Page 36 of Bear Haven
Was there a safe place for them?
Sure, Gus’s family had been relatively safe where they made their homes in the mountains surrounding Gatlinburg. Blake and his uncle Bryan remained pretty secure where they lived, even though they operated resorts. Hunters in recent years hadn’t seemed to catch on that there was something different about them. And Deal’s Gap remained a secret to the outside world as far as shifters went. There were those who resided there, but they were careful not to let on to the humans who traveled through that there was anything amiss. It was important to protect Deal’s Gap and the only way they would be able to do that would be if she and Gus left.
The very thought that they were outcasts hurt her heart. But then, in one way or another, they’d always been outcasts. Now they were just outcasts together and soon would be on the run, much like the Mayor.
She hated not knowing where the next threat would come from. Her house being lit up like a torch had never entered her mind as a possibility and seeing the damage and destruction now made her feel foolish.
Until Luke entered their lives, she’d never had to look over her shoulder, but the reality was closing in quickly that it needed to become second nature. That she always needed to be on alert.
“You okay?” Gus asked, wrapping her up in his arms from behind.
“No,” she answered honestly. “I don’t think I’ve been okay in a year or so.” She sighed and he hugged her closer, tighter.
“Do I make it better or worse?”
“Always better. Though the rest of it, I could do without.”
“I hear you. It’ll get better.”
“Promise?” It was a ridiculous plea, but one she desperately needed him to answer. She trusted him more than anyone. If he said it would get better, then it would.
“Yes.”
“When? Before someone close to us gets hurt? Before something like this happens again?”
“I don’t have answers for any of that.” He kissed the top of her head. “I just know it will. And I will keep you safe, pretty girl.”
“I know.” In his arms, she was safe. In his arms, she was stronger. She turned to face him. “Did you find anything?”
“No, but now that the inspectors are leaving, we can check inside.”
“Are you sure? Did they say we could?”
“No. They actually said we shouldn’t, that it’s unstable, that walls or flooring could give way at any moment, but I don’t see any other way to know if there’s anything left that’s salvageable.”
She agreed. From the outside, the house was nothing more than a skeleton. She hadn’t gotten close enough to see what remained intact inside. Gus didn’t seem optimistic. “There’s only one thing I want.”
“If it’s on the second floor, there’s no way for us to get to it.”
“It’s in the kitchen. How much of it is left?”
“Not much. What are you looking for?”
“My mother’s recipe box.” It was the one thing that meant more to her than anything else. She had a photo of her mother that she always carried with her. She had other things that held memories too, but the recipe box? If that were lost…
Gus took her hand and she carefully followed him through the wood and glass strewn throughout the yard. Ash blew in the morning breeze. The smell of smoke, of chemicals and gas filled the air. It was in her hair, her clothes, even on her tongue.
Neighbors still stood, still gawked, whispering behind their hands to each other, pointing. Bex waved and several hurriedly averted their eyes. Others didn’t even blink. Others like Mildred and Lydia.
The smug look on Lydia’s face gave Bex pause. It filled her with an urge to punch the woman in the mouth. It wasn’t the nicest thought, but then, Bex wasn’t in the nicest mood.
Mildred simply appeared uncomfortable, as though she wanted to run away, but was too invested in being nosy to leave.
Bex shrugged off the childish desire to flip them off and turned her attention once more to the charred structure in front of her.
Closer to the house there were black circles and burnt strips of grass. The back door was gone, but oddly enough, the screen door hung from the top hinge. A good stiff wind and it would be gone. For the moment, though…
“Where did you keep the box?”
