Teacher's Pet

by Richie T Cusick

  “Why don’t we meet in front of the lodge around four? I don’t have to help with dinner tonight, just clean up afterwards.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Watching Tawney disappear into the woods, Kate fought back a sudden, overwhelming apprehension. Again she searched the area all around the cabin, not finding a single clue. It must have been a mistake, she argued with herself… things like that just don’t happen… especially to ordinary, boring people like me….

  She let herself in and froze as a new possibility hit her. Denzil! Why hadn’t she thought of it before? He could have easily given Pet the glove, stuffed with God-only-knew-what, and turned her loose on the path… he could have hidden in the woods, in hysterics, as she’d made a total fool of herself. Accusing her and Tawney had been a perfect way to avert suspicion—no wonder he’d looked so skeptical when she’d babbled on and on about the thing in the glove! Making a mental note to check out her suspicions with Tawney, Kate stretched out across her bed and opened her notebook.

  It was almost like being in class again with Gideon. Scanning her notes, Kate could hear his voice, see the startling color of his eyes, feel the way his gaze had sought her out all through the lecture. Flushing at the memory, Kate sat up and gnawed on the end of her pen. You’ve got it bad, girl, so you might as well put it out of your mind right now. He’s a teacher, nothing more. To him, you’re a dumb student, nothing more. This is an educational experience, and that’s as far as it goes.

  “But he did ask me to stay after,” Kate mumbled to herself. “He didn’t ask anyone else to stay.”

  That’s because everyone else had already gone, stupid.

  “I am being stupid,” Kate grumbled, louder this time. “It’s my imagination. It’s a curse.” She was relieved when four o’clock came—no matter how hard she tried to concentrate on other things, her mind kept going back and forth between Gideon and the thing in Pet’s mouth.

  Tawney was waiting for her, and the girls set off together past the stables, down a wooded hillside, and out onto a narrow strip of beach. The western sky blazed with late sunlight, sparkling the lake like jewels, and a brisk wind stirred up ruffles across the water. A group of swimmers waved and called, but though Tawney returned their greeting, she led Kate on around a winding curve of rocks and sand.

  “Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Kate laughed, and Tawney glanced back, motioning her to hurry.

  “You’ll like it here, I promise. No one ever uses it, ’cause the guests don’t know about it.”

  “Yeah? What about Denzil? Does he know about it?”

  “Yes, but he doesn’t like to swim. See? There it is.”

  Kate paused and pushed her windblown hair from her face as Tawney scampered the last few feet to the water. The little inlet was nestled between thickly forested banks, and as Kate hurried to catch up, Tawney clambered out onto a huge flat rock and shaded her eyes from a shaft of bright sun.

  “See? This rock is really warm, and the water’s nice, once you get in. And it’s private—that’s why I like it.”

  “It’s really beautiful.” Kate smiled and climbed up beside her. “Do you come here a lot?”

  “As much as I can.” Tawney slipped out of her jeans and T-shirt, and Kate did the same. “Sometimes I don’t even swim—I just write my poems. Look—if you get in on this side of the rock, the wind doesn’t even touch you.”

  Kate nodded and lowered herself into the water, surprised at the warmth closing over her shoulders.

  “I know!” Tawney hung over the rock, grinning down at her. “Let’s skinny-dip!”

  “What!” Kate burst out laughing. “We can’t do that!”

  “Sure we can!”

  “No, we can’t. What if someone comes along and sees us?”

  Tawney’s eyes widened, her face going serious. “Oh, but they won’t. I do it all the time, and nobody’s ever seen me.”

  “But, Tawney, how do you know?” Kate shook her head in amusement. “They might have been hiding—just look at all these trees around here.”

  “No, they wouldn’t.” Tawney sighed matter-of-factly. “Nobody would look at me. Nobody ever looks at me.”

  “I don’t believe that. You’re so pretty.”

  “No, I’m not. But I think…” she cocked her head, considering, “that I have a nice spirit.”

  Kate laughed, feeling her tension slough off into the soothing water. “Yes, you’re right. You do have a nice spirit.” She bent her head back, the sun soft on her upturned face. “Have you known Denzil very long?”

  “We met in the summer. He’s taking a year off before he starts college. And I’m just trying to decide what to do with my life… I don’t want to go to school anymore… but I don’t think I can get a job anywhere just ’cause I have a nice spirit.” She sighed. “What about you?”

  “I graduate in the spring. I can’t wait.” Kate turned her head from side to side, loving the feel of the water upon her cheeks. “Tawney, did it ever occur to you that Denzil might have put that glove there for me to find?”

  “Well…” The other girl pondered a moment. “I guess he could have. I wasn’t with him for a while ’cause I had to take some stuff to one of the cabins.”

  “I just wondered.” Kate tried to force the grisly memory from her mind. “Do you… do you know anything about Gideon Drewe?” She hoped her voice was casual, but Tawney didn’t seem to think it an odd question.

  “Gideon Drewe. Don’t you just love his name?” Tawney screwed her face up into the sunlight and squinted her eyes. “Well, we’re not personal friends, you know. We’ve never had a relationship.”

  Kate smiled. “I sort of guessed that.”

  “But I hear he’s very smart and very talented. And of course you already know how handsome he is.” She arched her back and stretched her arms out toward the sun. “I don’t think anybody really knows much about the family. They’re very private and eccentric.” She turned her eyes on Kate, and her expression was solemn. “Gideon has this air about him, don’t you think? Like some tragic hero?” She rolled up into a kneeling position and began unhooking the top of her swimsuit.

  “Tawney, what are you doing?”

  “Taking my clothes off. Oh, I love how free I feel this way. Come on, Kate, no one will see us.”

  Kate watched as Tawney slipped easily into the water, a lithe, shimmering mermaid fishtailing in and out of the light and shadows. As Tawney surfaced a few yards away and shook the hair from her eyes, Kate suddenly laughed and began pulling off her own suit.

  “Why not? I’ll probably never get to do this again!”

  Giggling, they splashed and swam and explored the inlet. Kate had never felt so light and unencumbered, and as they raced the width of the cove and back again, she flung out her arms and floated on her back, savoring the last dying warmth of the sun.

  “We’d better get back,” Tawney said reluctantly, nodding toward the shadows lengthening along the bank. “I hate to, but it’ll get dark pretty soon.”

  Kate waved her arms lazily, wishing she could float this way forever. “Good idea. I’ll get our clothes.”

  “That’s okay. I’m closer.”

  There was a splash as Tawney pulled herself out of the water. With her mind only half listening, Kate drifted, breathing deeply, and heard the weeds rustling softly along the shore. After several minutes she took one more breath and angled her feet to the solid bottom.

  “Tawney, what’s the matter? Can’t you find—?”

  Her words broke off with a gasp, choking her.

  Stumbling backwards, she pushed frantically at her wet hair, blinking against the unexpected gloom.

  The fog was beginning to come in, a gray, silent ghost, hovering over the darkening cove, blurring the trees and shoreline that had seemed so warm and friendly and close before.

  But it wasn’t the fog that chilled her now, as she stared in disbelief at the murky bank….

  It was the tall, silent s
hadow at the water’s edge.

  A human shadow.

  Black and stark against the gathering night, it raised one arm… slowly… deliberately… in her direction.

  And even in her terror, Kate recognized the shape of an axe.

  Chapter 6

  AS INSTINCT TOOK OVER, Kate swallowed the cry welling up in her throat and eased noiselessly down into the water. Had he seen her? She had no idea how long he’d been standing there as she’d floated so unsuspectingly. She hadn’t heard anyone approaching, and now it dawned on her that she hadn’t heard a sound from Tawney in quite a while. Had something happened? Surely Kate would have heard a scream—a struggle—oh, God, Tawney, if you’re out there, whatever you do, don’t come back this way….

  Slipping smoothly underwater, Kate glided over to the rock and surfaced slowly, praying she hadn’t given away her whereabouts. Pressing against the stone, she peered toward the bank.

  The shadow was gone.

  With a sharp intake of breath, Kate froze. The wind whispered through the trees, rustling the branches all around her. The wind… or footsteps? Her heart thudded sickeningly in her chest, and she wrapped her arms around herself to keep from shaking. From somewhere along the bank, a twig snapped….

  And something slipped into the water.

  Panic-stricken, Kate ducked behind the rock, her fingers working frantically for a place to hold on. The water was growing colder, twilight noises growing louder. He could be anywhere… on the bank beside me… behind me… in the water… oh, God, Tawney, where are you?

  “Kate!”

  Forgetting caution, Kate paddled out into the water and saw Tawney huddled on the bank where the shadow had been only moments before. “Hurry! Throw me my clothes!”

  “But that’s just it.” Tawney sounded bewildered. “I can’t find them!”

  “What!”

  “I can’t find our clothes! I’ve looked and looked and they’re not anywhere! And now it’s getting dark and I forgot to bring a flashlight!”

  Kate stared at the girl’s outline through the thickening fog, at the trees around her with their limbs outstretched. One branch lifted on a breath of wind, a shockingly human movement.

  “I don’t know what to do,” Tawney was saying. “We can’t go back to camp without our clothes and—”

  “Tawney, did you hear anything while you were looking? Did you see anything? Anybody?” Kate was close to shore now, close enough to see Tawney shake her head.

  “No. Why?”

  Kate’s eyes slowly swept the embankment, coming to rest uneasily on that one oddly shaped tree. I could have imagined it… I must have imagined it… “I—”

  She broke off abruptly as something crashed through the woods behind Tawney. With a scream, Tawney landed in the water beside her, and they held onto each other as a shadow burst out through the trees.

  “Well, hey there, strangers. I figured I’d find you here.”

  “Denzil!” Kate burst out angrily and lowered herself deeper into the lake.

  “Yep, you’re lookin’ at him. And Tawney, you’re late for work—just in case you hadn’t noticed.”

  “I am?” Tawney’s eyes grew wide and confused. “I thought I cleaned up tonight—did I read the schedule wrong again?”

  Denzil sighed and nodded. “Come on, you two, you’re lookin’ to catch pneumonia.”

  “No,” Tawney said bluntly, “we’re looking for our clothes. Oh, Denzil, we can’t find our clothes anywhere!”

  “Your clothes?” Denzil looked surprised, his eyes automatically scanning the ground around his feet. “Where’d you leave them?”

  “There.” Tawney pointed. “We threw them on the bank right there.”

  “Well, just come on back now—we can look for them tomorrow when it’s light.”

  “No,” Tawney protested, “I mean, we don’t have anything! Our swimsuits or anything! We took everything off!”

  “Your clothes,” Denzil muttered again. “Everything.” He scratched his chin, his hat slipping back from his forehead. “Hmmm… this is an interesting predicament.”

  “It’s not funny.” Kate glared at him. “This is serious!”

  “Yes… oh, yes, it is.” From the sound of his voice, Kate could tell he was struggling to keep a straight face. “Verrry serious.”

  “Denzil!”

  “Okay,” he chuckled, moving back up the incline, “don’t get panicky. I’ll have a look around.”

  Kate was beginning to feel like one giant goose-bump. When Denzil finally reappeared, she looked hopefully at something dangling from his hands.

  “Did you find them?” Tawney’s voice was pleading. “I just can’t go back to camp without my clothes. I’d rather die than—”

  “I think this is them,” Denzil said, but there was something odd about the way he said it, something that made new goosebumps prickle along Kate’s arms. “At least,” Denzil added, “what’s left of them.”

  Squatting down at the water’s edge, he held up a lump of material and shook it out. Kate felt herself going stiff, her mind reeling as Tawney made a funny sound in her throat.

  What had once been Kate’s swimsuit and T-shirt now hung in shreds, the fabric ripped and stained with something dark….

  “This is it,” Denzil said quietly. “This is all I found.”

  Kate felt numb all over. She stared at the tatters, her voice hoarse. “Those… are mine….”

  “Oh, isn’t that just our luck,” Tawney sighed, exasperated. “Some bear hauled off our clothes and ate them!”

  “There aren’t any bears around here, Tawney,” Denzil said.

  “Well, what then?” Tawney sounded totally bewildered. “What—?”

  “An axe,” Kate mumbled, and then louder, “an axe. Someone with an axe.”

  “An axe?” Now Denzil looked confused. “Who would go around chopping up clothes? These things look like they were slashed. Like with a knife or something.” He looked up and suddenly said, “Whoa—hold on a minute—“

  As the girls stared, he disappeared into the shadows, emerging a moment later with a small bundle.

  “Look what I just found—all wadded up on that branch like a bird’s nest. Tawney, are these yours?”

  As he shook the clothes loose, Tawney clapped her hands, nearly coming out of the water.

  “Oh, Denzil, you found them! And they’re not all cut up! You’re a hero! But what are we going to do about Kate?”

  “What are we gonna do about Kate?” Denzil echoed.

  “I don’t know,” Tawney shook her head. “What?”

  “I’d give her my jacket,” Denzil considered, “but I don’t think it’d cover enough.”

  “Then give her your shirt,” Tawney ordered him. “It’s got a long tail, and it’s almost dark now anyway—it’ll be fine till she gets to her cabin.”

  Denzil was holding up Kate’s mutilated things again, his expression serious. “Maybe it was some kind of animal. Maybe Pet got ahold of it. Maybe she hid the rest somewhere….”

  Kate stared at him a minute, and then a slow, seething anger began to creep over her.

  “You!”

  “Me what?”

  “You did this! Oh, Denzil, I can’t believe you’d stoop so low! The clothes—the axe—”

  “Whoa, whoa!” Denzil jumped up. “What are you talking about?”

  “This!” Kate exploded. It was all she could do to keep from flying out of the water and going for his throat. “You planned this, didn’t you? To get us back for that stupid glove—you really do think we tried to play a joke on you!”

  “You think I did this?” Denzil’s voice went high with astonishment. “Sliced up your clothes? And what’s all this stuff about an axe—?”

  “The man I saw on the bank,” Kate babbled. “While Tawney was looking for our things—he came out of the trees and he had an axe—”

  Tawney’s scream cut her off, and both she and Denzil jumped.

  “Tawney, what is
it?”

  “Oh! I’m just so scared! That a crazy person was here and I didn’t even know! I didn’t even have my clothes!”

  “There’s no crazy person! For crying out loud,” Denzil muttered, shrugging out of his jacket. “This is all I need—hysterical women and—”

  “I am not hysterical.” Kate pointed toward the trees behind him. “He slipped right out of there with his axe.”

  “It was probably Pearce.” Denzil pulled off his shirt and threw it on the ground. “Pearce! He’s always chopping wood around here. What were you doing, anyway?”

  “I was…” Kate felt her cheeks burn, “floating.”

  “Floating. Right.” Denzil sounded smug. “I’m sure he had quite a view.”

  “I’m cold,” Tawney reminded him. “Can we get out now?”

  “I’ll see you back at camp.”

  “No, you have to wait for us, we don’t have a flashlight.”

  “Terrific.”

  They could still hear him grumbling as he stepped back into the trees. Cautiously they went toward the bank, hesitating at the water’s edge.

  “Don’t you dare look!” Kate shouted.

  “Don’t flatter yourself!”

  The girls dressed in record time, and with Denzil in the lead, made their way back to camp. Denzil’s shirt barely covered the tops of Kate’s thighs, and though she kept trying to pull it down, she was painfully aware of how little it concealed. As they reached the path to her cabin, Denzil suddenly turned and looked at her.

  “You… uh… gonna be okay?”

  “Fine. I’ll be fine.”

  He nodded slowly… turned to go… turned back around.

  “Hey… whatever you think… I’ve been in the kitchen all day. You can ask around.”

  Kate nodded back reluctantly. “Well… I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You turning in already? Movies in the lodge later.”

  “I’ll see. I’m pretty tired, though.”

  “Don’t you even wanna eat? It’s still early.”

  She shrugged, pulling at her shirt.

  “Well, at least take my flashlight. I can get another one.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Nice legs.”