“Catch ya later.” He waved as he left the cafe.
Molly turned back to me. She held herself as if she were cold. “Um, so. How did she react to you?”
“She wanted to speak to you alone. She didn’t think it was a good idea if she showed up here. I may have upset her. I promise I was only looking out for you.”
Molly pulled her hair back. Then tied it with her elastic band. “What kind of looking out are we discussing?”
“I asked her if you’d talked about what happened. She didn’t seem to approve of that. Then I tried to explain that I care about both of you.”
“Thanks, so was that it?” she pressed.
“Pretty much, Jenson had just pulled up into the parking lot. She notified me of that.”
Molly shivered, “It’s drafty in here today. Don’t you think?” She took another sip of her drink, setting it down on the table. I tried to read the expression on her face. She slouched in her chair which wasn't usual. Mrs. Fretner complained that all of us should maintain good posture or we'd be hunched over in our old age.
“Nah, I hope you’re not coming down with a cold. Do you want anything to eat before class?” I asked.
“I’m all right. Why are you going to eat?”
“I thought about it. I left the diner without grabbing something.” I pushed my chair back, glancing in the direction of the line. Then looked back at Molly. “Um, are you going to be OK?”
“You mean if you leave me here?” she asked.
“No, this whole Maine thing. If you need to vent, hang out, or anything. I’m right here.”
“I know. If I need anything, I’ll let you know. Now go, get something to eat. I can hear your stomach growling from here.”
“Okay, you sure you don’t want a chocolate chip cookie?”
“Sure, then we’ll walk to class. I’ll eat it on the way.”
“Okay,” I said. Then stood up, pushing my chair aside. The line wasn’t too long at least.
Molly opened the door to the classroom. “Everyone decided to show up today. Good thing since we’re going to the library.”
“We are?”
“You didn’t look at the syllabus did you?”
“No,” I answered.
“Yeah. Well, I did.” Molly scanned the front of the room. “We’ll have to sit behind Owl and Jenson. I guess they decided it would be their turn to sit in the front row.”
I followed Molly to the desk behind them. She chose a seat behind Owl. I sat behind Jenson. Why bother, taking out my work if we were going to the library. Jenson turned around to face me.
“Hey, did you girls get everything worked out?” he asked.
“We’re good,” Molly said.
“What’s up Owl?” I asked.
He shrugged and turned back facing the dry erase board.
“He’s a bit upset. Melina blew him off last night. They were supposed to go out for drinks,” replied Jenson.
“Yeah. I’m pretty humiliated. Rub it in, why don’t ya,” said Owl turning back to us.
“At least you aren’t dealing with peer pressure,” I answered.
“What, Jenson? Are you?” asked Owl.
“No, not us,” he replied.
“It’s me, and Maine, OK? I don’t want to talk about this. It’s private,” sputtered Molly blinking back tears. She gave Jenson an evil stare. The guys turned back to the front of the room as the door opened. Jones, strolled into the classroom.
“Why aren’t you in the library? Did you not understand the syllabus?” he asked, glowering at the classroom full of students. “Well, grab your things. We’re going to explore your options for the assignment. First, find out what you’ll write about for your composition. Remember, it needs to focus on one Myth. I'd prefer, one you can relate to on either a personal level or imaginative. Has anyone given any thought to this?” he demanded.
I immediately raised my hand.
“Yes, Starla.”
“Black-wolves,” I replied.
“You’ll have to find a myth about them. It needs to be more specific, than the animal itself.”
“A spirit wolf from a tribe?”
“That might work. Does anyone else want to share?”
Molly put up her hand. Jones called on her.
“I’d like to do a paper on healers of the Winnebago Tribe. You know those that cared for the sick. I’d plunge into their beliefs and how they affected the process. How they endured, their viewpoint on healing medicines, and if the spirits had anything to do with reviving those injured.”
“Good idea. Now, off with you. I expect you to have notes and the beginning of a paper by the next class. Remember freshman, this is college, not high school!”
“That’s it!” exclaimed a girl in the back row.
“It is, I have to prepare for an important meeting. If you have any other questions, you know when my office hours are. Don’t use this time to fool around. You don’t want your G.P.A., taking a dive,” he advised us.
Jenson and Owl marched ahead of us to the library.
“They’re getting awfully chummy,” Molly commented, walking beside me.
“Oh, they’ve been planning a tribe Bizare of some sort, as well as a pow-wow. I'm not too worried. They’ll get tired of each other.”
“Do you suppose Maine wanted to because she loves me?” asked Molly out of the blue.
“It’s too soon for that. If it isn’t, then she falls fast. Jenson and I haven’t even said I love you yet,” I added.
“True. You’re probably right. Hormones. The ones our mothers warn us about,” she scoffed.
“Yeah, most likely. I’ve thought about it. Ya know, with Jenson,” I said, trying not to blush.
Molly pushed me playfully as we turned the corner. The library was just up ahead.
“Haven’t you?” I asked, noticing my right shoelace had come untied.
Molly stared at the basketball trophy’s in the case as we neared the library. “Maybe once or twice,” she admitted.
I stopped at the library entrance to tie my shoe. Once finished, I stood back up. “Come on, really?”
“Seriously,” she answered.
Jenson grabbed the library door and held it open for us to enter while Owl waited inside the entrance.
“Come on ladies. We’ve got studying to do!” Jenson blurted.
Molly laughed, “I’m excited, but not overjoyed.”
“Would you rather be, at the trial? It’s tomorrow. We have to be there by 10 a.m.,” I added.
“That early?” asked Owl. The doors closed behind us.
“Alas, yes. I’m not working this weekend so, that isn’t an issue. Didn’t Rascal tell you about the meeting?”
“He’s been somewhat preoccupied. I saw him the other day, but he didn’t mention it, weird.”
I shook my head in astonishment wandering over to our usual table. Jenson pulled out a chair for me. I sat down beside him. Molly sat a crossed from me.
“You’re coming, aren’t you?” asked Jenson.
“I’ll be there. Now, where do we begin our research? Should we, use google or check out the books?” Owl pondered.
“Books impress Jones. He’s old school. You of all people should know that,” I offered.
Jenson took his laptop out of his backpack for me. Then set it on the table. “It’s faster and easier. Who wants to go first?”
I pulled his computer towards me while I turned it on. Why not? I might as well try to find something that resembled a myth on black wolves. Molly and Owl got up sauntering into the stacks.
“You got this?” Jenson asked me.
“Yeah, go ahead, I’ll find you. If I need to.”
He nodded, then drifted off to do his research.
I typed in Wolf spirits, the Winnebago tribe. A list of several sites popped up before me. The first two were not helpful. One contained information on a wolf sanctuary. The second a short Myth. None of them even mentioned a black wolf. I sighed to myself, th
en looked up. Molly was heading to the table with an armful of books.
“Did you find anything yet?” she asked, placing them on the table.
“Not yet,” I answered, bringing my attention back to the computer screen. I struggled to pick out pieces that would merge with my understanding of what I’d been experiencing. Well, the third one is a charm, I thought then clicked on it. Wolf and dog spirits, this had to be it! An article or Myth about four wolf brothers. One of them a black wolf who controlled the night. Maybe this was something useful. Hadn’t I mainly encountered it at night? It discussed foxes and wolves being, linked.
“I need to print a copy of this. Do I need to hook the computer up to something?”
Molly turned the computer so it faced her. “I’ll set it up for you. Then order the print. You have the change right?”
“Change like Nelson Mandela or the sort you buy things with?” I taunted.
She shook her head slightly. “Your humor is leaning towards nerd.”
“Yum, I should get some of those.”
Jenson came up behind me putting his books on the table. I glanced back. Owl was still searching through the stacks.
“You better watch out. I sense your girlfriend is becoming a cannibal,” announced Molly.
Jenson placed a hand on my shoulder. Then pulled out a chair sitting down beside me. “No way. What did you say to her?”
“That I wanted to eat a nerd, especially the grape ones,” I responded.
He smiled at me also cocking his head to the side. “She’s talking about the candy.”
“Ah, the strawberry ones are my favorite,” Molly commented.
Jenson opened one of his books leafing through it. I pushed a notebook over to him.
“I’ll just Xerox it. It’s faster and easier than writing it down.”
“Yeah, but you’ll remember it better if you’ve written it.”
“She’s right. I learned that from one of my high school instructors,” Molly replied.
“I’m going to get my information. What printer is it?”
“Number Four, it’s just over there,” Molly pointed.
“Thanks,” I said, standing up. Then headed to where the printers are. I pushed my untamed hair behind my ears. You’d have thought I’d be familiar with this library by now. How many times had I been here? I shook it off. One day til the trial. Would the black wolf materialize again? Was there a way to free him from whoever held him prisoner? He must be under a spell. It seemed the only plausible explanation. I stopped at the printer and retrieved the article
“What did you find?” Owl whispered.
“This article, I’m trying to understand it,” I answered, handing it to him.
“Oh, this is an Origin Myth. This one focuses on the gray wolf. The black wolf is only a part of it,” he said, looking up from the paper. “Are you trying to incorporate information regarding the wolf you’ve been seeing?”
“Yeah, maybe it’s crazy,” I replied, taking back the papers. We started walking back to the table in a zig zag pattern avoiding other students.
“You’ll solve this puzzle. Maybe, write on the subject analytically? If things, weren’t hidden from this world, I’d say incorporate it into the bandits. How the scientist found a way to mutate them. Perhaps it was from an Indian legend that they got their idea. Stranger things have happened,” he said, stopping at our destination.
“You know Jones will expect more than one measly article. I don’t want to change my theme. There isn’t a lot of time left,” I whined.
“It’s only a legend. There are a lot of them,” Owl acknowledged.
“I’m swimming in deep Jello,” I admitted.
“This may have nothing to do with the black wolf following you,” whispered Molly.
“True, but it's possible. There’s no way I can do a report on the wolf tied to me.” I put the article in my notebook.
“You’re not even going to look at it?” asked Jenson.
“What good will it do? I can’t apply it. At least not for this paper. I thought, it being, an Indian legend, there would be more information on the wolf of the night.” I grumbled leaning back into the hard plastic chair. Jenson placed his arm around me. I rested my head on his shoulder. Too bad I couldn’t go to sleep and forget about this.
“You could compose an essay on the meaning of wolves in the Native American culture. It would be extensive. Then include the Winnebago’s in it,” suggested Molly.
Owl slammed his fist on the table. “I got it! What about tribes that branched off of the Winnebago tribe? What about their beliefs or thoughts about wolves. Narrow it down, pick three and write about how they differ from each other. It might work.”
I lifted my head up from Jenson’s shoulder to see Maine. She’d been rifling through some books near us. She finished what she was doing and came over to where we sat.
“Did you know wolves, are sometimes associated with witchcraft in Northern Europe and some Native American cultures?”
“Um, aren’t you angry with me,” Molly interrupted her.
“Well, I”m trying to help Starla. I overheard the group, making suggestions for this paper. I was only here to borrow some art books.” She held them up for us to see. “I found three that will work. My art teacher won’t let me off the hook. I’ll leave if you want,” she offered and turned to leave.
“No, wait. We need to talk, not here, though,” said Molly. She got up gathering her things. “If you have the time?”
“Um, what about dinner? We can meet at The Sunshine Cafe at say... six O’clock?” asked Maine.
“Ah, OoK...” Molly stammered.
“There will be other people there. It’s only to talk, I promise,” Maine reassured her.
Molly bit her bottom lip. Then nodded at Maine.
“OK, I’ll see you tonight then.”
“This evening,” answered Molly turning back to us.
I took my hand resting on the table and set it on top of Molly’s. “Call for backup if you need me. I’m not sure, what I’m doing tonight. No plans I presume. I’ll probably stress over homework.”
“Same goes for me,” answered Jenson.
“Owl? Any exciting plans? You don’t suppose Melina will call to apologize?” I asked.
“Not sure. I’ve got this thing to do for my parents. Du-Vance is gone so I’ve been wondering if perhaps, I should be the one to step in as the next Ranger. I haven’t discussed it with Mike.”
“What about your folks? They set you up with the tribe. They've always been supportive of you. Since the day we met you haven’t discussed them much with us,” I remarked.
“I’m barely home, between college and the tribe. I’m there to sleep and eat. I’ve cooked a few times for mom. She loves that!” He grinned. Then began to pack up his bag.
Jenson tapped my arm. “You ready to go?”
“Are you offering me a ride?” I asked, putting my books in my bag.
“Of course. I brought you here, didn’t I? Are you OK?”
“Yes, just worn out I suppose.”
“Come on, I’ll take you home.”
“Molly?” I asked.
“Mom’s picking me up. We’re going to get smoothies. There’s a great deal to discuss.”
“Are you going to tell her?”
“Oh, about Maine and I. She already knows.”
“Okay,” I answered, forcing myself not to make a snarky Starla comment. It seemed that Molly and her mom had gotten closer since she’d come out.
“I’ll see you tomorrow? Jenson and I will pick you up at your house at nine-thirty. Will that work?”
“Sure, I told my mom I’d be out with you all day. We’re good,” she replied.
“Molly, if you need anything...”
“Okay, thanks,” she answered.
Chapter 42
(Dan)
Earlier that morning.
I pushed the covers off of my feet to the end of the bed. My wife had stolen mo
st of them in the night. I’d forgotten how cold, she claimed to get. I sat up placing my hand on her arm. “Wake up, what time do you have to be to work today?” I muttered.
She pulled me into her arms and kissed me aggressively on the mouth. I lingered in her embrace for a few moments. Then turned away to look at the clock, 7:48 a.m.
“Hey, we have a few more minutes,” she grumbled gently taking my face in her hands. She brushed her fingertips over my cheeks. A smile spread a crossed my lips.
“I’m tempted to stay here all day. You could call into work,” I teased. Then tickled her. She busted out with a loud snorty-laugh before pushing my hands away.
“Stop, come on now! You know I hate being tickled,” she snickered. “Plus, you’d never call into work yourself. Hasn’t anyone other than the clan contacted you for their services?” she asked between giggles. “What about the police office?”
I stopped tickling her allowing my hands to rest at her sides. “I’m scheduled to go there, Monday. I’ll be reviewing several cold cases. Nothing exciting. I’m supposed to make sure the evidence is in order, should they choose to reopen any of the investigations. They haven’t had a lot of anything since Du-Vance’s death. That was all cleared up according to them,” I replied, sitting up.
Tri scooted up beside me resting her hand on my shoulder. “I should make breakfast. Eggs and bacon or Oatmeal raisin muffins?”
“Either one,” I shrugged, swinging my legs over the bed.
Tri got up. She grabbed her robe off of the back of the bedroom door. “If Megan isn’t up yet, I’ll wake her. Starla’s either left already or eating cereal.”
“You don’t know what time your own, daughter works?”
“I do, it’s usually eight or nine in the morning. Those are the shorter shifts. Don worked it out that way due to Jone's class.”
I nodded as she put on her bathrobe. Then stood up and stretched. “I’m going to take a shower. I’m meeting Jones at four. Rascal showed up momentarily to the meeting last night. I didn’t get a chance to speak with him. Care if I do that today?”
“Knock yourself out! I’ll be re-shelving books our interns are leaving early for spring break. They won’t be back until the 15th.”
Spirit Guide (Myth-Series Book 2) Page 20