Page 35 of Honoring Freedom
“In his eyes, he probably feels he has every right,” Keller said.
She stopped and faced him, her gaze narrowing. “Whose side are you on?”
“I’m on no one’s side. There are no sides. I’m only playing devil’s advocate.”
She hooked her thumbs into her front pockets. “I blame you for this.”
“Me? He’s a smart man, Free. If I’d have lied, he would have lost all respect for me. As much as I wanted to protect you, this was the right thing for me to do.”
“What did that conversation look like? Did he tell you that he planned to demand that my sisters and I marry?”
“No, he didn’t. Why would he? I just think…”
“What?”
“That he wants what’s best for you all.”
“By forcing us to get married?”
“By forcing you into stop the sneaking around.”
“I’m disturbed that you see his point.” Her eyes sparked.
“I didn’t say I saw his point.” He sighed. He wasn’t going to gain any ground in this argument.
“You didn’t? Really?”
“He’s a man with traditional values. Maybe he’ll change his mind though.”
“Daddy never changes his mind.” She began pacing again. “Did he also tell you that someone snuck into the cabin while we were staying there?” She stopped again. “Probably even watched us…” Her eyes glazed like she wanted to pierce him.
“We discussed the rock through the window but what are you talking about?”
She pulled open a drawer, took out a plastic bag and dropped it down on the desk. “You know how embarrassing it is to have a woman’s father return her panties to her in a plastic bag? Apparently, we have a thong thief in our midst.”
He ran his palms down his face. “The man saw us together. He got angry and that’s why he threw the rock through the window.”
“That’s what it seems like.”
“Downs?” He’d hunt the man down.
“Although it might be tempting to blame him, even Kent wouldn't stoop to this level. This has a stalker vibe to it.”
Keller hated Downs but he had to agree with her. The little he knew about the man he didn’t need to sneak around watching couples having sex or stealing panties.
The door swung open and Jinx stuck his head inside. He looked from Keller to Freedom and back to Keller with a solemn expression. “Sorry to interrupt, but you need to come quick. We have a serious problem.”
Chapter Thirteen
Freedom stood outside the barn door waiting for Keller to finish examining Midnight and Requiem. When he stepped outside, wearing a grim expression, she felt the air swoosh from her lungs. “They didn’t make it, did they?”
Keller rubbed his jaw. “You might want to sit down for this.”
“I’ll stand. Spit it out.”
“Just as Jinx had said. Requiem has a relaxed lower lip, sweating, isn’t responding like he should.”
“Had he been administered any meds?” She strolled inside the barn, swiped the chart off the hook, and thumbed through the chart. “I don’t see anything recorded.”