Page 12 of Love at First Write

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Don’t judge my bucket list!

Tommy,

1. You’re thinking of Selkies, not Kelpies. Selkies are shapeshifters that can be seals or humans. Not exactly mermaids, but close. Kelpies are either Scottish water horses (aka the Loch Ness Monster) or Australian herding dogs. While I have nothing against Nessie, I have Kelpie in my email address, because Kelpies are my favorite dog and I’ve always wanted one.

2. You’ve clearly been away from home too long if you’ve forgotten about all the festivals! But, yes, we have been ramping them up. Mostly it’s for the tourist $$$, but also, I think people in Austin and San Antonio just really love escaping to a small town. And who can blame them? Saddle Creek is pretty special.

3. Okay… about the Red Mountains… if I tell you, you have to promise not to laugh, okay? I’m trusting you with my deepest secret, here. You can’t tell anyone! Promise?

I learned about the Red Mountains from watching Ancient Aliens.

I know. I know! Super cheesy, right?

Please don’t judge me for my questionable taste in reality TV!

Stay safe,

Kelsie, not really a Kelpie

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: I won’t judge your bucket list, but I will judge your taste in dogs

Kelsie,

1. Glad you’re not into mermaids. But you didn’t say how old you are. (Please, please, please don’t be thirteen!)

2. I have been away from home for a long time. Longer than you might think. That’s why I need your letters. They make me feel like I have a home to come back to. When things get rough here, all I have to do is imagine you, back in Saddle Creek, baking cookies, surrounded by bluebonnets. That’s what keeps me going.

Shit. That got deeper than I meant for it to. Sorry.

3. (And perhaps I should have started with this) You watch Ancient Aliens too? It is the best. Fascinating and over the top bonkers stuff. Hands down, the best “reality” tv show.

Also, I googled Kelpies. The *best* kind of dog? Really? Because they seem a little crazy. I found a video of them running along the backs of the sheep they were trying to herd. And one of a house pet who likes to hide on top of the fridge? You really want a troublemaker like that?

Yours …

chapter six

Ethan

In hindsight, I should have knocked on the door and introduced myself when she first got to the house. But the drive took longer than I expected. Who knew traffic in Houston was so bad? And then there was a ferry. Basically, by the time she pulled up in front of the house on the beach, it was getting dark. The house is more isolated than I expected, and I didn’t want to be this big ass dude appearing out of nowhere. Didn’t want to scare her.

So instead, I waited like a moron and now it’s raining, and the wind is already swirling around me. I don’t mind the weather; I’ve been out in worse. But she’s in there alone. What if the power goes out?

I’ll intercede if something happens, but it looks like for the rest of the night I’m going to be getting soaked on her wrap-around deck. I could go sit in my truck, but then I won’t be on hand if she ends up needing anything.

I’m not sure how much time has passed when everything seemingly goes to hell.

Glass breaks on the other side of the house.