Page 57 of One Merciful Moment

Copper turned to the group. Even from a distance, they could see him shaking his head.

Finn exhaled sharply. "Guess that's not it."

"I can't take this." Jillian ran to Finn's open arms. "The waiting is going to kill me."

"Everstill doesn't change without a reason." Boone rubbed Ashley's back.

She blew out her cheeks, trying to calm her heart. "Do you think—?"

"Hey! Everyone, come here. Quick!" a male voice shouted behind them.

Ashley turned in Boone's arms. Panic filled her.

Mace jogged toward them from the store, waving his arms above his head. "Someone get Copper, and then everyone needs to come to the store. Hurry!"

Boone's hand found hers, fingers threading tightly with hers. She squeezed back. Nothing would tear her away from Boone.

"I'll get Copper. Jillian, go with the others." Moe jogged into the street.

"Let's go." Boone led Ashley toward Mace, who was waving wildly, motioning for everyone to follow.

It was impossible to tell whether he was scared, excited, or panicking. Normally, the men in Everstill were solemn and calm until they got angry, and then things escalated fast.

She hurried beside Boone, her hand locked in his, her steps quick and uneven as they followed Mace down the street. Every few yards, she looked over her shoulder. The dark cloud still hovered over the tree line. She half expected it to grow or move closer, but it stayed exactly where it was, as if it were watching them.

By the time they reached the general store, a crowd had already formed. Nolan, Brent, Rex, Wade, Levi, and Vaughn were already there.

Boone slowed. Ashley bumped into him. Following his gaze, she gasped.

The shelves inside the store were full. Cans stacked neatly. Boxes lined up in rows.

Nolan practically vibrated. "The key. Somebody give me the key."

Finn tried the door. It was locked.

"We don't have the key." Boone looked behind him. "Moe has it."

Ashley stepped closer to Boone, her voice barely above a whisper. "How did the food get there?"

He put his hand at the back of her neck, keeping her close. "No one ever knows. Everstill provides when everything stabilizes."

"Like with the garden?" she asked.

Boone nodded. "Like with the electricity. The garden. The water. When things settle, the town benefits. Everstill gives us what we need." He lowered his voice. "But it never tells us why or for how long."

Just when she thought she was beginning to understand how everything worked, food showed up out of nowhere in a locked store.

Copper and Moe jogged up to the door. Everyone clustered around them. Copper's face was pale, eyes focused, scanning the crowd before looking through the glass.

"Everyone, back off." Copper raised both hands. "No one goes inside. Not yet."

Nolan sputtered. "But there's food."

"I know what's in there." Copper's gaze narrowed. "And I know what it means."

At least someone knew. Ashley's head throbbed. Today was not a normal day. She hadn't worked in the garden. Boone hadn't touched the mower. She looked behind her.

And that damn cloud was still watching.