One, he was bent on getting even with Usher. Two, the guy
just admitted he got high off the thrill of killing people. And
three, with you and two or more deputies here, he d murder
you, which would wipe out half of the town s police force. It
would take weeks, possibly even months, before he d have any
authorities to deal with as he killed others around Stone Trail
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while the weather is so bad. No one can access the
mountaintop until the roads are passable. By the time they did,
Ramsey would have his alibi set in stone.
Thank God for Una, and thank God, too, that she s all
right, Usher stated as a chill raced along his body. I can t
explain it, but someone or something worked through her to
save us.
They all stared at one another as the truth of the matter
sank deeply into their brains.
The deputy moaned. Distracted, Kingston helped him sit
up.
At that moment, Usher became aware of the dogs, barking
crazily at the top of the basement stairs. Poor Brock probably
thinks the worst has happened to me.
Is your arm okay? Jarreth asked, his eyes brimming with
concern. Do you need a doctor to look at it?
No, I don t think so. Usher shook his head and worked
the offended shoulder in small circles. If Ramsey had squeezed
it just a little more, it probably would ve broken, but as it is, I
think my arm s going to be black and blue. He smirked. At
least he didn t rip it from my body.
Jarreth raised his eyebrows. Thank God. He glanced
toward the hall. I ll call down to the girls so they know it s safe
to come upstairs, but we should keep the dogs confined down
there until everyone clears out of the house. Quickly, Jarreth
grabbed his underwear and jeans, donning them. Let me take
care of Mom, he said over his shoulder to Usher, and then
when everyone clears out of here, we ll clean up this mess.
Later, though, we re going to have a long talk.
Dread pooled in Usher s gut. We are?
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Turning to face him, Jarreth smiled. He walked over and
took Usher in his arms, embracing him in a warm, full body
hug. Yes, he whispered, we are.
At his touch, every inch of Usher s skin felt electrified.
Words failed him. He could only stare at the man. His brain
scrambled to come up with something, anything that would
freeze the moment in time.
THE ambulance took one of the deputies to the clinic for a few
stitches, and the coroner s van arrived to cart Ramsey away to
the clinic s tiny morgue. After Jarreth convinced his mother
that he d replace her curio cabinet with one even more
beautiful, he managed to get her to go to her room so they
could finish cleaning up the living room.
She clutched the chapel against her breasts as if it was a
newborn baby. Honey, I m sorry your father passed the Mist
Wolf trait on to you. She stared up at him with tears
shimmering in her eyes. It seems to make your life miserable,
doesn t it?
Sorrow assailed Usher for Jarreth and his mother. They
seemed to have gone through a lot during their lives. Did
someone know his father s secret, so they set the house on fire
to rid the world of a freak and his offspring? Anger and a fierce
sense of protectiveness passed through Usher. He shook his
head and balled his fists in frustration. Why does the world
have to have such prejudice in it? Aren t we all freaks in some
manner or other?
Mom, said Jarreth, I don t regret who I am. You have
your little chapel that Dad gave you, but you also have me
through Dad, and nothing will change that.
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She reached up and trailed her fingertips over Jarreth s
stubbly cheek. Oh, baby, you are such a good man. You make
me proud. She stood on tiptoe and kissed her son s chin.
Tears pricked the backs of Usher s eyes.
Well, Hanna called from the foyer, that s the last of the
emergency crews and the police. She entered the living room
in front of Jess.
Your neighbor directly across the street, Jess added,
brought over a big piece of pressboard and a roll of heavy-duty
plastic to cover the broken window.
We ll cover the window as soon as I get Mom settled in her
bedroom, said Jarreth. Come on, Mom. He looked at her with
such fondness that Usher wished he could see his mother
again.
She started toward the hall, but stopped, her eyes growing
large and round. Jarreth, honey? What happened in here?
Jarreth closed his eyes, his lower lip trembling, but he
quickly opened them again and said, Nothing, Mom. Now let s
get you back in your bedroom, and you can put in the new
DVD I bought you.
What did you get me? she asked.
The most recent season release of CSI: Miami.
Oh, that sounds lovely, she said as she carried the
chapel into the corridor. I love that show. Do you think I could
have a cup of peppermint tea too?
Sure thing, Mom.
When they were out of earshot, Hanna said, I don t know
how he does it. She seemed fine and then suddenly she s gone
again.
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Jarreth s a good man, Jess said. She shot Usher a
meaningful look.
He offered her a wan smile. Message received, my friend.
Usher telephoned Doc Evirgrew and told him everything
that had transpired. Relieved, the doc insisted that Usher call
him should he need anything.
A few minutes later, he helped Jarreth clean up the glass,
and the girls vacuumed three times to make sure all the slivers
were caught. After the night nurse arrived to stay with Una,
and Tip and Tap were happily asleep on the bedroom floor,
Usher and Jarreth helped the women gather their things. They
put their bags in the Dodge, hollered for Brock, and loaded into
the truck.
First, Jarreth dropped Jess off at The Cannonball, where
her husband and children picked her up to take her home.
Next, as he followed the highway across the mountain, he drove
slowly through the areas where the wind drifted the snow
across the lane.
Good grief, Hanna said behind Usher, I don t think I ve
ever been so tired.
Usher chuckled and turned to look back at her. Tell me
about it. All that worry, anxiety and stress, then suddenly it s
gone
And you just want to find someplace warm and
comfortable and crash for a week, Jarreth finished.
Usher laughed, and Jarreth and Hanna joined him.
A wall of snowflakes hit the truck.
Looks like the next wave of snow has hit the mountain,
said Usher.
From the backseat next to Hanna, Brock sneezed, as if
voicing his opinion of more snow.
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She laughed softly. I know how you feel, pal. I can t wait
for springtime either, especially after this past week.
Minutes passed, and finally Hanna s lane appeared in the
headlights. Jarreth turned left into the drive and traversed the
slick, snow-drifted road.
You sure you re ready to stay here alone? he asked.
I m fine, she replied. I ve survived a werewolf, so I think I
can survive some solitude, too.
That s a good way of looking at it, Usher said.
Jarreth stopped the truck in front of the big farmhouse. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]