Page 11 of Haunted Heart
“It’s not a request, Grace. You either let him stay in the house with you or he’s going to be uncomfortable as hell trying to sleep in his truck. I do not want you left alone.”
I nod, secretly relieved.
After saying our goodbyes, we lock up and follow Jaxon to his home. Hands folded in my lap, my mind bounces all over the place. I don’t understand any of this.
Why? Why a fire? Why cut a wire? I—I don’t have enemies. I haven’t hurt anyone. I’m—everyone always called me ‘mouse’. I never wanted to be seen, I still don’t.
Glancing out the window, I swallow back the tears. My house has been so empty and lonely the last two years. I looked forward to going to work every day just to see people. Always too shyto be a joiner, I really wasn’t that close to many people other than my husband. We were both more introverted. We had each other, did everything together, and it was all we needed. We were content.
Fawn and I became friends when she brought her products in to sell. I met Maura when she had the dress shop down from where Guy and I had our business. I still see them when they come to town, but they have lives with their families now.
Maura talked me into volunteering at the veterans’ center, explaining the men and women just need someone to sit with them and listen. She thought volunteering would be good for me, too. She was right. It turned out I receive just as much comfort as I’m able to give. I’ve become close with many of them.
I haven’t been able to work on my pottery. It was the one thing that gave me purpose and made me feel valuable as an individual. The studio is still there, and I hoped that the desire would come back, that the loss would ease, and I’d find the joy again. That I’d....
Why would someone want to burn it down? It doesn’t have meaning or memories to anyone but me.
Something warm glides over my clasped hands. I glance down. Caleb’s tanned, work roughened hand covers mine. He squeezes gently.
“We’ll fix this. We’ll find who did it and I’ll make sure you’re okay. You aren’t alone.”
Slipping his fingers between mine, he locks our hands together. A subtle promise. A welcome connection. Turning my gaze out the window, I study his reflection in the glass. The tightness in my chest eases just a little.
CHAPTER 7
Caleb
We pull into the yard at Jaxon’s, and the two oldest kids come flying out, followed by Jaxon with the two littles, one in each arm.
“Welcome to mayhem.”
Grace and I both laugh.
“The kids are already bathed and fed. They get fifteen minutes to attack and confuse you before they go to bed, and the adults get quiet time.”
Grace walks up to him, slipping the closest child from his arms. “How about you and I go see if we can help Momma for a few minutes.”
“We’ll help, too.” The older ones fall in line behind her.
Jaxon watches them go. “That woman is a damn pied piper. My kids would follow her anywhere. She’s so damn good with them. Was a shame about Guy.”
“Him not being able to have kids?”
“She told you?”
“We talked. She’s had it rough.”
He studies me for a long moment. “You tell her about Gleason?”
I meet his gaze. “She asked a couple questions. I answered.”
“You should think about reaching out to him.”
“I did what he asked.” I reach for the little one still squirming in Jaxon’s arms. “Hey big guy, let’s go see what mum made for dinner.”
Grace helps Jaxon get the kids in bed. I set the table and start washing the prep dishes while Maura finishes the meal.
Jaxon’s still the leader, the man we all looked up to when in the service. Those of us who followed him to Kennedy, Oregon are more like family than what any of us had before the service. Preach and I came out here on a whim when Spade got married. We stayed, because being near our brothers in arms felt like coming home.
