Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara called Kay over, her voice sharp. "Do you think Palm Bay is just open to anyone? Dylan told you to stick with me, so that means from now on, you listen to me. Anyone who wants to set foot in Palm Bay has to check with me first. I don't care if it's Walter-no exceptions."

Kay hesitated, fidgeting. "But..."

"No buts. If you can't follow my rules, then you don't need to be around me at all."

Clara turned away, her tone turning cold. "From now on, even if Dylan himself shows up, you don't answer to him-you answer to me. I'm sure you've noticed he's not quite himself lately."

Every time Dylan visited the Fergusons, Clara never knew what to expect. She'd already braced herself for the possibility that one day, he'd come to hate her.

If that really happened, it would break her.

Kay just nodded, silent, and slipped out the door.

Clara felt completely wiped out. Her head had been pounding for days. Tonight, she didn't even want to eat-she just wanted to close her eyes and wake up in the morning, leaving all her problems for later.

But of course, tonight was anything but peaceful. She'd barely lain down when Charles knocked on her door.

He just called me. Says he needs

the door, and took the phone. Ryan's

was going to let Emily study with him for a bit, but when we got here, he was already

heart skipped. "When

The weather's still cold up in the mountains-there's snow everywhere—so nobody

He was only known by the locals and never cared for a reputation.

late father, that doctor might

same. If the old doctor was murdered because of her, then maybe

rubbing her forehead. "Did you find anything else? What are

nothing. The security cameras here are ancient-totally useless. The doctor didn't

eating at him. “Clara, I

was scared Clara's past would drag her into even more mess-she'd already been through so

felt uneasy then, too. But

buried in

old remedies, but she

day in the