Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“You’re going to cause a stir,” I stated, wondering what was going on down there.
“I always do,” Jasher replied, the first words he’d spoken in forever. After telling me our destination, he’d clammed up.
As promised, we had reached our destination before dark. Just barely, but there was still enough light to read the signs staked along the road. Most said:
Others boasted:
LEONA FOR MAYOR!
Only, on every placard, someone had added the word DON’T before “Vote” and painted a strike through the name, replacing it with LIAR or CHEATER.
Other signs read:
VISITORS PAST 10 9 8 O’CLOCK WILL BE SHOT!
“Is it eight?” I asked. Since my arrival in Hakeldama, I’d entertained little awareness of the time.
“Several minutes past.”
Dang. “Are we camping on the hill and hitting the town in the morning then?” That must be the reason we hadn’t made our way down.
“I’m not a visitor but an invited guest. I pass through often.”
Excellent news. “So what’s the hold up?” I double checked the safety of the plan via my new telltale alert. No burn in my finger, so no danger. Thank goodness! I longed for a good meal along with that bath we agreed I needed and a soft bed. A notepad and pencil, too. Basically any comfort of home.
“We must first discuss our sleeping arrangement.”
But I’d assumed… “Considering I have no silvers, I’ll need to bunk with you.” If nothing else, I trusted him to behave.
“I’ll pay for you to have a room of your own.”
Such generosity. The affection I’d experienced for him flourished anew, as sweet as honey. “I appreciate that, Jasher. Truly.”
“You’ll pay me back, of course,” he added. “With interest.”
Wariness pulled an invisible rug out from under my feet. Okay, this was more expected. He could have premeditated an unnecessary trip to town to get me indebted to him.
Oh, I didn’t believe he had designs on my body. Though, yes, we’d shared a couple electric moments. But. This was Jasher. The Tinman in the flesh. He wouldn’t know an emotion if it slapped his butt with butter and called him a biscuit.
I studied his expressionless profile. “What’s your interest rate?” No way I would walk into an agreement without all the facts. Not again. “For that matter, what do you expect as payment?” I’d already agreed to give him the compass.
“I expect information and honesty. I’ll ask questions, and you’ll answer without delay.”
Okay. All right. That, I could do. Mostly. “What happens if the inn has only one room? Can we agree you’ll answer my questions too?”
“They’ll have two rooms. They always do.”
“Uh, I think you just guaranteed they’ll only have one.” That was how it worked in books and movies. Well, if we were part of a rom-com. Which we weren’t. More like a horror movie or disaster film. Still! There’d be only one room; I’d put good money on it. Well, not my money, considering I had none, but definitely Jasher’s.
“That makes no sense,” he scoffed. “They’ll either have two rooms or they won’t, and nothing I’ve said can change that fact.”
“But if I’m right and there’s only one room, you will answer my questions.” Silence met my request/command. “Imma need you to verbalize your agreement, Jashy bear.”
“Fine,” he huffed, then descended the hill at last. He called, “Jashy bear?”
A puff of air parted my lips. Victory! With Nugget tucked safe and warm against me, I followed my guide. “Because you just get sweeter.”
“I am not sweet,” he said with a growl, waking Nugget.
The rabdog didn’t get protective, as usual, but squirmed for freedom, which I gave him. Jasher sighed and paused, waiting with me as my fur baby found the perfect spot to do his business.
“Good boy,” I praised upon his return. He sat at my feet, adoration glittering in his dark eyes. Wagging his tail, he licked his chompers. “Is my perfect sweetie hungry?”
“Your perfect sweetie is always hungry,” Jasher mumbled.
I stretched out a hand, “requesting” food.
With a weightier sigh, he dug into the pack and withdrew a large chunk of dried meat. As usual, he passed it to me not the rabdog. I crouched intending to tear it into manageable bits, but he snatched it. Huh. My brow furrowed as I watched him chow down with those long, sharp teeth. Guess he didn’t need my help anymore. But, uh, had he grown a few inches in the minutes he’d been awake? He looked bigger than he had before I’d placed him on the grass.
“Let’s go,” my Tinman commanded, setting off again.
I gathered Nugget, who propped his chin on my shoulder and pressed his belly to my chest before promptly falling back to sleep. Maybe he’d grown, maybe he hadn’t, but either way my love for him deepened. He trusted me with his wellbeing, and I would do everything in my power to give him the best life.