Turning, he spied the old convertible sitting near the garage. That must be Danny Sullivan’s car. No outdoor enthusiast would drive such a vehicle. The temptation to sabotage the convertible flickered in his mind. He could damage the brakes or the wheel alignment, render the car inoperable or dangerous through any manner of procedure. But the risk of killing Sullivan was slim, and he’d need his car to leave town.

The best way to get rid of him was to have Mandy kick him out. Nathan’s mental gears clicked. He’d have a new job for his assistant tomorrow. Thank the gods he’d had the foresight to force her to conceal their relationship. Having two members of the Huntsville community to do his bidding was proving useful.

He jogged empty-handed back to the ATV. One more stop. With a worried glance at the brightening sky, Nathan drove forward. Fortunately the public cemetery was on the way back. He only needed to be back in the deep woods before morning overtook the night.

He stopped in front of a plain marker. No inscription other than his uncle’s name and the dates that encompassed his life. Nothing about devotion to his family or his skill as a Druid. Sadness filled Nathan’s soul. Beneath the earth at his feet lay the man who had given his life for Nathan and his son. Uncle Aaron had embraced pain, loss, and death for one chance to save his family. There wasn’t anything Nathan could do to correct the injustice that fate had brought upon his uncle, but Nathan could ensure his passage into the next life was smooth. Nathan took the sapling from his saddlebag and planted it on the gravesite. The sacred tree would ensure his uncle’s final resting place would not be haunted by the dead.

It was the least he could do for the man who had given his life to show Nathan the true path to salvation.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The coffeepot gurgled as Mandy pulled raw loaves of cinnamon bread from the refrigerator. She slashed the tops and glazed them with an egg wash. While the oven preheated, she finished the dining-room setup. Once the bread was in the oven and the timer set, Mandy poured an enormous mug of coffee and drifted to the window. Dawn washed the yard in pale, peaceful morning light.

All looked serene now. Last night, during a fit of wakefulness, the trees had cast ominous shadows only her imagination could penetrate. Would she ever sleep through the night without being shaken by her paranoia?