Lexia (The Deadwood Hunter Series)

by Raithby, Rachel M

  “It’s just, I kinda like someone else.”

  “And nice guys are only good enough when there’s not a sexy bad boy hanging around, huh?”

  Lexia laughed. “I’m stupid, aren’t I? I should just go out with Dan.”

  “Well, I am not going to judge.”

  “Come on, Alice, you always judge and I need you to now! Set me straight.”

  “Well, you asked for it! This guy, Lincoln, well, I only met him once when he was being a total creep but I can see the appeal. He’s movie star hot and has the whole bad boy charm going but is that really what you want?”

  “He’s not always like that. Sometimes when he drops his guard he’s so sweet—and the way he makes me feel Alice, just one smile, a slight touch and I’m lost in him.”

  “God Lex, you have it bad! But you’re going to have your heart broken, if you carry on seeing him and things get more heated. Imagine how you will feel then... He might leave town or get bored with you.”

  “But he might not.”

  “Lexia, what’s this town got to offer a hot twenty-something-year old?”

  “Me?”

  “Aww, babe, come on. I love you, but really, wake up.”

  “Alice!”

  “Okay, say I’m wrong and he stays for you but if I’m right... Is he really worth the risk?”

  “I don’t know, I think so.”

  “Well, only you can decide and I am always here for you. I’ll pick up the pieces.”

  “Thanks. Aren’t I supposed to be picking up your pieces?”

  “You did last night. I’m over him now and on to my next target.”

  “And who’s this target?”

  “Not decided yet but I’ll tell you when I do.”

  “Are you planning on going home today?”

  “Yes, I best do soon. My head’s stopped pounding but do you think Mike might feed me first?”

  “I’ll go ask,” Lexia answered, laughing.

  Chapter 9

  Lexia walked down her driveway on Monday feeling a little sore from the weekend’s running. She had on a high-collared top and a scarf just to make sure no one spotted the bite mark that the panther had given her; it had mostly healed over the weekend but she still had some slight marks and didn’t want to risk anyone asking questions.

  The panther had been on her mind last night and she’d not slept very well. What was he after? Why had he attacked her but not killed her? Then the strange visit on Saturday night, which she still wasn’t sure if she’d dreamt of while drunk.

  Lexia froze as she neared the end of her drive. She could feel something in the air; someone or something lurked at the end of her drive. She had planned to meet Dan this morning after his insistence to walk her to school and Dan definitely didn’t give off that kind of vibe. She had a sudden thought that maybe Dan was at the bottom of her drive and in trouble. Lexia started to walk again but with silent deadly focus; she wouldn’t let anyone hurt Dan.

  But as she approached she had a sudden feeling that it was Lincoln there and sure enough his smooth voice called, “Are you planning to take forever to reach me?” He laughed softly, almost a rumble and the sound made her heart skip a beat and her legs stretch farther in anticipation.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Bringing you coffee—three sugars and lots of milk?”

  She smiled. How had he noticed how she took her coffee? “Thanks, but I’m supposed to be meeting a friend this morning, we were going to walk to school together.”

  “Really?” From the mischievous smile and the knowing glint in his eye Lexia could have sworn he knew she was meeting someone and that was exactly why he was here. But before she could ask Dan came into view, a wide smile spread on his face which dropped away when he saw Lincoln.

  “This your friend?” Lincoln said, giving me his I’m-just-a-sweet-puppy-dog smile before he turned to stare down Dan.

  “Hi, Dan,” Lexia said, giving him a reassuring smile as his steps faltered.

  “Hi, Lex.” He walked up and kissed her on the lips. “You ready to walk to school?”

  Lexia was stunned into silence. She glanced at Lincoln who wore a look of hatred and then to Dan who was looking smugly at Lincoln. And I thought you were a nice guy. “Erm...This is Lincoln, he’s ... he’s new to town. We met at the diner.”

  Lincoln laughed at her and said, “Come on now, love, I’d say we were friends.”

  Lexia glared at him in response suddenly wishing she had the power to vanish into thin air. An awkward silence filled the air.

  “Right, time for school.” She didn’t wait for their responses just started walking away with long determined strides.

  She soon heard two sets of footfalls coming up behind her and then Lincoln reached her followed by Dan seconds after, slightly out of breath. She laughed softly to herself thinking he must have run to keep up with Lincoln’s big strides.

  “Did you want your coffee, Lex?” Dan asked, a nervous smile on his face. “I didn’t know how you took it; I got it with lots of milk?”

  Lincoln jumped in before she could answer. “You remember the three sugars, Kid?”

  To give Dan credit he didn’t react to the kid remark but Lexia saw his expression change to one of anger before he got control a few seconds later. “I figured she was sweet enough” was his reply, looking straight into Lexia’s eyes giving her his sweet, boyish smile.

  “That she is but I already brought her a coffee, just the way she likes it.” Now Lincoln glared at Dan and she heard Dan take a gulp but he didn’t back down.

  “How old are you? Like 30?”

  That was it, she’d had enough. How had she ended up with two guys fighting over her? She was not a piece of meat to for them to snarl over.

  “Tell you what, Linc, here’s your coffee.” She thrust it into his hand splashing it onto his white t-shirt then she glared at Dan. “And he’s right, I take it with three sugars. See you in class.”

  Lexia started running then she steadied her pace to a light jog when she decided they hadn’t followed her. A few minutes from the school gates she slowed to a walk, taking deep calming breaths and by the time she said hello to Alice at the school gates, you would have never known she’d been stuck between two males with testosterone issues.

  They walked up toward the school’s entrance chatting about nearly being free of school when Lexia froze on the top step having felt a tingle of power in the air. She turned, searching for the source and then gasped when she spotted a black panther’s head peering out from behind a wall. He flashed his eyes at her before disappearing. I am going to have to do something about you, pretty panther.

  “Lex. Lexia!” Alice said, waving her hand in front of her face.

  “Sorry, thought I saw someone.”

  “What, like a miserable-looking Dan walking up the school path?”

  “Shit, let’s move.”

  Alice looked back at Dan then to Lexia’s retreating form before running to catch up.

  “Tell me now!”

  “Later, ok?”

  “Fine, but don’t think I’ll forget!”

  Oh, if only you would forget she thought, walking into first period.

  The rest of the morning went smoothly. Dan smiled at her when he came into class but Lexia didn’t return it. When the bell rang for lunch she shot out of the classroom hoping to ignore him.

  Alice had a different subject from her this morning so they met in the hall. Alice seemed excited about something, she had a massive smile on her face.

  “Have you found your next target?”

  “What? Oh yes, but that’s not why I’m smiling.”

  “Why then?”

  “First tell me about this morning,” Alice demanded as they walked into the cafeteria.

  “Fine! Dan met me this morning to walk to school, only when I reached the end of my drive, Lincoln was there and then Dan turns up. I’m lost as to what to say but he walks right up and kisses me on the lips like we
’re already together!”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “No, why would you think that?”

  “Too late, you’ll find out in a second,” she smiled.

  “What do y ” Lexia never finished her question because she spotted Dan and as she lifted her head to see what he wanted, he pressed his lips against hers. She was too stunned to react and sat speechless as he slid into the space besides her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

  “Hey babe,” he said.

  “Hey, Dan!” Alice said, jumping in, she flashed a wicked grin at Lexia then started rambling on to Dan. Lexia sat there in silence, bending slightly from Dan having his arm around her; he wasn’t quite tall enough to reach his arm around her comfortably. Throughout lunch Alice talked and she never had the chance to ask Dan what he was doing but even if she had, Lexia had no idea what to say. Where had this bold behavior come from? Dan was a nice guy and here he was acting like they were already together. She replayed over the times they’d spent together and was certain she’d never said they were going out.

  When the bell rang for afternoon class, Lexia breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Alice about killing her later.

  They walked out of the cafeteria together but then needed to go separate ways. “Come on, Alice, we’re this way, see you, Dan.”

  Hooking her hand through Alice’s she started to drag her off down the hall but Dan called, “Hey Lex ”

  Lexia breathed in a deep breath and squeezed Alice’s arm as she giggled. “Yes?” she said, turning around.

  “Where’s my kiss?”

  “Yeah Lex, where’s his kiss? Ouch!”

  “I’m going to kill you later for this,” Lexia whispered to Alice and then looked at Dan’s expectant face. What do I say? Slowly she started to walk back to him. Am I really just going to kiss him? Why not just tell him to get lost? What am I doing? Her lips brushed his and Dan wrapped his hands around her waist pulling her close. Lexia gasped and bit her lip so she didn’t shout at him.

  “God, you’re sexy,” he whispered, then turned and left.

  Lexia just stood there staring at him, students walked past her staring and whistling. She couldn’t decide whether she was angry, shocked or turned on. Where had this Dan come from?

  “Fucking hell, Dan’s possessed,” said Alice, slipping her hand back through Lexia’s and dragging her off to class.

  “I’m going to kill you for that!”

  “Hey, I didn’t tell him you two were going out.”

  “Neither did I!”

  “Well, then Dan grew some balls,” she laughed.

  “He sure did!”

  “You like it don’t you!”

  “Alice, shut up,” Lexia giggled.

  “Girls, settle down.”

  “Sorry, Mr Peterman,” they said in unison.

  Lexia sighed, what was happening to her lately? Lincoln and Dan fighting over her and then there was the panther—what was he and what did he want?

  Lexia and Alice walked into the town center after school. They had sat in silence so far, each eating the slices of chocolate cake they’d ordered. Alice opened her mouth, she’d never been good at keeping quiet. “Spill Lexia, what the hell’s going on with you?”

  Lexia looked at her stern face, she and Alice had been friends since she’d first started school here and they’d been inseparable ever since.

  “Well, I already told you about Dad being weird lately, then there’s Lincoln, and now Dan’s acting insane, too!”

  “Well I think you’ve brought out Dan’s competitive side and really, can you blame him?”

  “But he’s just acting like we go out!”

  “Babe, you didn’t stop him. Come on, didn’t you feel anything when he kissed you in the school hall?”

  “I don’t know, maybe... I was just so shocked and pissed off at him acting that way but then... Well, I kind of like his bold side.”

  “God you have to like the bad side don’t you!”

  “But then what about Lincoln?

  “Lex maybe you should give Dan a chance. I mean, he lives here and he isn’t as scary as Lincoln.”

  “He isn’t scary and he just keeps showing up, like this morning and then both he and Dan were acting like cavemen.”

  Alice laughed. “Well, what did you expect? You’re gorgeous. But seriously, Lexia, be careful around him.”

  “I can take care of myself, don’t worry.”

  “Really? Because Lincoln looked like a well-built man and you don’t exactly work out.”

  They both burst out laughing and Lexia secretly thought if only you knew the things I could do, Alice.

  They walked together heading back out of the center of town, all talk of Lincoln finished. Lexia felt better after her talk with Alice but she still didn’t know what to do.

  After a while Lexia became aware that they were being followed. Every now and then she would see the panther watching her but he would disappear as soon as he caught her looking. The closer the panther got, the more on edge she felt; her skin prickled and she had to suppress the urge to turn and fight.

  Alice left in the direction of her home and now she felt the panther stalking closely from the shadows. He didn’t make any attempt to hide his presence, but Lexia kept her pace steady and looked straight ahead, determined not to play his cat games. If he wanted her, she was ready; all he had to do was make a move, but she decided he was just toying with her right now. He wanted her on edge so that when he did strike, fear would cloud her judgement making her an easy target.

  As Lexia turned down her drive, fear closed her throat for a moment and she bit her lip to stop herself from crying out. There he was standing in the middle of the drive between her and the house. She forced the fear down deep in her mind and carried on walking. She had killed three vampires at once and taken down a nasty wolf-man, she would not back down to this cat, even if a small part of her still thought the panther was good.

  Suddenly the panther vanished into the trees and as she moved to follow she heard the reason for his departure.

  “Lex, wait,” Dan called running down the drive.

  “Later, Kitty Cat” she murmured, and heard a low growl as her reply. Yes you are defiantly more than just a cat.

  “Hi Dan,” she said, turning around to face him but keeping her senses focused on the woods.

  “I’m really sorry about today, I was an idiot” he smiled shyly.

  Lexia pushed her anger down. It wasn’t his fault Lincoln was an arrogant bastard. “It’s fine Dan, Lincoln was more of an ass but I don’t appreciate being fought over and you just assuming we were together.” She started walking back toward the house and he followed.

  “You noticed that, eh?”

  “Bit hard to miss you kissing me, Dan.” She snapped.

  “But you kissed me back! It’s not like you to just go along with something.”

  “I think I was just shocked at seeing that side of you.”

  “Really?”

  “Don’t push your luck, Dan.” The smile fell from his face.

  “Hey, that guy, you know him well?”

  “Not really.” She didn’t like the way this conversation was going.

  “He seems a bit sketchy. I mean, I can see the appeal but Lexia he’s a lot older then you.”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, Dan, but he’s twenty-three and in a few months I will be twenty.”

  “WHAT?”

  “Dan this has nothing to do with you.”

  His face fell further. “I was kind of hoping after that kiss, it would be my business.”

  Lexia looked at him with his sad eyes and his cute surfer-boy looks; she could be happy with him. There might not be the same fire between them that she felt with Lincoln but Alice was right, there was no guarantee he’d stay in town. But then she remembered the vampires and the panther that was probably watching her right now and realized her life was just too messed up for a new relationship.

 
“I did feel something Dan. But I have a few things going on at the minute... I’m sorry I just... Can we be friends?”

  “Friends? Sure” he smiled at her but Lexia could see the hurt in his eyes.

  Smiling, Lexia closed the distance between them and hugged him, whispering in his ear, “I really am sorry Dan if only you’d found me a few months ago”

  He pulled away his eyes creasing “What do you mean Lex?”

  “Nothing, it doesn’t matter.”

  “Bye, then.” Dan walked back down her drive onto the road.

  She stood there watching him go taking in his wide, well-muscled form from all the sports he played and his messy hair blowing about in the breeze. As he turned the corner he looked back one last time and flashed a cheeky, cocky grin.

  For a moment Lexia felt sad at turning him away, she could have been happy with him, only a few months ago she’d stared at him and daydreamed about the day he’d be interested but now...

  A low growl snapped Lexis out of her trance, she whipped around seeing gold eyes peering from the forest. It took her a split second to decide what to do, she ran towards the house as fast as she could, her feet crunching and sliding on the gravel. She could hear his light foot falls as the panther closed the distance between them. Her heart beat in her throat, was this it? Were they finally going to finish this game?

  Lexia raced across the grass, she felt like her lungs were on fire but adrenaline course through her veins forcing her on. The porch was nearly in sight but how was she going to get the door open before the panther got her?

  His paw caught the back of her leg. Lexia screamed, stumbling forward, but she managed to right herself and that’s when she noticed the open window to her bedroom; she’d never closed it after Saturday night. Can I make it?

  She neared the bottom of the house and jumped as high as she could; Lexia’s hands gripped tightly onto the wooden slats of the trellis and she let out a cry as her body slammed into the house momentarily knocking the wind out of her then she scrambled up, her knees banging and scraping against wood.

  But sharp panther teeth sank into her ankle as she neared the top. He pulled her down and she screamed desperately reaching out to get hold of something. She gripped wood again and kicked out with her foot. Lexia pulled with all her strength desperately trying to escape the panther’s jaws. Her foot hit his head but his grip never faltered.