@@@@@ The moment Jeb announced where we were, my
@@@@@
The moment Jeb announced where we were, my body froze and my joints locked; I skidded to a
halt, my feet planted against the rock floorMy eyes, wide with terror, flickered between Jeb's
face and the face of the doctor
Had this all been a ruse, then? Wait for stubborn Jared to be out of the picture and then lure me
back here? I couldn't believe I'd walked to this place under my own powerHow stupid I was!
Melanie was just as aghaste might as well have gift-wrapped ourselves for them!
They stared back at me, Jeb expressionless, the doctor looking as surprised as I felt–though not
as horrified
I would have flinched, ripped myself away from the touch of a hand on my arm, if the hand had
not been so familiar
“No,” Jamie said, his hand hesitantly resting just below my elbowRight,
Uncle Jeb?” Jamie looked trustingly at the old man“It's okay, right?”
“Sure it is Jeb's faded blue eyes were calm and clear“Just showing you my place, kid, that's
all
“What are you talking about?” Ian grumbled from behind us, sounding annoyed that he didn't
understand
“Did you think we brought you here on purpose, for Doc?” Jamie said to me instead of
answering Ian“Because we wouldn't do that
I stared at his earnest face, trying to believe
“Oh!” Ian said as he understood, and then he laughed“That wasn't a bad planI'm surprised I
didn't think of it
Jamie scowled at the big man and patted my arm before removing his hand“Don't be scared,”
he said
Jeb took up where he'd left off“So this big room here is fitted up with a few cots in case
anyone gets sick or hurtWe've been pretty lucky on that countDoc doesn't have much to work
with in an emergency“Your folks threw out allour medicines when they
took over things