by Kristie Cook
“Yeah. You’re really only riding for about half an hour, but by the time you remove the tack and turn ‘em out, an hour’s gone by before you know it.” Then Jen added, “Don’t feel like you have to do it if you’re not up to it. I don’t mind riding an extra hour tonight. I don’t think my mom knows how nervous you get.”
“Thanks, Jen, but I’ll give it a try. I’ll call you if I chicken out. Can I use your phone to call my aunt? She won’t let me walk.”
Than came up from behind her. “Would she mind if I walked you home?”
She shrugged. “I guess that would be okay.” She tried to seem indifferent, but her heart was pounding so loudly that she worried he might be able to hear it. She knew she should call and ask permission, but she knew the answer would likely be no, and she wanted to walk with him. They said goodbye to the Holts and headed down the drive toward the dirt road. Clifford wriggled in her arms and then settled.
“You have a gift with animals,” Than said, stroking Clifford. “I like to watch you interact with them.”
“Thanks,” she said, unable to prevent herself from giving him a genuine smile. Being an animal lover was probably the thing she liked most about herself. “You’re pretty good with animals, too. Clifford has never taken to a stranger the way he has with you, like yesterday when he jumped in your arms.”
“I don’t get to spend much time around animals.” They stepped out onto the dirt road between the houses and the lake, so Therese let Clifford down as Than continued. “I wish it were otherwise. The horses and the birds and even your little dog have brought me a lot of pleasure these past two days.”
Therese didn’t know what to say. All of this was so unexpected. She had taken Than to be arrogant and maybe even selfish, but he sounded sincere. “I couldn’t live without animals,” she said.
Than frowned. Then he turned to her and said, “Being around people has been a pleasant change, too. I tend to be a loner, except for my sisters’ company.”
“That’s too bad. But you can always change.”
He sighed, gave her a sad smile, and shook his head. “Some things never change.”
She wondered what he meant, but she was afraid to pry, so she looked across the reservoir to the mountains on the other side. The sun was almost at high noon, and everything sparkled under its brilliant light.
“I never get tired of this view,” Therese said. “I feel so lucky to live here.” Then she thought of who else used to live here, and the tears welled. Panic gripped her heart, but she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She wasn’t going to cry.
“I know you must miss them,” Than said softly. “Bobby told me. I wish I could say I know how you feel.”
“Are your parents staying in the Melner cabin with you?” Therese wanted to change the subject.
“No. My dad had to work and my mom is visiting my grandmother.”
They were silent for a while, both looking out over the lake and at Clifford stopping again to pee on every other tree. When they reached Therese’s gravel driveway, they slowed down and came to a stop. “What does your dad do?”
He stuck his hands in his pockets and let out a deep breath. “Hmm. Well, my dad, he manages a large operation, and my mom helps him during parts of the year. It’s difficult to explain.”
“So he never gets to get away?”
“Never. In fact, this is my very first trip away from home, and I had to beg and make promises.” He laughed. “My dad’s a good guy. Please don’t misunderstand. But he’s got a huge responsibility, and, well, it’s difficult for him to be flexible.”
Therese noticed Clifford had gone on ahead of her toward the house. “Well, I’m glad you got to come out here. It’s beautiful country and the Holts are an awesome family. And the horses are so incredible.”
“I’m glad, too.” He took a step closer to her. “I’m glad I got to meet you.”
Therese felt the blood rush to her face, and she looked down, shuffling around the gravel of her driveway with her sneaker. “Thanks. I’m glad I got to meet you, too.” She looked up to see him grinning down at her.
“So I guess I’ll see you later this afternoon, when it’s time to exercise the horses.”
“Yeah.” She wanted to add, “Unless I chicken out,” but she didn’t.
“See you later.” He turned and headed toward the Melner cabin.
She watched him walk away, enjoying the view.
Chapter Twelve: Mortal Sensations
Being human certainly had its advantages, Than thought as he walked away from Therese toward his cabin. For one thing, he never realized how much more humans than gods experience the world. As often as he had been all over the planet, he had never felt the sun on his back. He had never experienced the cold water of a lake or river running through his fingers. He had never heard the beautiful music of the birds. Than realized his primal senses were more finely-tuned when in mortal form, while his mind was more finely tuned when in godly form. In other words, he had never felt so much in all his life.
He wondered if the lower one went in the animal kingdom, the more this was true. Did horses feel more than humans? Beetles more than horses?
He stopped before a pine tree and pressed his nose close to its tickling branches. He breathed in the fresh, astringent scent with immeasurable pleasure. The path was alight with voices of insects, birds, and rodents, like an orchestra unaware of its audience and so unlike the quiet desolation of the Underworld. Even as Than travelled across the globe for souls day in and day out, he had not heard these insect sounds or felt the freshness of this air or basked in the heat of this sun. Before turning up the gravelly drive to his log cabin, he went to the reservoir once again to kick off his boots and dip his feet into the cool water. In the Underworld, he was surrounded by rivers but in none of them could he indulge his senses like he could now as a man.
Therese had baffled him. Earlier in the pen, she shouted prayers at him that had made it hard for him to keep a straight face. She had said, “What are you looking at? You think you’re so sexy? So what if you are? Quit looking at me like that! You’re a jerk, aren’t you?”
It had amazed him how quickly these prayers that she unwittingly hurled at him changed as the afternoon went on. By the next day, by time he was walking her home, she directed other thoughts his way, “Who are you? Why do you like me? How can someone like you be interested in someone like me?”
He couldn’t read her thoughts, but prayers that she sent his way were crystal clear, even if she did not know he heard them.
When he reached his cabin, he found it empty. Meg and Tizzie were rarely there, always busy hunting. Apparently they had a new lead in the case and would be gone for a while. Than felt a little guilty, now, as he thought of their constant work. His sisters enjoyed their job, but did they ever get a break? Who was he to have this extended vacation where he could revel in the sensual pleasures the earth had to offer?
Than sat on the sofa and immediately felt his brother’s appearance.
Hip appeared on the opposite end of the sofa. “I was just wondering the same thing myself, brother,” Hip said.
“I have no sympathy for you, lover boy.”
“I don’t blame you. Your job sucks. The past three weeks have been absolutely odious. I wonder how you’ve suffered through the past centuries without complaining before now.”
Than shrugged. “It’s not so bad as you make it out, Hip. There’s satisfaction in bringing an end to earthly pain and suffering, which is almost always present at death. Don’t you think?”
“Absolutely not. It’s perfectly depressing. Not a bright spot anywhere to be found. I came to beg you to give me a day’s reprieve, just a day, so I can have a little fun in the dream world, just to tide me over these next horrible days to come.”
Than frowned. “I suppose I can find a day to do it. Let me think on it and get back with you.” Than didn’t want to risk the possibility of his father shortening his visit because of a com
plaining brother.
“Have I told you lately that I love you, bro’?” Hip jumped up and disappeared, smiling.
Chapter Thirteen: News
Carol looked up from the couch where she had been working on her laptop as soon as Therese and Clifford entered the house. “Oh, good. You’re home. Hungry?”
Carol must have assumed one of the Holts had given her a ride, and Therese didn’t say otherwise. “Not yet.”
“Well, the lieutenant is coming by for a bit, so I guess we can wait till after his visit to have lunch.”
Therese plopped onto the couch beside Carol and then winced. She kept forgetting about her neck. It felt good most of the time, but plopping on couches reminded her that her neck was still a little sore, and today’s exercise probably made it a little more so. “Why is he coming?”
“He said he had some news and wanted to discuss it with us. He’ll be here in about twenty minutes or so.”
“I’ll go shower and change.”
Later, Therese opened the door and let the lieutenant inside. He was sweating again, and she wondered if he had a health problem.
“Did that man kill my parents?” she asked.
“Sweetheart, let the lieutenant come in and sit down.”
“I don’t blame her,” Lieutenant Hobson said as he crossed the room. “I’d want answers, too, if I were her. He took the seat Carol offered him beside the fireplace.
“Can I get you something to drink? Iced tea? Lemonade?” Carol asked.
“Iced tea sounds nice. No sugar, please. I’m diabetic.”
Therese sat on the sofa across from the lieutenant and waited until Carol returned with his drink. Once Carol was beside her on the couch, Therese asked, “What news do you have for us?”
“Well, I’ve established a couple of possible motives. Your father’s most recent novel was based on a crime committed by a felon released a month ago from the federal prison in Three Rivers, Texas. My team has been tracking this man’s whereabouts, and, as soon as we’ve located him, we’ll bring him in for questioning.”
“What about the man in the line up?” Therese asked.
“Another motive involves your mother’s work. She was being honored at the university for her role in leading a team of students close to finding an antidote for the mutated anthrax toxin C. Maybe there are folks out there who wanted to slow down its discovery.”
Therese’s mouth dropped open. Her head started spinning and she closed her eyes.
“We’ve questioned a lot of people from the university and have pretty much ruled out disgruntled students and colleagues.”
Therese opened her eyes. “What about the man in the lineup?” she said again.
“Sweetheart, be patient,” Carol said. “He’s getting to that.”
“Yes. He’s confessed to the shooting.”
“Oh my gosh!” Therese cried. “He really did it!” She couldn’t believe she had seen the killer before he committed his gruesome deed. Maybe if she had gotten her parents to see him, maybe she could have somehow prevented, maybe …” She broke into tears. She felt panicky and so alone. She wanted her mother and father!
“The shooter claims he was working for someone else,” the lieutenant said, “and that’s as far as we’ve gotten. We don’t know who this other person is or why he was after your parents. But we know we’ve got the shooter, and we’re in the process of offering him a deal to talk.” The lieutenant finished his tea and set the glass down on the end table beside the chair. “That’s all I have for now, but I wanted to tell you in person. I’ll call as soon as we break this guy.”
Therese shuddered. That man had killed her parents. She couldn’t get his deranged face out of her mind. She shuddered again as the tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m going upstairs,” she said, before the lieutenant had left.
Sometime later, Carol came upstairs into Therese’s room. “I’m so sorry you have to go through all this,” Carol said gently, sitting beside her on the bed.
Therese didn’t reply.
Carol stroked Therese’s hair. “Can I fix you something to eat?”
“Maybe in a little bit.”
“Richard’s coming tomorrow night to stay with us through the weekend,” Carol said, obviously trying to lighten the mood. “It’ll be nice to have a man around.”
“He’s coming tomorrow night?”
Carol frowned. “I hope that’s okay. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Therese patted Clifford, who lay on the bed beside her. “I’m glad he’s coming and everything. It’s just that the Holts invited me to the Wildhorse Saloon tomorrow night. Pete’s band is playing. Pete is Jen’s older brother.”
“That sounds like fun. Rich and I could join you after I pick him up from the airport.”
“Oh, that would be so great. I need to get out of here, you know? You really want to go?”
“Sure!”
“Awesome,” she said this softly, unable to show enthusiasm, but she really was glad they would all be going out. “I’ll can Jen.”
“I’ll go fix a salad. Come down when you’re ready.” Carol left the room.
Therese sat up and reached for the phone on her nightstand. Jewels poked her head up from her log with a piece of spinach hanging from her mouth.
“You’re still eating?” Therese teased, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Is it good?”
Jewels answered with a loud crunch.
Therese looked over at Puffy, who was asleep in the little tower on the top of his plastic house. She could just make him out through the bedding he had carried up there. She would need to clean out his cage soon. She dialed Jen’s number. Jen was pleased with the news. Therese didn’t mention anything about the lieutenant’s visit nor did she mention the panicky feeling that had gripped her heart.
***
Carol called up the stairs to let Therese know the salad was ready, but Therese wasn’t hungry. She had just finished cleaning out Puffy and Jewels’s houses, which always messed with her appetite.
“Do you mind if I play my flute?” Therese called down. She hadn’t played since before … everything changed.
“Of course not, sweetheart. You go right ahead.”
Before she could get out her instrument, the phone rang, so she picked it up, and found it was Vicki Stern calling.
“Hi Vicki.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’m getting ready to practice my flute. What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
Therese waited for Vicki to say why she was calling, hoping it wasn’t to share her regrets, and when she didn’t, Therese asked, “Have you seen any movies lately?”
“Nope. Want to go with me tomorrow night?”
Therese cringed. “I’m sorry. I’m going to … I have other plans. We’re going to the Wildhorse Saloon, if you want to meet us. A whole bunch of us will be there.”
“Hmm. I don’t really like crowds. What about Thursday?”
“I’ll check with my aunt and call you back. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“By then.
“Bye.”
Therese slid the black instrument case and fold-up music stand from beneath her bed, set up the stand, and got her sheet music out from a desk drawer. What did she feel like playing? She had received a one in a UIL solo and ensemble contest last spring playing a Handel sonata. She took it out now and put it on the music stand. Then she assembled the three pieces of her silver flute. She hadn’t played in so long, and she realized now as she blew the air across the mouth piece how much she had been missing it. Playing relaxed her, fulfilled her, and brought her pleasure. She launched into the sonata full of emotions.
She hadn’t played very far into the song when she started crying. She wasn’t sobbing and shaking as she had done each night since she woke from the coma. Instead, the tears simply fell down her face, like water dripping from a broken faucet. She could no longer see the sheet music, but she didn’t need
to. She played the song by memory, moving her fingers quickly and effectively, a trill here, an eight-note rise there, and a whole note pause. She bent her brows and threw her heart into the song. She sang in her mind to the rising melodic scale: They are still with me, in my heart and in my soul. They are a part of me forever.
She kept repeating the words in time with the melody: They are a part of me forever.
A movement in the woods outside her second-story window caught her attention. She stopped playing and went to the window. At first she didn’t see anything, so she almost went back to sit on her bed and continue playing, but as she was about to turn away, she caught a flash of white and blue.
“Oh my God, it’s Than,” she said to herself. “What’s he doing out there?”
As if he had heard her, he looked up and waved. He looked huge, even beside the giant diseased elm.
She opened the window. “Hey, Than. What are you doing?”
He walked down the side of the mountain toward the back of her house and looked up. “I was taking a walk when I heard music. I came this way to find out where it was coming from. It’s beautiful. Is it coming from you?”
She blushed and nodded. “Hold on a minute, and I’ll come down.” Then she turned to Clifford, who sat curled on her pillow on the bed. “That’s not your pillow, boy. Why do you always have to lie down on my pillow? Yours is right there beside you! And you have another over there on the floor! You greedy boy.” Then she laughed, suddenly joyful, and petted him. “You want to go outside?”
Clifford leapt from the bed, scattering the limp, pathetic balloons, and headed downstairs. Therese followed with her flute, anxious to show off her talent to Than.
Carol looked up from the granite counter as Therese came down the stairs. She was eating her salad. “Who is that guy?” she asked. She must have seen him through the kitchen window.
“He’s staying in the Melner cabin. I met him at the Holts’. He’s working for them this week, too.”