Page 6 of Pledge Of A Bobcat

“Heiscoming to dinner, isn’t he?” Serenity asked, having noticed him behind us too.

“No. He’s not coming to dinner,” I said. “Grab one of those bags and head inside to Aunt Maribel.”

“Okay,” she whined, sounding more dramatic than she should given her age.

Panic flared in my chest as I slid out of my car. I couldn’t let him see it, though. Neither could Serenity. I forced a smile and turned to her.

“I’ll be in soon,” I said. “Let me see what Mr. Ellis wants.”

Serenity frowned. “Maybe he’s lost.”

“Maybe. Save some of those apple chips for me,” I said with a grin while I shooed her inside and out of the rain.

Once she’d disappeared inside, I felt every ounce of panic rush back in. I needed to figure out why Ellis had followed me home.

Closing my car door, I walked over to his truck as he stepped out.

“Are you following me?” I asked, my voice steady but guarded.

A slow, lopsided grin spread across his face, and despite myself, I felt the tendrils of panic fade away.

There was something disarming about his smile.

“No. I’m not following you. At least, I didn’t intend to.” He smoothed a hand along the back of his neck. “I might not be in the right place, though. I’m looking for an elderly woman named Maribel?”

“She’s my aunt,” I said, my tone cautious. “Why are you looking for her?”

“I need her help.”

This wasn’t surprising. People came to see Aunt Maribel for all sorts of things. However, I was curious as to why he had.

“Come inside out of the rain,” I said. “I’ll introduce you, but you have to help carry groceries in.”

“Not a problem,” he said with a chuckle. “Thanks.”

I grabbed a bag from the backseat and left the rest for him to carry. Starting up the stone steps, I glanced back at him. Worry clouded his eyes. Whatever he was here to speak with Aunt Maribel about, it was clear it was something serious.

4

ELLIS

As I followed Rachel up the stone steps of the small cottage, my palms grew clammy. Everything was riding on this moment. If Maribel refused to help with Xander, we were screwed. There was no plan B.

This was it.

When we made it through the front door, I took stock of the little cottage. There were crystals hung from the ceiling near the door, trinkets and tiny wooden figures lining a bookshelf, and candles on a small table at the window. The entire place felt alive with energy.

“Aunt Maribel, we’ve got company,” Rachel said as she made her way farther inside.

An elderly woman peeked around a corner.

Maribel.

She wore a purple shawl draped around her shoulders that looked handmade and a gray cotton dress that flowed around her ankles as she moved. Her hair was long, gray, and curly, and there was a white feather tucked behind one of her ears. She was thin and short in stature, but there was something large abouther presence and an expansive sense of wisdom shining in her eyes.

I lifted a hand in a slight wave. “Hi.”

Her gaze focused on me intently as she assessed me in a way that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

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