AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cora nodded, "You're right about that, Willa."
"I doubt she's ever loved anything in a long time." Clay told her.
"Well," Cora suddenly smiled, "I don't know who did it, but I can tell you I'm almost happy they did."
Charlie looked at her with surprise, "Why?"
"It brought us all together as a family. That's why." She smiled at him. "And I like that."
He chuckled, "I never considered that, but I guess you're right."
"What would be the worst thing anyone could do to you?" Cora asked Willa.
"I don't know, harm Elan, or any of you!" she said.
"Well, I hate to say this, but she won't kill Clay, if she loves him, or thinks she does, and Charlie and I don't really count for much in her books. It's Elan we have to protect, for she will figure this out and start planning something, if it's her."
"I hadn't thought of that, but you are right." Willa's eyes widened. "How could a woman hurt a child?"
"It wouldn't be hard, she don't think of him as a child, she thinks of him as an Indian. That's how!"
Clay nodded slowly, "You're right Cora. Then someone has to be around Elan at all times, preferably two of us at a time."
"I agree," Willa looked completely shocked now. She glanced over to see Elan sleeping on his blanket. "He is such an innocent."
Charlie nodded, "Yeah, but we got to think like the enemy, if we want to put a stop to this."
They stared at the baby who looked so sweet in his slumber.
"Dad, did you report our place burning down to the Sheriff?"
"No, I didn't bother. I'm sure he knows though."
"Maybe we should have."
"Why, everyone in town knows about it. He didn't come out to check on it as far as we know."
"He's a good man, dad. He'd be fair."
"Leave it son, it won't do any good. Tomorrow we should go get your mother's and Willa's father's bodies and bury them here. Then the next day we can take Willa out to the place where you buried that other fella."
"I just got another idea." Clay told him.
"Oh, what's that?"
"Bring him over too. Bury him in the cemetery here on Cora's place. If anyone asked, she can tell them that some old man came by wanting water and keeled over on her place. Something like that anyway."
"You think that's better?" Clay asked, twisting his head.
"Well son, the more innocent you look the better. When you hide something, it usually has a way of showing up later. We can take anything that was his and say it was on him when he died. Ain't nobody could prove what he died of by now?"
"If you say so." Clay nodded.
"Good. We can take Elan with us tomorrow. I don't like you two beauties being here alone. Too many things can happen."
"You're expecting some trouble, aren't you Charlie?" Cora eyed him. "Well, you don't have to worry about us. I've been taking care of myself for some time, and I certainly know how to use my shotgun."
"Just want to be ready for it, that's all."
