Chapter 43
FORTY-THREE
SUMMER
After the mess hall is cleaned up, Mr. and Mrs. Turner load up the buggy and I climb in.
I’m not sure where Indy went, so I ask Mr. Turner to drive through camp to look for her.
I know River wanted to talk in private, but I don’t like the idea of Indy out here in the dark. Not with everything that’s happened.
Especially after the last incident.
The lights from the buggy shine on her and Zaye talking. I guess she decided to talk to Indy after all.
When Indy turns, she shields her eyes from the light before turning back to give Zaye a quick hug, and watching as she walks up the steps to River.
Indy gets in beside me in the back of the buggy, and I can tell her anxiety has melted a little. Her hand covers mine and she squeezes, holding on until we get to the house and start unloading everything into the kitchen.
“Summer and I can take care of the dishes, Mama, you go rest.”
“I think your dad and I are gonna head to The Raven for a few drinks with Scott and LuAnna,” Mrs. Turner says, kissing Indy’s cheek and patting my shoulder.
“I’ll holler when we leave if y’all aren’t still washin’.
” Then she’s following Mr. Turner to their bedroom.
I assume that’s where their room is, since I’ve not been in many rooms other than the kitchen, living room, and Indy’s room.
“You wash, I’ll dry?” She asks, lifting up on her toes to plant a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth.
“Team work, baby,” I nod, letting the water warm up before using the dish soap and brush I’ve seen Mrs. Turner use a few times.
We work for a few minutes in companionable silence before Indy puts her towel down and turns to me. “Zaye told me she saw Molly burning Finn’s clothes.”
I nod, turning to face her so she knows I’m not trying to hide anything.
“You knew.” She states, it’s not a question, but it’s not an accusation either. She’s so soft with her words it’s hard to tell how she’s truly feeling.
“I did,” I tell her with a nod. “Zaye told me not long after it happened.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asks, again, soft.
Her parents walk by the door, Mrs. Turner’s wearing a pretty dress I’ve not seen her wear before, and Mr. Turner’s got on a shirt that’s not covered in dirt.
“You two look nice,” I smile, as Indy turns around.
Mrs. Turner smiles and Mr. Turner says, “We won’t be gone long, call if you need us.” Then their kissing Indy’s cheek and offering me a nod since my hands are soapy before walking out and shutting the door behind them.
Turning back to Indy, I answer her question from before her parents walked in.
“It wasn’t my business to be spreading, and I can admit, I’ve been a little selfish with my time and memories.
She trusted me with what she saw, and though I did advise her to tell you–or the police–right after she told me, it seems like she needed a little extra time.
” I know that’s not what she might want to hear, but it’s the truth.
If I’m being honest, I kind of forgot about the situation with Molly and Zaye.
She smiles and looks down at her feet. “Do you think I’m an awful boss? I mean Zaye was too scared to tell me…”
Stepping into her space, I lift her chin and rub my nose against hers. “What I think is you’ve fostered a loving and welcoming ranch for people to enjoy, and you’ve hired people you trust to be leaders in that.”
“But what about Finn and Molly? I hired them, and now look what’s happened. It’s my fault they’re missin’.”
She worries her lip between her teeth and I smile, “We don’t know anything yet. How can any of this be your fault?”
Shaking her head, her nose brushes mine and she smiles. I can tell by the way her cheeks grow under her eyes.
“I don’t know–”
“It’s not,” I say gentle but firm because she needs to know that she’s done nothing wrong. “After we finish these dishes, how about I take you upstairs and fuck you until you can’t come anymore.”
“Deal”
Guilt eats at my stomach watching Indy sleep.
Knowing she’d never be okay with me going to meet this mysterious person at two in the morning. Knowing she’s been nothing but honest with me… Knowing she trusts me…
I’m a shitbag.
But hopefully tonight I can get some fucking answers. I’m tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I’m getting real fucking sick of their cowardly games. Especially when it comes to my girl and her family.
Slipping out of an old farmhouse while people sleep isn’t easy.
Floors creak, and the railing on the stairs groans so loud I worry I might wake all the animals around too.
But finally, I make it out of the front door into the night air.
The moon’s bright, and thank God for it, because I wouldn’t be able to see for shit if it wasn’t.
There’s tall lights near the barn, but neither one of them flick on when I pass by. I know they’re on timers until at least midnight because they cast a soft glow into Indy’s window, and I’m thankful they’re not also motion sense.
The small flashlight I grabbed from Indy’s nightstand isn’t enough to light up much of a distance, but I’m not about to walk all the way there in the dark. Not when there’s a psycho on the loose who obviously wants something from me.
On the original note there was only a time and a drawing of squiggly lines from my cabin to the edge of the forest that outlines the ranch.
Walking past the big barn, and then the cabin I’d been staying in when I first got here, I shine the light on the paper and try my best to follow the lines to where it’s marked.
It leads me to a fence post, only a few feet away from the tree line and I look around for any more notes that could have been left. I’ve never been this far onto the property, and I’m not sure if this area was ever checked by the police.
There’s nothing attached to the post, and nothing around it seems to be off, so I look toward the woods, turn off my less-than-ideal flashlight because it’s fucking with my night vision, and wait.
There’s rustling to my left, and I suddenly feel the urge to flee, but instead, I steel my spine and squint into the darkness, willing the woods to give up my tormentor.
Long black hair catches my attention first, and my stomach jumps into my throat as Molly’s face turns my way.
But… Molly vanished, what is she doing creeping around in the fucking woods?
I slowly raise Indy’s phone and zoom in to take a picture, cursing when the fucking flash goes off and gives me away. I’m not hidden at all, standing completely in the open just at the edge of the tree line, and when she sees me her eyes grow two sizes before she darts away.
I don’t waste any time, sprinting after her, pumping my arms and legs as fast as they’ll go. Tree branches scrape my face, and roots threaten to trip me as I do my best to follow her.
“Molly!” I yell, uncaring if someone shows up. “Stop!”
She doesn’t, only continues running further into the woods. It’s dark as hell, and if I keep going, I’ll never find my way back. Stopping and doubling over with my hands on my knees, I watch her disappear into the woods.
I’m calling Hartley first thing in the morning.
What the fuck is going on?