Page 55 of Cheyenne

Brooks sighed. “We aren’t sure if anyone else knows about this map, or if Cheyenne’s stalker boy is still following you. You two should go on just like you planned. Someone likely knows you were arrested and is watching what you’re doing. So you’re going to go out there in these maintenance outfits we’ve put together. Hopefully they won’t know we’re in here and will think you three are sneaking in.”

Cheyenne’s heart was beating rapidly.

Chance took a step forward. “I don’t want my sister going. I’ll go.”

Porter shook his head. “I’ll go.”

She put up her hand before her brothers could start fighting over who would go in her place. “Accountability, right? Dad always talked about accountability. I’ll go, and that’s final.”

CHAPTER 30

Micah

There were times in a man’s life when he wished he could rewind things and undo the mistakes he’d made. This was one of those times. Not because he would take back meeting Cheyenne or doing all the things they’d experienced this week. He would never do that. It was because he never wanted to put her in danger. He would take back breaking into the crypt and taking the amulet if he could for that reason alone.

Too bad life wasn’t about take-backs. If anyone knew that, it was Micah. He had learned that from his own parents’ love story. He’d seen that with his birth father, though he wasn’t sure his birth father wanted to take anything back. He’d seen that with his uncles in the trials they’d endured.

But Micah was not afraid to face demons. He wasn’t afraid to do the right thing if the option was available. He would go into the situation with calm and control, get the amulet, and get out. Easy. After that, the Stone and Cross families would take over the hunt for the gold. That was fine with him.

He, Cheyenne, and Raine put on overalls and hats that made them look like maintenance workers. Brooks gave them each a rake and told them to be careful.

As they made their way toward the cemetery, he longed to reach for her, but he felt skittish. Was someone watching?

Oh, he would definitely go back in time and punch Eli in the face. That was something he would change without hesitation.

They walked into the cemetery.It was quiet. There was no one around, but they pretended to rake, inching toward the grave where the entrance was hidden.

Once they got there, everyone put down the rakes and Raine helped Micah move the lid to reveal the opening. Micah climbed down the ladder as soon as there was room to squeeze in. Raine closed it after him, just in case.

Micah got to the bottom and switched on his phone light, pushing back the darkness. The amulet was right where he had left it. He pulled it out from the crack and raced back up the ladder. When he got to the top, Raine opened it again and helped him out. Easy.

They closed the lid, picked up their rakes, and started heading out of the cemetery.

“We’ve been looking for that amulet,” a voice said from behind them. “Thanks for finding it.”

Micah slowly turned around.

Eli strolled toward them, but this time it didn’t seem like he was with his frat brothers. These guys were bigger, and there were five of them.

Micah put his hands up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We were just doing some service in the cemetery, cleaning up.”

“Really?” He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think we just saw you go in there?”

Micah glanced at Cheyenne, who looked like she wanted to rip Eli’s head off. He guessed that was what happened when you were a girl with only brothers.

“Go away, Eli,” she snapped. “Let this go. I never should’ve talked to you about any of it.”

Eli and his friends didn’t slow. They were close enough that Micah could see the greed on his face.

Raine moved in front of them. “Hey, people, just let this be. We can all walk out of here. Let’s not do anything we’ll regret.”

Something glinted as Eli lifted his hand—a gun. “Sorry, old man. I’m in this now. You guys are going to have to hand over that amulet.”

Micah tensed, waiting. Any minute now, Brooks and the others would descend on them.

A new voice startled everyone. “Actually,I’mgoing to take that amulet.” A man walked toward them, holding a gun of his own.

Micah’s jaw dropped open. “You’re the priest who told us about the amulet.”

---