Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower

Author:Amanda Flower
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CROOKED LANE BOOKS

Chapter Seventeen

After the Red Inkers meeting, I went into the woods to get water for the birch tree. Surprisingly, Emerson didn’t want to come along even though I’d invited him this time. Instead, the tuxie decided to stay home curled up in his warm cat bed. Perhaps the last trip to the springs had taught him a lesson. I can’t say I was thrilled to have to go out on another cold night after dark to fetch water. It was only eight thirty in the evening, but it was as black as midnight. I knew it wasn’t even Christmas yet—that was still a couple days away—but a large part of me was already longing for spring. Winter in Western New York was long and deep. It wasn’t likely that we would see grass again until late February, and even after that snow melted, it could and most likely would snow again through the beginning of April.

Walking along the forest path, I was on edge. Every rustle of bare branches or snap of a fallen twig made me jump. I made it to the springs and back in fifteen minutes flat, which was the fastest time I had ever clocked. I didn’t stop to take in the beauty of the springs or look around for animal tracks like I normally would have. The man chasing me through the forest that morning of my wedding day had thoroughly spooked me.

I let out a deep breath when I walked through the garden gate. I opened the back door to the shop and cried when I saw a shadow in the kitchen. “Ahh!”

I hugged the full watering can to my chest. I wasn’t going to lose one drop of water, even if I was murdered in the process.

The overhead light came on and Rainwater stood in the middle of the kitchen in sweatpants and a T-shirt. His feet were bare, and he had a glass of water in his hand.

“David!” I cried.

“Who did you think it was?”

“I—I don’t know.”

He set his glass on the counter.

“I guess I’m still not used to having you around.”

He smiled. “Well, I haven’t made that any easier on you since I haven’t been around much since we got married.” He took the watering can from my vise-like grip, set it on the kitchen island, and gave me a hug.

I didn’t disagree with what he said.

“I wish that you waited until I was home to get water for the tree. I don’t know how I feel about you going into the forest at night.”

“David, it’s part of my job.”

He sighed. “I know, but I can go with you.”

I bit my tongue to keep myself from reminding him that he wasn’t around enough to go with me. The birch tree needed to be watered when it needed to be watered. I couldn’t just work around his schedule.

“Just with you being chased out of the forest the other morning,” he said. “It doesn’t feel safe.” He frowned.

I gave him a squeeze, and my heart softened a bit.

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