[Harlequin] - Jenna Ryan - Belladonna (txt), Ksiazki, txt
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BelladonnabyJenna RyanDear Reader.When a woman's alone, who can she trust, where can she run...? Straightinto the arms of HER PROTECTOR. Because when danger lurks around everycorner, there's only one place you're safe -in the strong, shelteringarms of the man who loves you.In this exciting promotion, you'll meet women in jeopardy and in lovewith the only person who can keep them safe.Jenna Ryan brings you the story of Bella Conlan, a woman with a pastthat she can't remember but that is coming back to haunt her. Aftercareers in modelling and the travel industry, Jenna is now a full-timenovelist who makes her home in British Columbia.Happy reading The Editors Belladonna JENNA RYANSILHOUETTE Intrigue DID YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHOUT A COVER?If you did, you should be aware it is stolen property as it was reportedunsold and destroyed by a retailer. Neither the author nor thepublisher has received any payment for this book.All the characters in this book have no existence outside theimagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyonebearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired byany individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents arepure invention.All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or inpart in any form. This edition is published by arrangement withHarlequin Enterprises H B.V. The text of this publication or any partthereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without thewritten permission of the publisher.This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way oftrade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulatedwithout the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding orcover other than that in which it is published and without a similarcondition including this condition being imposed on the subsequentpurchaser.Silhouette and Colophon are registered trademarks of Harlequin BooksS.A." used under licence.First published in Great Britain 1997Silhouette Books, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW91SRJacqueline Goff 1996ISBN 0 373 22364 146-9703Printed and bound in Great Britain by Mackays of Chatham PLC, Chatham ToKathy for putting up with me.To Mum and Dad for putting up with us.To Shauna for thirteen years of being an atypical cat.prologue."Lona, please, you have to help me."The woman's voice on the Alaska phone line crackled. Yet evenaccounting for that, Lona Conlan was certain she didn't recognize thecaller. "Who is this?" she demanded. Clamping one sturdy hand overthe end of her long gray plait, she tightened the other on the receiver."Do you realize that it's the middle of the night?""Yes, yes, I know." The woman's tone verged on desperation. "I've beendriving forever, all the way from Seattle in a malfunctioning Subaru.Before that it was buses, trains and planes, even a boat. We sailedfrom Dover to " The line snapped, causing Lona to pull the earpieceaway. "I had to escape somehow, some way. Any way. Please, Lona,there's no one else I can turn to.""Who are you?" Lona repeated, unmoved." "Amanda." The woman had toshout above the rising static. "I'm Geraldine Johnson's daughter. Youmust remember Geraldine."Geraldine Johnson. Of course. Amanda was her only child. Why, Lonahadn't seen Geraldine for thirty years or more, about ten years beforeshe'd died. But she did remember her, and fondly so. Lona's mannersoftened instantly. "What is it, my dear? What has you so frightened?""I can hardly hear you," Amanda shouted. "Oh, Lona, please, you have tohelp me help my little girl. There was trouble .... I couldn't get...out. I'm sure we were seen .... They'll be after us by now. But I haveto try, have to be smart .... It's too important. I can't leave "Confused, Lona interrupted her. "Can't leave what? Who'll be afteryou? Amanda? Amanda!""Knows I ran ... took Bella... Couldn't get... No time... completelysingle-minded, Lona... and evil."Although she strained to hear, Lona caught only snatches of Amanda'ssentences. Something about her child and someone pursuing them ahusband, perhaps.Wind whipped December snowflakes around the window, the Christmas windowthat Lona lit day and night for the twelve days of Christmas, atradition started by her Norwegian grandmother. "Can you come to me?"she asked in her soft Nordic accent. "Can you get here from where youare?""I think so." Amanda's voice faded. "I'll come tonight, or try... Haveto get Bella to safety, before I..." "Before you what?"But Amanda's answer, if indeed she offered one, was swallowed up in aloud burst of static.Wind rattled the panes of Lona's large home, as if mocking thecircumstances under which she had chosen to live."I burned our papers." Amanda was yelling now. "No identification ...too dangerous ... hope you'll recognize me. I've no proof.""I'm sure I'll recognize you well enough," Lona answered. Running acapable hand around the back of her neck, she massaged a rheumatic kink."You and young Bella come to me. We'll talk then."Amanda protested, "No time... so powerful Please take care of Bella.""Who is this person after you?" Lona demanded. sob reached her ears,surprisingly clear over the crackling line. "Not a person anymore,Lona, a monster... wants to control everyone. Gave a poisoned nicknameto my ba... Like Romaine, only worse. Deadly nightshade, a deadlypoisonous flower. I should have seen it, should have realized the truthbehind Romaine. Deadly nightshade. Oh God it is, it's just likeRomaine .... "A series of pops came on the line. Just like Romaine? Deadlynightshade? What did she mean? Lona compressed her lips. She wouldwait for Amanda to arrive with her daughter, Bella. Then the storywould come out."I'll be here, Amanda," she promised. "You'll need chains for the roadsand a good four-wheel-drive vehicle. Do you have these things? Amanda?Can you hear me?"But although she repeated herself three times, she heard nothing exceptthe brittle sound of static on the line and the taunting howl of winterwind about the windowpanes.Resting the phone against her shoulder, Lona moved her eyes to thefrosted glass. Snowflakes bobbed like Russian dancers about theChristmas lights, then swirled off into the darkness. A treacherouswinter darkness through which a distraught young woman and her daughterwould soon be traveling. With what tale to tell? Lona wondered, andwhat form of danger following in their wake?A chill leathered along her spine as the old woman settled herself onthe pink-and-black-flowered sofa. Pulling her rose-patterned shawltight, she watched the snow with wary eyes and waited."YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER? Hell on wheels, you sure about that, Lona?" Thesheriff scratched his grizzled head. "You ain't even seen the girl yet.Or the accident scene, either, for that matter. Come to think of it,how'd you hear about this mess? Power's out all over town." When shedidn't reply, he grunted. "She's cute, you know. Pretty and quiet.Maybe eight, nine years old. Hasn't said two words since Daly found herhuddled next to that snowdrift. Old Polly reckons she has amnesia." Hepronounced the last two letters separately. "Don't know how she got outof the car before it went over, but it's a good thing she did. Can youimagine anyone stupid enough to drive a junker Subaru with bald tires onthese roads? It was her mother driving, you say? Well, so far we can'tfind hide nor hair of her. Saw a dead raven, of all things, near thecliff, but so far no mother."Lona held tight to her composure. "May I please see Bella, Win?""That her name? What is she, Italian?""She's my granddaughter," Lona lied again. "Bella's father died whenshe was born. My daughter, A - " She started to say Amanda, checkedherself and substituted firmly, "My daughter was bringing her to livewith me.""Is that so?" The sheriff nodded. "Funny you never mentioned having adaughter before."Lona forced a smile, gathering her cabbage-rose shawl tighter. "Ihaven't mentioned many things, Win. May I see the girl now? Alone,"she added, when he would have accompanied her to the back room."Well...""Please." She laid a beseeching hand on his arm. "If it's as you say,she'll be terribly frightened."The sheriff hesitated, then nodded in agreement. Lona gave a nod of herown and started for the rear of the jail, where apparently the littlegirl had spent the night with old Polly, the retired nurse who'd spottedher next to that snowdrift. With the roads so bad she hadn't been ableto make it home.Giving the door a firm thrust, Lona entered the room. It smelledfaintly of wood smoke and was lit with four fat red candles that hadbeen placed in a green bowl. The girl sat in a stuffed chair betweenwood stove and bowl. Old Polly was gone; the girl was alone. Alone andstaring unblinking at Lona.She was pretty indeed, Lona acknowledged, summoning an encouragingsmile. Quite beautiful, really. Fine featured and delicate looking,but no doubt as wiry as a Gumby doll. Her eyes were very large, verydark and highly mistrustful. Her small chin was thrust out at adetermined angle. Lona would have called it a defiant angle had it notbeen for the telltale quiver of her lower lip.She greeted th...
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