Free Passion's Fury by Patricia Hagan Page B

searchingly, then nodded solemnly. “All right. For now, I’ll leave. But I’ll be back. And I’ll drag you away from here if I have to. I’m not going off to war and leave you with that crazy man. I know you love him. He’s your father, but damn it, April, you’ve got to think of yourself.”
    His lips came down on hers in a bruising kiss. With hands pressed against his shoulders, she gave one mighty thrust and pushed him back. “Alton, please go !Leave here now, before something terrible happens.”
    She stared at the vivid purple bruises rising on his throat. He whispered raggedly, “All right. But you’ll come to me, April. Promise me you’ll come.”
    “Yes, yes. Anything, Alton. Just go…now!”
    Then they heard it, and they followed Posie’s terrified eyes past the doorway and the stairs leading up. The sound thundered through the great house, echoing, reverberating with fury. “Lorena!” The scream exploded. “Lorena, I’ll kill you if you leave me. I swear to God, I’ll kill you!”
    “Oh, Lordy, Lordy!” Posie covered her face with her apron. “That man done lost his mind. That man crazy fo’ sho’.” She scurried from the room sobbing.
    April faced Alton as he gripped her arms once more. “He’s mad. And you aren’t safe here.”
    “He’s sick. I told you, Alton, he’s sick. Now leave. As long as he knows you’re here, it’s only going to make matters worse.”
    “I’m afraid for you. I can’t walk out of here not knowing what that lunatic is going to do. Go get your things, and we’ll leave now.”
    “I can’t leave him the way he is!” she cried, gesturing wildly. “Can’t you see that? I—can’t—leave—him!” she cried hysterically.
    He stepped back, shook his head, and sighed. “All right. I can’t force you. I leave in a week. There’s time for us to get married and get you out of here. After I’m gone, I won’t be able to help you, April.”
    “I know,” she said quietly. “I need time to think. Poppa needs a doctor. I must hear what he says. I promise I’ll send word to you, Alton. Just give me time.”
    He kissed her forehead, then turned and walked out, but she did not miss the flash of anger in his eyes.
    The sound still echoed all around them. April ran her fingers up and down her arms, the flesh crawling.
    “Lorena, for God’s sake don’t leave me. I love you, but I’ll kill you if you try to leave me.”
    Yes, April told herself in silent anguish, Poppa was truly insane.

Chapter Five
    April looked up from her father’s desk as Posie entered the room, obviously upset. “What is it?” she asked tonelessly.
    “You know what it is, missy. It’s yo’ daddy. He’s just sittin’ up there snifflin’ and a’cryin’ like he’s been doin’ since that fancy doctor from Birmin’ham come down here. Snifflin’ and a’cryin’ and a’talkin’ to yo’ momma.” Posie shook her head from side to side and took a deep breath. “I can’t get nobody else to go in there ’cept Buford. Everybody’s scairt to death o’ him.”
    “He has not been violent for three days now,” April pointed out. “He’s a pitifully sick man. Why should anyone be frightened of him when all he does is sit and cry?”
    “You heard what that fancy doctor said, that he’s real sick, and you ought to send him to that hospital fo’ crazy people in Tuscaloosa.” Posie glared at her accusingly.
    “Dr. Wermer is one of the best doctors in all the state, Posie. It’s true he suggested that I have him committed, but he also said that this might be temporary, because of what happened with Vanessa. I think all he needs is time. I can’t send him off to a place for crazy people when he’s just plain heartsick.”
    Posie snorted. “Then you ain’t scairt o’ him, like the rest of us? You ain’t scairt he’ll hurt you? I reckon it just don’t bother you none a’tall that he don’t even know you no mo’, that he thinks you is yo’ dead momma?”
    “Yes, it