Page 21 of Those Who Are Bound

Elliott was thrilled holding his hand as they meandered along the Bluffs Trail. It was probably good that he had a hold of her as she gawked around, looking over the cliff toward the river. He was able to guide her gently away from the edge. When they passed other hikers, a sense of pride came over her—and, secretly, superiority—that this man was holding her hand. Her cheeks flushed with pleasure. She experienced a feeling of normalcy, being a part of something again; it had been so long.

As they approached the overlook, which was a wooden structure that jutted out over the bluff and was built around a tree, Elliott released his hand with an exclamation and ran ahead. When he followed, his steps sounding on the planks, she turned to him with wonder on her face and said, “All this time, I had no idea that this was here.”

He stood next to her at the railing, looking out over the river.

As they stood there, taking in the view, a coal train made its appearance on the tracks and eventually rumbled by below, running alongside the Missouri on the way to LaCygne, Kansas, and the power plant there. At least, that’s what Gage had always told her. Elliott stared down as it passed, following the path of the tracks with her eyes. She asked, “These tracks run through Parkville?”

It was more of a comment: yes, this was the Missouri River, and those tracks and that coal train were the same that ran south through Parkville. This was the very river and train she and her brother would watch with their coffee across from Jonah’s store.

Jonah nodded.

The twist of pain in her heart took her breath. Her brother would have loved this; would have loved to have come here, to clear his head and watch the river and his beloved coal train. She hated the weak moments she still had, and she looked away from the train, taking in a slow breath.

Jonah placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay.”

“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” she forced out a watery laugh and shrugged her shoulder, but his hand wouldn’t be dislodged. “I didn’t mean to turn melancholy. It’s just a train.”

“He’s your brother.”

“No, I know,” she forced out in a light tone. “Here I am, barely knowing you, and I’m bawling over a train. You must think me certifiable.” She made a concerted effort to get away this time, and he let his hand drop.

Jonah stared at her with a mixture of sincerity and compassion. “I think you lost your brother only two years ago. I’d have to be a bastard to deny you your moments of grief.”

She looked at him warily for a second, and then looked away, back out over the river and the retreating train. “But I am sorry. This place is beautiful. I didn’t mean to ruin it.”

“Nothing’s ruined. This is one of the best days I’ve had in a long time, thanks to you.”

She gave him a skeptical look.

He held out a hand to her. “Come finish this walk with me. I’m hungry.” Now her look was quizzical.

“Breakfast. I’m taking you for a real breakfast after this.”

Elliott took his hand, saying again, “I am sorry.”

He jerked her forward and tilted her head back with a finger under her chin. “Don’t apologize to me for showing emotions. Don’t apologize to me for having feelings. You should only apologize if you hurt me intentionally. You haven’t hurt me.”

Her heart racing and her stomach doing somersaults, she asked, “Jonah?”

“Yes?”

“I have no right to ask it, but can you please tell me you’re normal? That you don’t have barrels of dead women buried in your backyard or carved up puppies in your deep freezer?”

His brows drew together in amusement and he chuckled. “That’s a really low bar, Elliott.”

“Or maybe I want you to tell me you do, because I’m beginning to like you; it’s scaring me a little, and it would be my excuse to run away,” she said honestly.

Jonah shook his head. “No such luck; I’m pretty normal. And you have every right to ask it.”

A panicked laugh escaped her; she didn’t have the right, but she said anyway, “Well, I’m screwed.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He stared at her frankly for a moment before he stepped back, her hand still firmly clasped in his.

Elliott let him lead her off the observation deck and through the smallish parking lot. They passed a barn that she merely glanced at, her whole body humming. He handed her a bottled water, and she drank from it obediently, passing it back to him when she’d had enough.

Oh my god, this is for real. This man is for real.

He wasn’t going to disappear tomorrow. He wanted to get to know her.Her.Today wasn’t a fluke. She looked over at him. He smiled warmly, a slight squeeze of her hand sending her heart into palpitations again.

---