Madison's heartbeat hammered crazily as energy flowed through her. Words came quickly to her mind, and wouldn't stop for even a breath. She'd tell him exactly what was in her thoughts.

"You're such an evil man. But I suspect you've always been that way." She shook her head. "In fact, I'm inclined to believe you were the one who killed Mr. Bailey, not Gaynor." She tilted her head as her mind flew with possibilities. "You had wanted Mr. Bailey's house so badly that you took the chance when Inspector Westland arrested him for Rosie's disappearance. You knew Mr. Bailey wouldn't give you any money because he didn't trust you. The only way to get anything from that particular cousin was to kill him...and make Gaynor take the fall for it. Once that happened, there would be no other choice but for the house to pass onto you."

Unbelievable, but as she voiced her thoughts, they made sense. Gaynor wasn't the killer. Heath was! And Heath knew his uncle wouldn't give the place to him because he was the gambler in the family, the cousin who couldn't take on responsibility.

Then a thought popped into her mind. If she was Lord Hanover's daughter, then Heath was...her cousin! She groaned in distaste. She'd not claim him as family, that's for sure!

"Tell me, Mr. Langston. What role did Miss Trent play in all of this? I'm assuming she knew that you had kidnapped Rosie. Why, I wonder. She couldn't have possibly been in love with Gaynor."

"She was," he muttered a blood trickled out of his mouth and down his chin.

"Did she know you killed Mr. Bailey?"

"No."

Slowly, color seeped back into his face as his evil gaze shot daggers at her. But she had the knife, and she wasn't afraid of him anymore.

"Ah, I see I've stumbled on another of your secrets." She grinned. "Unfortunately, you won't be able to keep this particular secret for long. As you know, I'm friends with a police inspector."

More color rose in his face, starting at his neck and growing to his hairline. He shouted and dove toward her. The movement was so quick she didn't have time to react. His fist knocked the knife out of her hand and then his fingers wrapped around her throat.

She lost her balance and stumbled backward. She managed to scream, but then her air was cut off. Panic consumed her. Why had she dropped the knife? She clawed at his fingers, trying to remove them from her neck. Suddenly, roles were switched again, and he was the stronger one.

"I killed many people in my life, starting with Spencer Watkins," Heath snickered. "The bugger wouldn't stop bothering me about the money I owed him. But I didn't stop there. I take out people who get in my way. And yes, that included my cousin, Jacob Bailey." His mouth stretched into a wicked grin and he laughed. "And it looks like you are next, Miss Haywood...or should I call you Lady Madeline Dixon?"

Where had her strength gone? She needed it back now!

She gasped, but couldn't quite catch her breath. Her chest ached and her throat burned. Tears stung her eyes. Slowly, weakness crept over her. She couldn't let him win. But it seemed she didn't have power over him any longer.

Dizziness assailed her as her mind spun out of control. Pain exploded in her head, and she couldn't think. Her body grew weaker by the second.

A loud crash resounded through the room just before her world turned black.

* * * *

Cameron felt no pain as he smashed his shoulder against the door, breaking it off its hinges. Anger was what pushed him now. It hadn't taken him long to find Heath's trail—thanks to witnesses who saw the man take Madison—and Cameron rode like the devil was on his heels to save the woman he loved. He sent Alice to the station to inform the other officers, in case he needed back up. When he approached the small hut and heard Madison's scream, something inside of him snapped. He didn't care who was in his way, he was going to get Madison!

Panic consumed him when he saw Heath choking Madison. Cameron flew toward the other man, and knocked him away from Madison. White as a ghost, she collapsed to the floor. Heath scrambled to stand so Cameron slammed his fist hard into the man's face. Bones cracked, and blood oozed from his face. The man crumbled to the ground.

Cameron turned back to Madison. He fell to his knees and gathered her in his arms. Red marks the size of fingers streaked across her delicate neck. She wasn't breathing.

Fear tightened his chest, but determination guided his actions. "Madison, open your eyes." He shook her slightly. She felt like a rag doll in his arms.

Breathe!

She still wasn't breathing. He needed to help her out. He bent his mouth to hers, covered it, and blew air into her. Pulling back, he looked into her face. She was still deathly pale. He tried one more time, leaning over and blowing air into her mouth. Silently, he prayed this would work.

He couldn't lose her. Not now when he finally found a woman to love and respect; one he could share his work with, and his life... No! He wouldn't give up!

"Madison! Don't you dare die on me." He blew in her mouth again. Her body was as still as death. "No, Madison. You can't leave me. I-I love you," he whispered brokenly as he tried one more time to help her breathe.

As he pushed breath into her again, her lips moved against his. Cameron snapped up his head and peered down into her face. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and she gasped for air. His heart soared with happiness, and he brought her up against his chest, holding her tight. Tears of gratitude burned his eyes as he rocked her back and forth.

Her breathing was labored, but at least she was alive. He kissed her forehead and gazed into her eyes. Color was finally returning to her beautiful face. He caressed her cheek and smiled. "You are going to be all right now." He winked.

She nodded as her hand fluttered up to her neck. When she touched the red marks, she flinched. "Wh-where's—"

"Shhh." He touched a finger to her lips. Hearing her raspy voice nearly broke him in two. "Don't say anything for now. Heath Langston is lying on the floor unconscious."

Weakly, she moved her head to look in the direction. "Wh-what happened?"

"I introduced him to my right fist—several times, in fact." He turned her face back to look at him. "He already had scratches and blood on his face before I got to him. Did that come from you?"

Smiling, she nodded.

"That's my girl."

She struggled to sit, so he helped her, keeping her close beside him. "My darling, I'm going to wait here until the other officers arrive to assist me." He glanced at the still unconscious man. "Although I'm assuming it will be extremely easy to arrest Langston and take him into the station in his physical state."

"Cameron," she said softly, "he killed Mr. Bailey." She licked her lips. "He's also killed other people."

Cameron nodded. "I know. The talk I had with Rosie made me realize I had arrested the wrong cousin."

"And..." She paused in what looked to be a swallow. She grimaced and touched her neck again. "Heath kidnapped Lord Hanover's daughter."

Shock passed through him. "Are you certain?"

"Yes."

"Did he tell you where she is?"

Tears collected in her eyes and she mouthed the word yes again. His heart wrenched. Madison must have discovered that the girl had died years ago. He'd do his best to console the woman he loved, and hopefully, he'd be able to help her through the disappointment.

"She's...still alive," her voice creaked. "And she's talking to you right now."

Confusion filled him. "Pardon me?"

"I'm that girl."

"You are Lord Hanover's daughter?"

A tear slipped down her cheek. "I remembered everything. The visions I'd had were actually memories sneaking through."

Words left his head, and all he could do was take her back in his arms and hold her. Mixed feelings filled him. Shock was high on his list. Thankfully, the doubts he'd had about her not being able to find the girl were not accurate. And yet, seeing the heartache in Madison's eyes nearly killed him. He would have never guessed Madison would be the missing child.

She released a sob, and he tightened his hold. "Shhh, don't cry. I'm here. I will always be here."

"Always?" she muttered and lifted her head.

He hated to see her suffering this way. "Always." He kissed her forehead. "I love you, Madison. You're the best thing to come into my life. I want you with me forever."

She smiled wide even though more tears fell down her face. "I'm so in love with you. I just didn't think I knew you well enough to have that emotion."

He brushed his lips against hers and grinned. "Sometimes love happens quickly—like a lightning bolt."

"It certainly did with us."

"I want to protect you night and day. Will you let me?"

A twinkle lit her eyes, and his heart melted.

"Cameron? Is this a proposal?"

"It is, but I promise to give you a better one once we are back at the house."

"You have a deal."

From outside, Cameron's name was called. He jerked his head toward the opened door. "I'm in here."

Hurrying inside the shack came two more police inspectors. Cameron's friends, Sebastian Holmes and Julian Stanford, led the way, and Captain Orwood followed. Cameron pointed to the man still unconscious. "Take him away. Mr. Langston has admitted to killing Mr. Bailey. Plus we have him on several kidnapping charges."

Holmes reached Langston first. Holmes bent on one knee and shook the man. "Wake up, Langston. Your running days are over. I've got a nice brick room with barred windows waiting for you."

Holmes was stronger out of the other two men, so he jerked Langston up to his feet as if he was as light as a feather. Orwood slapped on the iron cuffs and they hauled him out to the waiting carriage.

Cameron lifted Madison in his arms and carried her outside to his horse. When he was certain she was settled on the saddle, he mounted behind her. She looked at him over her shoulder.

"Cameron? I don't know if I can handle a new life. I only know Madison Haywood, but apparently, that's not who I am. I don't think I can answer to Madeline Dixon."

"Your name doesn't matter, my sweet. You will always be the same wonderful woman I fell in love with."

Tears swam in her eyes. "Don't ever leave me, Cameron."

"I won't. I promise."