“The same as what I told you this morning. Ten years of my life for help in finding and freeing my brother and the farm staying in the family name with Grandma living there.”
“What about House Brown?”
“I don’t know, but I now have ten years to work on it.”
He was silent a moment or two. So was I. I still couldn’t believe how quickly my life had changed.
“Come into town with me,” Right Ned said. “You can break someone else’s arm. That will cheer you up.”
I made a face at him. “I can’t. There’s a training thing the galvanized attend in preparation of the gathering. I’m going to that today. How about you? Did you decide to sign on with House Gray?”
“Have until this evening to decide,” Left Ned said. “Thought a walk would do me good.”
“You and I could leave now.” Right Ned’s smile was just a little too tight. “Take some time to clear our heads. We don’t have to be under the lock and key of House Gray to still be aligned with them.”
“Why, Neds Harris,” I said, “it’s almost as if you don’t like it here.”
“Almost is, isn’t it? But I’m serious, Tilly. We could leave. I could take us somewhere safe. I know people. People who would take you in. Take us all in.”
There was a hint of desperation beneath his words. And I wondered if this was my chance. If I should run with him, hide with him.
But running wouldn’t change my problems. I still had a lost brother and a vulnerable grandmother. If I reneged on my deal with House Gray, I’d just be making things worse for all of us.
“I can’t,” I said. “Too many people I love would get hurt.”
“There’s always another way,” Right Ned said.
“Not this time.”
Elwa appeared at the door. “Ah, Mr. Harris. Here you are. Is there something I can do for you?”
“No, thank you, ma’am,” Right Ned said.
“Was lunch satisfactory, Matilda, darling?”
“It was delicious.”
“Good. Oscar waits for you. Both. Go now. I’ll pack your bag.”
Elwa marched toward the bedroom. I got up and packed my gun belt into the duffel, then shrugged the bag over my shoulder.
“What about the rifle?” Left Ned asked.
“It’s mine, so it goes with me.” The rifle was resting near the small couch. I plucked it up on the way out the door.
We strolled out into the main sitting area, where Oscar Gray stood, once again, by the vast windows.
“You wanted to see us?” I asked.
He turned. His gaze took in Neds, me, and my rifle, and his mouth curved in a slight smile. “Yes,” he said. “Before you go, I wanted to be sure that you were satisfied with the outcome of the test this morning.”
“About that,” I said. “I’d like to apologize.”
“For what?”
“It was wrong of me not to tell you I had signed the contract before I announced it to all the Houses. I don’t think I handled that as well as I could have.”
“Apology accepted. The fallout from that particular event is already being dealt with,” he said. “The matter with House Red and the Fessler outpost continues to be . . . costly. However, I have already opened an investigation into where your brother Quinten Case may be. By our records, he was last working for House Silver. I’ll be speaking with Reeves Silver on the matter this evening.”
