Page 40 of The Truth

“I am Dinah Davidson, and you… are?”

“Hello, I’m Ayla. What can I help you with today?”

“I believe I saw you at the Hillers’ barbecue last week.”

“You probably did.” That was where she’d seen her—this woman had been one of the people to stop by and talk to Gunn. A lot of women had wanted to talk to him, she had noticed. People in general had a lot to talk to him about. Ayla had enjoyed watching him interact with people. He was very good at it, and very kind and helpful.

The man just made her feel gooey inside. No denying that.

“Have you known the Hillers long? The Lakes? I saw them there as well… ”

The words themselves were appropriate for small talk, but her tone was weird. Like… maybe this was an interrogation, or something. Like she was fishing for something. “Not really,actually. Well, Greer is my best friend. I’ve known her for a while. We take classes together. And my sister is seriously involved with Guthrie. Why?”

“I just wondered. You and Reverend Hiller seemed… close.” She just kept staring at Ayla. Ayla had definitely been stared at before; sometimes people could be really rude, with the questions they’d ask. Ayla was half-tempted to flash the woman or something, just to freak her out. But well… they were in the library. Ayla had to behave herself here—Grady had told her to behave herself earlier, after all.

“Wearepretty close, actually. Gunn is a very nice man and we are… dating. Is there something I can help you with here at the library today? If you are looking for Gunn, he is out somewhere on church business with Reverend Riordan. I’m sure I can give Gunn a message for you when I see him tonight, if you’d like.”

Why lie about it? She had adatetonight, after all. Gunn had asked her if she’d like to go to dinner tonight. Since Aubrey was at the ranch now, with both Guthrie and Genny to watch over her, Ayla felt okay leaving her sister for a little while. Like Aubrey had said, it was just a few bruises and a broken arm. Aubrey hated it when Ayla hovered.

Besides,Guthriewas hovering over her sister just fine. Cooing at her, too. It was really sweet to watch. Those two were going to live happily ever after, Ayla just knew it.

“You will see him tonight?” Her eyes were so… weird. Almost… afraid… really. Creepy, actually. Really, really creepy.

“I will. We have plans together. Just the two of us—we are going to spend some time together after we have a family dinner to celebrate his new niece and nephew. Is there something I can help you with here at the library? We have plenty of new books in. Jake placed an order recently.” And she really wished he would hurry back. The way this woman was looking at herwas seriously weird. Like serial killer weird. There had been one operating in Value when they had first moved there. He had preyed on blondes. She and Aubrey had been terrified until he’d been caught. Ayla was about ready to grab one of her crutches and prepare to goninja,if she had to.

As if she’d conjured one Jake out of thin air, the library doors opened and there he was. “Welcome back.”

“Glad to be back. I think it is going to be drizzly out there. Good afternoon, Dinah. It’s been a while since you’ve been in,” Jake said. “How can we help you today?”

Apparently, they couldn’t. It took another long five minutes before the woman left, without a single book to read.

“Well, that was way weird.”

“She was acting differently than she usually does. Usually, she’s just… quiet. Sticks with religious books. Or books on gardening. I’ve never seen her with that expression before.” Jake had a worried look on his beautiful face.

“It was just… weird. No other word for it.”

And why did she feel like there was somethingelsegoing on with that woman somehow?

31

There wasa broken look in his eyes when Gunn and his friend came back to the ranch long after she’d found her way back there. Ayla knew it with one look. They were hurting.

“Hi, guys,” she said, over the sounds of giggling children.

There were lots of little kids at the ranch tonight. George and Ronnie’s little girls were staying there; Giavonna was watching them. The hospital had decided to keep Ronnie for an extra few hours, she’d been showing signs of infection, and to give baby Mira a few more hours in the incubator. George was at the hospital with her and the babies now. No one knew when they were going to arrive. Since Ronnie wasn’t quite up to a busy house of six kids and George was still hurting from the accident, too, they were coming to the ranch where their family could pamper them for a few days.

And, Ayla suspected, be closer to Guthrie and Genny and Chad, just in case of a medical emergency. And… Aubrey, too, for that matter. Since… Aubrey didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry to gohometo their cute little house in town or anything.

Well, Ayla wasn’t in too big of a hurry to go home really, right now, either. Not until her sister was better, and everything feltokay,again. She rather liked it at the Hiller Ranch.

Then again… she half-suspected it wasn’t theHiller Ranchshe liked, so much as it was the youngest Hiller brother, and everything. She was just keeping that to herself.

And the man… he was a man on a mission. His best friend needed him, and well… Gunn needed someone to take care ofhimwhile he was helping save the world. Ayla wanted to be that someone.

Ayla had already read a million storybooks to the littlest Hillers running around everywhere since Hala had picked her up at the library at three-thirty on her way to get Ryan at the ranch. Chantal had picked up Ryan and Calvin at preschool at noon and brought them to the ranch. Hala was there to get Ryan, but since everyone was just sort of congregating there at the ranch tonight, Hala had decided to stay—now her own brother was on his way. She’d called him—he’d been on speaker; Ayla had listened. Hudson had asked if Giavonna was there, and then… basically invited himself right over. Supposedly to get his son and his sister. But… Hala’s car was right there outside.

Men were seriously confusing and now Giavonna was grumbling, big time.

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