Get Cozy, Josey! by Susan May Warren

Author:Susan May Warren
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-09-18T04:00:00+00:00

It’s late and dark when the screaming starts. The soup was delicious—potatoes with chunks of cabbage and dill. And the candle burned long enough for me to read a story to Chloe and Justin.

I go to bed early, of course, which gives me plenty of time to ponder exactly what to do about Olya. Do I go over in the morning with the clean pot, perhaps filled with cookies, and say thank you? Or will that start the cycle of craziness all over again? I think that she might feel we’re even, but I know (thanks to the way Justin and Chloe wolfed down the soup) that I’m woefully beholden.

I’m also worried. Where is Chase? He told me he’d be home by dinner.

The screaming is sporadic, followed occasionally by a thump and then yelling. I’ve never heard them fight before, and everything inside me tightens with the knowledge that I was right about Vasilley.

Please, Lord, tell me what to do.

I close my eyes and pull the covers up to my nose. I hear something crash. What is the number here for 9-1-1? I should know it. Why isn’t Chase here? He’d know what to do. I feel nauseated and helpless and angry. And I hate that Ulia was right and I let denial shout the loudest.

Suddenly everything goes quiet. I hear the door slam. I am breathing hard. Should I go over there? I’m still talking myself into it, staring into the filmy darkness, when I hear another thump outside. Our door creaks open.

Please let it be Chase. Please let it be Chase.

“Shh.” I hear a voice. “They’re sleeping.”

My breath escapes. I didn’t realize I’d been holding it.

“I’ll grab the sofa.” It’s Nathan’s voice.

A second later, Chase appears at the bedroom door. “Hey, GI,” he says, climbing into bed beside me. He’s cold, his cheeks rough and dry. He pulls me close.

“What took you so long?” I try to keep the panic out of my voice. He nuzzles his cold chin into my neck.

“Halfway home, the snowmobile quit. We couldn’t get it to turn over. Had to hitch a ride to the turnoff on the highway, and then hike the rest of the way home.”

“The highway is three miles from town.”

“I know.” His arm tightens around me. “But that’s not the worst of it. While we were in Khabarovsk, I ran into Anton.”

His beard rubs my cheek as I turn. He props his head on his hand. “He was selling Christmas trees.”

I search Chase’s face to understand the significance of this.

Chase raises an eyebrow. “The Bursk trees. He cut them down.”

“All of them?”

“I don’t know. We’ll find out in the morning. We stopped by the town hall on the way home. Apparently the trappers in the village are furious. They say it’ll upset their traplines.”

“Will it?”

Even in the darkness, I can see Chase’s concern. “I dunno. I saw Olya’s husband at the town hall. He was pretty angry.”

I pull in a quick breath. “They just had an awful fight—he and Olya.

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