They entered her dad’s room.
“Mr. Lakeman.” Joshua removed his hat. “I did what you asked.”
Dad straightened his shoulders. “And?”
Joshua grabbed the drawing she’d made for her father yesterday. “This spot right here?” He pointed to it so she could see.
“Yes?”
“It’s a human skull.”
What?She put a hand to her mouth and shook her head. “It’s just a white dot.”
“I asked Joshua to go take a closer look this morning while Julian was in Green River.”
She’d never heard Dad’s voice so grim. She pierced Joshua with her gaze. “What did you do?”
For a moment he looked taken aback. “I used a small brush to get a closer look and I found the top of a skull. I’ve examined enough skeletons in my medical training to know a skull when I see one.”
“But you didn’t see the whole thing?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Anna”—he reached for her—“I brushed enough away to see the left eye socket.”
No. It couldn’t be. A chill raced up her spine. Mean ol’ Walker had been a horrible man ... but she’d never suspected this.
“Honey, don’t you understand?” Dad appeared so sad. Defeated. Was it because something like this could ruin their historic dig? “This is why we’ve been worried about you. Someone is buried in that garden.”
“Julian’s father was a bad man. How do we knowhe’snot the one responsible for ... whoever...” She swallowed back the bile that threatened. “Whoever is there.”
Joshua wrapped an arm around her shoulders, but she remained stiff. “We don’t know. I’m sorry to be the bearer of this news, but we need to tread carefully. I’ve had a feeling—”
She yanked out of his grasp. “Don’t youdaresay it! I don’t want to hear one more time how you think something is off with Julian.” Even though deep down, she wasn’t feeling too comfortable, she hated being wrong. Ever since she was young, she never wanted to admit it. This was a noble cause, right? She wanted to honor Mary. She wanted to help Julian. Surely he wasn’t capable of...
She shook her head. “He’s been nothing but patient and kind with me. Withus. I don’t believe it. Whatever is there ... it must be from his father.”
“Anna, you need to listen to reason.” Dad tried to move forward but fell back against the pillows instead.
Why wouldn’t they listen to her? Didn’t they comprehend all she’d shared with them? Men. Always ready to storm the castle without getting all the facts. “Reason? I don’t understand how any of this proves that Julian is a bad person.” Her head wagged back and forth. It couldn’t be true.
“We don’t have proof.” Dad’s brow furrowed and his face settled into a deep frown. “But you need to understand that we are protecting you.”
“I’ve heard all I want to hear right now.” She marched out of the room, knowing full well that wasn’t fair. Her father couldn’t follow her. But Joshua sure could. And she heard his footsteps thudding behind her.
It made her want to turn on him and snarl.
Once they were outside, she spun on her heel. “Don’t even start.”
“Do you not realize—even the tiniest bit—that there is logic and reasoning behind what your father and I are trying to say?” He took a tentative step toward her, reaching out with his hands. His eyes held so much pain, it looked like he was about to cry.
No. She couldn’t give in. Couldn’t admit that the two men in her life had logic behind them. Therehadto be some other explanation. Julian’s brother perhaps. “No one else is willing to stand up for Julian Walker. So I will.”
“I’m not accusing him of anything yet.”
“Exactly. Notyet.”
His shoulders stiffened and his jaw clenched. “You’re being ridiculous, Anna. You’re so fired up about being correct that you’re unwilling to listen. This is exactly what happened before I left for medical school. You took what I said and twisted it. You were convinced that I was against you working out at the digs. You didn’t even listen to what my concerns were. Just like now. You’reunwillingto listen.”
His words cut through her like a knife.
