by Dawn, M. K.
“I’m a member of the Council, for God’s sake!” Jerry’s face burned red. “You can’t treat me this way!”
“You’re not a council member anymore,” Britney said without thinking. “Stay or go, your position on the Council has been revoked.”
“You can’t—” Jerry started to argue, but Britney cut him off.
“I can and have. As Council president, it’s my right. Plus, this farm is mine.” She hated saying that in front of everyone, but it was the truth. And she would protect this land, no matter the cost. “The rules we have in place serve a purpose. We must protect this place as a whole, not at the individual level. Without rules, we’d descend into chaos, and I refuse to let that happen.”
“Britney.” Eric, a plump twenty-something-year-old with thick glasses, raised his hand.
Since he was one of the few to refuse the exam, Britney wasn’t surprised by the interruption. “Yes?”
“The three of us,” he pointed to the two women huddled behind him, “we’ve decided to go ahead with the exam. We apologize for the trouble we’ve caused the Council.”
Relief washed over Britney. This is exactly what she hoped would happen. “Thank you all. Makayla, if you would please accompany them to the clinic. Unless you prefer Dr. Sloan?”
Eric waved for the others to follow. “Don’t matter, either will work. We just don’t want to be sent away.”
“You have a home here for as long as you wish,” Britney said with a smile.
“Thank you.” Eric lowed his head as they passed.
“Jerry, Barbara.” Brittany turned her attention back to them. “It’s time to make a decision.”
“We-We...” Barbara stuttered. “Jerry, do something.”
Jerry slumped his shoulders and made his way to their truck. “Come on, Barbara. We need to get on the road.”
Britney’s mouth fell open. Were they actually going to leave? “Jerry, what are you doin’? Are you really willin’ to lose your home, your safety, over somethin’ so silly?”
Jerry paused before climbing into the cab. “Are you really going to make us leave over something so silly?’
Britney wanted to scream. She never believed he would go through with this. But he was, and as much as she wanted to stop him, she couldn’t. He chose to defy the Council, even after countless opportunities to rectify what he had done. If she backed down now, others would think they could do the same without fear of consequences.
“Open the gate,” Britney ordered.
Mac hesitated from on top of the wall, his eyes drifting in the Council’s direction.
Britney snapped her head and mouthed to Axel, “we have to.”
Axel turned to Mac and nodded.
The gate opened with a deafening groan. Jerry started the engine of his truck. The crowd stood silent as Jerry pulled out onto the road, his camper bouncing behind him along the bumpy surface.
Britney spun around and rushed for the house so no one would see her break.
“Britney,” a voice called from behind.
She sped up, in no mood to talk.
“It’s me, Eli,” the voice called out again. “I need to talk to you about something. It’s important.”
“Later!” Whatever he wanted to tell her could wait. She hurried up the porch steps and reached for the handle.
“Please, it’s about Nathaniel.”
Britney dropped her head. What could Eli possibly tell her that she didn’t already know? “Can’t it wait?”
“I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.” The cockiness in Eli’s voice grated on her nerves.
“Fine.” Britney dug her fingernails into her palms. “Give me an hour and I’ll meet you at your trailer.”
She slammed the door behind her, not waiting for a response. Her stomach flipped, and she ran upstairs and threw herself on the floor next to the bucket she had in the bathroom.
She dry-heaved until her abs ached.
What had she done?
***
“Did Eli say what he wanted to talk to you about?” Axel asked as they made their way toward the RV park.
Britney ignored the question, consumed by the way people averted their eyes as she passed. She figured people would be angry, but scared? The fear in their eyes hurt her more than she ever imagined it would.
“Hey,” Axel touched her arm, “you okay?’
“Fine.” Britney brushed her pain aside. “Back to Eli. He didn’t say much, just that he wanted to talk about Nathaniel.”
“I didn’t realize they were close.”
Britney scrunched her nose. “They weren’t. Nathaniel never warmed up to Eli. Pretty sure they didn’t work together either. He showed Mia around while Juliet hung out with Eli.”
Axel took Britney’s arm and guided her behind a nearby tree. “Do you really think we can trust anything Eli has to say?”
The same thought had crossed Britney’s mind. “I don’t know, but if he has some insight on what Nathaniel was doing when he got bitten, then it’s worth a listen.”
“Listening, yes.” Axel ran a hand through his hair. “Jumping to conclusions, no.”
“I swear I won’t jump to any conclusions without some sort of concrete proof.” Britney checked her watch. “Let’s get this over with. It’s already been an exhausting day, and it’s barely noon.”
Axel draped an arm over her shoulder. “Yes, it has.”
Britney chewed on her bottom lip as they walked in silence. “I wanted to ask you something, now that we’re alone.”
Axel cocked an eyebrow. “Should I be worried?”
A small smile tugged at her lips even though her insides were in knots. “Are you mad at me about how I handled the Jerry situation?”
He didn’t answer right away, which made her feel worse, she but kept her mouth shut and waited for him to reply.
“Mad? No. I just wish you would have talked to me about it first.”
“I was so angry when Jerry refused the exam, the words came flyin’ out before I had time to think. I regretted it as soon as I said it, but it was too late.”
Axel kissed the top her head. “I know.”
“I never imagined he would take it this far. I swear, I thought he would cave.”
They stopped in front of the twins’ camper and faced each other.
“You can’t second guess yourself.” Axel’s eyes drifted to a group of people hanging out across the way.
Britney noticed how their eyes followed her; their care-free conversation changed to hushed whispers. “They’re scared of me.”
“Give them time.”
“They hate me. I’m not sure any amount of time will change that.”
The camper door opened, and Eli poked his head out. “I thought I heard voices. Come on in. Mia and I have been waiting for you.”
If it bothered him that Axel tagged along, it didn’t show.
They followed him inside and scooted into the bench seating across from Mia.
“Hi.” Britney feigned a smile. “I didn’t realize you had something to tell us about Nathaniel, too.”
Mia shook her head. “No. I’m just here for Eli.”
“My sister’s the best.” Eli settled into the seat beside Mia. “Always here to support me.”
Britney tapped her foot under the table, ready to get past the small talk. “That’s nice.”
Eli grinned. “Thanks for making the time to meet with me. I know how busy you are with all the Jerry nonsense going on.”
She had no desire to talk about Jerry, with anyone, especially Eli. “Yes, so if you don’t mind, let’s make this quick. What did you need to tell me about Nathaniel?”
“Tell them, Eli,” Mia pressed.
“A week ago, Nathaniel and I were cleaning out the stalls when he asked if I wanted to see something cool.”
Britney narrowed her eyes. “Somethin’ cool?”
“I know, I know.” Eli drummed his hands on the table. “I was just as surprised
as you are.”
“What did he want to show you?” Britney asked with as much patience as she could muster.
Eli shrugged. “Wouldn’t say. Said he had to show me. And that we needed to go beyond the fence to get there.”
“What?” Britney’s fingers flew to her mouth. “Are you kiddin’?”
“Wish I was.”
Britney closed her eyes and took a few calming breaths. “How was he plannin’ on gettin’ past the gate?”
“Not the gate.” Eli cracked his knuckles. “Said he found a break in the fence that he used to sneak out.”
Britney wanted nothing more than to accuse him of lying but couldn’t bring herself to do so.
“Did he tell you where the break in the fence is?” Axel asked. “Because we check the fence several times a week.”
“Tell them,” Mia patted his hand, “it’ll be okay.”
Eli slumped his shoulders. “He actually took me to the spot he used to get out.”
“You left the farm with him?” Britney couldn’t believe he didn’t think to tell her this before. “Why didn’t you say somethin’?”
“I didn’t leave.” Eli strummed his fingers on the table. “He was just starting to come around. I didn’t want to betray his trust.”
“Where did he take you?” Axel asked.
“I’ll show you.”
Britney stood. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”
“Oh.” Axel scooted off the bench. “Um, I guess that works.”
“Eli,” Britney snapped her fingers as she headed for the door, “chop, chop.”
“Yeah, sure.” He eyed Mia. “You coming?”
“No,” Britney answered for her, “she has chores to do and since she’s never been to this spot before...right?”
“Uh, no,” Mia stuttered. “I’ve never been there.”
“Then, there’s no reason for you to tag along. I’m sure, with Nathaniel gone, Juliet and Diego need your help in the barns. Hurry up.”
“Okay.” Mia squeezed Eli’s arm as she passed. “You did the right thing.”
Britney waited for Mia to leave before waving Eli on. “After you.”
Eli hesitated.
Axel crossed his arms over his chest. “Is there a problem?”
“Nope.” Eli headed outside.
Axel held Britney back before she followed him out. “Wait a second. Eli, we’ll be right behind you.”
Britney frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you really buying all this?”
She thought on it for a second. “I’m not sure. That’s why we need Eli to take us to this opening. So I can see it with my own eyes.”
“Just because there’s an opening doesn’t mean that Nathaniel used it. Even if he did, where was he going? What was he doing?”
Britney threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know! But we’re not goin’ to find out standin’ around here talkin’ about it!”
Axel cupped her cheeks. “We’re going to check it out. I just thought that maybe we should have some sort of a plan. We barely know this kid.”
“We have him lead us to the opening, and we go it alone from there.”
“I don’t like it.” Axel removed his gun from the holster and gave it a quick once over. “We need to be on guard. When’s the last time you checked your weapon?”
Britney patted her sidearm. “Every morning. Can we go now?”
Axel swept his arm toward the door. “After you.”
Eli waited for them just outside the door, kicking rocks, his hands jammed in his pockets.
He gazed up at them as they emerged, a strange look in his eyes Britney couldn’t place. “Everything okay?”
“Yep.” Eli blinked his eyes a couple of times and shot them the cocky smile he always wore. “Right this way.”
People stared as they passed, but Britney didn’t give them a second thought. The truth about Nathaniel’s death was the only thing that mattered in this moment. The truth and how to prevent this from ever happening again.
Eli led them through the farm, past the communal baths and portable toilets, out toward the back left corner.
They came up to the fence line and stopped at a spot Britney knew all too well. “Are you sure this is the place?”
“Yep!” Eli said with full confidence. “Why?”
“Sloan and I used to play out here when we were kids.”
Axel grasped the wire fence and scanned the tree line. “You used to play in the forest alone?”
“The land behind us belonged to a family friend who had three kids, two our age and a teenager, who used to babysit us. We would meet them out here to play.”
“How did you get past the fence?” Eli asked.
“John and I had this fence installed. Before that, my father had a cedar-post fence around the property. Strong enough to keep the cattle in but easy enough for a couple of kids to crawl under.”
Axel squinted his eyes. “What’s back there?”
Before Britney answered, she wanted to find out if Eli knew anything. “What did Nathaniel tell you about this place?”
“Not much.” Eli made his way to the corner post and pushed against the fencing. The wire gave way, revealing an opening barely wide enough for a child to fit through.
“Nathaniel was sneaking out through there?” Britney asked.
Eli released the fence. “That’s what he told me.”
“Told you?” Axel narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t go outside the farm with him?”
“I told you I didn’t.” Eli grasped his chest, which was a bit dramatic. “That would be breaking the rules.”
Britney made a conscious effort not to roll her eyes. “So, you don’t know what he was doing out there?”
“Nope.” Eli’s line of sight drifted past the fence. “When I refused to follow him, he got angry and wouldn’t tell me anything else.”
Britney didn’t press the issue but wasn’t sure she believed his story. “Why don’t you head back and help the others in the barns?”
Eli rocked on his heels. “You sure you don’t want me to stay?”
“No,” Britney and Axel said simultaneously.
“All right.” Eli stuck his hands in his pockets but didn’t make any attempts to leave.
“Was there something else you needed to tell us?” Britney didn’t get why he was still there.
“Oh,” Eli cocked his head, “you’re going to check things out right now?”
Axel turned his back to Eli and gritted his teeth, his patience obviously slipping.
Britney tapped her foot. “Yes, we’re going to check things out now. Then, we’re going to have someone come fix the fence. I don’t know how long it’s been this way, but it’s not safe.”
“You’re absolutely right!” Eli clapped his hand together.
Britney glared at him. “You knew about this and didn’t tell us. I don’t understand why you’re so eager to help now.”
Eli’s cocky smile faded. “Um, yeah, I screwed up. I should have said something. But you know Nathaniel and I didn’t get off to the best start, and I really wanted him to like me. If I told you his secret, he would have hated me even more than he already did.”
Britney waved him off. She refused to hear any more his excuses. “What’s done is done. Just get back to work, and don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”
“Sure, sure. It’ll be our little secret.”
Axel whirled around. “This isn’t a secret. We won’t be keeping this from the town. After we speak with the Council, we’ll inform everyone on what we found. Right now, we need you to keep your mouth shut. Last thing we need are more outlandish rumors floating around.”
Eli pretended to lock his lips. “You have my word. I won’t tell a soul.”
“Thanks,” Axel muttered. “Now, head back to the barn and get your chores done like Britney asked you to do.”
“On my way.” Eli rotated around on his heels and headed back to the homestead as i
f he didn’t have a care in the world.
“You know,” Axel sighed, “I really don’t like that kid. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something about him that grates on my nerves.”
Britney chuckled. “I thought you were going to lose it for a second there and go off on him.”
“I was close. I didn’t want him to think we’re teaming up with him on this and keeping it from everyone.”
“Exactly. He’s arrogant enough as it is.” Britney crouched down to examine the fence. “How long do you think it’s been like this? And how did no one notice if they’re supposed to be checking the fence?”
“Even if they rode by every day, I’m not sure they would have noticed the problem. Whoever cut this knew what they were doing.” Axel ran his fingers along the back of the corner post. “They cut it so when closed, it would be difficult to see from the inside.”
“You think Nathaniel could have done this?” Britney examined the workmanship closer. “He was a smart kid and all, but this took some planning. And the ability to be sneaky, which I never thought him to be.”
“I’m not sure.” Axel held the fence closed and tried to stick his hand through the diamond-shaped holes. “Not sure how this could have even been cut from the inside. Unless he had really tiny hands.”
“I never noticed. Do you think we can squeeze through?”
Axel pushed on the loose fence. “You probably can. Not sure if I’ll be able to.”
“I’ll go first and hold it open for you.”
Axel clicked his tongue. “Do you think we need to go out there? He’s dead. Why does it matter why he was leaving the farm?”
“It matters to me.” Britney wiggled through the small opening, catching her sleeve on a sharp edge. “A little help.”
Axel sighed, freeing her hooked clothing. “Guess that answers that.”
“You can stay here if you want.” Britney dropped to the ground, landing on her butt. “That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The fence has a lot of give.”
“Wonderful.” Axel got down on his knees. “You going to hold the fence for me?”
Britney covered her mouth to keep from laughing at the rugged, tattooed man crawling toward her. “You might want to duck down a little bit more or you’re going to catch your hair.”
