Page 66 of Veil of Silence

She held up a hand. “Wait.”

The footsteps reached the stairs. A few seconds later, Christian appeared at the end of the hallway wearing the same sweatpants and T-shirt as before. His feet were bare, and his hair was flattened on one side from sleep.

His eyes were open, but they weren’t focused.

Nora stood slowly. “Christian?”

He kept walking.

Austin rose too, but he stayed behind the table as Nora moved into the hallway. She stepped between Christian and the back door.

“Christian, stop.” Nora kept her voice firm without raising it.

But Christian continued toward her as if she weren’t there.

She moved aside before he walked into her. His hand closed around the deadbolt, and her pulse lurched as the lock turned.

Austin stepped closer. “Should we wake him?”

“Not suddenly.” Nora didn’t know whether that was the right way to handle a sleepwalker. She only remembered how terrified Christian had been when Wren startled him near the barn. “Let’s see if we can guide him back inside.”

The door opened, and cold air swept into the kitchen. Christian stepped onto the porch without hesitating.

“Christian, it’s Nora.” She followed him outside, hoping her voice would reach whatever part of him remained awake.

Christian crossed the porch and continued onto the grass, his bare feet pressing into the damp ground.

Austin stepped through the door behind her but kept several feet between them.

Christian continued toward the trees. Moonlight caught one side of his face, but nothing changed in his expression.

“Christian.” Nora lengthened her stride and came alongside him. “You need to stop.”

His head turned slightly. For one hopeful second, she thought he’d heard her.

Then he whispered, “Sinner, come home.”

Nora’s breath caught. The words from the hymnal page rushed back with enough force to stop her where she stood.

That line was from “Softly and Tenderly.”

Christian reached the edge of the woods and stopped beside several rocks clustered around the base of an oak.

For a moment, he stood perfectly still.

Then he bent, picked up one of the rocks, and carried it several feet into the trees.

He set it down.

Returned for another.

Nora stared at him. “Christian?”

He didn’t look at her. He lifted a second rock, carried it to the same spot, then placed it beside the first.

“What is he doing?” Austin murmured behind her.

“I don’t know.”