Page 77 of Like a Hurricane

And it worked. Everyone worked to clear the streets as best as possible, everyone chipped in to chop firewood, shovel snow and deliver essentials to the ones who needed the help most. School was cancelled for Harper which meant I got to spend a couple days just hanging out with the little lady. And I loved every minute of it. She was such a sweet little girl, incredibly smart and unnervingly observant. She saw everything, even the stuff you desperately wanted to hide.

Everett was helping Torin with the needs of the town; Maya was helping Ruthie down at the lodge and I’d offered to keep an eye on Harper while they did all that.

She was currently sitting on the bed Rett and I were sharing, swinging her legs off the side while I unpacked the bags we had neglected to do since we weren’t sure how long we were staying for.

It seemed we weren’t going anywhere for a while, and I was sick of living out of duffels and suitcases.

“I was never allowed to play in the snow!” Harper says as I place one of Rett’s sweaters on a hanger, “momma and I built our first snowman the other day. Daddy helped.”

My heart warms at hearing her call Torin daddy, Maya and Harper deserved so much happiness and from what Rett told me about his brother, Torin deserved it too.

I reach into the bag, “What did you call your snowman?” I ask as I pull out a small bag where the contents rattle a little inside.

“Kevin.” Harper answers so nonchalantly, so easily that I’m shocked for a moment.

“Kevin!?” I laugh, looking back to the small girl on the bed.

Harper grins back at me, her round, rosy cheeks lifting with the full expression, eyes beaming, “He had a carrot nose. Do you want to build one with me!?”

“I would love to!” I laugh, turning back to the small bag in hand, “We’ll do it after I’ve put away the rest of these things.”

I open the zip on the bag, trying to figure out where to put it and stop short.

There are three syringes inside, all filled with a clear liquid, and it doesn’t take me long to realize what they are.

Rett sedated me on the boat when we first arrived and looking at the slip of paper stuffed in with them, these were backups. Putting the syringe subtly back inside the bag, I zip it up and carefully stash it in the drawer by the side of the bed I sleep on. I didn’t want them just lying around nor did I want them accessible. I lock the drawer and stash the key in a shoe at the back of the wardrobe, before I turn all my attention to the small girl waiting to build a snowman with me. We head out into the snow, the cold already sinking beneath my skin.

Harper’s all wrapped up in a puffer coat with a hat that almost covers her eyes and mittens and she’s started rolling a ball in the snow, pushing it around and around to try build it up. She has a pile of old winter accessories laying at the foot of the porch steps and a lonely carrot buried beneath it all.

“We will call him Phil,” Harper huffs, pushing all her weight into the ball but it wasn’t going anywhere. So, she stops and starts building on top of it, mushing snow into the sides to build up the snowman base.

“Phil the snowman, I like it.”

I get to my knees to help, pushing snow into the base and eventually we have a good solid foundation. I start on the second section when my collar is suddenly yanked, and ice is thrown down my back.

I let out a shocked scream, biting my tongue so I don’t curse as the snow gets everywhere under my layers, chilling me before it melts and leaves me wet. I spin to find Everett with a shit eating grin on his face, biting his lip as if to stop from laughing.

“I am going to murder you!” I yell at him, lunging for him as I scoop up a handful of snow. But I should have guessed catching him would be impossible. The man was a skilled hunter, there was no way he would easily become the prey. I launch my snowball at him, aiming for his head but miss.

He chuckles and Harper squeals, diving for cover behind the half-built snowman. “Everett!” I squeal as he throws his own back. I don’t dodge it in time, and it hits me square in the back.

“Come on, princess,” He taunts, “Where’s that drive to kill me gone?”

“You want drive?” I growl, making the perfect round snowy projectile while also hiding behind the porch, “I’ll give you drive, Everett Avery.”

“Oh, I love it when you get feisty, little storm,” he licks his lips, “Win and I might even let you have a little control.”

He didn’t have to say much more than that for me to know what he meant. I wasn’t sure what it would be like ifIhad the control, how it would end but hey, I was curious. And a sore loser.

I keep low as I round the porch, “There she is,” his eyes flare, “My pretty little princess.”

I duck and sprint to where Harper is, “We’re a team,” I tell her, “You go left, I go right.”

She grins, “Uncle Rett is old, he can’t keep up with me.” She gloats.

“I heard that!” Rett hollers, feigning offence. “Using children is immoral, little storm, shame on you.”

“All is fair in love and war, Everett,” I taunt, darting out when Harper does. She launches her snowball and hits Rett on the shoulder and I throw mine, hitting him right in the chest. We both cheer at our victory.

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