Chained by REBECCA YORK Read Free Book Online

used to think of
that, too, querida .”
    “You did?”
    “Yes. About living on a little ranch with you. Raising
horses like my dad.”
    Her heart squeezed as he said that.
    “But that was impossible, of course.”
    “Why?”
    “Your father and I had a professional relationship. That was
supposed to be my relationship with you, too. And then there’s the age
difference. I’m nine years older than you are.”
    She laughed, hardly able to believe they were having this
conversation. “I think I’ve more or less caught up to you.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’m not seventeen anymore. I’m twenty-five. And you’re . .
.”
    “Dead,” he repeated what he’d said before.
    “Have you ever heard of anyone having this kind of
conversation with a ghost?”
    “No.”
    “I did.”
    She heard his breath catch. “When? How?”
    “I never told anyone about it. But after my grandmother
died, she came to me to say good-bye.”
    “That’s different. She was on her way to heaven.”
    “And you’re here with me because we have unfinished
business.”
    Before she could say more, she felt his body stiffen.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Somebody’s coming.”
    “My father?”
    “Maybe. Maybe not. I want you to get into the escape tunnel.
Now,” he ordered in a voice that left no room for argument. He was Matthew
Houseman, the Decorah agent again.

 
    CHAPTER SIX
    Gloria ran down the hall to the nursing station.
“Something’s happening with Matthew Houseman,” she gasped as she reached the
desk.
    Peggy Bradley, the supervisor on duty looked up, annoyed.
“Nothing ever happens with Matthew Houseman.”
    “Something’s changed.”
    “Like what?”
    “He opened his eyes. And he was talking to me. Well, maybe
not to me, but he was talking. Now something’s happening again.”
    Peggy looked doubtful, but she rose out of her chair and
followed the other woman down the hall.
    Matthew Houseman was lying in the bed where he always lay,
only instead of lying perfectly still, the way he always did, he was moving his
head restlessly from side to side.
    “What did you do to him?” Peggy demanded.
    “Nothing!”
    “You said he was talking. What did he say?”
    “He called out to a woman—Isabella.”
    “That’s all?”
    “Maybe he said she was in danger.”
    As they stood beside his bed, he opened his eyes again.
“Isabella.”
    When he tried to climb out of bed, alarm shot through
Gloria.
    “Matthew, take it easy,” she murmured as she pressed a hand
against his shoulder. “Everything’s all right.”
    “No. I have to . . .” He stopped talking abruptly and made a
moaning sound.
    “I’ll call Dr. Berman,” Peggy said.
    oOo
     One moment Matthew was there. In the next, he had vanished.
Was this like the night she had arrived? Had he gone to confront the enemy or
had he disappeared again?
    Isabella had never lit the lamp. Now she moved quietly to
the window, peering out. It was still light, and in the distance, she could see
a dust cloud rising along the access road. But she had no idea who was coming
to the ranch. It could be her father, Decorah Security agents, or the men who
had tried to kill her.
    Matthew had said he would protect her in this place, but she
couldn’t rely on him. Not when her life might depend on saving herself. She ran
back to her room, grabbing a knapsack and her purse. After snatching the gun
off the kitchen table, she dashed into the study.
    She picked up the rug and threw it into the tunnel, then
yanked on the desk, pulling it over the trapdoor before climbing down the
ladder, lowering the panel above her as she went. In the tunnel, she opened the
door to the safe and pulled out the canvas bag, which she stuffed into her
knapsack and carried down the tunnel to the escape hatch where she opened the
door and set the bag outside.
    A stirring in the air made her catch her breath.
    “Matthew?” she asked.
    He didn’t bother to show himself, but he spoke in a low
voice as though he