Read Online We'll Never Tell (Secrets of Ravenswood) by Jannine Gallant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jannine Gallant
Ads: Link
her
mug. “He doesn’t want me to take any chances.”
“Hmm.”
“What does that
mean?”
“Nothing. I’m glad
someone is looking out for you. You like this guy?”
“I do.” She looked up at
the cobweb hanging from the cabinet over the refrigerator. How long had it been
since she’d cleaned more than surface areas? How long since she’d been home
long enough to have the time?
“Are you there, Sam?”
“Yeah.” She let out a
breath. “I do like him, but I don’t want to get hurt. The way my life rolls,
I’m only around long enough to get my emotions tangled up, and then—”
“So stay. You’ve been
living like a freaking nomad since you graduated from college. Reality
check—it’s been seven years. You’re allowed to spend more than a month at a
time at home. You can’t save everyone, no matter how hard you try.”
Sam bit her lip.
“Juliette said the same thing. So did Ken.”
“That’s because we love
you. I remember when you used to be excited—couldn’t wait to fly halfway across
the world. But lately you just seem tired.”
“Maybe it’s because
we’re getting old.” She glanced down and grinned. “I’m sipping tea in flannel
pajamas. I think that says it all.”
Darby snorted. “I don’t
mean physically tired. You’re probably in better shape than you were ten years
ago. But mentally, you’ve exhausted yourself. Take a break—a long one.”
“I can’t do nothing. I’d
go crazy.”
“Volunteer with your
local Search and Rescue. Find a new hobby. You have a creative mind. I’m sure
you can come up with something.” She let out a short laugh. “I bet Ethan would
be happy to keep you occupied.”
“Funny. Everyone’s a
comedian lately.”
Darby sighed. “If I
weren’t in the middle of a genealogy project, I’d come up there. Unfortunately,
I’m committed here for a few more weeks with side trips to New York and Boston
on the schedule.”
“Good. The farther you
are from Ravenswood, the safer you’ll be. I wish I could convince Juliette to
leave town, but she’s stubborn about not closing the ballet studio.”
“Pot, kettle, Sam.”
She choked on a swallow
of tea, and it was several moments before she could speak. “I may be a teensy
bit obstinate.”
“Just a little? You be
careful, promise me.”
“Cautious is my middle name.
I’ll talk to you again soon.”
She hung up the phone,
drank the last of her tea, then glanced at the digital clock on the stove.
Nearly eleven. She might as well go to bed. Putting her mug in the sink, she
walked through the dark living room to her bedroom and flipped on the overhead
light.
A single sheet of yellow
tablet paper lay propped against the pillow on the bed. A message was written
in bold, black marker.
I’m watching you.
Chapter Seven
Ethan accelerated up
Sam’s driveway, jerked to a stop, jumped out of the pickup, and ran up the
walkway. She opened the front door before he could knock.
“He’s long gone, Ethan.
I told you I was fine.” The hand that pushed a strand of hair behind her ear
displayed only the slightest tremor. “You didn’t have to come.”
“The hell I didn’t!” His
own hands hadn’t stopped shaking since he’d answered her call. “I kept
picturing this dirt bag hiding in your closet, just waiting for you to climb
into bed.”
Her lips curved slightly
as she shut the door behind them. “The closet was the first place I
checked—right after I grabbed the fireplace poker. I don’t recall much about
how he looked all those years ago, but I do remember he was big.”
Ethan stepped forward
and framed her face in his palms. Fear lingered in the depths of the wide green
eyes staring back at him.
“You scared the crap out
of me.” Pulling her into his arms, he hugged her swift and hard before stepping
away. “I want to check around outside.” He paused. “You didn’t leave the house after
you found the note, did you?”
She shook her head. “You
give me way too
mug. “He doesn’t want me to take any chances.”
“Hmm.”
“What does that
mean?”
“Nothing. I’m glad
someone is looking out for you. You like this guy?”
“I do.” She looked up at
the cobweb hanging from the cabinet over the refrigerator. How long had it been
since she’d cleaned more than surface areas? How long since she’d been home
long enough to have the time?
“Are you there, Sam?”
“Yeah.” She let out a
breath. “I do like him, but I don’t want to get hurt. The way my life rolls,
I’m only around long enough to get my emotions tangled up, and then—”
“So stay. You’ve been
living like a freaking nomad since you graduated from college. Reality
check—it’s been seven years. You’re allowed to spend more than a month at a
time at home. You can’t save everyone, no matter how hard you try.”
Sam bit her lip.
“Juliette said the same thing. So did Ken.”
“That’s because we love
you. I remember when you used to be excited—couldn’t wait to fly halfway across
the world. But lately you just seem tired.”
“Maybe it’s because
we’re getting old.” She glanced down and grinned. “I’m sipping tea in flannel
pajamas. I think that says it all.”
Darby snorted. “I don’t
mean physically tired. You’re probably in better shape than you were ten years
ago. But mentally, you’ve exhausted yourself. Take a break—a long one.”
“I can’t do nothing. I’d
go crazy.”
“Volunteer with your
local Search and Rescue. Find a new hobby. You have a creative mind. I’m sure
you can come up with something.” She let out a short laugh. “I bet Ethan would
be happy to keep you occupied.”
“Funny. Everyone’s a
comedian lately.”
Darby sighed. “If I
weren’t in the middle of a genealogy project, I’d come up there. Unfortunately,
I’m committed here for a few more weeks with side trips to New York and Boston
on the schedule.”
“Good. The farther you
are from Ravenswood, the safer you’ll be. I wish I could convince Juliette to
leave town, but she’s stubborn about not closing the ballet studio.”
“Pot, kettle, Sam.”
She choked on a swallow
of tea, and it was several moments before she could speak. “I may be a teensy
bit obstinate.”
“Just a little? You be
careful, promise me.”
“Cautious is my middle name.
I’ll talk to you again soon.”
She hung up the phone,
drank the last of her tea, then glanced at the digital clock on the stove.
Nearly eleven. She might as well go to bed. Putting her mug in the sink, she
walked through the dark living room to her bedroom and flipped on the overhead
light.
A single sheet of yellow
tablet paper lay propped against the pillow on the bed. A message was written
in bold, black marker.
I’m watching you.
Chapter Seven
Ethan accelerated up
Sam’s driveway, jerked to a stop, jumped out of the pickup, and ran up the
walkway. She opened the front door before he could knock.
“He’s long gone, Ethan.
I told you I was fine.” The hand that pushed a strand of hair behind her ear
displayed only the slightest tremor. “You didn’t have to come.”
“The hell I didn’t!” His
own hands hadn’t stopped shaking since he’d answered her call. “I kept
picturing this dirt bag hiding in your closet, just waiting for you to climb
into bed.”
Her lips curved slightly
as she shut the door behind them. “The closet was the first place I
checked—right after I grabbed the fireplace poker. I don’t recall much about
how he looked all those years ago, but I do remember he was big.”
Ethan stepped forward
and framed her face in his palms. Fear lingered in the depths of the wide green
eyes staring back at him.
“You scared the crap out
of me.” Pulling her into his arms, he hugged her swift and hard before stepping
away. “I want to check around outside.” He paused. “You didn’t leave the house after
you found the note, did you?”
She shook her head. “You
give me way too
Similar Books
