Morgan James - Promise McNeal 02 - Quiet Killing by Morgan James

Author:Morgan James [James, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery: Thriller - Arson - North Carolina
ISBN: 9781475057928
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2012-06-18T05:00:00+00:00

16

Steaks were finally grilled around nine-thirty. The beer and carrots killed what little appetite I had, so most of my T-bone went into the refrigerator for a sandwich another day. Susan left around eleven. I can’t remember how it happened, but Daniel stayed the night, the anger we’d carried for each other from days before dissipating into tenderness. Later, as I was drifting toward sweet, sweet, sleep, I wondered if Daniel’s silence on the issues that fueled our argument meant I’d won. Marriage would not be up for discussion. Then I questioned if this was an argument I really wanted to win. In my blissful state, with Daniel asleep beside me, I decided no, not really. What I really wanted was to feel safe and hopeful about getting married again. I wanted to know risking my heart wouldn’t result in breaking it. I also wanted the bliss to last forever and a pair of ruby slippers that would always take me home.

When I awoke at seven, Daniel was dressed and sitting on the back porch nursing a cup of coffee. I poured myself a cup and watched him from the kitchen window, slowly nudging the rocking chair back and forth, and staring out into the thin fog curdling, here and there, beyond the porch steps. He turned and smiled as I eased into the chair beside him. “Morning, Sunshine. I’ve got to get on out of here pretty shortly. Got cows to tend to and make my run as a loyal servant of the US Postal Service.”

“Umm. I’m glad I don’t have to rush anywhere this morning.”

Daniel laced the fingers of my right hand into his. “I hope I contributed to your peaceful state of mind this morning.” I smiled and kissed the ridge along his knuckles. He knew he had.

“I’d rather you didn’t drive anywhere until the fog clears.”

“Don’t worry Babe; this little patchy stuff is nothing. Doesn’t bother me. It’ll burn off by mid-morning.”

I frowned and sipped my coffee, avoiding any response that would bring up my fear of fog. It’s the claustrophobic weight of fog, snaking along the ground…not being able to see through it…not knowing what’s waiting in the shadow…like the laurel thicket I got myself lost in on Fire Mountain. It felt like a blanket over my head, suffocating me. I jerked as a shiver trembled across my shoulders. “You seemed deep in thought when I came out. Still worrying about MaMa Allen?”

“Umm. That’s part of it, sure. But what I was mostly trying to figure out was why you were so determined to hike Fire Mountain alone. Why is a fallen down cabin so important? How come you couldn’t wait for me to get back from Raleigh, or ask Susan to go with you? When I think on how close I came to losing you, well…well, I don’t know …” His voice trailed off. I didn’t know what to say.

With all the drama of Mrs. Allen and Missy the night before, I realized I hadn’t filled in the blanks for Daniel about January McNeal and Reba.

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