Page 5 of Desert Thorns

Page List

Font Size:

“Harley.” A hand nudged my shoulder. “Hey.”

My eyes felt like they were glued shut, and it took me a moment to pry them open. Brother Samuel crouched next to the bed, his face illuminated by the soft glow of a kerosene lamp.

I shot upright. “Is he here?” My heart pounded as I looked around the small room with its spartan pine furniture.

No one was here. Just Brother Samuel.

“It’s okay. You’re safe, Harley.”

I looked back at the monk, his deep voice and choice of words soothing my nerves not for the first time. He exuded a calmness that allowed me to . . . breathe.

A deep crease built between his dark brows. “I woke you up because it’s time to go if you don’t want anyone knowing you’re here. Soon, the community gets up for Vigils.”

Oh. And I was keeping him. What he’d done for me, allowing me to stay without telling anyone or asking questions . . . I wished I could tell him how much it meant.

Guilt gnawing at me, I pushed the linen blankets away. Even though I still wore my jeans and T-shirt, Brother Samuel averted his gaze.

“I’ll be waiting outside. Please bring the lamp with you.” He hiked a thumb over his shoulder as if I didn’t know where the door was, then turned and left.

Why did he look so familiar? I could swear I knew him from somewhere. Or maybe it was simply because he had a handsome face. With those dark brown loose curls—longer on top, shorter at the sides—the strong jaw, trimmed beard, and sea-green eyes I would’ve guessed him to be anything but a monk.

I rolled my eyes.As if monks can’t be good-looking, Harley.

After putting on my sneakers, I made a stop in the bathroom, then joined Brother Samuel outside. He stood a couple yards from the door, feet planted, broad shoulders squared in that black habit. A rosary dangled from his belt. I’d honestly had no idea that Christian monks lived up here, let alone on this island. Although Saint James did ring a bell.

“Did you sleep okay?” He took the kerosene lamp from me and turned it off. Why, I had no idea. The sky was only starting to brighten, the stars still winking down on us, the trees and mountains mere shadows.

“I did.” I hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but I’d been so exhausted. And knowing that Brother Samuel was outside, watching out for me . . .

He didn’t say anything as he led me across a field, then through a small forest. Everything up here was lush, the air so much cleaner and cooler than in the lowlands. Finally, we reached the thick wall I’d climbed yesterday. But our surroundings looked different. No lake in sight. We had to be on the other side of the monastery. Brother Samuel approached an iron door and slid back the three bolts.

My heart raced when I slowly followed him outside. I scanned the stretch of grass, the jungle beyond it, then the gravel parking lot. Yup, we were on the opposite side.

“Is that yours?” Brother Samuel pointed at my Beetle haphazardly parked in the middle of the lot.

“Yes.”

The two other vehicles—a white van and a pickup—had been here when I’d arrived, so they had to belong to the monastery. Craig’s cobalt Charger wasn’t anywhere in sight.

Which meant exactly nothing. He could be waiting somewhere down the road. Or at Golden Palace.

Or worse, at my apartment.

I shuddered.

“You okay?”

Brother Samuel’s question snapped me out of my thoughts. Apparently I had stopped walking.

“Yup.” I forced my legs back into motion.

He narrowed his eyes at me as if he could see straight through my lie. But he didn’t call me out on it. Instead, he escorted me all the way to my Beetle. He, too, kept looking around. Although it seemed like he especially monitored the main entrance that now came into view. Was he worried someone of his community could see us?

For my sake or his? Would he get into trouble if anyone saw him with me? A woman?

I fumbled the key fob from my jeans. My hands shook so hard I dropped it. I bent to pick it up, stifling a groan when pain shot through my hip. A reminder of the fence I’d fallen off.

A reminder of three men chasing me. Probably to kill me.