“What about that job she interviewed for at the junior college? You said it had something to do with closing the racial divide. Someone could have gotten wind of that.”
“And gone after me with a vengeance three days later?”
“Hey, I’m just speculating. Same as you.”
“I know. Sorry. I’m just frustrated. Didn’t mean to snap at you. You could be right.” Mary tipped her head back as if the answers might surface on the ceiling. “I know you’re busy. I’ll let you go.”
“Call Trace at least. Maybe the sheriff’s office already has a head’s up on something you don’t know about. In any case, they need to be diligent.”
“I will. Thanks, Jaz. I’ll call you later.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.” Mary’s hand shook as she ended the call and dialed Trace Masters.
“Masters.”
“Trace, this is Mary Williams.”
“Ah, right. Mary. How are you?”
Mary smiled as it occurred to her that she was suddenly much more informed about Trace and his family. He might already realize this. “I’m good. Sounds like my sister is even better.”
“I’ve heard. Amanda, right? I met her Friday night. She seems sweet.”
It felt odd skirting the issue the way they were, but Mary wanted to move on to the more pressing issue. They could discuss elephants later. “Listen, that’s not why I called. I wanted to let you know that two families removed their kids from my school this morning.”
“Is that unusual?”
“Yes, but even more strange is the fact they’re both members of the Church on the Hill.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. That’s my thinking.”
“Did you piss them off again?” he teased.
“Hardly. At least not intentionally.” Suddenly she snapped her fingers. “Maybe I’ve been thinking in the wrong direction. I couldn’t imagine how they found out about Amanda and your brother and Sawyer yet. That seems farfetched. Also farfetched is the idea that they know Amanda interviewed for a job at the junior college. But another possibility is that they found out about Jazmine.” She muttered all of that almost to herself, not realizing what she’d revealed until she was done speaking.
“Wait. Back up. You were talking so fast you lost me. What is the job at the junior college?”
“It’s for some sort of research position to get more Native American kids in college. In the anthropology department.”
“Oh. Cool. And yes, that would do it.”
“Except she only went to the first interview on Friday. How would anyone know she interviewed or that she was related to me?”
“Good point. And who’s Jazmine?”
“My girlfriend.” She let the silence hang between them for a few seconds.
“Ah,” Trace finally responded. “I didn’t know. And you’re right again. It’s much more likely they figured that out. Doubtful they’re very progressive when it comes to same-sex couples any more than they are with interracial or ménages.”
“Exactly.” She exhaled slowly. If the cat was out of that bag, there was nothing she could do. “We aren’t advertising our relationship or anything, but it’s possible someone found out.”
“Let’s not assume anything yet. I’ll put a feeler out and see what I can dig up. In the meantime, don’t act like you have a clue. Carry on as normal. And call me if anything else happens.”
“Thanks, Trace.” She hesitated.
“Anything else, Mary?”
“My sister. You think she’s safe?”
“Mary, she’s in great hands. We may seem unconventional to most outsiders, but trust me when I say we’re very protective of our own, and that includes you now too. We don’t like to be messed with, and we have a tendency to find the culprit and handle it. Believe me when I say we will be on top of this. Amanda has never been safer. None of us will let anything happen to her, especially not Logan or Sawyer.”
“That’s… Trace, that’s so sweet.”
He chuckled. “What is Jazmine’s last name? I’ll add her to my list of family.”
Mary’s face heated. Amazing. These people she hardly knew already considered her family, and that extended to Jaz? “Wolf.”
“Wolf. I’ve heard that name. Is she Native?”
“Yes.”
“Does she have a brother named Jackson?”
“Yes. That’s her. Jackson’s the safety manager for the logging association in this area. He’s also an accountant.”
She heard Trace snap his fingers. “That’s where I’ve heard of him. Good guy.”