From behind them came a booming voice. “Them’re bloodhounds, stupid! The law’s lookin’ for you.”
The sound of Isaiah’s voice sent terror through Abby. She grabbed Ella’s arm and spun around, getting her first look at the evil Isaiah Tutt in broad daylight. He looked eerily like the sketch Jay had drawn. But now that she could see him plainly, his eyes looked dark and vacant—as if he had no soul.
“Why do y’all look so shocked?” Isaiah laughed. “Otha sent you the easy way. I took the fastest. I shoulda killed you when I had the chance. I come to finish what I started.” He held tightly to his rifle with one hand and slapped Ella with the back of the other. “This is your fault, you little sneak! I shoulda got rid o’ you years ago.”
Abby stepped in front of Ella just as Jay lunged at Isaiah, got a fist in the face, and fell to the ground.
In the blink of an eye, Isaiah had pulled a hunting knife from his belt and stood pointing it at Jay. “Fight me agin, and I’ll run you through, just like I did Ella’s pa.”
Abby gasped.
Isaiah’s face went expressionless for a moment, as if he’d spoken out of turn. Then a smug grin revealed a row of stained teeth. “Guess it don’t matter now if y’all know the truth of it. You ain’t gonna be around long enough to tell nobody.”
“Tell them what?” Jay said. “I shot him. It was an accident.”
Isaiah snickered. “Nah, it was me that killed Ella’s pa. I only said you shot him so you’d keep your fool mouth shut. You come along right after I done it, and I wanted to make sure you didn’t say nothin’ to nobody.”
Jay’s jaw dropped. “You killed Micah Cummings?”
“Stabbed him through the heart. He bled out fast. Didn’t suffer long.”
Abby’s eyes burned with tears. If there’d been anything in her stomach, she probably would have thrown it up. “Why? Why would you do such a horrible thing?”
“I had my reasons.”
“What reasons?” Abby said. “I deserve to know why you murdered my father.”
Isaiah seemed amused that she had the courage to demand an answer. “You want the truth, girlie? Fact is, I couldn’t git no woman to marry me. I figured at least one’d feel sorry for me if I was widowed and raisin’ a kid on my own. When I seen that man in the woods with the little girl, I knew that was my chance to git what I needed. I tried to take her, but he fought me for her.”
“Of course he did!” Abby said, her lip quivering. “He loved her. How could you? You’re insane!”
Isaiah smirked. “Well, it done the trick. Otha took to us right away when I told her the sad story of how my wife died givin’ birth to Ella.” He flashed a grin so wide that it seemed to stretch his beard. “The law won’t find a lick o’ proof I done any o’ that. And you three ain’t gonna be alive to swear to it.”
Abby’s heart raced so fast she thought it would burst. “Do you have any idea how much Jay suffered all his life, thinking he killed a man?”
“He got to live, didn’t he? If he done what I told him to, he’d still git to live. But the both o’ you butt in where you don’t belong.”
“What about poor Ella?” Jay said. “She’s an innocent victim.”
Isaiah spit and then lowered his bearded face, his dark eyes looking into Ella’s. “Ain’t nothin’ innocent about this one. She’s a traitor.”
“We told Otha everything!” Abby said. “You can’t get away with this.”
“Otha’ll back me up.” Isaiah wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m makin’ you disappear while the sheriff still don’t know nothin’.” He pointed the rifle from Abby to Ella to Jay. “Put your hands on your head and start walkin’.”
“Where to?” Jay got up on his feet.
“Turn around and start hoofin’ it along the bank.”
“Where are we going?” Abby said, clutching Ella’s arm protectively.
“Wherever I tell you to.” Isaiah pressed the rifle barrel against Abby’s forehead. “Put your hands on your head and start movin’. Ella, you git ’tween them, and remember I got my rifle pointed your way.”
Chapter 28
Kate walked faster than normal through the hummingbird garden at Angel View Lodge. Beds of wildflowers on either side of the winding stone walkway were raw and natural with hollyhock, Mexican Hat, cardinal flower, thistle, toadflax, and butterfly weed. The