Page 88 of All Along The Watchtower

Bree’s cheeks flushed scarlet. “Pop!”

I was still trying to find some kind of response.

“What? I’m old, not blind.” He shifted in the hospital bed, wincing. “Been watching you dance around each other since you were kids.”

Deciding the best defense was a good offense, I tugged Bree closer, sliding an arm around her waist. “To be fair, sir, that was mostly my fault. Took me way too long to realize what was right in front of me. But I promise you, I’m done being an idiot. Your granddaughter is my priority now, and I’m going to spend however long it takes proving that to both of you.”

Ed’s eyes narrowed, studying me with the same intensity I’d seen him use when staring down belligerent drunks at thetavern. “About damn time.” He looked at Bree. “This what you want, baby girl?”

Cheeks fading from fire engine red to a pretty pink, she leaned into my side, her warmth seeping through my shirt. “Always has been.”

“Well, alright then.” He settled back against the pillows. “Just remember I’ve got a shotgun if you mess this up again.”

“Pop!” Bree’s face flamed again.

I tightened my hold on her. “Message received, sir. But you won’t need it. I learned my lesson the hard way. I’m not letting her go again.”

Ed nodded, apparently satisfied. “Good.” His eyes began drifting closed again, and I wondered if he’d worn himself out already. Then they snapped wide again. He struggled to sit up. “The map. Where’s the map? Shit, I left it and all my notes at the Brewhouse when I fell out.”

Bree gently pressed him back. “We have it. It’s fine.”

His gnarled hand gripped hers with strange urgency. “You have to keep everything safe. Hidden.”

Frowning, Bree glanced at me.

I shrugged. Did he think it was a real treasure map instead of a souvenir? That they’d legitimately found something someone would want? Maybe he was still confused because of the coma.

“Nobody else has the map, Pop. It’s fine.”

“There’s an irregularity in the map,” he insisted.

“Peyton found it.” Surely that would calm Ed down. “She gathered up all your notes when they took you to the hospital.”

His fingers tightened on Bree’s hand. “Keep her safe. If anybody finds out, they’ll come after her.”

My spine stiffened. I’d had about enough of vague threats to my daughter. “Who’ll come after her?”

But Ed’s eyes were glazing over again, medication or exhaustion pulling him under again.

“Pop, what are you talking about?” Bree smoothed his hair back. “Who’s going to come after Peyton?”

His head lolled. “Keep… safe.” The words slurred together as he drifted off.

I exchanged a look with Bree. “You don’t think…”

She shook her head. “It’s just a souvenir map. Something fun for tourists.”

“But he seems really worried about it.” And about my kid. The one I was this close to putting in a bubble until the world quit losing its collective mind. “And someone did break into his place.”

Not that we’d told Ed that. The doctor had been clear he didn’t need to get overexcited or exert himself.

“Crime of opportunity, like Chris said.” But she didn’t sound convinced.

“You said yourself that nothing was taken, though.” I ran a hand through my hair. “What if there’s something to this treasure hunt of theirs? It’s been ages since there’s been a find of any significance, but we’ve both heard the stories. Treasure hunters are still a cutthroat lot.”

“You think there’s any chance they’ve found something for real?”

“I don’t know. But Ed seemed pretty adamant about keeping Peyton safe. And he’s not usually the type to get worked up over nothing.”

---