Crimson River (The Edens)

From the moment we’d awakened in the shelter this morning, I’d been ready to leave this mountain.

But for Vera, morning had come too soon.

“Maybe I should stay.” Vera started to remove the backpack strapped to her shoulders, but Cormac’s hands settled on hers, stopping her before she could take it off.

“No, love. You need to go with Vance.”

“But, Dad—”

“You were right.” He bent to kiss her forehead. “We can’t do this forever. You can’t live like this.”

“What about you?” Her eyes swam with unshed tears. “Will you stay?”

He cupped her cheek, giving her a sad smile. But he didn’t answer.

Vera’s confidence in this decision had wavered since last night.

Cormac’s had cemented.

It was dawn. The snowcapped mountain peaks high above our heads were tinged with canary yellow. It was barely light enough to see the dark forest we’d have to hike through to Vance’s truck.

With any luck, we’d make it back in time for me to call my brothers and tell them we wouldn’t be joining them on today’s search so they wouldn’t worry.

Instead, once we left these mountains, we’d be going immediately to my house to hide Vera and make a plan. And, hopefully, get some rest. My head felt fuzzy, the lack of sleep making my sore and tired limbs feel sluggish.

No one had slept well in that cramped hut. Cormac had volunteered to sleep on the dirt while Vera had taken his bedroll—I hadn’t wanted to sleep on his bed. Vance must have sensed it, so he’d asked Vera to take it instead. Then we’d slept curled together on hers.

He’d held me all night, his heart pressed against my spine, our clothes and a thin blanket to keep us warm. That, and the small fire Cormac had stoked throughout the night. Sleep had come in minutes, rather than hours. Everyone in that shelter had been too anxious to truly shut down.

We’d all feared what this morning would bring.

Heartache.

Irrevocable change.

A gut-wrenching goodbye.

Vance stood at my side, his hand on the small of my back. He was at the ready in case I swayed on my feet.

It hurt to watch Vera and Cormac together, these two people who had counted on only each other for the past four years. They’d shared grief. They’d shared this unthinkable tragedy.

Cormac’s story had replayed in my mind on a loop last night. The vivid picture he’d painted of Norah. Of that night.

I probably would have strangled her too.

My hand lifted to my throat. The bruises and tenderness were gone. I was fully healed, inside and out. All that remained was my hatred for Cormac. Except it was different this morning. Dull and fragile.

Would I ever like Cormac Gallagher? No. I’d always hold some anger, maybe a bit of fear, when I pictured his face and the scar that interrupted his cheek.

But I wouldn’t hate him. Pity, yes. But not hate.

“Give me a hug,” he told Vera, hauling her into his chest.

She began to cry, her body shaking against his. “I love you, Daddy.”

“And I love you, Vera.” He kissed her hair, swallowing hard. He was holding back tears but just barely. “Never forget how much I love you.”

“Will I see you again?”

“Of course.”

It sounded like a lie.

Vance dropped his chin, his jaw clenching as he worked to keep his own emotions in check.

There was no knowing if Cormac would ever see his daughter again. Another man might have refused Vance’s offer. Might have insisted on keeping Vera close.

Maybe because I had such a good dad, I could appreciate Cormac as a father. I respected his sacrifice for his daughter.

“Okay.” Cormac kissed her again, then let her go. “Let’s go.”

Vera stole a long, lasting look at the shelter that had been her home for the past two years. Tears streamed from her brown eyes. But she didn’t move her feet. Instead, like she couldn’t make herself take that first step, she held out her hand.

Cormac took it.

He took her hand because he’d been taking it for her entire life. He’d been the man who’d held it for her first step. Now he was taking it again, possibly for the last time, to help her walk into a better life.

My heart. I turned from them, hiding my tears.

Vance turned too, his jaw ticking. His eyes pained. But there was a surety in his gaze too. In his heart, he knew this was the right choice for Vera. So I chose to trust him, to give him that faith.

With a nod, he started away from the shelter. Somehow, he knew exactly the right path to take over the rocky ground even though we’d only been across it once.

The four of us walked in silence, a line of solemn hearts, until we reached the rock face that we’d have to scale down to then hike through the forest.

Vance went first, then stood at the bottom, arms outstretched to catch me as I jumped down.

“Thanks,” I told him, breathless. How was it that hiking downhill was almost harder than up?

“You doing okay?” he asked, voice low.

No. “Are you?”

He cupped my face, his thumb stroking my cheek. “No.”

Maybe today wasn’t our goodbye, but it was coming. I shoved that thought aside and watched as Vera scaled the rock with practiced ease.

She reached the bottom and looked to Cormac, probably expecting him to come down next.

But at the top of the rock, where he’d been standing just a moment ago, there was nothing.

Cormac was gone.