Page 12 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

I hide my arm behind my back, but it’s too late. He’s already seen the glow.

The man’s mouth falls open, staring past them at me. “You’re?—”

Harek throws himself at the stranger. They both stumble. Harek’s father joins the scuffle.

Despite the attack, the stranger doesn’t stop staring atme.

Is that terror in his eyes? No, that’s crazy. He’s huge, and I’m average. And a woman. No reason for him to fear me.

He pulls away from them and flees, disappearing into thin air.

My orange glow fades until my palm returns to its normal color.

I run back into the house before Harek or his father see me outside with them.

Chapter

Five

I’m still tryingto catch my breath by the fire in the family room when footsteps sound. My mind races to find an excuse just in case they saw me.

But it isn’t Harek or his father stumbling through the door. It’s his mother.

“Eira.” She gives me a tired smile. “How are you?”

I stumble over my words, not sure how to answer what should be a simple question.

“You poor dear.” She wraps me in a hug. “Have you eaten yet?”

My stomach will never go without food as long I’m in this home.

“Harek gave me something earlier.”

She takes off her jacket and stirs the stew. “This looks almost ready. Is he or his father here?”

“You didn’t see them outside?” I ask.

“No.”

“Wait. If you didn’t talk to them, how did you know about my mother? Or did you say ‘poor dear’ for another reason?”

She gives me a sad smile. “The whole village is talking about your mother’s passing. Such a shame. I never met a kinder woman, and now all you have to live without her.”

“At least my siblings have their father.”

Not that he’s much of a consolation prize, even for the ones who like him.

Harek’s mother scowls. “I take that to mean he kicked you out?”

I nod, too exhausted to explain the real reason.

“Did he even let your mother breathe her last before sending you on your way?”

“Barely.”

She mutters something I can’t make out. “Well, you’re welcome here as long as you need. I could use your help at the market and with curing some of the buffalo.”

There’s no way she could be seen with me in town and live to tell about it.

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