by W. J. May
“I don’t know, but wolves are still circling,” Julie said. “I don’t think that he’s our problem anymore.”
“One down, one to go,” I said. “Now all we have to do is get past the pack. If we do, we’re home free.”
A long, plaintive wail echoed through the air, followed by a chorus of defiant howls.
I looked at Jesse, who was bleeding profusely. “Let’s get you to the bathroom and look for medical supplies.”
He leaned against the wall for support and gasped. “I’ll be fine. We have more important things to worry about.”
“Fine my butt. You need a doctor,” I said, my voice wavering.
He winced in pain, and his blue eyes watered. “I promise I’ll see one in the morning.”
Julie looked at him and shook her head. “You mean if you live that long. You’re sweating like a thief in church,” she said, feeling his forehead. “Oh my gosh! You’re burning up.” She gripped my arm. “He has a fever of 110. We can’t stay here. If we do, the news will be reporting a homicide tonight, one hot young guy with a bullet wound to the chest.”
I felt Jesse’s head and realized she was absolutely right. He was on fire. “It’s not safe in here. That man could easily push through our makeshift barrier. We need to get outta here and lose him in the forest, and then we need to take Jesse to the ER.”
“That’s exactly what he wants,” Jesse said. “Our best bet is to stay here until first light.”
Julie peeked out the window. “The place is swarming with wolves. Maybe he’s right. Let’s stay here a few hours and see if the pack leaves.”
I helped Jesse to the recliner.
He glanced up at me and could tell I was concerned. “It’s our best bet. The wolves will move on soon.”
Then a thought occurred to me: We need to secure the upstairs and make sure no one is in the house. We could leave nothing to chance. “Hello?” I called up the stairs.
The stairs creaked as I walked up them. My nerves were on edge as we headed down the lonely hallway amidst the shadows that danced on the wall.
Julie pointed to the first bedroom. Holding my butcher knife, I flicked on the switch but didn’t see anyone, much to my delight. As I continued to move carefully through the bedroom, I suddenly saw a figure. I freaked out and jumped, startled for a split second, until I realized it was my own reflection in the dresser mirror. My nerves were so on edge that every little thing was beyond frightening.
The room was pretty typical, with a bed, dresser, and other furnishings. We searched for weapons but couldn’t find any. We checked the next two bedrooms, and they were also clear.
My labored breathing eased, though my lungs still burned and my head was pounding like a chorus line of stiletto-wearing hippos dancing on it.
Julie motioned me in the master bedroom. “Blue Eyes can rest in there,” she said.
“Jesse, you should lie down,” I said when we walked back downstairs to get him. “There’s a nice bedroom upstairs so you can rest.”
“I’m fine.”
“No,” Julie ordered, “you’re not. You’re gonna go up there and get in bed, and then we’ll barricade the door and stay in there till morning.”
His wound started to bleed again, and I gulped hard. I couldn’t help but notice how pale and weak he looked. Jesse needed medical help, and I couldn’t get it for him quick enough.
“You’re bleeding,” I said, wondering if he would live to see sunlight again.
Chapter 7
I didn’t know what to do. Jesse was dying right before my eyes. I knew we needed to get help, but I didn’t know how to get past the snarling wolves. No one could hear us now because our cell phones had no signal out in the middle of nowhere, and there was no landline in the cabin. I touched Jesse’s arm. “Please lie down.”
“No. I have to keep you safe.”
“You aren’t going to be able to do that if you die on us,” I said. “You just need a little rest.”
When he didn’t move, Julie chimed in, “She’s right, Jesse. We need you to protect us, so how about you lie down for an hour or two and then you’ll be more up to protecting us better. In the meantime, we promise not to get ourselves killed by rabid dogs or gun-wielding strangers. Deal?”
He smiled and nodded. “Can’t argue with that,” he said.
I smiled appreciatively at Julie and her ability to manipulate even the most strong-willed of people.
Jesse grunted as I helped him into bed and covered him with a blanket.
Julie found some towels in the bathroom and applied pressure to his wound. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be taking care of a gunshot victim,” she said.
His eyes fluttered shut, and I gasped. “He passed out,” I said. “We can’t just sit here and do nothing, no matter what he said,” I said. “He’s really sick and fading fast. If we’re going to save him, we’ve gotta take a chance. You stay here. I’m gonna get us help.”
“How are you going to get past the wolves?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t just stand here and let him die.”
She took a deep breath. “I know.”
I felt his forehead and was glad that his skin was cool and not as sweaty; the fever had subsided. “He feels better,” I said.
“He’s breathing better too,” Julie added. “Maybe we should wait a little longer.”
I nodded and peeked out the bedroom window, only to shudder when I saw the wolves still prowling around. “It’s not like we have much choice.” Feeling defeated, I sat down on the vinyl chair and propped my feet on the stool. I watched vigilantly out the window, waiting for the scraggly dogs to leave.
* * *
A couple of hazy, sleepy, silent hours later, when the first rays of light shone on my face, I looked out the window again. “Julie, they’re gone!” I said.
“I’ll go look out the front,” she said.
I rushed over to Jesse. “Let me have a look at your wound,” I said.
He pushed me away. “I said I’m fine. We don’t have time to waste. Let’s go.”
“Are you sure you feel all right? Can you walk?”
“Yeah, I’ll live to tell the tale,” he said.
I looked at him doubtfully, then helped him up so we could make our way down the stairs.
“It’s all clear,” Julie happily reported, opening the blockade.
Outside, I stared skeptically at the deceivingly calm forest around us. As if mocking our trepidation, the sun was shining brightly, and the birds were chirping happily. When I looked down, though, I saw paw prints everywhere. It was still hard to fathom that we’d been shot at, chased, and practically held prisoner in the cabin by a bunch of wolves.
Pushing some vegetation aside, I stepped into the woods. “C’mon, guys!”
As we hiked through the woods, continuously trying our cell phones, Jesse actually got a signal for about two minutes and managed to get in touch with one of his buddies, who offered to pick us up. Just as we reached the road, a blue car stopped and Jesse introduced us to his friend, Billy.
“We’ve gotta get Jesse to the hospital,” I said. “He’s been shot.”
“What!? They’re joking, right?” Billy said to Jesse.
“No. He really was shot,” Julie said.
“Oh,” Billy said.
I looked at him as if he was one Prozac away from a straightjacket. “Uh…that’s the best place for gunshot victims,” I said. “Now please just drive us there.”
Jesse shot Billy a strange look, and he nodded. “Okay,” he said, “but I’m dropping you two off first.”
“Fine. Then take us to the police station,” I said.
Julie grabbed my arm. “Are you crazy? I don’t wanna get involved with the police. We’re alive and breathing, so why bother?”
“If that guy is out there and survived the wolf attack, he needs to be stopped.”
Billy arched an eyebrow at me as if I was the crazy one. “He’s dangerous and probably whacked outta his
mind on drugs and still armed. I wouldn’t suggest you ratting him out. They’ll let him go with a slap on the wrist, and then he’ll come after you with a vengeance.”
“I don’t want to involve the police,” Julie stated again, more sternly this time.
“And neither do I,” Jesse intervened. “I gotta be honest with you, Taylor. Billy’s not takin’ me to the hospital.”
“But you’ve been shot, and—”
“No need for hospitals. My mom is a doctor.”
“But—” Julie tried to argue.
“It’s just a flesh wound,” Jesse said. “I’ll be fine.”
“Jesse,” I said, “please don’t risk your life like this, especially not just to be a tough guy and show off.”
“I’m not showing off. My mom won’t let anything happen to me. I just need you to do me a big favor.”
“I know, I know. Leave the police out of it,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“It’s the best thing,” Jesse said.
“I’m great at keeping secrets,” Julie said. “If my mom finds out I sneaked out of the house to go to a college party and almost got myself killed, she’ll freak, and I’ll be the one needing a doctor—especially if the police are involved.”
“I won’t say anything either,” I said reluctantly.
Jesse’s friend pulled into Julie’s driveway at eight a.m., and we knew Julie’s mom would be coming home any minute.
“Don’t worry about your truck,” Jesse said. “One of my friends is a mechanic. He can have it fixed in hours.”
Julie looked at him. “No, there’s way too much damage. And mechanics can take forever.”
“Listen, I have connections. I’m not taking it to your average mechanic. My guy is fast.”
“My mom will ask about it,” Julie said. “Do you promise I’ll get it back today?”
“I promise.”
“Okay, Jesse. I’ll trust you on that, but if you don’t get it back before my mom wakes up, I’ll be grounded for the rest of the summer or, worse, she’ll sequester my truck keys indefinitely.”
“I got this,” he said.
“Jesse,” I said, “I really need to know that you’re okay. I won’t stop worrying until I know your mom has given you the all-clear.”
“Gimme your number,” he said. “I’ll call you with the official report.”
We exchanged numbers, putting them in each other’s phones. As I gazed into his eyes, just about to say something, his friend cut in.
“No time for mushy goodbyes,” Billy said. “I gotta get Jesse home. He’s got an appointment with Dr. Mom.”
Before I could say another word or wave goodbye, the blue car backed up and sped down the street.
As we walked in, I flung my shoes off. My hands were shaky from my ordeal, and nausea flooded my stomach.
When I sat down at the kitchen table, Julie handed me a glass of water. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. Just a little freaked.”
“Better freaked than dead,” she said. “My head is pounding, but I think we learned a valuable lesson here.”
“Oh?”
“No more parties with crazy, unstoppable party animals—or wild, furry animals either.”
“Yeah. Tell me about it. And we might want to avoid Barney-colored drinks and Long Island iced teas too,” I said, looking at her.
She ran a hand through her blonde hair. “Do you really think they’ll get my truck back in time?”
“Jesse promised he would, and up to now, he’s been a man of his word.”
“Maybe, but we don’t’ even really know him.”
“He said his friend’s a mechanic. I’m sure it will be fine.”
“I hope so. If not, I’m dead meat.”
“Why was that guy chasing us anyway?” I asked. “What did you say to him?”
She sipped her water. “Nothing out of the ordinary…and he seemed nice at the party. He just went all psycho. Maybe Jesse’s right. Maybe he was high.”
“If he was high on drugs, how the heck was he able to find us in the dark woods?” I asked.
“I dunno. How’d Jesse find us, especially when he was shot and bleeding all over the place?” she retorted.
“Yeah, you’re right. That was weird.”
“I think there’s something Jesse’s not telling us,” Julie said.
“Why were you invited to that party?” I asked.
“I met Jed in town, and he was inviting all the pretty girls. He said I could bring anyone I wanted to bring. But there is something else I’ve been wondering.”
“What?”
“If Jesse’s such a great guy, why would he hang out with guys like them in the first place?”
“I don’t know. And why won’t he go to the hospital like a normal person?” I asked, trying to put two and two together. “Anyone else would insist on going to the ER.”
“He’s either scared to death of needles or he’s hiding something,” Julie said, then ripped the bandage off her neck. “Speaking of hospitals, how does my battle wound look?”
“Not bad at all. There are just a couple deeper spots where the glass must have nailed you.”
“I can’t believe my taste in men,” Julie said. “Out of everyone in the party, I pick the one that oughtta be locked up.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t know.”
“At least one of us lucked out.” She smiled. “You got Jesse’s number, right?”
I smiled and held up my phone proudly. “Yep. Mission accomplished.”
The door creaked open, and Julie’s mom walked in. “Julie, where’s your truck?” she asked.
“I parked it in the garage after Taylor and I washed it.”
“Honey, it’s gonna get dirty again around here, no matter what you do. No sense in trying to keep it spotless,” she said, smiling.
“I know, but I want it to look nice for as long as possible.”
“You girls are up awfully early,” she said.
“We pulled an all-nighter,” I said.
“Sounds like fun. I remember having girls’ nights like that. Did you paint your nails and—”
Julie grinned and nudged her mom playfully. “Mom, I’m not twelve.”
She laughed. “Right. Pardon me for forgetting that my little girl isn’t so little anymore. Anyway, I’m making breakfast. How do pancakes sound?”
“That’s nice of you, Mom, but we’re kinda beat. If you don’t mind, we’d kinda like to sleep for a few hours.”
“Sure, but don’t sleep all day. I’ve got some plans for us. I figured we can go to—”
“Mom,” Julie said, “we’re tired, and you worked all night. Can we talk about the plans later?”
She smiled again. “You’re right. We could all use a little shut-eye. Sweet dreams, you two.”
* * *
A while later, after a nice, long nap, I peeked out the window, only to see Julie’s truck sitting in the driveway, good as new. Even the back window had been replaced. That was so nice of Jesse, I thought.
A few minutes later, a horn beeped, indicating that my mom was there to pick me up.
“Thanks, Julie,” I said. “I gotta go, but it’s been…interesting,” I said, smiling knowingly at her as I grabbed my overnight bag and rushed out the door.
“Right,” she said. “It was a howling good time. We’ll have to give it another shot sometime.”
We both laughed at her punny-ness as I walked out the door.
Chapter 8
A few days passed, and I hadn’t heard from or about Jesse. I was so worried about him that I couldn’t eat or sleep. Not knowing whether he was alive or dead, the anxiety overwhelmed me. I tried calling him a few times, only to get no answer.
When my phone finally rang with a call from his number, I was ecstatic. “I’m recovering nicely,” he assured me. “Don’t worry.”
I thanked him countless times for fixing Julie’s truck, silently thanked God that he was okay, then hung up the ph
one.
After that, we talked sporadically but texted each other every day. I thought it was best to let him recover at his own speed. I would have paid him a visit, but his mother didn’t want anyone stopping by until he was fully recuperated. “Doctor’s orders,” he joked, though it was technically true.
* * *
Before I knew it, a month had passed by.
Jesse had a job at the zoo, and when he told me they were hiring, I filled out an application, interviewed well, and managed to land a part-time position. If nothing else, I had all my dad’s lectures and all that Discovery Channel and Animal Planet documentary knowledge to go on when it came to dealing with animals—not to mention I’d survived a mountain lion attack and a run-in with a huge pack of human-harassing wolves.
My first day of work at the zoo was also Jesse’s first day to return after his injuries. He’d told everyone that he had a “family emergency” to deal with, and nobody was the wiser.
I smoothed out my brown, short-sleeved, button-down shirt. It was part of my uniform and had the logo name of the zoo and my name embroidered on it, and it looked kind of cute for safari wear.
As I stood there trying to get a grip on my new job responsibilities, Jesse walked into the room with an adorable baby raccoon in his arms and a bottle of milk specially made for the little creature. His shoulder-length hair was tied back, and while I tried not to stare, I couldn’t help it; he was so absolutely gorgeous that I was sure I’d never want to take a sick day off of work. His uniform was the same as mine, but it looked so much sexier on him. The material stretched across his broad chest and across his muscles, not too tight but just perfect, revealing a tribal tattoo around his bicep. I hadn’t seen it at the party under his jacket, but I wanted to know what it meant, if anything. I decided it best to leave that conversation for somewhere outside the workplace.
“This is Herman,” Jesse said.
The little raccoon was furry and had a bushy, ringed tail, as well as the blackest band of fur around his eyes, just like a mask.
“He’s so cute!” I squealed.
“Yeah. We’re trying to rehabilitate the little guy. The zoo receives hundreds of orphaned and injured wild animals every year. We do our best to fix them all up and release them back out into the wild as soon as we can so they don’t become too dependent on humans or lose their natural survival instincts. If you kneel down on the floor, you can feed him,” he invited.
