Loving Madison

Twenty-Three

Madison's heart raced as she watched the scene play out in her vision. It was as if she sat in the theatre seats viewing the actors. But these things were happening to Rosie at this very minute.

Cameron's younger sister wore the same dress as in the other visions. The girl's hair had fallen out of the styled coil it had been in earlier. Her eyes were watery, and her cheeks were wet. A frightened face stared at the man coming toward her slowly, leaning on his walking stick. Madison couldn't see the man's face that stalked Rosie, only his back. Chestnut hair brushed against the collar of the man's black overcoat. His frame was slender, and he stood only a few inches taller than Rosie.

"Didn't I instruct you to stay in your room?" the man snapped.

Rosie nodded as she continued to retreat. "You did, but...I just had to see—"

"You disobeyed me," he barked. "Don't you know by now that I cannot abide a disobedient woman?"

More color faded from Rosie's face. "I assure you, I didn't do it to make you upset. I just thought—"

"Then don't think. I'm not impressed with intelligent women."

Rosie bumped against the wall, stopping her from going anywhere. The man stood very close in front of her. She pressed a shaky hand against the man's chest.

"Please, I promise not to leave the room again." A tear fell down her cheek.

"I don't know." He shook his head. "You haven't been very mindful of my feelings as of late, and I feel you haven't learned your lesson."

The man raised his right hand. Rosie cringed. Seconds later, the man slapped her and she screamed.

"Cameron," Madison gasped as she fell into his arms. She clutched his waistcoat and stared up into his eyes. "He hit her!"

Cameron lifted her in his strong arms and carried her out of the wretched cell, out into the hall. Finally, she could breathe easier, but her body remained weak. Thankfully, he still allowed her to rest against his rugged frame.

"Who hit her?"

"I...I couldn't see his face, but he hit Rosie."

"Rosie?" Cameron's voice rose, making the walls echo. "You had a vision about my sister?"

She nodded in silence as she fought to regulate her breathing. At least her head cleared from the dizzy fog that had consumed her while inside that cell.

"Weren't you supposed to see who killed Mr. Bailey?"

"Yes." She took a deep breath. "I think the person who killed Mr. Bailey is the one who struck Rosie." She pressed her face against his chest and inhaled his masculine spice scent. "Oh, Cameron, we need to find her. She is so frightened."

"Could you see where she was?" he asked in a tight voice as his hand stroked her hair.

"She was in the same bedroom where I have seen her before."

"But you couldn't see the man?"

"No. Only the back of him."

"Describe him."

"Slender build, a few inches taller than Rosie, and his chestnut hair was long enough to touch his collar." She took a deep breath. "He wore a black overcoat."

"Oh, my sweet, Madison. You must try harder. Think of what you saw. There must be more that will help us identify him."

Closing her eyes, she moved her mind back to her vision and tried to look him over again, slower this time. "His chestnut hair had tints of blonde. He walked with a cane that had a thick, steel handle." In her mind she spotted something on his finger as he lifted his hand to strike Rosie. A ring! It was a family heirloom ring, she was certain. The family's crest was engraved on the gem.