Page 86 of Weight of Guilt

Forty-Three

Nash watched Christian as he dug, something almost robotic about his actions.

Wren headed toward the door, but Nash grabbed her arm. “Wait . . .”

“I can’t!” Her words almost sounded frantic.

“Wren.”

“That’s my brother.” She jerked her arm out of his grasp. “He’s going to bleed through his stitches and get an infection. I’m not standing behind a window watching that happen.”

“I don’t think he’s in his right mind right now. I don’t know how he’s going to react to you when he’s in this state.”

“But—”

“Wren. Please. Just wait.” Nash kept his voice level.

She raised her chin. “So we just watch?”

“Someone else should walk up on him, not you.” Nash paused. “I’m sorry. I know how that sounds. But your best bet is to wait for Luke and let him handle this situation. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Wren frowned but stayed where she was.

Beside the barn, Christian continued to scoop and throw. The mound beside him continued to grow higher.

The sight . . . it was eerie. Christian almost appeared to be in a trance.

Then headlights swung off the county road and sped down the drive.

Nash watched the beams sweep across the front lawn.

Then the lights stopped on Christian.

The boy didn’t seem to notice. He kept shoveling.

The SUV stopped, and the driver’s door opened. Luke Wilder stepped out.

Nash saw him go still.

Luke hadn’t expected this either. None of them had.

Wren was out the door before Nash could stop her. She’d waited, and now Luke was here.

Her brother needed help. She didn’t care about the pain in her hip or about Nash’s concern.

She needed to get to Christian.

“Wren.” Nash was on her heels.

She didn’t slow down. She headed straight toward Christian.

Despite the commotion around him, Christian kept digging.

Luke beat her to Christian. “Christian. Son, I need you to stop what you’re doing.”

Nothing. It was as if Christian didn’t hear him.

Wren finally reached her brother and paused, watching him shovel as if he were hypnotized. “Christian. Christian, it’s Wren.”