“Me too. And just for the record, I think you’re special too.”
For a moment, Alexander looked sad. Ellie didn’t know how to react, so she didn’t say anything. By the time she opened a stall door and led a palomino horse from the stable, his expression was neutral again.
“Easy, Buttercup.” Ellie saddled Buttercup and hitched the lead rope to a post outside before returning to bridle a black gelding for Alexander.
Alexander kept his distance as he followed her outside the barn. “You come here by yourself? Aren’t you afraid you might have an accident when you’re out here alone?”
“I’m braver than I look. Besides, I was raised around horses, if you remember.” She unhitched Buttercup and climbed into the saddle to demonstrate. “Keep your feet in the stirrups and your hands on the reins.”
Alexander approached his horse, which was about as far as he got. At the sight of him, the horse started kicking and pulling away from the post.
“Whoa. Steady.” When Alexander seized the horse by the saddle and attempted to swing himself up, the gelding went crazy, kicking and bucking until he found himself on the ground.
Buttercup took one look at Alexander and reared up as if she’d seen a snake. Ellie tried to hold on, but she fell out of the saddle and her foot caught in the stirrup. She managed to free herself before Buttercup accidently stomped on her.
“Are you OK?” Alexander sprinted to her side.
Ellie sat up and looked herself over. “I think so. What about you? That was a nasty fall. Are you hurt?”
He stretched out his hand to help her up. “Only my pride. Sorry to be the one to cause your first accident.”
Ellie felt a sharp pain when she tried to stand. “Ouch! I think I twisted my ankle.”
“I’ve got you.” Before Ellie could protest, Alexander lifted her close and carried her.
“How gallant.” Ellie knew she was small, but Alexander carried her as if she were weightless. He was even stronger than he looked.
“Should I put the horses up?”
“We should take off their saddles. Bob will put them out to pasture when he gets here. As long as these two have water and grass, they’ll be OK. They aren’t going to jump the fence or anything.”
“Good.” He looked down at her. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt more seriously.”
Ellie felt her face growing hot. They were so close together. “You too. I don’t know what got into those horses. It was like they were frightened of you.”
“I can’t imagine why. I’m harmless as a kitten.” They reached the trail’s end. “Do you want me to go inside and look for an icepack?”
Ellie shook her head. “I don’t think it’s hurt that seriously. You can put me down.” Alexander helped her stand, and Ellie practiced shifting her weight. Not bad. “Let’s take a walk. I need to put some weight on it.”
Together, they strolled across the field.
“Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?”
“I’ve got work later, but I have enough time for a short walk. My boss isn’t exactly the sympathetic type, and I’ll probably be doing a lot of standing.” Ellie looked around. “I’ve always liked it out here, so far from town. Mrs. Wells is the only person around here for miles.”
“I like it here. The wild is where I belong.”
The thought jogged her memories of Jack Taylor’s farm. “Be careful if you’re planning on hiking anytime soon.”
Alexander’s brow furrowed. “Why is that?”
“Local livestock have been disappearing. Yesterday we found a cow completely ripped to shreds. The deputy thinks there’s a predator on the loose—something big.”
“Really? Has anyone seen it?”
Ellie thought again of the word on Jack Taylor’s lips. Monster.
“Just a farmer. He was too frightened to talk to us yesterday. Maybe Deputy Simmons has coaxed him out of it since then.” She shuddered. “It was all so creepy. The cow, the tracks, Mr. Taylor—all of it.”
“Don’t worry. It was probably just a coyote or something.”
“I’m not sure what it was. Even Dad couldn’t identify the footprint we found.” A dirt path appeared a quarter mile from the cottage. “Maybe we should turn back. You should take it easy on that ankle.”
“I feel fine. I’ve never been this way before, and I want to see where it leads.” They walked farther along the trail. A hidden mansion, partially shielded by the forest, loomed in the distance. The house had a Gothic appearance to it, and despite its considerable age, Ellie could tell the house was once a thing of beauty. “This must be Dead House. I’ve heard of this place, but I’ve never seen it with my own eyes.”
“I’d keep my distance if I were you.” The sight of the house seemed to make Alexander uncomfortable. “It could be dangerous. Who knows how long it’s been sitting there abandoned?”
“Maybe you’re right.” Ellie glanced at the time on her phone. “It’s later than I thought. I need to get ready for work. We should head back.” The two returned to the road and walked side by side. “Maybe we can explore it together another time?”
“Maybe.” After a good distance, they reached the cottage. “How does your ankle feel?”
“Good as new. Thanks for carrying me earlier.” Ellie hesitated. “Alexander, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
He eyed her curiously. “Yes?”
“Would you like to join me on Friday for a hayride?”
“Hayride? In the middle of July? I thought hayrides normally happened in the fall.”
“It’s a local tradition. We go through the country on the back of a wagon, then stop off at Willie Tompkins’ farm for games, refreshments, and square-dancing.”
“Well, if there’s dancing… Count me in. It’s a date.”
It was the first time either of them used the word “date.” Although Ellie enjoyed spending time with Alexander, she wasn’t sure if he wanted to pursue something serious with her. She felt conflicted and confused at the idea, especially with college on the horizon. It was something she hadn’t felt before.
What’s the harm? “It’s a date.”
Chapter Eight
It was a quiet morning. Patrick Doyle stared at the farmland below. His eyes were red and watery from a night of drinking. Beside him, Jeremy uttered a yawn. Resisting the urge to knock his younger brother from the tree stand, Patrick searched the field with his shotgun’s scope.
Approximately twenty yards away, several turkeys wandered into the open. Soon it would be too late to act. Jeremy looked to Patrick, seeking advice, and he held up a hand.
Wait for it.
The dull pounding in the back of his head abated as adrenaline took over. His shotgun recoiled, and a blast reverberated across the sky. Bullseye. A second shot, this time from Jeremy, rang out, and the remaining turkeys scattered.
“Come on.” Patrick climbed from the tree stand and made his way across the field with his brother in tow. Both wore camouflage, and Patrick’s truck was parked a good distance away. “Look here.” A self-satisfied smile marked his face. He lifted the turkey and admired its beard. “What a trophy. That’s how you do it.”
Jeremy looked around for a second bird, but it was evident only Patrick had been successful. He thrust his hand in his pocket and handed Patrick a twenty-dollar bill. “You win.”
“Reckon you fired too late.”
“I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t told me to wait.” Jeremy spat. “Like you even need the money.”
“Shows how much you know. Things aren’t exactly great in the market right now. I’m having issues moving product.” Patrick’s confrontation with Matt Simmons had left a bad taste in his mouth.
“So you can’t sell drugs to kids. Big deal.”
Before Jeremy could react, Patrick grabbed his younger brother by the jacket collar and jerked back his hair. “You’ve never complained when you or your friends wanted my stuff before. Or when my sales helped pay f
or that new car of yours. You should show a little more respect. Or maybe you think you’re better than me now that you’re headed to college? Already forgetting where you came from?” He pulled on his brother’s hair more tightly. “Answer me, boy.”
“No.” Jeremy struggled against his grip.
Patrick released Jeremy.
“Sorry, Patrick.”
“Save it. Let’s get out of here before someone sees us.”
They made their way back across Ben Mahoney’s land with shotguns slung over their shoulders. It was Patrick’s favorite place to poach. Mahoney was one of the biggest landowners around, and it was common knowledge the best game in the county lived on his lands. Technically, neither brother had permission to be on Mahoney’s land. Nor was it turkey season, but the Doyle brothers possessed a shared disregard for the rules.
It was possible someone heard the shots, but they’d be gone long before anyone came snooping around. It didn’t take long for them to reach Patrick’s truck. Once inside, he fired up the engine and lit a cigarette.
“I’ve got a job for you.” He glanced at his brother as he eased the truck onto the road. “Don’t look at me like that. I know you’ve never been comfortable helping out with the business, but it pays good money.” Patrick narrowed his eyes at his brother to convey that his offer was not up for debate. “There was a big bust up in Dixon County three weeks ago, and three dealers got sent away. I have somebody there who wants to sell for me, but he needs some stuff.”
“What do you need me for? Why not go yourself?”
“Matt Simmons is watching me like a hawk, that’s why. Besides, you owe me, little brother.”
They passed over a bridge several miles from town. “Fine. When do you need me to go?”
“This weekend.”
“I can’t do it Friday. That’s the hayride. Ellie Sullivan and her friends are going to be there. It’s time I make my move.”
“Past time.” Patrick flicked his cigarette out the window. “I heard some stranger’s been moving in on her.”
“Chucky and Mike saw him with her at the park the other day. Sounds like the punk gave them some trouble.”
“You need me to take care of him for you?”
Jeremy cringed. “I remember what happened the last time you ‘took care of someone.’ No. I can do it on my own. If he shows up on Friday, I’ll teach him to mind his own business.”
“It’s about time you showed some backbone. Show Ellie Sullivan who’s in charge, and she won’t forget it.”
Jeremy grinned. “Maybe you’re right. I tried the gentle approach. It’s time for a change.”
Ellie held the barn door open for her father. “Do you know where Boomer is? I haven’t seen him for the last two days.” She glanced at his bowls, full of food and water. He hadn’t touched them.
Her father switched off the barn light and stepped outside. “Sorry. I’ve been so wrapped up with this predator issue that I’ve hardly paid attention to anything else. I’m sure Boomer is all right. It wouldn’t be the first time he wandered off.”
“Not like this.” Although Boomer often went off by himself, it was never for this long. That, coupled with his recent behavior, gave her cause for concern. What if he never came back?
Her father laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure he’ll turn up.”
Together they returned to the house and approached the kitchen, where
Ellie’s mother was adding chopped potatoes to a pot of boiling water. Ellie caught the smile her parents exchanged and suppressed an urge to groan. They had been together for twenty years and were still very much in love.
“How was work today?” her mother asked.
“Same old, same old. Have you seen Boomer?”
“I’m afraid not. I called for him outside the clinic earlier.”
Ellie sighed. “I really thought he’d show up by now. It was all I could think about at work. That, and how weird Sarah’s been acting.”
“What do you mean?”
“She was quiet for the first time ever.” Ellie was only half-joking.
“That doesn’t sound like Sarah to me. Would you mind setting the table for dinner?”
Ellie washed her hands in the sink and did as her mother asked. “Maybe it’s nothing. I bet she’s nervous about finding the right date to the hayride tomorrow night.” Maybe she wants to show up with a mystery date and upstage Alexander and me. Ellie still hadn’t told her parents she was dating Alexander. Keeping it from them felt wrong. She was used to sharing everything with them—and her mother in particular.
Her mother turned away from the pot and studied her carefully. “Is there something else that’s bothering you, Ellie?”
Ellie leaned against the counter. “You know me too well. Can you keep a secret?”
“My lips are sealed.” Her mother turned to face her, clearly interested.
“I’ve decided to go to UK.” Ellie waited for a reaction. She hadn’t been able to make up her mind until prodded by Alexander, who encouraged her to follow her heart. When she thought about it, Ellie realized she had known where she wanted to end up all along. Only financial worries held her back.
“That’s great!” Her mother clapped her on the back. “You’re such a smart girl, I’m sure you’ll do great in the big city.”
“You’re not worried about money?” Ellie had a small scholarship and some work money saved up, but it wasn’t enough to pay for four years of school.
“If you want to go to UK, we’ll make it work, sweetie. Your father and I have been in tough spots before, and we’ve always pulled through.”
“Really?”
“We were only married a little over two years before you came along. We were young and straight out of college. Your father worked hard to get into vet school, and he worried he would have to drop out once you were born.”
Ellie had only happy memories of her early childhood. She couldn’t recall anything about more serious financial straits. “How did you manage?”
“It was hard, but we were young and in love. When you were born, we’d never seen anything so perfect. We had enough to get by, which was all we needed. Money doesn’t matter so much when you’re with the people you love.”
Ellie returned to the stove and considered her mother’s words while stirring the potatoes. “How long did it take before you knew you were in love with Dad?”
Her mother grinned and offered a knowing look. “I thought there was a reason you’ve been spending so little time around here lately. When are we going to meet this mystery gentleman?”
Ellie laughed. “Answer the question.”
“Your father is the one you should ask. He always talks about how it was love at first sight for him. I took a little more wooing than that, though I was sure of my feelings soon enough.”
“You weren’t confused about it? You never doubted it?”
The oven beeped, and her mother removed a skillet with cornbread from the oven. “I was plenty confused. I was going through a rough time when I met your father. He was there for me, but there were some things in the past I had trouble letting go of.” A shadow crept over her face.
Ellie frowned. What did she mean by that? This was a new revelation.
As if noticing her unease, her mother made an effort to smile again. “Love isn’t always full of clarity, Ellie. Sometimes it needs time to grow.”
“What about when it feels like you’ve been struck by lightning?”
“Just remember, lightning can be dangerous. Now find your father for me, will you? It’s time to eat.”
“Thanks for the advice. And thanks again for keeping the secret about my college decision. I’m still trying to figure out how to tell Dad.”
“Don’t worry about your father. At the end of the day, he wants what’s best for you. We’re here for you, Ellie. We always have been, and we always will be.”
Sarah wiped sweat from her face. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” I should be ho
me, picking out my outfit for the hayride tomorrow night—not sneaking around with Winston Henderson. She cast a glance back at her companion. Winston looked like he was already out of breath after the short hike from her car.
Sarah regretted ever listening to his crazy theory in the first place. Although she couldn’t tell Ellie that Alexander wasn’t as he seemed without more evidence, she slowly found herself agreeing with Winston that something was off about him.
At first, Sarah discounted the discovery of the empty lot at Williams Road. It was possible Alexander simply wrote down the wrong address. She reasoned she wouldn’t want Winston knowing where she lived either. Then yesterday at work, she made multiple calls from her phone to the number Alexander had used on the form. No one answered.
Sarah somehow managed to broach the subject with Ellie, who explained that Alexander had lost his phone and needed a new one. It was still weird. Sarah could hardly go more than five minutes without using her phone to check social media. Even in a small town like Hazard, it wasn’t that hard to find a place to buy one. Why would Alexander wait so long to get a new phone?
He also had no social media presence. It didn’t exist. Sarah, who considered herself something of an expert on the subject, couldn’t find him anywhere she searched. That was unheard of. Moreover, after almost two weeks no one she’d talked to seemed to know Alexander or his father—and Sarah knew a lot of people.
There were too many questions. Apart, everything remained a series of strange coincidences. Together—well, Sarah wasn’t sure what it meant. But if Alexander Thorne wasn’t who he claimed to be, she planned on finding out.
Winston bent over to catch his breath. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Sarah ignored the question. If only Ellie could see me now. She wore a casual t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of rain boots with polka dots to protect her from ticks. A full bottle of insect repellent was at the ready inside her purse.
“Did you hear me?”
“Be quiet. You started all of this, and now you want to back out?” Sarah parted the grasses with her hands and saw the Wells farm across the road. “There he is.”
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