The Stranger in the Storm by Blythe Carver

Author:Blythe Carver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BCP

16

Tracy moved around the kitchen slowly, gathering items for Richard to take with him as he went down the mountain. She wanted to trust him completely and know that he was right about Aileen, that she wouldn’t kick her and Lochlan off the land.

How, though, could she be so confident? He was from Henry’s Corner, and those people had been so horrible to her after George died. They’d been suspicious and rude to her. No one liked her there, and there was simply no way she was going back.

She placed ham slices and jerky in one of the bags she was sending with him. She refused to acknowledge that her heart was hurting. He had to go. She kept repeating that phrase to herself along with reminding herself he was coming back.

She could hear water splashing as Richard got out of the bath in the washroom. Once he was dressed, he planned to go. The time was going so quickly. Soon he would be gone, and she would be lonely again.

For a moment, she froze, staring out in space, pondering whether she should just go down there with him. Maybe it would be good for Lochlan. And her.

A minute later, she was moving again, shaking her head as she filled two canteens, one with whiskey and the other with tea. She couldn’t go. Leaving the cottage was simply not an option. She knew nothing about the McArthurs and knew the people of Henry’s Corner wouldn’t accept her back into the fold after she’d run away from them that way. She didn’t know what else they expected, though. They were probably glad when she disappeared.

She heard the door of the washroom open and Richard’s footsteps in the hall. Her heart began to race. He was going to leave. She steadied her rapid breathing, turning toward the window just as he came around the corner.

“You didn’t have to do all that,” he said in an appreciative voice, coming over to the counter to stand next to her. “Look at this. You’ve prepared me a feast.”

“There’s whiskey in this one,” she said, handing a green canteen to him. “Tea in this one.” She gave him the black one. “Don’t get them mixed up, or you might get a surprise.”

He laughed and put his arms around her in a hug. She closed her eyes, trying not to sigh. This was not the time to be swooning over the man. He had to leave. She didn’t want to make him feel bad about it. He was right. He had obligations. A job. A task he’d been paid highly to do that he wouldn’t even be able to finish. She was about to ask if he thought they would take his bonus away but stopped herself.

He’d done nothing but speak highly of the McArthurs since he arrived. They would probably pay all his doctor bills and give him a double bonus for his efforts.

Tracy was tempted to go with him again.

He pulled back and looked her in the eye.

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