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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The next morning, life felt heavier than usual.

Maybe Olivia just had too much on her mind. Or maybe too much had happened. She wasn’t sure.

After church, Tyson turned toward her.

“I want to take you somewhere,” he told her. “Get you away from this place for a while.”

Olivia raised her eyebrows, hesitating a moment. Getting away might be nice. The walls of Tyson’s house, once a sanctuary, had begun to feel like a beautiful prison.

“I’m game,” she finally said. “Can I ask where?”

He shook his head. “It’s a surprise.”

“How should I dress?”

“Casually.”

“You’ve got it,” Olivia said. “Just give me a few minutes to get things ready.”

Ten minutes later, they climbed into his F-350 and started down the road. The tinted windows provided some sense of security, though Olivia couldn’t help glancing at the side mirror occasionally, watching for vehicles that might be following them.

“Does this destination have anything to do with food?” Olivia raised her eyebrows hopefully.

Tyson chuckled. “You’ll get food there.”

“A hint?”

He shook his head. “You were the kid who searched all over the house at Christmastime looking for presents, weren’t you?”

“How’d you know?” she said with a laugh.

They continued to talk about trivial things as they headed down the road. Olivia discovered that Tyson liked jazz, his favorite author was C.S. Lewis, and he was considering buying a Great Dane and naming him Scooby.

Olivia admitted she’d never go skiing again because of a clumsy accident she had her first and last time doing it, that she was allergic to cats, and that she loved to travel.

In the middle of their talk, she peered into her sideview mirror again and frowned.

The same dark sedan had been behind them for the past twenty minutes, maintaining a consistent distance.

Her muscles tensed.

She wasn’t imagining things.

“Don’t worry about the blue sedan back there.” Tyson seemed to notice her change in posture. “That’s Donald, our security detail. I wasn’t taking any chances today. I probably should have mentioned that to you earlier, however. I just didn’t want you to think I was making a big deal out of nothing.”

Olivia exhaled slowly. Was this what her life had become? Seeing threats in every shadow?

They passed through a small town with a single traffic light before Tyson turned off the main road and started down a bumpy dirt lane. Olivia didn’t have any guesses as to where they were heading.

Her phone had lost its signal miles back.

Once she was out here with Tyson, she’d have no means of contacting anyone else.

Her lungs tightened, and she felt as if the air around her was pressing in closer until she couldn’t breathe.

She closed her eyes, fighting anxiety.

She could trust Tyson. She had no reason to think she couldn’t.

* * *

Finally, Tyson made another turn. The woods cleared, and a picnic shelter appeared in front of them.

Several older model cars were parked around it, and underneath, clusters of people had gathered. Dishes and plates were placed on the tables, music played from a small speaker, and three dogs chased each other in a nearby field.

Olivia turned to Tyson as he pulled to a stop, her brow wrinkled in curiosity. “Care to explain?”

He grinned. “Just a few of my favorite people I want you to meet.”

As they approached the shelter, the aroma was enticing—savory with hints of pepper and something fried.

His stomach rumbled in response.

Everyone under the shelter was Native American. When they saw Tyson approaching, they turned and nodded toward him.

A few shyly smiled. Some of the older men appraised Olivia with curious eyes, making her feel both welcome and somehow tested at the same time.

“Danuwoa.” Tyson reached for one of the men and shook his hand. “I told you I’d make it.”

Danuwoa, an older gentleman with distinguished features, patted Tyson on the shoulder.

“Good to see you.” His eyes drifted to Olivia.

Tyson noticed the shift in his gaze and introduced them. Danuwoa nodded solemnly, his weathered face revealing little emotion, though his eyes held a spark of interest.

They sat down to enjoy the meal that had been prepared: kanuchi, a nut soup made with hickory nuts and sometimes hominy. Three Sisters stew, bean bread, and fry bread.

All of it was delicious.

Tyson hoped that by coming here, maybe Olivia could relax.

Plus, he wanted to give her insight into who he was and what made him tick.

He’d never brought anyone else here before.

Bringing her was a risk. But he didn’t regret it.