Page 33 of Whispers of Sweetwater

‘Still,’ Hayden said, his tone thoughtful, ‘people talk. Whoever’s doing this will have slipped somewhere. A word to the wrong person, a story that doesn’t match. It’s just a matter of listening.’

Brianna caught his eye. ‘I heard the Jenkins twins in the bakery yesterday morning. They were implying …’ She hesitated, glancing at Molly. ‘They were implying your shop was a front for something sinister.’

Molly groaned. ‘Of course they were. Those two could turn a bake sale into a conspiracy.’

‘I’ve kind of gathered that,’ Brianna admitted, ‘but the fact they’re already spinning a story means rumours are moving fast. And rumours can be used to cover the truth.’

Hayden leant forwards now, with his forearms braced on his knees. ‘So, we cut through it. Start small. Think about the timing, Molly, when the first threats came in, who you dealt with around then. Who was suddenly more interested in your business, if anyone, or did anything catch your attention, even if it was a small detail, that you thought was odd, or weird?’

Molly’s brow furrowed. ‘No, not really, I can’t think of anyone, or anything, that was out of sorts.’ She shook her head slowly, frustration etched in every line of her face. ‘It’s like they’ve gone out of their way to be invisible.’

Brianna reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze. ‘Or they’ve been hiding in plain sight.’

Hayden’s gaze lingered on Molly. ‘That’s the part that bothers me most. This isn’t random, Moll. Whoever it is, they bloody well know when you’re alone, what you value, and how to hurt you without touching you.’ His voice dropped a note lower. ‘That’s not a stranger’s work.’

Molly glanced between them, and her lips pressed into a thin line. ‘So, what do I do? Sit here and wait for them to take another swing?’

‘Not if we can help it,’ Brianna said firmly. ‘But if anything, anything at all, feels off, you tell us. No matter how small it seems.’

Hayden gave a single nod. ‘We’ll find out who’s behind this. One way or another.’

‘Thank you,’ Molly said, her lips trembling. ‘I appreciate everything you’re both doing to help me.’

When Hayden finally gathered his keys, slipped on his jacket and said goodbye to Molly, Brianna followed him out the front door and onto the verandah. The air outside was crisp now, and the stars were glittering above like salt flung across black velvet.

‘Thanks so much for coming tonight,’ she said, gently.

His gaze found hers, steady and quiet. ‘Anytime, Bri. I mean it when I say I’ll do anything for you and Molly.’

Brianna’s fingers curled lightly around her arms, the cool air licking at her skin. ‘I know you’ve got your own world to run out there, Hayden. You didn’t have to spend your night here, listening to all of this.’

He shook his head. ‘Doesn’t work like that. When people matter, you show up. No matter how much is on your plate.’ His voice was low, unhurried, but each word landed with quiet conviction.

Her chest tightened in that way it always seemed to when he spoke like that – plain, but unshakable. ‘You’ve got a knack for making people feel safer just by turning up,’ she said before she could stop herself.

A flicker of something – surprise, maybe – passed through his eyes. ‘I’m glad it comes across that way. Because honestly, half the time I’m just,’ he shrugged, his broad shoulders lifting, ‘figuring it out as I go.’ He gave a faint, self-deprecating smile. ‘But for what it’s worth, you’re doing that for Molly too. She trusts you, Bri, and that matters, one hell of a lot.’

Brianna held his gaze, feeling the unspoken things stretching between them like a taut wire. ‘I just want her to feel like she’s not alone in this.’

‘She’s not,’ he said simply. ‘And neither are you.’

For a beat, neither moved. Then Hayden glanced towards his LandCruiser, the spell loosening. ‘I should let you get some rest.’

‘Drive safe,’ she murmured.

He gave a small nod, lingering just a second longer before stepping away, his boots thudding softly against the boards as he crossed the verandah.

From the safety of the cottage, Brianna closed and locked the door, then drifted to the front window, where she stood just behind the curtain, watching as he climbed into the driver’s seat. The low rumble of the LandCruiser’s engine rolled across the quiet night, headlights spilling in a soft wash of gold over the gravel drive. He paused for a moment before reversing, his gaze flicking once towards the cottage, and then he was gone, his taillights fading into the dark until the road swallowed him completely.

Molly had already retreated to her room, and Sherlock had resumed his sentry post near the hall. Brianna lingered in the dim kitchen, hands braced on the bench, the weight of the last two days pressing down until it felt like her shoulders might bow beneath it.

It was time for her to try and get some sleep – she had another big day of work tomorrow.

Just as she was slipping into bed, her phone buzzed, and so did her heart, when she spotted who the message was from. Hayden.

Be safe tonight. I meant what I said. I’m here if you need anything. You or Molly. Doesn’t matter the time.

Brianna’s throat tightened. She tapped out a reply, simple and true.