Finding Valor by Charlotte Abel Page B

She wanted to believe that he remembered her, but a bigger, more noble, part of her wanted him to stay safe, so she tried to sever the bond. It didn’t work. Josh was the only one with magic. He was the only one that had any control over their bond.
    Shep kept one hand on the wall as he limped across the room. He leaned over and picked the shotgun up off the floor—then cocked it and pointed it at the floor in front of Channie’s feet. “What happens if someone kidnaps you? Does your death pledge allow for things beyond your control?”
    “You can’t trick a curse. So, unless I actually believe you’re willing to shoot me, I’ll die the instant I step off the front porch.” Channie fisted her hands and held her breath. Come on, Shep, convince me.
    He sighed and lowered the gun.  
    Channie’s heart sank as she exhaled. “I can’t even give you a message for Aunt Wisdom without risking my life.”  
    She kept her gaze locked on Shep’s muddy boots. She was already tempting the curse to strike, hinting for him to ask Aunt Wisdom for help. She needed to change the subject. “Momma didn’t tell me not to talk about Hunter. Do you want to know more?”
    Shep licked his lips and nodded.
    “He goes by Hunter Brown and all his documents say he’s twenty-one. Oh! And he has a phone!” Shep wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but Hunter was. He’d find a way to get her out of— No! Don’t think about that! I’m just helping two brothers find each other. I’m not trying to get rescued. I know I’ll die if I leave. No one can help me.
    Channie grabbed an ink pen out of her backpack and scribbled Hunter’s number on a scrap of paper. “Go to Whistler’s Gulch and call him.”
    A dull “click” startled Channie. She looked up in time to see Shep remove the live round from the barrel and put it in his pocket.
    “What are you doing?”
    He grinned at her as he emptied the magazine and added those shells to his pocket. “I ain’t gonna risk getting shot at as I limp outta here.”
    “I’m not going to shoot you!”
    “How do I know your Momma didn’t order you to shoot any trespassers?” He plucked the scrap of paper with Hunter’s number out of her hand. “Do you have more shells somewhere? I don’t want to leave you defenseless neither.”
    “I’ve got a couple boxes of ammo on the top shelf of the cupboard. Momma didn’t give me any orders to shoot anyone, but I don’t blame you for not trusting me.”
    “I’d like to say it was nice seeing you again, but…” He nodded at his bandaged leg. “Thanks for telling me where Hunter is and for giving me his number. I appreciate it.”
    “Are you headed to Las Vegas?”
    Shep winked at her. “It’s best if you don’t know the answer.”
    He was right about that.  
    Channie’s heart ached as she watched Shep make his way down the path. He turned around at the edge of the woods and gave her a nod then disappeared into the shadows. She hoped he’d be long gone before Momma came home. A feeling of dread settled over Channie as she nailed a quilt over the gaping hole in the front door. There was no telling what Momma’d do to her when she saw the damage.
    ~***~
    Josh wasn’t surprised to find Kassie waiting for him after third period. She grabbed his arm and dragged him to his car. “I’ve already called in our order at Chili’s. We need to talk.”
    Neither of them said anything on the way to the restaurant. Josh ran in and grabbed their order then returned to his car. “What’s up?”
    Kassie cocked her head to the side and raised her eyebrows. “Are you kidding me?”
    “Well…other than all this magic crap.”
    She punched his arm. “What happened this morning?”
    “What have you heard?”
    “Eric’s claiming that Hunter held him down while you tasered him. He’s already told Principal Whitcomb and he’s threatening to go to the police. No one else saw it, but there’re security cameras in the halls. What are you going to