“You took in Jamie without question.”
“He’s as pale as my white tee.Obviously, he needs help.”
“Like your family needed help when you came to that gathering.”Pieces were clicking together.“You never take the easy path.”
Her gaze was direct and held a hint of surprise.“Sometimes the right path isn’t straightforward.”
“No,” he agreed.“It isn’t.”
Jago poked his head around the corner of the doorway, his expression tense until he spotted Liam.“What happened?We couldn’t leave without knowing.”
“My father,” Jamie replied before Liam could explain.“He got drunk and shifted after he and Ma had a fight.”
Tamsin and Sienna gaped at Jamie.
“The hunters spotted him.”Jamie answered their unasked question.“Liam helped me get him into hiding.”
“I told Jamie he could stay with us,” Liam said.
“Of course he can,” Tamsin said, as Liam had hoped she would.
Tears welled in the teen’s eyes at their calm acceptance, and a twang of familiarity played through Liam’s mind.Jamie’s situation resonated with him.He didn’t push the memory—forcing it only made the pounding in his head worse.
“What will we do about our pottery supplies?”Worry sank into Jago’s forehead.“Is it safe to go out tonight?”
“The hunters were searching nearer our house and toward the village,” Jamie offered.
“We should go soon,” Liam said.“Let’s not give them a chance to reorganize.”
“Jago and I were going to leave, but Ma suggested we wait for you,” Sienna said.
“You have work tomorrow,” Tamsin said.“We can’t afford for you to lose your job.”
“I can help,” Jamie said.“Whatever you need.”
“How do we know we can trust you?”Jago asked.
“Jago!”Tamsin turned a glare on her son.“Jamie warned us about the hunters.He risked a lot to help us.”
“Yes, Ma,” Jago said with a twitch of his nose.
“If Jamie will help, we can bring back more supplies,” Liam said.“And it will mean Jago won’t need to make a dangerous return trip.”
“It’s a small way to repay you,” Jamie said, his expression earnest.“I’d never betray you.”He turned to Tamsin.“You gave me a jam sandwich when I know you didn’t have much.I hadn’t eaten for a long time, and I’ve never forgotten that.That’s why I came to warn you.You and your family don’t deserve the way the locals treat you.You treat everyone with respect.I-I admire that.”
Tamsin hugged him.“You’re welcome, Jamie.”
“We’d appreciate the help,” Jago said.
“We should go before the hunters regroup.Half of them didn’t believe the beast existed,” Liam said.“Now, several hunters have seen a leopard.They’ll double down and get more aggressive.”
“It won’t be safe for anyone,” Sienna said.
An understatement, although Liam didn’t voice his concerns.They needed a plan to leave Stoneford, but where could they go?Hedrek and his sons would face scrutiny no matter where they settled.He was at a loss, and unfortunately, his memory, or lack thereof, didn’t aid him in devising a plan.
Yeah, now that the hunters had a positive sighting, they’d report to their boss.A billionaire could throw more money and men at the problem.
With proof of a leopard in the vicinity, everyone was in danger.
