Fear Not the Dark — N.R. Walker

Rain lived her life quietly, trying to protect herself from harm with rules and defenses after her own family betrayed her. Accepting that she would never trust again was just her reality.She lived on her farm far away from people's confusing mismatches of intent and stated purpose. Training horses kept her busy, mostly out of trouble and away from people's drama.When she started to see signs of an intruder on her farm, she decided to let him stay. Her rules didn't apply to him. Rain couldn't tell precisely what was different about him, but he clearly wasn't entirely human.One person that she might be able to tolerate on a long-term basis. What would that look like?Could she live and be able to trust or even to love? She only ever felt safe around animals. Their intentions always matched their purpose. She built her life communicating and listening to the animals she worked with,Her belief was it was best to live and let live. She used her skills at communicating to understand and help the creatures that needed her.So, she was furious when she found her visitor in a puddle of blood, electrocuted by her neighbor's fence.