Charade (Heven and Hell #2)(21)
Author: Cambria Hebert

“Shhh,” I told Jasper through the stall door. “We aren’t really here right now.”

Jasper didn’t seem impressed that he was part of our secret. I handed the flashlight to Sam and reached up to unlatch the door. It made a loud creaking sound when I opened it and I winced. Jasper eyed Sam with the same distrust he always did, but otherwise made no sounds or sudden movements. I was pleased and surprised by Jasper’s gradual coming around to Sam. While the horse may not like him, he didn’t object to having him around either, which I thought of as some sort of victory.

“There’s a shovel over there,” I murmured, reaching up to stroke Jasper’s nose. It was soft and warm and when the horse breathed out, his breath tickled my fingers.

Sam went and grabbed the shovel, moving so silently it amazed me.

“Let’s do it over there in the corner,” I said, shinning the light into the right hand corner of the stall.

Sam nodded and stepped around me into the stall. Jasper danced uneasily and eyed Sam. “Hush, now,” I whispered and reached into my pocket, withdrawing a large red apple. Jasper promptly forgot about Sam and focused on his treat. Thankfully, I had the foresight to slice the apple into fourths so it would take longer for him to eat. Sam began shoveling the hay out of the corner to reveal solid packed dirt. I fed Jasper a second slice of apple and he chomped happily, ignoring the intrusion. Sam had a deep hole dug in no time.

“That should do it,” he whispered, looking up. Even in the dim light I could see a faint smudge of dirt on his cheek. Slipping the last slice of apple to Jasper, I moved over next to Sam, reaching up to brush away the mark. He smiled and caught my hand bringing my chilled fingers to his warm lips. His breath brushed over them when he spoke, sending goose bumps along my arms. “Are you ready?”

I sighed and nodded. I didn’t really have a choice. With regret I pulled my fingers away and reached into the front pocket of my hoodie and pulled out the scroll. The bronze tube around it felt heavy and cold in my grasp. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” I whispered.

“It will be safe here,” Sam assured me.

I really believed that it would be. Burying the Treasure Map here, in the barn, literally beneath Jasper, was the only place I could think that it would be safe. Most of the creatures that were coming after me would still assume I would be carrying it or keeping it close. No one would suspect that I would bury it in a barn. And if they did and got close to finding it, I figured that Jasper would freak out the minute any demon came near the barn, giving us enough warning to get out there and save it. Plus, the scent of the horses should cover any other scents that we left here this morning while burying it.

It was a good plan.

So why was I still gripping the scroll like I might never see it again?

Sam covered my hands with his. He made no move to take it, but simply offered understanding and comfort. “It’s not forever,” he murmured. “We’ll come back and get it before we go to Rome in a couple weeks.”

I nodded not meeting his eyes. This scroll had to be kept safe. It was the only way to keep people from dying. To keep Sam from dying and in a way, it was a repayment to Airis for saving both our lives the night China murdered me. So much depended upon this one map’s safety.

Sam exhaled softly. We don’t have to do this, he told me. We can take turns holding onto it.

No. Here. I thrust the scroll at him before changing my mind. We did have to do this. I did not want Sam carrying this thing around. He might get hurt. And I certainly did not want to give Sam’s little brother the opportunity to get it.

You’re sure?

Yes.

Sam turned away and knelt, placing the scroll at the bottom of the hole. I held the flashlight while he shoveled the dirt over it little by little until it was completely covered. Once done, he spread some hay around and sat Jasper’s feed bucket back in the corner.

Like we were never here, Sam said.

I looked over my shoulder at Jasper. “Take care of it, okay, boy?” The horse nickered softly like he understood and pushed his muzzle into my hand. “Good boy,” I murmured.

Sam slipped out of the stall to return the shovel and then reached through the stall door, holding out his hand. Ready?

With a knot in my stomach, I gave the floor one last look before placing my hand in his and allowing him to tow me away. As we crept back toward the house, the sky was lightening quickly. Sam lifted his face to the newly dawning day and smiled.

He was relaxed. The realization sent guilt crashing through me. All these weeks of tension and stress all revolved around the Treasure Map and my refusal to give it up. Now, just minutes after tucking it away in the earth, I could already feel the difference in Sam. How could I have tortured him for so long like that?

Sam turned from the sky and stared down at me, concern marring his gorgeous features. What’s wrong?

Nothing. I’m sorry I hadn’t done that sooner. Look at you. I cupped his face in my palms. You seem almost… carefree.

His smile was quick and devastating. My heart picked up pace and my mind began to feel muddled. Not quite. But, it is nice to know you aren’t carrying that thing around today.

Not at all until we go to Italy.

He smiled again, his face transforming into the boy I sometimes forgot he was. I’m going to go get the truck and ‘show up’ for my morning chores. Help me get them done and we can spend the afternoon together.

How wonderful it was to see that mischievous, light-hearted smile on his face. A day of fun? I feigned confusion.

Think we can handle it?

I rolled my eyes dramatically and made shooing motions with my hands. Go on, then; let’s get the work done so we can play.

His teeth flashed white when he laughed and leaned in for a swift, hard kiss. Then he was gone, running off to wherever it was he hid the truck at night. Before going inside I couldn’t help but turn back, my eyes going to the barn.

The action made me realize that I traded my own piece of mind for Sam’s.

It was a trade I would make again in a heartbeat.

Chapter Six

Heven

The water rippled softly against the shore. The grass shuffled in the breeze and the leafy, green trees jutted out of the earth, creating a soft canopy over the water. It was beautiful and peaceful, yet I couldn’t stop shaking. Why had I agreed to this? Weren’t we supposed to be having fun?

Sam dropped a few towels on the grass and turned to face me, a frown firmly in place. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea,” he murmured, almost to himself.