Page 65 of Fragile Lives

“How did you find us here, Frankie?” I coo as the good boy snorts and pushes his head into my hand for more affection.

The footsteps behind me make Frank strain and pull away from me. Now, his accusing eyes are trained on Stephan, who couldn’t resist staying away.

“This is the moose that lives with Kayla?TheFrank?” His voice is full of wonder.

“Yep.”

“When everyone talked about Frank, I assumed it was some homeless dude, living in the woods that everyone loved. Not a moose.”

“Yep. That’s what everyone thinks.”

“And no one thinks to mention it to people who don’t know?” A note of irritation clear in his voice.

I turn to face him before I respond. “You weren’t local, so people were wary. But you’re one of us now.” I feel my brows draw together. “To think of it, you became one of us a while ago.”

He swallows roughly. “Since when?”

“I think since Frank spotted you at Kenneth’s house before.”

“What?” His eyes go round.

“Yeah,” I nod, “when I dropped you off at his place, I saw Frank marking your car. He does it to people who belong.”

“Marking my car?” His face looks horrified. “How?”

“You don’t wanna know.” I smile widely and turn back to the moose. “Thank you, Frankie.” I pet his nose and add with a whisper, “I know what you did, so thank you.”

His intelligent eyes blink a few times, and he beats his hoof on the frozen ground before jogging away back into the woods.

I find Stephan behind me with a look of pure wonder on his face.

I tap him on his chest. “Let’s go, soldier.” His shining eyes move to me. “There goes your lurker. He does that sometimes.”

I feel so much better knowing it was Frank and not the same person from Little Hope. Well, if it’s a real person with malicious intent and not just some stupid prankster leaving notes on my door and sending messages. These days, it’s a likely possibility since a lot of people are too bored to be useful.

We walk back inside, and I take off my jacket and wet boots, heading straight to the fireplace and kneeling in front of the dying fire. Stephan follows me there.

Crouching next to me, he calls my name. “Leila.”

“Yeah,” I say too cheerfully.

“There was a moment there where you thought someone was in the woods besides Frank.”

I keep my eyes on the fire, a plastic smile, hating that he noticed that. I don’t want to talk about my little fuck up of a situation. He brings his finger under my chin and turns my face toward him.

“Look at me, Leila.” His voice is gentle but firm—he’s on a mission.

And I do, unable to resist the warmness of his call. Looking up at him, I find worry lines marring his handsome face.

“I just want to be prepared, that’s all,” he says gently. “Who did you think was out there?”

I swallow a lump in my throat, worried he’s going to look at me differently if I tell him. “I thought it was someone from Boston. Maybe.”

His jaw clamps shut, and I hear his teeth scraping against each other.

“Your boyfriend?”

I roll my lips, deciding how much I should tell him. I came here hoping to get away from this person. I don’t even know if he’s really who I think he is, but my sixth sense is screaming itmight be him. Even though I was told he’s still in prison, I can’t get rid of this feeling. And besides, the ex-Navy man who went through professional training and years of real-life combat felt like we were being watched. Why am I hesitating to tell him that I’ve got a stalker? There is no one better to help me than him.