If they make it to the orchard safely and survive the night, who will come looking for them? Who will save them?
Their cousins might come someday, but how long will they last all on their own?
Will they die without me?
Will someone hurt them?
Tears sting my eyes, burning my throat, and I force the thought away. I won’t let that happen. I refuse.
“We promise,” Katherine whispers.
Millicent just nods.
Protect them,I beg Foxglove, rising to my feet.If anything my mother ever told me is true about you, protect them. Protect us.
At the top of the stairs, I push open the door and peek out at the night sky.
The moon shines bright, lighting our path. It’s the same moon that has looked down upon so many mothers, grandmothers, and sisters before me. The same moon that will shine on generations of daughters after me.
For their sake, we have to make it through this. With their strength, we will.
The wind cools my sweat-soaked skin as I slip out of our hiding place. A rock sits in my stomach as I look around, watching like a doe in a meadow.
When it feels safe to do so, I rush to close the door and cover it with stones and leaves once again, protecting our secret. Then, I wave for the girls to follow. Their faces are pale and streaked with tears I had not seen fall. I want to comfort them, but I can’t. Not yet.
We need to run, and now.
I inhale deeply, filling my lungs with the cool night air. With a quick glance back at Foxglove, I pull them forward, my bare toes digging into the damp ground.
Without a word, we move, rushing forward just like we planned. We don’t stop when we hit the tree line, or when we pass the creek. We don’t stop at the fallen log or the rock that looks like a bear.
We run as hard and as fast as our legs will carry us.
And, in the end, Foxglove keeps her word. We arrive at the orchard safe and sound.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CORINNE WILDE - PRESENT DAY
The moment the question leaves my lips, the stranger on the other end hangs up without giving an answer. Conrad starts the car and backs us out of the flooding road. Lewis, Greta, and I share worried looks. I have no idea what to make of this. Of any of it.
Why would someone hurt Greta? Why was she back here in the first place? I feel as if I’m in a dream I can’t wake up from. And still, Taylor is missing.
Taylor.
I’ve been so distracted I momentarily forgot our daughter ran away from us.
“I’m going to call Taylor and tell her to stay with Mom,” I say. “I may not want her there, but at least she’s safe far away from here until we figure out what’s going on.”
“Taylor’s with your mom?” Greta asks. “I thought you said I was supposed to be looking for her. That she was missing.”
“We just found out where she is,” Lewis fills in as I dial.
She doesn’t answer—no surprise—so I leave her a voicemail. “Taylor, honey, it’s Mom. Listen, I don’t want you to worry, but I need you to go ahead and stay at your grandma’s tonight, okay? I’ll explain later, but just stay where you are. Where it’s…” I stopmyself from sayingsafe, not wanting to worry her. “The storm is getting bad. You’re better off there right now. Okay, we’ll, um…we’ll talk in the morning, okay? I love you.”
I end the call just as I feel the car lurch. Conrad slows the car to a stop without warning.
“What’s…” I don’t finish the question. Don’t need to. I can clearly see what’s wrong. Up ahead, a fallen tree lies across the road.
