Now and Always by Lori Copeland

I’m thinking one of these days you might call and say, ‘Hey, Ben. I’m hungry for one of those chicken fried steaks the café is noted for.’ ”
    â€œYeah, well, I suppose it could happen. But not today.”
    â€œNo problem.”
    â€œListen.” Katie briefly explained Sweet Tea’s adventure and the sense that someone was watching her.
    Ben’s tone sobered. “You think you’re being stalked?”
    â€œNo, not that. Just . . . watched.”
    â€œYou’re sure one of the women didn’t accidentally leave the barn door unlocked?”
    â€œPositive. That’s the last thing I check at night.”
    â€œI’ll drive out and take a look around. I need to talk to you anyway.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œSeems the owner of those horses is getting antsy. She wants to reclaim the animals the moment they can be safely transported.”
    Katie’s heart sank. “Why? I’m taking good care of them.”
    â€œDon’t
know. I just got a call earlier today that said she’ll be moving the horses as soon as they can be moved.”
    â€œI don’t get it, Ben. Why would the woman suddenly change her mind? If she cares about the horses, she won’t risk moving them for weeks.”
    â€œI’m not a mind reader, Katie. I just do my job, and my job is to inform you that the horses are going to California as soon as they’re healthy enough to make the trip.”
    Katie hung up more puzzled than ever. Why would the owner change her mind and so quickly?

Eleven
    The illuminated bedside clock read four-thirty. Katie was awake, ears tuned for some sound to indicate that one of the women was stirring, maybe in the bathroom. But all was silent. Apparently she was the only one awake. She had a vague recollection that she had been dreaming about something, but after trying to remember what, she gave up and threw back the light blanket. Enough.
    She got out of bed and went into the bathroom, thankful to find it unoccupied. Maybe no one else would catch the stomach bug, or so she hoped. She paused at the top of the landing, listening. Silence. The women were sleeping. She was just jittery over the day’s illnesses and Sweet Tea wandering loose.
    Back in her room, Katie stepped to the window to look out. Moonlight shone brightly, although the large pine tree on this side of the house threw the yard into shadow. The stars were out, glowing pinpricks of light against the black curtain of the night sky. A flicker of movement caught her attention, something out of the corner of her eye. She pivoted to stare at the patch of moonlight on her right. Had she really seen a moving figure, or had she just imagined it? Nothing there now, but she returned to the door, stepping out in the hall to pause and listen. Moving quietly, she checked the women’s rooms and found that they were all accounted for, sleeping soundly. She didn’t think the other three women would go outside at night. But Clara might decide she needed a smoke, and a little thing like rules wouldn’t stand in her way. But Clara didn’t feel well, and she was tucked snugly in her bed.
    Although Katie wanted to slink into her bedroom and lock the door, she took a deep breath, every nerve end prickling, and crept downstairs to check the doors. Front door, side doors, back door, all were locked. She moved quietly through the house on slippered feet, peering out of the windows. Moonlight and shadows lent an artificial quality to familiar objects, but nothing was out of order. She finally went upstairs to her room, but it was a long time before she could go to sleep.
    Morning came and the women congregated at the breakfast table.
    Appetites were missing. Tottie made waffles, and there was cereal. Lots of cereal. Enough to last until the Rapture, according to Tottie. Clara didn’t come to the table. As soon as Katie finished her waffle, she went upstairs to tap on the