Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 140795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Walking down the hallway, he felt as if he were walking his last mile. The eerie feeling persisted even as he reached the front door and opened it.
There was barely enough room to close the door when he and Ginny walked through. All her brothers were waiting outside.
“They all wanted to say good-bye,” Silas told him, going down the steps to make more room on the porch.
“Bye.” The youngest waved at him, remaining by Isaac’s side.
“Bye,” Reaper told him, taking the hand Isaac held out to him.
“Take care.”
“I will.” Reaper moved the side to take Matthew’s hand.
“Stop by whenever you want to visit. I’ll teach you how to work the forge.”
“It’s too hot in there for me.” He wouldn’t be coming back. Reaper planned to stay away from the Colemans as much as he could.
“You get used to the heat,” Matthew said, as he moved to talk to Jody and Jacob.
That’s good to know, Reaper thought, since he would be spending an eternity there.
“Don’t be a stranger. Ginny is going to miss you.” Jacob’s gaze caught his. “Jody and I could use an extra hand to set up fences, if you want to try something new, or even if you get bored for a day.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Reaper moved away from them, going to the end of the porch where Moses and Ezra were standing. I just have to get past four more and I can go, Reaper told himself.
Moses gave him a nod. “I didn’t bring Suki to say good-bye to you. I didn’t want her running after the car.”
Reaper nodded back, locking his heart at the emotions at not being able to see the dog for the last time.
“Stop by and see her sometime,” Moses encouraged.
“Will you be keeping her?” Reaper asked, despite telling himself not to.
“No, she’ll be going to a new home once I finish training her.”
“Will she be going to a good home?”
“She wouldn’t be going if it weren’t. Don’t worry, Suki will be in good hands.”
Reaper turned toward Ezra.
“Don’t know if Ginny told you or not, but I have a bike. Anytime you want company to ride, give me a call.”
Acknowledging the offer with a brief smile, Reaper went down the steps.
“You have my number; use it sometime. I’m up to lend an ear or just to shoot the breeze.” Silas’s expression went from friendly to serious. “You need anything, just let us know. We’re pretty well stocked, and we don’t mind lending a helping hand. All you have to do is ask.”
Reaper had to add another lock to his heart at saying good-bye to Silas. Ginny’s brother was like Viper, yet there were differences between the two men. Both inspired confidence and had experience. The differences were harder to explain. Even as a boy his brother was closed-off because of their military upbringing. They were supposed to take hard hits and not whine when things didn’t go their way. Viper wasn’t as strict as their father, but it was difficult to talk to him, especially after their mother left. Viper’s way of making himself feel better about the situation was to keep busy.
Silas was more down to earth. He had a feeling, with such a large family, that Silas had seen and heard it all. In the days of his long stay with them, Silas had made time for all of them. He had breakfast most mornings with Moses. Then he did the chores around the mountain before going to help Fynn with his online schoolwork. After eating lunch with both Fynn and Ezra, Silas helped Jody and Jacob load their truck with what they needed for the next day’s jobs. Before dinner, he stopped to see Matthew and Isaac and see what they had done for the day or what they were working on.
Ginny had said Silas wasn’t her stalker, and Reaper freely admitted that she was right. The mountain wasn’t what was important to him; his family was. They were his whole world.
Stepping to the side to say good-bye to Ginny was one of the most difficult things he had to do in his lifetime. Unable to look into her eyes, he kept his on the SUV that Viper was in. “I asked Matthew to switch out that back door in the room I slept in. It’s too flimsy.” Reaper felt as if he was talking through glass—each shred cutting him to the quick.
“Matt told me. He and Isaac are putting it in after dinner.”
“Good. Make sure you check in with Viper if you see anything suspicious or someone contacts you.”
“Why call Viper when I can call you?”
“I don’t plan to stay in Treepoint.”
He didn’t turn his head at the small sound Ginny made.
“Viper’s waiting. Good-bye.”
“Gavin ….”
Walking away, he pretended not to have heard her, slamming another lock on his heart.