She made eye contact with her visitors. “I’ll just see what this is.” She dropped Jessie’s hand and rushed to the package. “No card. Maybe the sender put a note inside.”
“Can I help open it?” Jessie pleaded as she skidded to a stop at the table. Unable to stop as fast, Bandit slammed into Jessie’s leg and looked dazed.
Mia smiled fondly at Jessie. “Why don’t you pull off the paper?”
Jessie handed Bandit’s leash to Reid and ripped the wrapping into shreds, tossing the fragments on the wide wooden floor planks. She put her hand on the box and telegraphed her desire to pull up the flap.
“Jessie,” Reid warned. “This is Mia’s present.”
“That’s okay,” Mia said. “I’d love Jessie’s help. Go ahead.”
The child started to lift one flap when a sheet of white paper slipped free and drifted to the floor.
“Hold on, honey.” Mia retrieved the paper. “Let’s see who it’s from before you open it.”
A giggly Jessie danced in place as Mia unfolded the paper.
No. No.
Letters cut from a magazine, very similar to the warning she’d received in the post office, filled the paper.
Mia’s stomach twisted, but she forced her eyes to stay on the page and scanned the message.
Sever your claim to Evergreen Resort or I’ll sever it for you.
Jessie reached for the flap.
“Don’t!” Mia shouted. “Don’t touch it.”
Jessie’s mouth opened wide, and she looked ready to wail. Bandit raised his head and issued frantic barks.
Mia had scared them both, but if the box contained something awful, Mia didn’t want Jessie to see it. Mia eased between the child and the box and clamped a hand on the lid.
Russ came forward, lowered himself to one knee, and settled Jessie on the other one. “It’s okay, squirt. Mia was just surprised, and she didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I didn’t. I’m sorry…I…” She blinked at the box wondering how to get it out of Jessie’s view and see what might have accompanied the latest warning note.
Russ smiled at Jessie. “What say we sneak a cookie from the kitchen?”
“Yes, please.” Jessie’s face brightened.
“Wait,” Mia said, making that smile disappear again. “Stay here. I have to take this…” She grabbed the package and carried it to the end of the kitchen island away from all the food brought by her visitors, and most importantly, out of Jessie’s eyesight.
“Mia, what is it?” Ryan started her way.
She couldn’t wait for him to arrive. She opened the flaps and peered inside.
Oh, no!
She dropped the note into the box, covering the horrible sight, and slapped the lid closed.
Her stomach roiled. Acid burned.
“Don’t let anyone see,” she managed to get the words out for Ryan as nausea sent her bolting for the nearest bathroom.
Near the claw-foot bathtub, she dropped to her knees and lay her head against the cool cast-iron tub to wait for her stomach to cease cramping.
Who was behind this latest threat? The fire? The first letter?
