Rebekah takes one glance at me, shifts her gaze to her sister on the couch, and runs to her across the room.“Oh my God.It’s really you.You’re here.”
Adam had his hands on his wife’s shoulders, but now they’re hanging in the air where she disappeared.He chuckles and follows her inside.
Hannah winces as she rises to her feet to wrap her arms around her sister.I don’t miss how uncomfortable she looks.I wonder how long she’s been walking.Once again, I note how exhausted she is.There are bags under her eyes.Her cheeks are gaunt.She’s underweight, probably because the baby is taking every nutrient it can and leaving her depleted.
Rebekah gasps as she releases her sister.Her gaze goes to Hannah’s belly.
Hannah cups her stomach protectively in that way all expectant mothers do.“Yeah…”
“I’ve missed you so much,” Rebekah says.“I was so sad when you disappeared.Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”
Hannah frowns.
I come over to her side and take her arm.“Sit down, sunshine,” I say softly.I don’t want her to collapse.“I’m worried about you.I know you two have a lot of catching up to do and a million questions, but you need to eat something.When was the last time you ate?”
Hannah tips her head back to look at me.She’s a waif of a human being.“I had some crackers in my pocket.I’ve been nibbling.”
My brow furrows.“For how long?”
She swallows and lowers her head as though embarrassed.“A few days,” she mutters.
My jaw ticks.I’m furious and worried.Why is she alone?I don’t think I’m going to like the answer.“What sounds good?How about some canned soup?An apple?”I’m trying to think of easy things that I can get into her quickly without making her stomach protest.
“I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”
“Hannah,” I reprimand.“You’re family.You will never be any trouble.I’ll fix you several things while you talk to Rebekah.”
I don’t know what’s gotten into me.Why the hell do I feel so oddly protective of her?She’s not mine, I remind myself.In fact, there’s a solid chance she’s married.At the very least, she was obviously in a relationship about eight or nine months ago.
“Thank you,” she murmurs.
I help her get settled and turn toward the pantry.The cabin’s great room is a wide-open space, so I can still see and hopefully hear everything.
Rebekah sits next to her sister and takes her hand.“Why did you leave?”she repeats.
Hannah’s brow furrows.“I didn’t go willingly,” she responds.“What did Dad tell you?”
“He said you ran off in the night, probably with a boy to live in sin.”
Hannah growls and rolls her eyes.“He’s a liar.He fucking sold me to Presley Vanguard,” she barks.
I’ve just turned around with a can of chicken noodle soup in my hand, but it slips and crashes to the floor loudly.What the absolute fuck?
Rebekah gasps, her hand coming to her throat.“Hesoldyou?”she shouts.
Adam drags the coffee table closer to the women and sits on it directly in front of them.He drops his elbows to his knees, putting himself closer to their eye level, a move that makes him appear less intimidating.It’s what I would do.
Hannah nods.“He slapped tape over my mouth in the middle of the night and dragged me out of our room while you were sleeping.That’s why I didn’t tell you I was leaving.”
“If he wasn’t already dead, I wouldkill him,” Rebekah shouts.
I’m glad Rebekah feels comfortable enough to show her emotions.When she first came to Gallant Mountain two months ago, she was too timid to have voiced her opinion so loudly.She’s settling into her true self.Feisty.
“Dad is dead?”Hannah glances from her sister to Adam and then to me.
“Yes,” Adam responds.“It’s a long story, but…” He reaches out and takes Rebekah’s hand.“He was none too pleased when I married your sister, so he came here to cause trouble and ended up killing himself.”
Hannah’s jaw drops.
