Page 39 of Snow River

And it made her wonder…did she do something similar with her own “gift”?Did she lock it away where few could see it?

It’s completely different, she told herself.Art could transport people, but a weird and overactive sense of intuition just freaked people out.

A sound from behind her made her spin around, poker held high.A groan.From Paulina?Someone else?

Holding onto the poker—she felt more comfortable with that weapon than with a hunting rifle anyway—she quickly scanned for intruders.None to be seen.But all the hairs on her arms were standing on end.Something in the room had changed.

Another groan.This one came from the direction of the bed.

Lila rushed over to the bed.Paulina’s eyes were barely open, a flutter of eyelashes against her wrinkled cheeks.When she saw Lila, she let out a shriek and flinched away.“Noooo,” she moaned.“Don’t hurt me.”

Horrified, Lila realized she was still holding the poker.Great, Bear had left her alone with Paulina and she’d managed to scare the pants off her.“Paulina, I’m so sorry, I was working on the fire, that’s why I have the poker.I’m putting it back now.Are you okay?How do you feel?”

She hurried over to the hearth to stow the poker, then dashed back to Paulina’s bedside, where she found Paulina blinking back tears.

“Oh Paulina, I’m so sorry I scared you.It’s Lila, you know me.I’m your friend.I would never hurt you.”

“My friends died,” the woman whispered.

Those words sent a chill trickling through Lila.Buster had said that Paulina was friends with Gwennie.But Paulina had said “friends.”Did she know Allison Casey too?

“Who died, Paulina?Who do you mean?”

She didn’t answer.

“Are you talking about Gwennie?”

That question seemed to snap her out of her trance.Her eyebrows drew together and fear flooded her eyes.“Don’t talk about her.We’re not supposed to.”

Strange phrasing.“Why not?Why can’t we talk about her?”

The artist turned her face the other direction.Lila kicked herself.Was she pushing too hard?Taking advantage of an elderly woman as she regained consciousness?How long had she been on the floor?She must be terribly dehydrated.“Paulina, can you tell me how you’re feeling?Would you like some water or some tea?”

“Water,” came her whisper.

She went to the sink, which had a foot pedal that worked a pump that brought water into a Berkey filter.A set of hand-blown glasses, glowing like jewels, filled a shelf next to the window.Maybe the color would help Paulina wake up.Lila chose an especially vivid purple and fuchsia glass and splashed water into it.

“My favorite, how did you know?”Paulina murmured as Lila helped her take a sip.Just a sip, then another, since she had a vague memory of guzzling water being dangerous if you were dehydrated.

“I just…knew.”

“You know things, don’t you?Things you shouldn’t know.”

That comment was so close to the truth that it gave Lila another shiver.“If you’re talking about your friend Gwen, Buster Conner told me about her.”

“Oh.”

“He didn’t say we’re not supposed to talk about her, though.”

Paulina looked away, her gaze scanning her home before returning to Lila.“What are you doing here?”

“Bear found you on the floor.You were unconscious, and we don’t know how long you were there.Do you remember what happened?”

At the sound of Bear’s name, she brightened.“Where’s Bear?”

“He’s fetching a doctor.”

“I don’t need a doctor.”

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