WITH AN OPEN MIND

By

Karin Huxman

© copyright February 2006, Karin Huxman

Cover art by Amber Moon, © copyright February 2006

ISBN 1-58608-853-x

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Chapter One

As soon as Kate turned off the car engine, the voice in her head stopped talking as if switched off. The silence that followed seeped through the car with the cold evening air, seeped through her body. She shivered.

Her telepathic lover had warned her about the danger here, had warned her that it wouldn’t be safe to talk with her here, but the cut off had been so immediate that she hadn’t had time to say good-bye. The fact that they were in each other’s thoughts, could communicate telepathically, was still new to her. He’s only made himself known recently. She didn’t even know his name, she nicknamed him Sy just to have something to call him. She couldn’t explain how, but the sense that they were destined for each other was strong.

She sighed and checked the mental wall she’d learned to erect against the other telepath out there, the one who invaded her nightmares, the one who frightened her. The wall still held.

The ticking of the cooling engine reminded her that she’d reached her destination. She couldn’t wait to see Rosa, her best friend from college. It had been years and so much had happened to both of them since then.

The ranch house rambled across the open space in front of her, a lone light on the front porch the only concession to the early darkness of a spring evening in the Rocky Mountains. She was aware of looming trees all around and boulders sitting like lawn ornaments, but all she really focused on was the house. A tendril of unease made its way down her back.

It was foolish to feel this way. Rosa had wanted her to visit for ages. Had said the welcome mat would always be out. Even so, Kate admitted that this was a surprise visit. She’d emailed Rosa only two days ago, from a cyber café in Oklahoma, that she was on the way.

Surprise.

The sharpness of the air shocked her as she got out of the car. Rare and cold, it sucked her breath away while at the same keened around her and made the tall trees sway. It buffeted her as she made her way to the house, pushed at her.

The porch step creaked as Kate placed her foot on it. The hairs on the back of her neck tightened as she imagined that the sound was a protest of her arrival.

"Don't be an idiot, a house can't hate," Kate muttered.

At that moment a light shone on her as someone yanked the door open. A young voice called out, "Mommy?"

Kate stepped back, surprised at the sudden onslaught of light and at the intensity of hope and fear in the childish voice. As her eyes adjusted she saw a small form trotting toward her.

"You're not Mom," the young boy accused.

This must be Tommy Korsand, Rosa's and Grant's five-year-old son. His expression of disappointment caused a stab of guilt then worry as the full impact of his words hit her. Rosa was not here.

She leaned down in order to be on Tommy's level. "I'm Kate, your Mom's friend from Virginia. I've sent pictures. Do you recognize me?"

Unhappy, suspicious eyes glared as they examined her from head to toe. "No, and I’m not supposed to talk to stangers." Tommy scampered back inside. Kate heard his shout echo through the house, "It's someone named Kate, not Mommy."

Disappointed that her godson didn’t recognize her and uncertain of her welcome, Kate stepped into the lighted foyer. She got a brief glimpse of dark paneled rooms to her right and left full of furniture before a slight, older woman came through a door at the back of the hall.

"I'm Mrs. Latham, the housekeeper," she said, her hand was dry and unwelcoming when Kate grasped it. "And you are?"

"I'm Kate Hunter, Mrs. Korsand's friend." At Mrs. Latham's raised eyebrow she went on, "I emailed her the other day to say I was on the way. Is she here?"

Mrs. Latham stared hard for a moment and left Kate by the entry as she returned to the door from which she came.

"Curioser and curioser, I wonder if the White Rabbit will show up next," Kate murmured. Her reception amused her on one level, alarmed her on another, and left her completely unprepared for Grant Korsand's entrance.

"Kate." He strode towards her. The grin on his lips did not reach his eyes. "You made it, so glad you could finally come. Rosa's been after you for ages to get you to visit."

Kate allowed him to take her hand in his as she listened in wide-eyed amazement. The Grant Korsand she remembered was not jovial, he’d always been somber and intense. True, this man resembled Grant. His blond good looks and well built frame were the same she remembered from that skiing holiday so many years ago. Yet, she sensed insincerity in his greeting as she let him take her hand. He was hiding something.

"Grant, it's nice to see you again," she said cautiously. Before she lost her nerve she had to ask, "Where's Rosa? I’m looking forward to seeing her though from my greeting from Tommy she isn’t here."

She watched Grant's guard snap into place, hooding his eyes, chasing away the facade of the welcoming host. Without answering, he led her into one of the rooms opening off the entry hall and flipped a light switch. The sitting room was decorated with delicate water colors and comfortable looking furniture. Kate refused the armchair Grant motioned her to; she was restless from sitting so many hours in the car. Instead she wandered from picture to picture.

"These are illustrations from Rosa's books, aren't they?"

Grant's face took on a wary, somber expression as he answered in a hollow voice. "Yes, the illustrator gave these to her. They’re from the first three books she published."

"That's why I recognized them. I bought all of her books as they came out. They’re very popular." Wasn't he proud of his wife's success? She changed tactics. "I'd like to see Rosa, where is she?"

Grant's face became as expressionless as his voice. "I don’t know where she is."

Her stomach tightened. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I mean, she went shopping two day ago and didn’t come home.”

She’d had a gut instinct, a vague concern earlier, but Grant’s bluntly delivered news was like a blow.

"Have the police been notified? Are they looking for her?"

"Yes, yes," Grant said, impatiently. "Everyone has been looking for her; she's nowhere to be found."

Kate couldn’t keep annoyance from her voice. "People don't just vanish off the face of the planet. Tell me what's happened."

Grant's face remained devoid of emotion as he faced Kate. His eyes, just as blue and cold as she remembered, stared hard. She had just a moment to see an expression of cunning calculation steal into them before he shifted his gaze from hers. This was the Grant she knew, the man she had cautioned Rosa about. Insincerity radiated from him creating an aura of distrust. Kate stepped back from him and tried to wrap herself in a cocoon of confidence.

"I'm simply trying to get the facts straight, Grant. Rosa's my friend and though we haven't seen each other for years, we correspond frequently. We're probably a couple of the last true pen pals on earth."

"What's your point?" Grant asked.

"My point is that of all the people in the world who know Rosa, you and I know her best. If she's hurt or in trouble, I want to know."

Kate paused, wondering how far she could push him. In her last letters from Rosa, she'd learned that the marriage was on shaky ground. Only Grant's hold over Tommy kept Rosa with him. Concern for her friend pushed her. "If she's left voluntarily, maybe I can help you find her."

Grant's head snapped up. "Left voluntarily? Why would she do a thing like that?"

"How could I know? Maybe she needed time away.” From you, she added silently. Kate knew the special pain of an unhappy marriage, though Rosa abandoning her son just didn’t feel right.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Grant scoffed. "Rosa and I were very happy. Tommy's birth made us even more so. I don't know where you come off fabricating a tale like that, but I'll deny it completely."

Though Grant's face was in shadow and turned away from Kate's, the warning implicit in his tone rang through. Why? Why would he keep her from helping him find Rosa if they were so happy together? Unease descended on her again as she tried to decide what to do. She must find a way to stay here at the ranch. She was sure that any clues to Rosa's disappearance were here. Perhaps even hiding behind the well-kept facade of Grant Korsand. But why? And if not Grant, then who?

She changed tactics again. "Did Rosa ever get my email? The one that said I was on my way and that I'd call her from Denver? She would have received it two days ago."

Grant nodded.

"Good, then we know she wouldn't have stayed away on her own."

"Of course she wouldn't," Grant exploded. He strode across the room toward her, his size and bulk towering threateningly over her. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. She would never leave Tommy or me. She went to Denver right after getting your message. She wanted some things for your visit."

Kate stood rooted in place; she would not back down from this man. She had never liked him and had told Rosa so before their marriage. It was apparent that he didn't like her either. To back off now would give him an edge in whatever kind of power struggle game they were playing. She wasn't going to give an inch.

He must have seen the determination in Kate's face. His shoulders slumped as anger drained out of him. "Look," his voice quieter as he turned away again. "It's true that things haven't been great between us for a while, but I love Rosa. The uncertainty of not knowing where she is or even if she's alive is driving me crazy."

Kate shuddered. "I love her too, Grant. Please, let me help." She cast about in her mind, hunting for anything that might sway Grant's mind. "I'll stay a couple of days. Rosa was expecting me. Maybe she'll come back and if she does she might need me. And I'd like to get to know Tommy. From the one glimpse of him when he came to the door, I could see how much he resembles both of you."

"Maybe you're right." His sudden capitulation was unexpected. He should have argued more, Kate thought as Grant continued. "Anyway, I can't let you drive these mountain roads all the way back to civilization tonight. Rosa had the guest room made up as soon as she knew you were on the way. By the way, where's your better half?"

The casual reference to Rudy hit Kate like an unexpected blow. Funny, she'd forgotten about him over the past few days. Now the reason she was here rushed back. Rosa didn't know about her divorce, Kate had kept that news, proof of failure, from her best friend. It was something best discussed in person.

"I came alone," Kate stated simply, as if daring him to delve into her personal life. When he let it go at that, she let out the breath she'd been holding, relieved to put off the news.

"I'll have Mrs. Latham show you to your room and have your bags brought up. We've placed you at the end of the family wing, next to Tommy's room."

Mrs. Latham appeared before Grant had a chance to call for her. "There's a phone call for you, Mr. Korsand."

"I'll take it in my office. Please show Mrs. Bent to her room, she'll be our guest for a few days." He nodded to Kate and went out.

The two women eyed each other, one young, one old, each calculating the strength of the other like opponents in a wrestling match.

I wouldn't want her on the other team, Kate thought and stifled a shiver. Mrs. Latham had a cold, emotionless face. It gave away nothing, yet Kate had the impression of an iron will behind the facade.

"Follow me," was all Mrs. Latham said. She led Kate up the flight of stairs that rose from the entry way. At the top a hallway stretched to the right and left. Mrs. Latham turned to the left.

Thick burgundy carpeting muffled the sound of their feet as they passed several polished wood doors. The wood was stained a dark mahogany color, only the creamy wallpaper, covered with sprigs of pastel flowers, kept it from being gloomy. Kate recognized Rosa's hand in this. He friend always tried to bring light and life everywhere she went. The stifling atmosphere of this house would have been a tremendous challenge to her skills.

Mrs. Latham opened a door toward the end of the hall and motioned Kate to precede her in. Several large windows overlooked the night darkened yard below. This room had Rosa's mark all over it, too, from the yellow patterned wallpaper to the flowered comforter on the four-poster bed. A creamy carpet covered the floor and a grouping of armchairs and a low table invited cozy chats by the field stone fireplace. It cheered Kate and increased her determination to find out what had happened to her friend.

"Your bags will be brought up soon," Mrs. Latham said as she flicked a non-existent fleck of dust from the bedside table. "Dinner is at seven; the dining room is to the right at the bottom of the stairs. You have a private bath through that door. Mrs. Korsand fixed everything up herself, but if you need something you can ask me, Mrs. Bent. Or should I call you Mrs. Hunter?" A crafty look came into her eyes and Kate knew she had made an enemy just by being here. Well, she wouldn't give Mrs. Latham the upper hand either.

"I go by my maiden name now, Hunter. The room is lovely, thank you," Kate said in her coolest tones.

A lifting of one eyebrow was all the reaction she got from the housekeeper who silently left the room.

Tension released Kate all at once. She had passed the first hurdle by getting here and being allowed to stay even with Rosa gone. She gave in to the invitation of one of the armchairs and sank into its soft cushions. Though it was dark already, a glance at her watch showed that she had a good thirty minutes before dinner time. Night fell swiftly in the mountains.

Up until now all Kate had aimed for was to get here, and hope that any qualms she had about Rosa's safety were unfounded. Now that she knew that this was not so, what was her next step? Did she have an ally in this house? Did Rosa?

So far as she knew the household consisted of Rosa, Grant, Tommy, and Mrs. Latham. They must have help to run the ranch. From Rosa's letters Kate knew there were several thousand acres of cattle country and forest lands. That indicated a staff of ranch hands or cowboys who had to live somewhere. Though it was possible they had no contact with Rosa on a day to day basis, maybe Kate could find out something from one of them. Her experience of ranch life was gleaned from the Louis L'Amour westerns that were her favorite reading material. No doubt ranch life had changed a bit from the frontier days that the books mostly chronicled. There must be someone Rosa had confided in besides her husband.

Grant Korsand, Kate closed her eyes and considered him. He was a handsome man, broad shouldered and blond in an icy sort of way. He possessed a commanding presence and an inborn charm that could blind an innocent to his determination. Kate sensed a swirl of emotions from him, but whatever he felt for Rosa, he had seemed genuinely puzzled that the police had found no trace of her.

Kate turned her thoughts to Mrs. Latham. What was her real position in the household? She cast around her memory for any mention of her in Rosa's letters. Mrs. Latham figured prominently in Rosa's correspondence in the first few years of her marriage. There had been a power struggle between the two of them. Evidently Mrs. Latham had been in charge of the house for years, practically brought Grant up. Giving up her authority to a young wife would have been difficult for her.

Kate smiled at the notion of the two women butting heads. Mrs. Latham was small, colorless, and cold, the opposite of Rosa. Rosa’s slim golden blond good looks and enjoyment of light and color must have been a trial for Mrs. Latham.

No, Mrs. Latham was no friend to Rosa. Kate would get no help from that sector in unraveling this mystery.

The fourth person in the house was little Tommy Korsand. Kate definitely wanted to know him better. Not because she thought he could help her, but because of the plaintive note she’d caught in his mournful voice at her arrival.

Kate remembered the day Tommy was born, Rosa had called her from the hospital with the news. She had been so happy. Kate remembered thinking that even her voice glowed with contentment. That little baby was a five-year-old boy now. Young enough to miss his mother, who was probably the only source of warmth in this house.

No, that wasn’t fair. As Grant's only son, Tommy was probably showered with affection from his father.

The concept of Grant showing any honest affection, any feeling that wasn't meant to further his own agenda, struck her as insincere. But he must spend time with the boy. Rosa had mentioned more than once how much Tommy adored his father and would follow him about the ranch even as a toddler if allowed to. This was the hold Grant had on Rosa, the reason she hadn't left him by now. Grant would want custody of his only son. Rosa wouldn't give him up.

That Grant denied any problems with the marriage didn’t surprise Kate. He wasn't about to expose that to her, especially under the circumstances. Wasn't the husband always the prime suspect in cases of foul play?

The overstuffed pillows of the armchair enfolded Kate with comfort. It struck her once again that this room felt like a haven of security in the dreary house. Maybe the house would look less threatening in daylight. Bright sunshine would go a long way towards eliminating the sense of gloom she’d sensed as soon as she entered.

Kate stretched her hands over her head and arched her back. It felt good to have arrived. Even with Rosa missing she had accomplished something. Over supper she was determined to ask more questions, find a clue, anything.

There was another name that had crept up now and again in Rosa's letters, but Kate drew a blank when she tried to recall it. She struggled with her memory for a moment then gave it up. It was as if her brain was shutting down after the stress of the day. She yearned to relax, but she couldn't, not until Rosa was found.

She missed the mental contact she’d had over the miles with the telepathic friend who had become, to her astonishment, her telepathic lover. She wished she knew who he was. His entry into her mind, her life, had been frightening at first. Okay, she’d thought she was going insane. But as she became accustomed to his presence, as she learned about her own abilities during the long trip west, she’d understood his kindness. The intimacy of their communication had engendered a measure of trust and a tenderness that had caught her completely off guard.

He’d also warned her about the evil presence that invaded her mind at nightfall. Kate looked into her mind at the barrier he’d taught her to build against unwanted communication. It held firm. This time she had no desire to "peek" over the top to see what was on the other side. No, he'd asked her to trust him and she would. Though she itched to meet him face to face, and missed their communications, he had reason to keep his identity secret.

If the malignant mind was strong enough to strive against her from hundreds of miles away, she shuddered at the effect it would have on her from a short distance. That it was close, she knew. She'd felt the malignancy from the moment she entered the house. The possibility that it might be Grant emoting such strong feelings horrified her. Rosa, so trusting and loving, had no chance against such strength of purpose.

Who else was there? Let's face it, Mrs. Latham gave off definitely eerie vibes. Kate wouldn’t be surprised if it was the older woman, but what purpose was served by wanting Rosa harmed? If Mrs. Latham resented Rosa's presence so strongly wouldn't she have taken measures to get rid of her sooner?

She shook her head, there were too many questions.

It was time for dinner and time to press for more answers. Kate hated the thought of leaving this oasis of light but she wouldn’t help Rosa by cowering here.

The sound of howling wind blowing against the house arrived at the same instant as Kate reached for the door knob. A brief electrical jolt stung her hand as the lights flickered then went out.