Page 69 of Run with Me

“Anna, you’d be giving up yourlife.”

“It’s not a life worth living if you have a soul on your conscience. I don’t want you to havethat.”

“It’s a little late for that,” he said, and I felt his pain. I felt it each time I thought about Mikey. I wondered whether Xavier would ever stop blaming himself for his son’s death. “But yes, I can keep ussafe.”

He then turned to Mateo. “There’s only one way you get to live today, Mateo. Father John didn’t know we were coming. He didn’t know anything about this, and you won’t touch him. This is between me andyou.”

Mateo shook his head. “You know it’s about way more thanthat.”

“Don’t blame your money problems on us,” Xavier warned.

That money was cursed. Anyone who touched it would be cursed too, and at this moment it was better that it stayed where I’d left it. Mateo agreed that his life would be spared in exchange for John’s. He gave an oath on his honor, which I didn’t even know people like him had, and we drove off in the car, leaving Mateo out by the canyon. It would take him over an hour to walk back to town, which would give us just enough time to drive John back, say our goodbyes, and leave.

*

I stoodover Mikey’s grave for what seemed like hours. I crouched down and hid my face in my hands as my heart broke apart all over again. At least Ben would never hurt my little angel again. I lowered the bunch of wild sunflowers I’d picked on the way back and stood up. John took me in hisarms.

“Come with me,” I begged.

“I can’t, beautiful. My place is here now. I need to stay with Mikey. My purpose has changed now, Anna. Ben is gone. Since they don’t have their money, the brothers will leave town as well. I’m pretty sure you’ve convinced them that you don’t know anything aboutit.”

John only confirmed to me that keeping the hidden money a secret was the right decision.

“I don’t know if I can do this without you. I’m not sure how to goon.”

“There’s nothing here left for you, and it looks like you’ve done pretty well this far.” He nodded to Xavier. “He’s a good friend. And he’s exactly what you need, Anna. You need a man, not a priest. You need someone who will take care of you, both emotionally and physically. If anyone deserves a fresh start, it’s you. Pace will be a good town again one day, I promise, but even then, I’m afraid for what will happen because of Ben’s death. I’m afraid Mateo will be after you to avenge his brother.”

“I will keep her safe,” Xavier replied. When I turned to him I felt a new energy draw me to this man. I’d always been drawn to him, but couldn’t understand why. I trusted him with my life. It was in his arms where I felt the safest. It was he who believed in me and supportedme.

“Anna, run with me, and I will love you until my heart has no more strength. I will never give upHope.”

I gasped. Though my daughter’s name just passed between us, John wasn’t aware of it. Telling him now about Hope would only hurt him. It would confuse John and the religious journey he had set upon. This wasn’t the right time to tell him. He was vulnerable, and I didn’t want to confuse him or his beliefs. I would carry this enormous secret with me until the time was right. John had almost died today because of me, and I would never do anything to hurt him again – and that included his spiritual beliefs. While I realized that it was a sin not to tell him, I was willing to carry the burden of this sin forhim.

“Will you move Mikey’s grave to the chapel for me?” I asked.

“Yes. Of course Iwill.”

I threw my arms around his neck. “Thank you for everything. Thank you for loving me and for your constantcare.”

“I haven’t done anything, Anna, but I will continue praying.” He swept his thumb over my cheek to wipe the tear away. “This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a ‘see you later’.”

“Okay, I think I can do that,” I breathed. “I’ll see you later.”

I let go of my first love and turned around. I didn’t look back again.

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