“Dad.” Rael pushed open the door, appearing so suddenly that Nadine immediately wondered how long he’d been lurking out there, listening. The sun made his hair flame at the edges, like one of those coronas the old masters used to paint around the heads of saints. “Phone for you.”
“Is it important?”
“Domestic situation, of some kind. Out in Arboreus. They wanted backup.” His green eyes flicked to Nadine. “I said you’d call them right back.”
“I’ll be right there. Are we clear?” Gideon asked her, putting one hand on his hip, just above his holster. “Nadine?”
Nadine barely heard him. Rael was wearing flannel just like last time, but underneath it, he was wearing a thin shirt.
Awhiteone.
“Miss Harnois.” Gideon snapped his fingers. “Did you hear what I just said?”
“S-stay away from the mine.” She made herself look away from Rael. “Got it.”
He was unshaven. So was the man who had kissed her. And his build was formidable enough to make him the man who had held her down with such ease. But why would Rael kiss her? She barely knew Rael, and had only exchanged a handful of words with him.
But that could be said of any man in Argentum, including Cal.
You’ve kissed Cal.
Nadine tried to look at the back of Rael’s neck, but the collar of his shirt was too high and his hair was too long. She felt a bolt of frustration when he walked out after his father.
Did you make me bleed?
“I should be heading out too.” The paramedic cleaned off his hands before packing up his kit, and tipped his hat at her before turning to follow the sheriff and his son out. “You take care.”
Nadine nodded dully. And then it was just her and Dottie, who had slipped back around the counter to knit while she watched. Now the older woman was looking at her with an expression that could have been pity. “Here.” She reached down and pulled a Coke from an ice chest. “On the house.”
As far as apologies went,Sorry I narced on you, here’s a Cokewas pretty weak. Nadine took the can anyway. She almost pressed it to her neck but thought better of it when she saw how dirty the inside of the cooler was before Dottie closed the lid. She cracked open the can and took a long, deep drink. The soda was bitingly cold but the bubbles soothed her dry throat.
“Thanks,” she said, after a beat.
“For what it’s worth,” Dottie said, “I fully believe someone lured you out to that mine.”
What did the woman want for that? A thank you? She hadn’t said anything to Gideon about that, and she certainly wasn’t shy about expressing her opinion when it wasn’t wanted. Now it just felt like salt in the wound.
Don’t think about wounds.
Dottie seemed to accept the silent judgement as her due, as she leaned back and began clacking her needles. “If I were you,” she said, “I’d take this as a sign that maybe I ought to turn around and go back to where I came from.”
“You’re not me,” said Nadine. She said it quietly, but she said it, forcing herself to her feet even though it hurt. Because if she fell down, there was nobody around to catch her.
Just like how there would be nobody to find Noelle if she up and left.
Dottie’s gray eyebrows shot up. “No, I’m not. And it sounds like you’ve decided to place yourself in God’s hands for the time being. Best hope He finds you before others do.”
The can crinkled in Nadine’s fist.
“Thanks for the Coke.” There was no recycling bin to be seen so she left the empty can on the counter before walking out. She didn’t ask whose hands Dottie thought she was putting herself into because she’d already felt the hot, vice-like grip of them.
(Soon)
???????
The gate was open when Nadine returned.
So, she found out, was the door. And even though someone surely must have been watching it, to make sure no one stepped over the threshold who shouldn’t, they did not make themselves seen to Nadine as she stumbled into this foyer, and she was grateful.
