Page 11 of Echo (A Monster’s Prey #2)

I still didn’t go into my house. Instead, I painted the door black, again. I didn’t let my mind fixate on the fact it changed colors, and kept my focus on fixing the issue. Otherwise, I’d lose my shit over it.

I also found some flower pots and decorated the porch with some flowers I found that Pearl never transplanted to the ground. The bright red pops of color did a lot to spruce up the barren porch. While that wasn’t what was important, it was what I needed to keep my head on straight.

As I finished arranging them, a beat up truck came down the road. I frowned and found they weren’t slowing down. They honked and waved, driving off the driveway, into the grass, and past the side of the house to the barn.

“What the hell?”

Ranger’s head tilted to the side as if to express that he was as lost as I was. I went around the other way, following the black stone path, until I made it to the barn where the truck backed into the opening and was throwing giant bags of feed where they went.

“Um, Sir?” I waved.

The guy whipped his head up and stared at me wide-eyed as if I startled him. He froze like he couldn’t decide if I was real or not. His eyes roved over me shamelessly, as if he’d never seen a woman like me before.

“You have got to be the most gorgeous creature I have ever seen in these mountains before.”

My face warmed up at the blunt words, and his head shook back and forth. His blue eyes widened impossibly further as if he was mortified that he’d said it out loud.

“I don’t know whether to be appalled or flattered,” I sputtered.

Then again, he was gorgeous himself. He wore a backwards ball cap and a friendly face. My eyes followed the line of well defined muscles barely hidden under a dirty, white tank-top. Following all the way down to powerful thighs, covered by jeans.

“I’m sorry.” He closed his eyes, and I could practically hear him mentally berating himself. “How can I help you?”

“I own this place now.”

“Really?” His head fell to the side. “Ole boy, Eddie, put in an order this morning and paid up the account for the next few months.”

“That’s weird.” I frowned.

“Maybe he’s trying to help you get on your feet.” He smiled kindly and kept throwing the feed bags.

“He was pretty upset a couple of days ago. I wouldn’t expect him to cool off yet. He’s got a lot going on, hurting my feelings probably wasn’t even on his radar.”

“You are a sweet and considerate woman.”

“You don’t know me.”

“I can feel it in my bones.” Ranger walked up to him, and the guy reached down to give him some pats. His yellow lab barked in annoyance from the cab. The way Ranger let him love on him was strangely attractive.

“I bet he’s a good boy.” The guy gave him a couple good scratches that Ranger rubbed into it like he couldn’t get enough. He smiled at me when he noticed my preoccupation. “Keep your mouth open like that and you’ll catch flies.”

I laughed. “He doesn’t let men pet him. Or anyone really.”

“If I passed his test, does that put me in a good position to ask to let me cook you dinner?”

“It does.” I winced. “But I’d need to pass, I’ve got to get my shit together.”

“I respect it.” He tossed the last feed bag like it weighed nothing, and I wondered if he’d throw me like that.

I hadn’t had a passionate night of love-making in a hot minute. Oh, Madison, stop.

No, it was more than that. When I left Aurelio, it was to find a man like this. A kind, hardworking man who’d cherish me without all the blood and gore.

He reached into his back wallet and handed me his card. “For when it’s time to schedule your next delivery. Or when you feel like letting me make you one of the two meals I can cook.”

I laughed at the joke. “You bet.”

He froze again and became preoccupied with the dirty cement floor of the barn. But I could see him watching something out of his peripheral vision. Ranger growled and barked as the hair on his back stood straight up.

I went to turn, and he put a gentle hand on my elbow. “Don’t. Pretend it’s not there.”

“What is it?”

He shrugged. “No clue.”

“This is normal?”

“Definitely.”

“So I’m not going crazy?” Wild thing to ask a stranger, but after all the weird shit, I needed someone to see what I saw.

“Definitely not. Pretend it’s not there, and it will go away.” He smiled. “And don’t whistle or do anything to get its attention.”

“That seems like a wild solution,” I whispered.

“My ancestors have survived hundreds of years with that solution.” He grinned.

“Fair enough.” Tough thing to argue.

His smile wiped away, and he ripped his hand off my elbow. “I’ve got to get to the next delivery. Have a good one.”

He jumped in his truck and sped off so fast he almost hit a tree.

“Okay,” I answered softly, and I did what he said, going to the house without looking back. Turning my back to whatever was there was unreal, but it also worked.

The sun was almost down when I entered the house, closed the curtains, and locked the door. There.

Safe.

As safe as I could get.

“Who was that?” Mark asked.

“Feed guy. My cousin paid a few months for delivery or something.” I shrugged and put his card on the counter.

“You were outside looking like that?” He lifted his eyebrow at me.

I glanced down at my tank-top and shorts. “All my bits are covered.”

“Dress properly. No one needs to see you like that.” His eyes hardened on me.

Men.

After a shower, I went to the kitchen. Mark passed out on the couch, with a bottle of whiskey sitting on the end table. I grabbed it and poured it into the sink, then placed it back where he had it. He wasn’t the only one who could gaslight someone.

I dug in a drawer, looking for a whisk and found an envelope with my name neatly written on the front. I jumped onto the counter and opened the letter.

To Ruby’s precious Madison,

This house was never meant to be mine. It was Ruby’s.

She messed everything up, and I ended up living my entire life dealing with her sins. So I leave the rage she left behind for you to deal with.

I’ve endured for long enough.

I hope he rips you to shreds the moment you step on the land. But if you survive long enough to find this letter, blame your grandmother. I know I do.

Truly, Pearl.

Intense.

I guess Pearl wasn’t on as good of terms with Grandma as I remembered.

A bad feeling bubbled in my stomach.

I probably should have asked more questions about this place.