‘That’s not the point Olivia and you know it. That bastard has been at your house and you said nothing.’
‘I’m not certain he has,’ she shook her head.
‘What?’
‘He can’t cross the protection lines if he intends me harm. I don’t know how he’s doing it,’ she answered, ‘besides he hasn’t actually hurt me.’
‘Don’t fool yourself Olivia,’ Theo held up the doll. ‘You can’t tell me this doesn’t hurt you.’
‘That’s not what I meant,’ she frowned. ‘I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of breaking me, no matter how many cruel gifts he sends me.’
‘Jesus Liv,’ he breathed heavily as his eyes fell on the dog curled contentedly in her arms. ‘What are you going to do about the puppy?’
He needn’t have bothered asking, given the expression on her face as she gazed down at the sleeping ball of fur in her arms. Anyone with eyes could tell it was love at first sight.
‘I’m keeping him,’ she murmured. ‘It's not his fault my father’s a sadistic asshole.’
Dropping the doll back into the drawer, he turned back to Olivia. ‘Let's go back to bed; it’s late and you should really try to sleep.’
Nodding absently and cradling the pup like a child, she headed back up the stairs, while the fire banked behind them.
When the first pale rays of dawn began to filter through the window, Olivia woke to soft paws pressing on her chest and her face being bathed by a wet, rough tongue.
‘Urgh,’ she pushed the puppy down, but he simply rolled over happily and begun to chew on the bedding.
‘No!’
She scooped the pup up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
‘Oh for God’s sake,’ she sighed as her bare feet landed in a puddle. Glancing across her bedroom floor, she noticed several more puddles on the hardwood floor.
The puppy wriggled out of her grasp, jumping back onto the bed and trotting over to lick Theo’s ear.
‘Jesus,’ he jolted awake and wiped his ear, ‘does he have to share a bed with us?’ he asked grumpily.
‘He’s only a puppy; he needs reassurance and a lot of attention right now.’
She stood up surveying the carnage of her room. Not only had he been marking his territory, but he seemed to have amused himself while they slept, by chewing his way through one of her favorite sneakers.
‘You can take him outside and let him run for a bit.’
‘Why do I have to?’ Theo frowned.
‘Do you want to clean this up?’
He leaned over the bed and peered at the wet floor.
‘Ah, why don’t I take him outside for a while?’
‘I thought you might say that,’ she murmured as she hobbled to the bathroom.
By the time Theo wandered back into the kitchen holding the squirming fur ball, who was busy trying to chew his fingers, Olivia had cleaned both herself and the bedroom and was dressed and making him a coffee.
‘He’ll be hungry by now,’ she laid a bowl of water on the floor for the puppy. ‘I don’t have anything in that is suitable for him to eat, so I’ll have to run to the store and get some supplies.’
Theo nodded as he placed the pup on the floor, watching in amusement as he ambled over to the bowl and stuck his face clumsily in the water, sloshing it over the floor.
‘I’ll go take a shower and get dressed.’
‘You don’t need to come too,’ Olivia handed him a steaming mug of coffee. ‘I won’t be long, why don’t you stay and paint. You didn’t really get a chance to yesterday.’
‘I can paint anytime,’ he took a sip. ‘Besides you’re not going out on your own until we’ve figured out what’s going on.’
‘Really you’re being ridiculous,’ she muttered sourly, ‘I don’t need a babysitter. Erica messaged me, the Mayor is dealing with the Chief and my father, while he may or may not be a psycho, hasn’t actually harmed me.’
‘But,’ Theo replied, ‘you forgot about the murderer on the loose, who seems to like cutting people up.’
‘Specifically young men,’ she folded her arms. ‘As I already told Jake, I’m not his type.’
‘Regardless,’ he answered stubbornly, ‘I could do with some fresh air anyway.’
‘Between you and Jake I’m starting to feel a little suffocated.’
‘I can’t help that Olivia,’ Theo told her bluntly. ‘Now I am going to shower and if you try to sneak out without me, I will track you down even if I have to walk into town from here.’
‘Fine,’ she sighed, ‘just hurry up before the puppy starts chewing through anything else.’
He disappeared back up the stairs and Olivia stubbornly contemplated, just for a moment, grabbing her keys and going anyway. But the truth was, it wasn’t actually such a hardship having Theo with her. She enjoyed his company and he really needed to practice getting used to using modern day currency.
Figuring now was as good a time as any, she decided she’d take him by the bank and teach him how to use the ATM. After all Sam had given him a bank account, he might as well learn how to use it. Afterwards maybe they could stop by the coffee shop and he could try his first espresso. Although, she thought to herself in amusement, given his love of coffee it probably wasn’t a good idea to introduce him to coffee in shot form. He was already half way to being a caffeine junkie.
Wandering into the library with the puppy enthusiastically trailing along behind her, she stopped when she noticed the red leather collar on the sofa from the night before. Picking it up and grasping it tightly in her hand, she looked down at the dog. He couldn’t keep the name; even if he did look exactly the same as her beloved Truman, he needed his own identity. Dropping the collar in the trash basket she dropped down onto the couch and let the puppy jump up into her lap.
‘What should we call you, huh?’ she stroked him gently and he simply collapsed onto her lap and rolled over. ‘You’re such a pretty boy, aren’t you?’ she laughed lightly as she rubbed his belly, running through different names in her mind.
‘How about Beau?’ she decided impulsively.
He rolled over and sat up abruptly, licking her face.
‘You like that one, huh?’
He let loose a little bark and licked her again.
‘Well, Beau it is,’ she smiled stroking his beautiful soft ears. ‘You want to go for a ride in the car?’
He let out another bark and Olivia laughed.
Pulling her boots on over her thick socks she giggled as Beau pulled and tugged at the laces.
‘No little man,’ she lifted him up, ‘those aren’t for you. We’ll get you your own toys.’
She was just zipping her coat up and pulling her hat over her head, when Theo trotted back down the stairs and retrieved his own jacket. She pulled out a beanie and handed it to him.
‘Here, you’re going to need this, we’re almost into winter and it’s getting real cold now.’
Helping him to put it on, she tilted her head as she watched him. Damn it, he looked good enough to eat. He watched her with those dark inscrutable eyes, his inky colored hair curling at the ends and poking out from under the woolen hat.
Smiling at him she hooked her bag over her shoulder and lifted Beau into her arms.
‘Have you got your keys?’
She nodded before heading down the porch steps and leaving Theo to close the door behind them.
There was a thin layer of frost on her car as she pulled out her keys and unlocked it. Handing Beau to Theo, she climbed into the driver’s side.
‘We really need to teach you to drive,’ she mused idly as Theo climbed in the other side.
‘Really?’ he grinned like a little boy.
‘Really,’ she chuckled, turning the key in the ignition, listening as her poor car spluttered reluctantly to life. ‘Although you might be better off if Jake teaches you, I’m not known for my patience.’
Leavi
ng the heater running for her boys, she climbed back out and scraped the thin layer of ice from her windshield. By the time they actually pulled out of her driveway and hit the main road into town, she noticed the telltale shadow in her rear view mirror.
‘I guess the mayor hasn’t dealt with Chief Walcott yet,’ Theo turned to look behind them and noticed the squad car tailing them.
‘To Hell with them,’ Olivia told him, at the murderous glare on his face. ‘I’m not going to let them upset me. After all, at the end of the day, there is a murderer on the loose and a demon in my woods about to break free. I’d say they’re a hell of a lot scarier than those misguided idiots.’
‘I wish I could feel that way,’ he growled. ‘Right now I’d love nothing more than to plant my fist in Chief Walcott’s face.’
‘And I am small enough to enjoy that,’ Olivia laughed, ‘but what we’re going to do is head into town and ignore them. We’re going to go the Bailey’s store and get Beau everything he needs.’
‘Beau?’
‘Yes,’ she nodded, ‘don’t you like it?’
He held the puppy up and studied his adorable face as he tried to lick Theo’s hands.
‘I think it suits him,’ he said after a moment.
‘So anyway, after we’ve got him a leash we can take a walk down Main Street and stop by the bank. I’ll show you how to use an ATM, we haven’t had a chance to do that yet.’
‘What’s an ATM?’
‘It’s an automated teller machine,’ she told him. ‘You remember I explained to you about your bank account and bank card?’
‘Yes.’
‘You use your card to get cash from the machine, that amount is then deducted from your bank account.’
‘Okay,’ Theo stroked Beau’s coat absently, ‘why do I need cash? I thought you said I could pay for what I wanted with the card.’
‘That’s true, you can, but you need to practice handling modern money. So we’re going to go to the coffee shop and you can have a go.’
‘A coffee shop?’ he turned to Olivia in interest.
‘Yes,’ she smiled, ‘it sells lots of different types of coffee. You can even try an espresso if you like.’
‘What’s an espresso?’ he asked curiously.
‘It’s a tiny cup of really, really strong black coffee.’
‘I see, maybe we should go there first?’ he asked hopefully.
‘Nice try,’ she smiled, ‘but Beau is hungry and he needs a leash.’
She pulled into a parking space along Main Street, and stepping out of the car she watched to make sure Theo was out before she locked it. Rounding the car, she took Beau from him, snuggling the pup into her jacket.
‘What are those?’ Theo asked, looking up as two town workers on ladders strung Christmas decorations between the street lights.
‘They’re Christmas decorations,’ she looked back at Theo her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. ‘I forgot that as a Puritan you wouldn’t have celebrated Christmas.’
‘My father considered the day an abomination. He said there was no justification for it in the scriptures and that it was associated with pagans and devil worshipers.’
‘It is true that modern day Christmas is a culmination of many different folklore tales and religious festivals. But it’s fun to celebrate it, it’s a time for goodwill and love.’
He looked at her skeptically.
‘You’ll get used to it,’ she laughed, as he put an arm around her and pulled her closer.
They walked contentedly down the street together until they reached the Bailey’s store. Pushing the door open to a merry jingle of bells they found the sweet little Mr Bailey decorating a Christmas tree.
‘Why does he have a tree indoors?’ Theo whispered.
‘It’s a Christmas tree,’ she replied delightedly, ‘just go with it, its tradition.’
‘Olivia dear,’ he spotted her and climbed painfully to his feet.
‘Are you alright Mr Bailey?’ Olivia asked in concern.
‘Just the old knees playing up and my back is not what is once was,’ he smiled as he caught sight of the wriggling ball of fur in Olivia’s arms. ‘Well, who do we have here?’
‘This is Beau,’ Olivia held him out so Mr Bailey could pet him.
‘My goodness he looks just like your Truman, doesn’t he.’
‘Yes he does,’ she replied quietly. ‘I guess I’m just sentimental.’
‘Nothing wrong with that,’ he patted her hand affectionately. ‘Well what brings you by today?’
‘Beau here was a bit of an impulse and I don’t have any supplies for him,’ she replied, ‘I was hoping you might stock what I need.’
‘Certainly,’ he beamed, ‘we have a whole pet range. What exactly do you need?’
He picked up a basket and handed it to Theo and beckoned them to follow him.
‘I need bowls, food, treats, a leash and some chew toys before I lose every pair of shoes I own.’
‘Goodness,’ he laughed.
He helped her pick out a food and water bowl in bright blue. She also got him a bed and several padded cushions, treats, food and toys.
‘We carry a nice range of collars as well,’ he handed her a blue one that matched his leash. ‘But if you want a tag we have some temporary ones and we also have a made to order range, which are very popular.’
She pulled the price tag off the collar and added it to the basket before wrapping the collar around Beau’s neck.
‘We’ll take a temporary one for now, but I’d like to order a more permanent one.’
Nodding he picked up a catalogue from a nearby holder and pulled his reading glasses from his shirt pocket, flipping them open and slipping them onto his nose.
‘We have a rather nice silver one in the shape of a bone which you can have his name engraved on, or you can go with a circular or oval shape.’
‘Actually I like the bone shaped one,’ Olivia peered over the edge of the page.
‘Excellent choice,’ he beamed, ‘is that everything then?’
‘I think so,’ Olivia nodded glancing over to Theo who was laden down with everything. ‘Is there anything else Theo?’
‘Have you anymore of Liddy Mayberry’s strawberry tarts?’ his eyes brightened.
‘Enjoyed that did you?’ he chuckled.
‘Enjoyed it,’ Olivia rolled her eyes, ‘I barely got any of it. Theo practically inhaled it.’
‘I know the feeling,’ he patted his rounded belly, ‘Unfortunately I think we sold the last tart last night, but we have a lovely chocolate fudge cake.’
‘Now you’re talking,’ Olivia smiled, ‘we’ll take it.’
‘Alright then,’ Mr Bailey smiled, ‘let’s ring all this up for you.’
By the time they left the store it was getting on for mid-morning and Beau was beginning to whine.
‘We really need to feed him before we go anywhere else,’ Olivia told Theo as they approached the car.
Theo nodded and as Olivia popped the trunk, Theo loaded the bags, rummaging through them to pull out the food bowls a bag of dried food and a bottle of water. While Theo fed him, she pulled out his new leash and removed the tags.
A sudden chill ran down her spine, followed by the strange feeling of being watched. Turning to glance at the street behind her, she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Rolling her shoulders, she tried to shake the uncomfortable sensation. Locking the trunk she moved around to where Theo was crouched down beside Beau.
‘I think he’s done,’ Theo tapped out the bowls to make sure they were empty and placed them inside the car, taking Olivia’s keys and locking it.
‘Come on then Beau,’ she smiled as she bent down and clipped the leash to his collar.
They barely got two steps down the street before Beau flopped down on the side walk. Rolling himself up in the leash he laid on his back and began chewing on it.
Laughing at him, Olivia
scooped him up and untangled him.
‘Theo, walk a couple of steps ahead until he gets the hang of it.’
Theo set off as Beau watched with interest. Wriggling frantically in Olivia’s arms, he watched Theo walk away.
‘Okay boy,’ she set him down on the ground, ‘Where’s Theo? Go find him.’
Happy to play the new game, Beau scrambled after Theo, dragging Olivia by his leash.
They made it to the bank, mostly without incident, if they discounted Beau getting tangled around a street light and nearly tripping up several people. A quick stop to show Theo how to use the ATM and they headed toward the coffee shop with Theo almost as excited as Beau.
‘God, you two are cute,’ Olivia picked Beau up as they headed inside and up to the counter.
Theo deeply inhaled the strong aromatic scent before throwing her a smile.
‘I’ll have a vanilla Latte,’ Olivia told the woman behind the counter. ‘Theo?’
‘I don’t know,’ he frowned, ‘what do you think?’
‘Knowing your sweet tooth a caramel Macchiato would probably go down well.’
‘A caramel,’ he turned back to Olivia.
‘Macchiato,’ she repeated helpfully.
‘Yes,’ he smiled at the woman, ‘one of those please.’
They waited patiently, while the barista prepared them. Olivia watched as Theo took out a bill and handed it to her telling her to keep the change. Sipping her Latte she wandered outside, closely followed by Theo. She placed Beau back down on the ground as Theo took a sip of his coffee and almost purred.
‘What?’ she smiled as he stared down at his cup.
‘Perhaps I should get another one to take home?’
Olivia laughed and slipped her arm through his.
‘One is quite enough for now.’
Tugging him gently away from the shop she glanced at him after a moment. ‘You know you gave the woman in there a fifty for two coffees.’
He shrugged, ‘her husband has just lost his job. Things are tough for them at the moment.’
Olivia stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look at him.
‘How do you know that?’
‘I see things, you know that.’
‘What you had a dream?’
The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum Page 34
