Page 34 of One Merciful Moment

"You're not trapped here." Kallie squeezed her arm. "Not the way Copper made it sound. He was talking more to the men, I think."

"I don't understand so much of what happens here."

"Trust me, I know how you feel." Kallie hugged her. "Try to stay strong. Don't let the unknowns steal your spirit. You're so good for Boone and everyone here."

"I don't know about that, but I'll try," Ashley said. "Boone, for how much I love him, doesn't talk much about Everstill unless I argue with him."

Kallie straightened, eyes widening. "You love him?"

Warmth traveled up her neck, and she nodded. "I haven't even told him."

"I won't say anything." Kallie smiled. "I'll let you get back to the garden. If you need anything, I'm around."

Ashley watched her walk away, the garden suddenly too quiet. She sank down onto the dirt, knees pulled to her chest, fingers digging into the soil.

She could never risk Boone's life by making him leave with her.

He trusted her. And she loved him.

She couldn't do that to him. Not Boone. Never Boone.

Chapter 20

Boone

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The squash leaves drooped, their edges softening as if they'd lost their strength overnight. Boone noticed the change the moment he stepped fully into the garden. The plants looked tired and weighed down.

He stepped over the row. The tomatoes had a faint curl to them. Even the beans sagged against their stakes. Boone crouched and ran his fingers along a wilted leaf. It wasn't rot. It wasn't bugs. It wasn't anything he recognized.

Last night, when he walked Ashley home, the garden had been in perfect shape. He stood quickly and headed down the path to the street. His long strides ate up the distance. By the time he reached the porch, he was out of breath. He went inside and found Ashley wiping down the counter, humming softly under her breath.

"Ash." He waited until she lifted her head. "Come with me."

She tossed the dishrag into the sink and walked toward him. "Is everything okay?"

"No." He held the door open and took her hand. "There's something wrong with the plants."

She stopped. He tugged her forward, and she hurried to keep up with his longer strides.

"Did the deer get to the garden?" She hopped, trying to see the rows from the street. "I know everyone loves seeing the deer in Everstill, but they're notorious for wiping out plants overnight. I don't know what we'll do if they eat our crops. We don't have enough food to last until new ones grow."

"It's not the deer." He led her down the path.

She gasped when they reached the first row. He let go of her hand.

"Oh, no." Her expression shifted from confusion to concern. "This isn't good."

He swallowed. They all depended on the food they grew. Without it, they'd starve.

Finn, Moe, Levi, and Copper drifted over from different parts of the garden, drawn by the way Ashley frantically moved through the plants. She knelt beside the tomatoes, brushing her fingers along a curled leaf, her brow furrowing deeper with each touch.

"What's wrong with them?" Finn asked.

Ashley waved him off and moved to the squash, examining each plant with the same careful attention. Boone could almost see her mind working as she cataloged, compared, trying to make sense of what happened.

Copper moved between the rows. "Ashley?"