Chapter Ten
Josie fought sleep until she’d finally gotten up and gone downstairs and out on Clancy’s porch.
The night was cold enough that she wished for one of her grandmother’s quilts.
Wrapping up in the threadbare fabric always made her think of her grandmother tucking her into bed.
She could have really used that feeling right now.
She looked out into the night. Town was so quiet that it unnerved her.
She spent most of her nights out at the farm where it was always quiet.
But not like this. The blackness she sensed hung on the horizon like an approaching thunderstorm.
She wondered where Max and Cordell were and feared for their safety.
The oblivion seemed to grow denser as shadows shifted before her eyes.
He was coming. The man in the mug shot. He was on his way.
“What are you doing?” Goldie asked as she joined her on the porch, dragging a blanket behind her before curling up beside Josie and sharing the warmth.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Me, neither.” They sat in silence for a moment.
“How are you doing?” Josie asked.
“Confused, upset, worried. Do you know what’s going to happen?”
Josie shook her head. “I’ve never had Nana’s sight.”
Goldie looked toward the road. “Good, ’cause I was afraid that you could see into my mind like your grandmother could. She knew what I was up to.” She let out a chuckle. “True, I was always up to something.”
“She couldn’t see into your head,” Josie said with a laugh. “She just knew you, knew how you thought.”
“Maybe.” Goldie sounded skeptical even after all these years. “But once I knew that you might have some of her gift, I thought you knew everything about me and that I could never keep anything from you.”
“That’s good,” Josie joked. “Keep thinking that. I’ve got my sister buffaloed into believing it, as well.”
She could almost hear Goldie smile in the darkness. “I’m glad you can’t read my thoughts.”
“Me, too. I have enough trouble without looking into that mind of yours.” She was joking—but only in a way.
“I’m thankful for that,” her friend said as she rose, leaving the blanket. “Good luck saving the world. I’m going back to bed.”
“Night,” she said and listened as Goldie went back inside.
For a few moments, she quit worrying about what was coming and considered what she sensed in her best friend.
Fear, but something more that was almost like…
unrest. She feared Max had pushed Goldie away too many times.
What would Goldie do if he really meant it this time?