Page 23 of Whispers of Helena
My eyes rise from my plate to meet Eli’s. A tense, silent communication passes between us. I lower my fork to my plate when a realization passes through the depths of my brain. Eli simply smiles before turning to the boy. “Kiran, you and Marcel should go gather the things for the garden. Ms. Helena and I will join you in a moment.”
“Yes, sir!” Kiran jumps from the table. Marcel glances at Eli with a concerned look. Eli simply tips his chin toward the doorand Marcel pushes up from his chair, following Kiran outside. Once the door is shut, Eli focuses back on me.
“Where is Silas?” I ask quietly.
“Out in the pastures somewhere. We’ll be lucky to see him these next couple of days.”
The silence in the room stretches on longer than what is comfortable. I shift in my chair, not sure what to say.
Eli leans back, his eyes sharp and searching. “Funny, isn’t it? Your birthday being April twenty-sixth. The same day Silas lost his wife.”
We don't head back insideuntil after sundown. I warm up dinner, then excuse myself to my room. Right now, all I want is a hot shower and my Bible. Our day in the garden was productive, getting compost tilled in and a few rows of seeds planted. After we spoke, Eli remained near Kiran and Marcel stayed quiet.
Stripping off my clothes, I step into the steaming water. I pick up the bar of soap from the shelf, but it slips through my fingers. Inhaling a shaky breath, I refocus, and retrieve the soap from the shower floor. I wash, then stand under the water longer than I should.
My mind is a chaotic blend of relief and worry with the fact that Eli knows everything—the true reason I came to this place. He promised to keep my secret; I'm hoping he keeps his word. I try to let my muscles relax, letting the water beat down on my back.
Once the water starts to turn cold, I turn the knob to shut it off and grab my towel. Stepping out, I tug on my nightgown and hang my towel on its hook. I shuffle to the bed, slipping beneath the covers and opening my Bible to the Book of Jeremiah. His story of repentance, faith, and restoration has always been an inspiration for me.
Let me bring that hope here,I pray silently.To this house. To Kiran. To Silas.
Kiran and I frequently read one or two passages during our lessons. The first time I laid a Bible in front of him, he asked what it was and told me he wasn’t ready for big chapter books. At six years old, the boy had never seen a Bible. Surely the doing of his father.
Night falls as I continue reading. I wet my thumb against my tongue, ready to turn the page, when a sound freezes me in place. A howl rises from the hills, severe and fractured, soon joined by others. It’s not the haunting serenade I’d come to expect from the wolves. This is chaos. Panic.
Throwing back the covers, I rush to the window. The cool air wraps around me as I push it shut, desperate to block out the dissonant cries. My hands tremble as I reach for the lock, but something catches my eye. A movement along the treeline.
Shadow plods at a slow gait as they emerge. The moon, full and bright, illuminates Silas as his hand covers his side.
He’s hurt.
A shiver traces down my spine as I yank the curtains closed and reach for my boots, pulling them on. I shove my arms through my flannel and grab my key, slipping it into my boot after locking my door.
I stop in my tracks as I hear Kiran’s door open. “Ms. Helena?”
I turn, walking to him. “Kiran, go back to bed, sweetheart.”
“I heard the wolves.”
“Just their night song,” I lie, running my fingers through his hair to calm him. “Back to bed, you’re safe.”
“Okay.”
He climbs back into his bed and snuggles beneath the quilt as I draw it over him. Pressing a kiss to his forehead, I tell him, “Everything is fine, sweet boy. Go back to sleep.”
I rise from the mattress and he turns to his side, pulling the blanket up around his shoulders. Quietly, I step out of the room, closing the door behind me.
I stammer down the stairs and out the back door, catching sight of Silas riding Shadow into the stables. My heavy footsteps announce my arrival as I run to the building.
“What are you doing here, Helena?” Silas’s voice rumbles low from Shadow’s stall.
I proceed slowly and cautiously, as if approaching a wild animal. “I heard the wolves. Then I saw you.”
“You keep careful watch over me, Ms. Toth.” His voice is deep and strained as I hear his feet shuffle on the floor.
“Someone should.”
A dark chuckle fills the air as I round the corner to see him standing by Shadow.
