“Is it contagious?”
“Hardly anyone gets it.”
“All right.” I glanced out the window. I’d lost a little time down in the basement; the evening light was just starting to fall.
“Is there a problem?” he asked.
“Not a problem. Night’s coming on soon. Since my farmhand is?—”
“In the basement burying bodies?”
“—busy, I wondered if you’d give me a hand with the beasts.”
“You keep farm animals?”
“Something like that,” I said. “You don’t mind getting a little dirty with me, do you?”
The corner of his mouth quirked up.
Heat flashed across my cheeks again. Why did I keep saying things like that?
“Looking forward to it,” he murmured. “It’s been too long since I got dirty.”
It was suddenly too hot in the room. No, it was suddenly too hot in my skin.
“I need to check on Grandma,” I said. “I’ll meet you outside.”
I turned and scuttled out of there as fast as I could. Took me no time to walk down to Grandma’s room, knock softly on her door, and let myself in. She was sitting in her rocking chair by the window, humming to herself and petting one of the little sheep in her lap.
I took a moment to breathe away my blush. “Everything all right, Grandma?”
“Is it time for us to go now?” she asked.
“No, we’re not going anywhere. Well, I’m going out to feed the beasts. Do you need me to bring you something?”
“I’m just fine,” she said. “You go on with that man.”
“Abraham?”
“That’s the one. House Gray. Good man, always such a good man.”
“Always? Do you know him, Grandma? Do you know Abraham?”
She had tipped her head and was staring out the window and humming again, as if I didn’t exist.
Her lucid moments were getting fewer and shorter. I knew she wouldn’t live forever, but things like this chiseled away at my heart. “Okay,” I said with the brightest tone I could muster. “I’ll see you soon. Neds are downstairs if you need him.”
My room was right next door, and I ducked in, plucked up my heavier coat, and shrugged it on as I made my way down the hall.
Abraham was waiting in the living room.
“You have a strange sense of direction, Mr. House Gray,” I said. “The out-of-doors is out that door.”
“Abraham,” he said absently. “After you.” He opened the door to the front porch, waiting for me.
I walked past him. I didn’t wait to see if he was following as I headed over to the shed and my old Chevy truck.
“Didn’t know anyone still used these things,” Abraham said.
