt good around her – reassuring and strong.

“Another one of what dreams? What are you talking about, Diana?“

She was startled by the sharpness of his voice. “Nothing, really. It’s just that ever since you and I spent the night in Chained Lady Cave, I’ve had a recurring dream. I don’t get it every night, but this is the second or third time. I’m getting tired of them.“

“The same dream every time?“

“Not exactly. It’s like I’m having different parts of the same dream, though. Fragments. But all the dreams seem to be taking place in the cave. That little grotto, to be exact. It’s your fault, Colby,“ she added with a weak smile. “You should never have told me about the legend of Chained Lady Cave. You’re too good a storyteller. My subconscious mind has obviously glommed onto the tale and is having a ball with it while I sleep.“