Page 71 of A Curse On Black Lake (Black Lake Gothic Cowboys #1)

“Yeah? Did you call for me?” Killian says, poking his head around the corner. He takes a large gulp of water from his glass, and I stare at him.

“Eliana?”

“What? No, sorry,” I tell him.

“Oh, I thought I heard you say my name,” he says.

“Is that an invitation?” I ask him, forcing a smile.

He licks his lips and looks me up and down. “It certainly can be,” he says and steps into the apothecary. “What time is it? It’s closing time, right?” he asks, with a predatory gleam in his eyes, and my body goes haywire.

I glance at the clock over my shoulder. “I suppose it could be.”

He grins. “Oh, hey I was wondering about your great grandma Lily’s journal?”

“And?” I say, dragging the word out.

“Did she write any more information about the curse?” he asks.

“I don’t know. I’d have to look, why?”

“Can you look, please?” he asks.

I smile, a real one this time. “Well because you asked nicely, how could I say no to that?”

He chuckles and follows me into the study. I look around for Grandma Lily’s book and remember I took it with me to his house.

“I forgot I took it with me to your house, so it’s there,” I tell him.

“No problem,” he says.

I drag my finger across the journals and books of my ancestors. It's calming to be in here. It feels like Grams isn’t truly gone. She’s right out front, mixing a tonic or talking to a new mom.

“What’s this?” Killian asks.

I turn around to see what he’s talking about, and he flips a very old envelope in his hands. It’s so old, it looks homemade.

“I have no idea. Where did you find that?”

“It was on the floor in the corner. Maybe the tech team bumped it or it fell out somewhere,” he says.

I hold out my hand, taking the envelope. The parchment is weathered, and thick. It smells like it was put in one of the many journals shelved. There’s nothing written on the front or back, and it’s sealed with a wax stamp.

Sliding my thumb under the fold to pop the wax off, we find a few pages folded together. I carefully pull them from the homemade envelope and set it on the table before I open the pages. If this is as old as I think it is, then the paper could disintegrate in my hands.

I press open the pages and study the beautiful handwritten scrawl. It doesn’t look like my grandma Lily’s, but then again, it’s not like I studied her handwriting. It’s not addressed to anyone either.

Killian comes behind me, placing a hand on my hip to read over my shoulder.

You were killed today. My father took you from me. I know we were meant to have a beautiful life together, to fill the home you dreamed of building us, with children. To love and grow old together as we were meant to. There will never be another. You were all there was for me.

I held you in my arms as you died. A part of me died with you. I think pieces of me will continue to perish until I cannot take it any longer, and I will finally see you again.

Our son is my reason to live now. I know it is what you would want. I will make sure he becomes a man as honorable as you, a man that you would be proud to call your son.

I’m leaving Black Lake with Jasper Jr. My family is no longer mine. I must start anew even if I’d rather come visit you every day. But rest peacefully, and be assured we will get our vengeance. The price will be paid in blood for what they did to you, to me, to our son.

I miss you. My heart cries out for you in silent agony with every breath I breathe.

All my love,

Your Cassie

Killian’s tortured expression makes my own heart ache. I feel for Cassandra, for Jasper, for Killian because even her own blood is not exempt from the plight of the curse she put on this land.

It doesn’t matter that he never knew Cassandra. No one with a heart couldn’t help but hurt for her.

“I understand why she did it, but do you think she ever thought it could hurt so many?” Killian asks.

“As much as I hate to say it, I think that’s exactly what she wanted. She wanted the people of this town to be in as much agony as she was.”

“Yeah…” he trails off.

I set the letter down and slide my arms around his waist. “Tell me,” I say into his shirt that doesn’t smell good, but I don’t care.

“I feel responsible.”

“What?” I ask him in shock. How could he think that? He didn’t say those words. He didn’t want others to die, so they shared his pain.

“She was my family.”

“Yes, she was your family from over 160 years ago. Her choices are not a reflection of you, Killian. They never have been and never will be,” I tell him.

“At least your ancestors have tried to heal people for over a century,” he mutters into my hair.

“Don’t fool yourself, cowboy. Great understanding of plants and what they can do also comes with great responsibility. You would never see it written in any of these journals, but secrets are passed down from Greer to Greer. We know how to heal, but we also know how to kill.”

He rubs my back and sighs. “So when you get tired of me, are you going to poison me?”

“Don’t tempt me.”

He chuckles. “There are many other ways I’d like to go, but if you poison me, I probably deserved it.”

“Seriously? You’re fine with that?” I ask him.

Killian shrugs and rubs my lips with his thumb. “I hope we can have a couple of kids first.”

My face heats and my stomach heaves.

“Do you want kids?” he asks.

“I never thought I’d have them. I thought I’d be alone forever,” I whisper.

“Well, you’re not anymore,” he says sternly.

“I know.”

“You don’t have to answer that today. Or tomorrow, even. I wouldn’t blame you if you want to get through all of this other crap,” he says.

“Yeah, I would like to make sure that my baby daddy isn’t in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.”

He chuckles and tucks some of my hair back behind my ear. “I’d like that too.”

“What did you want to know about the curse?” I ask him.

Killian rubs his chin. “I was hoping maybe there was a suggestion for how to end it since you said we can be the ones to break it. There could be some kind of clue, right?”

I bite my lower lip to keep from laughing. He means well, and I’m not an expert on curses, but it’s usually not that simple. And I know for a fact this time it really isn’t that simple.

“What?” he asks.

“Nothing. Grandma Lily mentioned that it may never end. She had ideas but no way of knowing if they were … true. That said, we’ll know when it’s time,” I tell him, hoping he drops it because I do know the answer, but it’s not one he needs to carry.

I can bear the weight for both of us.“I see. Well, it was worth a shot.” He sighs and kisses my forehead. “Are you ready to go home?”

“Yeah, I am. Do you want to keep this letter?” I ask him.

“It seems like it belongs to you,” he says.

“No, I have a feeling Grandma Lily was holding it.”

“Part of me wants to toss it and never think about it again, but maybe it’s worth keeping,” he says.

I nod and put it back in the parchment envelope and hand it to him.

We lock up the house and head back to the ranch.

How many more times will I see my home? How many more days, weeks, months do I have until it’s gone? Maybe I should write a will. It might not be totally legal, but I think they’d honor it. I have no next of kin. It would go to the town or state, and I’d hate to see that.

I make a note for myself to get something written and maybe notarized. Grams did that stuff at the bank. I think that at least makes it official.

We’ve fallen into a routine in the evenings. Since we’re usually sweaty and tired from working hard, we shower before we eat. But today, and I think maybe every day from here on out, will be a little different.

Killian follows me inside and grabs my hand, tugging me up the stairs.

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

He turns around and rips his shirt open, the snap buttons easily giving way. “I’m going to take a shower,” he says, lifting an eyebrow.

I smile. “Have a good shower. That’s what I was planning to do.”

“Yes, little witch, I know because I’ve been taking cold showers for over a month because someone has been stealing all the hot water.”

My eyes find somewhere else to look. But his hand clasps my chin, tilting my head to his. “So, I thought we could both have a nice, hot shower.”

I purse my lips, and Killian’s gaze falters. “If you want to, of course, I realize we’ve been spending a lot of time together, and you might want your space.”

I huff. “I’m pretty sure you’ve licked or nibbled every inch of my body. I’m not worried about space.”

His eyes flare with excitement.

“I’m more worried about who’s going to get the most hot water.” I grin and pull my tank top over my head and unbuckle my belt.

Killian watches me with rapt interest until he realizes I’m literally racing him to the bathroom. I will be victorious.

After our shower and shoving leftover casserole in our mouths for dinner, we’re sitting on the couch while Killian does a crossword puzzle with my feet in his lap.

I stare at his profile, attempting to get the curve of his lips the exact way I see them, and ignore the Spirits whispering.

Their tone has changed recently, and I’ve tried not to question it for the most part. But I know in my gut more is coming.

Change is on the horizon, and it’s coming for both of us. The only way out is through. But for this moment, being with him, is all I want to focus on. Need to focus on.

Our days are numbered.