Chapter 39 - Lily
Lily
“Ididn’t know. I always fall for their flattery, and I did it again.” Rose threw herself into my arms and sniffled.
I wiped the tears from her cheeks, looking past Rose’s shoulder to Dean, who gestured with his chin toward the closest exit. We needed to leave.
Dean shifted his stance as Julian approached, spreading his legs and putting weight on his heels to prepare for whatever came next.
“Rose, I’m so sorry,” Julian cooed. He pulled her from my arms into his. “I’m the one who introduced you to him. He seemed like a decent guy. If it matters, I think Bud liked you.”
Despite my pity for her, it didn’t change the evening’s strange turn. I squeezed Rose’s shoulder goodbye before we escaped from the school cafeteria.
“Hold my hand, and tell me about your favorite movies,” Dean said as soon as we were outside.
I rambled, describing old cartoons from my childhood during the brief walk back to our romantic real estate office hideaway.
Dean locked the door as soon as we entered the room. “Our old friend, Bud Northman, will be dead in the next few minutes, if not already. People will believe Mrs. Willoughby before him, and the sheriff knows it.”
The tension pulsing in my body faded on our walk home, leaving me strung out and tired. A new tension took its place, knowing what the evening meant for us.
We’d visited June Montgomery’s grave only this morning, and now what? I didn’t want to leave my town. It had symbolized the comfort and security I craved, and tonight that belief proved false.
We had no other option. “We have to escape. Tonight. Dean, the sheriff wants you dead.”
Dean entwined my hands with his own, using his thumbs to stroke my palms. “The curfew, remember? I can get through it, but you? Gustafson will have every hired man, spy, and deputy out. I can fight one, even two or three. How many do you think I can hold back when you’re with me?”
“Could you be less practical?” I deflated at his cool logic. “In the morning, when the curfew ends.” Plenty of time to plot our escape. “You won’t be able to go tomorrow. That’s obvious. They’ll get what’s needed without you. It’s not our problem.”
“I gave my word.”
“Then break it,” I shot back, frustrated.
He’d done it before. What did one more time matter when it involved a town he claimed didn’t care about him?
Deer Lake was supposed to be better. Instead of my bedroom, they stuck us in this office. Instead of Dean with me at all times, my father conspired to keep us apart. The sheriff plotted to hurt Dean rather than appreciate his skill. And for what? We’d done nothing to him.
“Break it?” Dean leaned against the desk and rubbed his face. “Lily, are you sure about this?”
“Sure? It’s one of the easiest decisions of my life.”
Dean chose Deer Lake for me. It was my turn to choose him. Couldn’t he see that? He deserved to be protected for once. His mother died, and his father didn’t merit the title. This town ignored him. I wouldn’t do that. Not to him.
“In the morning. If you feel the same way, we’ll go,” he said after a prolonged silence.
“Then it’s settled.”
Dean continued as if he hadn’t heard me. “Me not showing up in the morning is a smoke signal in the sky. You get that? People will notice. He’ll think we’re up to something. He’ll come after us. You will be at risk.”
“We’re already at risk.” Dean waited, so I gave up and nodded my assent. “We’ll tell my father our suspicions. We can ask him to go with us.”
“Okay.”
I didn’t understand his reluctance. “What’s wrong?
“Is that what you want, Lily? If we do, you can’t come back here.
This is your home. Deer Lake is all you talked about on the drive home.
I can take care of myself. You’re safe here.
You have people who love you here. This is the new world you longed for.
Don’t deny all that just for me. We can figure it out. ”
“What am I denying myself?”
His head fell. “Everything. If we do this, if I take you from here, what happens next? You’ll resent me for it. Something will happen, and it’ll be my fault. More violence or close calls or something. You know it’s true. I’m just…I’m…”
“You’re just what?” How to convince him?
The more reluctant he grew, the more I dug in my heels.
A contest of the most stubborn. “We heard a lot of ridiculous tonight, and you’re topping it.
I know that much. You stayed for me. I am leaving for you.
It’s final. It’s done.” I blinked before the tears betrayed my outward confidence.
“Are you sure?”
“Surer than sure.”
Dean’s head fell. “Then that’s what we’ll do. Tomorrow, we find your dad, and we'll leave here.”
“Dad!”
We embraced. Dean and I had planned to start our morning searching for him, and he found us first. Perfect serendipity.
“I hurried home, knowing you left this morning, Dean. I missed you both.”
That was a new tone, considering our previous conversation. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
It was Dad’s turn to be confused. “I don’t know what you mean. Are you referring to that nasty business last night?”
“You heard?” Dean asked.
“It’s why I came here first. The sheriff felt you’re more likely to believe the news if it came from me instead. Rose spent the evening crying, Lily. Perhaps you should check on her?”
Check on her? “We spoke to her last night,” I said.
Dad searched the room for a place to sit, noting Dean leaning against the desk and our messed-up sleeping bag on the floor.
He shook his head. “The sheriff asked if you’d visit him after your return, Dean.
We have an offer for you.” He raised his hand to stop any objections.
“Offer, not an order. We need your help.”
“He’s busy,” I said.
“No, it’s fine. I’m curious to hear this. What makes the sheriff think I’ll help?” Dean asked.
“Two nearby towns were attacked recently. As a gesture of goodwill, he asked me to share what happened. It appears this Bud Northman fellow noticed the tension between us all and used it to gain the sheriff’s favor. You were the unfortunate victim.”
I refused to entertain that excuse. “What a load of baloney,” I said, and Dean snorted. “Do you believe that?”
“I’ve known Eric Gustafson since we were children, the same as Ryan and Dean here.
Hard decisions were made, some shocking, but I assure you we hold Deer Lake’s best interests in our hearts.
If I thought differently, I’d tell you. I’d ask Dean to take you from here at this very moment. You have my word,” Dad said.
I wanted to believe him. I couldn’t imagine a duplicitous Rose. She sounded sincere last night. Apart from the lone incident with Mrs. Willoughby’s attack and Julian’s strange offer, what did we have? Nothing. Wanting also wasn’t enough.
“Lily, will you excuse us? I want to discuss the schedule and our supply list with Dean before he leaves,” Dad said.
I refused to leave. “Not a chance.” The idea galled. My father conspired with the sheriff the last time to get Dean away from me. I wouldn’t allow a repeat.
“Lily, it’ll be short. I promised to speak more after returning, if you recall. I’m doing that now.”
My heart fluttered with understanding. “I’ll pick up some breakfast and be right back.”