The Winter People

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  The car ride home was quiet. Kadie’s attention was elsewhere, while I pretended to stare at the scenery, clutching my rose to my chest. This was insane. We never fought.

  When she parked in my driveway, I jerked the door open. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Listen, I’m sorry about freaking out earlier. I shouldn’t have accused you of lying.”

  “S’okay.” I crawled back through the car and gave her a quick hug. “Remember your motto, hoes before bros.” I wanted to tell her about Colton’s strange behavior and about the missing curtain—if it ever existed at all. But today had been weird enough and I didn’t want to get into it again.

  Kadie giggled. “You know it.”

  “So I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Of course. You’ve got to help me get back at Craig for ditching me today.”

  And Kadie was herself once more.

  Relief flooded me while I watched her pull away. What would I do without her? I hurried into the house, where I found Mom sitting at the kitchen table phone cradled in her hand, smiling.

  “She just walked in, do you want to talk to her?” Mom said. “Okay, I’ll chat with you again when she’s done.” She handed me the phone. “It’s Dad.”

  “Dad, hey, where are you?”

  “In Texas. And let me tell you it’s hotter than a frying pan down here.”

  “When are you coming home?” My school bag slipped down my shoulder.

  “I’ve got a couple more loads to do, so I’m hoping it’ll only be a couple more weeks.”

  My dad was a truck driver and only got about five days off a month. Which sucked. At least he’d be home for Christmas.

  “I miss you,” I said.

  “Miss you too, sweetheart. So, your mom said you went on your first date?”

  My lips twitched. “Yes. It was perfect. He took me out for pizza and we played pinball.”

  “Do I need to sit down and have a chat with this boy?” he teased.

  “Um—no. I’d prefer not to die of embarrassment, thank you very much.”

  “Well, if you change your mind, I can always bring some rattlesnake skins back from Texas with me and tell this boy I wrestled them with my bare hands. Make him real scared of me.” Dad laughed.

  “Funny.”

  “Listen, I have to pull out in a few minutes. Why don’t you put your mom back on real quick.”

  “Okay. I love you. Be safe.”

  “Love you, too.”

  “I’m heading back to Grandma’s,” I said as I handed the phone back to Mom and walked to the bathroom. I ran a brush through my hair and double-checked my make-up. I felt foolish for primping to go fill the bird feeders. However, I didn’t want to chance a run-in with Nevin while looking like something my cat spit up.

  With a sigh, I pulled my coat around my shoulders.

  From the kitchen I heard Mom lower her voice. “She’s doing okay so far. But I’ve seen the panic in her eyes again. My mother told me she had a small episode near the pond before they left. I almost called Dr. Bosworth to see if we could get her in.”

  Crap. No. I couldn’t go back to the shrink again. Explain what happened that winter. Like the stupid psychiatrist didn’t already know that. Plus, I was scared I might blurt out something about the weirdness with Colton and then she’d really know I’d flipped.

  “Okay, I’ll hold off. Maybe you’re right. She might just need time to adjust being back on my parents’ property again.”

  Not wanting to get caught eavesdropping, I hurried across the room to the counter. I eyed my Jeep keys. Okay, if I left them here maybe I could spend more time with Nevin.

  But that meant having to walk down the wooded two-track. Alone. In the snow.

  My hand hovered above the dish, where my keys were. I shifted my gaze to the window. Two hundred and fifty steps. That’s all I’d have to go. I left my keys in the bowl and took hesitant steps toward the front door.

  When I moved onto the porch, the frigid air surrounded me and panic clutched my chest. In one swift motion, I rushed back inside. No way in hell could I walk over.

  “Salome? What in the world are you doing?” Mom glanced at me as I ran into the kitchen.

  “Um—nothing. I, uh, forgot my hat.” Crap, if I let her see how freaked out I was she’d probably set that appointment. I stared at my key ring on the other side of her. My legs trembled, but I gave her a forced smile.

  “Are you going to drive over? If so, I can ride with you.”

  She’d given me an opening to grab my keys. “No. I thought I’d try to walk today.”

  She maneuvered closer to me. “Honey, are you sure about this?”

  “Yeah. I have my phone. And you and Gram said I needed to overcome this.” I gave her a quick wave before I changed my mind and made my way outside once more.

  Taking a deep breath, I stepped into a drift wishing I’d worn two pairs of socks.

  The pine and oak trees waved back and forth, dropping snow from their branches. I tried to keep my eyes forward, but the deep shadows of the forest beckoned my attention.

  Snap. The sound of breaking twigs shattered the silence.

  My pace quickened and I glanced over my shoulder. Beyond the fence surrounding our properties I heard a low growl, then a high-pitched scream. I covered my ears with my hands and took off in a sprint.

  “That’s right, run, Salome. Fear me. Your time is coming. They cannot keep you safe forever. Remember eighteen.”

  My lungs burned as I crashed into my grandparents’ front door. I fumbled to get the lock open. Once inside, I slammed the door and sank to the floor. God, that voice. I recognized it. She was back. And she knew I was here.

  My thoughts got the best of me as I put my head in my hands. A sob escaped my lips. I didn’t want to go back outside. I didn’t want to feel the cold air on my skin, or see the treachery winter brought with it.

  I needed to get a grip and quit being so stupid—my imagination was running wild.

  Grandma counted on me to take care of things. Sitting on her foyer floor crying wasn’t getting the chores done.

  Nevin. Maybe I’d drum up enough courage today to ask him about the voices.

  His name brought me to my feet. Wiping tears away, I forced myself to the slider door.

  My gaze swept the yard. Disappointment overwhelmed me when I didn’t see him. Stepping onto the deck, I trudged toward the shed.

  One. Two. Three. Only seventeen more steps.

  I stared at the wrought iron gate and a shiver raked through my body. Evil lurked somewhere, on the other side of that fence. Or maybe it was all in my head like the shrink said. Damn, I should’ve let Mom come with me.

  I got through the first couple of feeders then stopped at the oak. When I peered at the ground I noticed tiny footprints in the snow. Bending closer, I gasped. They were like small human footprints. Impossible. People weren’t that tiny.

  “I’m definitely losing my mind.” I stood back up. Out of sheer curiosity, I reached inside the hollowed area in the oak to find yesterday’s trinket gone.

  Frowning, I dropped a gold watch in then delivered food to the last two containers, all the while counting my steps. Once finished, I headed back to the shed and locked it. I sighed. Looked like I’d been stood up.

  Then I saw him. Leaning against the gazebo. Nevin’s dark hair touched the collar of his black leather jacket, his wintry eyes focused on me. A slow smile spread across his face.

  “I thought you might not show.” I fought to keep the surprise from my voice. Geez, was I so desperate for a friend that I put all my hope in a complete stranger? No, I told myself, he was the key to my sanity…or maybe insanity.

  He straightened to his full height, sauntering gracefully to my side. “There isn’t anything that could’ve kept me away.”

  Holy God, he needed to turn down the charm. I moved closer to the gazebo steps and reached for one of the poles, twirling around it as flakes peppered my cheeks.

  �
��So, what’ve you been up to all day?”

  Nevin watched me and chuckled. “I hope you’re not deciding on that profession.”

  “What?”

  He pointed at the pole I’d been swinging on. “Your parents really ought to encourage you to try other things.”

  In my surprise, I released the pole and went flying down the stairs. Nevin moved quick, catching me in his arms before I hit the ground. He held me suspended, like he’d dipped me back in an elegant dance move.

  His face was inches from mine, his honey-scented breath cool against my face. Needle-like prickles shot threw me and my pulse quickened as we seemed frozen in position. I got that dazed feeling, and everything blurred a little.

  He pulled me up until I stood on my own two feet. “Sorry.” I took a step back. “My routine obviously needs work.”

  Grinning, he reached into his coat pocket. “Here, I made something for you.”

  “What is it?” I held out a gloved hand.

  “Look and see.”

  He handed over a beautiful rose carved out of ice. It looked like glass, the way each petal and thorny detail was etched into the frozen art. For a moment, I smelled the sweet nectar of a rose wafting in the air. Then it disappeared.

  “Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “I have many talents.” Nevin’s voice took on an air of conceit.

  I rolled my eyes and set the ice rose on the gazebo. “Has anyone ever told you arrogance is not a virtue?’

  His gaze darkened. “Once. And that was one time too many.”

  Whoa! Where had that come from? Talk about brooding male.

  “I, for one, find arrogance unattractive.” I lowered my voice. I knew enough guys like him at school. The ones who’d tormented and picked on me when I’d had my last “winter” episode my sophomore year. Which was why I was so surprised Colton had asked me out.

  Nevin sighed, tracing his finger along the snow covered railing. “Is that so? Then why are you here?”

  Why was I there? But my pulse pounded so hard in my ears I couldn’t think. “I’m taking care of my grandma’s house while she’s gone.”

  He took hold of my arm, tugging me closer to him. “Then why did you wait for me?”

  So he had been watching me. “Because I told you I would. If nothing else, I stand by my word.”

  “Does my arrogance really bother you?” His lips twitched, his hand stroking my arm.

  In a way it did, but I wanted him to be different and I was certain that deep down he could be. “Not really, with hot guys you kind of expect it.” Shit! Not again. I had to think before I talked.

  His head fell back and he laughed. “I like a girl who speaks her mind, especially when she says nice things about me.”

  “Moving on.” I averted my gaze.

  He tugged on my sleeve until I glanced back up at him. “Sometimes it’s easier to be an ass than it is to be kind. You never know who you can trust.”

  Déjà vu. Colton had lectured me about trust earlier. And also gave me a rose. My hair stood up on end. Okay. Now was not the time to freak out. So they’d both done similar things. Who cared?

  Refocusing back on him, I said, “You can trust me.”

  He took a seat on the gazebo steps. “That’s yet to be seen.”

  “I don’t like being called a liar.” I squeezed into the spot next to him. “Besides, you don’t even know me.”

  “You’re all the same.” Nevin stared at the pond. A strand of dark hair brushed his forehead.

  “Okay, I think you lost me here. All of who?”

  “Huma—women.”

  Asshole. The muscles in my jaw tightened.

  “Glad to see you’ve got such a high opinion of me. We’ve known each other for what? A day and you know every nuance of me.” I shot to my feet, glaring. “I can’t believe I actually looked forward to seeing you today. That I thought we could be friends.”

  I spun on my heel and marched through the snowdrifts toward the house.

  “Salome, wait.” Nevin bounded after me, catching my hand before I got to the deck. “I’m sorry. I’m not much of a people person.” His tone softened, his face lost the hostility that had been there moments before. “I—I have trust issues. It’s not you—I’m just bad at this.”

  “Then I don’t understand why you suggested we hang out. I’m a person, or at least I was the last time I checked.” I jerked my hand away from his.

  He closed his eyes as if collecting his thoughts. When his lids flipped open again, I saw the pain reflected back at me.

  “I’ve wanted to talk to you, to see you up close. I have waited a long time for this moment—for you to come back.”

  The breeze picked up. The need to get inside crept up the back of my neck and I folded my arms across my chest to conserve body heat.

  “I don’t know what you mean. I never went anywhere,” I whispered.

  “Then where were you every winter?” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I searched for you every time I came around.”

  “Every time you came around? You act as if we’ve met before. Like I should know you.”

  He pulled a dead leaf from my hair, then stared into my eyes. “So tell me, why are you so afraid of the snow?”

  Embarrassment washed over me. How could I explain my fear to him? My courage fled and I doubted he’d understand the voices or the warnings.

  “I don’t like to go out in the winter, not after—” I swallowed hard.

  “You fell in the pond,” he finished, closing the distance between us. He cupped my chin in his hands, forcing me to look at him.

  Icy blue eyes stared through me, eyes that seemed so familiar.

  “How do you know about that?”

  A soft laugh pursed his lips. Tinkling, like wind chimes. “I have a good memory. Remember, I told you the other day that Doris spoke of your fall.”

  Nevin’s hands dropped to his sides. Had I met him before?

  We made our way back to the gazebo and sat down again. I didn’t want to think about the cold or the pond. I’d had enough psychotherapy over the years that made me reminisce about things I’d much rather forget.

  “So where do you live?” I leaned against the steps.

  “Around.”

  “Can you be more evasive?”

  He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets again. A nervous habit it seemed. “I live nearby.”

  “Okay, I get it. You’re trying to play up the whole man of mystery thing.”

  “Something like that,” he muttered. “So, how was school today?”

  School. Was he serious? “Boring. I’d much rather be home.”

  “This is your last year, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah. But I have no idea what I’m going to do with myself. Thought about going south, to get away from the weather and all.” At least that’s what I’d planned to do until Grandpa had gotten sick.

  Nevin stood abruptly and turned to face me. He shoved his hand into his hair and sighed. “You’d leave?”

  I gave a bitter laugh. “Probably not. Colleges aren’t jumping to admit kids like me.”

  After a moment, he sat back down next to me and his leg brushed against mine. He looked like he wanted to say something important, but stopped himself. “I’ll be glad if you stay.”

  “Then it’s decided,” I teased. “I’ll stay!”

  “It didn’t take much to convince you. I thought I’d have to get down on my knees and beg.” He gave a strand of my hair a playful tug.

  “And here I believed begging was beneath you.”

  “Drastic times call for drastic measures.” He winked, and I shifted, wondering what he really wanted from me.

  Daylight faded and my legs felt like frozen blocks of wood. “I should probably head home. It’ll be dark soon.”

  Nevin stood, reaching down to help me up. “Can I walk with you?”

  Leaving the Jeep home totally paid off, even if I nearly had a heart attack getting here
. Maybe we’d both hear them on the way back and I could ask him about them.

  “Sure.” I hurried to the deck to lock the slider and then gestured for Nevin to follow me around the side of the garage. He held my hand as we trudged down the driveway. I glanced at the woods, its sinister presence making me feel small. My heart hammered and I fought to keep the panic at bay.

  “So, does this mean we’re friends?” Nevin asked.

  “Maybe.”

  “I take that as a yes,” Nevin answered, his thumb caressing my palm.

  “I don’t think that was the word I used.” I glanced down at our entwined fingers. It should feel wrong, it did in a way, but I also felt safe.

  “You don’t have to say anything. I see it in your eyes.”

  “And again with the arrogance. Just for that, I should take the key my grandma gave you back.”

  Chuckling, he picked me up and swung me around until I squealed. “Ah, but you won’t. You find me too interesting.”

  When the warm glow of the porch light came into view, we stopped walking. “Do you want to come in?”

  He stared longingly at my house, then back at me. “I wish I could, but I’ve got to get back home.”

  “Maybe next time.” From within the darkened woodland, an eerie shriek sounded. Like the cross between a wild animal and a child in pain. My blood ran cold as I hurried toward the house.

  “Stay inside tonight,” Nevin said.

  I called over my shoulder, “Are you sure you want to walk back to your house in the dark? I can drive you.” What was I saying? I didn’t want to drive. I wanted to rush inside and bar the door behind me.

  He held out his arms and said, “Do I seem like the type of guy who’s scared of the dark?” He grinned. “I’ll be fine, just get in the house.”

  I launched myself onto the porch, throwing open the door. I stopped on the threshold and spun around. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “Yes.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Cleo, here kitty-kitty.” I shielded my eyes against the porch light, searching the early morning gloom. “Cleo, c’mon, I need to brush my teeth.”

  Near the back gate I caught a glimpse of my cat. Ugh. Sometimes she was a pain in the ass. I called, “If I’m late for school because of you, I’m gonna be pissed.”