Megan ran her tongue over her suddenly parched lips. Peter could see she was having trouble processing the news.

  “It doesn’t make sense,” she said simply.

  “Sense or no sense, you got to do it.”

  “Are you positive?” she asked again.

  “Positive,” said Peter. “You think I’d come here with this news if I wasn’t.”

  Megan stared at him then. “How did you find this out, Peter?”

  “I searched,” said Peter. “It was easy to find. I care about you and your safety.”

  Megan’s face flushed beet red as she started pacing around.

  “Is that all you care about Peter?” the words flew from her. “Is this about my safety or about your pride?”

  This wasn’t Megan, Peter thought. She wasn’t the woman he’d known all these years. It wasn’t possible that she’d actually protect this low life and turn it around and blame him.

  “You’re gonna protect this low life?” Peter asked her.

  “He’s not’s a low life,” Megan exclaimed. “You’ve got it wrong.”

  “What kind of guy gets a restraining order placed on him?” Peter asked.

  “At least he deserves a chance to tell us what happened,” Megan was breathing fast.

  “Did he tell you about the restraining order?” Peter focused in.

  “No, he didn’t,” Megan said.

  “So, he lied to you,” Peter continued.

  “He didn’t lie to me, he just didn’t mention it.”

  “That’s lying by omission,” Peter exclaimed.

  “And what about you?” Megan flung back at him. “What have you omitted to tell someone? Is that also lying?”

  Her eyes were flashing. “What about me?” she continued, breathless. “If I don’t tell everything about my personal life, does it mean I’m a liar too?”

  “Wake up honey,” Peter said, condescendingly, “take a look.”

  She stopped pacing and stared at Peter.

  “I am not your honey! And Hunter is not a low life. He’s an incredible, loving, beautiful guy.”

  “Jesus Christ, you’ve fallen for him!” Peter was rattled to the depths of his bones.

  “That’s right, I love him,” Megan said sharply.

  Peter’d never seen her so alive and heated. She made the blood in his veins boil.

  “You’re making a horrible mistake, Megan.”

  “Don’t you burst in here and tell me what I’m doing! Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll walk you to the door.”

  “You’ll what?” Peter couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “Get out, Peter,” Megan said.

  “You’re throwing me out? You’re leaving him here?”

  “You heard me. Get out.”

  Peter stomped to the door with Megan close behind him. When he got close enough, she pushed him through it. Then without a moment’s hesitation, slammed the door in his face.

  Peter’s head started spinning. No one in his life had ever treated him this way before. There was no reason for it, he didn’t deserve it. How could this happen, after all he’d done for her, anyway? He guessed he never really knew her at all, didn’t know what had driven Kyle away, either. Women were wild, they were crazy, you couldn’t trust any of them.

  Peter got back into his car, revved up the engine, and took off in a flash. Not only had she just ruined their friendship, she was setting herself up for a terrible blow.

  Peter put his head back on the seat as he drove home as he mulled about what to do now. So far the guy hadn’t done anything illegal. There was no other way, at the moment, to get him out of town. But Peter had no intention of letting this go. More would come to the surface about the creep sooner or later. With guys like this, it always did.

  *

  Megan went back and sat down in the kitchen, devastated. The day which had started so wonderfully, had suddenly taken a swift change. Was it possible that Hunter was dangerous, and had been lying to her? Every cell in her body said it wasn’t so. But Peter had come with solid information, she couldn’t just close her eyes to it. It wasn’t only she that was involved, Mallory’s safety was at stake as well. If Megan didn’t care what happened to herself, Mallory was something else.

  In a few moments Megan got up and splashed cold water on her face. She’d have to go out to the back and talk to Hunter, clear this up immediately. They had no secrets between them ever before, why should this be any different?

  Megan smoothed her sundress, pulled her hair back and walked down the hill slowly. Hunter was there with the other guys now, handing wood off to one another.

  “Hi,” Megan said lightly to all of them.

  Hunter looked at her keenly with his clear hazel eyes. It was usual for her to roam down this way, he knew something had happened.

  “Can I talk to you a moment, Hunter?” Megan said then.

  “Sure thing,” he answered, put his part of the wood on the grass and nodded to the guys. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  The two of them walked up away from the crew towards their favorite tree, that had a little bench under it to sit on. Hunter held her elbow gently and guided her as they walked.

  “Okay, shoot. What happened?” Hunter asked her as they sat down under the tree.

  “Peter came by this morning,” Megan started.

  Hunter sat straighter.

  “He’s been doing some investigating,” Megan said, “and told me things that scared me.”

  Hunter’s voice became momentarily garbled. “What things?”

  “He said there’s a restraining order put on you by that woman in Upper Valley.”

  Hunter looked down for a long moment, then turned and looked squarely at Megan.

  “What does that have to do with us now?” he asked quietly.

  “I don’t know,” said Megan. “You never told me anything about that.”

  “You want me to dredge up every little detail of my life?” he said.

  “This isn’t a little detail,” Megan said.

  Hunter shook his head sadly. “You want to believe the worst? Now you don’t trust me?” his voice was heavy and sad.

  “It’s not that,” said Megan.

  She leaned back against the tree and felt its rough bark holding her up.

  “I thought we loved each other,” said Hunter.

  “We do,” said Megan.

  “Love is trusting each other,” Hunter stood up, “not thinking the worst the minute someone says something.”

  “It’s natural for me to question this.” Megan stood up as well.

  “Love is natural,” said Hunter, “suspicion is not. “There have to be plenty of things you never told me, either.” He was stung. “I don’t have people going around investigating you.”

  “I never told Peter to investigate you.”

  Hunter turned and looked at her between the long shadows the sun made streaming through the summer leaves.

  “I’ve got to go now,” he said.

  “Wait a minute,” Megan’s heart started pounding. “You said you’d never just leave like that.”

  “And you promised you would trust me. A promise means a lot to me.”

  “Hunter, you’ve got to understand.”

  “Just for now,” he said, “I’ve got to go,” and he turned and ran to his pickup truck that was waiting further down the hill.

  Megan’s heart clenched and her body trembled, as she heard the truck start up. This wasn’t real, it wasn’t happening. How could he run off like that so suddenly when he promised he never would?

  CHAPTER 24

  Peter couldn’t get back to work that day. The very last thing in the world he’d expected was Megan slamming the door in his face, choosing that low life over him, ignoring his warning. Okay, she was unstable now. Kyle’s leaving and the tornado had clearly blown her world apart. But what about Mallory? How was this going to affect her? Peter’s mind was spinning. He had seen a future together with Megan and Mallory, had been waiting and planning for it for a long time. How could a wild card blow into town and take it all away from him?

  Peter knew he needed to talk to someone, and again the Pastor flashed into his mind. Last time they’d talked the Pastor had told him to go find evidence that there was danger. Well, Peter had it now. He could go to him with facts and see what he would do about it.

  The thought of telling the Pastor about the restraining order lifted Peter’s spirits somewhat. At least he would be vindicated. Maybe the guy would even have a good idea about what to do next. Even though Peter didn’t feel so good about their past meeting, this was a guy Peter trusted, he’d given his life over to service. In his own way, Peter felt he had done the same.

  Peter left the police station and drove to the church without an appointment, as usual. It was late afternoon and the Pastor would be around, probably resting back in his home.

  Fortunately the secretary was not there when Peter arrived, and he decided to go straight to the Pastor’s living quarters. As he walked along the path, though, once again loud voices sounded over the trellis in the garden.

  “You’ve got to settle down, Abigail.” It was the Pastor’s voice, forceful and disturbing.

  My God, they were at it again. Peter knew he should leave, but couldn’t. What in the world was going on here?

  “It’s too much for me, too,” his wife responded, in her high pitched tone.

  “You can’t do this to me,” the Pastor went on, “not while I’m getting settled.”

  “What about me? Doesn’t it matter what I’m thinking and feeling?”

  Peter felt jarred, this guy preached about love, but couldn’t quiet down his own wife. Women were unreasonable though, Peter thought. How many could put themselves in their man’s shoes? How many would stick it out for a guy they cared for? Men were better at that. Lots of them, stayed in rotten marriages for the sake of the kids. Like Peter had, all those years.

  “There’s no way out,” the Pastor’s wife was whimpering now.

  “We must pray for help,” he said, sternly.

  “We’ve been praying and praying,” she said. “I used to love your prayers, Nelson. Now they mean nothing to me.”

  That had to hurt, thought Peter. She was throwing a dagger at him, like the way Megan slammed the door in his face when he’d come to protect her. Women could be cruel and not think anything of it.

  “I’m going to the church now to prepare my sermon,” the Pastor spoke to his wife as if she were an unruly child.

  “Go,” she answered precipitously. “One sermon after another, but what do they really mean? The real sermon is the way you live your life, how you care for me.”

  “I care for you,” he intoned sadly.

  “So why don’t I feel it then?” she cried out.

  The Pastor said nothing. Peter heard him scrape his chair back as Peter stepped to the side out of view, to wait. He would probably be coming out of the house any minute.

  Peter was right. Once again the Pastor walked out onto the cobblestone path, down towards the church, looking weighed down and alone. Peter felt sorry for him as he walked along. All men needed someone to prop them up, someone who believed in them, especially when it was their job to prop up the rest of the world.

  Peter waited for a little while longer, giving the Pastor time to get settled. Then he walked to the church to have a talk. It was important for him to know about the restraining order, to realize there was danger in town.

  When Peter finally went inside the church, he saw the Pastor sitting at a small desk, writing in a large book. Then, just as Peter was going to walk over to him, the back door to the church opened, and Holly, the runaway, who was still living upstairs, walked in. Peter hadn’t seen her for a while. She’d changed a lot since he’d last seen her. Dressed now in a simple, lavender cotton dress, she looked fresh and willowy. Her long hair hung over her lovely shoulders.

  The Pastor looked up at her and smiled. “Come in, Holly,” he said.

  Holly went over and stood at his small table.

  He seemed pleased to see her. Why wouldn’t he be, thought Peter? She was beautiful, frail, drawn to him.

  “Preparing your sermon?” she asked softly.

  “I am.”

  They looked at each other, hesitantly.

  “Did you have a nice day?” he asked gently.

  “Nice enough, but I feel better now. It’s lonely out there,” she whispered.

  “It won’t always be, Holly,” he looked up at her.

  “I like it so much better when I’m here with you,” she replied.

  It was easy to see that she touched him deeply.

  “Let us pray together, Holly,” he said.

  “I don’t know what I’d do without you here, waiting for me, day after day,” she went on. “I don’t know where I’d go or who I’d be with.”

  The Pastor closed his eyes and took a deep breath, probably breathing in her sweet perfume, Peter thought. Then the Pastor opened his eyes and slowly, reached out for her hand. The two of them gazed at each other, holding hands, for a long, long time.

  Peter’s heart started pounding. What was he seeing with his own eyes? He wasn’t really sure, but it frightened him.

  “Let us pray together, Holly,” the Pastor said more deeply then.

  She took a step closer to him.

  “God grant us peace, grant us wisdom, grant us the power to understand the love that is growing between us,” he said.

  Peter gasped. She was a teenager, he was an older guy. Whatever was happening here wasn’t right.

  “Grant us the strength to know your will for us, and what to do about it.”

  Peter stepped backwards out of the church. These were words he could not bear to hear. Never in his life had Peter felt so bewildered. Never in his life had he felt so alone. Things like this just didn’t happen in Tom’s River - at least they hadn’t up until now.

  As Peter turned to leave the church, he thought of a sermon he’d once heard, years ago, given by the old Pastor. He’d never forgotten it either. Now the words began to roll around in his mind.

  They say a spirit can come upon the land causing hard times and trouble, rooting up branches, opening the door for vagrants and wanderers of all kinds to enter the gates and descend on the people, draw them into pathways they do not belong.

  Peter started trembling. Was this was the sermon had been saying? Was a blight coming to Tom’s River? Was more darkness looming ahead?

  CHAPTER 25

  Megan was beside herself. An hour had passed and Hunter hadn’t returned. Was he gone for good? Where had he gone? She did her best to quiet herself down. He was probably just taking time to make sense of their conversation. He’d promised he wouldn’t just leave her like that – promised - and he wasn’t one to go back on his word. For days now the two of them had been inseparable. It might be good that he’d taken off for a while, Megan suddenly thought. Might give her time to sort things, too. But she couldn’t make sense of anything now, not without Hunter nearby. She’d grown so accustomed to having him at her side, she felt as if a part of her was missing. This won’t last forever, she told herself, soon he’ll be back and they’d talk everything over. She trusted that. She trusted him, no matter what anyone else said.

  Megan couldn’t sit still for very long, though. She got up and paced back and forth in the living room, then went out to the front and watched the summer clouds drifting overhead without a care. When she was young she used to watch summer clouds, wonder where they came from, where they were going and what they would look like as the years went by. She never in her wildest dreams thought that these clouds would look down on her and someone like Hunter, see her as happy as she’d been these past weeks.

  After a little while Megan turned inside. In a little while it would be lunch time. She’d grow hungry and Hunter would too. She prepared ice tea and tuna fish sandwiches for both of them, thinking he might be back in time.

  Lunchtime came and Hunter wasn’t back. Megan waited for a couple of extra hours and then finally ate half of her sandwich alone. Then she got busy in the house, dusting, sorting, sweeping, waiting for him to return.

  By the time late afternoon came, the day was growing cooler and the sun dimming in the sky.

  Megan walked to the back glass wall as she often did at that time of day. She loved watching the light change during the magical space between late afternoon and evening, when a crack in the world seemed to open.

  Today she stood there quietly, looking out. For a long while everything seemed same as usual. Then, slowly, at the far edge of the hill, she suddenly saw a figure approaching. At first she thought it might be Hunter, that he’d been roaming over the back hills. It was hard to make out, though. At this distance it just looked like a shadow spreading upwards over the field.

  In a little while the figure grew clearer, had more substance. There was definitely someone walking up towards the house. Megan had no idea who it was. Her eyes narrowed as she went closer to the glass wall and peered into the sun. Whoever it was, it wasn’t Hunter, that much she was sure of. This person had a different gait, slower, almost ambling.

  As the figure came closer the day got darker, seemed to be enveloped in a heavy cloud. Megan began to feel dizzy, as though her mind was playing tricks on her and she was imagining things. What she was seeing wasn’t possible.

  Suddenly, Megan pressed herself up against the glass wall and her whole body froze into a block of ice. It was Kyle, in front of her eyes, walking to the back door as if he were expected home.

  “Kyle,” she cried out, breathless with fear.

  He didn’t seem to hear or see her. Was he even really there?

  Megan’s eyes flew open as he took another step right up to the other side of the glass and stared inside.

  “Kyle,” Megan shrieked once again, as she reeled backwards and let the darkness claim her as she swooned into a dead faint.

  *

  When Megan opened her eyes, Kyle was standing over her, slapping her face and splashing water over it.

 

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