Black Water Creek by Robert Brumm

took a deep breath and slowly let it out, trying to clear her head. It was well after midnight and before she knew it, Keegan would be up bright and early, demanding breakfast and her attention. She burrowed deeper under the covers and tried to get comfortable on the hard floor.
    Even though she was lying on a few layers of blankets, trying to sleep on the floor was proving to be more difficult than she’d imagined. It was going to be a while before she’d be able to afford a bed so she’d better get used to it. Maybe she could fit one of those foam sleeping pads into the budget in the meantime.
    She groaned and turned on her side, realizing she was doing anything but clearing her mind. She kept seeing Paul’s face and smelling his cologne. She knew the last thing she needed to do was get involved with another man considering the disaster her and Don turned out to be. It was time to be her own woman, independent and strong. She didn’t need a man and she certainly didn’t need to get involved with somebody she worked with. Especially since he signed her paychecks.
    So why couldn’t she stop thinking about him?
    She was sure he’d felt something for her , too. Fortunately for the both of them he did the right thing at the door while she was busy throwing herself at him. How would she be able to face him on Monday?
    Kelly slowly sat up and wrapped the blankets around her shoulder. As the buzz from the wine wore off, a headache mov ed in. She didn’t exactly get along with alcohol very well. Another stupid thing she’d done that night.
    She sat there on the floor, debating whether or not to leave the warm cocoon of her blankets and venture into the kitchen for a drink of water, when she noticed a soft noise for the first time. The slight hum from the refrigerator motor in the next room suddenly turned off and the cottage was completely quiet. Except for…crying?
    Kelly turned her head slightly and the sound stopped. She held her breath for a moment but couldn’t hear a thing. It was probably just Keegan whimpering in his sleep, something he did often from bad dreams.
    She decided against the drink of water and laid back down, determined to shut off her mind, forget the ungodly hour the alarm clock displayed, and finally get to sleep. She adjusted the blankets and settled into a somewhat comfortable position.
    Kelly’s eyes shot open. She definitely heard crying. It was barely audible, so soft she’d almost sworn it was barely a noise at all , but it was there. She sat up again and it grew a little louder. It was impossible to determine which direction it was coming from. Outside? Had to be.
    She quietly got to her feet and went to her bedroom door, still unable to pinpoint the sound. She crept into Keegan’s room and crouched down by the pile of blankets on the floor. She could easily see his face thanks to the moonlight coming through the window. His breathing was slow and his face peaceful, no signs of bad dreams.
    She quietly moved into the living room, the only sound being the slight creaking of the floorboards under her feet. She stopped in the middle of the living room and heard the crying again, louder this time. A woman. Maybe a young girl.
    Kelly looked at the dark kitchen windows. A chill ran down her spine as she couldn’t imagine who could be outside in the dark and the cold. She went to the door and opened it a crack. The night was as still and quiet as it was in the house. Thanks to the full moon and fresh snow on the ground, she could see quite well. Her truck sat under a few inches of powder and she could barely make out what was left of Paul’s footprints on the ground. They lead away from the door to the tire tracks left behind from his Jeep.
    She crossed her arms and shivered at the cold invading her home. She stood there for a moment longer, holding her breath but not hearing anything. She finally closed the door and locked it. The crying wasn’t coming from inside, that much was obvious, and