Still uncertain what to think, Holly tried to think of different ways to explain what Sutton believed she had seen that night. It had happened when she was in high school. Maybe in her teenage mind she had been impressed with how the men had reacted and their father’s injuries weren’t as bad.
“You don’t believe me?”
“It’s kind of unbelievable,” Holly tried to explain her doubting expression.
“Have the doctors been able to explain how Logan was so sick before he started living with the Porters?”
“They knew what to look for when they found out how Sam died.”
Sutton shook her head. “Greer healed him.”
“I’ve never seen Greer …” Her mind went back to the first months after Logan had started living with the Porters, trying to remember exactly when Logan had started acting like a normal toddler and not the sickly one who had her resorting to breaking into Diamond’s office. “No one could keep a secret like that. It’s impossible.”
“The Porters could. You said yourself how close they are. Tate made me swear not to tell anyone.”
“Why would it be a secret? That makes no sense. Why would he grow weed just to make a living if he could do what you’re saying? Greer would charge people for healing them … Dustin says he charges for baggies that he puts his weed in.”
“Tate said he can’t claim credit, or the spirits will leave him.”
“Spirits?”
“They enter his body to heal and leave once they’re done.”
“Do you happen to have any wine?” Holly asked, seriously thinking of calling off her wedding.
“Yes. You need some?”
“Please.”
Sutton stood up. “I know you don’t believe, and that’s okay, because Greer wouldn’t want you to know, anyway. Forget I said anything.”
“Sutton, I’m sorry, but it’s just too unbelievable for me. Everything you’ve described can be explained by a perfectly reasonable explanation.”
“Whenever have the Porters been reasonable? And there’s no reason to be sorry. I’m kind of glad you don’t believe me. Can you imagine the kind of life he and the rest of us would have if it got out? Everyone would watch every move he made. And us, too. Everyone would want him to heal them or family members, and he wouldn’t be able to do it. Tate said that it takes a long time to rebuild his strength. That’s why Greer doesn’t want to touch anyone. He doesn’t want to know if they’re sick, because he wants to build up his strength.”
Holly remembered when he hadn’t let Beth hug him, and when she had wrapped her arms around him last week.
“Why is he trying to build his strength?”
“All the Porters have gifts. It comes from their great-grandmother. She was a Native American, who passed her gifts down to them. Tate hears Death’s bells. He knows when someone is going to die. He doesn’t know who, only that he had come in contact with them. Rachel can heal, but not to the extent Greer can. Dustin has dreams of the future, but he doesn’t know who he’s dreaming about, only how they are going to die. Greer has been saving his strength, because Dustin has been dreaming someone in our family is going to die soon.”
Holly jumped at the knocking that came to the door, dropping her curling iron on the floor.
“He doesn’t know who?”
Sutton sadly looked back at her. “No, it could be anyone—Tate, me, Rachel, Cash, Dustin, or even Logan. You ready for that wine? I know I am. Don’t look so worried.” Sutton opened the bedroom door, letting her final words leave Holly trembling in fear. “You said you didn’t believe.”
25
It took a couple of glasses of wine before she was ready to leave the bedroom. Sutton was dancing with Ema to a popular country music song, making the little girl giggle as Rachel sat on the couch watching.
“Where did the men go?” Holly asked, setting her empty wine glass on the counter.
“They’re trying to decide where to put the chairs in the field. They want you to drive up to the house so you can help.”
“Greer said I could go!” Logan stopped mimicking the dance Sutton was doing.
“Why can’t I just walk?” Holly frowned. “Isn’t it the field behind your house?”
“It’s a surprise!” Logan answered, jumping up and down. “Can we go? They’re waiting.”
“Yes.”
The other women didn’t make a move to accompany them.
“Don’t you want to see?” Holly asked.
“We already have.” Rachel smiled. “We thought you’d enjoy it without any of us there.”
“Should I take the rest of the wine with me?”
They were still laughing as Logan dragged her out the door and to her car. When he complained about her buckling his seat, she hesitated then finished buckling him.
“It’s just up the hill,” Logan complained.
“Then you won’t have to stay buckled up for long,” she said reasonably, getting behind the wheel.
“Wait till you see it, Holly! You’re going to be so surprised.”