Die Before Nightfall

“Is she—?” Martha’s voice trembled, her wide brown eyes still overflowing with tears.

“She’s all right. I’m going to get her. Do me a favor and brew some of that tea she likes. What’s it called?”

“Chamomile?”

“That’s the one. I shouldn’t be more than a few minutes.”

He knew the cottage. Had been there as a child and had no trouble finding it now. The driveway was still dirt and gravel, the house still pale yellow. Shane pulled up close to the porch and hopped out of his Mustang convertible.

The front door opened before he had a chance to take a step, and a woman walked out. Flower child. That was Shane’s first impression. Curly, untamed hair, flowy confection of a dress, and bare feet scraped and covered with dirt. He figured her to be flighty, naive, maybe a little scattered. Then he met her gaze and was surprised at the calm intelligence he saw there.

“You must be Shane.” Her voice still sounded pleasant, though decidedly cooler than it had on the phone.

“And you’re Raven.”

“Yes. Come in.” She stepped aside, allowing him to pass.

He caught a whiff of something flowery and light, heard the rustle of her dress as he brushed by, and thought of summer nights and fancy parties. Then he saw Abby and froze. She looked frail. Old.

“What am I going to do with you, Aunt Abby?”

Raven heard the pain in those words and her judgment shifted. She’d thought the man careless, unconcerned, but realized now she’d been wrong. She moved beside him, placed a hand on his arm and was surprised by a jolt of feeling. She’d thought herself immune to men, hoped herself immune.

Apparently she’d been wrong. She dropped her hand, but couldn’t resist the urge to comfort. “She’s all right. No harm was done.”

“No? I disagree. Look at her. Sleeping like a baby. How will she feel when she wakes up, not knowing where she is? Maybe not even knowing who she is?”

She sensed his frustration. He wanted to fix things, couldn’t, and was angry at his own inability. Raven could understand that. She was ready to say as much, when Abby surged off the couch, screeching, screaming, arms flailing as she lunged across the room.

“Dead! Thea’s dead!”

Chapter Two

Raven sidestepped, not quite avoiding the clawed fingers aimed at her face. Heart hammering, she moved behind the older woman, brushing against Shane who’d leaned in to help, and slipping an arm around Abby’s waist. “It’s okay, Abby. You’re dreaming. Wake up now. Your nephew is here.”

As she spoke she led Abby back to the couch and settled her onto the cushions.

“I need to go home.”

“Shane’s come to take you there.”

“Shane? Such a fine boy. It’s been years since I’ve seen him, you know.”

“Well, you’re in luck today. He’s here.” Raven wished the man would take his cue and step forward instead of watching with such concentration.

“Really?”

“Yes. Right there.”

She gestured in his direction and Shane finally got the hint, hurrying forward and placing a kiss on his aunt’s cheek.

“Aunt Abby. I’ve been worried about you.”

“Then you should have come to visit. I’ve missed you.”

“And I you. Come on, let’s go home.” He held out a hand and helped his aunt up, the look on his face more gentle than Raven would have believed possible from such a big, hard-looking man.

“Let me get some slippers for Abby’s feet.”

“I’m fine, dear. Don’t bother yourself.”

“Bare feet again, Aunt Abby? We’re going to have to do something about that. Can’t have you walking around town with your toes hanging out.” Shane smiled down at his aunt, kindly, smoothly taking the decision out of her hands.

Still, it stung. Raven could see it in the sudden coolness of Abby’s eyes. Her memory might be going, but pride still lived in the woman’s soul.

“I think I have just the thing.” Raven grabbed some sandals from the closet and held them out. “Perfect for a sunny day.”

“Lovely. Thank you, dear.”

Raven helped Abby slide her feet into the shoes, conscious of Shane’s gaze. When she straightened, she met his eyes and was surprised by the intensity she saw there. “She’s all set.”

“Thanks. I’ll return the sandals to you this evening.”

“Don’t worry about it. I won’t miss them.”

“I’ll return them.” He put a hand under Abby’s elbow and led her outside.

Raven closed the door and released the breath she’d been holding. There was something about Shane Montgomery that threw her off balance, made her jittery and tense. She didn’t like the feeling. She didn’t like it at all.

A harsh knock sounded at the door. Raven pulled it open, then stepped back. Silhouetted in the doorway Shane seemed even larger than he had before.

“I forgot to thank you. I do appreciate what you’ve done. Aunt Abby is…” His voice trailed off.

“She’s your aunt. A wonderful, strong, funny woman.”

“Yes. She is. It’s just harder to see that sometimes. Sorry about your cheek.”

His finger skimmed across her stinging flesh. Gentle, tender. Just as his touch had been with Abby.

But Raven was caregiver, not invalid, and she shifted away, uncomfortable with the gesture. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s something and I’m sorry it happened. Now, I’d better get her home.”

This time Raven waited at the door until the car disappeared from sight, wondering about the man who drove it. Shane seemed both gruff and caring. Devoted to his aunt, yet already burdened by her care. Would he be the kind to turn his back when the already rocky road got rockier? Would he stick it out until Abby didn’t know him anymore? Until she didn’t know herself? Or would he be one of the few that stayed until the last breath?

Raven wouldn’t even try to guess. Shane and Abby were family, and family was something she had little experience with, something she’d come to Lakeview, Virginia, to learn about. If she dared.

Her hands trembling just a little, she walked to the phone and picked up the phone book that sat beside it. She didn’t need to read the circled number. She’d memorized it earlier, had fought with herself about whether to call. Was still fighting with herself.