For the first time since arriving at the ranch, Rosalie felt frightened.
Not of Gideon.
For him.
The next evening, it happened again.
Only worse.
They were eating supper when Gideon’s fork slipped from his hand.
It struck the plate.
He suddenly doubled over.
Rosalie jumped from her chair.
His hands went to the right side of his head.
His entire body trembled.
She ran for the lamp.
“Gideon!”
He couldn’t hear her.
But he saw her.
His eyes met hers.
There was fear in them.
Real fear.
Rosalie moved closer.
“Let me look.”
He shook his head.
She raised the lamp.
The skin around his ear was inflamed.
Then she saw something.
Deep inside the dark opening of the ear canal.
Something black.
Rosalie froze.
It moved.
Not a trick of shadow.
Not dried blood.
It moved.
Slowly.
Like a thin black thread twisting beneath the skin.
