Page 131 of Hometown Girl

Dancing with Jess. Her singsong voice calling his name. The face in the shadows. The icy realization that something was wrong. Crawling out of the loft. A blow on the back of the head. Darkness.

He had answers to questions no one was asking anymore. He had to tell someone.

He had to find a way to make himself talk.

It was why he’d come here in the first place—to finally, finally put this thing to rest.

He looked at the wooden chair he was clutching in his hands. Slowly, he set it down, pulse still racing as he fell to his knees.

He hadn’t prayed in years. All the time his parents had forced him to go to church, he’d sat with a chip on his shoulder, angry at a God who would allow something so tragic to happen to Jess. To him.

Something tragic had happened to him. And he’d never made peace with that. He’d never cried for Jess. He’d never cried for himself. For the loss of his childhood.

Now, in the silence of a broken barn, Drew allowed himself to feel the painful burden he’d carried for so many years.

It wasn’t fair, what happened to her, God. I’m angry at You for letting it happen. I’m angry that I couldn’t stop it. I’m angry that nobody protected me.

It had shaped his life, this pain he couldn’t carry anymore. It had left him alone, unable to let anyone in.

I want to let this go, God. You’ve got to take this from me.

Drew pulled himself up and looked at the mess he’d made, evident even with all the storm damage. He’d clean it up. If he was going to say goodbye to Fairwind, he was going to do it with a clear conscience.

He walked outside and started for the house—but stopped at the sight of the squad car in the driveway.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Beth had been sitting in the kitchen when she saw the squad car pull in. She imagined Molly had hitched a ride out to the farm, but when Bishop got out of the car alone, she realized this wasn’t a social call.

She met him on the porch, noticing the manila envelope in his hand.

“What’s wrong? You look freaked out.” Beth moved aside so he could come in.

“Remember how there was a witness to Jess’s kidnapping?”

He knew about Drew. Beth took a deep breath. “I already know, Bishop.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“I’ve been a little busy with a tornado and the crushing of my dreams.” She sat down at the table.

“Well, now you just sound like your sister.”

Beth rolled her eyes. “What is there to tell? He witnessed something terrible twenty years ago. He was a kid.”

“So why’s he here now?”

Beth had wanted that question answered so many times, but this time, she chose to trust. “I don’t know yet.”

“I think I might.” Bishop was paid to be suspicious. “He was at the station the day of the tornado. Nancy said he acted nervous. I think maybe he had something to confess.”

“Confess what? He was ten years old.” Beth thought about his face when she’d accused him of exactly what Bishop accused him of now. He’d been hurt by her betrayal. She had to believe the best about him.

“I don’t know. What if he was messing around and he accidentally knocked her on the head or something? People have died that way.” Bishop rested his hand on his holstered gun.

“I think he was a victim. A scared little kid who saw something terrible.”

“Then why would he come to see me?”

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