by Bonnie Gill
“What? I told them to stay inside.”
“Abby is smacking something in the tree with a broom.”
“They need to be arrested for their own safety. I think we ought to haul them both in for questioning.”
“Pepper just grabbed a shovel, and she’s helping her. Ottar—get over there now. The girls are fighting the Gnome.”
Abby and Pepper had been wrapping up a second game of Monopoly when the dogs started barking at the door. The horses threatened to stampede, and filled the evening air with startled whinnies. The sound grated against Abby’s frayed nerves, and she’d leapt to action.
“My horses!” Pepper had bolted out the door, scattering pastel dollar bills and red plastic hotels all over the floor.
Abby raced behind her, terrified that something might happen to Pepper, or the horses. To find the Gnome perched on top of Pepper’s gray Arabian’s back, while Fred, the horse, kicked and seized in his attempt to throw the Gnome from him. Her mouth dropped open. The horrible Gnome had cackled his horrendous laugh and rode the bucking bronco like he was having the time of his life.
Pepper had leapt up the Arabian’s rump and pushed the little man off with flailing hands. The Gnome tumbled, then rolled out of the barn. Abby grabbed a broom from the barn as a weapon, and they’d both chased after him.
The Gnome ran up a nearby tree. He didn’t climb the tree; he’d run straight up the trunk like he had demon powers from hell.
“Get that mini devil,” Pepper yelled.
“I got him.” Abby swung the broom, but she missed him. The ugly creature cackled again, and blew a fat, wet raspberry at her with his disgusting tongue.
She stabbed the broom upward, and shouted, “Get out of here, you nasty old Gnome.” The smell of death hit her nostrils like napalm. She coughed and wheezed as she jabbed at the Gnome, using her broom like a lance.
“Let me at him.” Pepper charged the monster with a shovel. “You think you could attack my horses?” The weapon made contact with the Gnome’s shoe, but the creature only howled a roaring laugh.
Abby swung the broom and hit the back of his thigh. “We should call River.” She took another swing. This time her broom smacked the critter right up against his tiny Gnome butt.
“This sucker is mine.” Pepper’s eyes flared wild with the anticipation of the kill. She smacked it on its wicked ugly head, knocking off his red pointed hat. He didn’t fall. His gnarly hands clung to the branch by his hooked claw. “Ewww!”
“He’s strong for a monster that’s so dang small.” Abby stopped a beat to catch her breath.
The Gnome cackled out more laughter, sickening her soul. He kicked his miniature feet up, wrapped his knees around the branch, and hung upside down.
Pepper jumped and swung the blade of the shovel again, but he was too high now for her to make contact. “Whew, wee, that Gnome reeks of week-old road kill.
They both kept their makeshift weapons poised in the air. “We can wait him out. He’ll have to come down sooner or later, right?”
Pepper’s eyes gleamed with vindication. “Oh hell yeah. We’re going to wait. And when he moves he’ll be a dead Gnome. No one hurts my horse.”
Abby glanced at the barn. “Is the horse okay?”
“There wasn’t much blood. I think it’s just a scratch. I’ll check on him in a while. I’m not leaving this tree until this thing is killed.”
“He could be up there all night,” she said in a quiet tone to Pepper so the Gnome wouldn’t hear.
“So be it. We wait out here all night.” Pepper’s voice held a determination that told Abby she wouldn’t give up.
They remained under the tree for almost ten minutes, edging closer every time the mini-monster dared to move. River pulled up in Pepper’s driveway. The distraction of the Sheriff getting out of his car sent the Gnome into action. Blurring feet zoomed down the tree in a whirlwind, and he grabbed his pointed hat from off the ground. Before either Abby or Pepper could react he took off toward the tall grass bordering the yard.
Abby bolted after him and swung her broom. She hit him, knocking him off his feet and sending him rolling.
River darted after the Gnome. He tossed a metal net, but the net caught nothing but air.
Pepper threw her arms up in disbelief. “Nice job, Sheriff. We had him treed. Damn, don’t you even carry a gun?”
River watched the pint-sized bearded man disappear into the brush. “You two shouldn’t have come out here. That Gnome murdered someone today.”
Pepper wheeled on River. “He almost killed my horse. I’m going to check on him right now.” She stomped toward the barn, and at the last second she turned on him. “You,” she pointed to River, “are on my shit list.”
“Hey—I was trying to help.”
“By throwing a net at it? Puhhlease.” Pepper dragged out the last word and stormed into the barn. Abby hoped the horse wasn’t injured. She knew how much Pepper loved her horses.
River pivoted back to Abby. “I meant what I said about staying away from the Gnome.”
“How did you know it was here? Do you have a tracking device on it?”
“Not exactly.”
River and his vague answers again.
“You have another camera on us, don’t you?” Sneaky cop.
“That camera could have saved your life. That’s the only reason I put them there in the first damn place.”
Abby twirled her broom, threw her shoulders back, and lifted her nose. “We were doing just fine without you.”
“What would you have done if it jumped down from the tree on your head? Did you see the claw on his hand?”
Yes she did, and it’d totally grossed her out. She nodded, trying to keep the look of terror she felt in her gut off her face.
River lifted her up, tossing her over his shoulder and strode toward the house.
“Put me down.”
“Let me tell you what the little bastard does. That cute Gnome has a poison claw and rams it into your skull, then he sticks his tongue in the hole and sucks your brains out.” He set her on her feet and grabbed her shoulders. “Do you want that to happen to you? Or Pepper?” River’s voice was frantic. Livid.
“No, but River, he attacked one of her horses.”
River’s breath left him in a long quiet whoosh and he shook his head. “Better a horse than you.”
She couldn’t believe how hard his head was. Her nails drilled into her palms. “Pepper will always protect her horses. And I’ll be right there beside her.”
As if on cue, Pepper came up beside them. “It’s a deep scratch, but I think he’ll be okay. I’ll call the vet and have him come over to stitch him up. It should only take three or four sutures. I’m more worried about infection.”
Abby wrapped her arms around her friend. “Oh, I’m so sorry he got hurt.”
Pepper gave her an I’m-okay nod and hugged her back. “He’s pretty shaky. I might have to sleep in the barn with him tonight. It looks like he didn’t touch Wilma.” She pointed to the short brown horse.
“No.” River and Abby said the word at the same time.
Pepper cocked her head in a silent question.
“From what River told me, the Gnome eats people’s brains.”
He nodded his confirmation.
“Then for sure I’m not leaving them alone.” Pepper brushed off her hands. Pulled her cell phone out, and called the vet. Abby caught the gist of the conversation. The vet would be over within the hour.
Leaves crunched behind a huge pine tree in the shadows. She ran to the broom and raised it up in a baseball batter stance.
Ottar walked over with his hands raised. “Easy with the broom, ey? Is that your new ride?” He laughed at his own dumb joke.
Idiot. Abby s
wung the broom. He ducked.
His eyes darted over to Pepper. “Nice ducky PJs.” A smile spread across Ottar’s lips, full of snark and smartass.
Pepper crossed her arms and let out an “Hmph” and raised her nose to the sky.
“The Gnome was here and it got away,” River said. He collected the net he’d thrown and strung it between his hands.
Abby twisted her lips. A lot of good that did. “If you would have just shot the stupid thing, this whole ordeal would be over now.” She set the broom down on the ground and leaned the handle on her shoulder.
Both guys looked at each other.
Ottar scratched his head. “I’ll let you explain that one, Sheriff.”
“Yes. Sheriff. Please explain why the heck you didn’t shoot that damn Gnome.” Pepper’s hands went to her hips. “Now I’ll have to sleep in the barn tonight. It’s your responsibility that creature is running around loose.”
“You’re not sleeping in the barn. It’s too dangerous. We already told you that.” River clenched his jaw so tight his cheek muscles flexed.
“I refuse to let my horses go unprotected. What if that mini-monster comes back?”
River shot a glare over at Ottar. “I can stay here and make sure it doesn’t return. The Gnome went that way.” He pointed at the woods. “Why don’t you see if you can pick up a trail?” River lowered his eyes, his lips rigid, and shook his head once.
Ottar squinted, then flashed his eyes wide and took off to track the Gnome.
Abby had watched the two men with full attention. She saw their internal dialogue, but she had no idea what they were saying to each other. She wanted to tell herself she didn’t care, but anything that involved River caught her interest. And that pissed her off more than anything.
When he’d said he would watch the horses tonight, her stone heart had turned to pudding. He cared about them. Pepper had nailed it all along. River’s spying on her was his way of looking out for her. She could hope, right? That still didn’t mean she could have a relationship with him, though. Even if he was some knight wearing a police uniform, the next time she morphed into the Devil beast, all bets were off. He’d be hot on her forked tail.
Literally.
Stupid curse.
She needed that journal right now more than she needed to breathe.
The veterinarian was good on his word and showed up with his doctor bag within the hour. “Thank God, the Vet’s finally here.” Pepper left River and her standing there while she showed the man to the barn. He stitched the gouge in the horse’s neck with only three stitches. Pepper seemed relieved about her horse, and that River would guard them during the night.
Abby paced outside the barn, and rationalized that the only reason River would stay over tonight was because he thought the Gnome might return. How committed was he to this particular weird and bizarre hunting job?
She glanced across the barn and watched Pepper run her expert fingers along the Arabian horse’s neck and back. The strong animal nuzzled his head in Pepper’s armpit. The bond her best friend shared with animals constantly amazed her. “It’s been an eventful night tonight,” Pepper said, still dressed in her silly ducky pajamas. She rested her head on top of the horse’s long nose. She patted his gray furry head.
“Yeah. Definitely on my list of top ten interesting nights.” The sting of fatigue smacked her broadside. “When are you coming to bed? It’s almost one in the morning.” Her words labored and slowed, almost as if she could fall asleep before finishing her sentence.
“You go on ahead. I wouldn’t be able to sleep right now anyways.” Pepper stroked her horse, and murmured gentle soothing words in his flickering ear. “River will make sure nothing happens to me.”
He confirmed with a nod.
Abby didn’t want to leave Pepper. Her friend had suffered because of her, and she was still clearly shaken. Pepper’s animals meant everything to her. Anything that hurt one of her animals was the same as attacking her family. Pepper protected them at any cost. Even if it meant her life.
“I can wait up with you.” She couldn’t contain her smile. Happy that Pepper considered her part of her family and would also protect her if she’d been attacked, Abby was prepared to do the same.
“No. Really. Go inside and get some sleep. I’m going to need you to stand guard tomorrow during the day. I’m not going to leave the horses alone until they catch that damn thing and I doubt you want them walking around in the house.” She said it like a joke, but Abby knew Pepper might do just that if they were threatened again.
“Okay. Goodnight.” She hugged Pepper tight.
River traipsed over to them. “Good, I’m glad you’re going inside to get some sleep.” He pulled his hat off and held it to his chest.
“Yeah, I have guard duty tomorrow during the day.”
He smiled but didn’t reveal his teeth, shifting his weight back and forth on his feet.
“Can you make sure Pepper gets some sleep? I’m afraid she’s going to worry herself sick over her animals.” Abby pictured Pepper staying up all week armed with her shovel, like a warrior princess, protecting them all from attack.
“I’ll see that she goes inside in a while.” River placed his hat on his head and adjusted it three times.
“Thank you.” Abby didn’t want to leave those two alone. She knew what they would talk about. She hated to be the subject of discussion, and she prayed Pepper wouldn’t leak her awful secret.
Chapter 23
River wished Abby would have stayed outside with him and Pepper, but she could barely keep her eyes open and looked exhausted. He couldn’t get over how the girls defended the horses against that vicious Gnome. They sure showed courage and spunk, but neither of them listened worth a damn.
Ottar told him he’d warned the ladies how dangerous going outside after dark could be. What if they hadn’t been so lucky?
He stepped inside Pepper’s small barn. “I need to have a word with you.”
Pepper lifted her head up from the horse’s neck. Blond strands of hair sprouted from her ponytail in disarray. “What is it?”
“I know Ottar told you two that it was dangerous to go outside at night. Why would you even risk it and go after that Gnome?”
“I couldn’t let it kill my horses.” Her tone held truth and determination.
“Yeah. Well, if it ever shows up again. I want both of you to run the other way.”
She rested her elbows on the horse’s back and cracked her knuckles. “I’m going to defend my animals and property against any threat, whether it’s a Gnome or a human.
“Don’t you at least own a gun, living way out here?” River braced himself for her answer.
Her shoulders relaxed, and her face muscles eased. “I don’t need one. We have a sheriff that rides in on his horse of steel to save the day.” She raised her hand and gestured to him with her palm up.
He shook his head. These women were going to get themselves killed. “What if we get you one in the morning?”
“Come on, Sheriff. When are you going to catch that thing? How come you didn’t shoot it? I know Abby asked you, but you didn’t answer. Don’t lie. I saw that net. I know bullshit when I hear it.” Her blue eyes flashed a lethal glare at him, and she let out a long exhale through her nose.
River squared up, raising his chin. “I have my orders to capture it alive.”
Pepper’s nostrils flared and her back straightened. “Really? And what are they going to do with it? Dissect it? Torture it? Interrogate it?” Her head bobbed up and down, punctuating her words.
He couldn’t believe she would actually defend the Gnome. “It’s a killer. You shouldn’t worry about how it’s treated. He killed a homeless man and we think it killed the sheriff before I got here.”
“That mini-m
onster killed homeless Joe?”
Grim-faced, he nodded.
Pepper’s rigid posture relaxed. “I liked Joe.” Her voice sounded soft and woven with sorrow. “I bought him a new jacket last Christmas. I also gave him a gift card every month so he could eat at the deli down the street from the pet store. He used to visit me while I worked. He loved to play with the puppies.”
River swallowed. The noise crunched like a tin can in his ears. “See. The creature has no mercy. I’m sorry we didn’t catch it before we lost Joe.”
Pepper hands jerked to her sides and fisted. She pinched her lips together. “I know that damn Gnome is ruthless. Look what he did to my horse. How about you just shoot it next time so I won’t worry anymore.”
“That’s my last resort.”
“Right. What about the Jersey Devil?”
“We were ordered to kill it.”
Pepper’s mouth dropped. “B-but the Jersey Devil hasn’t killed anyone.”
“Yeah, I don’t understand that one. Look I’ve told you too much already.” L.A.M.P.S. would probably want to erase their memories as protocol. He would try to prevent that at all costs. Their scientists haven’t exacted the procedure. One out of ten witnesses suffered from some sort of mental illness because of it.
“Not to change the subject, but what about Abby? She was really hurt when we caught you spying on us.”
“I wasn’t spying. I put surveillance cameras up so I could keep watch, so you two wouldn’t get in trouble. Which clearly you both are incapable of avoiding.” Okay, that wasn’t the only reason but they didn’t need to know that.
“Abby took it as a breach of trust.” Pepper pointed at him. “You need to talk to her if you really care about her.”
River cared about her. He cared a little too much. The past week had been hell not being able to talk to her. “She doesn’t want to talk to me. She’s made that clear.”
