by Lawna Mackie
“I have to get home, Billy. My mom will be looking for me.” Quinn replied quietly.
“Well, we can almost see your house from here. I don’t hear or see her,” he mocked, shaking his head.
Quinn stepped backward and spun around, smashing into Norman. He was trapped. Thoughts dashed through his mind in a rush as he tried to remember what Samuel told him.
“We could be brothers, Quinn. My Pa’s real fond of your mom.” Billy laughed.
Anger made his fist clench. He bent to the side, not taking his eyes off Billy, and set the lantern in the snow. “You will never be my brother. And your despicable father will never have my mom,” Quinn responded angrily.
“My father always gets what he wants,” Billy spat out.
Thurston and Norman laughed and snorted.
“That will never happen!”
Billy reached out and shoved Quinn’s shoulder.
Quinn stepped away from him, trying to imagine which fist Billy would strike with first. He watched the right hand tighten into a ball.
“I see I’ll have to deliver another message.” Billy swung, but Quinn ducked, missing the blow. He’d done it, but he’d also infuriated the round-faced bully. This time when he swung again, Quinn threw a punch of his own, landing his fist right in to Billy’s nose.
Red trickled from his nose and despite the fact Quinn knew he shouldn’t be happy, he was.
Billy’s hand reached for his nose and he cried out with anger.
“Now you’re gonna pay. Don’t just stand there you idiots. Grab him!”
Quinn turned to run, but Thurston grabbed him by the back of the coat, yanking him over. Quinn stumbled and fell into the snow. Instantly, Norman pounced on top of him. It was pointless. Billy’s goons held him to the ground while the bully kicked and punched him repeatedly.
No matter how hard he tried to pull away or turn his head, he found another fist. He could taste the blood pooling in his mouth. His vision swirled and his hearing muffled. It couldn’t happen again. It just couldn’t. He could feel the spell coming on.
Suddenly, the beating stopped. And he vaguely heard what he thought was a growl. Though one eye was swollen and everything seemed blurry, he could see her. Jazira approached them slowly and methodically, with a menacing growl and teeth bared.
Billy screamed, and the others turned and ran frantically. Before he could get away Jazira knocked him to the ground with one paw. Billy continued to scream while Jazira stood with her front paws holding him in the snow.
“No!” was the only thing Quinn could mutter.
Her eyes were narrowed and her ears were flat to her head.
“I should rip your throat out! And if you ever touch him again I will.” Jazira growled and pounced on Billy’s chest harder, probably knocking the breath out of him.
She left him alone and Quinn felt her tongue on his cheek. He heard Billy get up and run screaming through the streets.
“Jazira…get…out of here,” Quinn managed before he let the darkness engulfed him.
She whined and nudged him with her nose. She knew she could drag him home, but she didn’t think that would be a good idea. With no other choice, she turned, putting her nose to the wind. It took only seconds until she picked up Quinn’s scent in the cool winter air.
With a mighty leap, she took off in the direction of his house. She was beyond terrified. Nobody seemed to be watching as she climbed the steps of the house. Voices could be heard behind the door and immediately she could smell the scent of the man who’d saved her from the lake. Maybe there was hope.
Hesitating, she walked to the door, dropped her head and began scratching furiously. The whine was genuine. She had to get help to Quinn.
She heard the voices grow louder when the door opened.
The woman screamed and stumbled backward, falling in the doorway. Almost as quick, the man named Samuel stood in her place.
Jazira figured she should try to make herself look less frightening, so she sank to her belly and continued to cry.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Samuel bellowed.
“Quick Samuel the gun…it’s over there,” the woman who must be Quinn’s mom yelled and pointed.
Jazira whined louder and looked back the way she’d come. How could she make them understand?
Samuel approached her cautiously, tilting his head. “You are the stupidest creature I’ve ever seen. I don’t know why you’re following me?”
“Samuel don’t get to close to it,” she said, grabbing his arm.
He turned to her and spoke. “I know this wolf.”
He continued to move forward and Jazira crawled toward him on her belly. He bent down to look at her. “Are you hurt?” he asked. “If you’re not, you must be determined to end up dead.”
Jazira gently reached up and grabbed his shirt. He looked at her questioningly and she pulled at him.
The woman gasped again. She pulled harder and brought him down the stairs. What if somebody saw her, she thought full of fear.
He followed her and she continued to pull him until they were in the street. At that moment, she let go of him and ran toward where Quinn lay. She stopped and looked back for him, waiting.
He turned back to the door. “Amanda, please throw me my coat,” he demanded.
“Samuel, Quinn’s out there. What if that wolf hurt him?” She cried holding her hand to her mouth.
“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll find Quinn.”
When Jazira knew he would follow, she ran to Quinn and lay down beside him. She licked his face. “Samuel’s coming Quinn. He’ll take you home. Please don’t die,” she whimpered.
∗ ∗ ∗
Chapter Eight
Samuel saw the figure in the snow and broke into a full run. It had to be Quinn. Impossibilities never ceased to amaze him. He stopped beside the furry beast and Quinn. He picked Quinn up and looked at the creature.
“You really are a mystical creature from Lost Lake, aren’t you?”
She closed her eyes and licked Quinn’s hand. Loud voices could be heard from a neighboring street. Jazira spun and shuffled back and forth nervously.
“Run you crazy animal! Go before somebody takes a shot at you.”
Her red eyes bore into his. He could see how terrified and sad she was…or so he thought, but then again, it was a deformed wolf he looked at. “Go,” he shouted again.
Only then did she turn and run.
Samuel carried Quinn back to the house.
Amanda shrieked and ran down the porch stairs. “Oh God!”
He marched into the house and placed Quinn’s motionless body on his bed.
“What happened?” Amanda cried, running to get a cloth.
Samuel undid the boy’s jacket and took off his boots. Amanda leaned over him and wiped his face. His swollen eye, split bloody lip, and a bruise on his cheek told the story of what had happened. Samuel could feel his rage pulsing through his veins.
Only cowards and bullies would pick on a child, and by the scuffle and footsteps in the snow, Quinn had been outnumbered. What surprised him was the wolf creature. It sure seemed like the beast knew the boy…but how would that be possible. His mind drifted quickly to the superstitions that floated around Bandit Creek and Lost Lake.
“He said he was going to visit a new friend,” Amanda stammered between sobs and tears. “I shouldn’t have let him go.” She shook her head.
Samuel placed his arms around her shoulders. “A friend wouldn’t do this,” he stated with clenched teeth.
Shouts and yelling could be heard coming closer to the house. Samuel stood and exited the bedroom. Amanda followed with a puzzled look.
“What’s all the ruckus?” she asked, trying to peer out the window of the sitting room. George Ellis and a few other men approached Amanda’s home.
Samuel moved towards the door, pushing Amanda behind him. He pulled it open.
Standing at the bottom of the stairs George Ellis seethed with anger. His jack
et remained open and his rifle rested on his hip.
“You! What are you doing here?” George spit out with hostility.
With his jacket and boots still on, Samuel stomped down the stairs without a care. George pointed the gun at him. Samuel thrust the barrel of the rifle away with his arm, glaring at the balding man.
“Men like you don’t deserve to crawl on this earth,” Samuel seethed, stepping closer to the man and pushing him in the chest.
George cocked the rifle and Samuel heard Amanda’s muffled scream. “George leave him alone,” she pleaded.
The rotund man gave an evil laugh, pushing Samuel back with the end of the barrel. “I warned you, Amanda. If you would marry me like I’ve said all along, things would be so much easier.”
Unable to control his temper any further, Samuel knocked the rifle sideways. The shot rang out through the cold night air. His fist connected with the man’s face and he held him by the neck, twisting his arm behind his back.
He heard the other rifles cock. “Stay away from Amanda and Quinn. If you, or your son, ever touch either of them again, you’ll deal with me. Then the nightmares surrounding this hellish town will seem like a pleasant dream compared to what I’m gonna do to you.” Samuel shoved him forward with a giant push.
George stumbled, falling on his knees.
He felt Amanda grabbing him by the arm, pulling him back. “Leave him, Samuel,” she begged.
George stood wiping the blood from his lip. “That was a mistake,” he said, spitting blood in the snow. “Let’s see what the rest of the town folk have to say about that boy of yours, Amanda. He is evil, and my boy and the other boys are the proof. Quinn’s beast creature speaks and has made threats, swearing to tear their throats out. Quinn needs to die just like that wolf creature.”
Amanda gasped. Samuel could hear the disbelief in her voice. “Why are you so cruel? Haven’t I been through enough, George Ellis! You could have anyone else, please just leave us alone.”
He smiled. “You are what I want, Amanda, and one way or the other, you will come to me.”
Samuel lunged toward him once again, but Amanda’s arm held him back.
George’s sinister laugh made him sick.
“Come on, boys, we’ve got a wolf to shoot and skin.” He smirked turning on his heel.
Amanda stood unmoving and numb, watching the monsters wander down the street.
Samuel ushered her back up the porch stairs and into the house. He removed his boots and grabbed a shawl from the coat rack and swung it over her shoulders. God, what would she have done if he hadn’t been here? She closed her eyes briefly and the tears fell. Maybe she should marry George. How else would she protect Quinn? And now she was putting Samuel in danger.
His strong arms pulled her close and stroked her head. “I won’t let him hurt you or Quinn,” he vowed.
Amanda stiffened and pushed away looking up at him. “You can’t protect us from the whole town,” she sniffled. “He basically owns the whole town. They will come for Quinn.” Amanda wiped her eyes and turned away, going to check on her son.
She heard Samuel’s footsteps follow. Amanda sat on the bedside and took the cloth from Quinn’s head, rinsed it in the basin, and placed it back on his forehead. She hung her head. “He has a fever.” Gently she placed ointment on the cuts. “He doesn’t normally have a fever,” her voice quivered.
“Shall I go fetch the doc?” Samuel asked.
“I’ll watch him through the night and if he worsens, I can get him,” she answered without emotion.
She stood and turned to face him. “It’s been a long day. I think you should go now.”
“Amanda, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay here alone.”
“I’m fine, Samuel. I just need some time alone.” She smiled weakly.
He stood staring at her for a few moments, which seemed like an eternity. He was so handsome and brave. He stood up for her and Quinn. Amanda knew she was falling in love with him more by the second, but now she’d put his life in danger, too.
He placed a tender kiss on her lips before turning toward the door. “I’ll be at the boarding house if you need me for anything.”
She crossed her arms, feeling a chill settle over her body. “Samuel, did that wolf creature take you to Quinn?” she asked nervously.
“Yes, it did.”
“How do you know that creature?” she queried, rubbing her arms.
He paused, but didn’t look back at her. “I pulled it out of Lost Lake,” he replied as he opened the door and departed.
Amanda awoke early. Quinn breathed in and out in a steady rhythmic pattern. She smiled to herself. Last night, she curled up beside him in his small bed so she could hear his every move, and ensure his fever didn’t worsen.
The problem was, he hadn’t moved, not a muscle. At least his fever broke. She carefully got out of bed and kissed him on the cheek.
The rooms were cold so she quickly went about the house lighting the fires. Once the fire warmed the house, she put on her cloak and boots, preparing to leave. She didn’t want to leave, but she needed to let Mr. Murphy know she wouldn’t be in to work.
The cold morning air stung her nose as she rushed down the steps and made her way to the main street. Christmas would be here soon, but in her heart it didn’t feel like Christmas.
She stopped for a moment and looked at the large wolf like prints in the snow. The tracks went through the street, across the park and probably to the edge of the trees.
This town was full of nightmares. They popped up every day. Only the most devilish evil force would flood a town and cause the destruction left behind.
Still, the beast had saved her son, or at least found him. How and why she couldn’t comprehend.
Amanda rushed into the boarding house to find Mr. Murphy setting tables. He turned to look at her. “Amanda, I didn’t expect you in today. Folks have been talking,” he said, placing a cup down on the table.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Murphy. Quinn is ill again.”
He stood in front of her. “Amanda, maybe you should leave this town. Take Quinn and go to the city,” he said tenderly.
“But I don’t want—” she cut off her sentence as the door opened.
The woman stood in the entrance and sent a cold glare her way. It was Mrs. Winlop. Not one of Amanda’s favorite people.
She spoke first. “Mr. Murphy, Bandit Creek is a respectable town, but that woman and her son most certainly are not,” she declared pointing at Amanda.
Shocked, Amanda could only respond with an, “Excuse me.”
“Your son is evil with all his crazy spells, been touched by the devil he has, and now only one year after your husband’s death, you are keeping company with a complete stranger. I believe all that speaks for itself, don’t you, Mr. Murphy? The town is talking this morning, and I can assure you, you will not have any business should you continue to have someone such as her in your keep.” Mrs. Winlop turned quickly and exited the building.
Amanda felt tears sting her eyes. Ashamed and embarrassed, she could only stand static and unmoving, not having any idea what to say.
Mr. Murphy stepped forward, pulling her in for a hug. “Good thing that bitter woman left. I’ve had enough of her bad mouthing you.”
He stepped back and wiped a tear from her cheek. “You never mind what they say, you hear me. You will always have employment here as long as I live.”
Amanda smiled, wishing there could be more people like Mr. Murphy in the world. “I’m causing you trouble and customers,” she stated. “Perhaps you are right. Maybe we should consider going away, because I can’t bear the thought of marrying George Ellis.”
“I’d refuse to allow you to marry that abomination,” he stated. “But that Mr. Campton seems like a mighty fine fellow.”
“I’ll only cause him trouble, too. I already have,” she said sadly.
“The man has big shoulders,” Mr. Murphy countered.
Amanda looked
outside. It had started to snow again. “Tomorrow is December 1st, but it doesn’t feel like Christmas to me. I guess it hasn’t since Walter’s death. Oh goodness me, I don’t know why I’m going on like this. I really just wanted to let you know that I couldn’t come in until I know Quinn’s better.”
“Go home to your boy, Amanda. His health should always come first.”
She walked to the door and out into the snow, pulling up her hood. Coming around the corner of the building, and not paying attention, a man came stumbling from the alley. She halted, recognizing Jack. How he managed to drink like he did surprised her. It also made her sad.
“Do you need help, Mr. Jack?” she asked.
He stopped not far from her and swayed, but remained standing. “You need help, Ms. Amanda.”
“Mr. Jack, you’ve had too much to drink again. Why do you drink so much? It’s not good for you.”
“I may have been wrong,” he said slurring. “Doesn’t happen often.”
Amanda didn’t know what he might be trying to say. She shook her head.
“There’s evil in this town, but it might not be the she-wolf,” he mumbled.
Now she knew he must be losing his mind. “She-wolf?” Amanda questioned.
“Yup, pulled from that lake the creature was. There’s not much good that comes from that lake.”
The hairs stood on the back of her neck. Could he possibly be talking about the creature she saw last night…the one who helped her son?
“Quinn needs her,” he said, spiting in the snow. He bent over. “See, it has changed,” he continued, pointing to the melting snow. “It’s all here. Quinn needs her, but she must die.”
Amanda’s heart pounded in her chest. “Jack, you aren’t making any sense.” But then he seldom did.
“It’s a struggle of good and evil. I fear evil has descended upon Bandit Creek. Keep the she-wolf safe.”
Then as though he’d never even spoken to her, he stood and stumbled away, mumbling about the old mine.
Amanda caught her breath and ran home. She didn’t know how much more excitement she could take in her life.
