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She gave a final weak smile and her eyes fluttered closed. The breath she drew in was ragged, her chest barely rising, her skin growing even paler as her body released the spirit of the most selfless, most courageous, most loving woman I had ever known.
I’d known fear at the hands of these men, yet looking at them now, I understood I’d known nothing of the kind. Never in my life had I seen men when every cell in their bodies seemed to scream retribution. One by one they rose, knowing Kit was gone. They couldn’t save her… all they could do was avenge her. I’d never considered myself a violent person. Never thought I’d ever be able to feel anything but righteousness in the face of useless violence, but this… I not only understood, I agreed the only justice that would serve would be that doled out by Barrett hands.
“No!” Cook screamed when the brothers each took a limb, lifting him from the ground without a word. “It’s not my fault! You can’t do this!”
I didn’t follow them, choosing to stay with the young woman I’d come to not only love but to respect. Brushing her hair back, I bent to kiss her cheek, saying my own goodbye.
“You told me to never let anyone stop me from loving,” I said, tears falling freely. “You taught me that giving your heart, your soul… your life to another is the greatest gift… the greatest blessing. I will never forget you. I promise to do all I can to make sure your brothers know they are loved… that I love them with all I have. We’re going to miss you so much, but I know you’re with your mom and dad. Rest in peace, Kit, and thank you for being in my life.” I took a shaky breath, tears blurring my vision as I looked up to the sky. “Gigi, this is Kit… you’re going to love her. Take care of her until we see each other again.”
I sat on the ground, rocking Kit, knowing her spirit was already gone. Knowing the world lost a beautiful soul, and when I heard the sound of tortured screaming, I knew Kit’s brothers had given her murderer… their parents’ murderer a taste of what he’d know for the rest of eternity by throwing him into the inferno of the barn. And when the screaming stopped, I knew Hell had accepted another monster into its fiery embrace…
And I was glad.
22
Goldie
“Let me take her.”
I lifted my head to find Rye squatting on the other side of Kit’s body, his pain written all over his face. He wasn’t alone. Several people were milling around the yard, and I became aware of a swirl of lights. Help had arrived. Internally, I scoffed…help. They’d come too late… far too late to help.
“Let me take her,” Rye repeated, and I finally nodded, having no real sense of time or how long I’d sat by Kit’s lifeless body. I relaxed my hold as Rye slipped his arms under his sister, lifting her in one move, not caring about the blood that transferred from her dress to his shirt as he cradled her against him. It broke my heart to see her hair hanging down, her arm limp at her side.
I watched as his brothers gathered around him and only then, as a group, did they move to carry Kit to the waiting ambulance. I pushed to my feet, every muscle in my body protesting. I walked toward the house, turning the corner and seeing that the barn was still burning. Had they found the body? What would happen when they did?
It was only then I realized that though there were people of authority, men in uniform filling the yard, more fighting the fire, not a single one moved to take charge or challenged the Barretts. No one had questioned Rye moving Kit’s body. No one was waving handcuffs ready to take them into custody despite the bodies lying about. These three brothers might not be the law, but they were definitely the ones in charge on this mountain.
“Are you hurt?”
“What?” I said, turning to the woman who’d walked up beside me.
“I asked if you’re hurt?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “But Jay… he was shot. You need to take care of him. I tried to stop—”
She reached out and touched my arm softly. “It’s all right,” she said, giving me a smile. “Actually, Mr. Barrett was the one who sent me to check on you. Said you’d been in the barn, saved the animals—”
“Kit… we… she…”
“Shh,” the paramedic said, “I know… I’m so sorry. Come with me. You need to be examined. You’ve got some burns on your arms, and you are about to collapse.”
When I began to protest, she shook her head. “Don’t worry. I promise, Mr. Barrett will be examined as well. But, let’s get you to the ambulance and find you a blanket. You must be cold.”
Cold? Why would she think I was cold? I pushed my hair back from my face, my fingers caught in the tangles. That was when I realized my arm was bare… my blouse. I’d used it for Jay. I’d never even thought about the fact I’d been running around in nothing but my skirt and a thin camisole. Now that I did, though, I began to tremble and then to shake.
“I need some help here,” the woman called, slipping an arm around my waist when my knees buckled.
“I-I’m fi… fine,” I said, my teeth chattering together.
“No, the adrenaline is wearing off and you’re going into shock.” This came not from the paramedic, but from Banks who swept me up.
I tried to hold it together, but being in his arms, pressed against his chest, I lost it. Turning my face into his chest, I let go. The convulsions shaking my entire body came not from the cold or from shock, but from the sobs I couldn’t seem to stop. I wasn’t aware of being put into the ambulance, only barely conscious of the slight sting of a needle. All I saw was Jay squatting beside me, brushing my hair back and telling me everything would be all right.
I couldn’t accept the lie, couldn’t bear the pain in his eyes, so I closed mine, grateful to slip away into the darkness.
23
Goldie
