Page 56 of The Talk Around Town

The hands were back. Touching. Feeling.

“Don’t touch me,” she whispered. “Don’t touch me!” she screamed when they wouldn’t stop.

She stumbled back, her sandals clattering over the gutter and onto the sidewalk. People all around her followed, but stayed back, unsure what was wrong.

Emma stared at the townsfolk she was coming to know and love. How could she tell them all she’d killed her family?

Chapter Twenty-Six

Gabe drove slowlydown the street toward the roundabout in front of the mall. He dreaded coming back to the questions that would undoubtedly be there when he arrived, but he couldn’t stay away forever. His animals needed him, at the very least.

He frowned to himself as he neared the huge roundabout. Cars were pulled up everywhere in the middle of the road. He slowed down even more and sucked in a startled breath when he realised Millie’s car was jammed into the front of Emma’s ute.

Gabe stopped and killed the engine, shoving his door open just as a very worried Darby spotted him from the sidewalk. Relief flooded her face at the sight of him. She ran toward him. His mother stood with Emma, arm around her shoulder, trying to get her to look at her.

Even with her skin a pasty ghost white, the sight of her hit him in the gut like a sucker punch. His attention was pulled from her by Darby grabbing his arm. He turned to his sister.

“Gabe! You’ve gotta come. I don’t know what’s wrong. I don’t think she’s hurt but she’s gone all weird and she looks sick. Hurry!” Darby pleaded as she dragged him toward the scene.

His feet were already on their way. It didn’t matter that he had a major problem with Emma. If she was hurt, he couldn’t turn his back on her. And she really didn’t look well at all.

Emma backed away from them all as Gabe sprinted toward her, his heart in his throat. If she went much farther, she’d end up in the shop behind her, via the plate-glass window.

Gabe pushed through the throng that had gathered, all well-wishers, but all crowding her, making it worse. Millie’s strident voice carried over them all.

“I don’t know what her problem is. She’s plain crazy if you ask me. Send her back to Perth where she belongs. We don’t need her here.”

Rage boiled up within him. “Enough, Millie! What is your problem?Can’t you see there’s something wrong?”

He pushed through the last of the crowd to stand in front of Emma. Millie’s astonished expression at the sight of him would’ve been comical if he hadn’t been so damned worried.

“Gabe? What are you doing here? I thought she ran you out of town.”

Gabe turned his attention to Millie for a moment. “Don’t be an ass. I was in Bialga buying stuff for the practice.”

He wasn’t going to let her know how close to the truth she really was. It was none of her business. It was no one’s business. Emma stood with her face buried in her hands, her whole body shaking.

What was wrong that a minor bingle had this effect on her?

He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Emma? Hey Emma, look at me.” Her breathing grew worse as he watched. He was going to have to get her attention somehow. “Emma,” he said firmly, his voice louder. “What’s wrong? Tell me, honey.”

His voice must have permeated the fog she’d hidden behind. Her hands dropped and she stared up at him.

“Gabe? You’re back?” she whispered around her sob, unbelieving.

He nodded. “Yeah, I’m here. Are you okay? Why are you so upset? I’m sure the ute can be fixed. We’ll get it towed to Frank’s panel shop. He’ll fix it up like new for you.”

Her expression morphed from fear to anger in a heartbeat, radiating from her as her eyes teared up, fat drops rolling down her cheeks as he watched. “I don’t give a damn about the ute! Crush it. I don’t care.”

Gabe blinked at her outburst. A huge sob escaped her. Her hand went to her mouth to stop more from following. What the hell was going on?

“Then what’s wrong?” he asked, confused.

“They’re dead,” she whispered, her eyes glued to his. Her face crumpled. “It’s all my fault.”

Gabe looked around them. People shook their heads at him, as confused as he was. He didn’t try to hide his confusion any longer. “Who’s dead? What are you talking about?”

“I killed them.” She stared at him, as if willing him to understand.

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