Page 21 of Reckoning

As she blinked, a single tear rolled from the corner of her eye.

“In my heart, I already knew that, and it doesn’t matter. It’s all about timing. Today was a big step forward for both of us. I’m happy just hearing ‘I love you’ come out of your mouth.”

Tate’s heart was hammering so hard it felt like she could surely hear it. She’d said it. She loved him too.

“Believe me, it took a while to work up the courage. So, what time is your curfew?” he asked.

“Today is ours. I told Dad you’d walk me home after the fireworks…unless you need to cut the day shorter.”

He grinned. “Then it’s me and you all day. Let’s go prowl the park. No Ferris wheels for us, and I’m way too tall for the merry-go-round, so let’s check out the rest of it, okay? And if we get tired, we can go to my house for a while to chill out, then go back later for the fireworks.”

“That sounds perfect,” Briar said, gave him one last kiss, then slid out of his lap.

Tate held out his hand, and off they went into the crowd they had readily evaded before. It was almost noon, and the line at the hot dog stand was beginning to form.

“Food first?” he asked.

She laughed. “Always.”

A couple of minutes later they were in a slow-moving line, talking quietly between themselves when Tonya, a girl from their class, got in line behind them. Briar’s back was turned, but Tate saw her, and saw the anger in her eyes and the frown on her face, then immediately shifted into protective mode, because he saw something else—something very dark and dangerous surrounding her.

Tonya purposefully bumped into Briar, and when Briar turned around, Tonya snapped. “Watch where you’re going, bitch!”

Briar’s eyes widened. “Sorry,” she said, but Tate had already moved in between them and lowered his voice to a whisper.

“Don’t take your pain and anger out on someone who’s been nothing but kind to you. I know why you’re hurting. You have to tell your dad.”

Tonya gasped. She’d heard plenty of stories about Tate Bandy being psychic, but hadn’t believed it. Until now, and she couldn’t look at him for fear of what he’d see on her face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. You have to tell your dad what his brother is doing.”

Tonya’s eyes welled. “I’m afraid he’ll kill him.”

Tate lowered his voice even more. “Your uncle knows you’re starting to rebel. He’ll kill you to keep his secret, then join the search party to look for you when you disappear, and your little sister will be next.” Tate put his hand on her shoulder. “Tell him today. Your parents are at the merry-go-round with your little sister. You’re the only one who can save her.”

Tonya gave Tate a wild-eyed glance, then took off running through the crowd.

Briar heard everything with a lump in her throat, but she said nothing. Not even after Tonya ran away.

Tate moved up closer behind her, wrapped her in his arms, and gave her a quick hug.

“It’s okay. She’s gonna be okay,” he said.

Briar nodded, but she couldn’t look at Tate without crying. She’d just realized the depth of the responsibility he’d been born with, and it had to be her responsibility to never make him feel like he owed her an allegiance that would impede the gift. When they reached the hot dog stand, his hands were on her shoulder.

“Same as always, honey?”

She nodded. “Yep…mustard only, and lemonade.”

While Tate gave them their order, she slipped the sixty dollars her dad had given her into his pocket.

“Don’t argue,” she whispered. “Dad said this stuff would cost a fortune, and he knew we were going to be together. He did this for both of us.”

Tate would have argued, but he felt the truth of it.

“Then thank him for me. I have some with me, too, so we won’t waste all of his.”