6. December, Last Year

CHAPTER 6

DECEMBER, LAST YEAR

J uniper stepped into the winter twilight outside, still curious about the three sets of footprints. Something about the situation felt off.

Tundra barked beside her, urging her to keep moving.

A bad feeling brewed in her gut, and her throat tightened as she walked across the snowy field toward the cold, gray barn. The frigid wind brushed her nose until it tingled. If she wasn’t careful, the tip would dry out and start to peel.

“Mom!” Juniper called again, her voice disappearing with the wind.

The shout had been useless but worth a try.

The footsteps ended at the barn, just as she’d suspected.

At the door, she hesitated. Something internal told her to stop. To turn around.

To run.

But she couldn’t. She had to know where her parents were. If they were okay.

Maybe this was all just a big misunderstanding. Maybe she would open the doors and find her parents working on a special Christmas project. They’d talked about creating Santa’s sleigh, something majestic the kids visiting would love.

That was probably it.

Maybe they’d brought one of their workers with them to help with any heavy lifting—which would explain the third set of footprints.

That was the most logical explanation.

Juniper wanted to laugh at herself. She’d most likely gotten worked up for nothing.

Mom had probably just been distracted and forgotten about the cornbread in the oven.

Silly, Juniper.

It wouldn’t be the first time her imagination had gotten the best of her. Her parents liked to say she had an active fantasy life. She needed something to do out here in the middle of nowhere.

Tundra barked again, as if reminding her to hurry.

Juniper shoved the doors open and stepped out of the icy breeze.

Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness inside.

Blinking, she glanced at the ground and saw the footprints had ended. Of course. There wasn’t any snow in here. Only a tractor, two UTVs, and some old furniture her father couldn’t bear to part with—despite her mother’s protests.

Tundra ran inside, his bark turning even more furious.

The tension across her chest pulled tighter.

“Mom?” Her voice sounded weak as fear spread through her. All the earlier reassurances she’d told herself disappeared.

As Tundra ran toward the other side of the building, Juniper squinted at something in the shadows.

Were those . . . were those feet? And legs?

Her heart pounded out of control as she crept closer.

She sucked in a breath.

Her mom and dad were sprawled on the ground toward the back of the barn, behind two old UTVs.

Juniper fell to her knees between them.

A scream caught in her throat when she saw their faces. When she knew for sure it was them.

When she saw the blood.

No!

“Can you hear me?” She stared at her mom’s face, hoping to see movement or hear a moan.

Something. Anything .

But there was nothing.

Juniper knew the truth.

Both of her parents were dead.

Her vision narrowed. She couldn’t breathe. Everything began to spin around her.

Was this her fault? Did this happen because of her secret? What if she’d come right away when her mom had asked her instead of dragging her feet?

Sobs shook her shoulders.

Juniper prayed what she’d done hadn’t gotten her parents killed.