Page 22 of A Curse On Black Lake (Black Lake Gothic Cowboys #1)

He frowns and readjusts his hat on his head. I’ve been trying not to blatantly ogle him all day, but it’s hard not to. The man looks amazing in a cowboy hat. Maybe he would let me wear it.

Shaking the thought from my head, I check Sunny’s saddle one more time and move over to the fence to climb it in order to get on Sunny, then Killian comes up behind me.

“Ready?” he asks, placing his large, warm palms on my sides. I want to sink back into him like I did in my dream.

“Yeah,” I rasp, and hop up while he helps me lift my foot into the stirrup so I can swing my leg over.

You need to tell him about us. The Spirits say.

“I really don’t think he’s ready,” I mutter.

“Ready for what?” Killian asks.

I groan and look up at the sky. Sweat drips down my back, but I don’t mind it. It’s hot, but the sun is shining, and the sky isn’t very gray today.

“Can I tell you later? We have a lot to do.”

He tilts his head at me and dips the brim of his hat before going to Daisy.

I follow Killian and Daisy on Sunny to the empty acreage. Killian has been waiting for it to grow up, so it can feed the cattle. Part of the process of raising grass-fed beef is making sure they are moved and have adequate grazing to munch on.

He hops off Daisy and kneels down in the grass to check it.

I urge Sunny to keep walking, and a beautiful stream runs through this section of land, and my hot skin itches to go into it.

Not only to cool off, but there’s something to be said for sinking yourself into nature.

It’s grounding. I’ve always loved being outside.

It helps me to balance my own thoughts with the Spirits running rampant in my head.

“Eliana!” Killian yells.

I turn Sunny, and he waves me back to him. Heeling Sunny into a gallop, we meet up with him again.

“What do you think?” I ask.

“I think it needs another week, and then we can move my bigger group here.”

“Sounds good.”

I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to explain to Killian that I don’t have a mental condition. But there are literal Spirits in my head that talk to me and know things that I wouldn’t otherwise know. Anyone would think I’m crazy, and I can’t blame them either.

He will understand. His father told him of things to come.

I gasp, and Killian’s head whips to me.

“What?” he asks.

“Nothing,” I squeak and take my cowboy hat off and shake out my hair. He stares at me with serious, dark eyes, and part of me wants to bare every single secret I’ve ever kept. Killian makes me feel safe, and I haven’t felt truly safe since Grams died.

After everything I’ve seen and have been told. Part of me knows I won’t be safe unless I’m with Killian. Yet I won’t say it because I can take care of myself. I guess I’m stubborn.

Just because you can take care of yourself doesn’t mean you have to. They say.

Can y’all butt out of my thoughts?

Well, you spoke them to us. I don’t know what you expect us to do.

Shut up maybe?

You are rude, aren’t you?

Takes one to know… many, I guess.

Tell him, Eliana, he cannot be what he needs to if you do not open up.

“Are you okay over there?” Killian asks.

“Yup,” I mutter shortly, and put my hat back on, but the way he’s looking at me tells me he doesn't believe it.

Fair enough, I don’t either.

“Let’s head back. I need to get some hay restocked in the barn,” he says, and gets on Daisy.

When we get back to the barns, we unsaddle the horses, and I follow Killian to hay storage. “You don’t have to help me. I can get it,” he says.

My feet pause, and I don’t presume it’s because he doesn’t think I can handle my own. It feels like he’s asking for some space.

“No problem.”

He nods and walks out of sight.

You are going to lose him. He knows there are things you aren’t telling him.

“I love how y’all keep making me repeat myself. He’s not like Grams. Most people aren’t. He won’t take it at face value.”

Then we will have to prove ourselves to him.

“Why do you want him to understand so badly?”

He cannot do what he needs to if he does not understand the gravity.

“Y’all haven’t given me that information either. But, I’m assuming it’s much more than the woman he found.”

We are told it has everything to do with that.

“Then why can’t you tell me what happened?” I ask them.

The tightness in my chest grows, and my stomach hardens.

I’ve never had to explain myself like this, and I hate to admit it, but part of me is afraid he’s going to laugh me off.

I’ve finally made a friend, and I don’t want to lose that, even if it means not telling him about a crucial part of myself.

We are not omnipotent, or all-knowing. We know that the death of the woman, and many others, is a part of this. We have been told that the curse over this land will come to light through both of you. But only together.

“What the hell? Curse? What are you talking about?”

That is all we know.

“And I’m supposed to say all of that to Killian?”

Yes.

“Dammit,” I grumble and head up the hill to the house. There’s no reason for me to wait anymore. I’ll either lose my only friend or whatever they are talking about will come to fruition.

We know this is difficult for you. But your place in this plan, your gift, could save many.

“As much as I can’t stand people, I have to admit that’s convincing.”