“Do you need me to call the cops? We have a landline for emergen—”
“No!”
Her sharp tone took me aback. Was she in trouble with the law, or what exactly about the word “cops” had evoked such an intense reaction?
“All right, no police.” I roughed a hand over my beard. “How about I show you the guesthouse so you can decide whether you want to spend the night or not.”
“Um . . . okay.”
I led her back through the woods to the guesthouse, a one-story building with solid stone walls—three bedrooms and one bathroom. I entered first, just in case someone was lying in ambush for her. After checking every room while she waited in the narrow hallway, I guided her into the room on the right. For some reason, it seemed the safest.
Even though the main building and Father Cruz’s home were on the other side of the property, my gut contracted when I turned on the lights. The chances that any of the brothers were anywhere but in their cells were small, but what if one of them wasn’t and saw us? If I got caught with a woman, it would look all sorts of unethical. I couldn’t afford that. Not now that I only had three months left in seminary.
“The sheets are fresh.” I cocked my chin at the pine twin bed matching a chest-high dresser and a small desk with chair. An ancient painting of Serenity Lake and linen curtains I now tugged in front of the window were the only decoration. We liked to keep things simple here. “There are new toothbrushes and paste under the sink. And towels. Tap water is potable.”
She slowly walked to the bed and sank onto the white cotton sheets, then brought her gaze to me. “Can you please . . . not tell anyone I’m here?”
I squinted at her. “Why not, if you don’t mind me asking?” I would report her stay to Father Cruz, even if it was after she’d left in the morning. My conscience wouldn’t allow me not to.
Something in her expression shut down. She rose abruptly. “I think it’s better if I go—”
Moving in front of her, I blocked her exit. “Stay. I won’t tell anyone. Promise.”
She lifted her head to look up at me, relief flickering in her hazel eyes. Her full lips parted. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I watched her return to the bed. “If you need anything, I’m right outside.” On one hand to protect her, on the other to makesure she wouldn’t get any ideas. Not that I pegged her as the kind who vandalized our property or stole from the little we had, or whatever else she could do, but I was still responsible for her actions.
“That’s very kind of you, Brother . . .”
“Samuel.”
“Right. Brother Samuel.” Her gaze wandered over me, making me feel weirdly exposed. I was used to getting stared at when I left the monastery wearing my habit, but being scrutinized like that by a gorgeous woman while it was just the two of us in a tight room . . .
Or was this about my last name? Did she know who I was? Who my family was?
The sudden urge to get out of here drove me to the door. “Goodnight.” I retreated into the hallway, about to close the door behind me—
“I’m Harley, by the way.”
I stopped and glanced over my shoulder. “That’s a special name.”
“My dad is a Harley-Davidson fanatic.” She huffed a laugh. “Not sure what my parents were thinking.”
I smiled. It was a beautiful name. “Goodnight, Harley.”
“Goodnight, Brother Samuel. And once again, thank you. You have no idea how much this means.”
Her relief-saturated words trailed me as I left her to it and headed outside. Jaw clenched, I sat down in the grass and leaned my back against the cold stone wall of the guesthouse. Crickets chirped, wind rustling the leaves of the eucalyptus trees nearby as if this were a peaceful night.
I grabbed the rosary on my belt and fingered the beads. The thought that I had to go behind Father Cruz’s back coiled like a noose around my chest. What exactly was this woman tangled inthat she had to hide and didn’t want the police to get involved? Who was she running from?
I stared at the blanket of stars stretching above me. I’d have to wake her up before Vigils and usher her out of the property. If anyone caught us, I would be facing serious consequences.
Maybe even lose my opportunity to become a priest.
Chapter 3
Harley