Simon mouthed “Where are they?” to Jenny.
“By the horses.” Bones trotted over, bumping against her, and licking her face.
“Go sit on the couch,” Simon said to Ruth. “If they come to the door, get rid of them. Tell them you’re napping or something.”
“Please don’t hurt them.” Ruth pressed her palms together like she was praying. “That little boy is ten years old. They don’t mean any harm. They’re just being good neighbors.”
Simon must have given Ruth their description. She sounded so upset. Jenny wondered if they were people who Ruth and William spent a lot of time with. Maybe even loved.
“Then you better be good at making them leave,” Simon said. “I’ll be right here.” He pointed to where Jenny was crouched.
Ruth nodded. Her face was so pale, almost translucent. Jenny could see faint blue veins in her forehead. Ruth smoothed her dress over her round hips, patted her braided bun, pushed some wisps away from her face. Then she sat on the couch with her back straight and hands in her lap.
Simon eased behind the curtain near Jenny. They both saw the woman and kid at the same time. They walked past their truck and the tractor. Theywerecoming back to the house.
Simon shot a dark look at Ruth and pointed to his gun. Jenny pressed her hand to her stomach. She felt like she was going to be sick. Like she had heatstroke and the chills.
Ruth flicked her gaze toward them, and then focused on the door. She almost looked calm, but Jenny saw her swallow a few times, her hands clasping and unclasping.
The woman and kid walked up the stairs. Bones started barking and rushed to the door, circling and growling like he was going to attack the wood.
Ruth looked at Simon, her blue eyes large and watery. “I don’t know what to…” But they were out of time. Three hard knocks on the door made them all jolt. Bones barked louder.
“Ruth? William?” the woman yelled.
Simon held up a hand, counting down with each finger, mouthing the numbers. Then he nodded. Ruth got to her feet and walked to the door. This was the moment. Ruth could bolt outside. It might all go wrong again. Jenny didn’t know what Simon would do after that.
Ruth took a deep breath and opened the door. “Donna!”
“Ruth! Oh, thank God. I was getting so worried.”
“Is everything all right?” Ruth sounded slightly breathless to Jenny, who was watching the side of her face. Simon was also staring.
Bones had rushed out and his toenails were dancing on the wood deck, his collar jingling. The barking had stopped. Now he was making excited whines and yelps.
The little boy was talking to him. “Hi, Bones!”
“Carrie said you’re not answering your phone.”Carrie.Jenny remembered the name. She was Ruth’s daughter. She’d been calling. How many times had she tried?
“We’ve been having trouble with the lines. Meant to report it to the phone company, but we’ve been down with a stomach bug.”
“William’s sick too?”
“He’s been in bed all day. The man’s acting like he’s got the plague.”
The woman laughed. “I swear it’s like that with all of them. You need any help with the animals? Or groceries?”
“That’s a lovely offer, but we’re managing.” Ruth smiled, looking pale and sickly enough that hopefully the woman would believe her.
“I can take Bones for a walk.” The kid again.
“Thank you, honey, but maybe another day.”
“Do you have cookies?”
“Steven!” his mom said. “We don’t ask like that.”
“It’s fine,” Ruth said. “Steven is my best cookie eater, but I haven’t baked for days.”
