The Courting of Thomasyna Tollefson

Mistaken Identity-1

Mistaken Identity

RIKKAYLA TOLLEFSON FLICKED THROUGH the blouses on the racks, sighing. If she could just find a top to wear with her new jean shorts! It seemed, however, that her trip’s success would end with the few selections already in her cart. Rain beat heavily on the sidewalk outside, and thunder bellowed frightfully, making her wish she were safe at home—which, fortunately, was not far away. She had little control over her dread, no wish to be consumed by it in public

Besides, she’d been gone for almost three hours. Thomi’s apprehension at being alone at Cliff Top seemed to have lessened now that she knew Charley Ascott had left Littleton. But still, her memories of the weekend lived fresh in her mind. Probably would stay in some corner of it forever. It probably wasn’t good for her to be left alone long. She’d begged Thomi to come with her, but she’d refused. Said she’d just hang out on the cliffs till she got back.

Hey, wait! The summer outfit she was looking for! Peach culottes with a sleeveless v neck cotton blouse. Were there more? Yes! Impulsively, she dragged the outfits off their respective hangers. One for Halleigh and one for Thomi. Even one for Lyndsay.

It wouldn’t hide Thomi’s horrible bruises, though, nor could it lift her out of her depression. A new face or some new project might help. Since Rikki was quite aware that her sister’s pain, both physical and emotional, was going to require some time in healing, the first prospect would have to be fabulously special.

Dreams and Fairy Tale Special.

Not terribly likely.

A new project then. The summer’s benefit play at the Littleton Little Theater might do it. While scripts that would bring in cash for Thomi’s own benefit sat gathering dust on her shelves, the one that’d given hope to a very sick little girl was the only one Thomi had any interest in. Perhaps if everyone let the memory of this disastrous affair die quickly, she could get over it sooner; get on with her life, and her career. Thomi’s sadness was almost harder to bear than was her arrogance. Which had surfaced a little more often than normally these past few months. Thanks to Charley Ascott!

A streak of lightning invaded her musings, freezing her grasp on her cart. She cast a swift scared glance toward the storefront windows. Heart stopping thunder motivated her toward the nearest checkout. Fingers trembling, she paid for her purchases, grabbed up the blue and white Corbett’s bags, and fled. But at the next deafening, dazzling display, she stopped dead in the doorway, uttering another frightened whimper as she estimated the distance from Corbett’s to where she’d parked her purple Mustang convertible. Across the street by the Green under the shade of a huge maple.

She cursed her imprudence. For a certainty, a wicked finger of lightning would zap the biggest branch from the trunk and send it crashing upon her the instant she was under it. Trapping her there and devouring her like firewood. As it had done to her friends, Terry and Frieda.

However, people expected clear exit out of the store, some exhibiting impatience with her terror. One woman even rebuked her for behaving childishly. Squelching terrible memories, Rikki scurried up the sidewalk, veering to cross over as she got up by Richmond’s Jewelers.

A tall red headed man, exiting that establishment, tucked a small package into his shirt pocket as he came out. Right smack into him, Rikki plowed, her bags flying out of her grasp, landing here and there among the puddles. Instinctively his arms encircled her, preventing her from stumbling to her knees.

Much too desperate to reach her car to be embarrassed, Rikki begged a hasty pardon, and pulled away, intending to pick up her bags and run. To her surprised consternation, he held her firmly. Gently—but firmly. The warm familiarity in his eyes, and in his smile, jolted her. Which one of her sisters did he think she was?

“Now look, this has to mean we’re destined for each other, Thomasyna! Dinner is just about a half hour away! Both of us deserve a new beginning!”

Dinner? Thomasyna? New beginning? In so short a time, Thomasyna had met this guy, and been invited out to dinner?

A thundering roll dissolved her intrigue for the story. She wanted to run, only he wouldn’t let go. Drawing her under the protection of an awning, he took possession of both her hands. That beauteous voice remarked, “You’re awfully pale, Thomi. Are you sure you’ve recovered from your fall?”

Was that the cause of her nagging uneasiness a while ago? Rikki analyzed her feelings. If Thomi wasn’t all right, she certainly would have felt it. Therefore, she replied, “I’m fine! No big deal!” with confidence.

He squeezed her fingers in rebuke, and a touch of impatience colored his tone. “Might be the next time you play too near the edge of that cliff! If your furry bodyguard hadn’t permitted a rescue, the story might’ve ended differently! And you know it!”

Only by a widening of her eyes, and the slight parting of her lips, did Rikki betray a fearful worry. Thomi often took daring chances—performed her own stunts in her films. Was this depression more serious than Thomi would admit? Was that why she’d refused to go with her to bring Lyndsay home? No, no, she would have known that, too. Wouldn’t allow herself to feel differently in that regard.

His look altered; Rikki’s heart involuntarily flipped. “Make a happy ending happier, Thomi. Come! I’ve performed a valuable service—for your family, at least! Is one dinner so much to ask!”

He smiled, and she forgot her own name. Almost forgot the storm. Thomi’d kept her senses beside this man? There was a danger staring into those sapphire blues, in permitting his wonderful voice to intoxicate her senses so deeply! In letting her hands stay within his warm clasp—his fingers massaging hers persuasively.

In about two minutes, she’d be the one having dinner with him! Then, what?

Thomi ought to appreciate his preserving their set whole! Still, there was no belittling her right to refuse. So summoning all the cold resolution she could, Rikki shook her head.

He said gently, “Thomi, I’m not my cousin!”

Ah! Enlightenment! So, that’s how she withstood his smile and his look! That Voice! Put a different cover on the book! Instead of declaring, “Well, and I’m not Thomi!” she flung back, “So, I’m supposed to fall at your feet and swear myself your most loyal slave forever!”

He regarded her strangely, but said with sincerity, “And I told you—I’d be honored!”

Rikki’s stomach knotted painfully, and not because of the storm. Her brain had as much body as the rain puddles, incapable, therefore, of counseling her. Every one of her senses wanted to enjoy the warmth of his arms, and they dreamed a little of what his kiss might be like. Unnerved by the effect he was having upon her, she stammered, “Look, I’m sorry— This just—it’s not a good time! Look, I have to go!”

She managed to wrench free of him. Deafening thunder, on the heels of a flash of lightning that seemed to zing close by, made her flinch and gasp—just as long fingers, curling around her upper arm, hauled her back under the awning.

At once he set her free, saying with disarming contriteness, “I’m sorry. I was forgetting.” A pause, then, “Your injuries are quite recent?”

Only momentarily confused, she realized he had mistaken her fearful reaction for one of pain. Thomi would never have confided in him. She didn’t either. “I have to leave!” This last display of nature had torn away most of her courage. The next one could probably take her over the edge. Unless he did first.

He caught her hand in both of his, those blue eyes irresistibly imploring. “I gave you your life. Give me just one evening!”

Oh, no, please! Don’t say it like that!

“Thomi, I promise you, the rules are always yours to make!”

Never had she seen such integrity in the gaze of any man before. Nor heard such a statement uttered in just those tones. She believed him—that he was not a thing like Charley. That he would never do anything she didn’t want done. Her lips parted to accept his dinner plea, but then her conscience pricked. It wasn’t up to her to fulfill his wish. It was up to her to escape him. Ten minutes ago!

“No! And that’s it!” With a mighty yank, she gained freedom. Forgetting her bags laying still on the wet sidewalk, Rikki dashed across the street, heedless of traffic and dove into her car. Burning rubber, she pulled away from the curb, terrified of pursuit almost more than she was of the storm.

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