Chapter 27

The sun felt warmer the higher we climbed. The air smelled crisper than I ever smelled before, and it brought a smile to my face.

“Can I ask you something?”

I glanced at Clarabelle and nodded before I turned my attention back to the men in front of us, leading the way to the first summit.

In the distance, I could see a staircase made of large cobblestones, and it made me excited to know that Elijah would make his move soon.

He probably just wants to see where they lead us, first.

“So, Elijah is your nephew, right?”

The way the words tumbled from her putrid mouth seemed uneasy, hesitant, and even a little judgmental.

I nodded again, kept my eyes on Elijah’s back, and walked on.

“Actual nephew?”

“What other kind of nephew would he be?” I snapped at her.

Taking a deep breath, I told myself to calm down and remember that not everyone would understand or accept a love like ours.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “Yes, he’s my actual nephew.”

I felt her eyes on me as she stole a glance, and managed to keep my composure. She was judging us like she had a right to.

“Is Mr. Graham your actual husband?” I asked, mocking her the only way I knew how.

It may have been childish, but short of throwing her into the woods and beating her to death with a rock, I wasn’t sure how else to handle the conversation she was attempting to have with me.

It was my turn to look at her with judging eyes, which I realized very quickly she didn’t like. Clarabelle’s mouth was a tight line of anger, but she nodded in response to my question.

“I just think that the two of you are too close. Or at least, that’s how it seems,” she finally confessed.

“Why? Because he comforts me when I need it the most? Because he’s the only man who’s never betrayed or harmed me? Because he loves me? Are all of these traits lacking in your husband?” I all but shout at her.

“Aunt Maisie?”

Elijah came back down toward us and rested a hand on my shoulder. When he felt my body trembling with rage, he gave me a reassuring squeeze before sliding his hand down into mine.

“She’s had a rough life,” he tried to explain to Clarabelle.

I immediately shook my head and jerked my hand out of his grip.

“She doesn’t need an explanation, Elijah,” I seethed, my eyes still on the bitch who thought she was exponentially better than me.

“Alright, let’s all try to get along. We’ve still got to ride together to Kingston after we’re done here,” Graham reasoned as he walked down toward us and pulled Clarabelle close to him.

“We’ll walk ahead, you just tell us when to stop, okay?” he said to Elijah who nodded and extended a hand in thanks to him.

“She doesn’t mean any harm,” Graham said after Clarabelle stomped her way up the staircase and disappeared around a corner. “I’m sorry if she offended you. Friends?”

I took a deep breath, looked away for a moment, then tucked my hair behind my ears as I finally nodded.

“Friends,” I echoed.

Until we don’t need you anymore.

___

“Check it out! It’s a cave!” Elijah called out to Graham and his bitch once we reached the top of the stairs—shortly after they had.

Graham turned to look at us with a curious look on his face, and Elijah nodded toward the opening just off the path and almost directly below us.

Peering down at the fancy watch on his wrist, Graham glanced at us. “Well, I’ll tell you what. We can either keep climbing to the top or we can go look at the cave. I think we should get back on the road soon, since myself and the missus need to get going on our way.”

“What do you want to do, Mais?”

I turned my attention up toward the boy next to me, and saw the earnest look in his eyes.

It was time.

“Well,” I began as thoughtfully as I could. I knew I had to hide the excitement of what was coming so that they would be taken by surprise. “We don’t know how much longer the hike to the top will take, and the cave is practically right there …”

“I agree,” Clarabelle stated in a clipped tone. “Besides, the sooner we can get back on the road, the better.”

Elijah moved behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, resting his chin on the top of my head.

He was doing his best to cool my anger before it raged through me, and I had no choice but to let him win this time.

“I wonder how we get down there,” Graham murmured as he began to walk closer to the drop-off.

I tensed in Elijah’s arms.

It was almost too perfect.

He was making this easier than it needed to be without even realizing it.

“Make sure she doesn’t get away,” Elijah whispered into my ear, before he pulled away from me and went to stand beside Graham.

“Don’t stand so close to the edge, man. I’m pretty sure that’s a far enough drop to kill someone,” Elijah told him as he put a hand on his arm and inched him back.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he agreed.

My mad devil crossed his arms over his chest to gain Graham’s trust as they began to talk about ways to descend safely toward the cave.

I took the opportunity to excuse myself, “I have to use the bathroom.”

Clarabelle cut her eyes toward me, arched an eyebrow, then shook her head as I started to walk toward a cluster of trees.

I crouched down once I was far enough out of sight, then began to pick up different stones and rocks, trying to find one big enough to knock her unconscious, but small enough not to kill her.

Just as I found one that I knew would be perfect for the task, I heard the sounds of scuffling, followed by a bellow of pure fear.