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“Perhaps she doesn’t wish to return,” he said stiffly.
“Would surprise me. Never cared for the man myself. Then again I ‘spect he don’t care much for me either. Run my own boat, not one of his.”
“He’s still looking for her?”
“Yep. Making a helluva a fuss too.” Those pale blue eyes returned to his face. “He’s a dangerous man, ‘specially when he’s riled. Do well to avoid him.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jimmy nodded again and spit at a passing ant, the brown liquid hitting dead center.
“You do that. Gotta get going. Stop by next time you’re in Cypress Landing. My fish market is right next to the dock. Can’t miss it.”
“I’m not planning on going into town.”
“Never say never.” Jimmy grinned at him and headed back up the hill. “See ya around.”
Marsh was still stunned at the casual ease with which Jimmy had reacted. He’d heard rumors that not everyone feared the Others but he’d always assumed that the rumors weren’t based in fact. Perhaps there was some truth to them after all. He was anxious to discuss it with Aurora and see what she thought.
To discuss it with his wife, he thought, smiling despite the pang of longing that shot through him. Would she ever consider such a thing? Perhaps he would mention Jimmy’s comment and see how she reacted. He was still considering how to phrase it when he brought the boat to shore. As soon as did a familiar scent reached him. Thorn. What the hell was his uncle doing here now, when he’d left Aurora alone?
He raced up the hill to the clearing and came to a stunned halt. Aurora and Thorn were sitting in the shade next to several sheets worth of drying tomatoes, sharing a pitcher of tea. Aurora was laughing and his uncle - his uncle was actually smiling. The smile didn’t fade as he glanced over at Marsh, unsurprised by his presence.
“Marsh is back,” Thorn said, nudging Aurora.
She immediately jumped up and came to greet him, throwing her arms around his waist in an exuberant hug.
“Guess who came to visit?”
“I know who. I want to know why.”
“Come and sit down,” she urged. “We want to talk to you about something.”
“We?”
He didn’t like the sound of that, but he let himself be persuaded. She snuggled against him as soon as he sat down, seemingly unconcerned about Thorn’s presence, and he took a soothing breath of her delicious scent.
“Thorn brought news from the outside world,” she said softly.
“News?”
“About Harold.”
Her hand tightened on his arm and he covered it with his.
“What about him?”
“He’s causing trouble, looking for Aurora,” Thorn said. “He’s tearing up the swamp.”
Damn. He should have known about it. He’d been too busy with Aurora to keep up his usual patrols, but now that he knew, he couldn’t ignore it.
“He needs to be dealt with.”
“That’s what we decided,” Aurora said, looking relieved.
She thought he might object to the idea of dealing with her former captor. Did she not know how deeply he cared for her?
“What do you propose?” he asked his uncle.
