“Let’s put them in order,” Faith suggested. “Then we can read a bit of them each night.”
There were twenty journals spanning ten years. Nothing to do with the Retribution, but Tess was still interested. While Faith told a disappointed Lara to do her homework, Tess helped Ed place the journals back into the suitcase in date order. “Would you mind if I read them too?”
He glanced at her. “Be my guest. Do you want to start with the first one?”
She took the journal he handed her, the cover worn and a little loose, as if the bindings were about to give up.
“I’m going to make dinner, but make yourself comfortable.”
The book burned her hand, tempting her with its information, with the life it would reveal beneath its cover. “I can help with dinner.”
Ed grinned. “I’ve got it. I can tell how much you want to read it by the way you’re gripping it to your chest.” He kissed her. “Go. Discover. I’ll call if I need your help.”
He was the best. “Thank you.”
She hurried into their bedroom, ready to discover a new world.
Chapter 18
Dinner was simmering when Brandon and Amy walked into the kitchen. Ed grinned. “How was the honeymoon?” He hugged Amy.
“Amazing,” Amy sighed. “We did nothing for two whole days.”
Brandon grinned. “Well, not nothing.”
She laughed and poked him.
“How were things here?” Brandon asked.
“Darcy and the guys have been doing lambing stuff,” Faith said. “And we’ve been going through the trunks from the shed.”
Brandon raised his eyebrows. “Find anything interesting?”
“An old family bible,” Ed said. “Amy might be able to use it on social media. It goes back to Lilian and Reginald.”
“No treasure maps?” Amy asked with a grin.
“No, but Tess is reading some journals written by Great Granny Stokes.” He set the table.
Brandon shuddered. “She always scared me.”
Ed had no memory of her. “What was she like?”
“Mean and wrinkled,” Brandon said. “I always thought she was a wicked witch. I wasn’t allowed to talk or play when she was here.”
Someone knocked on the kitchen door. “Sorry to disturb you,” the man called. “Have you got a site free tonight?”
Something about the man’s voice made Ed freeze. Amy walked over, blocking Ed’s view, and he stepped behind Brandon to hide while Amy answered, “I’ll have to check. How many nights do you want?”
“Just the one.”
“Come through,” Amy invited.
Brandon turned, and Ed clamped a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “Stay there,” he hissed. Every nerve in his body shouted danger. That voice was the same as he’d heard in the darkness on the side of the road.
“Thanks.” The man entered, and Ed kept his head down, praying Tess wouldn’t come in. He shifted, keeping Brandon between him and the guest as he followed Amy out of the room. When they left the kitchen, Brandon said, “What’s wrong with you?”
Ed shook his head and moved to the hallway, his muscles tight. The man was the right size. Before he could say anything, Tess appeared holding one of the journals. “Ed, this is fascinating. You need to read this.”
