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.

of ours? He just

up, opened the door, and took the phone. Ryan's voice

do you remember that old alternative medicine doctor back home? I was going to let Emily study

"When did it

for about ten days. The weather's still cold up in the mountains-there's snow everywhere—so nobody found

always kept to himself, tucked away in the hills. He was only known by the locals and never cared for a

I think this might have something to do with your past. Besides our late father, that doctor might have been the only one who knew what really happened back

the old doctor was murdered because of her, then maybe she wasn't just some abandoned child after

leaned against the wall, rubbing her forehead. "Did you find

here are ancient-totally useless. The doctor didn't have any family either. They're planning to bury him

mountain, worry eating

drag her into even more mess-she'd

childhood, Ryan had felt uneasy then, too. But lately, since

was something. Young, gifted, always buried in her medical books. No idea

old remedies, but

in