Page 25 of A Tangled Web

Maybe Dani didn’t like the old man as much as she thought.

She followed Kaya back to the door, accepting a warm, sweet smelling hug. “Thank you for this. I know this isn’t why you came, but I really appreciate you sticking around. And I promise when I get home, we’ll talk about what happened between you and Liam.”

It really wasn’t fair, the way she did that. “I didn’t say anything.”

Kaya smiled. “No psychic vibes necessary for this one. You showing up on my doorstep and the way Liam sounded when he called half an hour ago looking for you kind of gave it away. But I will tell you not to make any rash decisions before we talk.”

How had Liam sounded?

She couldn’t think about that now. “Get out of here before Divine Darla’s clients start a riot.”

“We can’t have that.”

Dani leaned her forehead against the closed door after Kaya left. She should call Liam, let him know where she was and that she was okay. She didn’t want to hear his voice right now, not when she had to put her plan in place, but she hated to think about him worrying. She dug through her purse to search for her phone.

“He’ll wait, little lion tamer. It’s good for a man’s soul to wait for the things he wants. Teaches us the patience we’ll need for fatherhood.”

Dani looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening as the frail old man who’d looked as though he were at death’s door only a moment before stood tall in front of her, smiling as he folded his worn blanket and smoothed his hair.

Had he been faking?

“Look at that face.” He laughed out loud, and it was so genuine it made her smile in spite of her shock. “Yes, I am tired, and it was a long journey. Not as long as the one you’ve taken, from what I understand. But long enough. Now I feel like exploring my granddaughter’s home. You should join me in case I have a relapse or break a hip.”

He started walking toward the patio doors, and Dani followed him, her curiosity piqued. “Why did you want Kaya to worry?”

An old, patched up backpack sat just inside the doors, and he bent to pick it up, digging through it as she stood at his side. “How do your people make a healer come?”

He pulled something out, dropping the bag and revealing two dried tree roots the length of his forearm. “Pick one then answer.”

She pointed to the smaller one on the left and he grunted, nodding as though he’d expected as much. “Well?”

She didn’t really have any people. “People usually call a doctor.” She answered politely before biting her lip. “Do you need me to call a doctor, sir?”

His smile was so broad it made his sparkling eyes disappear. “Why would I need one, lion tamer? I already have a healer standing in front of me. Kaya thought I needed you and you came. You’re a nurse, aren’t you? And please don’t sir me while I’m traveling. Call me Will.” He turned and opened the sliding glass door, stepping out into the warm sunlight.

“How did you know I was a nurse?” She’d told Kaya and Bailey a few things about her past, but no one but Liam knew what she’d done for a living. She’d been told by her lawyer to keep all details of her past as limited as possible. Now that she had a new life and a new name, she wasn’t sure if that was still what she was or wanted to be.

The old man disappeared down the slope of Kaya’s hilly backyard. “Wait. Will, wait for me.”

She jogged over to him just as he’d bent to look into one of the bright blue gardening pots. “What is this?” He shook his head in dismay. “All this land and she grows her corn in a bowl?”

“This is a rental,” Dani defended instinctively, still thrown by his knowledge. “I don’t think she’s allowed to plant anything.”

“As if anybody has the right to choose what grows where.” He shook his head and looked around, inspecting everything as if memorizing it for later. He was quiet for so long it started making her nervous.

“She misses you,” Dani spoke hesitantly into the silence. “I know it’s not my place to say, but it’s clear how much you and your family mean to her.”

A flicker of regret, so quick she almost missed it, flared in his eyes. “She is where she needs to be, lion tamer.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Isn’t that your name?” His bushy eyebrows rose high. “Daniel tamed the lions with the strength of his faith, I’m told.”

Dani grimaced. “According to my records, I was named after a tropical storm that flooded the town a few months before I was born. In my case Trouble Magnet might be more accurate.”

Will hummed. “Or you were the gift of sunlight after a time of darkness. I suppose it depends on your point of view. Ah, I found it.”

She moved closer, fascinated. “Found what?”

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