The Dying Season

by J. Reichman

  "Or shower," Lyn said, "but we have plenty of bottled water."

  "How do I go to the toilet?" Henri asked. "I ain't goin' out to no privy in the dark."

  "Didn't you bring a flashlight?" Zenia said.

  “Why would I need a flashlight? Thought there was a generator. A doctor should have one.”

  "Nick rigged up a potty chair in the garage." Lyn refilled her wineglass.

  Nick wondered if Lyn had bloodied her lip yet from biting it.

  "Like livin' in the eighteenth century," Henri grumbled.

  "If the accommodations don't meet your high standards," Zenia said, "you're welcome to go home."

  "I ain't stayin' home all alone. My boys are down in Two Rivers, and Mac’s the director of the Y up in Estes, you know." Henri sighed. "I’m by myself. I can make do."

  "Well, good." Lyn held out an empty glass. "Would you like to join us?"

  "I never drink alcohol." Henri shook her head. “I want to know more about Brook.”

  So that’s why she asked to stay here, Nick realized. She’ll upset Lyn.

  “I really don’t want to talk about it,” Lyn said.

  “Was she in the bedroom? Had she been sexually assaulted?”

  “That’s enough, Henri,” Nick said.

  “But it’s important that we all know what we’re dealing with,” Henri said. “Was it a random act? Then we’re all vulnerable.”

  “I see your point,” Nick said. Nosey, persistent, old busybody. Why couldn’t Lyn say no when Henri asked to stay the night? How can I answer her without telling her anything?

  “Well?” Henri looked up at him, her jaw set.

  “If the killer is alive,” Nick said, “he won’t come back here. And on the off chance that he does, you aren’t the least bit in danger.”

  “I’m not takin’ any chances,” Henri said.

  Sweetie Pie clamped onto Zenia’s leg and humped.

  “Get this animal off me,” Zenia said.

  “That’s only one way he says he’s got to potty,” Henri said.

  “Let’s put the dogs out for a last run,” Lyn said.

  “He can’t go out by himself,” Henri said.

  “The run’s fenced,” Lyn said. “He’ll be fine. Come Dolly. Duke.” She opened the door.

  Dolly and Duke dashed for the door, and Sweetie Pie trotted after them.

  "If you'll come with me, I'll show you around," Nick said.

  Henri got to her feet. "I don't want to stumble around in the dark."

  "I have a flashlight." Nick’s eyelid twitched again. "Follow me." He shone the light around. "The dining room. Here's the kitchen. Water's here." He took a bottle from the case on the kitchen counter and handed it to her.

  "Poland Spring," Henri said. "Never tried it."

  “It’ll be something new, then.” Nick opened the door. "The garage." He focused the light. "Our facilities."

  "Huh. Cold out there." Henri looked over his shoulder.

  "Yes. The garage isn't heated."

  "I'll need your flashlight." She held out her hand.

  "We may have another here in the kitchen." Nick searched through a kitchen drawer.

  Outside, a dog barked.

  Henrietta screamed. "A bear!" She raced for the great room. "A bear! My gun! I need my gun."

  "Oh, my God!" Lyn said. "I forgot Teddy."

  "Teddy?" Zenia said.

  "My bear." Lyn appeared in the kitchen, carrying a candle. "I always leave something out for him in the evening."

  Henri and Zenia followed her to the screened-in back porch.

  "You feed a bear?" Henri said.

  Lyn poured dog food into a big pan and opened the door to the yard.

  "You can't go out there," Henri said.

  "He's more afraid of me than I am of him." Lyn put the pan down on the ground and returned to the porch. "Now stand here silently and watch."

  Nick focused the flashlight onto the pan. The bear approached the pan and took a bite. It huffed and snorted, then buried its head in the pan, holding it down with one huge paw. Those long claws could tear up a man, Nick realized. The bear raised its head and stared off to the right.

  "Oh, Nick," Lyn whispered. "The flashlight."

  "What is it?" Nick asked.

  "Someone by that tree," Lyn pointed.

  Nick swept the area with his flashlight. "Nothing there."

  "I could've sworn I saw . . ."

  Nick put an arm over his wife's shoulders. "Probably only a shadow." All this talk about the killer, Nick thought. Not good. It’s making Lyn see things that aren’t there.

  "But there's no light to throw a shadow," Lyn said.

  ELEVEN

  Brett tapped lightly on the front door of the Red Rooster Lodge where welcoming light flooded out onto the wrap-around porch.

  “Everyone asleep?” he asked Shannon when she opened the door.

  “Don’t know about asleep, but they’re all in their rooms.”

  “I brought some beer.” Brett held up a six pack of Bud Light. “Free, you know.”

  “Let’s sit out on the sun porch.” Shannon took the beer into the kitchen.

  Brett admired the plants on the sun porch enclosed by glass on three sides. Palms, a huge rubber plant and a couple of fig trees gave the room a tropical feel. Brett sniffed the air and imagined a salt-tinged breeze coming off the ocean. White wicker furniture with flowered cushions was placed around the room in conversational groupings. He chose a loveseat, hoping Shannon would sit beside him.

  Shannon brought two cans of beer and a couple of glasses on a tray which she placed on the table to one side of the loveseat.

  “It’s been quite a day,” she said as she handed Brett a beer and a glass.

  “Don’t need the glass.”

  “And you got your wish.”

  “How’s that?”

  “We spent time together.”

  Brett laughed. “Not exactly what I had in mind. Watching the bar sail down the river. Running all over town knocking on doors.”

  Shannon joined him on the loveseat. “Is this more like what you had in mind?”

  Brett kissed her softly, her mouth opening in response. “You know it.” He moved away. “I got a bit sweaty fighting that fire. Need a shower.”

  “You can use the one in my bath.”

  Brett quit breathing. What does she mean? He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Never got a chance to shave, either.”

  “I have a disposable razor.”

  Ah, now I get the picture. He started to rise.

  Shannon pulled him back down. “Don’t be in such a rush. Let my guests settle in for the night. Finish your beer.”

  Brett sipped his beer. “How are your guests?”

  “Oh, old Frank Fleener grumbled about not sleeping in his own bed, but I fed them a snack which seemed to please them all. After all the excitement of the day, they were pretty tired.”

  “And you?”

  “Oh, I’m tired, too, I suppose.” Shannon fiddled with her hair. “Worried about Kyle.”

  “He’s fine. Probably worried about you.” Brett emptied his beer can. “I got four cabins occupied. Jeff and Darren are throwing a party.”

  “Figures.” Shannon chuckled. “Who else?”

  “Chuck and Dana. The Myers and Doak. Heard some loud words in Chuck’s cabin.”

  “I noticed Dana looking over that Bud guy.”

  “Huh.” Brett shook his head. “Well, none of my business.”

  “I wish you weren’t going tomorrow.”

  Brett patted Shannon’s thigh. “It’s just a ride. Not dangerous.”

  “You can’t be sure of that. The killer could have a gun.”

  Brett tipped up Shannon’s chin and kissed her. “I’ll be fine, but you be sure to keep the door locked. Maybe you should have a gun.”

  Shannon shook her head. “I’d never fire it. When will you leave?”

  “Wade’ll want to get an early start.”

 
; “I’ll fix you a good breakfast.” Shannon stood. “I’ll also wash your clothes while you shower and shave.”

  As he went up the stairs, Brett remembered thinking that his life was perfect and he wouldn’t change a thing. The flood changed things. My store is ruined, but my relationship with Shannon is no longer a secret. Maybe change isn’t so bad.

  Chuck shut the bedroom door. “Lower your voice.”

  Dana lit a cigarette and blew smoke at the ceiling. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

  “Denver’s asleep.” Chuck sat at the scarred wooden table.

  “I don’t know why we have to stay in this dump.” Dana flicked ashes onto the floor. “No electricity. No bathroom.”

  “This is headquarters. I need to be here.”

  “Like you’re in charge.”

  Dana’s dismissive tone stung. Keep your cool, he told himself. When she’s in this kind of mood, it doesn’t pay to get angry. Don’t argue with her.

  “I see you got some beer.”

  “Sure.” Dana held up her bottle. “Have one.”

  “I’ll pass.” Maybe I should. It’d keep her from drinking the whole six pack.

  “You’re no fun.” Dana tossed her head. “Ought to join the party next door.”

  “You’re the mayor’s wife, not some party girl.” Oh, shouldn’t have said that.

  Dana flipped her cigarette into the fireplace and paced the room, arms waving. “Mayor’s wife. Think you’re a big shot. Give that pathetic downer of a speech while Nick’s was uplifting. Got everyone thinking of others. Helping. He was in charge, not you. Him and Brett. Probably has plans for tomorrow, too.” She paused in front of him. “You. You couldn’t even help with the fire.”

  “I’m not a fire volunteer.” A heavy weight pressed down on Chuck’s chest. He opened a beer. “Sit down, please and tell me what’s wrong.”

  Dana lit another cigarette.

  “So I didn’t help with the fire. I’ve been working hard to get this town out of debt.”

  “Oh, you’re so proud of that.” Dana resumed her pacing. “I don’t give a damn if this piddley little place is in debt or not. I’m trapped here.”

  Chuck stood and tried to stop her pacing. “Help will come soon. It’s only been half a day.”

  “I was trapped here even before the flood.”

  What does she mean by that? Trapped here? “Come now.” Chuck grabbed Dana’s hand and pulled her into an embrace. “You’re tired.”

  “I’m tired, all right.” Dana pressed her forehead against his chest. “And now we’ve lost the store. Don’t even have an income.”

  “Is that what’s bothering you?” Chuck hugged her tighter. “We’ll stay down in Loveland with my folks until things get fixed. We’ll rebuild.”

  Dana pulled away. “Stay with your folks.” She exhaled. “Oh, God. What else can go wrong?”

  “Honey, tell me what’s wrong. I’ll fix it if I can.”

  Dana resumed her pacing. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I just feel like ants are crawling under my skin. I feel like running until I drop.”

  “You’re exhausted, that’s all.” Chuck took her hand again. “You take the bed with Denver. I’ll make out the couch.”

  “I can’t sleep with all that noise next door.”

  “I’ll go over. Quiet them down.”

  When Chuck returned, the bedroom door was closed. What’s wrong with her? Puzzled, Chuck prepared his bed for the night. She doesn’t have a thing to complain about. Probably starting her period. Nothing wrong with staying with my folks for a week or so. And I am in charge. Maybe Nick and Brett have a better handle on what needs to be done in this situation. Nothing wrong with delegating a little authority, but I lead the town. What’s she want me to do? Fight the fire? Catch the killer? What will make her respect me? He snapped a blanket onto his bed.

  Wade tossed the tarp into the pickup’s bed and climbed into the driver’s seat. “Late.”

  “Well, the fire slowed us down,” Nora said.

  “Sleepin’ on the floor on mattresses.” Wade started the truck. At least I got my own bed to sleep in. Stay nice and warm under a comforter with Nora beside me.

  “Kids at school, too, sleepin’ in tents.”

  “Lucky no one was to home at that old ramshackle Colburn place.” Wade put a pinch of Skoal under his lip.

  “Huge fire.” Nora buckled her seatbelt. “Let’s git home.”

  Wade put the truck into gear and thought over the day. Snappin’ at Jackson. Lookin’ at the river. Watchin’ water flow through the town. “Heck of a day.”

  “Nick didn’t tell everything about the murder. I was talkin’ to Janet. She said it was a lot worse than he let on, but she wouldn’t tell me any more than that.”

  “Probably didn’t want to upset people. Git ‘em scared.”

  “Maybe we oughta stay down in Brett’s cabins ‘stead of up the hill by ourselves.”

  “You want to, I’ll drive you over.”

  “You won’t stay?”

  “Nothin’s gittin’ me away from my home. No murderer. No flood. Nothin’.”

  “Figured you’d say that.” Nora sighed. “But this flood changes things.”

  “Couple buildings gone.” Wade spit into a cup. “Chuck’s and Town Hall will have to go. Striker’s and Brett’s store are salvageable.”

  “I ain’t talkin’ about the town. I’m talkin’ about us.”

  Where’s the woman off to now? “What about us?”

  “I know you been frettin’. It’s been a slow season. You been worried about money. So I looked at the ledger.”

  Wade glanced at her. Can’t keep a thing from her. Always did have me figured out. “You’re a nosey old broad.”

  “Now we’ll have no income for a spell. Not much in the bank. Horses have to be fed and winter comin’ on.”

  “I’m aware of all that.” Wade spit again.

  “We gotta borrow money. Mortgage the place.”

  “Don’t want to.”

  “Ain’t a matter of wantin’ to. Matter of got to.”

  “It’s goin’ backward.”

  “Have to sell the horses, then.”

  “Ain’t gonna do that.”

  “Only two choices.” Nora shrugged.

  “The stable’s my legacy. Something for the boys.”

  Nora snorted. “They don’t care about the stable. Got no interest in it. They got their own lives. Don’t want the place.”

  “Be hard to borrow against it. Ain’t got any access.”

  “The road’ll git fixed, you wait. Nick and Brett will see to that.”

  Wade parked the truck beside his house. “I gotta think on it. Early up tomorrow. Things to do for the ride down river.” Two pack horses. Better plan for a two-day trip, just in case.

  “I was pleased about everyone chippin’ in and helpin’ each other tonight. Shannon and May. Brett, too. And loanin’ things to the school kids.”

  “Yeah. They all seemed calm. Cooperative. Won’t stay that way if help doesn’t come soon.” Wade opened the truck door. “Let’s git to bed.”

  TWELVE

  "She's got to go." Nick backed his F150 from the garage Friday morning and turned downhill. "All she does is bitch, bitch, bitch." He remembered all her complaints. The bed’s too soft. She needed more covers. No eggs for breakfast. She wanted a shower.

  "I don't see how we can get rid of her." Lyn zipped up her jacket.

  “The only reason she stayed with us was to pump us about the murder.”

  “Probably.”

  "Zenia's fine. She brought food, bear claws for breakfast, a flashlight."

  "And the wine," Lyn added.

  "Thank heaven for that. Henri? God! What an awful woman. Expected to be waited on. Have everything furnished. And that yappy dog." She had to have it on the bed.

  "I think she'll leave on her own accord." Lyn pulled her hair back and fastened it with a clip at her neck. "It's obvious she wants comfort we
can’t provide."

  "I hope this plan works." If I can keep everyone busy, working together. That’ll keep their minds occupied. Prevent them from dwelling on their situation. If they’ll only cooperate.

  "Depends on who shows up."

  “This heavy overcast, rain. No helicopter’s going up in this soup.”

  “It hasn’t been twenty-four hours,” Lyn said, “and I feel like yesterday was long ago.”

  “Wade’s here.” Nick parked his truck next to Wade’s horse trailer. He noticed Brett and Cooper Stone standing on a cabin’s porch, coffee cups in hand.

  "Oh, good." Nick put on his Broncos ball cap. "I need to talk to Cooper."

  Lyn donned her rain hat. "Looks like Nora over there. I’ll talk to her. Soon as Zenia gives me the go-ahead, I’ll start organizing the women."

  “That’s my girl.”

  Unsure about what role he should play, Nick worried. At last night's meeting, he stood and addressed the survivors, feeling the part of leader had been thrust upon him in Brett's cabin. Chuck might have other ideas. He slammed the pickup's door and waved to Wade. The smell of wood smoke hung over the cabins, the smoke combining with the fog. I’m walking through a cloud. Cold rain hit the back of his neck and he turned up his jacket collar. The wind moaned around the cabins and somewhere a loose board banged.

  He approached Brett and Cooper. "Everything okay at the school, Coop?"

  "Had a few bad dreams and one bedwetting." Cooper shrugged. "Pretty normal, I guess. You?"

  "Other than Henri complaining," Nick said, "things were fine."

  "A bit noisy here," Brett said. "Jeff and Darren wanted to party. Think they’re a bit hung over this morning."

  Nick chuckled. "Well, several glasses of wine helped me through the night."

  "I was at Shannon's for breakfast." Brett rubbed his freshly-shaved chin. "She's got the old folks, you know."

  "Things okay there?" Nick said.

  "No problems. She's going to ask them to bring what food they have at home."

  "That's what I think we should do," Nick said. "Pool our food. I imagine you had a good breakfast at the Lodge, but I had a frozen waffle warmed on the grill and a bear claw."

  "I see you brought the grill with you," Cooper said.

  "Lyn's planning to fix burgers for lunch." Nick turned to Cooper. "The only place we can pool the food is at the school."