Chapter Forty
Laura had never been so tired as she was when she finally slid off the horse back at the mountain cabin. She did not argue when George took the reins from her hands. Zahara was subdued, and merely slipped her hand into her mother's as they climbed the steps back toward the cabin.
The interior still smelled sweetly of strawberries, but Laura had no apetite. She bypassed the round table, grabbed some pajamas, and headed to the bathroom to clean up. She smelled like horse sweat, and the seat of her pants was plastered with horse hair and grime from riding bareback. She used cold water from the spring-fed tap to bathe, and wash her hair. When she finished she leaned on the sink and looked at her reflection.
She looked like hell. Her eyes were shadowed by deep, blue-blac
