A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 835

Over in Yoran Country, Starla was nursing a headache of her own.

She hadn't seen Herbert all day. It wasn't until evening that Garret brought her the news.

"Mr. Farley's men are actively blocking our efforts to find Brinley Seabrook," Garret reported, his expression grave.

Starla's grip on her pen tightened. She looked up. "He's actually sending people to intercept us?"

"Yes."

Despite Starla making her stance crystal clear, Herbert's determination to protect Brinley was proving to be an immovable object.

Starla took a deep breath. "Understood."

"What should we do?"

"Keep searching."

She bit out the words. Even if Herbert was dead set on acting as Brinley's savior, Starla was going to drag that woman out of the shadows. No one was going to stand in her way.

Garret nodded. "I'll deploy more men."

After he left, Starla sat alone in the quiet study, the air around her practically freezing.

*Herbert Farley.* What kind of man was he really? Back in Marina City, he had played the role of the ultimate protector—the one person she could rely on. Why this sudden betrayal?

When Yardley Hoggart returned to the estate, he found Starla sitting at the heavy mahogany desk, an unlit cigarette resting between her fingers. She was rolling a lighter in her other hand, looking like she might spark it at any second.

"Tell me about it," Yardley offered.

"Yardley, can I go to Ravena Country?" she asked, looking him dead in the eye.

For a fraction of a second, the usually unflappable Yardley stiffened. Then, his warm smile deepened. "Why the sudden urge to go to Ravena? You just got back home."

Starla remained silent, staring into his warm, gentle eyes. The gentleness felt manufactured, hollow. It didn't give her a shred of security, and she didn't believe for a second that he didn't know exactly why she wanted to run.

When she didn't answer, Yardley's smile widened. "Isn't it nice being home?"

The word *home* felt like a needle slipping beneath her skin.