by C. J. Parker
He glanced back at her. “And who abandoned you, Rhonda Meads? What are you playing at? You a shrink, too?”
“No. That would be Tabatha.” I’m a nobody, a nothing. “My mom abandoned me. I have no idea who my father was or what happened to him. I was given to people who didn’t…don’t love me and considered me no more than the sum of money they were paid each month to house me. They weren’t cruel, never beat me, but I was never held either.”
Cuda nodded. “Did they raise you to hate what you are?”
“Hate, no, be ashamed of it, yeah. Made me fight my power until it became dormant. They told me everyone would reject me, or I’d be a circus freak or a science experiment. But they were wrong. Not everyone rejected me.” Her heart skipped a beat at voicing that revelation. Bobbie and Tabatha had accepted her, no questions, and no doubts of her loyalty. Tears stung her eyes. She’d found acceptance.
She cautiously placed her arms around him ready to retreat if he should strike out. When he didn’t, she drew him closer, his hard back against her breasts and her cheek on his shoulder. She remembered all the times in her past when a caress would have taken the sting out of a hurtful situation, but none had been offered.
“I am who I am. You are who you are. Whoever made you this way should be ashamed. You’re a handsome man, a beautiful coyote. Be proud of who you are.” She pressed her hand on his chest, his heartbeat strong against her palm. “Give it a lot of thought then choose sides. Use your own will, not theirs.”
Rhonda slowly released him and stepped away, but stopped when he gripped her upper arm. “Would you show me this tenderness in front of your friends?”
A branch cracking above them startled Rhonda. She glanced up to see the golden bobcat staring at them. It skittered across limbs and to the ground, sending dirt flying in its wake.
Cuda snorted and stepped away. “We’ll see how your friends accept you now.”
Reaching out to him, Rhonda smiled. “Come show them whose side you’ve chosen. Combined wisdoms can defeat any evil.”
He raised his hand palm out until it was no more than an inch away from hers. Then, he let it drop. “Not yet, little flower. I’m not sure I crave your nectar yet.”
Conceited little shit, aren’t you? “Get over yourself. I’m offering friendship, Cuda. More than that will take time and trust.”
~~~
“Lexie, slow down.” Bobbie had to shout over the girl’s ranting. “I can’t understand a thing you’re saying.”
Rhonda entered the house and closed the door behind her.
Lexie snarled, bearing cat-like jagged teeth. Her shoulders hunched, her right hand shifted and fingernails lengthened, forming sharp-tipped claws and yellow-gold short hair sprang forth from enlarging pores.
“Lexie!” Bobbie stepped between them. “No!”
Reaching around Bobbie, Lexie swiped at Rhonda with the half-formed claw. “You lying bitch. I’ll kill you.” Anger twisted her expression into an ugly mask. She stormed around Bobbie toward Rhonda, but bounced off an invisible force that suddenly surrounded her target.
Rhonda’s eyes rounded in what Bobbie assumed to be surprise then the corners of Rhonda’s mouth lifted in a satisfied smile.
Bobbie realized Rhonda was testing her newfound abilities.
Lexie jumped up almost immediately, poised to attack again, but Bobbie caught her and held her against the wall. “Lexie, stop it. What’s wrong with you? What happened?”
Lexie turned wild eyes on Bobbie then bared her teeth at Rhonda. “Her!”
“What did you do to her, Rhonda?” Bobbie’s confusion grew.
“Nothing.” Rhonda let out a deep sigh. “It’s what she thinks I’ve done to you.”
“What do you mean?” Getting to the bottom of this was like pulling teeth with tweezers. “What did you do?”
A moan from Lexie drew everyone’s attention. Bobbie eased her hold on the girl. The last bit of fur withdrew into her body. She sat up and rubbed her neck. “What are you trying to do, break my neck?”
Rhonda slipped the T-shirt over her head and tossed it to Lexie. “Here, get some clothes on, girl.”
Lexie snatched the shirt, balled it up and threw it back. “We don’t have to hide our bodies like you Outsiders.”
“Oh, hell, yes you do.” Bobbie stomped, reached out for the shirt handing it back to Lexie. “Go find your jeans. What’s wrong with you?”
Tears wet Lexie’s cheeks, and a sob escaped as she raced off toward the kitchen leaving the T-shirt lying at Rhonda’s feet. Lexie didn’t slow until she’d reached the ladder to Aetheria’s home.
Returning to the living room, Bobbie sat on the couch and waited for answers. “Shit.” Bobbie ran the palms of her hands over her face.
Tabatha ran in, face flushed and smelling of Derek’s after-shave. “I heard y’all yelling clear across the field. What has Lexie so upset?”
Rhonda released a long, tired-sounding sigh. “She saw me talking to Cuda. I hugged him. But it was a sisterly hug. Nothing serious.”
Bobbie’s skin crawled at the revolting thought of hugging the coyote.
“I told him he didn’t have to be our enemy. That there were ways to work out the problems between you two if he would give you a chance.” Rhonda blew her bangs off her forehead and laid her head onto the back of the couch. “He’s as alone as I was when you two accepted me.”
Ten minutes later Rhonda had explained everything, in a blow-by-blow play back.
Bobbie leaned forward, elbows on her knees, head in hands. How well did she know Rhonda really? And what the hell was she up to? “So, Lexie thinks you’re a spy?”
“I’m not sure how much she saw or heard, but if she’d heard everything she’d know better. I thought I could show Cuda I understood what it’s like not to fit in. That he doesn’t have to split up the clan.” Rhonda raised her arms then let them drop in a helpless gesture. “He doesn’t need a queen, he needs acceptance.”
Bobbie wasn’t surprised Rhonda didn’t understand pack politics, but wasn’t sure how to explain them either. “Rhonda, a coyote is always an outsider. They’re not like the rest of us.”
Tabatha sat ramrod straight and spoke for the first time since Rhonda began her story. “Why, Bobbie Luckman, you’re a bigot.”
“I am not!” Her cheeks stung with anger or embarrassment, Bobbie wasn’t sure which. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“You won’t accept Cuda because his animal is a coyote. Isn’t that the same thing as not—”
“Don’t say it, Tab. You don’t understand our culture. It’s like comparing kiwi and peaches.”
Tabatha stood and glanced out the window. “From what Rhonda said, he responded to her acceptance of him as I responded to yours.” She turned back to look Bobbie in the eyes. “Look around you, girlfriend. Your people don’t agree with you. They still see us as different. Cuda isn’t different. He’s one of you. A shifter. But because he was born with the traits of a coyote, he’s taboo?”
Rhonda’s mouth turned down in a frown. “Wouldn’t it be the same if Tabatha and I didn’t like you because you’re Native American? Or maybe you shouldn’t care for me since I have no frigging idea what I am. I’m a mutt.”
“Oh, shuddup.” Bobbie shifted her position and looked the other way, letting all they’d said sink in. “Does he want to return? Will he refrain from fighting me at every turn?”
Rhonda shook her head. “Got me. We didn’t have a chance to get that far. He’s not going to make a decision like that because some girl puts her arms around him. Something or someone has hammered it into his head that he’s inferior.”
Torn, she didn’t think she could trust that Cuda wasn’t playing Rhonda, who was so naive sometimes. It would be so much easier, though, if the shifters could stick together, one less worry.
She pushed herself up from the couch and peered out the window. Cuda circled the edge of the village. “I give you permission to talk to him again.”
> “Permission?” Rhonda sounded incredulous. “Get over yourself, Robertina. I don’t need your permission to talk to anyone. I’m not one of your subjects.”
Tabatha covered her mouth, but she couldn’t stop the laughter from bubbling up.
“Yes, ma’am.” Bobbie covered her face with both hands. “You’re right. It won’t happen again.”
The door flung open and Aetheria entered, dragging Lexie in by her ear.
The girl hissed and bared her teeth at Rhonda.
“What happened here?” The old woman sighed, the sound heavy with fatigue.
Bobbie dropped to the couch and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Lexie’s face crumbled, tears streaking her cheeks.
Bobbie knew she’d hurt the girl’s feelings and opened her arms. “Come here, Lexie. I’m going to teach you a lesson about not jumping to conclusions.”
Chapter Twelve
Bobbie sighed and leaned against the doorjamb as darkness settled over the village. “Our problems may not be over yet.” She motioned toward Snow racing across the common ground. “He looks upset.”
Snow raced up the stairs, stopping at the doorway. His eyes lingered on Lexie sitting on the couch.
“You wanted something, Stephen?” Bobbie’s voice broke his gaze.
“Don’t mean to bother, Miss Bobbie, but we got trouble. Some Outsider men snooping around the bayou. Agnes saw Cuda talking to one of them.”
Lexie jumped up. “See, I told you.”
“Calm down, Lexie.” Bobbie motioned Snow into the room.
He eased inside. “Cuda was arguing with one of the men, but Agnes couldn’t make out all they were saying. She distinctly heard him telling them to get out of there, that he’d ‘take care of it’.”
Bobbie raked her fingers through her hair. “Okay, there’s got to be an explanation.” Like Cuda is mixed up with the Guardians, or at least knew some of them. Or…Shit, she didn’t know or what. Should she shoot the coyote? Hang his balls from the nearest tree?
Bertha stepped inside the room without knocking. “Cuda is outside. Says he has information. Wouldn’t tell me.”
Rhonda stood and waited. Bobbie nodded and Rhonda left without another word. Bobbie knew that trust came in small steps, and she was about to take one of those steps. She would give Cuda a chance.
Lexie started toward the door. “I’m going with her.”
“No, you’ll stay here and wait with the rest of us.” Letting Lexie tear into Cuda again wouldn’t help. “Snow, can you stay with Lexie? How about some popcorn?”
He lowered his gaze to the floor and then back to Lexie. “Sure. If it’s okay.”
Lexie tried to leave again. “I’ll help.”
“Uh uh.” Bobbie raised an eyebrow and shook her head. “You’re staying here. Snow can sit with you while we go deal with Cuda.”
Lexie kicked the coffee table leg knocking the table a few inches out of place. “Bobbie, dammit, I’m not a child.”
Holding the girl in her arms, she kissed her temples. “Then stop acting like one. Look, I know you’re not happy about it, but right now, tough noogies.”
Lexie glared. “What makes you think I’ll quietly sit here?”
“Because I asked you to. Because I know you know how important this is.” A slow smile spread across Bobbie’s face. “And since I’m the mama, because I said so.”
Snow returned and sat beside Lexie, but she immediately pushed him away. “You’re gonna look good in red.”
Bobbie rolled her eyes. “Now what is that supposed to mean?”
Snow laughed. “That means she’s gonna make me bleed if I don’t move over.”
Lexie sneered. “Traitor.”
Tabatha strode into the bedroom and over to the window facing the front of the house. “No need to worry. Kangee is with Rhonda and Cuda. They’re drawing a crowd.”
Bobbie leaned her forehead against the glass and watched Cuda’s exaggerated gestures wishing she could hear his words. Rhonda said something that seemed to calm him.
“Enough of this.” Bobbie yanked the window open and shouted, “Kangee, Rhonda, bring Cuda up here. Let’s get this settled. The rest of you, go home.”
“But the meeting?” someone called out.
Gads, she’d forgotten she’d promised to have a meeting with the clan that night. “I’m sorry. I know the meeting is important, but it has to be put off ’til tomorrow morning. Go home and go to sleep for pity sake. I’ll need you to be rested and strong.”
Slamming the window, she turned to Snow and Lexie. “Snow, go with Lexie to her room.” She placed her head in her hands and moaned. “Now, I’m leaving the two of you in here. How stupid is that? My first night on the Mom Job and I’m leaving my hormonally driven teenage daughter alone with her horny boyfriend. No offense, Stephen.”
He laughed softly. “None taken, ma’am. But you don’t have to worry. Like she said, we’re not kids.”
Bobbie stared at the kid a long time, trying to size him up.
Lexie snorted, “And you know I’ll turn you into a trout and fry you for tomorrow’s dinner if you try anything.”
Snow’s smile widened. “There’s that, too.”
Chapter Thirteen
The front door opened, and Agnes stepped into the room behind Kangee, Rhonda and Cuda. Kangee moved to the center of the room, not more than ten feet from Bobbie. Cuda moved to the left, closer to the window and behind the couch.
“What do you want, Agnes?” Bobbie bit her tongue to keep from telling her to take a long hike off Peterson’s short pier.
“I was the one saw Cuda with those men. I ain’t being shut out of this.” She crossed her arms, causing her blouse to slide up baring her stomach. Cutoff shorts were held together with twine tied to the button and looped through the buttonhole.
Bobbie wasn’t sure whether to laugh or die of mortification for the woman. Agnes was too old and too damned stupid to know any better. “Fine. Come in, but if I have something I need to hear, I’ll ask. Don’t go running your mouth to feel your tongue moving.”
Bobbie faced everyone. “Cuda, you’ve got the floor. Who were those men, and what did they want?”
Cuda turned to leave, but Rhonda blocked his way. “Stop it. Tell her who they are. It’s not like she’s asking you for their social security and bank account numbers!”
Cuda stared at Rhonda when he spoke. “One was my uncle. The others are friends of his. They were searching for me.”
“Then why’d they argue with you about leaving?” Agnes’ smug tone matched her curling lip and snarling. “You ain’t telling us everything, coyote.”
Bobbie shook her finger at Agnes. “For someone who is a badger, calling someone a coyote in that tone seems awful silly to me. Now, I let you come in on the understanding you’d keep your mouth shut until I needed whatever information you might have for me. If that’s not good enough, you can go now.” She pinned her with a stare.
Rhonda took Cuda’s hand, led him to the couch and sat. He took a seat next to her and leaned his elbows on his knees, hands dangling between his legs.
“Fine.” Agnes spat at Cuda’s feet.
Bobbie slapped Agnes on the back of her head. “Spit again and you’ll find yourself licking it up.”
Agnes dropped to her knees and swiped at the phlegm with her hand then wiped it on her shorts. “Ain’t nothing but a little spit. Won’t kill ya.”
“Not the point, woman!” Bobbie drew a slow breath, trying to calm her anger. “Now Agnes, do you think you can describe the men without flying into a tirade?”
Standing, Agnes strolled to the center of the room. “One was a big man, maybe six feet tall, bald, green eyes. Two of ’em were exactly the same. Like twins. Black hair, brown eyes, short, under six feet, had guns hooked to their belts.” She paused and looked around the room as if expecting rapt attention from her audience. “Another was all scarred up, poor guy. Like he came face to face with a wild cat. Then the la
st one had gray streaked hair, big muscles and kept his hands fisted all the time.” She snorted as if to clear her nose. “They stank like nasty Outsiders.”
Cuda inhaled deeply, his cheeks reddening. “My uncle is the bald man. The twins are friends of his. Scarface is my uncle’s bodyguard. This is the first time I’ve set sight on Muscles. He’s hunting the people responsible for his brother’s death. Some guy named John Phelps. I think my uncle called him Dean.”
Rhonda stared at Bobbie. Tabatha dropped into a nearby chair.
Cuda’s explanation ran through Bobbie’s mind like ice water. Shit. Now what? Do I tell Cuda we’re the ones the guy’s hunting?
She came close to laughing, but caught herself.
“What?” Cuda’s gaze wandered from one to the other, but settled on Rhonda. “What’s wrong?”
“You ain’t in no position to be asking questions, coyote.” Agnes sneered at Cuda. “You come in here spouting off about our queen consorting with Outsiders, then you tell us those Outsiders in the woods are your friends? Ain’t been nothing shown that tells us you wouldn’t lie your ass off to protect yourself.”
“You know what?” Cuda slapped his hands on his knees and stood. “I’m about sick of you, you cow. You don’t know a damned thing about me. I made those men leave, didn’t I? I didn’t lead them to the village. What’s the problem here?”
Agnes rolled her eyes. “None of those men were shifters. They’re Outsiders. They ain’t our kin.”
“You got some nerve, woman!” Rhonda snapped. “Why don’t you mind your own business and let Bobbie take care of this?”
Agnes swung her closed fist at Rhonda, but Bobbie grasped her fist in a tight squeeze before she hit her target. When Bobbie’s gaze met hers, the woman’s skin paled. The room fell into silence. Bobbie growled deep in her throat, but Kangee stepped up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. She let go of Agnes’s wrist.
“Agnes.” He glared at the woman. “I think you have worn out your welcome.”
“Good night, Agnes.” Bobbie opened the door and waited.
The woman’s jaw dropped. “But, I…”
“Good night.” Bobbie stared her down, daring her to argue.
