He viewed her as if he knew what she was thinking. “We can go to the Live Oak.” He herded her toward the ATV, helped her in, and stopped and looked around.

“What is it?” What...is...it? She scanned the area: the barn, the pen, then up at the hills.

“Nothing.” He paused. “You know me. I’m wary.”

Alarmed, she paid particular attention to the wide oaks that stood, their branches bowing to the ground. “Do you think it could be—”

“Your attempted murderer? How could he have found you? He choked you, he pushed you in the water, he left you to drown. He believes you’re dead.”

Adam looked so knowledgeable, and he made sense. She felt a lifting of anxiety within herself...and a lowering of fear for Adam. “You’re right. But why would anybody hate you? You’re great.”

That brought his attention back to her. For the first time since she’d regained consciousness on that beach, he smiled. “Great? That’s not usually the term I hear about myself. But everyone who lives on this planet for long collects a few enemies and ill-wishers.” He glanced around again. “No one is in sight. Perhaps what I sense is nothing but a hungry bobcat watching the kid barn.”

“Oh, no!” She clutched her arms as if she was cradling the baby goat.

“Bobcats have to feed their young, too.” He came around and got in the driver’s seat. “Don’t worry. The Beards keep close watch. Let’s go back to town.”

He may have dismissed his feeling, but the way down the hill was speedy and without the care he’d previously shown for her aches and pains.

She didn’t complain. Her own fears were amplified by his unease.

He parked in a space on the side of the restaurant marked For Customers of the Live Oak and came around and helped her out.

As before, she leaned heavily on him. “Did you bring the painkillers?”

“I did.”

“I would like some with my meal.” Hand tucked in his arm, she shuffled around to the front of the restaurant.

Across the street stood Madame Rune’s Psychic Readings and Bookshop with a door sign that said We’re away for an hour. Madame Rune predicts you’ll come back soon!

Halfway to the next curve, a three-story house had men, women and children on each balcony staring at them. She asked, “Doesn’t anyone have anything to do in this town but gossip?”

“Everybody’s got secrets here. Speculation passes the time.” He glanced at her. “You’re with me, which is unusual. You’re obviously injured. Why? By whom? Am I protecting you? Or am I the one who hurt you?”

She snorted. “No one who knows you would believe that.”

“No one knows me.”

“I am sorry to hear that, for their sake.”

“You make a lot of assumptions on twenty-four-hour acquaintance.”