Emerald Eyes (7 page)

“I’ll be twenty-two the twentieth of next month.”

“A year older. Still…”

“What about your husband? Julie’s father?”

“Nathan bailed on us when Julie was ten for a dark-haired Spanish girl from Mexico. We never hear from him. Not even on Julie’s birthdays.”

“That sucks.”

“Tell me about it. But we’ve known Alex for a long time, even before we became an item. Julie has always liked him. He’s a real sweetheart. Always remembers her birthdays. Kind of makes up for that absent jerk of a father.”

“He’s a good man.”

Debra Jean turned sideways then, facing Madison. “Speaking of men…What that Devin fella did tonight was more than impressive. He’s tall and muscular, but not as broad as my Alex. I would have never dreamed he could pick a man up with one arm like that. One would have thought he was holding up a bag of peanuts or something. Didn’t even look like he was straining.”

“You noticed that too.”

“Don’t believe anyone missed it…And I’ve never seen Alex at a loss for words before. I can tell you, girl. He was stunned! He’s used to being the strongest man around…Think it kind of humbled him a little.”

“He did look surprised.”

She nodded towards the door. “Band’s going strong again. Guess we’d better get out there and enjoy the music.”

“Okay…But I’m not staying much longer. Didn’t intend to stay this long. But it has turned out to be a really weird night.”

Debra Jean laid a hand on Madison’s shoulder. “That it has, girl.” She took back her hand and opened the door. They stepped on out into the crowd.

Madison was telling Debra Jean about her very controlling mother when Debra Jean suddenly raised her eyes, looking past her. And Madison suddenly felt a gentle hand on her right shoulder.

“May I have this dance, Madison?” Devin asked in a smooth, even voice.

She stared up into those amazing emerald eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. “…Sure.” She looked curiously to her friend.

Debra Jean smiled encouragingly.

Madison took Devin’s hand then and he immediately put his arm around her waist and led her out to the middle of the dance floor; where she quickly learned that he was probably the best dancer she’d ever been with. His feet seemed to literally glide across the floor. He held her at a very respectable length, but never once took his eyes off of hers; holding her gaze through the entire song; totally and completely mesmerizing her.

When the song ended, she realized she had quit breathing. She gasped in air, and a barely detectable rumble of laughter rose from his chest but he said nothing, and led her back to her seat. He thanked her and said he needed to get going, but he hoped to see her again soon.

Madison could only shake her head in agreement, realizing that she had pretty much lost control of her ability to reason at the moment. Again, he smiled, almost laughing and bid Debra Jean a good evening and, making his way alongside the dance floor, he made an almost phantom like exit out the front door.

“Did you—?” Madison was going to ask Debra Jean if she had seen, but she realized that her friend was sharing a smile with Alex who was on the other end of the bar. She hadn’t noticed.

Madison sat there in silence, trying to compose her thoughts and understand all that had just happened. She stared into the mirror, wondering where he had gone.

“I do believe that was
the hottest
thing I’ve ever seen,” Debra Jean suddenly said.

“What?” Madison turned her face to Debra Jean, who was grinning hugely.

“Boy! That man did do a number on you, girl.” She breathed. “Hell! He did one on me! And I wasn’t even a part of it. You okay?”

Madison widened her eyes momentarily. “Gawd! I’m not sure.” She reached for her beer mug and realized her hands were shaking.

“Gotta admit…any guy that good-looking ever stared at me the way he was staring at you…would probably totally unglue me too. Damn!”

Alex walked up. An eyebrow rose. He’d seen it too. He asked Madison, “Just how long have you known this Devin character?”

“Really…Not long at all. But I did know his grandfather when I was a kid. He and my grandmother were together a lot. Now that I think about it…I guess they were in love. Only, for some reason or the other, they never married.”

“Yeah…” Debra Jean said, speaking to Alex, “I thought we were gonna have to wipe her up off the floor when the dance was over.”

Looking a bit concerned, Alex said, “I agree.” His attention was on Madison. “I can’t tell you your business. But you might want to be careful of this guy. None of us know him really well.”

“I’ll take it under consideration. I will.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, he’s stronger than I am. I could have done what he did, but not with the ease. Hell! It was effortless to him when he lifted that kid up in the air. And Jerry’s not little either.”

Madison just took in what they were saying. Wasn’t much else she could do. She needed time to compose herself. Needed time to think. No man had ever looked at her that way before. It was like he was peering into her very soul.

She managed to drink down the rest of her beer and sat the mug down. “I’ll certainly think about what you’re saying, Alex.” She turned to Debra Jean. “I must say this has been a very interesting evening. Now, before I drink too much…Need to drive my butt home and get to bed.”

“Okay…hon. Just be careful.”

“Yeah,” Alex agreed. “You be especially careful in driving home. I know you’re not too drunk yet, but you’re getting there. And don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t. Night,” she said, waving and making her way across the now clear dance floor, as the band was on break again.

That night, Madison didn’t think of Chuck at all. Instead, Devin’s incredible eyes lingered in her mind through the night, breaking into her dreams, haunting her. When she awoke the next morning, she realized she was still very unglued by the whole experience.

For the next couple of days Madison spent her time cleaning and rearranging the little cottage, doing her best not to think of either man, but she wasn’t having a lot of success. She set up her tripod in the living room, as it had been raining for two days straight. It wasn’t a heavy rain, just a steady mist, and it was overcast. Not good weather for taking pictures. So she began a painting of the three deer she had photographed. At least it was better than wandering aimlessly around, trying to figure out what exactly Devin Knight had done to her. She needed to quit thinking about it; feared it would drive her insane if she didn’t.

Later that afternoon, the sun came out, and she went to open up the front door to air the house out. When she did, Shep was lying on her porch. He looked up at her and woofed.

“Hey there, Shep,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

Shep just woofed again, wagged his tail and stood on all fours, acting like he wanted to come inside. Madison realized the dog must get lonely when Chuck was at the store, so she let him in. That seemed to make him happy.

She stroked his head for a few minutes, and then went back to her painting. He plopped down on the rug, seeming perfectly content. She smiled to herself and continued working.

Just as Madison was finishing up her supper – she’d taken the time to fry some chicken legs and shared some of the meat with Shep – there was a knock on her front door. She had a feeling it was Chuck, especially when the dog barked excitedly. She opened up the door.

“My dog here?” he asked, looking puzzled. Then Shep stuck his muzzle in front of Madison. “What the hell is he doing in your house?” He sounded miffed.

Instantly, she didn’t like his tone. “He was on my front porch this afternoon and acted like he wanted in. I felt sorry for him! So I let him in. If I was wrong in doing so, I apologize. You can certainly have him back.” She swung the door wide for the dog to go out. But Shep just stood there.

“Come on, boy!” Chuck said.

Shep woofed but didn’t budge.

Chuck sniffed the air. “You fry chicken?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Didn’t give him any bones, did you?”

“No! I know better. But I did give him some meat.”

“No wonder he doesn’t want to come home with me.”

“Why are you being such a jerk?”

His brow furrowed. “Say what?”

“You’re being a jerk! I just felt sorry for your dog because he seemed lonely. And apparently he was…’cause he came here. And you’re being a complete jerk about it.”

Following a moment of thought, his face softened. “I’m sorry!” He shut his eyes and opened them, now appearing all apologetic. “I am sorry, Madison. Just trying to deal with some things. I really don’t mean to take it out on you. But apparently I’m doing just that.” He glanced down at his dog and then back up. “You’re right. I know Shep gets lonely when I’m gone. Thanks for taking him in.”

“Not a problem. However, why don’t you take him to the store with you?”

“I do sometimes. But some folks don’t seem to think a dog belongs around the groceries.”

“Keep him behind the counter with you.”

“I do mostly…” he sighed. “Maybe I will start taking him with me again.” He slapped his leg lightly. “Come on, boy.”

This time Shep went out the door.

“Again, thanks.”

“Anytime.” She closed her door before they were off the porch, as she was still a little miffed at his weird behavior, and not from just then, but since their one date. It was like he was two people. “Shit!” she hissed and returned to the kitchen to wash dishes.

Chuck felt badly about the way he had talked to Madison. He really hadn’t intended to. Truth was he wanted nothing more than to really get to know her and get close to her, if she would let him. And he had the feeling that she would.

But he just couldn’t. He could not take that chance. The full moon was drawing closer. He had to stay away from her for her own sake. Had to!

As they reached the cabin, Shep loped up the steps ahead of him, anxiously wagging his tail, expecting supper. “Didn’t you just eat, dog?” He opened the door and they went in.

Shep stopped in front of him and woofed in response.

“Okay…I’ll get you that steak I promised you before I left this morning. It’s waiting in the refrigerator for you.

In the kitchen, he reached in and drew the brown package out, unwrapped it and handed it over to the dog, and then opened the back door to let him out, so he wouldn’t get blood drippings all over the kitchen floor. Knowing the routine, the dog anxiously carried his meat out on the porch, dropped down and began enjoying his meal.

That was when he noticed him – Devin Knight standing just along the tree line in the back by the woods. “What the hell’s he doing there?” Then he was gone. Chuck blinked. “What the—?” He rubbed his eyes. “I could have sworn…” Shep jumped up too, and was looking in the same direction. “Did you see him too, fella?”

Shep yipped excitedly, tail swishing back and forth.

“You did! But how in hell did he disappear so fast?” He stood there, eyes peeled, carefully scanning across the entire line of trees. No sign of Devin Knight or anyone else for that matter. “What the
hell!”
He decided that he and the dog were both losing it and he closed the door and went to make himself something for supper.

Debra Jean was wiping down the bar just as Alex hurried in the front door, coming back from the bank. He laid the bag full of rolled quarters on the counter and walked around, giving her an affectionate squeeze from behind. “Gonna be a big night tonight.”

“I know…Friday night crowd. We’re always busy.”

He released her and took the bag of quarters and unlocked the small safe under the bar and tossed them inside and closed it back and spun the dial. “Guess what I just heard on the radio driving back?”

“What?” She asked, mildly curious.

“That Jerry fella that pushed Madison around the other night…Milton’s his last name. A state trooper found him dead this afternoon. Throat ripped open. They think it was an animal…I’m guessing a cougar.”

“That’s terrible!” She wasn’t particularly fond of the guy, but he was young. And she didn’t wish such a fate on anyone. “We haven’t had any cougar attacks in a long time.”

“I know. Only, what else would do that? Possibly a bear. Bears don’t usually go around tearing out people’s throats, though. More like something a cat would do.”

“Ugh! That’s awful. Probably won’t make Madison feel very good either. She’s probably had some not-so-nice thoughts about him since the other night. She’ll probably feel really bad for thinking them when she hears he’s dead.”

“Think she’ll come in tonight?”

“Don’t have any idea. I know she’s miffed at Chuck since he basically dumped her after one date.”

“Oh really?” he said, looking up at her from the register where he was getting the money ready for opening. “That wasn’t nice of him.”

“Guess he was really friendly at first. She liked him a lot. Then he told her he had some things he had to deal with and couldn’t be seeing her.”

“Hmmm…sounds like a jerk. I would have never considered him to be the jerky type though.”

“Me either. But he did dance with her once Wednesday when he was here.”

“Yeah…I saw that.”

“Anyway, I hate to hear about Jerry…even though he treated Madison awful.”

“Yeah…he was young. Too bad.”

Night was fast settling in, but Madison decided to sit out on her back porch steps anyway. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took it outside and sat down on the bottom step. Her friend, the raven, was back, perched in a nearby tree, watching her with his usual curiosity. She sniggered to herself, thinking the bird really strange, maybe even deranged.

The air was getting much cooler in the evenings now. She shivered slightly, but didn’t feel like going back inside just yet and just sat there, sipping on her hot coffee. The sky was only partially clear, not all the clouds from the showers had gone away, but a few stars were beginning to pop into view.

Her eyes trailed off towards the woods in the direction of the older Devin’s cabin.

“Why am I so fascinated by it?” she asked herself. “Why am I so fascinated by… him?” She spoke of the younger Devin now, remembering the way he had looked into her eyes when they danced. “I wonder if he’ll be at Alex’s tonight. I know the band’s coming back. Only, according to Debra Jean, he rarely goes there. That might have been a one-time thing… Still, it is Friday night. And I’m lonely.”