Days of Love and Blood

staring straight down at her. She looked at me and waved. Then she looked at Solomon and back at me. Her smile faded quickly. I could see the panic - the horror - with the sudden rigidity in her shoulders from where I stood.
    She stood up quickly and ran to the house. Solomon grabbed my arm but I thrust through his grip and ran after her. How could I have been so stupid? She had mentioned someone in the house who couldn’t be moved, yet I never inquired about that person. I never asked.
    Ivy ran into the house but before I reached the steps a strong arm pulled me back.
    “Jus’ walk away,” Cooper said.
    “Are you fucking crazy?”
    “It’s their deal. It’s their gig. I don’t like it none either. But ya can’t do shit about it.”
    “You knew about this? Who is it?” He didn’t answer me but tried to pull me away. “Who is it?” I screamed. Cooper pulled my arm hard and put his face within inches of mine.
    “Lower your voice, calm the fuck down and follow me. For Christ’s sake show some respect. This ain’t your house.”
    He pulled me over to the side of the farmhouse. Solomon followed closely behind. A number of people had stopped to watch, pretending to be involved in their conversations but really with one eye on me. Once we were out of sight, Cooper let go of my arm and at the same time slightly pushed me away.
    “Who is it?” I growled.
    “Her father. Now what the fuck are you gonna to do about it?”
    “Holy shit.” I palmed my eyes and rubbed them hard, half-hoping that I would wake up from this nightmare and be back at home.
    “Carson, you have no say in this matter,” Solomon interjected. “There’s nothing you can do.”
    “Where is he? Is he secure?”
    “Yes, we’ve made sure of that,” Solomon said. “ There’s no way he can escape. And at this point, he’s much too weak.”
    “Is it just him?”
    “Yes,” Cooper answered.
    “How? When?”
    “He came back to the farm, after several people were already here. Ivy identified him as her father, begged Cooper not to kill him.”
    I looked at Cooper, trying to understand how he could go along with it. I questioned him without words and shook my head.
    “It wasn’t my fuckin’ call, alright? Jesus, get a grip.”
    “I need to get out of here.”
    “Carson, he’s going to be gone in a matter of days. Gretchen’s examined him. It’s going to happen soon. Just step back and give Ivy some breathing room.”
    “Okay, but I’m going home.” Five minutes later, Ronan was reluctantly in the camper and I was driving away.

    “Mom, I love you.”
    “I love you, too.” I kissed Ronan gently on the forehead and brought the blankets up to his chin.
    “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. Mommy just got a little upset, that’s all. But I’m fine.”
    “Can you sleep with me tonight?”
    “Of course I can.”
    I lifted the covers up and bounced inside so quickly that he giggled. I put my arm around him and let him drift away while I gently caressed the back of his head. I thought about Ivy and her father and wondered what I would have done. What if it had been Ritchie? What if it had been Ronan? I hated the answer.
    Ivy wasn’t baffled by my actions. She was afraid of me. She was afraid of what I would do if I found out. I heard the knock at my door which confirmed my suspicions. They sent someone to keep me here.
    I quietly left Ronan’s room and went downstairs to open the door. Cooper stepped inside just as the night wind began to pick up. I could feel the change in the air that he brought with him. Just as I shut the door, the first few drops of late spring rain rolled in sideways, hitting the Plexiglas around the windows, thumping against the ground.
    “You here to guard me?” I asked.
    “No.”
    “You don’t have to worry.”
    “I know.”
    “Why are you here?” I demanded.
    “I jus’ wanted to check on you.” His voice was soft. He backed over to the kitchen counter and leaned against it, giving me my personal space.
    “You knew the whole time.”
    “So?”
    “Why didn’t you say anything?”
    “Wasn’t my story to tell.”
    “Don’t you think it was important?” I asked.
    “Carson, he’s secure. I made damn sure of it. I wanted to tell you but Ivy begged me not to. I couldn’t.”
    “You’re never the one to do what someone tells you.” I saw his knuckles whiten but he kept quiet. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
    “She saw you,” he whispered. “The way ya were that first day. She