Sweetwater: The Kihn (The Sweet Series) (14 page)

“Jake, I... there was never a future for me and Nick. I mean, nothing permanent. I enjoyed his company, but we would never have anything serious.”

“Then why are you letting this hurt you?”

“I’m not mourning Nick. I’ve already settled my feelings on him. Although I do feel a fool, and the fact you chose Nick’s happiness over mine is... it feels equal to a betrayal, Jake.
That’s
what hurts.” I try not to cry, but a tear or two sneaks out. I never imagined Jake would hurt me this way.

“I am so sorry, Sofie, beyond anything I can say.” His remorse pulls at my heart. “Please forgive me.”

“Jake, I’ll always forgive you. You’re my family.” I swa
llow my tears. “All the same, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pissed at you right now.”

I leave him standing in the kitchen as I go back to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I sit on the edge of the bed, sure that my heart aches.

I dread going in on Monday and having to work with Bobbi, but I get a reprieve. She called in sick. I’m not sure why I feel guilty about that, but I do.

Several of the customers are obviously dying to ask about my breakup. I have no illusions that most of the town isn’t already aware of all the tawdry details. A couple people actually have the ill manners to come right out and ask. I finally stay back in the kitchen and focus on preparing the next day’s lunch special.

After my shift ends, I decide to tell Murphy. I reason he needs to know since Bobbi and I work together. Murphy’s office is right off the kitchen, and I knock on the door before opening it. He glances up from the ledger he’s working on.

“Hey, Murph, got a minute?”

“For you... always.”

I tell him everything, leaving nothing out, even though I’m extremely ashamed to admit what I did to Bobbi.

“Well, I appreciate that you told me.” He leans back, looking up at the ceiling—Murphy’s way of studying an idea. “I think it might be good if you two don’t work together for a while. I’ll figure something out on the scheduling.”

I chew on my bottom lip, trying to keep my composure. I hope he doesn’t say anything more. God bless Murphy; he doesn’t.

I get out of fixing a meal that evening because Jake is going over to Jordanna and Billy’s. Jordy called early that morning to talk with him and
tell
him she expected to see him for supper. If I were ten years old, I probably would have said, “You’re gonna get it!” in a singsong voice. But I’m not ten, and part of me just wants everyone to stay out of it.

I meet up with Diane and Emma Rae at the Shotgun Shack early. We decide to do some stretches and have a little exercise time. Sawyer and Logan stop in during our workout on their way
somewhere
—which I think sounds cryptic. After telling us how hot and sweaty we look, they leave.

“What was that all about?” Diane asks.

“I’m not sure, but I think Sawyer wants us to know they’re up to something we might find interesting,” I say. The three of us stare at the door as if it will tell us.

“I bet they’re having a meeting with others about the Kihn,” Emma Rae says.

“What others?” Diane asks.

“Santiago’s men,” I announce.

“Why would they have a meeting before the meeting tomorrow night?” Di asks.

“Probably strategizing ways to keep us out,” I murmur.

“Want to follow them?” Emma Rae asks.

“They’re already gone,” Diane points out.

I think for a moment before calling the person who would know where the meeting is if there is a meeting.

“What?” They both ask as I end the call.

“They’re at the old Mitchell place,” I reveal. “Let’s go, and I’ll tell you what Sam told me on the way.”

The Mitchells were longtime friends of my grandparents, and I’d visited them in their home many times. After Gram and Gramps died, the Mitchells moved to a retirement community to be closer to their grandchildren. Since they’d left, their house had been closed up.

The night the McNish went missing, Nick and I had picked Taylor up from the old Mitchell place. I’d forgotten about that in the excitement. I remembered the tall iron gates across the driveway. Sam told me the mysterious Santiago now owned the home. He’d done extensive remodeling to the house and built an enormous building on the property.

We drive past Diane’s, staying to the left when the road forks and leads us toward the river. At the point I think we’ve reached the Mitchells’ property line, a security fence about twelve feet high begins. It has razor wire on top, and the fence runs all the way to the gates and beyond. As we near the gates, I slow the Jeep, hoping to glimpse something inside. A small building is on the other side of the fence and a light is on inside, not giving us much. We drive past, following the road and the fence down to the river. I turn the Jeep around, drive slowly past the gates, and stop where the property line and fence start at the top of the hill. I pull the Jeep to the side of the road.

“Why didn’t you stop at the gates?” Diane asks.

Emma Rae glances at her. “So they could announce us?”

“And turn us away,” I add.

“Oh,” Diane replies.

Emma Rae and I look out the window at the intimidating fence.

“That’s some
keep away
type of fencing
,
” Emma Rae observes. “Did you catch the
no trespassing
signs?”

“Yeah, I did.” I’d played in these woods many times with my family and several of the local boys as a kid. However, Gramps showed me something and, to my knowledge, the boys never figured it out. “I have an idea.” I open the door and reach in the side pocket for my flashlight.

“What are you doing?” Diane cries.

“If I’m not back here in” —I look toward the woods— “thirty... no, forty minutes, or if you see any sign of activity, leave. Go to your house, Diane, and I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

“Sofie, no! You don’t know what’s in there!” Diane cries.

“She’s right, Sofe. There might be tigers or bears behind that fence,” Emma Rae adds.

I gape at her.
Tigers or bears?
I study the top of the fence. “No, this fence is for keeping things out.”

“Which I’m sure includes you,” Diane says. “Sofie, we’re not kids anymore to go running through the woods trying to keep up with the boys!” I’m already heading toward the fence. “Get back in this car, right now!” Diane demands.

I wish I’d worn boots instead of my Converse. The sneakers will be good for climbing trees, but the boots are better for traipsing over rough terrain and through soggy woods. We’ve had a typical Ozark weather change, and the last two days have warmed, melting most of the snow and leaving the ground muddy and mucky. In this part of the Ozarks, the weather varies from one holler to the next.

“Sofie!” Diane hisses through the dark.

I jog along the fence. Luckily, the ground is clear of brush and scrub on either side. After several minutes, I come to the old, majestic oak tree. I’m glad it still stands outside the fence. I shine the flashlight about, looking for the large oak well inside the fence. They’ve built this new, highfalutin security fence in the same spot the old barbed wire one once stood. They cut down or trimmed most of the trees, but I know which one to climb to get across. We played war in these woods as kids, and the boys never figured out my hiding place or how I got past their patrols.

I flash the light up into the tree limbs, but I can’t tell what I need to know. I’m just going to have to cl
imb and check it out. I stash the flashlight in my jacket pocket to free my hands. Lucky for me, there are still tree limbs within my reach. I’m up the tree and in the first level of limbs lickety-split. I take a moment to rub my hand over the bark, ever fanciful in my notion that I might be touching the same spot my grandpa had touched as a boy. My sappy moment over, I clamber around until I get to the limb I want. It’s slower going than I expected, but not too shabby for someone who hasn’t been in a tree in a few years. And in the dark no less! Thank goodness for the full moon. I take the flashlight out of my pocket, hang on to the nearest limb, and shine the light out over the tree. I come near to losing my grip, and drop the flashlight in the process, but I’ve seen enough.

Okay, time to decide if I go on or not. My tree climbing has taken longer than I planned, and if Diane and Emma Rae leave, I’ll have to make it to Diane’s house on foot. Decision made; I only need to take a few steps out across the large limb with nothing to hold on to until I reach a limb of the other tree. Then I can grab hold and finish walking across.

Piece of cake.

Yeah right. This height seems a whole hell of a lot scarier now than when I was twelve. I walk across and finally reach the tree trunk of the old oak inside the fence. I go down,
just not as graceful as I’d hoped. I have skinned hands and have even managed to scrape my stomach.

Finding the flashlight takes a few minutes. I don’t want to leave any evidence behind, and I might need some light before I get out of here. I move through the woods toward where I think the house is located. Almost immediately, I’m aware of movement to my right. I turn the flashlight on and scan in the direction the noise comes from. All I spot is rustling in the brush a few yards away. My body freezes as I think about tigers and bears.
Damn Emma Rae!

I take a deep breath. Okay, I need to move. I take a few tentative steps, and when I don’t notice anything moving with me, I pick up my pace. Before long, whatever is out here decides to keep up with me. Without stopping, I swing the light to my right and find two glowing eyes.

I screech like a little girl and take off tearing through the woods. I don’t care that briars snag and low-hanging branches scratch. My foot catches an exposed root, and I hit the ground hard as the flashlight sails through the air. I roll into a ball, covering my head with my arms. If I could draw breath, I would scream because I hear something moving through the brush, coming closer.

Chapter Ten

T
he next sound near me is a sniffing, snuffling noise. When it stops, the only sound I hear is my heart pounding. I carefully move my arms from the front of my face. What I see astounds me.

Sitting and looking intently at me is my wolf. Well, the wolf I’ve seen twice, and one of those times, he saved my life. With caution, I sit up. When the wolf doesn’t react, I stand. “You scared the shit out of me!” I tell him. He cocks his head, his eyes alert, watching me.

I take a couple of steps to check the results of my fall. By the time I get out of here, I’ll look and feel as if someone has dragged me through the woods. I’ve just about decided to turn back when outside lights light up the area. No doubt someone’s heard my none-too-elegant romp through the woods.

The wolf barks to get my attention before taking off the way we came. I follow him, trying to keep up. He evidently thinks it necessary to hurry, and I do my best. He stays just far enough ahead so I can still see him. In fact, he takes me back a less congested way.

About the time the tree comes into sight, my foot sinks in some mud. My left sneaker is sucked right off my foot, but I just keep on running. I reach the tree and scale it much faster than I came down. When I reach the first level of limbs, I look down at the wolf. “Thank you. Now go!” And he does.

I practically fall down the tree in my hurried descent. I run to the Jeep and smack the door, causing Diane and Emma Rae to yelp. I climb in, and we skedaddle.

We head to Diane’s, she’s mad enough she won’t speak. Emma Rae and I talk for a few minutes after Diane goes into the house.

“That was like old times,” Emma Rae says. I give a strangled laugh. “How are you going to explain your one shoe if Jake sees you?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, that was fun. Let’s do it again sometime,” she jokes.

Luckily, I get home before Jake. Diane calls to apologize for being so mad and I am never,
never
to do that again.

Now, if I just had my shoe—and my flashlight.

The phone rings in the wee hours. I try to ignore it, hoping Jake will answer. After what seems to be dozens of rings, I fumble around until I find the phone. “What?” I croak.

“Are you asleep?” Sawyer’s voice holds amusement.

“Ha, ha. What time is it?” I ask him, crawling out of my warm bed to hurry to the bathroom.

“A little after two.”

“Ugh!” I cover the phone so he won’t hear me pee.

“We had some excitement at the meeting tonight.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, they had an intruder,” Sawyer says.

“Huh.”

“What did you do tonight?”

“Not much.” I crawl back in bed and burrow under the covers. “Spent a little time out in the woods, traipsing about.”

He laughs. “I knew it was you!”

“Hey, did you know they have a wolf in there?”

“No! You didn’t get bit, did you?”

“Huh-uh. It was the same wolf that saved my butt at the McNish.”

“What?”

“Uh-huh, and he helped me tonight.” I sound smug.

“You’re making this up.” he accuses.

“Huh-uh, honest.”

“Shit!”

“Yeah.”

“I should’ve hung with you.”

“You’ll learn.” I can’t hold back my yawn. “What happened tonight?”

“Way too much to tell you on the phone. They’ve got a bunch of archery supplies, and we start training Saturday.”

“You already hunt with a bow. What’re you going to learn?”

“How to hunt
Kihn
with a bow, but I’ll fill you in later. We’re going to the Shotgun Shack before the meeting tomorrow, or I guess it’s tonight now.”

“What for?”

“To organize, make sure we come across as if we know what’s going on.” I giggle. “Gotta catch some zzzs. Talk to you tomorrow, cuz.”

“Night.” I roll over, snuggle down, and I’m soon back asleep.

The next morning at work is unusually slow, even for a Tuesday. I’m bent down under the customer order counter, digging through the cabinet for some pictures Murphy took, when I hear something thud on the tiled top. I stand and see Lucas on the other side of the counter. The shoe I lost the previous night is lying on the counter where he’s dropped it.

“I believe this belongs to you,” he says.

I swallow, looking from the shoe to his cold, hard, silver gaze. I notice a muscle twitching on the side of his jaw. “No,” I croak, shaking my head.

He raises one of those black arched brows. “No?”

My mouth goes dry. “No.” I repeat, with a whisper.

He gives me a long look. “Come now, Cinderella, I bet if you place that delicate little foot of yours up here—this shoe will fit perfectly.” His eyes glitter as he gives me a wicked once over. He’s wearing a black, thermal-type Henley shirt and leather jacket with black jeans. He looks—mouthwatering. I have a sudden vision of him down on one knee with my foot in his large hand as the other slips my shoe on.

“Um... it’s... not mine.”

He bends his head to look at the shoe, and a lock of his hair falls across his forehead. He peers at me from under his lashes and that lock of hair. My breath catches. “I spent a lot of money to guarantee my land was impenetrable.” He pauses before continuing. “Then a little girl such as yourself comes along and rubs my nose in the fact that it is… penetrable.”

I’m certain the innuendo is intentional, and if he wants to get a reaction out of me, it works. My face flushes with heat. He laughs under his breath, and my eyes flash to his. His smile is seductive, and I just know he’s having naughty thoughts. “You might be able to—
persuade
me not to press trespassing charges.”

His eyes rake over me again, and I rile at his audacity. “I would rather go to jail!” I remark with withering scorn.

He laughs, and I move to step away, but he clamps his hand around my wrist in a viselike grip. “Tell me how you got in,” he commands.

“Let go of me!” I tug against his hold to no avail.

His eyes are on my mouth as he rubs his thumb over the pulse point on my wrist. I feel a stab of stark pleasure and my lips part with my gasp. His eyes slash to mine, and I catch a glimmer of surprise in them. He gently—but forcibly—pulls me closer as he leans in.

“I smelled your scent all over my woods last night.” His voice is low and husky. His breath fans across my face, and I have to close my eyes, biting my lip,
to keep from leaning in close to him. As he releases my wrist, I open my eyes to see his focused on my neck.

“Sofie! You’re boiling over!” Emma Rae yells out the kitchen door.

Lucas gives me a dark smirk. I want to run for cover, but I walk at a normal pace. As soon as I’m on the other side of the swinging door, I lean against the wall separating me from the man I’ve just lied through my teeth to.

Emma Rae goes out front and returns holding my shoe by the shoestring. “He left you something.”

I snatch the shoe. “Is he gone?” I hiss.

“Yeah. You do realize you can never wear those shoes in public again.”

“Yes, dammit!”

“I tell you, Sofe... that is one fine-looking man. I’d drink his bathwater.” I give her a look that plainly says I think she’s crazy as she fans her face in imitation of being flushed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Emma Rae actually blush.

“Uh, he’d probably let you,” I say with no little sarcasm.

“Oh no, honey, I don’t think so. You, on the other hand...”

I give her a dirty look, and she laughs as she skips out of the kitchen.

I hurry home after work to shower and change before heading to Jordanna’s to have supper with her and Lucy. Diane and Emma Rae will be there too.

Ben and Billy have left for the pre-meeting, so we have some time to plot our strategy and make several phone calls. We want as many women as possible at the meeting. Jordanna and Lucy insist I speak tonight since I’ve been face to face with one of the monsters. The idea of speaking in front of a large crowd makes me green around the gills.

The community building overflows with men and women as we make our way inside. A group of women witnessing the Kihn’s foray into our world is the quickest way to get the word out about their existence. Nick, Jake, Sawyer, and the hunters, Lucas and Max, stand at the front of the room. This is the first time I’ve seen Nick since
the night
.

As I sit in one of the folding chairs, I feel Lucas’ gaze. I glance at him and see that he
is
looking at me. His expression appears slightly amused. Emma Rae leans over from the other side of Diane to poke me. I lean toward her.

She doesn’t bother to whisper. “He wants you.”

I bend down quickly as if tying my shoe. “Shhh!” I sneak a quick peek over at the
he
in question. His head, tilted down, hides most of his face, but I see the corners of his lips lift slightly. I can feel a blush stain my cheeks, certain he’s heard Emma Rae. I decide to stay down and maybe sneak out, but Nick chooses that moment to open the meeting.

He is a good speaker, I have to admit. He talks about the home he’s built and the life he’s planning here in this quiet, friendly community. He eases into last summer, with the first cow being found mutilated, and brings everyone right up to the night of the party at Jake Walker’s house.

Jake speaks next, and he surprises me by bringing up the McNish disappearance. He talks a little about that night and asks Sawyer to give his opinion. Most everyone knows Sawyer and Race McNish were—
are
—friends. Sawyer relays what he and Jake discovered in the cave on the McNish land, getting quite a reaction from everyone.

Once again, Nick speaks. He explains the history of the Kihn, giving the community the same information he and Taylor gave us weeks ago. That is, everything except for the existence of the gate. He explains that since the Kihn are masters at hiding from humans, governments have the same views about them: They can’t accept the existence of an enemy they cannot see. Nick tells of a special unit of men, organized in Europe, whose sole purpose is to control the Kihn. I hear people whispering at this news. Nick introduces the head of this group as Lucas Santiago.

I glance at Lucas in surprise.
He
is Santiago. Lucas gives a slight nod at his introduction. Nick explains to the audience that ridding our community of the Kihn will come about quicker and safer if everyone works together. He explains that we will need to follow the task force’s guidelines. Nick voices his appreciation of the number of people at the meeting, and he turns the meeting back over to Jake.

Jake explains the training sessions, but I tune out. Instead, I watch Lucas. I had it all wrong. Lucas is in charge, which explains his attitude that morning at Murphy’s. He’d meant it literally when he claimed he’d spent a lot of money on the fence. I believed he was talking about spending Santiago’s money to have it done. His eyes shift in my direction, catching me staring. His sensual lips twitch as if he fights a smile.

Emma Rae pokes me again. “Sofie.” I turn my attention to her and see several women looking at me. “Get up there! They’re trying to adjourn the meeting.” I moan. “Come on, go!” She practically pushes me out of my chair. I take my time standing, but Emma Rae leaps up. “Excuse me!”

No one pays her any attention.

“Excuse me!” she yells, waving her arm. All eyes turn our way. “Sofie has something to say.”

Nick gives Jake a quick shake of his head.
They won’t let me speak!
I worry my bottom lip between my front teeth. They’re going to ignore me. I see Lucas whisper something to Max and Max forwards it to Nick. Nick seems as if he is going to argue, but he looks at me with irritation and makes a come on gesture. That royally pisses me off. As if I need his permission.

I straighten my spine and make my way to the front of the room. I stand with my head down.
If everyone will just stop staring at me…
I take a deep breath. “I—” Clearing my throat, I glance around the room. I can’t do this.

Sawyer steps over to me and blocks everyone’s view while he gives me a pep talk. “Okay?” He steps back by Jake. Once more, I glance around the room. Lucas is watching me with a slight frown.

“Okay,” I say. “Um... my cousin…” I look at Sawyer, who winks at me. “My cousi
n says I need to take a deep breath, so...” I close my eyes and inhale deeply. I hold it for a few seconds before exhaling. I open my eyes to see several faces smiling. I glance at Lucas. He isn’t frowning anymore, but his eyes glow with an intensity that throws me for a moment. I lick my dry lips.

“He also told me to remind y’all I won the turkey shoot three years ago.” The room erupts in laughter, which embarrasses me. When they quiet down, I continue. “And he also said to mention that the year before that, I tagged the largest buck in the county.” This time, the room explodes in cheering and whistling.

I can’t help it. I have to smile a little. I look down to get my composure. “A few nights ago, I was confronted by a situation... In spite of the fact I held a 12-gauge shotgun, I knew it wouldn’t help if...” I have to stop and collect myself. “From my understanding, if that… creature had decided to come into the house, a shotgun might have only slowed it down.” My voice is quiet since I’m too scared to speak very loud.

“When I think about what could have happened to us...” I look at my friends and neighbors. “We were helpless.” I realize my words are making an impression. The room is quiet. Some of the men put their arms around their loved ones.

“Ben.” I look at my uncle. I know he agrees that the women should stay safe at home. He needs to realize we
aren’t
safe at home. “Billy. Jake.” I glance from one to the other. “Jordanna and Lucy could have both been lost to us. Any woman at the party that night might not have made it home.”

I glance around the room. Emma Rae gives me a thumbs up. Jake’s expression is stricken, and Nick looks disgusted, as if he thinks I’m playing dirty. “All we’re asking is for the chance to train with you men.” I wait for a moment. “Would you have us unable to defend ourselves?”

With that, I head back to my chair. I truly want to throw up. Diane hugs me as I sit down. Emma Rae reaches over and holds my cold hand. I sit up straighter when Lucas asks if he might say a word.

He says, “I believe it would be in everyone’s best interests for the women to train with my men. They do need to know how to protect themselves.” His gaze roams the room. He is beyond handsome in black jeans, a white shirt, and black leather jacket. The combination of black hair and dark features with his light-green eyes flashing silver makes him positively lethal. I’m not the only one who thinks so. Around the room, every woman, young and old alike, looks at him as if they want to have him for a snack.

I look back at Lucas, feeling his eyes. They entrap mine. I want to look away, but I can’t. His gaze touches me as if it is a physical caress, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Finally, he looks across the room again. In the end, the men reason the women should train for self-defense.

After the meeting, I visit with friends and answer questions about what the Kihn look like. Diane and Emma Rae rode to the meeting with me, but they decide to ride back with Lucy. Sawyer tells me he and Sam are going to Lucas’, and Lucas wants them to bring me. This news throws me for a loop. I can’t imagine why he wants me there. I tell Sawyer I’m going home.