Sweetwater: The Kihn (The Sweet Series) (4 page)

“Are you... trying to scare me?”

“No—”

“Because you’re starting to do a good job of it.” I turn to face him.

He takes my hand, pulling me close. I look up into the darkest blue eyes I’ve ever seen as his head descends toward mine. The shrill ringing of the phone makes me step back.

I giggle, somewhat nervous. “I’d better answer. It might be Jake.” Nick mutters under his breath as I head for the kitchen.

I come back into the living room to find him on the couch with his feet propped on the coffee table. “I decided to wait with you until Jake gets home.”

“Thanks. That was Diane. Jake dropped her off, and he’s headed this way.” Sitting at the opposite end of the couch, I tuck my feet under me, still cold. “Calvin called your friends witches, but Jake explained that they were Wiccan?”

Nick studies me for a moment. “I’ve known Lucian and Estella Zelt for a long time. They’re good people who only want others to leave them alone. When fools like Calvin start talking about them being witches, they mean all the dark connotations of practicing magic. They perceive the Zelts as evil—and they are not.” He hesitates, and I can tell he wants to say more, but he waits a few minutes before he continues. “They want to help with what is happening. They have knowledge o
f sacrifices and the meaning of certain rituals.”

“That’s what Jake told me.”

“Well, if word gets around they’re witches, no one will listen to them.”

“Did you know them from Florida?” I can’t help but be curious.

“Yes.”

“Jake said they moved into the old Rogers place. No one’s lived there for a long time. It’s haunted. At least, that’s the rumor.”

He smiles. “I don’t believe ghosts would deter Estella.” His voice
holds a hint of laughter.

“Are they married?”

“No.” He places his feet on the floor and stands. “Brother and sister.” He moves to the front windows and looks through the curtains. “They have a younger sister, Brit, who lives with them too.”

“What about Taylor?”

He looks at me in surprise. “Taylor?”

“Is he... wiccan too?”

Nick laughs out loud at my question. “No, Taylor is
not
wiccan.”

I feel foolish, but I’m sure of what I saw earlier. “Okay, what is he then?”

Several moments pass before Nick asks, “What do you mean?”

“The way he handled Calvin Stewart tonight… He had lots of controlled energy. I could feel it... He had Calvin on the floor so quickly.” I shake my head as if I’m still in awe of what happened.

Nick takes my hand and pulls me to my feet, holding me close. “You are a very observant young woman.” He lowers his head toward mine, and before kissing me, he murmurs, “And very beautiful.” His lips are soft, warm, and gentle. He touche
s his tongue to my lips, coaxing them open as he deepens his kiss. The sound of Jake’s truck, in the driveway, ends the kiss. Nick leans his forehead against mine.

“I want more of this,” he sighs. He kisses my forehead before stepping over to the couch and retrieving his coat. “Would you like to go out with me Saturday night? Go into Springfield for dinner and a movie?”

I glance toward the kitchen as Jake comes in the back door, then at Nick. “Yes, that sounds fun.”

Jake strides from the kitchen toward us. “Hey. What sounds fun?”

“Sofie and I are going out Saturday night,” Nick answers for me, and I glance at Jake. Jake smiles, pleased. I hope he doesn’t get any ideas about his best friend and me.

“Thanks for staying with Sofie until I got here. I’m not sure why the outside light’s not working.” Jake looks puzzled.

“No problem.” Nick gives me a smile.

“Also, I dropped Taylor off at your place,” Jake informs him.

Nick looks a little surprised before he laughs. “I sort of forgot about him.” He rubs his chin and steps closer to me to say softly, “Which is your fault.”

Jake grins at us.
Oh no, Uncle—don’t go there.

“I’d better go. You are coming by in the morning, right?” he asks Jake.

“Yeah, I figure about eight.”

Nick takes my hand, pulls me with him to the front door, and gives me a quick kiss. “I’ll be talking to you before Saturday.”

“Okay.”

“Good night,” he says, loud enough for Jake’s benefit, and I shut the door behind him. I wait until he pulls out of the driveway before turning off the porch light.

I hear the phone ring as I get out of the
shower, so I’m surprised when Jake knocks on my bedroom door a good thirty minutes later, informing me Diane is on the phone.

“Hey, Di, were you just talking to Jake?”

There’s an extended silence before Diane answers. “I just wanted to find out how things went with Nick?”

“We have a date Saturday night. I’m hoping you’ll have some clothes I can borrow.”

“Ohhh, that was quick,” she says with a giggle. “Come by tomorrow. I’m sure we can find something. So, did Nick kiss you?”

“He did.”

“Good?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Why are you being so vague?” she asks.

“What do you want me to say?”

“You like him.”

“Of course, I don’t go around kissing guys I don’t care for.”

“Well, not entirely true,” she accuses with a slight laugh.

“Okay, I
know
we agreed never to bring up Gary Fenton again.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot. Sorry,” she says with another giggle.

I’d gone out with Gary my senior year.
Big
mistake. He’d been asking me out since junior high, and over time, I caved. We went out only three times, but he acted as if I broke his heart when I decided three dates were two too many. He moped and followed me everywhere, called my house at all hours, and grilled my friends and family on my whereabouts. It got so crazy that Ben finally spoke to him. When that didn’t make a difference, Jake and Sawyer had a word with him. I was never sure what they’d conveyed to Gary, but he did back off. Nick was sooo not Gary.

“Diane?”

“Ye-ah?”

“Over at Ben’s the other night, when I met Nick—what are you doing?” I could tell she was moving around and was distracted.

“Looking out my bedroom window. A shadow flashed past, and I was afraid maybe we had a cow out—but I don’t see anything. What about Nick?” She gives me her full attention again.

“When we shook hands... it was as if a... hot flash... shot up our arms.”

“When was that?”

“Right before you came in the kitchen and stole my piece of pie.”

“Did he feel it?”

“Yes, most definitely.”

“Weird.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“Did you ask him about it?”

“I did, but he didn’t have a clue. What do you think?”

“Could it have been a shock?”

“No.”

“Remember the time we raised that electric fence wire old Mr. Haney had strung out in the field? That sent warmth all over my body.”

“It wasn’t anything near that,” I tell her with a smile.

“I remember you peed your pants.”

“
That
was you.” I remind her.

“Oh... yeah. Well, let me know if you come up with anything.”

“Don’t say anything about this.”

“Of course not,” she assures me.

“Okay, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Night.”

“Night, Di.”

I’m not sure what particular noise wakes me and alerts me to someone who isn’t Jake moving about in the house. After years of hearing him get up in the night, I know the sounds he makes. These sounds are different—steps shuffling as if someone is dragging something heavy. It sounds as if it’s coming down the hall from the front room. It hasn’t reached my bedroom door yet, but I sense it’s coming.

I scoot across the bed to the far side, slide to the cold floor, and push my way under the bed. I’m more afraid of what’s outside my room than possible spiders on the floor. And I’m plenty scared of spiders.

It’s pitch black; I can’t see my hand in front of my face. Weird. I should be able to, at least from the light of the alarm clock. Only—nothing, total darkness, which scares me the most, I think.

It’s close to my room. Too late, I realize I should have gone out the window, climbed the tree by the house to the roof, and woken Jake.

Now it’s at my door, and it’s not the first time I’ve tried to breathe while making as little sound as possible as the adrenaline pumps through my body. I’m starting to shiver, too. I only have on a long-sleeved tee and boy’s boxer-type shorts. The floor’s ice cold, damp and clammy, and the air smells musty. I tense every muscle in my body and grit my teeth to stop them from chattering. I try to lie as quiet as possible on my stomach, my pounding heart the only sound. Is it still out there?

As if answering my silent question, the door makes a loud groaning noise as something pushes against it. Covering my mouth with ice-cold hands, I want to scream for Jake. The door rattles loudly, and I pray he’ll wake from the noise.

Whatever pushed against the door moves away. I hear it as it shuffles back toward the front of the house. As I ponder coming out from under the bed, a stair board creaks. It’s moving up the stairs, to a sleeping Jake!

I am scared shitless as I move across the floor, going into the open. I stand, shaking, and try to decide if I should try the window or the door. Jake keeps a shotgun in the kitchen and another one in the front hall closet. The closet is in view of the stairs, so I decide on the kitchen.

I place my ear to the door, but the only sound is the pounding of my heart. The darkness will be a problem. The power must be out. I move slowly back toward my bed. Evidently, being terrified makes me stupid because I haven’t considered the phone. With the power out, the phone won’t work anyway. My cell phone! I feel around the bottom of the nightstand where I stash my purse. I hear the floor creak above my head; it’s in the hallway above me.

I quickly return to the door, unconcerned by stealth now. I open the door, step out into the hallway, and turn to my left toward the kitchen. I take a couple of steps when I sense something directly behind me, and I take off running as quickly as one can run in total darkness. As I touch the kitchen doorframe, I slow to turn. I swing to my right to clear the kitchen table and head to the back door and the air moves as something grabs at me. It’s as if something brushes through my hair as it reaches out to catch me. I keep moving just out of its reach. There’s no way to get to the gun in time, so I just head to the back door.

There’s a loud bang as I
reach the door. It must have run into the kitchen table. The door won’t open. I frantically fight with the lock as the banging continues, loud and insistent.

“I’m coming!” Jake yells as he comes down the stairs. The pounding continues. “I’m coming, dammit!” I hear him unlocking the front door as I open my eyes. I’m lying on my back, in bed, heart racing. I sit up; the alarm clock shows three-sixteen.

I hear Jake talking to someone, and then he’s at my bedroom door. “Sofie, are you okay?” He knocks. “Sofe, you awake?”

“Jake!” I gasp. He steps into the room, light from the hall spilling in. “Who’s here?” I slip on my robe. I’m trembling, making my voice quiver.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“I... I guess I had a bad dream.” That’s how nightmares are for me: realistic and hard to believe it’s only a dream upon waking.

“Nick’s here.”

“What?” I ask with surprise. As I make my way down the hall, I look around. Okay, this nightmare was incredibly vivid and real.

“Sofie.” Nick places his hand on my shoulder. “You’re trembling.”

“Why... are you here?” My voice reflects my confusion.

“I—” He glances over at Jake. “I had a—feeling something was wrong here.”

What?
“Only in my nightmare,” I say my voice unsteady.

“So, just a bad dream and you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I am.” I yawn.
What the hell?
This is too weird. “I guess... I should get back to bed and let you go to yours.” I glance uncertainly at Jake with a
what’s going on
look.

“Do you want to talk about your dream?” Nick asks.

“No!” I say and startle him. “Sorry. My Gram always said, ‘Don’t tell a dream before you eat breakfast, or it will come true.’”

“Well,” he sounds amused, “we wouldn’t want that.”

“No,” I breathe. “We would not.”

“Okay, goodnight and—sweet dreams.”

“Thanks, and thank you for coming to check on us. I’m grateful you woke me.”

As I head for my room, Jake says, “Nick, be careful about pounding on a door in the middle of the night around here. You came close to a shotgun in your face.”

This reminds me, and I hasten back to the hall closet. I reach in for the twelve-gauge pump-action shotgun. Nick and Jake both watch me.

“Night,” I tell them, taking the shotgun with me.

Chapter Three

T
he early morning light coming through my window w
akes me. I’m rested and alert earlier than I would have believed possible, considering the lack of sleep I’ve managed in the past four days. Amazingly, after last night, I’m in good shape. I should have just enough time to stop by Lucy’s for a cup of coffee before heading to work.

Dressed in jeans and a dark-green tee, I pull my hair into a high ponytail. I’ve always had thick hair, and the last time I had a trim, the hairdresser suggested a few layers. I love them, and the highlights are courtesy of the California sun. The ponytail swings full and bouncy down my back.

The house is quiet; Jake has already left to feed cattl
e. I stand in the hallway outside my bedroom. The floor looks perfect and the door unblemished. As I step into the kitchen, the table seems to be in its normal position in the center of the room.

Since I’ve already worked out a menu, I don’t take long at Murphy’s. I just need to go through the storage room to check on what I’ll need to order. We decide to start Murphy’s
Special of the Day
the following Monday.

When the noontime rush is over, Emma Rae, Reenie, and I sit, eating our lunches in the now-quiet dining room. After ordering my supplies, I helped Emma Rae, refilling drinks and waiting on customers. One fact about working the dining room: I got to hear all the latest gossip and local news.

The main talk of the day pertained to the meeting that night. I got the impression the locals think the sheriff should handle the cattle crisis. The sacrifices are of some concern also. Who would do such a despicable act?

Others gossip about Tony Martin and his wife Lola divorcing
after ten years of marriage. Lola is one of my Aunt Jordy’s best friends.

In addition, Leroy Benton, likkered up, drove his truck off the slab crossing Panther Creek out by Durn Holler. The holler’s not named for anyone in particular... just that durn holler.

The three of us look up as Benny Perkins and Gary Fenton enter the dining room. “Time to go,” I state as soon as I see them.

“Me too,” Emma Rae adds with a knowing smile. Reenie just giggles.

With a nod to Benny and Gary, I pick up my new Murphy’s T-shirts, wave bye to everyone, and head to Diane’s. She’s been busy going through her closet, finding dresses she thinks I might consider for my date Saturday night.

“You’re going shopping with us tomorrow, right?” I ask.

“Yes, I can’t wait. I need a few things, too. It should be fun with Jordy and Lucy. We haven’t done this in ages.”

Diane’s mom comes in from the barn. She gives me a rib-squeezing hug. I love Diane’s parents, and I’ve spent lots of time in their home through the years. “Just here getting your dad some duct tape,” her mom says.

Diane rolls her eyes. “Dad thinks duct tape holds the universe together.” I smile. Diane’s dad is a character.

Her mom continues to rummage through one of the kitchen drawers. “For your father, it does.” She triumphantly holds up a roll of tape.

“Sofie,” she pauses by the door on her way out, “I’ll expect you for supper real soon.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I agree, giving her a smile. She leaves, headed to the barn with hope for the universe.

“Want another piece of cake?” Diane asks as she pours coffee.

“No, thanks.”

“Um... Sofe...”

“Hey, I want to tell you about something kind of weird that happened last night.”

“What?”

“I had a bad dream—”

“The same as what you used to have?” Diane never knew exactly what my nightmares were about, no one did, but she was aware they were always—similar.

“No, not one of those, but what’s strange is Nick came over to check if we were okay.”

“What?”

“He was worried there might be trouble over at our place. His banging on the door was what woke me.”

“He sensed something was wrong with you?”

“Well, he didn’t say that, but... isn’t it odd?” I ask.

“Hmmm.”

Hmmm?
“Diane,
what’s up?”

“Sofe... I...”

My cell phone ringing cuts her off. I dig it out of my coat pocket. “Hold that thought.” I smile an apology. “Hey, Sawyer.”

“Where are you?” he asks.

“I’m at Diane’s.”

“First of all, he’s okay.”

“Who?” I demand. At once, I have a sick feeling. Alerted by the sound of my voice, Diane becomes still, listening.

“Jake.”

I glance at Diane. “What’s happened to Jake?” The air leaves my lungs, and I don’t seem able to catch a breath.

“A minor crash on the four-wheeler. He’s okay.”

I stand, shrugging into my coat. “Where is he?” Diane rushes to get her jacket as I head out the door.

“He’s here, at our place... out at the barn.”

“What!” Diane and I get in the Jeep, and I back toward the road.

“He’s okay, scratched and banged up a bit. Nothing’s broke, and he isn’t bleeding. Since he didn’t want to go to the doctor, we brought him over here.”

“We’re on our way.” As I pull out of the driveway, I glance at Diane. She doesn’t look too
good.

“Is he okay?” she whispers.

“Yeah, the fools hauled him to the Shotgun Shack. Sawyer told me he’s not hurt, just banged around a little. Diane, are you okay?” I glance at her again.

She turns to me with wide eyes. “Sofie…” She busts out crying.

I slow the Jeep, and reaching over, I lay my hand on her shoulder. “Honey, Sawyer assured me that Jake’s okay. He wouldn’t lie to me.”

With tears streaming down her face, she says, “We’ve been seeing each other... and... I love him.” Then the floodgates truly open.

My mouth drops open, but I don’t say anything right off. “You have?” I shoot her a quick glance. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’ve been trying.” She sniffs.

I think about what else she’s said. “How long have you been seeing each other?”

“About six months.” She blows her nose on the tissue I hand her. “We’ve been real careful that no one find out. We didn’t want someone else telling you.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” I’m downright puzzled here.

“Because you told me, years ago, to stay away from him,” she wails.

I slow the Jeep to turn onto the lane leading to the barn. “When you were sixteen years old, and he was a crazy wild-ass!”

She sniffs. “So, you’re not mad?”

“No, I’m shocked you kept something from me this long.” I drive the Jeep to the barn and cut the engine. Sam meets us at the door.

Jake sits at one of the tables by the bar with his left leg propped and an ice bag on his knee. He has numerous scratches across his face and arms. Nick and Sawyer sit with him, and Taylor leans against the bar. They’re talking quietly as we hurry in.

I hug Jake, asking him, “Are you sure you shouldn’t go to the doctor?”

As Nick stands, Jake reaches over and pulls Nick’s vacated chair next to his. He smiles at Diane, patting the chair for her. Sawyer pushes me into the one he’s been sitting in.

“Thanks, Sawyer.” I give Nick and Taylor a smile in greeting. Jake drapes his arm over Diane’s shoulders and pu
lls her close. I smile at them. “Diane told me.”

“Good,” he replies. “I knew you’d be okay with us, but Diane didn’t think so. Something about you telling her to stay away from me?” He raises an eyebrow.

“I’ll... tell you later.” No one else seems surprised by Jake and Diane sitting together. “What happened, Jake?”

“That’s what we were discussing when you came in,” Sawyer says.

Jake takes a long drink from a beer bottle, which I think is not such a good idea. “I rode the four-wheeler up to the second hayfield to check on the herd.” He pauses, recalling his actions. “Across the field, at the edge of the woods, I saw a cow down and something else kinda humped up by it. Whatever the thing was... it looked up as I started across the field.” His face reflects what he remembers. “I’m not clear on what the face looked like because it ran off into the woods so fast.”

What?
“Was it a bear?” I ask.

“No.” Jake glances at Nick. “I followed it right up the hill, on that trail leading up to the old Walker homestead. I caught a glimpse as it ran through the trees, but there was no way to keep up, and it was... gone. I rode on up to the meadow, shut off the engine, and sat, listening and watching.” He takes another drink.

I’ve gotten goose bumps, thinking of him up there with—who knows what. However, I’m not altogether sure it wasn’t a bear. Old Percy Walker, who lives over by Panther Creek, had trouble last summer with a black bear around his place. Lucy told me the whole story.

“I headed back down the hill. When I reached the remains of that old gnarly tree, you know the one hit by lightning?”

“Yeah,” I answer, knowing where he means. We’d covered every inch of that farm as kids.

“I went on that path the cows and critters take to the creek, and halfway down, I caught sight of it again. Gave chase, and that’s how I got most of these scratches. I decided to head across the holler, where all those blackberries used to grow, but the hill was too steep and brushy. As I came back out of the holler... I lost control and rolled.”

Diane gasps.

Sawyer hands me his beer, and I take a long drink.

“You’re lucky you didn’t break something,” Nick told him.

“Yeah, your neck,” I add.

“Luckily I had my phone with me.” Jake repositions the ice bag.

“Not a bear—are you sure, Jake?” I think I’m hoping it was just a bear.

“All I know is it was the size of a large man and didn’t have fur.”

“Maybe it was a man,” I suggest.

“No human can move that fast, Sofie.”

Something about his comment tickles a memory, but I don’t dwell too long because I think of something else. “What about the cow?”

“Taylor and I checked,” Nick answers. I raise my eyebrows in question. “More than one had fed.”

I shudder. “Does Ben know?”

“Not yet,” Jake says.

“What the hell, Jake?”

“What am I going to tell him, Sofe?”

“Uh—you wrecked the four-wheeler, but you’re not seriously hurt!”

“He
’ll see tonight I’m okay.”

“I’ll call and tell him you’re okay now,” I decide.

“Thanks.” Jake hands me his cell.

“You big weenie,” I retort as I take the phone. Jake grins. I’m certain he just set me up so I’d be t
he one breaking the news to Ben, and I give him a disgruntled look. After I end the call, I hear Taylor say he’ll call someone called Santiago, and Sawyer’s asking questions about the meeting that night.

“Jake, you think Sofie and I should take you to the doctor so he can check you out?” Diane asks, looking worried.

“Nah, I’m okay, baby.”

I go behind the bar and open the fridge.

“What you need isn’t in there,” Taylor informs me.

“No?” I turn to look at him.

He sets two shot glasses down and searches through the bottles behind the bar. Sam steps up and reaches over the bar top, pulling out a bottle. “Here’s what we need,” Sam says.

Taylor sets another glass out. “Just what I was looking for.” He pours a shot in each glass, sliding one over to Sam and one to me.

I sit down on the stool by Sam, taking a deep breath. Drinking tequila at this time of day can’t be a good idea. I turn the shot glass up. Taylor promptly refills our glasses. I glance at the table where the others sit, talking. Diane’s listening to everything; I’ll have to pump her for info later.

“What do you two think Jake saw today?” I ask my drinking partners.

Sam glances where Jake sits. “Exactly what he told us.”

Taylor turns up his shot and sets the glass down. “I agree.”

“You don’t think it might have been a bear?”

“Do you?” Taylor asks.

“Maybe, but Jake says for sure it wasn’t so...” I shrug, and then grin at Sam. “Maybe it was
Momo.
” He chuckles, and Taylor’s eyebrows come together. “There have been sightings through the years of a hairy creature that walks upright on two feet.”

Sam takes up the story when I pause to drink my shot. “In the last twenty years, people have seen such a creature, off and on up north on the Mississippi River, mostly in the little town of Louisiana. But years before that, we had several sightings in this area of the Ozarks.”

“The old Jesse James Museum in Branson once had a stuffed one on display,” I add. “Someone trapped a similar
Momo
in late 1800s, sold it to a circus, and it lived in captivity for twenty-some years. When the creature died, they stuffed the poor thing, and it ended up in that old museum. It had dark brown hair all over its body and brown, human-looking eyes. The museum’s long gone now, along with the Momo.”

“What are you three doing, getting drunk?” Nick sits on the stool beside me.

“Sofie’s telling monster stories,” Taylor teases with a smile.

“Oh, that’s not a monster story. If you want a monster story, I can tell you one.” I catch the surprise on Taylor’s face as I turn away. Sometimes things slip out, and I’m sure drinking tequila makes for loose lips.

Taylor’s still looking at me when I glance back at him. He pours us another shot, which I slide over to Nick.

“Taylor and I think the story of what happened with Jake should not leave this room,” Nick tells Sam and me.

“I agree. No one would believe this unless th
ey see it for themselves anyway,” I answer. I watch Nick and Taylor exchange a look. “You think more sightings, more incidents such as this one, will happen, don’t you?” I look back and forth between them. “What
are
those things?”

“Let’s wait before getting excited,” Nick suggests. “We’re waiting for word from... a friend of ours. I’m going to visit Estella and Lucian tonight to find out what they can tell me.” Nick takes my hand and gives a gentle squeeze.

“Do you think we’re in danger of these—things attacking humans?” Sam asks a good question. I glance at Nick. Again, he and Taylor exchange looks.

“As I said, let’s wait until we know more,” Nick answers.

The Sweetwater community building has stood at the edge of town since the late fifties. All types of Sweetwater activities happen here. People rent the facility
for family get-togethers, school functions, and fundraisers. A group plays bluegrass every Friday night, and area residents attend for a little pickin’ ’n’ grinnin’. Tonight, the turnout for the meeting is surprising—and not in a good way. We only have a show of about twenty concerned citizens.

Jake decided not to attend. He’s starting to feel his hurts, and Diane is staying with him at the house. When I called earlier, she said he was doing a lot of moaning and groaning. I do not envy her his company.

So only Sawyer, Nick, Taylor, and I attend the meeting. Nick thinks it’s a good idea for Sam to stay with Jake and Diane. For some reason, this worries me.

The representative from the sheriff’s office, Deputy Harvey Graves, reveals they’ve had dozens of calls from area residents wanting to know what the sheriff’s department intends to do about the situation. I wonder what their response would be if they’d seen what Jake had. Most of the information discussed at the meeting pertains to cattle rustling. The officer suggests a neighborhood watch program, but people who live in the country pretty much do that anyway.