Chapter 11
Owen leaned against the passenger door of Caitlyn’s vehicle, arms crossed and eyes burning.
No headphones, no handheld video game—just a sullen silence.
When they arrived at Grace Meadows, he got out without a word and slammed the door behind him.
She called after him but thought better of it—he was still angry about her ultimatum: either come to work with her or go to Grace Meadows with Sam.
Either option didn’t include staying at the house with Pops or going across the yard to where Silas monitored them from above the garage.
The other night’s encounter with Daniel coming to the house had been a close call.
“Go.” Owen waved her off as she got out of the car. “You don’t want to be late for work.”
“Hey. Watch the tone.”
“Whatever,” he muttered, turning away from her.
Frustration bubbled in Caitlyn’s chest, hot and unwelcome.
She put her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to turn around and look at her.
“We talked about this,” she said, her voice firm but laced with a tremor she couldn’t disguise.
Was it anger at his disregard for her boundaries or relief that he’d shown up concerned about Owen?
His gaze held hers, a silent apology warring. “You can’t keep punishing me because of something I asked you to do.”
“It’s not fair. I want to hang with Dan.”
Caitlyn let her eyes flutter closed for a moment.
She asked Daniel not to come by without calling first. Boundaries were important, as a shield she’d carefully constructed to ensure neither of them got hurt.
Seeing him there after her encounter with Silas chipped away at her barriers. A ghost of a smile played on her lips.
“You’ll like working with Sammy and the horses.”
Owen scrunched up his nose at her and stomped off toward the barn, his initial defiance waning at the mention of horses. He mumbled a noncommittal response and stomped off toward the barn, a hint of curiosity battling his usual resistance.
She followed him and caught up just as he stepped through the entranceway. The smell of hay and horse filled her nostrils as Sammy emerged from an adjacent room, carrying a cup of coffee and a warm smile on her face. Normalcy. That was what Caitlyn craved most right now.
“Hey, Owen,” Sammy said with a friendly smile. “You want to head out back with Cole? He’s saddling up for the next tour group.”
Owen stood there, like he was unsure of what to do. He glanced at his mother before finally speaking up. “You want me to ride a horse?” he asked, his voice cracking as he spoke.
Sammy leaned back against the wall and shrugged, her hands cupping her coffee mug.
“I don’t see why not,” she said casually, her eyes glowing with amusement.
Owen attempted a smile in return, but it came out as more of a grimace, and he glanced away.
With a last nod, he walked away, leaving Caitlyn and Sammy alone in the barn.
The silence was palpable as they both stood there, neither speaking nor looking at one another.
Caitlyn swallowed, the familiar ache in her chest tightening.
It wasn’t fair. Life had become a relentless tug-of-war between work, Owen, and keeping Pops sober.
The last thing she wanted to do was burden Sammy, who was always there with a smile and a helping hand, never a complaint.
Sammy had on a well-worn Grace Meadows t-shirt under a button-up and a baseball cap holding her hair in a messy ponytail. Her high cheekbones and uncanny blue eyes sent a chill through Caitlyn. She’d seen them hundreds of times, and yet today, they seemed overly familiar.
They’d texted, arranging Owen’s visit while Caitlyn worked. The convenience of it gnawed at her. How long had it been since they’d truly spoken, confided in each other? Sammy, ever the patient one, sipped her coffee, waiting.
Caitlyn’s gaze snagged on the glint of a new ring on Sammy’s left hand.
A pang of something indefinable shot through her, a mix of joy for her friend and a flicker of…
longing. She cleared her throat. The sound echoing in the sudden silence.
“So,” she began, searching for where to start. “What have you been up to lately?”
Sam paused momentarily, her brow furrowing ever so slightly before answering. “Just trying to stay afloat, I guess…it’s been hectic this season.”
“I’m sorry I’ve had to add Owen to your responsibilities,” Caitlyn replied.
“Owen is no burden.” Sammy smiled. “I haven’t seen him in so long.
We’ve missed you at church.” When Sammy said “we,” she meant her and Cole.
“It’s hard to believe how quickly he’s growing up.
” Sammy paused momentarily; her eyes filled with a warmth that tugged at Caitlyn’s heart.
“I’ve been thinking about you so much recently, Cat,” she admitted quietly. “I’m glad you called. I’ve missed you.”
“I…I missed you too, Sammy,” Caitlyn stammered. She desperately wanted to ask about Sammy’s brother. To warn her, to warn him. But the words were like a physical barrier in her throat.
She couldn’t do this. Caught between loyalty to her friend and fear for Owen’s safety, a wave of guilt and grief washed over her.
What would Sammy think of her showing up after all these months of sparse communication and asking questions about her estranged twin brother?
She didn’t even know his name. Was it Sebastian?
When Caitlyn needed someone to confide in, Sammy became close as a sister. If she could just confide in her now. What if it was Sammy’s brother? She knew he was a cop. Is that why Silas was hunting him?
What did she say? Hey Sammy, isn’t your brother’s name Sebastian?
I think someone might be looking for him.
But if Sammy’s brother lived far away or if Sammy didn’t know where her brother was, she couldn’t tell Silas.
He would find another way to get the information that might involve hurting Sammy.
“I am forever in your debt.”
Sammy watched her thoughtfully and took a sip of her coffee. “Is there something else you’re not telling me?”
Caitlyn sighed and rubbed her temples. “It’s not something I can talk about.” There, she’d said it. Maybe Sammy could pray for her and pray for a way for her to find a safe solution to her situation for everyone—including the man Silas was hunting.
Sam rubbed her finger over the rim of her cup and waited patiently, giving Caitlyn the time she needed to collect her thoughts. After a few moments of silence, Caitlyn finally spoke.
“It’s Silas.” Caitlyn told Sammy about Silas showing up on her porch, about him moving in above the garage, and roping Pops back into starting the restoration business in the garage again. She left out the parts about Silas hunting a man named Sebastian Daniels or the fact Silas threatened her.
“They let him out early on parole.” Sammy glanced down at the end of the barn at the man strolling toward them.
Caitlyn’s chest fluttered. She hadn’t expected Sammy to know.
“Is he yours?” Cole walked up behind Sammy and wrapped an arm around her waist. He planted a kiss on Sammy’s cheek, making her grin back at him.
“Hard to believe he’s getting so tall, right?” Sammy asked.
Cole lifted the ball cap on his head and resettled it.
“Big enough to watch Sparrow and Titus while I grab a new girth strap.” Cole stepped away from Sammy, a playful grin splitting his face.
“You two ladies take your time catching up. Owen and I have the work covered. Besides, someone needs to make sure these two goofballs don’t get tangled in the reins. ”
Sammy tilted her head and laughed, a light, joyous sound that warmed Caitlyn. “I guess it helps. This morning’s ride is a private party of two.” Then she looked at Caitlyn, her blue eyes sparkling. “Newlyweds.”
A genuine smile bloomed on her lips. Sammy’s happiness was contagious. “That will be you soon,” Caitlyn said, her voice filled with a wistful longing she couldn’t quite mask.
“One day, if Cole will ever agree on a wedding date.”
“I’m sure you two will figure it out,” Caitlyn said, sticking her hands in her back pockets.
Her gaze flitted to Owen, who was peering around the corner of the barn at them, a mischievous glint in his eye.
A flicker of hope ignited with her. Maybe Owen wouldn’t give her such a hard time coming here again.
“Looks like those two are going to get along.”
“Oh yeah. Cole is great with kids.” Sammy shrugged. “He loves teaching at the middle school and working with the teens in the after-school and summer program.”
A pang of something akin to envy shot through Caitlyn. “I’m glad, Sammy. Again, thank you for taking Owen today. It means a lot.”
“No worries there.” Then Sammy’s smile dimmed, and she wrapped her arm around Caitlyn’s shoulder, her touch filled with concern. “You said Silas was staying at your place? You can’t be okay with it.”
“Silas... we agreed...” Caitlyn tried to gulp down her own fear.
Sleep had become a luxury she could barely afford.
Every creak of the floorboards, every unfamiliar sound from outside sent her heart racing, forcing her to check on Owen, his peaceful slumber a stark contrast to the turmoil within her.
Nightmares gnawed at her. Nightmares of Silas snatching Owen, of Pops vanishing into the night, leaving no trace behind. Every ring of the phone at work threatened to shatter her precarious hold on reality. Would it be another threat from Silas? Or worse, a report of her child missing or Pops?
Late at night, in the quiet solitude after tucking Owen in, she’d composed a desperate text to Antonio. Each time she’d delete the message before hitting send. Finally, she settled on a short, cryptic text.
Silas is back. He’s staying above the garage.