“Let’s not be hasty,” Greer countered.
“Greer, if I find out you’re behind this just to get Holly to move out, I’ll never forgive you.” Rachel looked away from him as if she already believed he was behind the peculiar events.
Not only had several of their traps been sprung, but he had found some footprints outside the back door. More importantly, the dog was becoming skittish, walking around the house as if it was listening, padding back and forth between the two doors. So far, it had escaped Holly’s notice, and neither he nor Dustin wanted to worry her. And they never left her or Logan alone, but their plants were getting bigger and more valuable as each day passed.
It didn’t take a smart man to realize that if the perpetrators wanted the plants, they would stake out where the Porters were during the day and when was the best time to steal them without getting caught. And what if they weren’t after the plants but Holly? Pa said a wise man never believed what was under his nose. Even an onion wouldn’t smell until the layers were pulled back.
The fishing pole in his hand lowered.
“You know me better than that.” Raising the pole up, he cast his line into the water.
He was stung that his sister believed he was low enough to lie about someone sneaking around just to get Holly to move out. Everyone in town thought he was a mean asshole, but hearing the suspicion in Rachel’s voice hurt, though he would never admit it.
“He’s not lying.” Dustin walked to the water’s edge. “The dreams are coming more often. Whatever’s going to happen, it’s going to happen soon.”
Tate, Rachel, and Greer turned to stare at Dustin apprehensively. All the Porters had their gifts handed down from their great-grandmother. Most of the town knew of Rachel’s gift of healing since she had used it. Greer’s gift was rarely used, and the spirit world would always take their due when he did. Dustin’s gift was dreams of forewarning. It was different than Tate’s, who would hear the chiming of bells when Death drew close. The dreams would start as a forewarning, never showing him the victims until it was too late for him to warn them.
While Logan watched from farther away yet still within sight, Dustin wearily turned toward them, letting them see the burden he had carried over the last three months since the dreams had returned.
If not for their grandmother, Dustin would have been put on medication at a young age when they had been constantly awoken by his nightmares. They would go away then return with no rhyme or reason.
Their grandmother had been the one who had noticed the correlation of the dreams disappearing when a family member passed away. Pa had never believed their heritage was responsible for the gifts that were becoming more evident as they grew, arguing with their ma that her mother was brainwashing his children. They learned never to talk about it front of their pa. He even ignored their warnings the day he was determined to go fishing with their mother.
Dustin had dreamed about drowning for six months. Each night, he had dreamed he was drowning over and over again. The dreams had stopped the night they had died. They had known their parents were dead before the sheriff had shown him and Tate their bodies.
“You still have no idea who it could be?” Rachel whispered, as if the spirits could hear them. Greer knew there was no hiding from them. They would give their warnings, but they wouldn’t let the fate of who Dustin was dreaming escape the destiny foretold.
“No. Usually, they come and go after someone died. This one is different. I’ve dreamed this one for years. It’s the same every time. I go to sleep and a masked figure comes into the bedroom where I’m sleeping and smothers me until I …” Dustin didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to. They knew how it ended.
“Do you think the dream could be you?” Rachel leaned against Dustin, stroking his arm as if to ease the worry etched in his features.
“No. I think it’s someone close. They’re preparing me to lose someone I love.”
Greer wasn’t afraid of much in life, but the thought of Dustin losing someone he loved scared him shitless. The Porters were close, so if Dustin loved them, it meant someone he loved was also in danger.
“We’ve done everything we can do. Cash is keeping close to Rachel. Sutton always has Tate with her.” Greer gently bobbed his fishing pole.
“She and Holly are alone now,” Rachel said uneasily.
“You know us better than that.” Greer didn’t break his concentration from his fishing. “I have Shade watching them. He owes us enough favors, so we have that handled if we can’t cover everyone at the same time. Once Holly moves into Mrs. Langley’s house, it’ll get easier. I won’t have to worry every time I go check on the plants. She can come back after we’re done drying and packaging them.”