Page 77 of Silent Heart

“We’ve heard so much about you.” Laurel glided over and shook my hand. “We’re really glad our Camilla has made such a good friend.”

Funny, I didn’t know much about Cami Joe’s family, other than she’d been adopted by her grandma and step-grandfather—why that was the case, she’d never said. I wasn’t even sure who this vibrant beauty was to Cami. I doubted they were siblings. Laurel’s complexion was pale and smooth, whereas Cami had those rich olive tones that made her look permanently tan.

“Hopefully good things,” I breathed, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

“Good things—a few key details missing—but nothing we can’t fill in the blanks about at luncheon.” Laurel’s smile was suddenly sharp as she flashed it on Cami.

The girl winced.

“Well, Cami Joe is a fantastic student, and it’s been amazing to study with her,” I quickly added, wondering if the age difference between us bothered the relative. They had to know Cami would make friends who were probably a little older than her. Granted, not as old as me, but still.

“Oh, we know how preoccupied she can be when her nose is in a book,” Laurel laughed, the sound light and tinkly.Musical.Damn, but she had the prettiest voice. “Either way, maybe when things settle down in your busy schedule, we can find a time to do a girl’s lunch. Our treat!”

The bright invitation seemed friendly and casual on the surface. But I couldn’t shake the sense there was something else underneath.

“I’d love that, but as I’m sure you know, these graduate level courses are pretty demanding,” I said, setting myself up for an evasion technique. “Anyhow, I have to get going. Lovely to meet you! And Cami?”

“Yeah?” She blinked at me.

“What you said earlier, I’m game for it,” I smiled. Because if anything, there was an urge in my chest that wanted to protect this younger woman at all costs.

“I’ll make it happen!” Cami grinned. “Have a great fall break, Har.”

“Thanks, you do the same—and rest!” I added over my shoulder.

As she walked away, linked arm in arm with the redhaired queen, I heard snippets of their conversation.

“Sothat’syour friend?” Laurel began.

“Yes,” Cami gulped. “But Luka already knew she was living across the hall from me.”

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell us!” Laurel protested. “We would have come and met her sooner.”

“I think Luka wants to keep it quiet…for reasons,” Cami stressed the word.

Laurel barked a laugh. “No doubt. But cat’s out of the bag now.”

“Before we do anything, we need to run it by Cousin Luka,” Cami Joe insisted.

“Dani said the same thing,” Laurel grumbled. “And I suppose you’re right. We can’t have the big, scary wraith coming down on us for messing with things we shouldn’t.”

“Agreed.”

Truck doors slammed.

I slid into the driver’s seat of my Passat and watched them pull away. As the front end turned, I caught a flash through the not quite as tinted windshield. I could have sworn the woman in the front seat was familiar. But it was too quick and then the truck roared away.

“Well, if that wasn’t the oddest meeting,” I muttered, selecting a driving song list. I replayed the interaction in my mind once more, but it made less sense the second time. By the time I was on the freeway headed north, I pushed it from my mind and lost myself to the upbeat jams crackling through my speakers.

***

This made everything worth it. Even the most broken soul could find peace and rejuvenation in such serene moments. This was the third ride we’d been on, and with each clop of hoof, each shift in the saddle, the cares and fatigue chipped away, piece by tiny piece. Lilac tripped lightly through the tall grass. The ditch had been recently mown, and since there’d been little water this fall, it was easy for her to walk this way. The occasional car whizzed past on the highway, but so far no assholes threw garbage at us. The fall breeze teased that colder days were coming, but the sun assured us that spring would come again after her long winter’s nap.

Being home brought back waves of nostalgia. Life went on without me. The seasons might have changed, but otherwise, everything else was the same on the farm. My grandparents asked how I was feeling and if I was eating enough. When theyasked about my classes, they didn’t seem to understand how impressive it was that I was doing so well.“That’s great, dear,”was the automated response. I tried not to let it bother me, but the truth was it did. I was living a completely different life, and it didn’t compute with the day-to-day of the farming community. The boys were friendly. Even Duke missed me. Thankfully, none of the rest of the family was going to be around. So I was able to escape on my horse and let my heart find peace in the storm of emotions, even if it was only temporary.

My stomach rumbled, and I shifted in the seat. I urged Lilac from the sloped land to cut across a field. Not wanting to end the ride early, a sandwich from Betty’s Diner would be just the thing. Luckily, I had a twenty in my pocket, or I would have to do an IOU with one of the waitresses. Part of the corn had been harvested from this area, leaving us a clear path over which to trot. I stayed away from the tree line in case of hunters. While there were still a few more weeks before rifle season for whitetail deer, bow hunters were likely in their perches on such a warm day. Lilac wore blaze-orange paint on her hind quarters and flanks. I likewise had a lightweight vest of the same color. But it was warm enough that my jean jacket was tied around my waist.

Crossing the road, we galloped over a meadow before reaching the parking lot of the diner. Brown leaves littered the gravel lot, most having lost their magnificent coloring after falling off the skeletal branches. Now they looked stagnant and would start to rot the moment the snow fell.

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