Page 168 of Beneath the Mountain Sky
Fighting for my life.
Fighting for my memories.
Fighting for all the things I lost on this mountain.
He tries the door handle, which gives easily. There isn’t any reason to lock it out here.
No neighbors.
No crime.
Nothing to fear.
Except the man who supposedly lives here…
It springs open with a slight creak, and we take a step in, me with my hand against Killian’s lower back, clinging to him the only way I can.
Despite the outward appearances, the interior of the house is shockingly clean and well-kept. Though clearly aging and not updated since likely the fifties, it’s tidy. As if someone cares for it deeply and takes pride in its appearance.
I was wrong about it being abandoned, which means I was probably right in believing this is where Earl left our baby.
Dim light draws us down the front hallway toward what must be the kitchen at the rear of the house.
The sound of someone humming low floats out to us.
Killian freezes and tilts his ear toward it.
A woman’s voice, humming and singing softly.
I lean in to whisper to him. “That must be her. Amy, Earl’s sister. It has to be…”
Killian nods and starts to advance, but I grab his arm, stopping him.
My gaze drifts to the weapon in his hand, the one both Tony and Connor insisted he bring along, since we didn’t know what we might find. “The gun might spook her.”
He opens his mouth to argue with me. I know I am going to piss him off because he ordered me to stay behind him, but I step around and push past him, cautiously advancing to the kitchen, where her song fills the air.
I cautiously step through the jamb and glance inside.
She stands with her back to me, looking out a window, rocking side to side, completely oblivious that her home has been infiltrated.
Stay calm.
That’s easy for me to tell myself, harder for me to actually do with so much at stake.
My heart slams violently against my ribs, blood rushing in my ears as I take another step into the kitchen.
I clear my throat, the sound shockingly loud in the peaceful, quiet space.
She startles, turning toward me quickly.
My breath catches.
Oh, my God.
Relief floods through me, washing away all those doubts, those worries.
All I can see is Niall cradled against her chest.
