Page 76 of A Curse On Black Lake
I get Winnie loaded up and then the Brown Swiss cow, Gertrude, next.
“I’ll get her,” Eliana says.
“I don’t mind,” I mutter.
“I know, but she barely tolerates me. She only loved Grams,” she whispers the last words as if they were physically difficult for her to say.
Eliana gets Gertrude in the trailer, but there’s no room left for the goats and chickens.
“We’ll take them and then come back to get the rest,” I tell her.
“I have so much to do here, I’ll hang back.”
My jaw clenches, and I slide my hands into my pockets.
“What?” she asks.
“Do you think that’s a good idea? With everything going on, I don’t want to leave you on your own.”
She huffs. “Killian, it’s broad daylight. Would it make you feel better if I walk around with the shotgun on my shoulder?” she asks, eyes wide. Part of me thinks she’s doing this to prove to herself that she’s not scared. Which is fair because allowing anyone to instill fear in you gives them power. But I wonder if maybe she’s being tough because she hasn’t had the opportunity to be any other way.
“It would,” I grunt.
She smiles softly and shakes her head. “Fine, I’ll go get it.”
I follow her into the house, and she toes off her boots before going to her room and coming back with the double-barrel shotgun resting on her back. The strap presses between her breasts, and I have to force my eyes away. I never thought a woman in a tank top and glistening with sweat would make me feel anything. But then again, I’m coming to the conclusion that it’shermaking me feel this way.
“Better?” she asks.
“Uh — yeah,” I rasp as she gets her boots back on.
“While you’re gone, I’m going to work on harvesting. I need to start fresh tinctures,” she says, walking out the door.
“You’re sure you’re okay by yourself?” I ask her again. “I will help you when we get back so you can get it all done.”
She pushes her shoulders back and nods. “I’m fine, cowboy. Take my babies to the ranch, and I’ll be here when you get back.”
I click my tongue conceding, and head to the truck. It goes against my better judgment, but if I’ve learned anything about Eliana Greer, it’s that she cannot be forced to do anything. She’s tough, and struts to the beat of her own drum. I want to make sure no one damages that drum. Otherwise, they will have to deal with me.
Chapter twenty-six
Eliana
Killianpullsawaytotake the animals to the ranch, and I go back to harvesting. I’m at the height of the season right now. The roses and mint are ready to be cut again. Some lavender is ready, while I’m still waiting on other herbs to get to the point where they are potent enough for healing. All of this information was taught to me as a child. Passed down from Greer to Greer. Gardening, healing, is in my blood.
It’s time to harvest the oregano, one of the best natural antibiotics out there. Today, with the use of technology, we’ve learned that it can be even more powerful than penicillin. It can cure all kinds of bacterial ailments fairly quickly. It’s a big seller, especially for young kids, in case they get an infected cut or bacterial infection.
The shotgun keeps bumping me in the back, and I force myself not to get annoyed by it because despite my front I put on to Killian, I am scared. But I don’t want to be. This ismyhome. No one is going to run me from it.
It is not your home he is after.The Spirits say.
I ignore them and the sense of paranoia sitting on my shoulders and keep working. Sweat drips down my neck, and my thighs strain, but I keep focusing on my work in an attempt to bury what happened this morning. I hate feeling like prey. Even with Killian behind me, I wanted to run.
There are things we are built to sense, like evil. I couldfeelit this morning. As if Satan himself were staring right at me, grinning like he can’t wait to snatch me up. And I know better. There are things that can do that.
I stand up straight, relieving my back, and toss the bunch of oregano in my hand into a basket. Feet crunch on gravel, and I spin around to face it, grabbing the butt of my gun and aiming.
“Whoa, ma’am,” Wyatt says with his hands up.
