Loving Madison

Twenty-Two

A small wind picked up, and the warmer air caressed their faces as Cameron drove them toward the police station. He hadn't spoken since they left Mr. Bailey's house. Remarkably enough, neither had Madison.

So much had happened since he crawled out of bed this morning. He'd gone from feeling lighthearted, and then excited as ideas flowed between him and Madison. Then a different exhilaration rushed through him when he shared a passionate kiss with that amazing woman. But since they'd arrived at Mr. Bailey's house, things had grown more confusing as the minutes passed.

Cameron had actually anticipated sharing more kisses with Madison, unfortunately, things had taken a sudden turn when she talked about trying to find Lord Hanover's missing child. It unnerved Cameron that she wasn't concentrating fully on finding Rosie. Madison hadn't told him outright that she was putting Rosie's case on hold. However, what else could he think when Madison's eyes danced with newfound delight when she described her vision with Lord Hanover, and believing she was brought to him for this purpose.

Inwardly, he growled. No!

She was brought to him to help locate Rosie, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Desperation mixed with surrender washed throughout him. Part of him wanted to throw his hands in the air and give up on this search. All the clues pointed toward Rosie leaving them...instead of being taken. He wouldn't be able to stop the rumors once they got started, and for certain, they would spread like wildfire now that Garrick and Flannery knew. Cameron was certain Miss Trent would add her gossip to the circles, as well.

Anger grew by leaps inside of him as a vein in his forehead throbbed. Rosie had created a scandal that would affect their family for years to come. Why had she been so selfish? Had this search for his sister been futile from day one? If Rosie was obstinate enough to run to Gaynor Brailsford for a new life, then she could bloody well marry the bloke.

Unfortunately, every time he thought about giving up the search, something inside of him encouraged him to continue looking. Whether or not it was his father whispering from the grave, but he must solve this case. For his father's memory. Cameron's sire wouldn't want him to overlook anyone in their family just because they made some mistakes along the pathway of life.

"You have been awfully quiet since we left Mr. Bailey's house."

Madison's soft voice brought him out of his jumbled thoughts. "My apologies. I've just had a lot to think about."

"Do you care to share with me what's on your mind?"

He glanced at her. Wide, wondrous cobalt eyes stared at him. Why did she have to be so pretty? It was hard to be upset at her when she looked like someone who just wanted to be cuddled and loved.

"I've been thinking about Rosie." Shrugging, he aimed his focus back on the road. "The more information we find, the more I'm inclined to believe she wanted to leave with Gaynor. Even if I found her and forced her to return home, I'm quite certain she would run away again."

After a few moments of silence, he peeked at Madison to see why she hadn't said anything. Her expression was drawn into a frown as she stared ahead of them. Perhaps she agreed with him and was too afraid to let him know she wanted to stop looking for Rosie.

"I don't know, Cameron." She shook her head as her eyes met his. "The past few visions I've had about her, she appears to be saddened...even frightened of something."

Chuckling with despondency, he returned his attention to the road ahead. "I'm sure she's frightened. She's worried that I'll find her and force her to come home. I realize she's not a little girl any longer, but...I want her husband to be someone more her age and someone who will love her and respect her. If things had just gone differently..."