Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 78227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Brittany slices the potatoes and fries them in a cast-iron skillet with some butter and olive oil. She adds salt and pepper.
“These will take a while,” she says.
“Fine by me. You said you’re not hungry anyway.”
“I mean, you may want to wait to start the burgers.”
I nod. She’s right. I turn the heat off the burgers.
She also retrieved a can of corn.
“Anything for dessert?” I ask.
“There are some apples in the pantry.”
“Perfect. Aunt Marj once showed me how to make a really quick microwave apple crisp using only apples, brown sugar, and oatmeal. It will come in handy right now. Do you have cinnamon?”
“I don’t know. If we do, it would be in the pantry.”
I check the pantry once more. No cinnamon, but some whole cloves. I could throw them in for flavoring, but how would I get them out? Brown sugar will be the only flavoring, then. Suits me.
I get to work slicing and peeling apples, while Brittany watches the potatoes.
The idea of staying in this home all night, taking turns with my father keeping watch, really sucks.
I hate it. I hate it because I should be home, helping Rory through this difficult time with her father. I was going to have their house professionally cleaned and stock their kitchen as a surprise. And now? I’m stuck here in Wyoming dealing with Doc and Brittany and God knows what else.
How did we come to this?
I suppose it doesn’t matter. Doc Sheraton—and whoever he works for—has been using our property to move bodies.
Somehow, Dad and I are going to have to prove we knew nothing about it.
And the thing that scares me the most?
I’m not sure we can prove that.
I’m not sure of anything anymore.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
RORY
Early to rise.
I chuckle softly. Compared to the time Brock gets up every day, it isn’t early at all.
He never called me back.
Which has me worried, of course.
He said he’d call when he could, but I did get a text from him around midnight. It woke me up.
Still can’t call, but everything’s fine. I love you.
I texted him I love you back, and then I tried to get back to sleep without worrying.
It didn’t work very well.
Who does he think he’s fooling? If he can’t call, then everything is definitely not all right.
So here I am, up, having gotten very little sleep and ready to go on the road with Jesse and the band.
I meet Jesse in the kitchen, and he’s already got a pot of coffee brewed.
“Hey,” I tell him. “I think I’ll take my own car.”
“Not necessary,” he says. “I’m driving, so you can just ride with me. The rest of the guys will go in the van.”
“Sounds good.”
Perfect. I prefer not to drive when I don’t know exactly where I’m going. I’ll leave that to Jesse. Plus his car will be much more comfortable than a van filled with equipment in the back and only four actual seats. Being squeezed between Dragon and Jake Michaels for four hours in the back seat doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.
“Have you checked in with Mom this morning?” I ask.
He nods. “Just got off the phone with her. Dad is doing really well.”
“Thank God.” Some weight lifts off my shoulders.
But not all.
I’m still worried about Brock.
“Do we have time for breakfast?” I ask.
“Yeah. What do you want?”
“You’re going to make breakfast?”
“Sure. You seem to think I’m a worse cook than Callie. I’m going to prove you wrong.”
Callie walks in then. “I heard that.”
“What are you doing up so early?” I ask her.
“I want to see my sister and brother off, of course.”
“It’s Saturday morning,” I say. “You can sleep in today.”
“I’ll go back to bed after you’re gone,” she says. “Donny’s still asleep.”
Jesse goes slightly rigid.
“Hey,” I tell him. “You promised…”
“I can let my high school rivalry go,” my brother says, “but that doesn’t mean I like the idea of him in bed with my sister.”
“They’re going to get married,” I say.
“Whatever… I’ll believe it when I see her walk down the aisle.”
“Hey.” Callie waves her engagement ring in Jesse’s face. “It will happen. We haven’t set a date yet because of all the other stuff going on.”
“The Pat Lamone stuff?” Jesse shakes his head. “I’m happy to take care of that for you, sis.”
Callie doesn’t reply.
She’s talking about the stuff going on with Donny’s family, of course, and Jesse doesn’t know about that.
“You want some breakfast, Cal?” Jesse asks.
“Sure. Maybe a slice of toast or something.”
Jesse nods and throws a few slices of bread in the toaster. Then he starts cracking eggs into a cast-iron skillet.
“Do we have bacon?” I ask.
“Looks like we’re out,” Jesse says. “Cal, you’re going to have to go to the grocery store.”
“Donny and I can go later today.”
Jesse’s neck twitches at the mention of Donny’s name again.
But at least he keeps his mouth shut this time.