“It's not the same. You went all Las Vegas mind-spell on me. Can't you just act normal?” Idly, he scratched the inside of his forearm. “You put me right under and all I wanted was talk, Brecken. I had this game in mind.”
A game. Some new device to entrap me, no doubt. Gather clues about what makes me tick. Louie would understand about this, since long time girlfriends had seen plenty of clues. I had to wonder about Henna. Perceptive as she was, I could only surmise how many oddities she’s picked up on. Quite a few, was my guess. And more would come as I intended to continue seeing her.
“Nothing to say?” Ev tossed his chin at me. “Don't you want to hypnotize me and delve into hidden secrets about the game? Or did I already tell you.”
“No. Listen, I apologize. We didn't talk. No questions or anything. It was cheating and I shouldn't have. A stupid lesson to pay you back for keeping track on me or whatever. I'm sorry.” I twisted in a stretch, trying for casual. “Games can be interesting. Fun.” I fudged again and pushed at his consciousness. No surprise when his resentment faded and his eyes brightened.
“It's a good game. One that will challenge both of us. However, cheater, you get to wait till I'm ready. And forget more laps today, cause you know what? I'm tired. Probably your fault. Told me I'd be sleepy, sleepy, sleepy or some crap.” He strode off, no wave.
Fitting. Yet the game idea stuck in my head.
Chapter 30
When there’s due to be a showdown, why wait? Early afternoon, Christina was away and Henna at the University - a detail I verified. I’ve broken in already and even with the locked door, the second time was just as easy.
Sonar, he’s called. “Sonar,” I said. The frantic barking increased. Would neighbors take notice? He sounded vicious, threatening me. Nothing new to be persona non grata.
The dog guarded just inside the kitchen door, toughly assuring me that his bark was no where near as bad as his bite. He was ready to charge, ready to defeat the predator inside his new home. Barking turned to growls, menacing and aggressive. Nails clicked on the floor tiles with each mini assault. Fierce warnings that were building fast.
I wasted no time. I dropped to a low crouch, a deep rumble warning him I wasn’t backing off. I was to be respected and feared. I was superior, my rumble said. In me he has encountered the werewolf of his doggy nightmares.
He whined a little between half charges then bellowed his call to challenge. I had to admire his grit, the protective spirit. I leaped towards him, accepting the challenge. A good watch dog, but he was going down.
Sonar danced away from me, twisting and snapping as he moved. Fixing my eyes on his, I crouched closer and he stiffened, never moving his eyes from mine. His lips peeled back, baring full rows of healthy teeth in a jaw broad enough and strong enough to break bones.
Sharp teeth, Sonar. Here, have a look at mine. And baring my own healthy teeth, I leaped at him.
Snapping and spitting foam, he scrambled briefly in resistance then half collapsed as I forced him onto his back. He struggled to right himself, but there was no chance. We slid across the floor, two primitive creatures fighting for dominance. But I held back from full strength, not wanting to kill. His back feet clawed at me and saliva flew through the air as he twisted. What a great dog!
Then he caught my arm and crunched. All bones break, even mine. I hissed in sharp pain and tore at his muzzle to rip his jaw from me. Blood splashed, mine and his both. Sonar didn't know the meaning of surrender and he caught the meat of my hand and dug in. I cuffed him hard. Slugged him actually, jerking free from his crunching bite. I threw myself between his legs and he kicked at the air.
But he was solidly under me and I thrust my clenched fist against his heaving chest, looming over him, my snarls finally silencing his. I held him to the floor, spitting and snapping at the air around his neck. Defiance glistened in deep eyes for a struggling moment more before he relaxed, submissive under my fist-paw and the intensity of my attack. His massive jaws gaped, tongue out, and the frantic scrabbling ceased.
He wouldn’t have broken for anyone normal. Meh. I was about as far from normal as this dog would ever meet. Plus, I understood dominance. I understood alpha in the canine world. It worked. It always did.
I kept him beneath me longer than necessary, wanting this confrontation to be the only one. And he reacted well, no groveling, no whines, just recognition of superiority.
Then I released him and gave him back his tough pride. I cuffed him lightly, rolled him onto his stomach and crouched above him waiting, no longer in threat mode. And, head held lower than mine, he stretched out his abnormally long tongue and licked me.
So it was accomplished. Now we played. Now I rewarded. Now we understood each other. I cleaned blood from my hand and arm and Sonar's fur and the splashes on the tile and lower cupboards, then perversely draped the wrung out towel over the kitchen sink. A few commands to assure obedience, a rewarding scratch and I left the proud guard dog at the door. A brave and smart dog, accepting loyalty to my pack and willing to belong.
My phone was in the car and my landlady had left a message while I was inside recruiting Sonar. I called her back right away.
“I got your message, Amie. How are you doing?”
“Okay I guess, but I phoned to tell you I’m not in the hospital anymore. My daughter Cathy came and picked me up last night. I'm at her home in Anaheim.”
“That's good to hear. How are you feeling otherwise?”
“Oh Brecken, my ankle isn't much better. Slow at my age, you know. I can’t walk on it at all. Cathy is pushing me to stay until I can get around on my own.”
“Best idea, sounds like.” I tested my crushed arm bone. All good.
“I have no choice about it. The doctors said I have a heart problem too, and I wasn't responding to all the stuff they did and that's why they kept me so long. But there is one nice thing. My granddaughter is having her first baby pretty soon and at least I'll get to be here for that. Imagine, me a great grandmother.”
“You’ll be a perfect great grandmother.” I checked healed scratches and caught one missed fleck of blood.
She hooted. “Oh sure I will. Who doesn't love babies you can give back when you get tired? Anyway, I need you to continue keeping an eye on my house. Could you do that? Make sure the gardener is doing the yard right and everything?”
“Sure, I’ll take care of things.”
“I hoped you wouldn't mind. Cathy's coming to the house to pick up the mail and some clothes. And she’ll go to the post office to have my mail sent to her address.”
“Good. Amie, I opened the bills and took care of them.” I made a u-turn and headed to my house, wishing it was still legal to talk on the phone and drive. Talked on anyway.
“Such a good man you are. Thank you. Cathy agreed I can have my kitties here with me.”
“Nice for you.”
“Yes, but you know how they like to hide, Brecken. Can you help her get them into the cat carriers? They don’t know her and I’m sure they won’t hide from you.”
Hmm, That would be the critters I’ve been prowling after, giving them a touch of the wild. No chance they’d come at my beck and call. “When is Cathy coming?”
“Tomorrow afternoon when I take my nap. She wants to get back before traffic gets heavy. Is that okay? Just in case she needs your help?”
“Sure, I’ll be around.” Not! No way will I be home. I wasn’t interested in having Cathy witness abject terror on the part of Amie‘s well fed and vigorously exercised pets.
Annie's voice was starting to sound tired. “I'm so glad you're there, Brecken. Checking things over and loving my kitties for me. Poor things. They must be lonely.”
“Oh, believe me, they'll be excited to see you again.”
She sighed. “You know, I don’t want the house to look deserted. Maybe you could sit out on my porch now and then. Eat lunch there? It's nice you know, and when the weather is chilly, I wrap up in a quilt.”
I s
miled. So easily she offered what I had already taken. Good to have permission, though. No issues if a neighbor spotted me there. “Thanks, Amie. I’ll go inside, if you like, and turn lights on and off at night to make it look occupied.” Not necessary with me out back, but the offer should make her feel easy about the empty house.
“What a good idea. I should have some of those timed light thingies, but I don’t. If you go in and do the lights, it should be enough. But not the same ones all the time. You know? And I’ll give you credit on the next year of your lease. Credit for the time you keep an eye on the house, I mean. And for the bills you paid.”
“That’s all right, Amie. I'm happy to help out.”
“No, I’d feel better about asking you to watch things. Unless you want a refund….” Her voice turned worried. “You are planning on staying, aren't you? I know Louie hasn't been home for a while. Is he coming back?”
“He'll be back and if it’s all right with you, we do want to stay.”
“Well, you paid the whole year in advance, so the next lease I’ll subtract a couple of months. I insist.” I loved her old style values, even if they weren’t needed. Money was a problem we didn't have and never would.
“Just get that ankle healed, Amie. And don’t worry about your home.”
“So nice. Thank you.” She reeled off her daughter's phone number and her own, forgetting, perhaps, that I already had it. “If you have to reach me about anything. I’m always here.” She tittered lightly. “Really always here.”
“Best place right now.”
“Mm. Okay, I’ll call again in a couple of weeks. Say hi to Louie for me. Bye bye.”
Naturally I’d keep an eye on the house, which I was doing in any case. Lights on lights off a few times a week. Maybe a walk through to unplug appliances and lamps, since it’s the green thing to do and I’m a real earth guy.
And I have free use of the charming front porch. I’ve been using it a lot lately, enjoying the combination of seclusion and full view at the same time. In fact, maybe I'd start writing there. Plenty of outdoor furniture where I can sit, swing or lounge. Too bad I wouldn’t be able to enjoy dining there, too.
Chapter 31
I gave my dog his dinner and left for work, hoping Brecken would show. After the one back step, suspicious me wasn't feeling suspicious lately, though I think about him all the time. No more biting his thumb, but there are other ways to flirt and I've been using them all. What was it with me, anyway? Do I have the hots or what?
I have to admit that the guy intrigues me and seems to get me. Every relationship I've tried before turned boring. No challenge, I guess. I could never say that about Brecken and who would ever believe I'd feel like this. We've come a long ways, but those red and black colors are still around him. Not always though. Most of the time I can barely detect anything of what I sensed that first night.
Except, I remembered, when he was running with Mark and Ev. I was teasing then too, but also gaping inside at the way he acted to his friends. Kind of a shock. Was that the same guy who talks so gently to me and won't give me a real kiss no matter how obvious I am? I mean, doesn't a kiss let you know if it's something whammo hot or just a gorgeous guy? Doesn't a kiss say it all?
No way around it, every moment with him is dazzling. I had a sudden rush of excitement. Conor is coming and I'll go back to a regular schedule with two nights off. My arms tingled. Nights with Brecken?
He has always given in when I say time for me to go home, but it's obvious he wants more. Of course, I did yell at first and accuse him of stalking and that would make any guy walk careful. Still, no hugs and no real kisses even though I'm ready for both. Should I go for him first? But his slow approach is kind of attractive and mega heavy on romance. Flowers in my guitar case, for Pete's sake.
I giggled at myself and wondered why I was sounding like him these days. Using words he uses and staring at him like he stares at me, then laughing at him like he laughs at me. A big game with almost no rules. I shook my head. Even thinking of games is something that sounds like him. Maybe I'll start to look like my dog after a while, like they say owners do. Maybe I'll growl at Brecken like the black lab does. No, that's like Brecken too, cause I swear I've heard him growl back at that dog. Wait until he faces Sonar.
But dang it, the other night I could swear I sensed Venice stalker even stronger than usual at the Tavern. Not Brecken, though and a kind of trust has developed. Maybe it's time to invite Brecken over. When my cousin isn't home.
I parked in front of the Tavern and sat in my car for a moment, thinking about tomorrow's plan to go to a grassy area at the university, with tennis courts and no playground for noisy kids. I'm supposed to bring a blanket and I thought maybe sodas and munchies.
When I walked inside I noticed a pretty blonde girl sitting at the bar talking to Jeff. I closed down Brecken thoughts and put on my friendly face.
“Evening, Jeff.”
“Heya, Henna. Have you met Crystal Olson? She’s Conor’s sister.” I checked her over as finished the introduction. “She came in to thank me for hiring her brother.” He turned to fix tea.
Crystal spoke up. “You won’t be sorry, Jeff. Nice to meet you, Henna. I’ve heard you sing.”
“Yes, I think I recognize you. Is your brother here?” I looked around.
“Still on the road. It's a long drive from South Dakota.”
“Wow, that far? Listen, do you have a few minutes? I’d love to get to know you.”
She gave me a sly grin. “And ask me about my brother?”
I laughed. “That, too.” Jeff set two mugs on the bar and I scooted one in front of her.
Crystal hooked her finger in the mug handle. “Conor will be here in a day or two. He’s packed up a whole car load to bring out.”
“So he’ll stay even when you go home for the summer?”
She nodded. “I'm not going home until August. But yeah, he’s planning to stay.”
“Are your parents okay with that? Both of you out here?”
“Lots of cousins, aunts and uncles there and this is my third year.” She gave a little shrug. “Everyone's used to me being gone.”
”What's your major?” I blew on the hot tea.
“I'm going to be a photographer.”
“Really? What, nature and animals, or weddings and babies?”
Her laugh had a pleasant tinkle in it. “Probably weddings and babies at first, but my goal is magazines. High fashion, ads, hopefully travel articles. Things like that.”
“Nice goal. You guys are twins, aren’t you.”
“Um hm.” She circled hands around her mug and looked hard at me, kind of a combo of carefree and careful at the same time. Maybe she saw me as a rival to her brother.
I'd seen Conor's picture and now I studied her features. On the tall side, feminine and curvy, the same fair skin and white blond hair as in her brother's picture. “Definite resemblance,” I said.
“We all look alike in my family. And we’re all big. ”I’m 5’9” and Conor is 6’3” like my Dad. But Mom is 5’10”, so I’m the short one. A big Scandinavian family. My Dad calls us Viking Americans. You know, like Irish Americans and Native Americans.” She swung her head, kind of goofy like.
Crystal had a quaint sense of humor and she made me laugh. “I heard the songs your brother sent to Jeff and what I heard was good. His music is different from mine.”
“I agree. Conor is talented, though, and he has a few surprises in store.”
“In his music? What kind of surprises?”
“I should let him show you, but keep it under your hat.” She looked around for Jeff, who was over at the door. “Besides guitar, Conor plays the ukulele, banjo, and flute. And piano. Jeff knows about that one and said he might rent a keyboard. But my brother does a lot of songs you’ll want him to forget and never do again.”
“Oh, I doubt that.”
“No really, some of his stuff won’t work here. Give him advice, would you, Henna?” She m
ade a face. “Save Jeff the trouble?”
I waved that off. “Hey, I’m the hired help just like your brother, remember?”
“Yes, but he’d appreciate it. This job is important.” She sounded tense and I was curious, hoping she’d go on.
“My brother has had a rough time for the last few months. Personal stuff, but he needs this job.” She took a hiding sip of tea and I frowned. Was Conor in trouble with the law?
“Is he planning to go to school, Crystal?”
“He just wants to perform, if he can make enough money to live on.”
“He won’t earn a whole lot singing part time. Are your parents able to help out?”
“They put aside money for college. He'll get it when he’s twenty five if he doesn’t use it for school. That‘s three years from now though. Until then, they'll help him a little. But he’s a man, my Dad says, and he has to be responsible for himself. Conor feels the same way.”
I was surprised that we were talking at such a personal level. Then I was flattered that she confided in me. “Did he sing at home? Performing, I mean?”
“Not for money. For free, tons of times. We live in a rural community so he mostly did school dances and county fairs. His whole life he’s been doing music. Just like me and photography. My folks saw to it that we got lessons, especially in summer when there’s no snow.” She wrinkled her nose. “Snow can put a big glitch in your plans when it’s as deep as it gets in South Dakota.”
I felt like we were already friends. “Has he always wanted to play professionally?”
“Not really. He worked on the farm with my Dad. I did too, my whole life. We all do that where I live. Conor expected to take over the farm someday, but now it’s different.”
“You mean he changed his mind?”
She bit her lip and looked away. “Um hm. He’s not going to work with Dad anymore. But music is good for him. He loves it.”
“You two seem close.”
Silver Page 18
