The Night Is Forever Read online


Page 1

  Prologue

  There he was, Marcus Danby, dead in the ravine.

  His eyes were open and he stared up at heaven. His limbs were twisted at odd angles, making him look like an image created by a mad artist.

  “Marcus!” Olivia Gordon cried his name as she dismounted and swiftly scampered down the rocks to his side. Like an idiot, she hunkered down by him, touching him, speaking, praying that somehow he was still alive as he lay there.

  But, of course, he wasn’t. She studied his face—weathered, worn, beautiful with character—and silent tears slid down her cheeks.

  “Marcus,” she whispered, closing his eyes. Maybe it was the wrong thing to do—maybe the medical examiner needed to see him exactly as he’d been found. But she wasn’t leaving him now and she couldn’t bear to see his eyes open. He’d been staring up at the heavens, she thought. Staring up at the sky above him.

  Ironically, the sky was exceptionally beautiful tonight. It was one of those twilights when the moon rose before the sun set completely, and as the sun continued its fall, sinking lower and lower into the horizon, a soft, opaque glow seemed to settle over the landscape. The hills here, just outside Nashville, Tennessee, appeared to be part of some kind of fairy-tale kingdom. Their rich shades of autumn—the gold, orange and crimson leaves on the trees—highlighted the emerald-green grasses. A slight coolness touched the air, making it clear and comfortable to breathe.

  The sky and the landscape were what Marcus had seen as he died, Olivia reminded herself. It was why Marcus had loved this area so much, this place where he’d been born. Maybe there was something fitting in that, something poetic.

  And yet. . . No question, Marcus had loved this countryside. He’d known it intimately. For that very reason, it seemed impossible that he’d fallen into this rocky ravine when he’d followed these same paths, on foot or on horseback, almost every day of his life.

  Olivia heard Shiloh paw the ground. She looked up at her horse; he was obviously sensing her emotions, the change in her energy.

  “Easy, boy, easy,” Olivia said softly. “We have to wait here. ” Fresh tears stung her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks. She wanted to rise up and throw her arms around Shiloh’s neck, feel the warmth of this living creature.

  That, she knew, would be life-affirming.

  Like all the animals at the Horse Farm—the therapy center Marcus Danby had founded and where Olivia worked—Shiloh was a rescue horse. Near starvation, he’d been found in the Florida Redlands. Animal activists from the state had arranged his transport to the Nashville area and there was something about him that had made him special to Olivia from the first time she’d seen him. He’d been a pile of bones, wild and terrified of people; he’d tried, more than once, to run her into a building to get her off his back. While the focus of the Horse Farm was teaching people to trust again—through their relationships with animals—Shiloh was, to Olivia, one of her best success stories.

  Marcus had always told her that what she’d done with Shiloh was impressive, but what she managed with people was equally beautiful.

  “Oh, Marcus, what did you do?” she whispered. He’d probably been missing long before any of them realized he was gone, because Marcus kept no set hours, didn’t see patients and came and went as he chose. He’d founded the Horse Farm; it was his passion and his life. But while he loved to make sudden appearances and engage with patients, he did so in his own time and on his own terms. He’d been a wreck of a man himself—bipolar, an addict, homeless and an ex-con—when he’d found a horse on the small farm he’d, for some reason, been left through a family inheritance. Like Shiloh, the animal had been starved and beaten by a cruel master and was terrified. In earning the horse’s trust and love, Marcus had learned to care about himself. He’d told Olivia once that he’d been so afraid something horrible would happen to the horse without him, he’d become determined to live.

  In saving that horse, Marcus had saved himself. It wasn’t that he hadn’t grown up around animals; he had. His father had raised some of the finest racing horses in Tennessee. Maybe because he’d had money as a child, Marcus had known that happiness had nothing to do with wealth. When he inherited the family land, he had no interest in racehorses. He cared about people—damaged people. He’d been miraculously fixed by a horse and he went on to find out how to help others in the same way.

  Olivia adored Marcus.

  Had adored him, she told herself. No, she did adore him. All that he’d been and all that he’d taught her would stay with her forever.

  He’d lived in a small house on the property, about a quarter mile from the stables, and the staff at the Horse Farm only knew he was gone because Sammy, his golden retriever—another rescue animal—had come to the stables, wet, tail between his legs, anxious. He’d been limping because he’d managed to gash his left leg quite badly.

  Aaron Bentley, managing director of the Horse Farm, had tried to believe that Marcus had driven somewhere and Sammy had hurt himself trying to catch up with him.

  But Marcus hadn’t driven anywhere—not on his own, anyway. His old Ford pickup was still in the driveway. And Olivia knew Marcus would’ve died before allowing any harm to come to his beloved Sammy.

  So they’d all become extremely worried. Aaron had called in the local authorities and they’d set up a search; Olivia had the backwoods acreage, while others had been assigned the pond area, the pastures and the adjoining farms, businesses and residences.

  They had now been out searching for hours in their designated areas. She and Aaron, plus the other two therapists from the Horse Farm—Mason Garlano and Mariah Naughton. As well, the stable bosses, Drew Dicksen and Sydney Roux, had joined the search. And so had Deputy Sheriff Vine and his partner, Jimmy Callahan. Only Sandra Cheever—known as Mama Cheever—the house manager for the offices, had remained behind. There were miles of pastureland and forest out there—enough to keep them riding and searching for many more hours. But dusk seemed to be coming on fast.

  Twilight. Twilight in these hills.

  A dangerous time up here—if you didn’t know your way.

  But Marcus hadn’t fallen in the twilight. He’d had his accident, if accident it was, in the brightness of day. . . .

  He was cold now, stone cold. Olivia didn’t have many skills in forensics, but she was certain that he’d been here for some time. He hadn’t fallen in the dusk—a time when a tourist might become disoriented among the rolling hills, forested slopes and rocky dips.

  This time of day frightened many people here. Kids told scary tales over campfires about the Civil War soldiers who continued to haunt the rugged terrain. Marcus had loved the legends; he’d once told her with a wink that the soldiers were his friends. In fact, he’d confided that Brigadier General Rufus Cunningham had been a big help when he’d decided to clean up—but he’d hoped his conversations with the long-dead man might cease once he was off the rum and heroin.

  She was down in a ravine with a dead man who’d been a mentor to her, and it was getting dark. This wasn’t the time to mourn him. Only a few minutes had ticked by since she’d found him. There was no point in wishing him alive. Death was unmistakable.

  She dug into her pocket for her cell phone, praying it would work. Satellite communication here wasn’t always the best.

  But she called Aaron and he answered on the second ring. She got the words out, hard as they were, and told him she’d found Marcus, explaining that he appeared to have fallen.

  “CPR. Do artificial respiration,” Aaron said urgently.

  Olivia looked at Marcus. She had truly loved the man.

  He was dead. He was cold; he was gone.

  There
was no way she was attempting artificial respiration.

  “He’s dead, Aaron. ”

  “You can’t be sure!”

  “Aaron, I’m sure. I am not trying artificial respiration. Get the officers to this location. Please. ”

  She hung up. And then she waited.

  Full darkness was coming, and coming soon. She felt that she had to keep her hand on Marcus’s shoulder, that she had to be there with him. She hated that he’d been alone when he died.

  She hated that she was alone now and that the last mauve of twilight was turning to gray and would soon become black.

  She always rode with a flashlight, but it was at the top of the ravine in the bag she’d attached to her saddle.

  She looked up as Shiloh whinnied. The horse pranced nervously.

  “Don’t you leave me, boy!” she called to him. “It’s all right—”

  She broke off in midsentence.

  She hadn’t actually grown up here—not right here, about twenty miles west of Nashville off I-40—but she’d grown up in the city. She’d often come out to her uncle’s small ranch during her lifetime. She knew the legends of the area.

  Many times, on foggy nights, she’d imagined that she’d seen them and seen him. In the mists that covered the hills, she’d seen the Rebel soldiers, cast from Nashville in 1862, trying to fight their way back, retreating in the darkness of night. She’d imagined the bloodstained battlefields; she’d heard the cries of wounded and dying soldiers.

  She’d imagined seeing Brigadier General Rufus Cunningham, tall and straight and ever sorrowful at the death toll of the war as he watched his threadbare and beaten men ride by.

  But she’d never seen him so damned clearly.

  There, just above her, his white warhorse, Loki, stood feet from her own nervous Shiloh. The general stared down at her with sorrow and concern. He looked around as if he’d appointed himself her guardian.

  For a moment, she almost felt there was something malignant nearby, some evil that crept toward her in the night. . . . Was that why the general was there? To protect her?

  Then she felt as if a cold wind settled near her. She felt something. . . like a touch on her shoulder.

  She turned.

  There was Marcus Danby. Watching her.

  She blinked; she looked down.

 

    Deadly Night Read onlineDeadly NightThe Uninvited Read onlineThe UninvitedDust to Dust Read onlineDust to DustHeart of Evil Read onlineHeart of EvilA Perfect Obsession Read onlineA Perfect ObsessionThe Keepers Read onlineThe KeepersPale as Death Read onlinePale as DeathPhantom Evil Read onlinePhantom EvilHallow Be the Haunt Read onlineHallow Be the HauntNight of the Wolves Read onlineNight of the WolvesThe Night Is Forever Read onlineThe Night Is ForeverGolden Surrender Read onlineGolden SurrenderKiss of Darkness Read onlineKiss of DarknessBeneath a Blood Red Moon Read onlineBeneath a Blood Red MoonA Dangerous Game Read onlineA Dangerous GameGhost Shadow Read onlineGhost ShadowLong, Lean, and Lethal Read onlineLong, Lean, and LethalFade to Black Read onlineFade to BlackThe Rising Read onlineThe RisingAnd One Wore Gray Read onlineAnd One Wore GrayRebel Read onlineRebelThe Unseen Read onlineThe UnseenThe Night Is Watching Read onlineThe Night Is WatchingThe Evil Inside Read onlineThe Evil InsideThe Unspoken Read onlineThe UnspokenThe Night Is Alive Read onlineThe Night Is AliveThe Unholy Read onlineThe UnholyNightwalker Read onlineNightwalkerDeadly Harvest Read onlineDeadly HarvestAn Angel for Christmas Read onlineAn Angel for ChristmasA Pirate's Pleasure Read onlineA Pirate's PleasureAmerican Drifter Read onlineAmerican DrifterRealm of Shadows Read onlineRealm of ShadowsBlood on the Bayou Read onlineBlood on the BayouSacred Evil Read onlineSacred EvilDying to Have Her Read onlineDying to Have HerThe Cursed Read onlineThe CursedCaptive Read onlineCaptiveHurricane Bay Read onlineHurricane BayDrop Dead Gorgeous Read onlineDrop Dead GorgeousGhost Memories Read onlineGhost MemoriesAll Hallows Eve Read onlineAll Hallows EveDying Breath Read onlineDying BreathDeadly Fate Read onlineDeadly FateThe Dead Room Read onlineThe Dead RoomLord of the Wolves Read onlineLord of the WolvesGhost Night Read onlineGhost NightGhost Walk Read onlineGhost WalkThe Forgotten Read onlineThe ForgottenUnhallowed Ground Read onlineUnhallowed GroundOne Wore Blue Read onlineOne Wore BlueDead By Dusk Read onlineDead By DuskNight of the Blackbird Read onlineNight of the BlackbirdThe Dead Play On Read onlineThe Dead Play OnBride of the Night Read onlineBride of the NightWicked Deeds Read onlineWicked DeedsThe Forbidden Read onlineThe ForbiddenTriumph Read onlineTriumphOut of the Darkness Read onlineOut of the DarknessLove Not a Rebel Read onlineLove Not a RebelThe Last Noel Read onlineThe Last NoelTall, Dark, and Deadly Read onlineTall, Dark, and DeadlyThe Death Dealer Read onlineThe Death DealerDead on the Dance Floor Read onlineDead on the Dance FloorLaw and Disorder Read onlineLaw and DisorderDark Rites Read onlineDark RitesNew Year's Eve Read onlineNew Year's EveHostage At Crystal Manor Read onlineHostage At Crystal ManorAnd One Rode West Read onlineAnd One Rode WestHome in Time for Christmas Read onlineHome in Time for ChristmasKilling Kelly Read onlineKilling KellyBlood Night Read onlineBlood NightTangled Threat (Mills & Boon Heroes) Read onlineTangled Threat (Mills & Boon Heroes)Darkest Journey Read onlineDarkest JourneyGlory Read onlineGloryDeadly Touch Read onlineDeadly TouchAn Unexpected Guest Read onlineAn Unexpected GuestNight of the Vampires Read onlineNight of the VampiresSeize the Wind Read onlineSeize the WindGhost Moon Read onlineGhost MoonThe Vision Read onlineThe VisionDreaming Death Read onlineDreaming DeathConspiracy to Murder Read onlineConspiracy to MurderHorror-Ween (Krewe of Hunters) Read onlineHorror-Ween (Krewe of Hunters)The Summoning Read onlineThe SummoningWaking the Dead Read onlineWaking the DeadDanger in Numbers Read onlineDanger in NumbersThe Hidden Read onlineThe HiddenSweet Savage Eden Read onlineSweet Savage EdenTangled Threat ; Suspicious Read onlineTangled Threat ; SuspiciousMother's Day, the Krewe, and a Really Big Dog Read onlineMother's Day, the Krewe, and a Really Big DogPicture Me Dead Read onlinePicture Me DeadThe Killing Edge Read onlineThe Killing EdgeSt. Patrick's Day Read onlineSt. Patrick's DaySeeing Darkness Read onlineSeeing DarknessThe Dead Heat of Summer: A Krewe of Hunters Novella Read onlineThe Dead Heat of Summer: A Krewe of Hunters NovellaCrimson Twilight Read onlineCrimson TwilightHaunted Destiny Read onlineHaunted DestinyDevil's Mistress Read onlineDevil's MistressBanshee Read onlineBansheeThe Unforgiven Read onlineThe UnforgivenThe Final Deception Read onlineThe Final DeceptionA Horribly Haunted Halloween Read onlineA Horribly Haunted HalloweenHaunted Be the Holidays Read onlineHaunted Be the HolidaysDeadly Gift Read onlineDeadly GiftEaster, the Krewe and Another Large White Rabbit Read onlineEaster, the Krewe and Another Large White RabbitHaunted Read onlineHauntedThe Silenced Read onlineThe SilencedLet the Dead Sleep Read onlineLet the Dead SleepChristmas, the Krewe, and Kenneth Read onlineChristmas, the Krewe, and KennethBig Easy Evil Read onlineBig Easy EvilSinister Intentions & Confiscated Conception Read onlineSinister Intentions & Confiscated ConceptionHaunted Be the Holidays: A Krewe of Hunters Novella Read onlineHaunted Be the Holidays: A Krewe of Hunters NovellaBlood Red Read onlineBlood RedA Perilous Eden Read onlineA Perilous EdenSlow Burn Read onlineSlow BurnStrangers In Paradise Read onlineStrangers In ParadiseBitter Reckoning Read onlineBitter ReckoningKrewe of Hunters, Volume 1: Phantom Evil ; Heart of Evil ; Sacred Evil ; The Evil Inside Read onlineKrewe of Hunters, Volume 1: Phantom Evil ; Heart of Evil ; Sacred Evil ; The Evil InsideDo You Fear What I Fear? Read onlineDo You Fear What I Fear?The Face in the Window Read onlineThe Face in the WindowKrewe of Hunters, Volume 3: The Night Is WatchingThe Night Is AliveThe Night Is Forever Read onlineKrewe of Hunters, Volume 3: The Night Is WatchingThe Night Is AliveThe Night Is ForeverEyes of Fire Read onlineEyes of FireApache Summer sb-3 Read onlineApache Summer sb-3Sensuous Angel Read onlineSensuous AngelIn the Dark Read onlineIn the DarkKnight Triumphant Read onlineKnight TriumphantHours to Cherish Read onlineHours to CherishTender Deception Read onlineTender DeceptionKeeper of the Dawn tkl-4 Read onlineKeeper of the Dawn tkl-4Apache Summer Read onlineApache SummerBetween Roc and a Hard Place Read onlineBetween Roc and a Hard PlaceEchoes of Evil Read onlineEchoes of EvilThe Game of Love Read onlineThe Game of LoveSacred Evil (Krewe of Hunters) Read onlineSacred Evil (Krewe of Hunters)Bougainvillea Read onlineBougainvilleaTender Taming Read onlineTender TamingKeeper of the Night (The Keepers: L.A.) Read onlineKeeper of the Night (The Keepers: L.A.)Lonesome Rider and Wilde Imaginings Read onlineLonesome Rider and Wilde ImaginingsLucia in Love Read onlineLucia in LoveThe Gatekeeper Read onlineThe GatekeeperLiar's Moon Read onlineLiar's MoonDark Rites--A Paranormal Romance Novel Read onlineDark Rites--A Paranormal Romance NovelA Season for Love Read onlineA Season for LoveKrewe of Hunters, Volume 6: Haunted Destiny ; Deadly Fate ; Darkest Journey Read onlineKrewe of Hunters, Volume 6: Haunted Destiny ; Deadly Fate ; Darkest JourneyKeeper of the Dawn (The Keepers: L.A.) Read onlineKeeper of the Dawn (The Keepers: L.A.)Blood on the Bayou: A Cafferty & Quinn Novella Read onlineBlood on the Bayou: A Cafferty & Quinn NovellaDouble Entendre Read onlineDouble EntendreA Perfect Obsession--A Novel of Romantic Suspense Read onlineA Perfect Obsession--A Novel of Romantic SuspenseThe Night Is Forever koh-11 Read onlineThe Night Is Forever koh-11The Di Medici Bride Read onlineThe Di Medici BrideWhen Irish Eyes Are Haunting: A Krewe of Hunters Novella Read onlineWhen Irish Eyes Are Haunting: A Krewe of Hunters NovellaThe Keepers: Christmas in Salem: Do You Fear What I Fear?The Fright Before ChristmasUnholy NightStalking in a Winter Wonderland (Harlequin Nocturne) Read onlineThe Keepers: Christmas in Salem: Do You Fear What I Fear?The Fright Before ChristmasUnholy NightStalking in a Winter Wonderland (Harlequin Nocturne)Never Fear Read onlineNever FearDying Breath--A Heart-Stopping Novel of Paranormal Romantic Suspense Read onlineDying Breath--A Heart-Stopping Novel of Paranormal Romantic SuspenseIf Looks Could Kill Read onlineIf Looks Could KillThis Rough Magic Read onlineThis Rough MagicHeather Graham's Christmas Treasures Read onlineHeather Graham's Christmas TreasuresHatfield and McCoy Read onlineHatfield and McCoyThe Trouble with Andrew Read onlineThe Trouble with AndrewNever Fear - The Tarot: Do You Really Want To Know? Read onlineNever Fear - The Tarot: Do You Really Want To Know?Blue Heaven, Black Night Read onlineBlue Heaven, Black NightForbidden Fire Read onlineForbidden FireCome the Morning Read onlineCome the MorningDark Stranger sb-4 Read onlineDark Stranger sb-4Lie Down in Roses Read onlineLie Down in RosesRed Midnight Read onlineRed MidnightKrewe of Hunters Series, Volume 5 Read onlineKrewe of Hunters Series, Volume 5Night, Sea, And Stars Read onlineNight, Sea, And StarsSnowfire Read onlineSnowfireQuiet Walks the Tiger Read onlineQuiet Walks the TigerMistress of Magic Read onlineMistress of MagicFor All of Her Life Read onlineFor All of Her LifeRunaway Read onlineRunawayThe Night Is Alive koh-10 Read onlineThe Night Is Alive koh-10The Evil Inside (Krewe of Hunters) Read onlineThe Evil Inside (Krewe of Hunters)All Hallows Eve: A Krewe of Hunters Novella (1001 Dark Nights) Read onlineAll Hallows Eve: A Krewe of Hunters Novella (1001 Dark Nights)Tomorrow the Glory Read onlineTomorrow the GloryOndine Read onlineOndineAngel of Mercy & Standoff at Mustang Ridge Read onlineAngel of Mercy & Standoff at Mustang RidgeBride of the Tiger Read onlineBride of the TigerWhen Next We Love Read onlineWhen Next We LoveHeather Graham Krewe of Hunters Series, Volume 4 Read onlineHeather Graham Krewe of Hunters Series, Volume 4A Season of Miracles Read onlineA Season of MiraclesRealm of Shadows (Vampire Alliance) Read onlineRealm of Shadows (Vampire Alliance)When We Touch Read onlineWhen We TouchSerena's Magic Read onlineSerena's MagicRides a Hero sb-2 Read onlineRides a Hero sb-2All in the Family Read onlineAll in the FamilyHandful of Dreams Read onlineHandful of DreamsA Stranger in the Hamptons Read onlineA Stranger in the HamptonsKrewe of Hunters, Volume 2: The Unseen ; The Unholy ; The Unspoken ; The Uninvited Read onlineKrewe of Hunters, Volume 2: The Unseen ; The Unholy ; The Unspoken ; The UninvitedNever Sleep With Strangers Read onlineNever Sleep With StrangersEden's Spell Read onlineEden's SpellA Magical Christmas Read onlineA Magical ChristmasForever My Love Read onlineForever My LoveKing of the Castle Read onlineKing of the CastleNight Moves (60th Anniversary) Read onlineNight Moves (60th Anniversary)The Island Read onlineThe IslandBorrowed Angel Read onlineBorrowed AngelHallow Be the Haunt: A Krewe of Hunters Novella Read onlineHallow Be the Haunt: A Krewe of Hunters NovellaWhy I Love New Orleans Read onlineWhy I Love New OrleansThe Last Cavalier Read onlineThe Last CavalierA Matter of Circumstance Read onlineA Matter of CircumstanceHeather Graham's Haunted Treasures Read onlineHeather Graham's Haunted TreasuresTempestuous Eden Read onlineTempestuous EdenKrewe 11 - The Night Is Forever Read onlineKrewe 11 - The Night Is Forever