by Logan Jacobs
“It’s nice to have one on hand,” Sorcha replied with a smile, though I could tell she had noticed Freya’s discomfort as well.
“Why don’t we go wait for Darwin outside?” I suggested.
“Before you go,” Jacob said as he held up his hand. “I would like to invite you to stay one more night. I know you were anxious to leave, but we will honor Michael tonight with a prayer service, and then we’ll enjoy a dinner of Thanksgiving. I think you should stay and perhaps Michael will offer you a small gift in return for your help today.”
“Oh, er…” I stammered.
“We’ll talk about it when Darwin returns,” Sorcha said quickly as she started to pull me toward the door.
Freya didn’t need any more encouragement, and she had already bounded ahead. By the time Sorcha and I stepped back outside, Freya was already pacing impatiently along the sidewalk.
“So what really happened?” Sorcha asked quietly as she grabbed the rabbit woman’s arm and forced her to stand still.
“I’m not sure,” Freya said with a furtive glance back toward the church. “But I think one of the Amish men who was near me may have seen one of my ears. Nobody said anything during the fight, but they hustled me back here as soon as it was over. One of the men said something to Jacob, and he hasn’t let me out of his sight since.”
“Sounds like another good reason to leave,” I replied. “Where the heck is Darwin anyway?”
As we waited outside, the temperature dropped several degrees and a mass of gray clouds slowly unfolded in the sky. Snow started to fall once again, and though light at first, it soon started to drop more quickly.
“Magic?” I asked Sorcha as the three of us watched the snow warily.
“No,” she admitted. “Just typical winter weather, I’m afraid.”
“It’ll be hard to stay on the trail if it gets any heavier,” I sighed.
By the time Darwin appeared with a group of Amish men, the snow was already starting to drift into large piles. The women and I had moved to a spot under the eaves of the church to get out of the snow, but the temperature was growing steadily cooler, and we all stomped our feet and rubbed our hands in order to stay warm.
“What took you so long?” Freya demanded when her grandfather finally broke away from the other men and joined us.
“Just helping out,” Darwin replied in surprise. “What happened? Did someone get killed?”
“No, not that we’ve heard,” I said quickly. “But we were hoping to leave today. Now, between the snow and the hour, we may have to wait until tomorrow. There’s no way we can make it out of the forest before nightfall, and that’s even if we’re able to stay on the trail.”
“Well, one more night will be okay,” Darwin stated as he glanced toward the sky. “Hey, did you guys see Michael? Am I wrong, or is he a mage?”
“Shhhh!” Sorcha warned. “They don’t like it when you say that!”
“And we may have a bigger problem,” I added with a nod toward Freya.
“Oh?” Darwin asked as he turned toward his granddaughter.
“They may have seen my ears,” Freya said quietly.
Darwin’s expression became more pensive as he studied the town.
“They’ve invited us to stay one more night,” I continued when Darwin didn’t respond. “Jacob says they’re having some sort of prayer service and special dinner, and then Michael might offer us a thank you gift.”
“A thank you gift,” Darwin finally snorted. “What the hell does an angel give as a thank you gift?”
“Jacob didn’t say,” I replied.
“Did they say anything about your ears?” Darwin asked.
“No,” Freya replied, “but they’ve been acting weird around me ever since.”
“Okay,” Darwin declared. “Since it looks like we’ll be stuck here one more night, I say we act normal. If they want to make a big deal out of it, we’ll defend Freya and get the hell out of here, but if they don’t want to stir the pot, then neither will we.”
“What about this prayer and dinner thing?” I asked.
“Maybe we should skip that,” Sorcha suggested. “We’ll just say we don’t feel comfortable around the old religion.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Darwin agreed. “And I think we should all stay in the same house tonight. Don’t let them split us up like they did last night.”
“Actually, the barn where they kept the horses is pretty nice,” Freya mused. “It was really warm and there’s plenty of room in the loft for four people. We’d have all our gear, and we could leave first thing in the morning before anyone realized we were up and about.”
“I like that idea,” Sorcha said eagerly.
“Then let’s tell Jacob,” I added.
Darwin nodded, and the four of us stomped back inside the church. With the sun now hidden, the interior was dark and dreary except for the statue of Buddy Christ. I was surprised no one had turned on any lights, but only Jacob and two other men were left. Jacob had moved from his pew and stood by a small side door with the men. He looked up when he heard someone enter the church, then waved us over when he saw it was the four of us.
“I’m glad to see you found your friend,” he said when he saw Darwin. “Have they told you about the service for tonight?”
“They did,” Darwin assured him. “But we don’t want to interrupt your services, and my young friends here aren’t all that comfortable around the old religions. I think it would be best if we sat this one out.”
“Oh, please don’t do that,” Jacob begged. “We would never want anyone to be uncomfortable around us. Our religion is one of tolerance toward our fellow man, as you’ll see at the dinner tonight. Please, it will be an honor to have you after you helped us today.”
We exchanged looks, and I saw Freya shift uncomfortably.
“Maybe for a little while,” Sorcha suggested. “But I think we’d all like to get to bed early so we can be ready to go first thing in the morning.”
“Of course,” Jacob agreed.
“Actually, in that regard,” I added, “we were thinking it makes more sense for us to all sleep in the barn with our horses tonight.”
“But it’s only going to get colder,” Jacob sighed. “If you really insist, we won’t stop you, but I do think you’ll be more comfortable inside. If you’d like to stay closer together, I’m sure we could find different accommodations.”
“Simon and Beth have plenty of room at their place if you don’t mind listening to the dogs,” one of the other men suggested. He was the youngest of the three men and seemed genuinely happy that we were still there.
But I saw Jacob frown for a moment when he heard the suggestion, and a flash of anger crossed his features as he regarded the younger man.
“Oh, I met Simon and Beth,” I said quickly. “We went to visit the kennels.”
The younger man nodded and smiled and studiously ignored Jacob.
“Is there enough room for the horses?” Darwin asked.
“Definitely,” the younger man replied. “Everyone will be nice and warm, and you can stay in the same house. Either one can show you the path to Scranton-Barre in the morning.”
“Will they mind?” I asked. “Simon didn’t seem like the type to take in much company.”
“Oh, he’s okay,” the younger man assured me. “He just gets on better with the dogs than with people, but Beth will be happy to have someone else to talk to, even if it is just for tonight.”
“Well,” I hesitated as I glanced at my companions again.
“Well, it would make it easier,” Sorcha stated as she looked at Freya and Darwin. “And I don’t think we’ll be able to do any traveling today.”
“I guess we could check it out,” Darwin agreed.
“Their house is right next door to the kennels,” the younger man said. “But I’ll go with you, just to smooth the waters with Simon.”
The man seemed as eager as we were to be out of Jacob’s company by that point, an
d he scooted down the aisle as fast as he could without actually running. Jacob was still silent, and he watched our departure with a frown, though he didn’t try to stop us or suggest someplace else to stay.
When we stepped outside, we discovered that in the short time we’d been inside, the day had turned even more gray and windy. Ice pellets were falling along with the snow, and I pulled the collar of my coat up to try to protect my neck and face. Our guide started down the street, and we had to run to catch up.
“We can come back for the horses,” the Amish man suggested. “Let’s get things settled with Simon and Beth first.”
“Thanks for the idea,” I said. “I’m not sure sleeping in the barn would have been such a good idea tonight after all.”
“I understand why you would want to stay together,” the man replied as he glanced toward Freya. “I’m Ignatius, by the way. I’m a friend of Simon and Beth’s, which is why I thought of them. Beth mentioned you had been by last night and that the dogs really seemed to like you.”
“Well, I really only met Barnaby,” I admitted. “But we got along.”
“That’s saying something,” Ignatius laughed.
“We saw the dogs head out earlier when the attacks started,” Sorcha mentioned. “But I didn’t see them after that.”
“Simon sent most of them toward the other properties where he thought there might be more attacks,” Ignatius explained. “They caught several of the demons trying to sneak onto other farms.”
“There were two near me,” Darwin added. “Ferocious fighters.”
“That they are,” Ignatius agreed.
“I heard them,” Freya added, and I realized it was the first time she’d said anything for several minutes. “They definitely cornered one of the mutants, but I didn’t see what happened.”
“I’m happy to say that Simon reported only a few scratches,” Ignatius replied. “So it must have ended well for the dogs.”
We were close to the kennels by then, and I could hear several of the dogs barking. Freya’s step faltered for a moment, but Darwin wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders, and the pair kept moving. No one else on the street seemed to notice except Ignatius, who gave Freya a sympathetic look.
The office door was locked, but Ignatius led us around the side of the building and along a tall wooden fence. Near the end, where the fence met the wall of the kennel, was a gate with an impressive latch. Ignatius had to lift one piece while he pulled on another piece, and after a couple of grunts, the gate opened a crack, and the Amish man slipped his foot inside before it could swing shut.
“In we go,” Ignatius announced as he grabbed the gate with his hand and pulled it open.
Sorcha and I darted through first, followed by Darwin and Freya, and then Ignatius. The yard was icy and muddy, no doubt churned up earlier in the day by the dogs. Simon and Beth were both at the grooming station with a pair of dogs, and I was happy to see that Barnaby lounged nearby. The Weimaraner was the first to spot us, and he stood up and sauntered over.
“Barnaby,” Ignatius acknowledged as the dog stopped in front of us.
“Hey, Barnaby,” I said as I held out my hand.
The Weimaraner sniffed my hand, then held his chin up for a scratch. I complied, making sure that every inch was rubbed. The other dogs had noticed us by that point, and the pair started to bark. After a moment, they both sniffed the air and the barks became growls. I saw Freya freeze, and for a moment she looked like a rabbit who had just spotted the fox. Even Barnaby lowered his head and regarded the mutant with an intense stare. Barnaby started to growl as well, but then Sorcha placed a gentle hand on his head and I heard her whisper the word quiet to the dog.
“Roo-ig!” Simon yelled in the Amish language and the other two dogs instantly went quiet.
“Ignatius!” Beth declared happily. “And Hex! It’s good to see you again.”
“And you,” I replied. “Though this time it was Ignatius’ idea.”
“Oh?” Beth inquired as she picked her way toward us.
Simon did little more than blink at us before he returned his focus to the dogs. He tried to whistle Barnaby back to the grooming station, but Barnaby ignored him. Simon finally muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a curse word, but Barnaby ignored that as well.
“Let’s go into the office,” Beth suggested. “At least we’ll be dry in there.”
Beth led the way toward the back door, and the five of us followed, as did the Weimaraner. Beth opened the door, then immediately turned on a pair of lamps while the rest of us stepped inside and tried to shake some of the snow and ice off from our coats and boots.
“And these are your friends,” Beth declared as she turned around and smiled at us.
“These are Sorcha, Freya and Darwin,” I said by way of introduction as I pointed toward each one.
“So, why has Ignatius brought you here?” she asked. “Surely not to see the dogs again?”
“Well, I do like visiting with Barnaby,” I drawled as the Weimaraner sat down next to me and stared into my face. “But, no.”
“They were hoping for a place where they could all stay under one roof,” Ignatius said quickly. “And I know you and Simon have all those rooms that you never use.”
“That’s true,” Beth replied as she glanced toward the backyard. “Though I don’t have any sheets on any of the beds or such, and I haven’t had time to dust in some of them in ages.”
“I just thought it would be easier,” Ignatius explained. “There’d be room for the horses as well.”
“Of course, we’re always happy to help out,” Beth stated. “And of course, you can all stay with us. I know today’s not a great day for enjoying the town, but I could take you next door and get you settled in the kitchen while I prepare the rooms.”
“That would be much appreciated,” Ignatius answered for us.
“Then let’s just slip next door while Simon finishes with the dogs,” Beth suggested as she opened the door to the backyard again.
Simon ignored us as we stepped back into the yard, though the two Weimaraners both barked. Beth led us toward a different gate that was tucked behind the main office building and barely noticeable among the jumble of leashes, collars, and other dog paraphernalia that hung on hooks along the wall. This gate was made of iron rods, and I could see that it opened into the backyard of the building next door.
Beth led us through the gate, which was far less complicated to operate, and into a grassy, open yard with a small barn in the back, a mammoth oak tree with a swing, and a deck, now buried in snow. Despite her long skirts, Beth managed to push her way up the steps to the deck and then across the heavy snowfall to the back door. She flung the door open, and the first one through the door was Barnaby.
“Barnaby!” the Amish woman cried in a voice that sounded both amused and frustrated as she stomped into the house.
The rest of us followed the pair through the door and found ourselves in a small entryway. Beth was already removing her boots, though I could see that the door to the rest of the house was open a crack and the trail of snow and ice showed where the Weimaraner had gone. Ignatius pulled off his hat and coat, then sat down on a bench to remove his own boots. The Amish man nodded to our shoes, and we quickly sat down as well once everyone other than Freya managed to remove our hats and jackets.
Properly divested, we stepped into a kitchen large enough to serve the guests at one of the big hotels in the city. It smelled of bread and fried onions, with a hint of wet dog. A fire glowed merrily in the stove, and the scent of rosemary and thyme drifted our way from a pot resting on a countertop. Beth was already pulling out mugs while Ignatius led us to the table that was long enough to seat twelve and still have room left over.
“It’s just you and Simon in this house?” I asked in amazement as I took a quick peek into the next room, which was even bigger than the kitchen and held a piano, two sofas, and some strange stringed instruments I couldn’t identify. I saw
Barnaby’s wet prints on the floor, but he’d disappeared through a wide door, and I couldn’t see where he had gone.
“It is,” Beth said as she added water to a kettle and set it on the stove, then scooped a powder into each mug. “Somehow, we’re the last two members of our direct family, so all of this belongs to us. We used to talk about finding someplace smaller, but we have so many memories here, and of course, we’d never give up our work with the dogs.”
“The dogs,” Freya murmured as she peered around the room. “Didn’t one of them come inside?”
“Barnaby,” Beth sighed. “He likes the window in the family room. I’m sure he’s left a long trail of mud and water on the floors on his way there.”
“They seem well-trained,” Darwin noted.
“They are,” Beth agreed. “Though I must apologize for the way they greeted you. They don’t usually react that way unless they’ve received a command that someone is a threat.”
Ignatius glanced at Freya again, and I saw Darwin scowl at the Amish man.
“Are they trained to react if, say, someone were to break into the house?” Darwin suggested. “Or maybe just someone they don’t know?”
“They’re trained to recognize the demons, of course,” Beth mused. “We don’t get many strangers here, so we don’t specifically train them for alerting us to strangers, though they do have a very protective nature and watching strangers is natural behavior for them, so no doubt that’s why they growled.”
“By demons, you mean the mutants,” Sorcha remarked.
“Mutants?” Beth queried as she sounded out the word. “Is that what you call them?”
“It is,” Sorcha replied.
“It just means people whose genetic code has been altered in some way,” Darwin added.
“People…” Beth murmured as she looked at us and then at Ignatius.
The kettle started to whistle, and Beth moved toward the stove again. We watched while she poured hot water into each mug, then carefully stirred. When she was done, she carried the mugs to the table on a small wooden tray with a carving of a Weimaraner in the center.
