“You sure?” Niamh rolls to a stop, but the house isn’t too far from the main track, just a short two-minute walk and I can see the porch light on from here as well as light slipping out from between a crack in the curtains in the living room. “It’s dark.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assure her. “The house is right there.”
“Alright,” she touches my arm, “I’ll see you soon.”
“Night, Niamh,” I hop out and watch her pull away, the truck disappearing over a small hill. Miles of fields stretch out around me, bordered by dense forests that the eye cannot penetrate, even with the silvery light of the moon. Turning around, I start to make my way to the house, ready to fall into bed. The days have been long and tiring, but also rewarding. I’ve been falling into bed and going to sleep instantly, which has been a nice change. For the first few nights, every time I closed my eyes, I saw Cal, orI tossed and I turned, anxiety and guilt both working together to leave me a mess. Working this much, labor intense work too, has left no room for that.
The sound of a boot scuffing behind me has me pausing, glancing over my shoulder to see someone standing at the end of the short drive. No light touches them, leaving them merely a shadow, standing there, watching.
“Silas?” I turn to them, unable to work out who it is. It’s definitely not Silas now I’m fully looking at them, they’re too short to be him and there’s something strange about their shape. They look wide, broad shouldered but the lines are all wrong.
“Can I help you?” Fear pricks at my spine, my stomach rolling over the alcohol I had consumed this evening. Bile rises into my throat, a lump forming.
I step back a little, never taking my eyes off them as they move, reaching inside their coat. It’s a warm night, humid and entirely too warm for a coat, but then they’re pulling something out.
I’m afraid to turn away from them, to give them my back, even as they stretch their arm toward me, pointing that item at my body. Moonlight catches on metal, and horror has my blood running cold as I realize exactly what it is they’re pointing in my direction.
A gun.
I think I scream, but I’m not sure, not when all I hear is roaring inside my ears. Everything is slowing down, seconds feeling like minutes as I throw myself to the side to try and find cover.
Somewhere on the ranch, dogs begin to bark, but all I can do is crawl, feeling gravel cut into my skin as I go and pray whoever is out there doesn’t come looking.
Chapter Eighteen
A scream rips through the house, the sound so sudden and high-pitched, all I can do is react. I’m on my feet before I have time to truly think, rushing toward the door. I don’t keep weapons within reach around the house; they’re all locked away in my bedroom, but it doesn’t stop me from throwing open the door only to see a figure at the end of the short driveway. They turn and bolt, disappearing into the shadows that blanket the ranch.
I’m just about to go after them when I spot a curled-up body hiding beside the wheel of my truck, the porch light hitting the side of her head to show a strand of honey-blonde hair.
“Juni!” Her name is a roar that tears from my throat, dread and fear forcing me to move toward her.
She’s been hurt.That’s all I can think as I close the gap between us quickly, dropping to my knees beside her as I try to see the damage, praying whoever that was didn’t get close enough to physically touch her. But I see no blood other than a small trickle on both knees; her hands attempting to fight me off.
“It’s me,” I assure her, “Juniper, it’s me.”
“Silas?” Wide, terrified eyes cling to my face, her skin entirely too pale, body trembling. She lunges forward, her arms coming around my neck, and I can’t keep my balance. I land on my ass as she crawls into my lap, holding on like her life depends on it. My arms come around her shaking body, pulling her in closer, wrapping her up to keep her safe.
“I’ve got you,” I assure her softly, whispering into her hair. “I’ve got you, Honeybee.”
“Silas!” Roman’s voice sounds just before I see him, skidding around the corner in just a pair of gray sweats and a tee, no shoes, and Niamh is right behind him.
“It’s okay,” I tell Juni, who startles at the sound of his voice. “You’re safe.”
“We heard a scream?” Roman storms toward us. I lift my head to turn to him, but I see Caleb and Rosie standing on the porch, their eyes wide as they stareat where I hold Juni on the ground. Caleb has Rosie under his arm, their pajamas rumpled and askew.
“I’ve got them,” Niamh rushes past, bundles up my kids and ushers them back inside.
“Is she hurt?” Roman demands.
“Juni,” I try to pull her away, but she holds on, her face buried in the side of my neck. “Juni, I need to make sure you’re not hurt.”
“I’m not,” she stutters out, her breath brushing against my skin, “They didn’t—I think they had a gun.”
Roman lets out a relieved sigh at hearing her.
“Did you see them?” I ask my brother.
“Just a shadow, they ran into the field before I could catch up. I’ve got guys out on ATVs looking for them.”
