Page 176 of Wild Embers
“Ángel is a really good cook. I hope that means Santiago knows how to cook. My skills with a stove are limited to grilled cheese, scrambled eggs, and boxed mac n cheese.”
Shadow angles her head toward me and rolls her eyes.
“I’m a pro with the microwave, though,” I defend.
Shadow’s reply is to blow out a puff of air through her nose.
“Walker has pulled his head out of his ass.”
Shadow sneezes.
“Exactly.”
As we continue down the path, construction, horse neighs, and chatter fades, the trees effectively shutting everything out–or closing us in.
“I was thinking about–”
Shadow stops, becoming impossibly still. Bear halts with her, scanning the trees.
“What is it, girl?” I ask as I stroke my hand down her mane.
Shadow’s ears twist back and forth. I attempt to open my ears, seeing if I can hear what she hears.
Nothing.
The wind still sways the trees, and ravens still caw in the distance.
I shrug a shoulder and guide Shadow forward. Bear resumes the walk with us, practically prancing through the snow like a deer.
“I’ve come to the realization that I can’t go back to New York now. I’m in too deep with these men.”
Shadow snorts like she knew before I did.
“I’ll have to find an apartment to rent. It needs to have studio space, though. I’ve missed painting. It’s like someone has chopped off my arm and now I have to learn to live without it.”
Shadow lets out a small nicker
“I hope the guys are excited about it too,” I return with a shy smile. “Worst case scenario–”
Bear pauses mid-step, and his hackles slowly rise.
Shadow and I stop with him, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
Bear’s ears point toward the trees.
“What’re you looking at, Bear?”
Silence continues to be the only answer.
I wait a minute to satisfy Bear, then guide the three of us to resume.
This time, I don’t say a word, listening intently for any sound at all. The trees get closer and closer to the footpath, narrowing the space.
A twig snaps behind us, causing me to jump and turn around.
But the shaded path is empty.
I shake my head side to side, attempting to dispel all unnecessary anxious thoughts, and push on forward again.
