Calico Cross (5 page)

Chapter Nine

The drive home was once again quiet. I had ants in my pants. I needed answers, so I took a deep breath and began. “So, what are you exactly? A werewolf?”

He choke laughed and peered at me like I was crazy. “A werewolf? Really?”

“Well, what else has that kind of power and presence? You scared the crap out of Blake.”

“That guy is a weenie! Anything could scare him. He associates with real losers.”

“I know better than you the guys he runs with. His leader killed both of my parents.”

Dane looked over at me as if I had just told him his garden burned down. Then he jerked the truck off of the road and killed the engine. He gripped the steering wheel hard with both hands and lowered his head.
Was he angry or upset?

“Um, Dane, are you okay?” I touched his shoulder and he straightened.

“I’m sorry about your parents. You should never have had to experience losing them that way. No one should.”

“Thank you, but it’s not your fault, it’s Creed’s.”

At the mention of his name, Dane slammed his fist into his steering wheel. “I hate animals like him! They make us all look bad!”

I nodded my head in agreement. Everyone knew Creed was bad news.

He peered over at me and his expression softened. A small smile even played on his lips. I knew that must’ve taken great effort.

“By the way,” he said, “I meant no disrespect toward werewolves. One of my friends leads a pack in the North Carolina Mountains. He’s probably the best man I have ever met.”

I nodded again. “Yeah, I think I’ve heard of him. Levi Drake, right?”

“Yeah. Now, that is the way a pack leader should act, with respect to his people and to the other packs, even if they are different than him.”

“Yeah, I agree.” I suddenly laughed. “Maybe we should go there and join his pack. I hear no other were-creatures live up there.”

He laughed with me. “He would probably take us in. I heard he took in a vampire once.”

Okay, I genuinely started laughing. “A vampire? Really?” And then I was doubled over, laughing hysterically. Soon, Dane was laughing as hard as I was. I mean who had ever heard of a werewolf pack taking in a vampire? It was totally ridiculous. Everyone knew they have loathed each other since the beginning of time.

I was still wiping away tears from laughing when we pulled into my driveway. Something had happened today. My relationship with ‘the savage’ and changed, softened even. Maybe we were even friends, sort of.

Reaching for the door handle I said, “Well, thank you for bringing me home.” I opened the door and stuck a leg out. “And for being interested in my safety. Even if you did handle it like a monster.”

He nodded his head and rolled his eyes. “You’re welcome.”

I stepped out and closed the door behind me. He drove slowly out of the driveway. As soon as he pulled off, I remembered something. “Oh wait! You never told me what you are!” But he was gone…again.

* * * * * *

I heard her calling after me once I was out of sight. I had purposefully not told her what I was. It was better if she didn’t know. I could be dangerous for someone like her. It was already very hard to control myself around her. When I saw her disappear into the deli with that loser, I thought I was going to lose my mind, but when I saw him with his hand on hers, that almost broke me. And yet I wasn’t quite sure why I felt this way. I mean she and I had not had many nice or even calm moments since we met. I knew it was mostly my fault. I had purposed to be rude and nasty, but it still felt wrong—all wrong.

I could tell that this girl was more than meets the eye. There was something really special about her. It was more than her beauty or even her soft heart. She didn’t show it to me, but I saw it. I saw it in the way she handled the young couple with the new baby. She spoke to them as if they were family. She had softness toward my cat, thinking she was in trouble. She was even giving this Blake dude a chance even though he didn’t deserve it. This I planned to see come to an end. This guy would only bring harm to Calico. And I would die before I would let that happen. The girl with the green eyes and who always smelled like candy deserved happiness. That I knew for sure.

* * * * * *

It was Sunday and we decided to visit the local church, Appleville Baptist. As children, our parents had always taken us to church, but since their deaths we had stayed away. Now we were starting a new life, and we felt that included going back to church.

When we arrived, the parking lot was already full. I was nervous as we entered the traditional white church. We took our seats on the very back pew. I scanned the building. It was beautiful, with stained glass windows in every window and a pretty green carpet everywhere, even the pew benches were green.

As we gazed around, there were people from town we recognized. All the workers from the deli, the bakery, and the barbershop were there. Celia waved at me from the front row, and I recognized Dominique, the nice young cashier at the Appleville Drug Store.
Did all the businesses around here close for church services?

The only friends that were not there were our little ghost friends. However, if it weren’t for them, we would have overslept and missed church. They had actually pushed me out of bed and onto the floor. I was puzzled as to why our ghost friends would want us to go to church anyway. This was something we may never know…and then the pastor came onto the stage and made an announcement, and then I understood completely.

“Good morning, everyone,” the pastor began. “It’s so nice to see you all here on this lovely first day of fall. It’s taken a long time, but I am proud to announce that our very own Dane Savage has finally agreed to lead us in worship.”

I froze. The girls all turned and glared at me, their eyes wide as plates. I’m sure mine matched theirs.
And did he say Dane Savage?

The girls mouthed the words ‘Dane Savage’ and will all burst into a whispered laughter. How is it that I had been calling him ‘the savage’ all that time and his last name turned out to be Savage? I’m not sure how it happened, but it struck all four of us as hilarious, and we struggled to tame our laughter. I was thankful we were on the back row and mostly out of sight with all our heads bent to our knees and hands over our mouths.

And then he began to sing.

My laughter stopped abruptly as I sat up straight and stared at the lovely man with the amazing voice. He was so handsome and it struck me breathless. He was wearing a black suit with a blue tie, and his hair was combed neat and off of his face. He was singing
Amazing Grace,
and I was captivated. I quickly glanced around and noticed that I was not the only one. Once he began singing there was no noise to be heard. The entire congregation went silent and still. We were supposed to be singing along with him but no one did, and he continued to sing, with eyes closed, as if no one but God could hear him. I knew right then and there that I was a goner. It wasn’t until the very last word of the song that he finally opened his eyes and looked right at me. I’m sure there were tears in my eyes, and I smiled my approval, and he smiled back.

We stopped off at the Oasis Restaurant for lunch afterward. Dane Savage was all we could talk about. Sure the sermon was good, but our hearts were still reeling from that song but mostly the singer. I could barely eat. All I could do was think about Dane and that song. He sang with such heart and peace. It truly touched me deeply.

I knew my opinion of Dane Savage had finally changed…and as a result I knew I was in serious trouble.

Chapter Ten

Monday morning, Blake was on my front porch offering to drive me into work. I’m not sure how he found out my work schedule, and I cringed at the thought, but I let him drive me anyway. My sisters didn’t have to be into work until later so it all worked out.

              I felt a little guilty about letting Blake take me to work. Dane had seemed pretty serious about me staying away from him. Although I didn’t know yet what were-creature Dane was, it was obvious he was better at sensing things than I was. Maybe it was because he was older than me, or maybe it was because he was a powerful
were
, whatever it was he was really intense about Blake, and so maybe I should’ve been too. But there was something about Blake that tugged at my heartstrings. He seemed so vulnerable at times, like he was lost. I admit I felt bad for him with the situation he was in with Creed. He was forced to join him and really had no choice unless he wanted to die. Me, I would’ve chosen death, but that was just me.

              We pulled up to the library and I was about to get out when Blake took hold of my hand.

I froze.

He peered at me with those dark soulful eyes and asked, “Can I take you home after you get off?”

What was I supposed to say? “Sure,” I said and regretted the words but exited the car and headed off to work.

Thirty minutes before my shift ended Dane came strolling into the library. He laid his book returns down on the counter and flashed me a gentle smile. I think I returned it. It was strange. Our relationship had turned friendly, and it still felt weird to me. It was easier hating him I think. I still wasn’t quite sure what to do with this kinder Dane Savage. He soon disappeared behind one of the bookshelves.

I watched the clock nervously as it inched closer and closer to my exit time. I really didn’t want Dane to see me leaving with Blake. There was sure to be another conflict and this time it might go further. I knew in my heart of hearts that Blake would not come out of it without injury, and I didn’t want that for him.

I was glad when he came to the counter with his books and sat them in front of me.

“How are you today, Calico?” he asked as I scanned his books.

“I’m pretty good. And you?” I asked, concentrating on my task.

“The same.”

“That’s good.”

We didn’t speak again but his mannerisms were friendly; at least no more friction. He nodded his head at me and then he exited the building.

I couldn’t help but watch him as he walked away and disappeared from sight. I breathed a deep sigh of relief.

I finished up the last of my responsibilities, clocked out, and then headed for the door, waving at Celia as I left.

What I spotted when I stepped onto the sidewalk made my heart sink. Dane had Blake lifted off of his feet and into the air. Blake was swinging but with no progress and Dane was just holding him there.

I ran as fast as I could to meet them. “Dane! How dare you?! Put him down right now!”

Dane quickly dropped Blake and turned to face me.

“How dare you!” I raged. “I can ride home with whoever I want to! You are not my keeper, Dane Savage! Do you hear me?”

His face hardened and he stood straight, his chin lifted into the air. “I do, as well as everyone else within ten miles of here,” he snapped. He didn’t say another word as he spun and headed for his truck.

Blake and I both watched as Dane jumped in his truck, slammed the door, and sped out of the parking lot.

I turned to Blake. “Are you all right?”

He nodded and straightened out his shirt.

“I’m sorry about that. For some reason he thinks you’re bad news. Probably because of Creed.”

He laughed slightly. “Yeah, that’s probably it. I guess I don’t blame him for that. It’s no problem. He didn’t hurt me or anything.”

“Did you say something to him, you know, to set him off?” I had to ask.

“No,” he responded quickly. “He just jumped me the moment he spotted me.”

I clinched my fists tight, the anger boiling inside. Why Dane thought he had to protect me was beyond me. We hardly even knew each other, and we certainly didn’t like each other all that much. At every turn his behavior continued to confuse and annoy me.

When we arrived at my home, Blake walked me to the door. No one was home from work yet. I reached for the doorknob when Blake took a hold of my hand.
Uh oh
.             

He turned me toward him. “Cali, I really like you a lot. I’m sort of hoping you’ll let me spend more time getting to know you better.” And then he leaned in toward me, his lips inching closer and closer.

My eyes grew wide, and then the porch swing to our left dropped from its hinges to the floor. We both jumped. I grabbed my throat that had suddenly seemed to hold my heart.

“What is going on around here?!” Blake barked. “Is this house haunted or something?”

Or something was right. “Umm…weeeell…”

“I’ll call you later on,” he said as he backed cautiously off of the porch. He was then in his car and driving out of the driveway before I could even wave goodbye.

“Whew! I owe you guys one. Now, please fix the swing back,” I said into the air and then burst into a roaring laughter.

I was still laughing as I walked into the kitchen and made myself a turkey and cheese sandwich. I was taking my last bite when I entered my bedroom to change my clothes.

I pulled my shirt off over my head and tossed it across the room and onto my chair in the corner. I stripped my jeans off and flung them off of my last foot they were desperately trying to hang onto. They landed somewhere near the door of the bathroom. I spun and my eyes immediately went to the window and that’s when I noticed ‘the savage’ standing in front of his garden, across the way.

I gasped and dove onto the bed and pulled the covers over my nakedness. I stared out the window and then sighed when I realized he wasn’t looking my way.

I dressed quickly and took a seat by the window and watched him work in his garden for the next hour, hoping he would cut his hand off with his pruning shears.

* * * * * *

Dane’s POV

I had to concentrate really hard not to cut myself with my pruning shears knowing Calico was watching every move I was making from her bedroom window. I was tempted to stand up and wave, but that might alarm her, especially since she had no idea just how good my eyesight really was.

              I chuckled to myself as I continued to pull and prune the stubborn weeds.
I might need a cold shower when I’m finished.