Page 3 of Sloth
“No, Mom. NO!” He raises his voice sternly, and despite all that I’ve just been told, it stuns me. I’ve never heard Luke take that tone with her before. I’ve never known him to take that tone with anyone; he’s always so laid back, and when I’m suddenly reminded of the severity of this situation, I shake myself back to reality.
“Shot?” I interrupt the struggle he’s having to keep Mary on the porch so I can check that I heard him correctly.
“Yeah. Dad wants you both to stay here; it ain’t right for you to see, and we don’t know who did this. You should head inside and lock the door.”
“I don’t care what your father says, I'm going to my boy,” Mary tells him.
“Me too.” I step forward. “I want to see him.” Ihaveto see him. I refuse to believe this is real.
“Erin, trust me when I tell you it’s best that you don’t,” Luke tells me, and I realize how pale he looks. “It was a shot to the head,” he whispers, causing Mary to gasp and drop to her knees.
“Mom….Come on, let's get ya inside.” He picks her back up on her feet and starts aiding her toward the door. “Erin.” He reaches his hand out to me, but I shake my head.
“Where is he?” I ask, staring back at him and letting him know that I’m not taking no for an answer.
“Erin, you’re better off remembering him the way he left here. Don’t put yourself through it.”
“Where is he?” I ask again, only this time I growl the words at him.
Luke closes his eyes and sighs in defeat.
“He’s down by the river where that wood is, on the Murdochs’ land. But you can’t ride out there by yourself, it’s not safe.”
“You take care of your mom,” I tell him, racing to the stable so I can saddle up Titan.
“Erin, please don’t go.” Luke looks stuck between a rock and a hard place as he looks down at his grieving mother.
“She needs you more than I do,” I remind him with a sad smile, as I rush away and prepare myself for what comes next.
“Wait up.” I hear a voice call out from behind me, and thundering hooves approaching, and when I turn around, I see Luke cantering to catch up to me.
“Your mom.” I can’t help feeling relieved to see him. I’m not even entirely sure I’m going the right way, and the sun isn’t high enough to make a lot out here visible.
“Maisie Carson turned up to see how things were going. I left Mom with her; she’s in good hands.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” I shake my head at him.
“I told you, it’s not safe out here, and I know Titan, he can be stubborn as hell. Besides, it’s a good thing I came; you're heading the wrong way.” He tips his head over toward the woods on the right, and I hang my head in shame.
“Those are our woods. Murdoch land starts just past that stream,” he points out as he redirects us on the right path.
“Thanks.” I manage a smile as we ride together.
“You sure I can’t change your mind? It ain’t a pretty sight, Erin. I sure as hell ain’t ever gonna forget it.”
“I need this,” I assure him, seeing blue and red lights flashing through the tree line as we get closer.
“What the hell is she doin’ here?” Issac looks shocked when we ride up to the spot where everyone is gathered and slide off Titan's back. I hand the reins to Luke so he can tie him up for me and march toward the riverbank where the tarpaulin barrier has been put up.
“Erin. No.” Jake leaps in front of me, and when I look down at one of the fallen trees, I see Bryce, sitting with his elbows on his knees and his head hung between them.
“I need to see him,” I tell him firmly.
“You don’t need to see that,” he argues.
“Let her pass.” I hear Luke's voice again, and standing beside me, he slides his hand into mine.
“You sure about this?” he checks.
