Emerald Eyes (28 page)

“That’s my love showing through for you, my sweet.”

“Hmmm…Seems to me that they sparkled like that the day you caught me at the old cabin.”

“I knew who you were then. I had been waiting patiently for you for a long time. I could never forget Mattie’s beautiful granddaughter who was so much like her.”

Her expression changed.

“What, my sweet?”

“I know I’ve asked this before…but are you
sure
it’s not Mattie you still see when you look at me?”

“Of course I see her in you. But I love
you
Madison! Though you are so much like her, there are differences too.”

“Yes?”

“For one. You were willing to let me change you. Had she made that decision, she would still be alive with me today.”

“And I wouldn’t be with you.”

“Everything happens for a reason…I believe. I believe fate knew you were more suited to the life of a vampire. That is why she died and you came to me.”

“Seriously? You really do believe that?”

“Oh! Most definitely!” He took her in his arms and kissed her sweetly.

She let out a little moan of pleasure and the kiss intensified. She ran her fingers through his thick dark locks and nuzzled into him. Then broke away only long enough to mention that they had not made love since she transitioned.

With a most attractive grin, he replied, “I know, my sweet. Now we can make love with no inhibitions.”

“You’re absolutely right!” She grinned hugely, eyes instantly red and slammed him against the wall, tearing away his clothes.

He chortled and likewise, slammed her into the wall on the other side, also helping her rid her clothes.

They flipped and flew around the room, and he finally pinned her to the ceiling and then, staring passionately into the depths of her being, he claimed her. With which she eagerly responded, crying out in joy.

This time, he held back nothing, and neither did she. They spiraled to passionate heights she had never thought possible, spinning in a whirlwind with the world a mere blur, biting and kissing and making the most passionate love imaginable. Every little bit she would let out a zealous cry of delight as he met her almost insatiable appetite, and she enthusiastically did the same for him. When she reached her peak, she screamed a keening scream of bliss as he ever so powerfully satisfied her needs and erupted in his own ecstatic fulfillment. They held one another tightly as they vibrated together and all their passion sated. Then, as he stared inquiringly into her still reddened eyes, he asked, “Was
that
satisfactory, my sweet?”

She shivered. “Gawd! You
know
it was!” Her expression then changed to something akin to concern. “Was…I satisfactory?”

He grinned amusedly, “As you said – ‘Gawd! You
know
it was!’”

Both laughed. They had ended up on the ceiling again, and holding hands, they drifted down and alighted on their feet. He glanced around the room. “Hmmm…Looks like some of the furniture might need a little repair.”

She took in the damage: broken chairs, picture frames busted and books strewn everywhere. “Oops!”

He chuckled amusedly. “Not to worry. It was well worth it. I can fix the furniture and clean up the mess in no time.”

“I can help.”

“First! A drink, my sweet… Drink to making love as with no one else in hundreds of years!”

“And for me, for making love like I’ve never made love before.”

“Thank you, Madison. Thank you for making my long and lonely life oh so much more bearable.”

“Thank you! For loving me!”

“Oh! Not a problem!” He eyed the small bar. “Well, the bar is still standing. At least we left the important things intact.” He smiled mischievously. “Brandy or vodka, my sweet?’

“Vodka.”

“Coming up.” He zipped over and carefully mixed their drinks with precise measurements while she watched. Done, he handed hers to her and they toasted one another and their new lives as eternal mates.

Chuck wasn’t at all sure how he would be welcomed as he approached the village. Sure enough, some young braves stood while others sat in front of every building. In many places, there were two guarding. All had rifles. With instant recognition, they eyed him warily as he passed by but made no moves to stop him. Still, he was very aware he was under intense scrutiny. No one trusted him! No one! And he didn’t blame them.

He approached his and Tickling Feather’s apartment where two men guarded the door. Again, understandable. He hoped Indian Joe was there. And while it was his new home – though not completely renovated yet – with his new wife, he dared not enter without knocking. What’s more, he felt some relief when Joe opened the door, giving him a silent onceover and letting him pass.

Tickling Feather was sitting at the table in the small kitchen, saw him and jumped up to greet him. She threw her arms around his neck. “I’ve been so worried about you!” she sniffled.

“Both of us were,” Joe said, now standing to the side, studying him intently.

“I’m sorry, Tickling Feather. It was not my intention to worry you.” His focus went to Joe. “Either of you.” He hugged his wife and then pulled her arms down and stepped away from her. “I want to speak to Joe alone,” he said.

There was a flicker of hurt in her black eyes, but she nodded in compliance and went to their bedroom and closed the door.

“I am glad you came back,” Joe said. “There’s something I need to speak with you about.”

“I know…Tickling Feather’s not safe with me. None of you are safe with me around.”

The old Indian turned, meeting his stare. “We may be able to work something out.”

“Like what? Joe! I changed today. When I left here. I don’t know for sure where I was. But I do know that I fought with something. Someone. I can’t tell you who, but it was someone I know. I just know that it registered in the back of my canine brain that I knew this person. Then another one showed up and I realized I was overpowered and I got the hell outta there.”

“Only a vampire can beat you, Chuck. Or another werewolf.”

“It wasn’t a werewolf. That much I know. I would have sensed it.”

“Okay…You met up with Devin again.”

“No…” he thought about it. “Shi-it!”

“Had to be Madison,” Joe said for him.

“That’s it! I think I was attacking someone. There was a car. Someone was in it and I was trying to get to them. Then it must have been Madison. She was suddenly there, tearing into me. Giving me one hell of a fight too. Then
he
showed up. Couldn’t have been anyone else but Devin. I knew I didn’t have a chance against the both of them. I hightailed it outta there.”

“It is good that you remember as much detail as you do.”

“Normally, I don’t.”

“Anyway,” Joe said, “there’s something you need to know.”

“You want me outta here, don’t you?” Chuck said. “I’ll pack up my things and go.”

Joe reached out a hand to Chuck’s shoulder. “No! My friend. No!”

“I am a danger to all of you! That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” He lowered his voice. “I want my marriage to Tickling Feather annulled.”

Joe just stared at him, rolling over what Chuck had said in his mind.

“Surely you realize what I’m saying is true! I think it best the marriage is annulled.”

“
No!”
Joe said, expression hardening. “It is too late for that, even if Tickling Feather and the rest of the tribe would agree to it.”

“Huh? How so? We haven’t been married that long, Joe.”

“Sit down!” Joe said, more as an order than a request.

Chuck pulled out a chair, flipped it around and straddled it. “Okay…what?”

“What I wanted to speak to you about is… there is an old friend of mine. He is a renowned medicine man. One of the few left of our tribe. He may be able to help you.”

“How’s that? Can he cure me of being a werewolf?”

“Not sure anyone can do that. However, I do believe he can stop you from changing when it’s not the full moon. Stop these unexpected transitions, which would help a lot. We could go back to our old way of doing things, before these erratic changes began.”

“How sure are you that he can help me?”

“Of course, no one can say for sure, Chuck. But he is the most knowledgeable of anyone I know in things of the supernatural. I spoke with him just a short while before you came back. He will come soon, during the full moon and begin his preparations. You still have to get through these three nights.”

Chuck felt a slight inkling of hope. Still, he didn’t want to get his hopes up too much. “Joe…I’m also afraid I may have hurt people. Maybe even killed some.”

“It was not you, Chuck. It was the wolf in you. Let us not dwell on that now. And,” he said, standing, “Tickling Feather has something to tell you. You will understand then by what I meant it is too late to get an annulment, even if we were agreeable to it. And just so you know, we wouldn’t be.” He got up and went to the bedroom and called out his granddaughter. “He’s waiting at the table.”

Tickling Feather hurried out and came up to Chuck just as Joe opened the door to leave.

“I’ll be back in a little while to take you to your spot. We can’t wait too long.”

Chuck nodded that he understood.

Joe walked out and closed the door.

Chuck looked into the bright eyes of his lovely wife. “What do you want to tell me, Tickling Feather?”

She took a seat and, reaching a hand across the table for his, said, “My husband, I am sorry you lost your child with Madison.”

“I know you are. You have been more than understanding. That’s all history now. We have to get past it.”

“I’m not finished, Chuck.”

“I’m sorry, Tickling Feather. Go on.”

“You’re
still
going to be a father,” she said, eyes misting happily. “I’m pregnant!”

His eyes grew big and his jaw dropped. Had he heard right? “You’re…You’re pregnant?”

“Yes! Yes! I have suspected for several days now. I went to the doctor this morning. We’re going to have a baby!”

This was almost too good to be true. He could hardly believe it. He couldn’t help himself. Began to cry. She moved from her chair and went to him. He stood and took her in his arms. “I do love you, Tickling Feather! I do!” He kissed her sweet, herbal scented hair. “Thank you for making my day! My life!” Now he felt he could get through the next three nights with no problem. He had reason to be happy again.

“And I love you! I always have.”

“I’ve been such a fool not to appreciate it until now. Can you forgive me?”

“Oh yes, my husband! Yes!”

He kissed her sweetly, and then there was a knock on the door.

“It’s me,” Joe said from the other side.

“Come on in.”

Joe walked in and one look at their faces brought on a big grin from him. “She told you, didn’t she?”

“Yes! I owe all of you so much!”

“We will get through this werewolf thing, Chuck. We will.”

“Yes!” Tickling Feather said. “I have you some food packed for the tent.”

“You’re too good to me.”

“Just being a good wife.” She kissed his cheek, ran to the kitchen to get the picnic basket full of food for him and brought it back.

He took it and gave her an affectionate hug in appreciation.

“Okay…We need to get going,” Joe said.

Chuck kissed his wife goodbye and left with his friend.

Twelve

By the time they reached home, having had more time to think about what had happened, Debra Jean was a bundle of nerves. Alex helped her out of his truck and escorted her through the front door of the bar, as they decided to have a drink even though it was a few hours before opening. She took her favorite stool, but her hands shook uncontrollably and her expression was far off.

Observing her intently, Alex filled a couple of cold mugs with draft beer. “I still think you should have let me take you to get that bump checked out, Debra Jean.”

“No,” she quietly replied. “I’m more shook up emotionally than physically. I almost died, Alex!” She turned weary eyes to him. “I almost died!”

He rushed around and pulled her up into his arms and held her tightly while she cried out the shock and fear she’d been fighting back. Tenderly, he caressed her hair with his lips and whispered for her to let it all out. She trembled in his strong arms and he rubbed her back with his palms. “I love you, Debra Jean! I don’t know what I would have done had anything happened to you. I think I’d go jump off a cliff somewhere.”

“No…Don’t talk like that. I’d want you to go on. You know that, don’t you?”

He sniffled too. “Yeah…Only I wouldn’t want to. Wouldn’t care if I lived or died.”

“Maybe not for a while. But you’d eventually get over me.”

“Shush! You’re here and you’re in one piece. Shook up, yes! I’m not exactly rock steady either,” he said, showing his own shaking hands. “But you’re safe now. That’s what counts.”

“Am I? Are we?” She leaned her head back to look up at him. “I thought I was safe. Just doing my job. And then…out of nowhere comes this freakin’ huge wolf! It would have killed me had Madison not just turned into a vampire! Gawd!”

“Yeah. Thank God!”

She shook her head. “I love you more than anything, Alex. Still, this is going to take me some time to get over.”

“Of course it is, Debra Jean. Think it’s going to take me a while too. Now I’m going to worry about you every time you go to work.”

“You know, I have that twenty-two up in the closet. I think I might just start carrying that with me on my route.”

“Babe, that’s a good idea. Only you need something bigger. A twenty-two probably won’t do much damage to a werewolf.”

“Maybe I don’t need something bigger. Just silver!”

“Silver?”

“Yes! If I remember all the old werewolf movies correctly, silver is deadly to them.”

“Hmmm…Maybe there is something to that.”

“You load your own ammo. Couldn’t we melt down some silver coins and make some bullets?”

“How’s about some of my mother’s old silverware? Wouldn’t take near as long to make a few loads with a couple of spoons.”

“I didn’t think of that. I forgot about your mother’s silverware.”