A ll the way home, Dorothy thought that she sensed someone following her. She couldn’t see a soul, but she kept a lookout as well as her hand near her knife.
At the shack, she jumped at every click, creak, and scrape that drifted in on the breeze. Considering the desert made plenty of noise whenever the wind swept against the brush and tumbleweeds, poor Dorothy jumped rather a lot.
She put off going to bed in the vain hope that her father had changed his mind and didn’t go into the mountains. She knew that he wouldn’t change it, but she couldn’t help but hope. She sat by the fading light of the fire, staring at the note Artie Sinclair had given to her.
Further instructions. I don’t desire further instructions.
Movement caused her to startle, but she relaxed when she saw the lizard climbing the wall near the fireplace. He came to a stop, his entire body pulsating with each breath that he took.
“Hello there, Mr. Lizard. I don’t suppose that you understand what Mr. Sinclair’s intentions are better than I do?”
The lizard blinked his glassy eyes, but she couldn’t be certain whether he even realized her presence. She continued as if he did and understood.
“Why Wednesday? The other meetings have been at the Pavilion on Saturdays. I reckon it is a mite safer to meet a Sinclair around a crowd. Especially for me. Apache Junction won’t be crowded on a Wednesday at all, I reckon.”
The lizard blinked again, but failing to provide any insight, he scampered away instead. Dorothy replaced the note into her pocket, then rested her chin on her hands. The fire spit, a tiny shower of sparks exploding as a log fell. Dorothy started, before shaking her head.
Father in Heaven, Thou knowest and seest all. There is so much regarding this situation that frightens and confuses me. I still do not know what the debt is or why my father owed Charles Sinclair.
A coyote howled in the distance, his voice echoing across the desert. Dorothy sighed.
I hope I did well trading my mother’s necklace for the gold. Surely, I had no choice. I can’t think too much about it or I might question the wisdom of trusting a stranger like I did. That necklace was worth little to anyone but me, yet he took it as payment for gold.
The coyote howled again, this time answered by several of his friends. Something rustled along the ground outside. Dorothy took a deep breath, straightening in her seat before she closed her eyes.
Lord, if there is an individual outside, please grant me protection. I know not who they are or what they might want. I know not why they would choose to prowl outside my door.
She recalled Artie Sinclair’s apparent alarm when he discovered she had carried the gold and alone. “People get funny about gold. You don’t want to meet up with one of them.”
“Surely he wasn’t threatening me…” With the lizard gone, she could only be speaking to herself, she supposed. Not that the lizard had ever answered. She sighed.
Thou knowest, oh Lord. Thou knowest all and can protect me. Thou seest whatever might be happening outside my door. Thou wilt take care of me.
She heard another rustle and stood to prepare for bed.
The Lord is my Shepherd and will take care of me. Another rustle near the door caused her to turn in that direction again. And I’ll keep my knife with me tonight.