Chapter 10

TEN

Evelyn Hartwell’s fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white against the cracked leather, as the swell of protesters surged in front of her. The voices of the crowd, loud and angry, echoed off the nearby buildings, homemade signs bobbed in the air like banners of defiance. Pinewood Falls had never seen anything like this. Chloe sat beside her, practically vibrating with excitement, clutching the colorful protest flyer in her hands like it was a sacred artifact. Despite the knot of anxiety twisting in her stomach, Evelyn couldn’t help but warm at her daughter’s boundless enthusiasm.

“I still don’t know why you insisted we come,” Evelyn said, the edge in her voice softening as she glanced at Chloe. The girl had always had a way of convincing Evelyn to do things she’d normally avoid, just like her father used to.

“Because it’s important,” Chloe replied, her hazel eyes flashing with the same fierce determination that Evelyn had once admired in her husband. “They can’t just take our water and expect us to sit back. If we don’t fight, we lose.”

Evelyn sighed, her grip tightening until the leather creaked under her fingers. “I know, sweetie. I just don’t want you getting mixed up in this. It’s going to get loud, and people might start getting upset.”

“Good,” Chloe shot back, her voice sharpening. “They should be upset. Look what they did to Mr. Johnson’s farm!”

The image of Tom Johnson’s withered crops flashed through Evelyn’s mind, the dry earth of his once-fertile fields cracked and barren. Chloe was right—Masterson’s deal with Crystal Springs had bled the town dry, just like the water they siphoned off. Still, protesting wasn’t in Evelyn’s nature. She was the type to hope things would work out if she kept her head down. But maybe that wasn’t enough anymore.

They pulled into a parking spot, the crunch of gravel beneath the tires barely audible over the growing noise of the rally. The air was thick with the mingling scents of sweat, dirt, and pine. Evelyn spotted Liam near the front of the protest, waving a sign that read Save Our Town! Keep Our Water! His tall frame towered over the crowd, and when he saw them, his face lit up with an energy that was hard to come by in these days of drought and despair.

“Ms. Hartwell! Chloe!” He was breathless but smiling as he jogged toward them. “I’m glad you made it!”

Chloe bolted from the car before Evelyn had a chance to unbuckle her seatbelt. “I told you we’d come!”

Evelyn climbed out more cautiously, scanning the faces in the crowd. The turnout was larger than she’d expected—impressive, yes, but unnerving. The air felt charged, like the moment before a thunderstorm, full of restless energy ready to explode. A prickle of unease crawled up her spine.

“This is quite the crowd,” she said to Liam as she stepped closer. His sign still gleamed with fresh paint, and Evelyn could almost feel the determination radiating from him.

Liam glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah, Dad’s near the entrance trying to keep things under control. He’s … worried it might get ugly.”

Evelyn looked over to Sheriff Tuck, his broad frame cutting a path through the sea of protesters. The sun glinted off his badge, a reminder of the authority he wielded. He looked as steady as ever, but the subtle tension in his shoulders hinted that he sensed the fragile balance that could snap at any moment.

“Maybe I should go say hi,” Evelyn murmured, though the flutter in her chest betrayed the casualness of her words.

Liam grinned at the suggestion. “He’d like that. He’s been stressed. More than usual, I mean.”

Chloe tugged at her mother’s sleeve, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Can I go with Liam, Mom? Please? I want to get closer to the front!”

Evelyn hesitated, looking over at the gathering crowd. The rally was peaceful for now , but the undercurrent of tension was undeniable. “Just stay close, okay? If anything feels wrong, come right back.”

“I promise,” Chloe said, already tugging Liam toward the thick of the protest. “We’ll be careful!”

Evelyn watched them disappear into the crowd, pride and fear mingling in her chest. Chloe had her father’s determination—a trait Evelyn admired but couldn’t control. She just hoped that fiery spirit wouldn’t get her daughter into trouble.

Taking a breath, she made her way toward the sheriff. The crowd parted slightly. He noticed her approach, a faint, familiar smile touching his lips. For a moment, Evelyn felt a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Evelyn,” he greeted, his voice low but welcoming. “Didn’t expect to see you here. Everything okay?”

She glanced down as she spoke. “I wasn’t planning on it, but Chloe insisted. She’s as stubborn as ever.”

A low chuckle escaped him. “Yeah, she gets that from you. Always pushing, always fighting for what’s right.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. “Well, Liam’s surely becoming quite the spirited young man.”

“Don’t know where he gets it from.” He shrugged.

For a moment, the noise of the protest faded, and they stood there, sharing a rare moment of peace. But then his expression hardened, his eyes scanning the crowd once more.

“I’ve got to keep an eye on things,” he said, his voice growing tense. “More people showed up than I expected. Some troublemakers from out of town, too. Trying to keep this thing from getting out of hand is a tall order for me and my deputies. We’re stretched thin as it is.”

Evelyn’s unease deepened. The chants were growing louder, angrier. The tension she’d felt earlier was no longer just a passing thought—it was real, thick enough to taste in the air.

“I should get back to Chloe,” she said, but she lingered, the weight of his presence comforting in a way she hadn’t expected. “Just...be careful, okay?”

“I will,” he promised, his tone softening. He dropped his authoritative sheriff’s role, exchanging it for a more casual one. “You take care of yourself, too. Liam told me that Covington guy was giving you a hard time the other day. I’ll have a talk with him.”

“No need to get involved. He’s wasting his time if he thinks he’s gonna get me to move. Heard he got Malcom Trent to sign. Guess that makes me the last holdout.”

A roar from the crowd startled her.

Tuck’s response was muffled by the ruckus. He leaned in close. His breath brushed against her ear as he spoke. “Gotta go. But I’ll stop by later.”

As Evelyn turned back to the crowd, the sound of sirens sliced through the chanting, signaling the senator’s arrival. Almost immediately, the crowd surged forward, pressing against the barricades, their voices rising to a fever pitch.

No water, no peace! No water, no peace!

The chant was deafening now, the anger palpable. Evelyn’s pulse quickened as she spotted the sleek black SUVs pulling up to the entrance. The energy in the air had shifted, anticipation giving way to something more dangerous. She felt the press of bodies around her, the heat of frustration, the ragged breath of people who had been pushed too far.

She found Chloe and Liam near the front, their signs held high, their voices joining the chorus of fury. Evelyn’s heart swelled with pride, but also dread. She pulled Chloe closer, gripping her wrist tightly.

“Stay by me,” Evelyn told her daughter, her eyes darting around the crowd. “We might need to leave soon.”

“But Mom we’re making a difference! You can feel it, can’t you?”

Before Evelyn could respond, the SUVs came to a stop. The senator stepped out and climbed onto the running board, positioning himself above the crowd. His arms outstretched like the wings of a hawk, poised to swoop down on unsuspecting prey. The chants grew louder, swelling into a deafening roar that reverberated through the air.

Evelyn pushed back through the crowd, her focus locked on Chloe. She swam upstream in the surge of protestors, her shoulders brushing against signs and flailing arms. The press of bodies was suffocating, each step forward a struggle against the tide. The air grew thick with heat and tension, the smell of sweat and frustration clinging to her like a second skin.

Around her, the crowd began to surge, a chaotic ripple as protestors collided with the deputies. Shouts turned to screams as the deputies strained to contain the mass of people, their line buckling like a dam on the verge of collapse. A protestor stumbled and fell, tripping those behind him and triggering a domino effect that sent bodies toppling.

“Chloe!” Evelyn shouted, her voice barely cutting through the cacophony. She shoved her way toward the edge of the commotion, her pulse pounding as the chaos spiraled. Deputies shouted commands, their words lost in the clamor. Protestors scrambled to stay upright, their signs waving wildly above the fray.

The deputies were a dam on the verge of collapse.