October 11, 2023 – 12:21 PM
Lin followed Lucas into the kitchen.
The moment the door swung shut behind them, she turned toward him.
"Start talking."
Lucas pulled out a chair.
"Claire needs help."
Lin folded her arms.
"I gathered that."
"She's being hunted."
Lin stared at him.
"By whom?"
Lucas rubbed his jaw.
"People who aren't exactly interested in giving her a chance to explain herself."
"That's vague."
"Because I don't have every answer."
Lin's eyes narrowed.
"Then give me the answers you do have."
Lucas sighed.
He looked tired.
Not physically.
Something else.
The kind of tired that came from carrying a problem for too long.
"Claire found something she wasn't supposed to find."
Lin waited.
"What?"
"Information."
She stared at him.
"Lucas."
"I know."
He pulled out a chair and sat.
Lin remained standing.
"She was working with people who were investigating a private security group."
"The group had connections to people with money, influence, and government contacts."
"Claire tried to leave."
Lucas paused.
"They didn't like that."
Lin's expression hardened.
"So they started hunting her."
He nodded.
"She couldn't go home."
"Couldn't stay with friends."
"Everywhere she went, somebody eventually found her."
Lin looked toward the window.
The farm suddenly seemed very exposed.
"And you decided the best place to bring her was here?"
Lucas didn't answer immediately.
That was enough.
Lin stared at him.
"You brought someone being hunted by dangerous people to my property."
"I needed somewhere secure."
"There are hotels."
"They'd find her."
"Shelters."
"Too many records."
"Another town."
"Same problem."
Lin's jaw tightened.
"So you chose me."
Lucas looked directly at her.
"I chose the safest place I knew."
That shut her up for half a second.
Then she pointed toward the door.
"You take her somewhere else."
Lucas blinked.
"Lin—"
"No."
She lowered her voice.
"I understand that she's scared."
"I understand that people are after her."
"I even understand why you wanted to help."
She took a breath.
"But you don't get to bring trouble to my family's front door without asking."
Lucas nodded slowly.
"You're right."
Lin hadn't expected that.
She paused.
"What?"
"You're right."
He looked down.
"I should've told you before I brought her."
Lin stared at him.
He wasn't arguing.
That made it harder to stay angry.
She crossed her arms again.
"She can't stay."
Lucas nodded.
"I know."
"Today."
He looked at her.
"Today?"
"Yes."
Lin pointed toward the driveway.
"I have my parents here."
"Jake is here."
"I have workers coming and going."
"I have equipment, supplies, and a business I'm trying to build."
Her voice sharpened.
"I can't turn this place into a hiding spot for every person somebody dangerous is looking for."
Lucas nodded.
"I understand."
Lin exhaled.
"Good."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lucas said quietly,
"She doesn't have anywhere else to go."
Lin closed her eyes briefly.
There it was.
The part that made this difficult.
She hated that he had brought her here.
She hated even more that the woman apparently had nowhere safe to go.
But sympathy didn't change the security problem.
Lin opened her eyes.
"How long?"
Lucas looked confused.
"What?"
"How long can you get her somewhere safe?"
He hesitated.
"I can arrange something by tonight."
"Good."
She nodded.
"Then do it."
Lucas stood.
"I will."
Lin looked toward the hallway.
"And Lucas?"
He stopped.
"Yes?"
"Don't make me be the bad guy."
His expression softened.
"You aren't."
"Because I'm not telling her she can't stay because I don't like her."
"I know."
Lin looked him directly in the eye.
"I'm telling you because I don't want armed strangers showing up here looking for her."
Lucas nodded.
"They won't."
Lin gave him a flat look.
"That's what people always say right before armed strangers show up."
He almost smiled.
"Fair point."
The back door opened.
Claire stepped inside.
Jake followed behind her carrying a small handful of grass.
"Lin!"
He held it up proudly.
"I found food for the horses."
Lin smiled.
"That's very thoughtful."
Jake nodded.
Then he noticed the serious expressions.
His smile faded.
"What's wrong?"
Lin crouched slightly.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
Jake looked at Lucas.
Then Claire.
Claire gave him a reassuring smile.
"Everything's okay."
Jake nodded uncertainly.
Lin stood.
She looked at Claire.
The woman looked tired.
Really tired.
There was nothing glamorous about her now.
Just a woman carrying a problem too large for herself.
Lin sighed.
"Claire."
Claire straightened.
"Yes?"
"You need to leave with Lucas today."
Claire's face fell.
She looked toward Lucas.
Then back at Lin.
"I understand."
Lin nodded.
"I'm sorry."
Claire shook her head.
"You don't have to apologize."
She glanced around the kitchen.
"You've already done more than most people would."
Lin didn't know what to say to that.
Claire gave her a small smile.
"Thank you for letting me stay long enough to eat."
Lin almost laughed.
"My mother would feed an armed burglar if she thought he looked hungry."
Claire smiled.
Lucas did too.
The tension eased for half a second.
Then Claire reached for her bag.
Lin watched her pick it up.
She felt a strange pang of guilt.
Not because she'd changed her mind.
She hadn't.
Her family came first.
Her property came second.
Everything else had to fit around those two things.
Still...
She couldn't help feeling sorry for the woman.
Lin looked at Lucas.
"Get her somewhere safe."
He nodded.
"I will."
Lin pointed at him.
"And next time you bring a complicated stranger to my house..."
Lucas waited.
Lin gave him a pointed look.
"...call first."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, ma'am."
Lin shook her head.
"Don't 'ma'am' me."
He smiled wider.
And somehow that was even more annoying.