Page 59 of Bound in Ashes

“Christopher,” I said, still not quite sure what to make of things.

“Uh, does your friend here mind?” Christopher said, pointing at Jack’s forearm.

It was the only thing that suggested that perhaps this was anything other than an old acquaintance bumping into another.

“You know him, Asia?” Jack said, not moving an inch.

“Yeah. He’s Sheriff Hayes’s son,” I said.

Jack held his grip for a moment longer, then lowered his arm.

“Thank you, sir,” he said, glancing at Jack.

But his attention was soon fully focused on me again.

“Dad said that you were back in town. It’s good to see you. I’m glad you’re not⁠—”

“Dead?” I said with a shrug.

Christopher smiled, his babyish face reminding me of when we were kids.

“Sounds kind of harsh, but yeah,” he said.

“I’m glad you’re not dead either, Christopher,” I responded.

“What are you folks doing out here?”

“What are you doing out here?” Jack interjected before I could respond.

“This is our community. We’re checking it out to see if there are any folks in need,” he said.

“Very generous,” Jack said.

“Well, that’s what communities do. We take care of each other,” Christopher said.

“This wasn’t here before,” I said.

“No, they just started building all around. Pisses Dad off,” Christopher said.

“He doesn’t like them cutting down the trees either?”

“Well, I suppose. But these houses weren’t in his jurisdiction.” Christopher shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “He didn’t like that.”

I quirked a brow, but chose not to say anything, though the bile burned at the back of my throat again.

“About a year or so back, he arrested somebody over here. Judge threw the case out, said something about illegal search and seizure. Guess we don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Christopher said.

“Guess not,” I responded.

“It really chapped Dad’s ass, but…” Christopher said with a shrug.

“Well, we came to look around. Asia and I will take those four houses. You guys can get to what you can,” Jack said.

“Why don’t I go with Asia? Give me a chance to catch up with an old friend,” Christopher said.

Jack went still.

The scary kind of still.