Page 57 of Shielding Maya

He tugged Maya's hand and moved her closer. His arm slid around her shoulders and he kissed the top of her head. "I'm a lucky man."

Spencer grinned. "Yeah, I admit it, she's something special."

Maya chuckled. "I knew you'd admit it one day."

Spencer laughed out loud. "I've said it plenty. So, what's the plan?"

Jasiah swallowed. "I have to address the community tonight to tell them what I have planned for future expansion. It's sort of my presidential speech, I guess. I don't know if my opposition will be there, I assume he will be. But, I don't think he's violent."

Myles stepped toward the door. "Okay. So, we'll be on the perimeter making sure no one approaches from the woods."

Jasiah nodded. "Thank you. Though I don't know why they'd come up there looking for me."

Maya glanced up at him. "At this point, it could just be because you killed Malibu Man."

Jasiah looked at Tate. "Does everyone know who killed him?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Though, King had all night to send out feelers to find out what happened."

"No one knew but us."

"Hospital staff may have found out. There are cameras down there."

Jasiah closed his eyes for a moment and nodded.

Myles broke the silence that followed. "I'm hungry."

Tate and Spencer laughed. Jasiah chuckled and squeezed Maya's shoulders. "Let's go eat." Nodding to Tate and Spencer, "Thank you. I appreciate your concern."

Myles glanced at Spencer. "We're going to lunch. I'll find you when we return and we'll discuss when to go up and what we'll do."

Spencer waved. "Have a great lunch."

34

Maya paid the cashier and lugged her bags to the Jeep. Lunch had been great. Myles and Jasiah had a few things in common and at least to her, it seemed that Myles learned to respect Jasiah as a man. That was important to her. And, of course Myles would be chatting with their parents, and she wanted him to confirm to her parents that Jasiah was a good man.

After loading up her Jeep, she left Brookswood and headed toward Glen Hollow. She'd packed clothes for an overnight stay. A toothbrush and deodorant. She'd make do with a sink bath occasionally and the outhouse. As long as she had clean clothes and deodorant, she'd feel better.

She rolled her window down and let her hair blow in the wind. It was a crisp fall day, but it felt good. Life felt good right now.

Turning up Last Road, she slowed around the corners and slammed on her brakes when she saw Marni duck into a thicket of brush.

She jumped from her Jeep and ran around to the other side of the road.

"Marni. It's me, Maya."

Maya stepped into the thicket of brush she'd seen Marni dive into and pushed at the thick brush with her hands. She stepped over a downed log, and tripped on thick brush. Lifting her head, she saw Marni watching her.

"Hey, why are you running from me?"

Marni shrugged. "I don't know."

Maya untangled herself from the long brush that grabbed and scratched her. Some of that brush had thorns.

"Are you alright?"

Marni shrugged. "Yeah."

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