Page 33 of Beat of Love
She pushed the plate back to him. “Eat something, sugar.” Then she tilted her head and added, “And if you ever want totalk, you know where I live.” She turned and joined the girls at the counter.
He watched until the diner door closed behind her, the echo of her presence lingering like the warmth of a fire just out of reach.
And he picked up the fork and finished his pie.
Reaching for his wallet, his fingers brushed the forgotten pamphlet. He pulled it out, unfolded it, and stared at the printed Steps — too neat, too tidy. Like they belonged to someone else's life.
Still … there had been something about the room.
Something in the quiet courage of people who weren’t pretending anymore. And for the first time in months, he acknowledged silently, he hadn’t felt entirely alone.
He tucked the paper back into his jacket, left a few bills on the table, grabbed his helmet from the seat, and rose. He hadn’t decided yet …
But maybe — just maybe — he’d go back to the basement meeting next week.
9
Nighttime adventures
Lawson’s Landing, end September
Brandy-Lyn’s eyes snapped open. A quick glance at the digital clock showed 3:34 a.m. She pushed upright onto her arms, listening. The house was quiet.Duh!It’s the middle of the freaking night; the kids fast asleep.
But something woke her, and she wouldn’t fall asleep again until she’d done a walkthrough.
She slipped from the bed and plodded through the living area and up the stairs. Both girls were fast asleep, safely tucked under their duvets. Back on the first level, she popped her head into Preston’s room. Her son was on his back, his bedding crumpled at his feet. It was no good pulling it up. Preston slept hot. She backed out of the room. All was good.
Retracing her footsteps, she found the charging iPad on the kitchen counter. A few taps later the security feeds opened. She scanned the various images, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. And besides, whoever was on duty in the security control room would alert her if there were issues with her horses. About to close the app, she caught movement on the one feed from Elsa’s paddock.
She tapped the image, and it filled her screen.
The mare paced near the back corner, her body rigid. Agitated.
Brandy switched to the second camera and scanned the black and white image video. Rain and Smokey were both lying down, fully at ease with their surroundings. Swapping back to the firstfeed, she panned in on the restless mare. Now stationary, she faced the tree and pawed the ground.
Brandy drew in a breath. Something wasn’t right.
She dropped the iPad and rushed to the mudroom, cursing the time it took to fasten her boots. Wrestling her arms into the padded flannel jacket, she stormed out the door. Reaching the carport, she swore, spun about, and raced back to the mudroom, grabbing the flashlight dangling from a hook beside the jackets. Back outside, she hopped onto the UTV, gunned the engine, and lurched off. Bypassing the stables, she headed straight for the paddock, pulling to a halt at the gate.
Flashlight in hand, she shone the beam down the fence line.
The mare had resumed her pacing, her attention still firmly focused on something by the tree. Heart thumping, hand on the latch of the gate, she paused, considering calling security.
Then she heard cries.
Humancries.
She entered the paddock and rushed across the ground, stopping a few yards away from Elsa.
And found—
Rafferty.
Lying on the ground under the tree.
He was in the throes of a dream —nightmare— thrashing about and calling out incoherently.
His tortured moans tore right into her soul.
