Page 69 of Feral Darlings

“ Take your time,” Mollie says to me quietly as she places a gentle hand on my shoulder.

I nod without looking at her as she and Clemmy walk away to give me some time with Elyse.

Elyse Danforth. The Nightingale.

I crouch down and run the tips of my fingers over the words that are so crudely etched into the slab of stone and sigh. It ’ s just like Clemmy said.

I look away for a moment as I remove the Stetson from my head and sigh deeply.

“ I ’ m sorry,” I say to Elyse.

A bitter tear rolls down my cheek, knowing that she ’ s lying alone in the cold ground because of me.

No matter how many times Clemmy and Mollie tell me that it wasn ’ t my fault, no one else pulled that goddamn trigger, so there ’ s no one else to blame.

With a shake of my head, I stand up, lean down, and gently kiss her name before I turn toward my companions.

Mollie is sitting under the giant oak tree with Clemmy in her lap, and they ’ re both watching me with somber eyes.

I killed one of their kin, and they let me live—I ’ ll never understand why, but I won ’ t question them, either.

Something tells me that letting the Nocturnal Drifters into Crescent Oak, and letting them eradicate them, is payment enough for the life I stole.

I walk toward them, using a knuckle to wipe away the tear, and wait patiently as Mollie gets to her feet. She cradles Clemmy against her, letting her sit on her hip.

“ Are you ready to go home, Boone?” she asks me with a smile.

“ Ready as I ’ ll ever be,” I reply with a nod as I reach over to ruffle Clemmy ’ s hair. “ Besides, Sara Belle isn ’ t the only one left, and it ’ s my job to keep you safe.”

Mollie grins as she hooks an arm through mine, and we walk back into town toward her saloon, where she hands me Clemmy.

The little girl that keeps my secret as closely as Elyse did.

Boone Mason.

Sheriff of Crescent Oak.

Killer of his first and only love.

Lone survivor of the Crimson Bend shootout.

Nocturnal Drifter hiding amongst Moon Drunk monsters.