The Sinner's Club [18+] Complete

chapter forty-nine.

STILLWATER RANCH HAS a long, dirt drive that takes us past fields of cows and horses.

The sun has begun to set, sinking down beneath the rolling hills in the distance. Everything is green and unobstructed by any protruding buildings or harsh cement.

It's natural.

Trees sway gently in the breeze, long grass moving like an ocean in tandem.

A modest, blue farmhouse comes into view. Lowset, with a wraparound porch and white shutters; it's cute, if not a bit weathered.

A large red barn sits off to the left, a horse tied up outside it and a young boy brushing the animal's dark coat.

My eyes take a moment to adjust as we get closer, and I realize the boy is Luka. Elodie realizes too—I can tell by the way she sits up straighter.

Reaper parks right outside the house, and we get out. Luka sees us, the brush dropping from his hand, just as the screen door of the farmhouse swings open.

Anyone could tell that Rebecca Roberts is Reaper's sister. Her long black hair falls in a silky curtain over her shoulders, and her wintry blue eyes are the exact shade of his. She has curves—covered by a red flannel shirt but evident beneath her jeans—and is breathtakingly beautiful, though she looks exhausted. It does not escape my notice that she looks to be almost my exact age, though I know she's a few years older.

"Hi," I smile, trying to be friendly, but feeling a little awkward.

"Hey. It's lovely to meet you." Her smile is forced, and she hovers in the doorway to the house, looking unsure.

"Elodie!" Luka calls, jogging over to us. He's wearing jeans and cowboy boots, a cap on his head covering his dark hair. He looks healthier than last time I saw him.

El rocks forward like she wants to go to him, but at the last moment clings to my wrist, hiding behind my arm.

Luka comes to a stop, rocks crunching beneath his boots and frowns. It is clearly not the reunion he'd hoped for.

"I'll take your things inside," Reaper mutters, unloading our luggage from the car. He goes up the creaking steps of the porch and his sister steps to the side to let him through, avoiding his gaze. The tension between them is palpable.

"I got Lightning out for you," Luka says to Elodie, still sounding confused as to why she's hiding. "I thought we could brush him together. He's real friendly."

Elodie looks up at me, wide eyed and unsure.

"It's ok, baby," I tell her quietly, smoothing a hand over her hair.

Frowning, Luka comes closer. He opens his mouth, then closes it, seeming to really think about what to say next. "Before I left the city, you told me that horses were your new favorite animal, remember? Is that still true?"

Elodie peeks out from behind me and slowly nods.

He holds out his hand. "Then come and meet one with me. I won't let him hurt you, I promise."

She hesitates for another moment, and I'm almost sure that she's going to insist on staying with me. But then she steps out from behind me and takes his hand, letting him lead her over toward the barn where the horse waits patiently.

A breath of relief leaves me. Luka is talking to her quietly, showing her the best way to safely approach a horse.

"You wanna come inside and have some lemonade?" Rebecca asks from the porch.

"Sure."

Inside the farmhouse is a little cluttered. Unopened mail piles up on a corner of the kitchen bench, knick-knacks on every shelf.