Page 50 of Family Jewels

“Rose!” James called after me, following me around the corner of the barn.

I ignored him, but he quickly caught up and grabbed my left wrist. A vision burst into my head. I was ripping a woman’s shirt over her head, then fumbling with the button on her jeans, but everything was fuzzy, and I lacked the coordination to get it undone.

The girl giggled. “Let me get it for you, Skeeter.” I felt her hand on my thigh, sliding higher. “You’re drunk.”

I jerked myself out of the vision. “You’re gonna go sleep with someone else.”

“What?” he asked in confusion; then his eyes filled with understanding. “You just had a vision.”

Pain and humiliation sucked my breath away. He’d turned me away, and now he was going to run off and sleep with someone.

Without hesitation, I repeated my arm swing move, breaking free of his grip as I simultaneously pulled my gun out with my right hand. I took a step backward, aiming my gun at his chest.

His eyes darkened. “If you’re gonna pull a gun on someone, you better be damned well prepared to use it.”

“Bang,” I said, tilting the gun forward a fraction of an inch, then raising it level again. “I just shot you in your heart. Oh, I forgot. You don’t have one.” Then I spun around and stomped toward the house.

“I’m not running after you!” he shouted. “I don’t run after women!”

“Good!” I shouted back, not turning around to face him. “Because I might have to turn off the damn safety next time!”

I heard him let out a string of curses, his voice getting farther away with each long stride I took.

Muffy was waiting for me at the door. I let us both inside, but not before I looked back at the barn. I was furious with myself for being disappointed when I didn’t see him.

Then I groaned—I’d forgotten the lantern.

Before I could stalk out there to grab it, I heard a buzzing sound. My phone was vibrating on the kitchen counter.

Anger burned through my veins as I read the text from SM.

I blew out your lantern so your barn doesn’t burn down.

That was it. No I’m sorry. No admonishment to be careful. Just that he’d snuffed out my freaking lantern.

Tears stung my eyes. How could I be so stupid?

Had I just ruined everything?

I turned off the kitchen and living room lights and headed upstairs, picking up Muffy when I realized she was limping.

When I reached the top of the stairs, Neely Kate was standing in the doorway of her bedroom in a bathrobe and wet hair.

“Did I hear shouting just now?” she asked. At least her sadness seemed to have given way to genuine curiosity.

“You missed an eventful evening,” I said. “I found Raddy Dyer in our barn.”

“What?”

I gave her a quick run through of what had transpired, leaving out James’lessonat the end.

She looked down at my arms. “Is Muffy okay?”

“James thinks so.”

“What was Skeeter doing here?” she asked, sounding suspicious.

“I think he wanted to check on us because Jed told him about our run-in with Homer Dyer. James says he’s dangerous.”

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