Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“How they can get any funnier, I don’t know.” Ember mused as she shifted her son to the couch and stood.
“Oh, the ones he likes the most say, “Release the Kraken.”
Coffee burned my nose as I snorted in amusement. Setting the cup down, I wiped my mouth with the sleeve of Sam’s sweatshirt that Cheyenne had let me borrow. Jack probably wouldn’t like it, but it’s not like I had many options in clothing choices when my room was a crime scene.
“How did you two meet?” I asked her, as I went to the kitchen and got a wet towel to clean my mess.
Blaine’s smile was wistful. “I met him my senior year of high school. I’d just gotten my driver’s license the week before, so I, of course, was out joy riding on the back roads. My truck was an old Chevy Silverado. That truck was my dream truck,” She paused for a sip of coffee and then continued. “Any who, I came around a curve and a ten point buck was standing in the curve of the road. Elliott was coming in the opposite direction, and there was nowhere for me to go but off the road. That or hit the deer. Either choice wouldn’t have ended well for me. I chose off the road.”
“So, Elliott came to your rescue?” I asked.
Justin started fishing down the inside of Blaine’s shirt and came out with her phone. Smiling in glee, he immediately shoved it in his mouth. Blaine pried it away gently and then laughed.
“You could say he saved me. My truck was wrapped around a tree, and I was stuck in the truck because my door wouldn’t budge. I was bound and determined to shoot the buck though. I’d at least have something to show for the mess I’d made of my truck. I also had a concussion, and I wasn’t thinking very straight. Elliott came to ask me if I was alright, but stopped when he saw me backing out of the truck window with a machete in my hand. From what he’s told me, I was going to kill the deer and mount his head on my truck.”
“Oh, that’s not all. The little devil actually made it about a four hundred meters or so before I decided she was serious. Then I had to go chase her down. That’s when I saw the big cut on the rear of her neck that was soaking the back of her t-shirt with blood. She asked me to stay with her as she passed out, and I haven’t left her since.” Elliott said from the doorway.
We all turned and saw Elliott leaning against the door jam. He was, at least, better dressed this time in worn blue jeans and a black sweatshirt. Black hat with his glasses resting on the bill. “Glad to see you covered up a little bit.”
He smiled in my direction, and I admired how hot he was.
“Well, that’s probably the last time, so I hope you enjoyed it.”
Oh, I’d enjoyed it all right. It was also why I was still holding it together so well. I’d needed that release of laughter and joy at the time when I’d just taken a man’s life. I hadn’t wanted to think about what I’d just done, and he had offered a great distraction.
I smiled at him, but didn’t agree or disagree.
A baby cried from the direction of the back of the house, and I saw Cheyenne look at her watch, and then back down at the eggs she was making. “You want me to go get her?” I asked Cheyenne as I entered the kitchen.
“Would you please? I’m almost done. She’s going to need her diaper changed. She has the bladder of an adult male, and pisses like one too.”
Heading into the back hallway, I followed the sound of crying until I came to the last door on the right. Opening the door, I saw Phoebe jumping up and down in her crib. When she saw me, her hands immediately went in the air for me to pick her up. Obeying her silent order, I lifted her high in the air; that’s when I spotted the ornament hanging from the ceiling.
A dream catcher.
One that looked hauntingly familiar. One that had such beautiful detail that it took my breath away. One that Jack had made by hand.
He’d been doing it when I came over to his apartment our first night together. I’d watched him for hours as he worked on it and we talked, and laughed. He gave it to me when he was done; it was the same one he hung in his room above his bed right now.
I hadn’t seen him make any in the last month and a half, which is why it was surprising to me to see his work hanging in Phoebe’s room. “Well, you have a special gift watching over you, don’t you sweetheart?”
Phoebe’s chubby cheeks dimpled as she grinned. Laying her down on the changing table, I made quick work of changing her diaper and brought her out to the living room to join the party.
“Do you ladies need anything?” Elliott asked, giving his wife a quick peck on the lips.
‘No’s’ were said all around, and he nodded his head before turning to me. “Feel up to making a report?”
No. Not even a little bit. “Sure.”
“Good girl. Let’s go. They’re up in the garage office.” He said, holding out his crooked arm in a courteous gesture.
“Take me to your leader.” I said with a dry tone.
It wasn’t until I said it that it had a double meaning. He just laughed, as did everyone else, as we left Sam’s house. “This is just routine. They won’t be taking you in or anything. It’s very obvious that it was self-defense. Tell the truth. Luke’s the one taking the statement.”
Kodiak followed closely at my heels, having never left me for a minute since I’d shot someone for the first time in my life.
I nodded, but didn’t say anything. I also didn’t look at the million police cars that clogged the lot and surrounded our place.