Missing Others

Liana Wade & Dan Evans

She was almost finished in the kitchen. Liana looked around and saw that her after-dinner clean-up was done. Now what? She was used to spending her evenings with Ben or, at least, to him being in the house. He'd left this morning for his 'business' trip to the States.

It had been a week since he'd told her about the trip. What kind of business?, she'd wanted to ask him, but she hadn't. Because she'd known. She'd seen it in his eyes. Everything about Ben was right there in his eyes if you knew how to read them and Liana knew.

So, she hadn't asked. Because she didn't want to put Ben in the position of having to lie to her. Things had remained unsaid, but she knew he was going to the States for a robbery, and she could see in his eyes that he was aware that she knew.

Liana also knew that she should be angry with him. He'd told her he was retired from that life. So why was he going? But she knew the answer to that too, because she knew Ben so well. It wasn't money.

The ranch was doing well, as were all of Ben's other investments, and he, Dan, and Richie Roberts were all convinced that the club he was building would make money. And even if they never made another penny, she knew that Ben had enough money put away to last them ten lifetimes. Stolen money. But that fact had stopped bothering her. No, it wasn't money, but simply the fact that he was so good at it. The challenge. He needed that.

She couldn't be angry with him because she was too afraid for him. Afraid that, in spite of all the careful planning she knew he would have done, something might go wrong. That he'd be hurt or killed. Or caught and arrested. That he'd be taken away from her and the baby.

That fear was on her now, and it was almost paralyzing. Shaking herself mentally and running a calming hand over her belly, Liana poured a cup of coffee and a glass of juice and carried them into the den.

Dan was sitting on the leather sofa in front of the fireplace. He sometimes joined her and Ben in the evenings, but tonight Liana missed the fact that her husband was not there. She put down the drinks and sat at the other end of the sofa.

"That fire feels good," she told Dan quietly. "It's cool this evening."

"Yes, it is." Dan took a sip of the coffee she'd brought him and looked at her.

"Liana," he said softly. "You don't have to worry. Ben knows what he's doing. There's nobody better than him at it."

"I know that," she answered. "But I'm still afraid. How can I not be afraid?"

Dan sighed. He knew she was right. Working for Ben Wade had cost him Alice and his boys because Alice couldn't stand living with the knowledge that, despite the fact that Dan didn't participate in Ben's robberies, he still stood a chance of being arrested, sent to prison.

Working for Ben Wade was also the reason why he could never get involved with another woman. Well, that and the fact that he still loved Alice. He watched Liana rest her hand on her belly.

The movement instantly brought Libby to his mind. Had the baby she'd lost been his or March Nova's? Was there any way to find out? Did it even matter now that it was gone?

Sliding to the other end of the sofa, he patted Liana's hand gently. He was surprised when she laid her head on his shoulder with a sigh, but he put an arm around her and held her.

Dan had grown very fond of Liana Wade. Ben's wife was good to him. Had insisted that he live with them instead of staying at Millie's. She kept his room in order, did his laundry, cooked his meals. All the same things she did for Ben. And, little by little, he'd become impressed with her strength.

She knew the truth about Ben and yet, she'd married him anyway. She lived every day of her life with the fear that Ben's former life could catch up with him, yet she lived with the fear because she loved him. She was having his baby, with the sure knowledge that, one day, he could be taken away and she'd be raising his child on her own and without his money.

Sometimes he thought to himself that he wished Alice had had her strength. Had been willing to live with all of this instead of divorcing him. Then, he'd be ashamed of that thought, because no woman should have to live with that.

As he held Liana, patting her shoulder as they looked into the fire, Dan caught himself thinking about Libby, wondering if she would put up with that kind of life. If she would be willing to marry a man, to live with him in spite of that constant fear. He thought about it for a long time, as he sat with his arm around Ben Wade's wife.