Page 75 of A Curse On Black Lake
“Do you think you can heal from it?” I ask her instead.
Her lips purse and she shrugs. “I think there are different kinds of heartbreak. Some you can avoid. Others you can’t.”
“What kind can you—”
“Are you ready to go?” she asks, done with the conversation.
I take another drink of coffee and set it in the sink. “Yeah, oh, are you hungry?” I ask her.
“Not particularly. I want to get my animals,” she says. “Is there enough room in the barn?” she asks.
“I’ll make room, darlin’,” I grunt. I’ll build a whole fence enclosure if I have to. I know I’ll have to build a small structurefor the goats. If it keeps her here, and safe, then I’ll do whatever I need to do.
“Okay,” she rasps.
“Burnin’ daylight, let’s get going,” I tell her and move for my boots.
She slips hers on, and I follow her out the door.
The hair on the back of my neck rises, and I spin around looking for the source.
Eliana stops standing as still as a statue. I come up behind her. “Do you—”
“They’re warning me,” she whispers.
I reach for her hand, and it trembles in mine. Whatever they’re saying is terrifying her. Her eyes clear, and she lets go, spinning around. I do the same again, but nothing looks out of the ordinary.
“What did they say?” I ask her.
“They said I was in danger.”
“How would they know that?” I ask her, scanning the area again. If that bastard is around, I’ll find him and kill him myself. No time for cops. I’m within my rights.But what if it’s Wyatt?
“They were told,” she whispers.
I grab her hand again and lean close to her ear in case he’s watching from a distance. “If he’s watching, we need to act as if nothing is going on. Let him think we don’t know, it could make him cocky. When perps get cocky, they make mistakes.”
She turns her head and I glance at her lips. We’re so close. Now, is absolutely not the time. But the way her hand shakes in mine makes me want to comfort her by putting my mouth on hers.
“How do you know it’ll make him cocky?” she whispers.
“I don’t. But if we can’t spot him, let him think he’s got us. We can get the animals then we’ll come back and look for signs.”
“Shouldn’t you call the Sheriff?” she asks.
I start to answer and pause. “I will if you want me to.”
She contemplates for a moment and shakes her head.
“Are they okay with that?” I ask her, glancing at her forehead.
Her lips turn up into a smile. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Good,” I mutter and keep hold of her hand until I get her into the truck. The trailer is down by the barn.
After I get the trailer hooked up, we head to her house, and I can only pray that there aren’t any presents this time around.
I drive the truck towards the barn at the back of the Greer property. Eliana hops out and works in her garden, foraging, cutting back anything that needs to be trimmed, and watering. She’s been quiet all morning, and I can feel her anxiety from here.
