“That’s a good one. Do you have another reason?”
“It would be easier to get another woman who’s on her own,” Fern admitted.
“True.” Ava added it to the list.
“They grabbed me in Oso. That’s probably a town they know well…I don’t think anyone’s been taken from Dark Canyon.”
There was a question in her voice. “To my knowledge, no one has been taken here. How do you feel about the list?”
“It’s a good one. But I’m not sure that’s enough. I mean, I want to be outside and feel the sun but…for Pete’s sake—my hands are shaking thinking about it.” She held her hand out toward Ava.
Ava took her hand and squeezed it. “Last night I was so paranoid I was being watched I locked my car three times to make sure it was extra locked while I was driving. I get the fear you are experiencing. Finally I got to my destination and there was no one following me. My mind could relax only when I felt I was safe.”
Maybe she’d overshared, but she wanted Fern to realize that she wasn’t alone. “Thanks for that. Makes me feel a little less isolated knowing that this kind of thing happens to you, too. This is going to be with me for a while, isn’t it?”
Ava squeezed her hand before letting it go. “For the rest of your life…but with the right tools, like the evidence list, the intensity and frequency will slow. It’s just allowing yourself to do what you need to in order to feel safe. There is no wrong reaction. Okay?”
Fern nodded slowly. “Thanks, Ava.”
“No problem.” They chatted a bit more before she remembered Chay’s question. “Officer Benally asked if you remember seeing any signs that anyone else had been held in the cabin?”
Fern leaned back against the pillow, closing her eyes as she made those pyramids out of the blanket and then opened them. “No, but I was so groggy and then when I was awake frantic to get out. There could have been.”
“Thanks for that. I’ll let him know. Next session we’ll see how you feel about going to the bench outside.”
Fern gave her a quick smile and a determined nod. Ava left a few minutes later.
By the time Ava arrived at his house that evening, Chay was tired and very cranky. His grandmother was in a good mood and shooed him out to chop more wood for her, which he’d deliver when he took her home. Chopping wood was the perfect thing for him at this moment.
One of the worst parts of himself was the way he sunk deep inside. Even as a grown-ass man, he still had the sulky teenager longing to come out. The investigation was stalled until the men who took Fern screwed up. He’d asked an officer to go check out areas in around Wilson, but the officer’s wife had slipped on ice and broken her ankle, so he’d been out sick.
No. Big. Deal.
The axe fell in time with each of the words to underscore that he needed to let it go. But he wasn’t.
He felt like there was a ticking clock and if they didn’t make a break in the case soon, someone else was going to be taken. Maybe this time they wouldn’t be so lucky to get her back the way they had with Fern.
Though that was all down to Fern. That woman was a strong one, and Chay admired her.
“Want some company?”
Not really.
Part of his crankiness was also down to Ava being so great. He hadn’t found a flaw yet. She’d been pushy about Gracie but backed off when he’d asked her to. Just another great thing about this woman.
“Sure.”
Because he wasn’t an asshole and knew she’d be hurt if he sent her away. But he kept chopping wood, bring up another hunk to be splintered. Focusing solely on his work and not on the fact that she stood next to him in her heavy winter coat, with her knitted hat on…a new one.
“Want to talk about it?”
“Nope.”
She gave an exaggerated sigh.
“Sorry. I’m not fit for company. That’s why Grandmother sent me out here.”
She moved to sit on a stump facing him. “Why is that?”
