Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72790 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72790 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
The warm look in his eyes was unmistakable. He meant with me. With us. I felt something warm blossom inside me. It was hope.
Maybe… just maybe… Lucky would forgive me for my bargain with God.
Maybe this could work out after all.
Chapter 25
Lucky
“Look! I found one!”
Jacey was pointing up at a tree about ten feet away. I squinted through the pair of binoculars she handed me. There was a tiny nest high above. After a minute I saw a few baby birds peeking their heads up just above the edge of the nest.
“Good eye, Jacey!” I gave her back the binoculars. “You would make one hell of a Marine.”
She gave me a cheeky salute and ran down the path looking for more birds’ nests. It was that perfect time in the spring where nature herself was telling the world to couple up and procreate.
I was getting that message loud and clear. In my case, my mate already had a chick. I just had to find us a nest and keep them both safe.
I smiled at Angel and took her hand.
I had ideas about that myself. But it wasn’t just Mother Nature. It was her… the sunlight broke through the trees to illuminate my Angel’s shiny hair… the soft peachiness of her skin… the deep color of her eyes.
How could I not love this woman?
I nearly said it out loud. Those three little words. How she made me feel. How beautiful she was. Or even how deeply I cared. But I didn’t.
My Angel was skittish today. I think she knew that she would end up in my bed tonight or soon thereafter. It seemed inevitable.
But I wasn’t going to push. Especially not after what she’d been through. I was going to leave the door open and let her come to me. Whenever she was ready. It didn’t matter how long it took, though the animal in me was hoping it wouldn’t take too long.
We came to a rock outcropping overlooking the lake. We were high on a cliff up here, and the view was spectacular. But not so high that you were terrified of falling off. A path led to a sandy beach about a dozen feet below where Jacey was attempting to skip rocks.
“Is this land all his?”
I nodded.
“His grandad bought it for a song in the 1930s. Beautiful, isn’t it?”
She nodded wistfully.
“It’s perfect. No pollution. No smoke. No neighbors.”
“Don’t you like people?” I teased.
“I do. I mean, I guess I’ve been disappointed by people a lot. But it’s more about the air. Most people use detergents and paints and perfumes and body wash that just pollute everything. They are even scenting paper towels and garbage bags now. It’s dangerous, and not just for kids like Jacey.”
I nodded. I’d done some research on my phone last night while she slept. I’d stayed up for hours just watching her and trying to educate myself. Apparently there were toxic VOCs in just about everything big corporations put out these days. The revivalist homesteaders might have the right idea.
“That’s why you use borax and vinegar to wash stuff?”
“Yes. And… I know it all sounds high-maintenance and silly but–”
I stopped her.
“No. It’s not silly or high-maintenance. Most people don’t think about it because they’ve never had asthma or trouble breathing. I’m sure they would only need to see their kids gasp for air once and they would all get on board.”
“Right. I know you are right.”
“I read about chemical sensitivity. There are people who can’t even walk past the detergent aisle without having an attack.”
She nodded.
“I know. I guess you could lump them all in together. People with asthma, allergies, COPD, cystic fibrosis and chemical sensitivity. It’s bad for all of them. And it’s everywhere.”
“We’ll find a safe place. I promise.”
She looked around and sighed.
“This is just about perfect.”
“We can stay here as long as we need to.”
“But if we have to run…”
“We’ll figure it out. Dev is going to go talk to them.”
“He is?” Her beautiful eyes widened. “I don’t want him to get hurt on my account.”
“He won’t get hurt.” I brushed her hair away from her face. “But you are sweet for worrying about him.”
She’d never even met Dev and she was worried. That’s how caring she was. I felt a lump rise in my throat. Those three little words again. But I didn’t say them.
Instead I gave her a quick kiss and pulled her down the path.
“Come on, I need to show this kid how to skip stones.”
Chapter 26
Kirsten
I held a cold beer in my hand, watching Jacey run around the deck. She had more energy than usual. I wondered if it was the clean air or the excitement.
Either way, in just one day she seemed to be thriving.
Of course, she doesn’t know she has a murderer for a mother.
I closed my eyes, willing the images away. But it was no good. I saw Sal’s eyes as he realized what I’d done. The moment he understood that he was dying. He wasn’t angry or even scared. He was just… surprised. Shocked as hell at his own death.