Wolfsong (Green Creek 1)

“I know.”

“We’re strong.”

“We are.” I smiled.

“Your father died,” she said. “He was drunk. Got behind the wheel. Went into a tree.”

So I said, “Okay,” even as my chest tightened.

“I’m here,” she said. “I’m always going to be here.”

We both chose to ignore the lie because no one could promise that.

“Where?” I asked.

“Nevada.”

“Didn’t get very far, did he.”

“No,” she said. “I don’t suppose he did.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, reaching out to brush my thumb over her cheek.

She nodded. Then shrugged. Her face stuttered a bit and she looked away.

I waited until she could go on.

“I loved him,” she said finally. “For a long time.”

“Me too.” I still did. She might not have, but I still did.

“He was kind. For a while. A good man.”

“Yeah.”

“He loved you.”

“Yeah.”

“Just us now.”

And I said, “No, it’s not.”

She looked back at me. “What do you mean?” A tear fell on her cheek.

“There’s more,” I said, and I was shaking.

She was worried. “Ox, what’s wrong?”

“We’re not alone. We have the Bennetts. Gordo. They’re….”

“Ox?”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I couldn’t let her think we were alone. Not anymore. Not when we didn’t have to be. “I’m going to show you something. You have to trust me. I will never let anything hurt you. I will always protect you. I will keep you safe.”

She was crying now. “Ox—”

“Do you trust me?” I asked.