Dread Champion by Brandilyn Collins

Author:Brandilyn Collins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Array
Publisher: Zondervan

TWENTY-SEVEN

Warm air flicked strands of Kerra’s hair about her face. She laid her head back against the seat of Brett’s convertible BMW, reveling in the sensation of wind and late-afternoon sun. Tree-dotted, rolling hills and groves of eucalyptus trees whizzed by. The terrain, so different from that of Kansas, the pulse of her emotions, and Brett’s solid presence behind the wheel—all swirled together to bathe Kerra in tingling anticipation.

Brett glanced at her, smiling. “What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful!”

Soon the hills surrendered to plowed, rich fields and molded themselves against the distant horizon. Fog blanketed them to the west. Kerra saw migrant workers leaving the fields to board white buses. Irrigation systems lay in rows across the fields,with pipes sticking up about every fifteen feet. The crops were so many different colors and heights. Kerra couldn’t begin to imagine what they all were.

Brett took a Salinas exit off the freeway, staying on the outskirts of town. Five minutes later they rolled up to the Welks’ large home of white wood and green shutters.

“Welcome to my place,” Brett said, pride in his voice.

Kerra climbed out of the car, gazing openmouthed at the vast fields surrounding them, the fog-covered hills in the distance. Something inside her stirred, something both ancient and new. The land, the air, the sky, seeped into her pores, filling her with lightness,with life. Brett moved beside her and she looked at him, tongue-tied.

“I can tell you like it.”

She nodded.

His mouth curved. Surprise flicked across his face, as if he couldn’t quite believe she was with him. He raised his hand, traced a knuckle down her jaw. “I’m so glad you came.”

She lay fingertips on his arm and squeezed. “Me too.”

“Come on. I’ll show you inside.”

The house boasted a tiled, two-story entryway and a curved staircase. Brett led her through the spacious kitchen, the dining, living, and family rooms, all designed in shades of blue and cream. Kerra trailed her hand on the polished wood banister as they climbed the stairs. Five bedroom suites. And only one of them occupied. Kerra followed Brett into his room, heart clenching at the thought of his living in this huge house all by himself. His room was carpeted in plush navy. Kerra’s eyes roved over a bookcase with numerous baseball trophies, a large desk scattered with papers.

“Sorry it’s messy.” Brett pulled up the cover on his unmade bed. “Would have fixed it up if I’d known you were coming.”

She rolled her eyes as if to say, “How could either of us have guessed this?” Her gaze moved to Brett’s dresser and landed on a photo of a dark-haired woman. She walked over to it slowly, picked it up. The woman had deep-set brown eyes and a kind mouth, lips turned up at the corners. “Your mom?”

“Yeah.”

Kerra regarded the photo with reverence.“She’s beautiful, Brett.” Kerra raised her eyes to his. A tangible understanding flowed between then, connecting them. They both knew the depths of loss. Kerra could feel his loneliness in the pit of her being.

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