Page 31 of Claimed By Ruin

She droned on, but I kept my gaze focused on Christopher. My other senses were dedicated to Asia and her reaction, or lack thereof.

A moment later, Asia cleared her throat. “Thanks, Caitlin. Christopher, we also have some flour and canned goods.”

He looked down at the two bags she’d set on the porch. “That it?”

“Yes. We’re still perfecting the process, but we’ll get it.” She swallowed, then slanted her gaze to Christopher. “Do you have the medicine?”

Christopher scratched his jaw. “Those pills? The ones you say are for Levi?”

She nodded, her aura calm, but her grip on my hand tightened.

Christopher looked at the bags again. “That’s not much, and the only way this works is if everyone pulls their weight.”

She nodded. “Of course.”

Christopher reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled plastic bag. “I know you’re trying to pull your weight and we’re all in this together.” Asia reached for the bag. Christopher held it for a split second before he let it go.

“Four pills?” Asia looked at Christopher, a deep crease between her brows.

“That’s all we could spare. Not trying to get him high or anything, just make him a little more comfortable. Maybe y’all can cut them in half, or thirds, to make ’em last. We all have to be resourceful.”

Christopher looked at Asia expectantly, but she stared back at him without responding.

“Well, anyway, we appreciate the hospitality and your contribution to the community we’re building here. We’ll be back at the regular time to check in.”

Christopher tipped his hat, grabbed the bags, and then he and his men loaded back into the trucks and left.

There was silence in their wake, even the animals seeming to cooperate as the truck fled out of sight. When they were finally gone, the atmosphere seemed to collapse. It was as if as one, the group decided to exhale.

Asia moved away from me, and I immediately missed the contact with her. But for the moment, that was a secondary concern. “What the fuck is that?”

It was Caitlin who answered.

“Things have changed since you left, Jack,” she said.

Asia said nothing at all. Just clutched that plastic bag and stepped off the porch. I followed, grabbing her hand to stop her in place.

She turned to look back, but wouldn’t look at me.

I grasped her face, held her until she looked into my eyes. “What is going on here?”

Her dark eyes were clouded with sadness and with resignation. I barely saw my Asia at all. Knew I didn’t even have the right to call her mine, not that it would stop me.

“Caitlin already told you,” she finally whispered, her voice, quiet, weary.

I stroked my thumb against her cheekbone. “I’m asking you.”

She shaped her lips to speak, but said nothing.

“I’m surprised Sheriff Hayes let his little boy off the leash,” I said.

“I don’t know that he did, but it doesn’t matter, I suppose.” She shrugged.

I tilted my head. “Meaning what?”

“Sheriff Hayes is gone. No one’s seen him in weeks,” she said.

“What do you mean gone?”