them never flinched. They repeated Holly’s arguments even to her. They held their ground and insisted that, yes, in fact, the family had to take Ursula to the Bridge. They said that, in all likelihood, the Fair Dryad didn’t want to kill or capture her.
Now, when Holly rode to her ultimate fate, the horrible reality of what she was about to do hit her in the gut. What if…what if…? How could she even take the chance that she’d be riding home without this little angel in the car seat next to her? What would become of her if the Fair Dryad took Ursula and didn’t give her back?
After the Fair Dryad took Keller, Holly wanted to stay on the bank at White Falls forever rather than face life without him. Now she had something a thousand times more important to lose. If the Fair Dryad took Ursula—really took her—Holly would stay at Witch River. She would stare at the water until she starved to death. She wouldn’t be able to bring herself to leave. She knew that now. Her life wouldn’t be worth spit without Ursula.
She heard voices behind her, but she couldn’t speak, and Garret didn’t try to converse, either. He grimaced at the road in front of him, gripping the wheel in white-knuckle fists. He kept his lips clamped together. He never wavered in his position, either. He never stopped telling anyone who would listen that taking Ursula to Witch River Bridge was the stupidest move known to man. He would have resorted to violence to protect his daughter, but he was mature enough to recognize that Holly and the other five firstborns also had a powerful stake in Ursula’s wellbeing. No one had to tell him that each of them worshiped Ursula as much as he did.
Holly was relieved that he didn’t stop arguing even after he agreed to the decision. She would have been horrified if he kept his objections to himself. At least he felt free to voice his displeasure at the situation. As the weeks went on, she found herself clinging to him. She needed to hear someone, anyone make a case for NOT turning Ursula over.
He parked the truck long before she came to any conclusion. She stared through the dusty windshield at the Bridge rising high and stately above the smooth, black surface of the water. Was this really the same place where she gave herself to the Fair Dryad? That day seemed so long ago. A thousand things had changed since then, especially herself.
Ursula gave another gurgle and woke Holly from her ruminations. Holly glanced down to find the baby staring at her with her glossy black eyes. A strange expression transfigured the baby’s face that Holly had never seen before. Ursula gazed up at her with a calm, knowing air of compassion and anticipation, almost as if she knew exactly what was going to happen. She made another smacking noise in her throat. Was she telling Holly to hurry up and do it?
Garret got out and strode up and down the bank. In his absence, Trevor stuck his head through the driver’s door. He stole a sidelong peek at Holly and then turned his attention to the baby. “Let’s go, honeybunch. There’s someone here who wants to meet you.”
Holly jolted out of her trance. “No! I’ll do it.” She attacked his hands in a frenzy. She snatched his hands away and flung them off the baby so she could unclip the straps herself. She didn’t know what came over her.
Trevor stared at her. “Are you okay?”
“I have to do this,” she panted. “I have to be the one.” She whirled around Ursula in a frenzy ripping off the harness. She scooped her hands under the baby’s body and lifted her out of the car seat. Ursula submitted quietly except to give a few more wriggles of happy excitement. She held Holly’s gaze through it all with that ancient knowing look in her eyes.
Trevor watched Holly take Ursula out of the cab and then carry her down the bank. Everyone gathered around. They peered back and forth between the baby and the river spread to the far horizon. The Bridge stretched its struts against the sky.
Holly gulped down the rising panic. She couldn’t actually go through with this, could she? What was she thinking? She tore her eyes away from the river and looked around for Garret. She had to find him. She had to make sure she was doing