Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
ERIN
I t’s been three hours since Luke and Bryce left.
Three hours and there's still no sign of Matty coming home. I sent Jake out looking for him over an hour ago, and he still hasn’t returned.
Could one stray have taken him so far? Our land isn’t that vast; you can ride its perimeter in less than two hours.
I stare at the last slice of flapjack left in Mary’s Tupperware container and sigh.
It’s starting to get dark. Just a few nights ago, I swear I heard a wolf howling not far from the house.
Matty told me I must have been hearing things; says there's been no sign of wolves on his family's land for years. But I know what I heard.
I dash for the door when I hear commotion coming from the yard, and when I see the look on Issac’s face, I know instantly that something is wrong.
“Is that Titan?” I ask, even though the answer is obvious. It may be dark, but I can see very clearly that he’s holding the reins to Matty’s horse.
“Yes, Ma’am.” Issac nods his head back at me.
“So, where's Matthew?” I search around the yard for any sign of him.
“Looks like Titan brought himself home,” he tells me, looking uneasy. “I think you need to call his father. I’ll head out and join Jake in looking for him, but we could use some help. If he’s been thrown off and injured, it’s a long, cold night out there.” He looks out at the pastures.
“Titan wouldn’t have thrown him.” I step forward and stroke his long white nose.
“I don’t think so either, but he could have gotten spooked.
All we know right now is that Matthew is out there alone, and I don’t think he took his gun.
” I quickly race back inside to check the cabinet, and there it is staring right back at me.
So, with shaky hands, I pick up my cell and call the Edward’s to tell them their son hasn’t come home.
“Bryce will find him, I promise you that.” Mary rocks herself in one of the chairs that are on the porch, pulling the patchwork blanket she made us as a housewarming gift a little tighter around her shoulders.
The sun is starting to come up, and all I’ve heard for the past ten hours is Matthew’s name being called and echoing through the valley.
Jake updated us a few hours ago and told us the search party has been extended beyond our land; apparently, half of Fork River has turned out to help. Even the Mayor, Garrett Carson, and his brothers have been out all night on horseback looking for my husband.
“What if they don’t find him…or worse, what if–”
“Don’t.” Mary points her finger at me sternly.
“ Don’t say that. Bryce will find him, and he will bring him home.
” I feel a shiver move over my skin and manage to forge a smile.
Mary is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and I can see she’s trying to be brave.
She loves her sons endlessly, and when I see her stand up so quickly that the blanket falls from her shoulders, I look across the yard to try and make out what she can see.
Luke is riding fast toward us, and his horse, Dusty, barely comes to a halt before he leaps off its back and rushes past us.
“Luke, what's wrong? Did they find him?” Mary tries to stop him.
“Yeah, Mom, they found him.” He closes his eyes and swallows thickly, stirring the nerves in my stomach even more.
“And…is he okay? Does he need help? Erin, call an ambulance.” She looks to me with wide eyes full of worry.
“Mom.” He takes a deep breath. “Matthew’s dead.” Taking hold of her shoulders, he steadies her on her feet, while I absorb the words he just said and slump back into my chair.
“Dead?” I hear the word come feebly from my own mouth while Mary screams.
“Dead,” I whisper that word again. I have to because it doesn’t seem to be sinking in. Matthew can’t be dead; he’s far too strong and determined.
“No, there's a mistake. My boy is not dead.” Mary slaps her palm fiercely against Luke’s chest. “Stop looking like that,” she scolds me. “He’s not dead. You go back out and keep on looking.” She grips the front of Luke’s shirt and shakes him. All while he stands looking broken.
“Mom, he’s gone,” he whispers. “Dad’s with him now, the sheriff is on his way.”
“The sheriff?” Mary shakes her head in confusion, and Luke turns his head to look at me. “Matthew was killed; he was shot,” he explains, and I’m surprised by the emptiness I feel. It doesn’t matter how Matthew died; he’s still never coming home.
“I have to go to him.” Mary starts marching toward Luke’s horse, but he manages to hold her back.
“No, Mom. NO!” He raises his voice sternly, and despite all that I’ve just been told, it stuns me.
I’ve never heard Luke take that tone with her before.
I’ve never known him to take that tone with anyone; he’s always so laid back, and when I’m suddenly reminded of the severity of this situation, I shake myself back to reality.
“Shot?” I interrupt the struggle he’s having to keep Mary on the porch so I can check that I heard him correctly.
“Yeah. Dad wants you both to stay here; it ain’t right for you to see, and we don’t know who did this. You should head inside and lock the door.”
“I don’t care what your father says, I'm going to my boy,” Mary tells him.
“Me too.” I step forward. “I want to see him.” I have to see him. I refuse to believe this is real.
“Erin, trust me when I tell you it’s best that you don’t,” Luke tells me, and I realize how pale he looks. “It was a shot to the head,” he whispers, causing Mary to gasp and drop to her knees.
“Mom….Come on, let's get ya inside.” He picks her back up on her feet and starts aiding her toward the door. “Erin.” He reaches his hand out to me, but I shake my head.
“Where is he?” I ask, staring back at him and letting him know that I’m not taking no for an answer.
“Erin, you’re better off remembering him the way he left here. Don’t put yourself through it.”
“Where is he?” I ask again, only this time I growl the words at him.
Luke closes his eyes and sighs in defeat.
“He’s down by the river where that wood is, on the Murdochs’ land. But you can’t ride out there by yourself, it’s not safe.”
“You take care of your mom,” I tell him, racing to the stable so I can saddle up Titan.
“Erin, please don’t go.” Luke looks stuck between a rock and a hard place as he looks down at his grieving mother.
“She needs you more than I do,” I remind him with a sad smile, as I rush away and prepare myself for what comes next.
“Wait up.” I hear a voice call out from behind me, and thundering hooves approaching, and when I turn around, I see Luke cantering to catch up to me.
“Your mom.” I can’t help feeling relieved to see him. I’m not even entirely sure I’m going the right way, and the sun isn’t high enough to make a lot out here visible.
“Maisie Carson turned up to see how things were going. I left Mom with her; she’s in good hands.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” I shake my head at him.
“I told you, it’s not safe out here, and I know Titan, he can be stubborn as hell. Besides, it’s a good thing I came; you're heading the wrong way.” He tips his head over toward the woods on the right, and I hang my head in shame.
“Those are our woods. Murdoch land starts just past that stream,” he points out as he redirects us on the right path.
“Thanks.” I manage a smile as we ride together.
“You sure I can’t change your mind? It ain’t a pretty sight, Erin. I sure as hell ain’t ever gonna forget it.”
“I need this,” I assure him, seeing blue and red lights flashing through the tree line as we get closer.
“What the hell is she doin’ here?” Issac looks shocked when we ride up to the spot where everyone is gathered and slide off Titan's back. I hand the reins to Luke so he can tie him up for me and march toward the riverbank where the tarpaulin barrier has been put up.
“Erin. No.” Jake leaps in front of me, and when I look down at one of the fallen trees, I see Bryce, sitting with his elbows on his knees and his head hung between them.
“I need to see him,” I tell him firmly.
“You don’t need to see that,” he argues.
“Let her pass.” I hear Luke's voice again, and standing beside me, he slides his hand into mine.
“You sure about this?” he checks.
“I’m sure.” I nod my head and blow out a brave breath as we both step forward.
“This is a crime scene, not a?—”
“This is my brother's wife.” Luke interrupts the officer who's standing guard.
Keeping a firm grip of my hand as the officer shakes his head disagreeably, but bends down to lift the plastic sheet that's laid over my husband's body.
And when I see what's beneath it, I don’t recoil in horror, I just stare.
I stare at the hole that's been blown out of Matthews's head, making him unrecognisable.
I stare at the blood and brain matter that are splattered on the tree beside his body, and as tears fall over my cheeks, I take a deep breath and sigh, not from sadness… but relief.