Colorado Mountain Kidnapping by Cate Nolan

Author:Cate Nolan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2024-04-02T21:05:44+00:00

* * *

Isabelle didn’t know where to turn. The world was collapsing on her and she couldn’t think straight. Jess wasn’t Jess? Who was Julia? Had everything about this past year been a lie?

She sagged onto the bed. There had to be some explanation, some way to make sense of all of it. But she was so tired. Her brain was still dulled from the effects of the drugging and she couldn’t even figure out how to begin to process this news. All she wanted to do was to go to sleep and wake up to find it had all been a bad dream.

Laura started to squirm in her arms, and Isabelle knew she was sensing the tension. She held her close. “Don’t you worry, my darling,” she murmured as she gently stroked Laura’s back. “I’m here for you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

But even as she made the promise, she knew it was impossible to keep. She had no way to do it on her own, and the two men who were her only help now doubted her.

It was too overwhelming. She’d coped with so much these past few years—Daniel’s erratic behavior, his death, her despair, and her efforts to be a better mother to Mia. Just when it seemed she was going to make it as a single mother, this avalanche hit. It was too much. She couldn’t do it alone.

You’re not alone, her heart whispered. God is always with you.

She closed her eyes and tried to feel the truth in that, tried to find the words to pray. It was wrong to rely on her own strength. God had been good to her and He would continue to be if she remained faithful. But she was so very tired.

Isabelle laid Laura down on the bed and curled up beside her. She closed her eyes, intending to pray, but she could feel herself drifting off. Maybe just for a few minutes she would rest.

“Mama.”

Isabelle fought her way through a cloud of sleep, drawn by the joyful sound of her daughter’s voice. The sound of baby gurgles sang to her heart and she listened to Mia whispering to Laura as she played piggy toes with the baby’s foot. Isabelle opened her eyes, intent on cherishing this precious moment of the three of them at peace together because she knew it wouldn’t last.

Once Mia saw she was awake, she bounced up to grab a paper from the table. “Look, Mama. I made you a picture.”

Isabelle took the drawing and smiled. Yet another tree. This was not Mia’s norm. “You’re getting really good at drawing trees, sweetie.” She ran her finger along the smooth crayoned shape. “Is there a reason you’re drawing so many?”

Mia’s eyes welled up and her fingers rose to graze her necklace. Isabelle’s heart cracked. “You’re drawing them for Aunt Jess?” The name came out automatically before her brain caught up. But if she was confused, she certainly couldn’t tell Mia she had the wrong name. Not now.

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