Chapter 11

Silence fell in the room with a blinding flash of lightening only to be ripped away by an explosion of thunder that rattled the jars of preserves on the shelf behind the back door. The sound of the rain as it poured from the heavens was that of a mighty waterfall pouring in from all directions. Upstairs one of the children screamed and Lillian ran from the room.

Samantha stood and she could feel the bite as her nails dug into her palms. Why she felt a sense of betrayal, she couldn’t fathom. His tone had been one of amusement, as if it was all children’s tales and nothing more. As if all the things she’d seen all her life were imagination, made up fables for entertainment. But she’d never been entertained. She’d been terrified every night of her life that someone came through the mist. The images she saw had no substance and yet she had known with absolute certainty that they were real.

“You’re wrong, Ryder. It isn’t superstition. Someone did come through the mist a few night ago."

“Sam!” John cried and reached toward her.

She didn’t glance his way but simply lifted her chin and tossed the words at Ryder. “They did put in near the white beach. There were several of them. . . and they were all men.”

Ryder stared at her, the infuriating coffee cup suspended near his chin, his eyes narrowed.

Sam watched as the blood drain from his face as her words penetrated and his entire belief system tipped like an overloaded cart. He lowered the cup and pulled his shoulders back and turned to John. “What is she talking about?”

But Sam wasn’t done with him. “They came through in a Whitehall rowboat sometime after midnight.”

A groan escaped John. He dropped his head into his hands and shook his head back and forth. He sighed and said, “Oh, Sam, no.”

For a moment, Samantha felt sorry for John. How was he going to explain that his sister, the little girl who’d tagged along with them on fishing trips, that climbed trees and pelted them with twigs, who’d tattled on their every misdeed was a seer? Their father has sworn John to secrecy to protect Samantha. Now, he was forced to choose between the loyalty to his father, his vow to protect his sister, and his friendship with a council official.

“There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m telling you what I know.” She clasped her hand in front of her.

“Really?” Ryder asked, his voice short of a sneer. “And just how would you know this?”

She kept silent and John hurried into the gap. “She’s just upset over Mrs. Parker. She worked in the shop and Mrs. Parker was always going on about such things. She was there the morning after all the thefts. I suspect she picked that up then.”

He turned back to her and rushed on in his attempt to stop her from telling anymore. “Samantha! You remember, we were talking about the rumor of this woman who claims to be able to see when someone is coming. You’d never heard of it before. That was the day Lily broke her arm. Remember, Sam? We were in the study.”

She frowned and studied his face. Too late she realized that it was her ability he didn’t want Ryder to know about. Why, she didn’t know but the enormity of the probable reason took the wind out of her sails. She mentally kicked herself but managed to clamp her lips shut. But not before Ryder’s face revealed a growing suspicion.

“Look, it’s late. We are all tired. Before you go filling Ryder’s head with all that hearsay, let’s get some sleep.” John rose and moved toward the hallway. “I’ll walk you out, Ryder.”

For several minutes Ryder just stood, holding the now cold cup and staring at her, his brows knit and head to one side. She could see the wheels turning and his mind swiftly sorting through all he’d heard. And she knew Ryder well enough to know he would continue to puzzle over it. Without another word, she spun on her heel and walked out of the kitchen.