before she even entered the library door , she could already smell the blood . for seven years , he 'd believed himself to be safe . the voice behind her was no louder than a whisper , like the rustle of dry leaves in autumn . she was worried what his moving back into town meant , and knowing he was planning on stopping by the ranch later this week set her nerves on high alert . read your story back to yourself out loud . all of a sudden , these three human beings were all i had . 