Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Matthew’s face as he looked at Silas was filled with pure love.
“Silas’ soulmate should have fallen in love with him long ago, but she hasn’t. She’s too consumed with her family to give herself the chance to get to know Silas and fall in love.”
“The woman at the orchard.” Alanna surmised.
Silas gave her pained smile of acknowledgement.
“At least this time, you helped me on the mountain.”
“When we got Fynn off the bus and he told me what was going to happen here, I knew we wouldn’t make it in time, that there were three of them. I reached out to Tate. If I hadn’t, you would have been dead before Matthew could have reached you.”
Alanna squeezed her eyes shut, understanding the pained expression on his face. He wouldn’t be getting his soul mate anytime soon.
Opening her eyes, she looked toward Moses, whose lips quirked in amusement.
“My gift is nothing special. I can communicate with animals.”
Alanna rolled her eyes at him describing his gift as nothing special. The dogs lying by his feet might look gentle now, but minutes before, they had looked like the hounds from hell.
“What are Jacob’s and Jody’s gifts?”
“I think that’s enough revelations for one night.”
“You know what, you’re right.” She stared at the males around her. “Are you sure I’m not going to wake in the morning and find this is all a dream?”
Isaac gave her a twisted smile. “At least you didn’t say nightmare.”
Turning her head, she looked toward the direction where Elizabeth was lying out of sight. She started to cry. “Elizabeth was going to kill me.”
“Ezra and Fynn both knew something was going to happen today. Because the wreck involved Fynn, he wasn’t allowed to see what it was,” Matthew explained.
“Can you call and see how Fynn and Diamond are?”
“Fynn has been released with a broken arm and a temporary cast. He’s on his way with Jody and Jacob. They’re still stuck in the traffic.”
She started crying harder. “That little girl is dead because Kate and Owen wanted me dead.”
“Elizabeth is just as culpable. She had to have known the accident was planned. She used the opportunity to slit the deputy’s throat when he was stopped in the traffic.”
“He’s dead, too?”
“Yes,” Silas confirmed. “Diamond would have died, too, if we hadn’t seen where the deputy must have pulled over when Elizabeth threatened Diamond with a knife in the back seat.”
“Will they finally arrest Kate?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Matthew answered, gingerly scooting over to sit next to her. “I guess, if the sheriff can prove she was in on the plan.”
“She was the one who planned it. I’m sure, Matthew. Owen wouldn’t tie his shoes without Kate’s permission.”
“I’ll talk to Knox once he knows Diamond is okay.”
None of them were safe until Kate was where she deserved to be. She should leave …
“She won’t go unpunished,” Matthew promised her. “But making yourself a target to keep us safe isn’t going to happen.”
“How did you know what I was thinking?” She narrowed her eyes on him. “Are any of you mind readers?”
Matthew grinned. “Not yet, but we won’t know until my brothers start having children.”
Morosely, she wiped the tears she had shed for Elizabeth from her cheeks. “You won’t …”
Matthew gave her a tender smile. “You’re my soul mate, Alanna. I love you. Besides”—he grew teasing—“all of my brothers have promised me their firstborn child.”
His brothers’ mouths flew open at his outlandish claim.
“We told you,” Isaac reminded him, “that you can be the first to hold them.”
Silas tilted his head to the side, as if he could hear something no one else could. “Moses, Isaac, come with me. Tate and Dustin are about to come home.”
Alanna swallowed hard. “Don’t burn her like you did Owen.”
Silas gave her a gentle look. “We weren’t going to. There’s a cemetery where our family is buried. I thought we would bury her there. I’ll make her a nice box.”
Alanna held the tears for Elizabeth at bay. Her mind went to the mother whose arms would be empty tonight because of Elizabeth’s actions instead. If Elizabeth had been aware of the plan, then Silas was right—she was just as culpable.
Matthew helped her to stand then led her into Silas’ house. Sitting her at the table, he went to the kitchen and returned with a plate of rice from the Crock-Pot meal she had made for Silas.
“I can’t eat.” She started to push the small plate away.
“I just gave you some rice. Just take a few bites to settle your stomach.”
Picking up the spoon he had brought her, she managed to take a couple of bites then placed the spoon back down. He was right; the rice had gotten the awful taste out of her mouth. However, when she realized it was Owen’s smoking body she was breathing in, her stomach rolled.