Fiftysix - Seven Rue Page 0,126

a…Chihuahua?

Something small.

I frowned as the dog tried to jump up at Summit again, and luckily, Willem appeared and pulled him back.

“Down, Kodiak,” he demanded.

I let out a breath of relief.

“He just wants to be pet. What’s the reason why you’re scared of dogs?” Summit asked as we sat down on the couch.

I got bit when I was little, I explained, keeping my eyes on Kodiak to make sure he wouldn’t come near me again.

“I see. Kodiak is a gentle giant. All he wants to do is lick your face and cuddle.”

“Did she get bit?” Willem asked, and I turned to look at him, nodding.

“Dogs bite when they feel threatened or scared. Or when their damn owner didn’t treat them right. Kodiak’s a good dog. I got him a few years ago to scare away foxes and wolves…turns out he’s scared of any other animal, especially rabbits.”

I wasn’t sure if I believed him.

Such a big, strong dog couldn’t be nice.

No way.

“I’ll get you to pet him sooner or later,” Willem grinned, but I quickly shook my head.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Nordin walked over to the recliner and sat down, his face annoyed.

“All right,” Willem said, tilting his head to the side and looking me straight in the eyes.

“Why did you run away?”

Their assumption of me being a runaway wasn’t something I would deny.

I had told them that I got lost hiking when they first arrived, but it was obvious that wasn’t the case.

I looked at Summit, and he was ready to see what I had to say.

I ran away from home because of my step-dad. My mother left years ago, and ever since, he started to hit me daily, I signed, while Summit told his brothers what I was saying.

I know it wasn’t a smart idea to run off into the woods, but I thought sooner or later I’d find a main road leading me to the next town. But I walked deeper into the forest, and I couldn’t find my way out anymore.

“How long have you been out there alone?” Willem asked.

A few days. I had something to eat with me, and I made sure not to drink all of my water at once. I got rid of my shoes at one point. They weren’t very helpful anymore.

After finishing his sentence, Summit muttered something under his breath that sounded like a curse.

“Did you hurt yourself? You know there are tons of bear traps out there.”

I nodded. I know. But I didn’t get hurt. I was cold most nights, and when I saw your cabin, I knew I couldn’t just move on or wait outside until someone came by. I’m really thankful for you not kicking me out and letting me stay here.

Willem rubbed his bearded jaw, studying me closely.

“I’m guessing you don’t wanna go back home, huh? We’re staying here for a few months, and after that, we go back to our hometown,” he explained.

I don’t have a plan yet, but I don’t wanna go back home. Maybe I can find a job in your town, or the next town over, if there is one. I just…need to stay away from him.

“Tragic,” Nordin muttered, and this time, it was me that shot him a glare.

Asshole, I signed, and Summit chuckled.

“The fuck did she say now?” Nordin asked, but Summit didn’t answer him,

“I think it’s a good thing she stays here with us. That way we can go hunt, and she can stay here and watch the cabin,” Summit suggested.

I quickly nodded and looked at Willem.

I will cook. Clean. Whatever you want me to do.

“Why?” he asked, his brow raised.

To say thank you. Just sitting around doing nothing won’t help any of us. Let me help you guys out. I don’t have anything else to offer.

Willem kept his eyes on me as Summit spoke for me, and after a while, he nodded.

“All right. We’ll see what there is for you to do.”

He got up and walked over to the wall unit where there was mostly nothing on the shelves, then he opened a drawer and pulled out a black marker.

Then he reached for one of the picture frames on the shelves and turned the photograph in it around so the background was all white.

He then held both things out for me to take, and I quickly realized what his intentions were with it.

“Use it to write on. Summit can’t be around you all the time, and we need to communicate. The marker’s not permanent, so you can easily erase your sentences