Sheep's Clothing

by Gary Lewis

  The water took on a louder rushing sound. It seemed as though the boat was suddenly bouncing up and down just as the werewolf lunged, busting him through the bottom floor paneling. Cold water splashed into his clothes and everything became bright. It was bright enough to hurt his eyes as he bounced up, trying to focus his blurry vision.

  ###

  "Drink," a deep voice cut through the ringing that felt like the audible sound of his headache. "You need to drink, man."

  David sat up, drenched and chilled as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

  "Good thing you're so damn skinny," Vance's voice echoed from the blurry form sitting in front of him.

  "What happened?" David mumbled, slowly turning his head around to see the small waterfall that poured down into the creek which snaked its way through the shady forest. Bright rays of light beamed down through gaps between the leaves above them.

  "Thought I lost you for a minute there," Vance chuckled. "Oh, and don't get the wrong idea. I just didn't want trouble, leaving you for dead out here and all." Vance stood up and motioned his hand at the wet canteen on the ground between them. "Better drink up. We don't want to be out here all day."

  David reached to lift the military relic of a black metal container and as he felt the cold liquid meet his mouth, his thirst returned. The long-forgotten taste of water had now emerged from the depths of his memory. He guzzled it down so fast that he choked up on the water he inhaled, coughing it up through his stinging nose.

  "Not so fast," Vance said. "You'll need some electrolytes soon."

  "How do you know this stuff?" David asked.

  "Think I'm stupid, huh?" Vance grinned and stared, but David remained silent. "Used to happen all the time in early practice. Folks go soft all summer in their pretty air-conditioned houses, playing video games and then they jump right in. Don't know shit about living it hot and run down."

  "Sorry," David said. As he climbed to his feet, his heavily soaked clothes clung everywhere to his body. He began to pat his pockets with worry.

  "I emptied your pockets before I dragged you through the creek." Vance reached for his pack and pulled David’s phone and keys from a pocket on the side. He tossed them and David fumbled to catch.

  "Dragged? Through?"

  Vance lifted his hand toward the stream. "...The creek.” He looked at David and nodded up and down. “Had to bring your temperature down somehow, didn't I?"

  A deep shiver vibrated from David's core as his teeth chattered just a bit. "Whatever the hell you did sure worked."

  The forest trees spread to just enough open ground for easy foot travel and the rushing creek quieted to a far trickle as David followed Vance through the woods at a noticeably slower pace than earlier. Despite the loud, constant buzz of insects continuing in the background, a sense of peaceful tranquility blanketed David.

  "It sure is quiet out here," David said with a calm smile.

  "I don't like it," Vance said.

  David shook his head and looked over at him. "Of course you would have a problem with some peace and quiet."

  "It's too quiet. I haven't seen a squirrel hit the ground in half an hour." Vance stopped and held up his hand, halting David in his tracks. Standing still as though in deep concentration, he turned his ear behind them. "Don't look back." It seemed like Vance read his mind before David had even thought to turn.

  "What is it?" David's whisper barely sounded above the insects while Vance began to silently walk.

  "Just keep walking."

  "If you're bullshitting me again, I swear..." David said.

  "Just walk." Vance continued as David tried to match his pace just as quietly.

  Vance reached around behind him to draw his gun from the back of his blue jeans.

  "What's that for?" David whispered.

  "Shut up," Vance whispered back.

  They continued on for a few minutes and Vance came to a dead stop. "Wait." David leaned far to his left to look around in front of

  Vance's broad shoulder. The tree in front of them was splashed red with blood, missing large pieces of bark, strewn around the ground amongst bright red spatter. David's breathing sped up. He didn't care about being quiet or playing hide and sneak through the woods anymore.

  "Is it Tony?" David asked. "Tell me. What is it Vance?" He raced to go around him as Vance turned to halt him with a single forceful hand shoved against David's chest.

  "I need you to calm the hell down for a minute," Vance said slow and serious, looking David square in the eyes. "Just wait here." Vance crept between the trees, following the trail of disturbed ground and trampled plants with his gun drawn in each direction he looked.

  Vance slowed to a stop and lowered his weapon halfway as he looked around in a circle. He slowly raised his arm and waved David over.

  "Deer," he said aloud.

  David stepped in the direction of Vance, now kneeling on the ground, examining the scene intently. The ripped open carcass laid on top of a pile of dug earth. Ribs protruded from its side, rising red from its torn hide.

  David thought for a moment as Vance peered around the ground. "We're probably pretty safe right now," David said with a sigh of relief. "It's broad daylight."

  "Nope.” Vance lifted his blood smeared fingers from the dirt and rubbed them together close to his face. "This was recent."

  "How recent?" David asked.

  "Maybe a couple hours. Maybe a few minutes. Definitely not long, in this heat."

  A click caught their attention, followed by a loud snap. "It came from over there," Vance nodded back in the direction of the creek. "Let's head to the highway. It's not far if we cut straight through here." Vance motioned to their side. "Can you run if you have to?" Vance looked back as David sought an answer from his tired brain. "Just if we need to?"

  "Yeah. I think so."

  His expression grew grave. "Okay. Let's hope it doesn't come down to that," Vance paused. "Because all I have to do is outrun you," he finished with a smile.

  "Go to hell, Vance."

  David stayed side by side with Vance, running as quietly as possible toward the sound of traffic, now getting louder as glints of bright reflection flashed through the woods ahead. After what seemed like forever, they emerged onto the open highway and things looked a lot more familiar to David.

  "I'm parked up this way," David pointed to the right.

  "Hell no,” Vance said as he burst across the street. “We're walking on this side."

  The day once again became hot and David lost track of time as they walked back to the trailhead where he parked his car that morning. Eventually, they made it back to the cool blast of David’s air conditioner and after giving Vance a quick lift to his pickup, David had a lot to think about on the long drive home.

  Chapter 11

  #Janice#

  The clear, dark blue sky took on a pale glow behind her as Janice setup her tripod. It wasn't uncommon for someone to capture the glow of the sunrise, but her intention was to get some good shots of Bluff Mountain as the early morning sun shined upon the deep green treetops along its rolling hills. Occasionally, the sound of a passing car reminded her of the rest of the world, but it wasn't too distracting. In this moment, all that existed was her camera lens and the scene that awaited before her.

  "Thought I might find you here," David's voice came from behind to bounce her back into reality. He smelled of expensive cologne and his usually disheveled, feathered hair was now combed to the side. His deep blue eyes met hers and they matched one another's smiles.

  "So, you're psychic now?" Janice asked as she squeezed her lips together to contain the happiness she could feel glowing in her cheeks.

  David rubbed the back of his head and glanced to the side. "Well, it's the only place within walking distance where you can get good photographs and you weren't home."

  Suddenly, she remembered why she was there in the first place. Janice's face shot back to the mountain. "Hurry! Look!" She waved David over. He squat
ted beside her at the camera as they watched. Each individual peak of the rolling forested hills began to glow vibrant orange. It slowly lowered its way down to contrast against the dark gorges and gullies. Each ravine still shaded in darkness, casting the shadows of ridges across the mountain like a topographical painting. Janice snapped one photo after another, attempting to capture the perfect moment. After everything that had happened, this was the perfect moment.

  "I wish I had your help setting up mine," David said. "Yesterday, we mounted my digital camera to the telescope on a timer to catch anything heading toward the mountain from the Perkins' fields in the late evening and early morning."

  Janice wanted to avoid the entire topic, but her curiosity wouldn't let her. "We?" she asked.

  "Vance showed up.” He tilted his head slightly to the side. “It was weird, but turned out alright." David's answer was brief and he quickly changed the subject. "How about breakfast at the Sunset?"

  A glow of joy fueled her response. "I thought you'd never ask."

  She reached to detach the camera from the tripod, having already taken several great shots, but the perfect one was still missing as she turned it in her hand to face the lens.

  "Here, let me get that." David rushed over and began folding up the tripod.

  "Wait. One more," she said. She leaned against his side with a smile and aimed the camera toward them.

  They posed to the snap of the shutter before David carried his smile back to his car with her.

  ###

  By the time they arrived at the diner, a line of middle-aged customers stretched to the door. Breakfast rush was in full swing.

  "I forgot the lumber yard was reopening today," David said with a smack to his forehead.

  "Perfect timing." Janice giggled with a nod of her head.

  David looked to the floor. "I'm sure they'll clear out soon. They have to clock in eventually."

  Janice placed her hand on his forearm and smiled at him. "It's okay. I'm not in a hurry."

  The line moved, one person at a time, until they could finally immerse themselves into the noisy chatter of the lobby, but it wasn't enough to distract from the smell of overcooked bacon, eggs and burned hash browns.

  "I'm so hungry I could eat a cow," Janice laughed as David gave a comical look of fright. But her attempts to lighten the mood with humor didn't seem to have an impact on David's fidgeting while he leaned side to side and darted looks around the restaurant.

  "How about we get it to go?" Janice asked.

  David's head tilted with a half-smile. "I guess."

  "It's okay," Janice said with a smile. "I know the perfect spot."

  David's shoulders seemed to relax a bit and the line moved forward once again. Janice wondered what was on David's mind. Something had him uptight and she hated not knowing what was wrong. Then it occurred to her. "Oh! Are you sure you're okay with being here so soon?" she asked.

  David looked back at her for a couple of the longest seconds Janice ever experienced.

  The crowd parted and old man Sam strode straight through. His look of compassion draped onto his somber, wrinkled face as he approached and rested his hand on David's shoulder.

  "I'm sorry, David,” he said quietly. His head bowed to almost bump into David's. “Tony was a good kid."

  David grabbed Sam's hand and slowly but deliberately removed it to the side. "I'm fine," he said loudly to Janice's surprise. Sam backed up a couple paces to where he paused with a mournful stare.

  The sea of voices in overlapping conversation began to break apart, giving way to a wave of silence that washed over them. Janice noticed that people were starting to look. She kept her face aimed forward as she whispered to David, beside her. "Everyone is staring at us."

  "Yeah. Let's go," he said. "We can get something at the store." He turned to walk toward the entrance without looking back and Janice followed.

  Janice exited the glass double-doors, passing the motionless blind beggar where he sat against the building as she hurried to catch up to David. "That was rude," she said while speeding her walk to a light dash across the packed parking lot where David waited at his car. "He was just trying to be there for you."

  "I guess you're right," he said as he looked down for a brief moment. "But what's done is done. Where are we going?"

  Janice smiled as she settled into the passenger side. She knew she was right. It was rude. But there was something she liked about it. David seemed a lot surer of himself than usual today.

  "We need gas and food," she said.

  David leaned closer with a smile. "Anything you want."

  "I might just hold you to that, mister," Janice said with a laugh as he put the car in gear and they pulled out.

  ###

  The bright sun baked the joyful tranquility into the skin of her face while the cool air rushed with flying freedom through her hair. Janice propped her arm in the open window as she looked at the white, fluffy clouds that flowed across Bluff Mountain in the shining summer sky where a lone eagle flapped out of the wilderness. But there was no need to search for the perfect moment to capture. The refreshing window breeze blew across her open smile. “It’s already here.”

  "What's that?" David asked as he turned into the gas station parking lot.

  Janice smiled and looked at him while he rolled up beside the pump closest to the store. "It's nothing. Can you grab me a bag of chips?"

  "Sure," he said, getting out to stroll calmly to the glass entrance doors.

  While David was in the store, Janice hopped into the driver seat, hanging her wrist over the wheel and watched the glass double-doors for him with a bright smile.

  He finally emerged with a couple bags loaded with chips and drinks. "Hey cutie, you need a ride?" she shouted in a mock masculine voice as David emerged.

  "What are you doing?" David asked with a laugh.

  "Didn't know I got my license, did you now?"

  David threw the bags in the backseat and handed her a soda. "As long as we don't end up in a ditch," he said before turning to pump the gas.

  David slumped into the passenger seat, adjusting it back to fit his long legs. "So, where's this place at anyway?"

  "You'll see," Janice said, trying to hold back the smile that pulled at her glowing cheeks. "Whatever I want, right?" She hit the gas just a little too hard and stomped the brake before gradually crawling to a smooth roll.

  David covered his face with both hands. "Oh God. Tell me when I can look."

  "I'll get the hang of it." She laughed. "Just relax."

  David turned in her direction, peaking through a gap between his fingers. "I hope so. I'm too young to die."

  Janice giggled again as she looked him in the eyes. "We'll see about that."

  She kept it at exactly the speed limit while they cruised down Central Avenue, passing the old brick buildings that held the many leased out shops along the main strip of city limits. To their left, Bluff Mountain’s beautiful, deep green forests contrasted against the light blue skies.

  "I could've gone to the store up this way if I knew you were heading back toward your place," David said while waving his hand forward.

  "You always think you know everything, don't you?" Janice said with a smile. "You think too much, David."

  "If you say so," David smirked.

  After stopping at the light, Janice hit the left turn signal.

  "Don't you mean that way?" David pointed quickly to the right.

  "Nope,” she tried to say calmly, unable to hold back her grin. “Not just yet.”

  A combination of brightly painted, new looking cars and beat up, old trucks passed by while they sat at the red light. Janice began to wonder if it would ever change colors.

  The light turned green and she carefully turned left. Bluff Mountain rose above the remaining buildings ahead and she continued a bit faster. David wasn't saying anything. He must know where we're going. The foothills seemed to rise and fall while they went uphill and downhill, getting ever cl
oser to her destination. It had been so long since she took this road, but it felt like it was just yesterday.

  "Jan, I don't know..." David said before pausing.

  "I can't let it hold me back forever," she said softly. "Dad wouldn't have wanted that," Janice stopped herself when she felt her voice beginning to shake. She looked at his deep blue eyes, heavy with concern, before she spoke again. “It’s time for me to move on.”

  "But the attacks," David said.

  "The werewolf, you mean?" She shook her head with a sniffle and glanced across the passing trees as the bridge became closer.

  "Look. I know it sounds crazy, but I saw it with my own eyes, Jan."

  "I didn't say that I don't believe you," she said as she looked around at the sunny, open pastures, rimmed by deep vibrant forests.

  David sighed from the passenger seat. "There was this deer yesterday. It was attacked during the middle of the day. Me and Vance saw it."

  "So that rules out the two of you?" Her heavy curiosity began to get sucked into the conversation that she hoped to avoid while they drove through the beautiful midday summer wilderness.

  "Well," David said with uncertainty in his voice. "Vance showed up out of the blue at the tower. It wasn't long before we found it." He sank his head to the side. "So... I guess not."

  "Is that where you mounted the camera?" Janice asked. "Even with that scope there's no way you're going to get a clear picture from there."

  The gleam of Moss Lake rose from beyond the hills ahead and an unfinished conversation broke into a dead silence. Janice slowed as they pulled onto the bridge. The lake finally came into full view, shimmering with the summer sun. There were only a couple of boats visible. She felt David's hand squeeze between the seat and her upper back to slowly rest just below her neck. "I'm sorry, Jan. It's just got me worked up. It's whatever you want, just like I said."

  As Janice slowly navigated the hills and curves, the shaded park entrance drive gradually opened up to a more sunlit parking lot.

  "Find a spot near the shade," David said, motioning toward the elms that loomed out over the far end, near the beach.

  "Not yet," Janice said while she continued driving past the beach parking. She noticed his silence. "It's okay, David," she said as she turned to smile in his eyes. "I'll be fine." Janice focused back onto the freshly paved drive and accelerated just a little.