Suddenly, a particularly strong gust of wind slams against the barn. The building screeches. I hear a cracking sound over my head.
Time slows down.
I look up as lightning illuminates the sky in a stupefying blast of white light.
Watch as a roof beam rattles free from the top of the barn.
See it snap, bend, and start to fall.
I barely have the time to scream before it plummets down on top of me.
SIXTY-FOUR
ALEC
Isee the beam come loose in slow motion.
I don’t think I’ve ever moved so fast. In half a second, I’m there, grabbing Summer by the waist and roughly hauling her out of the way. As she slams against my chest, the beam crashes down into the ground millimetres away with a deafening clatter, shooting a barrage of splinters at us.
I hold Summer still. We both stare at the spot on the floor where she was just standing. The beam has bulldozed a hole in the floorboards. In the darkness, I can almost swear I see blood seeping out from under it, but it’s just a rain puddle.
Summer’s panting against my chest, making terrified little noises. I pull her close, breathing slowly, my fingers wound in her hair. Through the shock, I take stock.
Here are the facts:
Summer almost died right in front of me. If I’d been a second later, she’d have been crushed.
It’s my fault.
I didn’t check the trees by the barn thoroughly enough before the storm hit.
It’s my fault.
Summer almostdied.
I feel my emotions switch off. Summer is shaking against me. I hear her say something, but I don’t know what it is. It doesn’t matter.
I need to get her somewhere safe again. I grab her by the shoulders and start pushing her towards the barn doors.
SIXTY-FIVE
SUMMER
Idon’t remember how we get back to the farmhouse. One second I’m in the barn, panting as I stare at the massive beam which almost killed me. The next, Alec is hauling me inside the farmhouse living room and latching the door behind us. I’m shivering. My pyjamas are soaked. There’s blood in my mouth.
I almostdied.
I throw myself at Alec. “Th-thank you,” I mumble into his chest. “If you hadn’t—God,are you okay?”Adrenaline is still burning through me, making it difficult to talk.
He pulls me off him and marches me into the kitchen. “Sit.” He pushes me unceremoniously into a chair, opens a cupboard, and pulls out a first aid kit. I cross my arms, trying to stop shaking. Even inside, the storm is filling the kitchen. The wind is rattling the windows in their frames, and the cold fluorescent lights are flickering like they might short.
There’s a wet nudge on my ankle. Crumpet is looking at me with her huge eyes.
Alec comes back, pushes the lamb aside, and rips open an antiseptic wipe. “Give me your arm,” he orders.
I shake my head, teeth chattering. “I-I’m fine. Jesus, areyouokay?”
He ignores my question, lifting my hand. I see the line of blood running down my wrist. Alec assesses the cut coldly and then roughly wipes it clean. He pulls a plaster out of the kit and carefully applies it, but his hands are dirty with mud and hay. He swears when he sees there’s dirt smeared across the bandage.
