Page 83 of Sawyer
“Okay, so we should test her garden.See if it’s that?”
I frown.“I’m telling you, she doesn’t spray.She’s adamant about quality control; that’s one of the reasons she does everything herself.”
“Maybe someone else did.”Hudson looks at me seriously from under his brow, and my stomach churns.
“But who would do that?Who would spray her property deliberately?”I try to think, my anger at the possibility swirling.
“Well, you did mention that things have been happening out on the farm.Maybe more has been happening than she’s telling you?”Hudson suggests, and the whole thing leaves me feeling unsettled.
“I need to speak with the sheriff,” I tell him seriously.
“I’ll call him now.”Hudson grabs his phone.
“I’ll call Sutton to come and get Noah.He’s here at my place, might as well put him to good use.”I kiss the top of Noah’s head, wrapping him up in my arms, wanting to ensure he knows he’s safe, regardless of what’s happening.
Because something is, and it’s about time I got to the bottom of it.
37
Annabelle
My hands wring the white sheets as I sit in the cold hospital bed, feeling like I’m being interrogated.
“I have sent a unit out to the farm to test your soil,” Tony, our local sheriff, says, and while I’ve known him for years, I feel exposed, raw, and nervous about having people on my land, especially when I’m not there.
“Okay.”I swallow and nod.Kevin sits on my bed next to me.We’re both finally able to keep water down after having the worst stomach cramps I’ve ever had.
“But I don’t use any weed killer on my land…” I reiterate, looking at the three men standing before me.They all walked into my room this morning to inform me that Kevin and I ingested weed killer.It’s the most insane theory I could think of, given we’ve never had it on the farm in the whole time I’ve managed it.The sheriff looks at Hudson, who looks at Sawyer, and I know there’s something they’re not telling me.
“I know you don't,” Sawyer says, and I’ve never seen him like this.He’s in full professional mode.Still in his suit from yesterday, he hasn’t had any sleep.The man just saw me vomiting for twelve hours straight, and the fact that he’s still here is a miracle.
“So why do you need to test?”I’m confused about all of this.
“Annabelle…” Sawyer starts briefly, looking at Kevin before looking back at me.“You mentioned some weird things have been happening out at the farm.”
I look at my son, swallowing my fear.
“Tell ’em, Ma,” Kevin encourages me with scared eyes.
“You're safe now.I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”Sawyer steps forward and grabs my hand, giving me a squeeze.I feel his protection, his support.Kevin’s almost pleading with me with his gaze, and I close my eyes and I take a deep breath before I tell them everything.
I tell them about the cut locks and ropes, I tell them about the slashed tire.I tell them about the ruined crops, the fear I live in daily, and I feel Sawyer’s anger radiating off him with every mention I make.Hudson looks deeply concerned, and the sheriff writes down all the details with a deep furrow in his brow.
“You’ve been dealing with all that on your own?”Hudson asks, sounding in disbelief.
“Wasn’t anyone around to help… until now.”
Sawyer lifts my hand to his mouth, kissing my knuckles, his hold on me tight.
“It all feels a little random to me.When all these incidents took place, was there anything going on that may have set them off?”the sheriff asks, and I shake my head, not thinking of anything.
“They all happened after Sawyer came,” Kevin speaks up, and I take in a sharp breath of realization as Sawyer’s head snaps up, looking at Kevin.
“What do you mean?”Sawyer asks, and Kevin looks at me for permission.I nod, giving it to him to continue.
“Well… Sawyer turned up with the paperwork for Ma the first time, and the next day, the ropes on the shed were cut.”
I nod.He’s right, they were.
