Page 73 of Steadfast

Oakleigh’s phone began to ding with notifications, and she pulled it from her soaked pocket. It was a miracle that the device hadn’t been shattered to bits or waterlogged.

She feverishly scrolled through her texts. There was only one piece of news that she was desperate to hear as she tapped on the text from Maeve.

Maeve — typing…

We won!

Relief washed over her and put a pause in her step. She clutched the phone to her chest, and offered a quick thankful prayer.

“Everything okay?” Mia asked.

“Crew is safe, and it looks like we won,” she replied, sharing the good news.

Now that she had service, she tapped on Audrey’s number. She stifled a much needed amused chuckle while remembering that she had logged Audrey’s name in her contacts underDelulu.

She answered on the first ring.

“Audrey, I found them. We’re almost home,” Oakleigh informed her.

“That is such a relief, I’ve been worried sick about ya’ll,” Audrey’s voice quivered nervously. “I’m kind of dealing with a situation at the house, and could really use you home soon.”

“What’s going on?” Oakleigh cocked her head to the side, her voice filled with concern.

“Just get home.”

As she stuffed the phone into her soaked pocket, she couldn’t help but wonder what else could go wrong. She threw her weight under Mia once again, doing her best to conceal her resurging anxiety.

It was late when they eventually hobbled past the barn toward the ranch house. Oakleigh was covered from head to toe with mud, and her drenched jeans had rubbed her legs raw. Her feet were tender from her boots, which felt leaden and sloshed with every step. All she desperately wanted was a hot shower and to climb into her soft, warm bed.

Oakleigh’s attention was pulled to a black Escalade parked beside the front steps of the porch. Its lights were on, and the engine was running.

“That looks like a car service Mom would order, doesn’t it?” Paisley mentioned, finally breaking her silent treatment.

“Sure does,” Oakleigh murmured under her breath. She considered that perhaps Maeve decided to celebrate and come home in style, although she highly doubted it.

There was one more obstacle to overcome. Audrey had not been delusional or exaggerating the threat of the flood. A small lake had formed in front of the ranch house. The water had climbed up the top step and threatened to seep into the home.

Oakleigh was so sick of water.

They waded through and hoisted Mia up the front steps. Oakleigh swung open the front door, which felt unusually heavy to her exhausted arms.

The power was still off, and the house was dark. Snapping logs in the fireplace gave off a low glow.

Eerie shadows were projected throughout the living room, revealing the silhouette of a woman standing by the fire with her arms crossed.

Oakleigh’s eyes struggled to adjust to the dim light.

“Maeve? You’re home early.”

An all too familiar voice echoed from the living room and off the hardwood floors, and it didn’t belong to Maeve.

“Well,hello ladies. It’s about time.”

A feeling of dread brought a lump to Oakleigh’s throat, and her eyes widened as recognition finally hit her tired mind.

Her worst fear had become a reality.

Standing before them in the shadows—wasHarper.

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