Winter Prey

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Kymbria's mouth dried and her senses numbed. She didn't want him to tell her what he'd found. She didn't want to know.

"You can call Hjak now," Caleb finally gritted. "The bastard left us a present. We've got a body for the sheriff. Part of one, anyway."

Kymbria collapsed in a chair. She gripped the shotgun so tightly a small splinter of wood from the nicked and scratched stock pierced her finger. Realizing what she was doing, she shoved the shotgun at Caleb. Instead of taking the gun from her, he knelt in front of her and cupped her chin in his free hand.

"I'm sorry," he said, green eyes darkened to near emerald with concern. "I'm sorry as hell. I should have controlled myself better. Not fallen apart like that and told you what was down there. It's gone, though. The monster's gone."

When she only stared at him, unable to speak, Caleb lowered his tone of voice to a soothe. "Kymbria. Honey, listen. There's no danger now."

She cleared her throat. "What's...who's...?"

He laid his shotgun down, took hers and put it beside it. Hands gently but firmly on her shoulders, he said, "I don't know, but you're safe. Do you need another drink? Something stronger than beer? You have to steel yourself, because...well, once I make that phone call, we'll have to talk to people."

She swallowed and lifted her chin. "I'll handle it," she whispered. "And without a drink. But why? Why here? Why...me?"

"I don't know," Caleb admitted. "Maybe it's not you. Maybe it's me. We'll get to the bottom of it. I promise you."

She leaned into him and buried her face on his shoulder. Deep, wracking shudders trembled through her.

Shit, shit, shit! It's not here because of Caleb. He's not the one hearing it. Why is this happening when I was just starting to gain control again? What's doing this to me? Where have all my strength and steadiness gone? Where's the person I used to be? How can I ever get her back? Can I?

Although she knew in a corner of her mind that they needed to call Hjak immediately, Caleb held her close, not rushing her. He cupped the back of her head, his palm stroking her hair, down her back in comfort. A moment later, Scarlet whined near her ear, then a warm tongue bathed her cheek.

Disgusted and determined to end this frightened-rabbit business, she took a deep breath and pulled out of Caleb's embrace. Scarlet immediately thrust her head between them, whining in distress, and Kymbria pulled the dog close, burying her hands in the silky fur.

"Go ahead and call Hjak," Kymbria told Caleb. "Do you have his number?"

"It's in my phone," he assured her, though he didn't immediately reach for his sat-phone. "Are you going to be all right?"

"I'm not sure how I'm going to be," she said frankly. "But call, Caleb. We can't put it off."

He pulled out his phone and started to push a button. Then he obviously thought better of it, probably thinking the details of what he had to tell the sheriff might send her over the edge again.

"Stay right here," he murmured as he rose, "with your dog."

He couldn't move too far away in the cabin, but he walked into the kitchen. She could hear only a murmur, not his words.

Like the voice on the edge of understanding. Fuck it. I'm not going to think about that right now. Someone's dead.

Caleb's tone hoarsened right before he snapped the phone closed. Then he collapsed in one of the chairs beside the table.