He tried the side door to the garage. Unlocked. A sign for sure. He found his offerings against the wall. Perhaps she’d put them there to shelter them from the storm. The thought warmed him. Mandy cared. She’d protected the items he’d given her. Nothing else mattered. The details of their future together could be worked out later.

He picked up the heavy cauldron and carried it back to the porch, then secured the rowan branch above the door once again. Better.

As in his original plan, he cut a circle of glass from the door. Reaching inside, he flipped the dead bolt and slipped into the kitchen. His ears strained for sound. A second of silence was followed by a soft woof on the other side of a wooden door.

Since when did Mandy have a dog?

Nails scratched on wood, the sound boring into his brain. No. No. No. He pressed his palms to his ears. Tonight’s mission depended upon quiet. The dog must be silenced.

He lunged for the knob and shoved the door inward. A yellow lab burst through, hackles raised. Was that Jed’s prize bitch, Honey? The dog stood splay-legged in front of him, tail low, growling but unsure of what to do.

Nathan reached into his pocket and withdrew a piece of last night’s supper, skewered rabbit and fresh dandelion greens. He’d been prepared to take shelter in case another storm arrived. He held out a bit of meat.

The dog shuffled forward, sniffing. Her tail swayed in a faint wag as she licked the treat from his fingers. Labradors were retrievers, not guard dogs. Relief coursed through him. Thank the gods! Plan B could continue. He was far too tired to come up with a plan C.

The door opened again. Nathan’s hopes rose. Mandy! Perhaps she’d fallen asleep on the sofa.

A shadow fell across the tile floor. No. It wasn’t Mandy. Even in the dark, he could see the shape was much too large. Mandy’s brother, Bill, shuffled in. His hand swiped the wall, turning on the overhead lights. Dressed in gray sweatpants and an oversize hoodie, he rubbed sleep-heavy eyes with both fists like a child. When he lowered his hands, surprise registered. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to get you.” Because there was no better way to ensure Mandy’s cooperation.

“Why?” Bill stepped back. “Mandy said I’m supposed to stay here.”

“I know. She sent me to get you.” Nathan smiled. His facial muscles strained with the effort, as if they had atrophied from little use.

“Mandy said you did something bad.” Bill’s jaw jutted. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “And Jed said you hurt her.”

“I did.” Nathan tried to look ashamed. “And I’m very sorry. We all make mistakes. But I’m going to make it up to her by helping her now.”

“Where is she?”