Free Relic by Renee Collins

word they even caught a few of them.”
    “So we’re safe, then?” Bobby asked, frowning. “How can we be sure?”
    “I saw the camp with my own two eyes,” the younger friar said. “It’s nearly burned to the ground, to be sure, but the flames have been put out, and there’s no sign of any more Apaches.”
    Father Cortez kissed his rosary. “Praise to God we have been spared.”
    I squeezed Ella’s hand. “You see? We’re safe.”
    Given it was such a late hour, and we were too jittery to leave anyhow, Father Cortez agreed to let us all stay the night in the nuns’ wing.
    As I tucked the blankets over Ella, I couldn’t help but notice that she looked thinner. I knew the sisters were giving all they could, but it still wasn’t enough. If only I could do more.
    “Don’t leave me,” she whispered, gripping my hand.
    “I won’t, I promise.” I kissed her soft, warm forehead.
    “And I wanna keep the candle burnin’,” she said.
    I smiled. “Sure, baby girl.”
    It was the nickname Jeb always called her. Ella’s eyes flicked to mine, but she didn’t say anything. I knew I could never replace Jeb, but I had a mind to do everything in my power to at least be as good to her as he had been.
    I stayed on the edge of the hard little bed as Ella drifted into sleep. Bobby and Adelaide sat up on the cot against the other wall, their hands entwined. Landon took a chair, though he barely sat on the edge, too tense to stay still. All of us were too shaken.
    I glanced at Landon. I’d been too hard on him, that much was clear.
    “Thank you,” I said softly. “For taking me here. It was a real decent thing to do for a stranger.”
    He smiled. “We escaped death together. I wouldn’t call us strangers anymore.”
    I couldn’t help but smile back. “I guess you’re right.”
    After a pause, Landon motioned to the one other cot in the sparse white room. “You should probably try and get some sleep. It’s awful late.”
    “What about you?”
    “I’ll be fine.” He fingered the rim of his hat. “Can’t sleep, anyway.”
    “Neither can I.”
    Adelaide shivered, pulling the worn blanket closer. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sleep again. How can we, when we know those Apaches are out there, waiting to burn us in our beds?”
    I winced at her words, though I wasn’t sure if it was out of fear or some strange feeling of loyalty to Yahn.
    Bobby put his arms around her. “I won’t let that happen.”
    “How can you stop it?”
    He traced a finger down the line of her jaw, stroked a loose, pale lock of her hair. “Maybe we should get out of this town once and for all. Get far away from here. You and me.”
    “Oh, Bobby.” Adelaide gripped his neck. “I wish we could.”
    They began to kiss, and I looked into my lap, embarrassed.
    Landon snorted. “And I wish I could get far away from you two and your lovemakin’.”
    They ignored him, if anything becoming more entangled in their passionate embrace. Landon and I exchanged an uncomfortable smile, shaking our heads. He scooted his chair in front of me. “At least I can block the lady from having to see such things.”
    Landon’s knees brushed against mine, and I suddenly found it hard to meet his gaze. For a moment, we were quiet. Then Landon spoke.
    “She’s real sweet.” He was looking at Ella, who was sleeping soundly now. I smiled and slid my hand down her cheek.
    “I can tell you love her a lot,” he said. “She’s lucky to have you.”
    If only he knew that I’d nearly gotten her killed the night of the razing. That I’d let my brother stay behind in the flames and face a terrible death.
    “No,” I whispered.
    “She is,” he insisted. “You’re giving her everything you can. You’re not…shutting her out in your grief.”
    His words drifted off, and I didn’t pursue it, remembering about his pa, who didn’t speak to him.
    “I just wish I could give her so much more.” I picked at a stray thread on her blanket. “If