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“We’re in this together, Clover,” I said, pulling back to look into her eyes. “I’m not letting you go through this alone.”
And then, without thinking, I leaned in and kissed her. It was a hard, desperate kiss, filled with fear and uncertainty. But it was also filled with passion and a promise of what could be. A promise of a future beyond the violence and the bloodshed.
Pulling back, I looked at Clover, her eyes wide with surprise and something else. Something that looked a lot like hope.
“We’ll get through this, Clover,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “We’ll find our way out.”
And as we stood there, in the fading afternoon light, I believed it. Because with Clover by my side, I felt invincible. We had a daunting path ahead of us, but whatever lay ahead, we would face it together.
CLOVER
The morning sun had barely broken over the horizon when I found myself in the barn, my hands trembling as I saddled up Ginny, Storm, and Filo. I made sure to select Filo as Judge Mathis’s horse. He was the best trained and wouldn’t run off after the gun went off. I wasn’t sure how Storm would react, though. My stomach churned with a mix of fear and anticipation as I prepared for the day’s ride.
The horses sensed my unease, their soft snorts and the shuffle of their hooves were loud in the otherwise somber barn. Ginny, her coat glistening under the soft glow of the sunlight, nuzzled her nose against my palm in a silent show of comfort. I gave her a soft pat, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves.
Beside me, a picnic basket lay open, revealing a perfectly packed lunch that I knew would go untouched. Sandwiches, fruits, a bottle of wine—all intended for a couple who wouldn’t live long enough to enjoy it.
The crunch of gravel alerted me to their arrival. I stepped out of the barn, my heart pounding as I saw Judge Mathis’s luxury car roll to a stop in front of the ranch house. Even in the early light, the shine of the black paint was obnoxiously bright, reflecting the man’s showy nature.
Judge Mathis stepped out, his tall frame impeccably dressed in jeans and a button-up shirt, the fabric straining slightly at his ample belly. His slicked back silver hair and the carefully trimmed beard gave him an air of practiced sophistication, a thin veneer over his corrupt heart. He was a man used to power, used to getting his way.
Beside him, his wife emerged, her coiffed blonde hair shimmering in the sun. She was a picture of polished elegance in her cream-colored shirt, her diamond earrings glittering in the sunlight.
I forced a smile onto my face, stepping forward to meet them. “Judge Mathis, Mrs. Mathis,” I greeted, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. “Good morning. The horses are ready.”
Judge Mathis graced me with a curt nod, his eyes already scanning the vast fields, the showy display of wealth not impressing him as much as it did most. His wife, on the other hand, gave me a smile, her eyes revealing a kindness that seemed out of place beside her husband.
“Thank you, my dear,” she said, her voice soft and warm. It was almost a contrast to her husband’s gruff demeanor. “We’re looking forward to the ride. I told my husband we justhadto go out for my birthday. It’s so fun. A little adventure!”
The words echoed hollowly in my ears, the anticipation of what was to come making them sound like a macabre premonition. I nodded, leading them toward the horses.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur, my mind focused on the grim task that lay ahead. The facade of a pleasant ride, the friendly conversation, the laughter—it all felt like a grotesque charade.
Despite the heaviness in my heart, I continued to play the part, offering polite smiles and responding with rehearsed answers. Underneath it all, the anxiety continued to bubble, the reality of the task ahead leaving me trembling on the inside.
But I knew this was something that had to be done. It was a necessary evil, a path I had chosen, not for revenge but for safety. For Declan’s closure. And with that thought in mind, I forced down my fear, focusing instead on the trail ahead, on the mission at hand. The path to redemption was just beginning, and there was no turning back now.
If Declan didn’t finish the job, then Hank would come after us. I didn’t have much of an option.
The clip-clop of the horses’ hooves provided a comforting rhythm against the backdrop of a beautiful Texas sky. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the trail, making the leaves shimmer like tiny emeralds. But beneath this scenic tranquility, a storm of anticipation brewed.
Judge Mathis, riding beside me, broke into a hearty anecdote from his political career. “I still remember, it was 1999, and we were pushing for that bill . . . against all odds, mind you,” he said, his eyes gleaming with the joy of past victories.
His wife, Mrs. Mathis, riding slightly behind, laughed, “Oh, Harold, and you haven’t let us forget it since.”
His chuckle rang out, and I found myself smiling at their banter. It was all a cruelly pleasant distraction from the reality that would soon darken this idyllic moment.
Mrs. Mathis steered the conversation toward their family, her face softening. “Our grandson, Sammy, just turned five last week,” she chimed in, pulling a picture from her saddlebag. The photo displayed a wide-eyed boy, grinning from ear to ear as he clutched a new toy truck.
“And Emily, our granddaughter, just turned seven,” Mrs. Mathis continued, flipping the photo to reveal a young girl with a toothy smile and pigtails. She looked so much like her grandmother, I thought.
“Emily wants to be a teacher,” Judge Mathis added with an affectionate smile. “Just like her granny.”
My heart clenched at their words, my mind unwillingly painting a picture of their soon-to-be-grieving grandchildren. I nodded and offered a small smile, the guilt churning like a rough sea inside me.
Our trail ride continued, the pleasant weather and the sound of the bubbling creek running parallel to us failing to ease the tension brewing in me. The benign chatter of Judge Mathis and his wife seemed to fade into the background as my focus shifted to the path unfolding ahead.
As we approached the bend in the trail, I couldn’t help but notice the ominous branches of the trees Declan had pointed out to me yesterday. Every stride that took us closer made my heart pound louder against my chest. I could almost feel Declan’s presence hidden somewhere within the dense foliage, waiting.
