Page 58 of A Curse On Black Lake (Black Lake Gothic Cowboys #1)

Chapter forty-four

Eliana

I stare at his peaceful face and smile to myself.

Waking up to him shouldn’t feel this good.

Especially after what he did. I’m aware he pushed me away because he was struggling to process.

But I’m not sure any of that matters anymore.

Whoever is watching me is getting more confident, and I can sense the clock counting down.

I was so tired last night I forgot to close the blinds, and the sun is shining on Killian, highlighting his brown hair with reds and oranges, dyed from the sun.

I brush a few locks out of his face and drag my finger lightly over his relaxed features.

He doesn’t have his trademark furrowed brow.

He’s softer asleep. Awake, he’s quite the opposite.

I like knowing that about him. It makes me want to dig deeper.

I lightly brush my finger over his nose, and he twitches it. I smile and do it again. It twitches, and he brushes his hand over the spot.

Pinning my lips together so I don’t laugh, I drag a finger over his lips, down to his neck.

His lips twitch, and he flips onto his back.

Amazed he’s still asleep, I lean forward and press my lips to his pulse.

He groans, shifting back to his side and stares at me with sleepy eyes, and it makes my chest flutter.

“Morning,” I whisper.

Freckles dot the bridge of his nose from being out in the sun, and I notice a tinge of red in his beard. He gazes at me with a lazy smile. I’m sure my hair is a mess and sleep lines are still indented into my face.

“Why are you so beautiful?” he asks me in a raspy voice, as if he’s asking himself.

“That’s how God made me,” I tell him.

He smiles softly. “What time is it?” he asks.

“I have no idea.”

He gathers me into his arms, and I rest my ear over his heart.

His mouth presses to the crown of my head, and I could cry.

I feel safe with him. He makes that ragged hole in my chest feel smaller.

I don’t want to admit I’m scared of being alone because I’m still getting used to being honest with someone about my feelings who isn’t my Grams. Though it seems like I don’t have to say anything because he already knows.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, his voice raspy.

He rubs my back soothingly, taking my apprehension with him.

“I should be asking you that,” I mumble.

His hand pauses on my back. “How about we both answer the question?”

“Fine,” I sigh.

He resumes rubbing my back, and I talk first.

“I don’t know how I am. My head hurts, but luckily they’re quiet right now, and they let me sleep. Probably because you’re here. If that’s not the case, then let’s pretend it is.”

He huffs. “Okay, we can do that.”

“Your turn.”

“I don’t know why they never told me, but I don’t know that the why matters anymore. It’s hard not to be mad at my great grandmother Cassandra because I think it’s what caused my mom’s death. On the other hand, it makes this town make more sense.”

“I agree. I wonder if that’s why my Grams never told me why my parents were at Black Lake to begin with, or how they died there. Maybe it was the curse.”

Killian hums and stops at my shoulder blade, drawing a finger around the shape. “I’m more concerned about you and the stalker. He’s getting more dangerous.”

“And we’re missing some kind of information about why they still think you’re responsible for killing that woman.”

“That’s become our theme, hasn't it? More questions than answers.”

I hum and kiss his naked chest and rest my chin on my hand. He looks down at me, and the spark I felt last night reignites, and I want to finish what we started.

I lift my head, and he lifts his. “Can I kiss you, darlin’?” he asks.

I snort. “I have morning breath.”

“Don’t care,” he says.

“Then what are you waiting for?” I whisper.

“Oh thank God, I’ve been waitin’ all night,” he groans and slams his mouth on mine.

A giggle bubbles past my lips, and he smiles against mine.

“We were sleeping,” I murmur.

He kisses me lightly. “I know. The anticipation was killing me.”

We laugh, and he rolls us over. I gasp, and he swallows it, plundering my mouth.

My heart flutters, and for a breathless moment, I feel like everything is going to be alright. Even if I know it’s about to get a lot worse before it gets better. Killian holds me down in the now, helping me focus on the present.

He clasps my face between his hands, kissing me with unhurried tenderness, and it makes me writhe with need. His hips rock against mine, sending a pleasing curl of heat through my sternum down to my toes.

I roll my body against, his and he growls into my mouth.

“Dammit, little witch,” he says, his voice hoarse with hunger.

I giggle and kiss his chin. “Have I put a spell on you?”

He laughs, running his thumb over my lips. “Didn’t I already tell you that?”

I kiss him again and push his chest, rolling us so I can straddle him, as he stares up at me with heavy-lidded eyes.

I lean forward, my palms on his chest. “We need to get to work.”

“Can we take a day off?” he asks, sliding his hands over my hips.

I smile. “That’s funny, coming from you.”

“Why? Because I know better?” he asks.

“We don’t get days off. Animals still have to be fed.” I remind him.

“I know, but I want to pretend like we don’t have any responsibilities to attend to and we’re the only ones that need each other’s attention,” he says and sits up.

The sheet falls down to his waist, revealing more of his work-toned body, and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me forward.

I clasp the back of his neck, twirling my finger in his hair.

“You know what could make this day better?” he asks.

I sigh and tilt my head back as he kisses my jaw and neck.

“You in those chaps.”

I giggle and pull back. “You like my chaps?” I ask him.

“Honestly, I had to force myself not to stare at you in them when we first started working together. But now that I can stare at you … will you wear them?”

I snort and find his mouth again. “Sure, cowboy. You know I live to please.”

Killian bites his lip and leans his forehead against mine while his hands wander my spine.

“Be careful what you say because now I want to put you to the test.” He chuckles against my mouth, and I fall into him.

It doesn’t take much. The first time he kissed me, I fell.

We’re two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly, and it terrifies me.

He pulls back and presses his lips over my face.

I freeze, sobering as the events of yesterday come pouring back.

What am I going to do? Sure, I have stock, and I’ll be covered for a couple of months.

But what then? Some things I know I can replant and will be fine.

Others, not so much. Root systems were destroyed.

I can’t replace a hundred year old roses.

“Hey,” Killian says, scrutinizing every emotion that crosses my face. He grabs my chin. “Focus on this right now. The rest can wait.”

Killian downs the last bit of his coffee while I hop on one foot pulling my boot on.

The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. I’m telling myself it’s going to be okay. Things happen that are completely out of our control. Most situations in life are, but we can control how we respond to them. I will respond with bottling it because I don’t know what else to do.

You know what happens when you don’t let it out.

I roll my eyes. “You should mind your own business. There’s only so much a girl can take,” I mutter and throw the door open.

I scream, falling back on my hands, and scrambling back from the door.

“Eliana?” Killian yells, running to my side.

“What’s—”

I point to it and force deep breaths into my lungs. But a painful sob rips from my throat.

“Shit,” he mutters and steps outside.

“He found me,” I mumble. I sob, staring at one of my babies hanging upside down like he was sent for slaughter.

My goat, Conrad, is strung up by his hooves with his throat slit and blood still dripping from the cut. He’s been there for a while, based on the blood drying on the deck.

Killian comes back inside, closing the door. His large hand swipes over my cheeks, and a serious look on his face. “I’m sorry, Eliana.”

“What does this mean? Why didn’t we hear this?” I ask him, wringing my hands together.

“I have no idea, truly. I’m surprised we didn’t hear him. It also means he definitely knows where you are and he’s escalating like we thought. Stay inside. I’ll grab Tiny, and you can sit with him while I clean this up.”

I shake my head and get to my feet. “I want to bury Conrad. He —”

My eyes well, and I lean into Killian, crying into his shoulder. Everything dies. That’s a fact of life, but why come after my animals? They are innocent in all of this.

“This was a statement, wasn’t it?” I ask Killian.

“Yes,” he grunts.

“Go sit in the kitchen,” he says, spinning me around. He puts the kettle on the stove and sticks his head out the door through the kitchen, whistling for Tiny.

He’s out with his herd. Killian gets a fresh mug and pulls out some of my homemade tea from the cabinet.

A few minutes later, nails click on the boards, and Killian opens the door, letting Tiny in.

He comes right up to me and plops down in front of my knees. He stares at me with an assessing look and pokes my knee. I lift my hand to pet him, and he inspects me while I rub his soft ears. “You smell, bud,” I mumble.

“Well, he’s surrounded by cattle and other animals most of the time, darlin’,” Killian says with his back still to me. He scoops a spoonful of honey from the jar into my mug and brings it to me.

“Drink this, stay here, and I’ll let you know when it’s time, and Eliana?”

I take a sip and meet his eyes.

“Let me bury him, okay? Let me do that for you.”

Tears prick my eyes, and I nod, petting Tiny.

“Keep watch while I’m gone, boy,” he says to Tiny, and rubs his head before leaving the kitchen.

Dutifully sipping my tea and petting Tiny with my other hand, I try not to think of anything else.