by D. K. Davis
“Hi Becka, where’s Morgan?” Rowan was outside the barn with my aunt.
Goosebumps shivered up my arms but my face heated like an intense inferno, while I stood immobilized.
“You’ll find her inside the barn working on the goat stalls.”
“Oh, I brought a couple of the puppies for Charlie to see. He’s in the front yard with them if you want to take a look.”
“Why don’t you see if Morgan wants to take a look? She’s going to be helping out with the dog training. She might want a say in the pick.”
“Sure.”
I slammed into gear and pushed the wheel barrow out the barn door, running into Rowan. I stopped before dumping the load all over him. “I heard you from inside. I’m going to drop off this stinky stuff and then I’ll come out front.”
“Let me push.” He smoothly moved behind me, sliding his hands over mine. I ended up walking between his body and the wheel barrow, his arms trapping me from each side.
My nose itched, but I refused to rub it, but couldn’t anyway with hands on top of mine. “Stop.” Instead, he pressed his body against mine, pushing me forward. We didn’t stop. “Rowan.”
“Hey, do you know that’s the first time you called me by my name.”
“Come on; I’m as stinky as what’s in the barrow. Enjoying the stench?”
“As a matter of fact, I intended on asking the name of your cologne. Think I’ll get me some.” He sucked in a huge breath through his nose and blew it out of his mouth onto the back of my hair…well, more like the top of my head. “Mmm-hmm, yea, I’ll have to get me some.”
“That’s disgusting…it smells like poop. Goat poop to be exact.”
“Yea, that’s what I like about you. Not afraid to smell like goat poop.”
I huffed and stomped on his foot.
He stopped.
“Step away. I mean it.” I stilled, my backside at his frontside.
He backed away.
Wow, I wield power.
“Okay, I’ll see you out front with the puppies.” Rowan stalked off.
I rolled the wheelbarrow down the ‘poopy path,’ my name for the trek to a huge compost pile. I would need to spray the barrow, but I wanted to see those puppies first. Left the barrow upside down in the back and I ran around to the front.
Aunt Becka and Uncle Charlie sat on the front porch steps, each holding a puppy about the size of a mature eggplant, something Rhetta fixed for dinner a few times at Jack’s mansion.
“Hey, Morgan, come here.” Aunt Becka held the puppy toward me. I took it, although I’d never held a puppy before today.
“No, Becka, that puppy’s yours.” Rowan took the puppy and handed it back to Becka. He pulled another one from the box. “I have a special one for Morgan.”
The little dude had curly white fur, but around its eyes, only black fur, like a mask. Its tail and feet were also black with one big black spot in the middle of its back.
“He reminds me of you.” Rowan smiled. Aunt Becka laughed so loud all the puppies yipped and shook. The momma dog stuck her head out of the box Rowan had brought them in.
Aunt Becka’s laugh pulled me in again. I laughed along with the rest, but I didn’t understand why this puppy reminded Rowan of me. Does he think I wear a mask? Or maybe it’s because the black fur represents dirty socks and a dirty butt, like the first time Rowan met me, and again today. Yikes. Whatever, he’s rude.
I sat down and allowed the puppy to snuggle on my lap. The little guy’s warm body relaxed against my stomach.
“Aren’t they cute, Charlie?” Aunt Becka looked from one to another. “How will we pick just one?”
“Maybe we’ll need two, or even three. Our own little pack, I bet these guys can fend off some of those coyotes around the refuge.”
“I don’t know about that, Charlie. I heard our neighbors talking about their dog getting carted off by the coyotes. They never saw their dog again.” Aunt Becka stroked the fur on top of her puppy’s head.
Rowan shook his head. “What kind was it?”
“Oh, one of those Yorkshires. A little dog that thought it was a St. Bernard.” Again, Aunt Becka laughed.
I didn’t think she laughed because the dog died, but because of the dog’s big-sized attitude.
“These dogs will be a little smaller than a Labrador, to give you an idea on size. Three of these guys would surely give those nasty coyotes a run. At least keep them off from the immediate property.”
“Is that why you wanted a dog?” I asked.
“One of the reasons, the other is that this kind of dog herds. They’ll hopefully herd whatever we need rounded-up for milking, feeding, caging, or whatever else.” Uncle Charlie walked over to look at the other puppies.
“Your little guy sure has the looks,” Uncle Charlie said. “Trade me for a minute.” I did, and Uncle Charlie turned him over, looking at all sides of the puppy. “He’s got great markings.”
“Would you want to name him, Morgan?” Rowan looked expectant, and I wondered why. I wasn’t getting a puppy.
“Oh!” Warm moisture flooded one side of my shorts. I stood up, but too late. I held the puppy away from me, and he continued to squirt. Aunt Becka got a real charge out of that little display. Her bellow frightened the puppies but again got the rest of us laughing out loud.
“Uncle Charlie, that’s not fair. This one is your guy, and I think you should name him, Squirt!”
Everyone belted out another round of laughs.
After a short visit, Rowan placed the puppies back in the box with their mama and headed home. The puppies still had a couple of weeks before Uncle Charlie could pick any out of the litter, but I had an idea he was going to take three.
We walked around the house, and my aunt and uncle went in through the backdoor to wash their hands in the back bathroom. I wheeled the barrow back to the barn and rinsed it before going into the house to wash for lunch.
The rest of the afternoon went pretty much like yesterday with feeding and watering all the critters. Two days of nothing but eating and working; that sounded like prison life.
Our last task before supper was trimming the goats’ hooves. Uncle Charlie did most of it, while Aunt Becka handed him the proper tools.
“Watch and learn,” Aunt Becka said. She soothed each goat with cooing whispers and gentle rubs as I observed.
“Hey, where’s everyone?” Rowan.
“We’re in the barn with the goats.” Aunt Becka used the gentlest voice, and I was shocked when the walk-in barn door opened.
Rowan entered wearing his sparkling smile. He eyed me, and prickles bit into my skin. Not Rowan, Oakly. “Hope you don’t mind me dropping by.” Oakly leaned into my shoulder.
I veered away from him to the other side of the goat where my aunt stood.
Her eyebrows raised and I gave her a half-smile.
“I smelled something mighty good in your kitchen.” Oakly wandered around the goat to stand beside me.
The hair on my neck went stiff.
“I happen to have plenty if you’d like to stay for dinner. Made more than enough chicken pot pies,” Aunt Becka said. She frowned when her gaze settled on me.
From my peripheral, I saw Oakly studying me. He grinned like a crazy person. “What do you think about me staying for dinner?” he whispered next to my ear.
I turned toward him, his eyes intense on my lips, like waiting for them to move. “It doesn’t matter to me if you stay or not. Why would I care?”
His grin widened. “That’s what makes me want to stay, so you’ll care.”
“Hey, Morgan, why don’t you go on inside and pull the pot pies out of the oven. You can set the table if you wouldn’t mind. We’ll be there in just a few more minutes. We’ve got one more of these guys to do.” Aunt Becka pulled the goat by its halter rope off the bracket stand. “See you in a few. Oakly, would you mind roping Izzy, stall four.”
“The hot pads are hanging on the wall above the oven,” Uncle Charlie ad
ded.
Oakly touched my hand, but I jerked it away and strode out of the barn, slamming the door behind me.
“Hey, there you are. No one’s in the house, but it smells amazing inside.” Rowan stood next to the kitchen door as if he’d just walked out. A big toothy smile spread across his face.
My entire body relaxed, and a whirlwind of warmth coated my insides. Wow, like night to day from Oakly to Rowan.
“Aunt Becka asked me to take the chicken pot pies out of the oven. Want to stay for dinner?”
He opened the door for me and then followed me into the kitchen. Once we’d washed up and pulled the pies out of the oven, Rowan, being familiar with cupboards and drawers, helped me set the table.
“What are you doing here anyway…I mean at Becka and Charlie’s?” he asked.
I hesitated, not wanting to answer.
“Well?” He arched a brow, and my heart melted a little. “Every kid who comes to help out at the refuge needs some form of rehabilitation, just like the wildlife here.”
Might as well be honest, I’d never been much of a liar. “I’m here as punishment.” I waited for him to say something. When he didn’t, I added, “Guess not accepting Mom’s newest man, who’s now my stepfather, broke me into a fit of bad behavior, according to Jack, said stepfather. Mom’s addicted. To men, that is. And Jack is the scariest of all of her addicted relationships because he is exactly the kind of man who will make her happiest.” I wanted to shock Rowan into silence.
“You act like you’re upset over your mom being happy.”
“Wow, aren’t you Mr. Observant.” The shock factor wasn’t working.
“I don’t get you. If this man makes your mom happy, what’s your issue?”
Before I shoved my foot in my mouth further, as in gagging mode, Aunt Becka, Uncle Charlie, and Oakly clamored in through the kitchen door.
Chapter Seven
Morgan
“Smells good in here.” Uncle Charlie and Aunt Becka headed into the bathroom. “We’ll be right there. Go ahead and start without us,” my uncle yelled through the open doorway.
Oakly strode across the kitchen to stand between Rowan and me. “So, where are you sitting, Morgan?” he asked, but he glared at Rowan, and I swore that nasty stare glowed.
Oakly and I sort of played musical chairs. He sat next to where my plate set on the table until I picked up the plate and moved to the chair across from him. Rowan plopped into the seat next to me.
“What the hell, Rowan. You don’t own her.”
That sounded weird. Oakly could not be talking about me.
The phone rang.
“Morgan, would you answer it?” Aunt Becka called from the bathroom.
I ran to the other side of the room. Even though my aunt and uncle had cell phones, they still used this phone for their rescue business. I picked up the old-fashioned phone receiver and turned it on. “Hello, Connor’s residence.”
“Wow, don’t you sound like the little professional,” Kara’s voice reverberated through my brain, leaving me speechless. “Hey, honey, how we gonna hook up with you there and me here?” Her silky words slithered through the phone like a serpent.
“How’d you get this number?” I whispered. I looked over at Rowan. He and Oakly were busy having their tense conversation. My pulse hammered nails through the walls of my chest. I rubbed my nose so hard I thought it might bleed.
“You’re rubbing that pretty nose of yours, aren’t you?” Kara chuckled. “I could rub you in places that would make you forget that itchy nose of yours.” Her breath came through the receiver so clearly, as if it touched my face.
“Who’s on the phone?” Aunt Becka whispered close to me.
I jumped and slammed the phone onto the base, not sure if I even shut it off. My body shook. Why would Kara call? She’d never come on to me before that day in the garden at Jack’s. So, why her sudden change with me?
“Morgan, are you all right honey?” Aunt Becka touched my shoulder, and I pulled away.
The guys went silent in the kitchen.
“I’m sorry. Just some idiot crank caller is all.” My legs waved like blades of grass on the way back to the table, and then I tipped sideways.
Rowan caught me around the waist before I hit the floor. He drew me closer to him, and I closed my eyes, wishing the last few Kara minutes away.
When I opened my eyes, Aunt Becka stood beside us.
Oakly slid an arm around my shoulder. “Damn girl, that’s some crank call puttin’ a look like that on your face. You’re whiter than a snow white-out. What’d that caller say to you anyway?”
I moved away from him, which meant away from Rowan also, and reached for my aunt.
She hugged me. “Something’s going on,” she whispered in my ear. “We’ll talk about it later.” She drew away to meet my gaze.
I nodded. Then, my aunt led me back to the chair beside Rowan.
Oakly studied me from across the table. “You still didn’t answer, what’d that caller say to spook you?”
“Nothing. Someone was trying to sell something. I couldn’t really understand her.”
“Well, that explains it, if the caller was female.” He hooted in exaggeration, getting no response from anyone else.
I took a breath, picked up my fork, and poked around my plate. A tear slid down my nose. I removed it before anyone noticed…I think. A sudden thought crashed into me full-force; Kara must work for Jack. Things suddenly fell together. How she got my cell number when I was back in Grand Rapids, why she befriended me, let me take the fall for everything she led me into and how she never had my back. And how she got Aunt Becka’s phone number,
What will Jack gain from it? Mom.
“I’d like to check out the deer in the meadow again tonight. How about I help you with your evening chores and we go watch the deer together?” The penetrating, serious look in Rowan’s eyes held me by the heart. I didn’t understand nor trust the feel of it. How could I when I didn’t understand anything running through me right now?
I stuffed a bite into my mouth so I wouldn’t have to reply. Mmmm, the chicken pot pie blended pleasing flavors and textures over my tongue. Easier to focus on food than on a crazy phone call that led to Jack or to deal with Mr. Jerk-face camped out across the table from me. My nose itched.
“You two can go watch the deer if you’d like,” Aunt Becka said as she and Uncle Charlie looked at each other and then back at us.
Oakly banged his fork against the plate, his red face skewed into a thousand beats of anger.
“Oakly, I got a fence that requires some mending. The goats found a hole, and I was able to round them up before any escaped. I got them all in their stalls early.” Uncle Charlie pressed his lips together. “Need to get it done tonight.”
Oakly huffed, and his eyes narrowed on Rowan. “Why don’t you help Charlie tonight?”
“Nope. I’m patrolling tonight, so taking a break with Morgan before my shift. Come on, Morgan.” Rowan rose and held his plate, a big smile on his face as he turned toward my aunt and uncle. “Nothing against your company or anything, but I’m pretty sure I hear the deer calling.”
“You sure you don’t mind us leaving you?” I asked.
“Go on, you two. I’m sure you kids have lots to talk about.” Aunt Becka shooed us toward the back door, waving her hands. “A nice walk through the woods like yesterday and then the meadow after, sounds like a good plan.”
“Not to me.” Oakly stood so fast the chair flipped over.
We stopped at the door. Aunt Becka shook her head. “Go. Oakly will get over it.”
Rowan opened the door and practically pushed me down the back steps. “Hello, earth to Morgan…” He nudged me forward.
Oakly hollered at Uncle Charlie, actually more like whined, about working while Rowan got to play. Then Oakly said something about how it was his turn to spend time with me.
Rowan grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the path leading into the woods.
“Dang, girl, stab me in both eyes and the heart with a lightning bolt.” His smile appeared forced, but I didn’t know him well enough to determine that for sure.”
“Sorry. Did I say something wrong?” My nose itched. I rubbed the itch out quick.
“You don’t like me much, do you?”
“I don’t know you well enough to say. But I do know people who come on as strong as you, who play great at being nice and always…let me say it again…always have ulterior motives. Guess I’m just not up for whatever you or your brother have in store for me. And, for the record, your brother scares the crap out of me.”
He stopped in mid-step. “He scares the crap out of me, too.” He dropped my hand. “If you don’t feel like going for a walk tonight, I understand. Maybe, another night for the meadow, too.” His head tilted, and he nodded toward the house. “And, just for the record, Morgan, I’m not playing at being anything other than who I am. You’re interesting, and I want to spend time with you.” We walked back to the kitchen door. “Hope I can see you tomorrow.” Rowan strode away, and my heart crushed into bits as he rounded the corner of the house.
Uncle Charlie and Oakly came out of the door.
“What happened to Rowan?” Uncle Charlie patted my shoulder.
“I’m too tired for a repeat of last night, and I know that Aunt Becka needs help feeding the fawns.”
Oakly glared at me. His hands fisted, sending a string of pin-pricks over my scalp.
I turned away and rushed into the house.
Aunt Becka set a stack of dirty dishes on the counter. I rinsed them and then stuck everything into the dishwasher.
“Is it time to feed the fawns again?” All I wanted was to sleep. Just be alone and forget about Kara, Jack, Mom, and Oakly.
