Page 90 of Come Back to Me

“Water, water, everywhere but not a drop to drink!”

The shriek has some birds fluttering and soaring into the sky. Jolting in surprise, I almost fall off the truck so, quickly, I resettle myself in the driver’s seat.

Panic lodges at the back of my throat.

“It’s not like I can call Colt to ask where I am.Idon’t know where I am. I don’t know whereheis. You idiot, Tee! What the fuck were you thinking?”

In my agitation, I accidentally slam my foot on the accelerator and the truck jerks forward a few feet. The sudden action has my purse tumbling over. I stare at the mess on the passenger footwell and see my notepad.

Last night, everything had been so simple.

“Why didn’t I flirt with Millie? Sure, she could have been a serial killer but—” My shriek breaks off. “Serial killers. Oh my god. What if there’s one here? He’s not a blonde chick, but men die in horror movies too.” My fingers choke the steering wheel. “They have coyotes out here. What if a coyote eats him? I’m too pretty to go to prison,” I squeal.

My ridiculousness shuts me up, and I rake together every iota of information I have on the apex predators.

“Coyotes are nocturnal hunters.” Reassuring. “They hunt in pairs.” Less so.

Overactive imagination kickstarted again, I rage, “It’s a goddamn lake, Christy MacFarlane! Not exactly easy to fucking miss. What the hell is wrong with you? It was a STRAIGHT line!”

That’s when I see them.

If we were in a desert, I’d think they were a mirage.

But they’re not.

The Three Stooges.

The three hellhounds.

THE MCALLISTER TRIPLETS.

“Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. I promise I’ll go to church this Sunday... Okay, maybe not this Sunday, but next Sunday. Yes. Next Sunday. I... well, I can’t promise because you wouldn’t want me to lie to you, but how about between this year and next year, I’ll go to church.” A vengeful gleam lights up my eyes. “And I’ll bring that rat bastard with me.” That decided, I lower the window and holler, “Demon spawn, I need your help!”

The triplets’ heads whip around in tandem. Honestly, they should have been dancers with how in sync they are together.

Maybe cheerleaders?

It’s weird to think my BFF’s brothers are cute, right?

Yup.

Moving on.

(Apparently, I have a thing for Zee’s siblings.)

(Do I have a thing for Zee too? Oops.)

“Tee?” I think it’s Calder who hollers back at me.

“Yes!! I need you.”

For some reason, that has them all nudging their horses into moving and making their approach to my idling truck in a line.

Calder—yeah, it’s definitely him. I recognize that chin—swoops his hat off and bows over it. “How can we help, my lady?”

“You been watchingA Knight’s Taleagain?” I demand, his foolishness calming me.

They’re smart—they know this land better than I do.

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