“But I’ll warn you, Hark—Hood, sorry. Listen to me when I tell you this: don’t fuck this up. Don’t piss anyone off, or they’ll throw you away somewhere so deep you’ll never see the sun ever again. The prison is being investigated. The government is interested in you, and the army wants you treated better than the prison has to date.
“There’s a general who’ll be coming to see you soon too.” Amari was still frightened. That sour-tainted dread was floating around the interrogation room, but it wasn’t nearly as strong as last time.
“So they want me to join the army. That’s sick. I’m not being anyone’s soldier.”
“Hood, seriously, don’t fuck this up. Lowell is coming tomorrow. Be good.”
“Are you shitting me? Serious?” I sat up, all eyes focused on Amari, mine and the wolf’s.
“I am. I got you what you wanted. I want to keep telling your story. I want more answers. But not if we’re going to have another session like last time.”
“What time? When is he going to be here?”
“Eleven thirty a.m.—and you get exactly one hour.”
“I’ll answer whatever questions you want. More candy, though.”
“Fine.”
And with that, he was gone. And I was going to get to see Kenneth tomorrow.
When I got back to my cell, I was shocked to see that a television had been installed.
Once again, life was looking up, but tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
I SAT AND fidgeted in the hard metal chair of the interrogation room. In the last day, the food had been better, the TV was amazing, and the guards had even taken me to the showers and let me have a real decent hot shower, instead of a bucket of lukewarm water and a bar of soap. Granted, there had been three guards standing around with thick-soled rubber shoes, watching me get naked and clean, each one holding a Taser and ready to use it had the wolf paid a visit. Electricity and water wasn’t a good combination. I behaved.
The hot shower felt so good, and I was grateful for it too. I wanted to look as good as I could for Kenneth’s visit.
As the door swung open in the sterile concrete room, I tried to stand up, but the extra chains kept me from completely standing erect.
The white cowboy hat entered the room first, and a smile spread across my face. I could smell him. Instantly, I felt calmer, safer, like I had someone else in this world who I could trust. I remembered the old barn on the ranch. It was damn near falling in on itself, but it was where I had parked the red Dodge Dart that Grandpa had given me. Kenneth and I had spent hours working on that car together, but only after we knew that Dad had passed out—when we knew it was safe.
Kenneth had shown me how to change the oil. I had known nothing about cars, but he’d taught me everything I needed to know to get the old clunker running again. And when we were both lying under the car, shoulder to shoulder, shirts off so we wouldn’t ruin our clothes, I remembered his scent—he smelled today the same as he had back then. He had watched me patiently as I tried to pull the oil plug. Placing his hand over mine, he’d shown me the right way to remove it. I had been almost seventeen, but that touch—that had done it for me. I fell for him hard.
Kenneth lifted his head to look at me, and as he did, the wide brim of the cowboy hat revealed his face.
Same old thick beard, which was almost white blond on the chin. His facial hair had always been a little wild, with whiskers sticking out at all angles, and the hair grew high on his cheekbones. He’d never sculpted or manscaped it. He let it grow as it naturally did.
But his eyes held a heaviness. I could tell he was unhappy, perhaps even worried. And one side of his face had the fading remnants of a black bruise. His nose was swollen at the bridge, with a slight unnatural bend to it and a bluish tinge. That was new. It had recently been broken.
He grabbed the chair on the other side of the table, swung it around, and straddled it, gingerly. As he sat down, he let out a big sigh.
“Kenneth, what’s going on?”
“You have to stop,” he said.
“Stop what?” I was confused and a little frightened. I’d never heard his voice so serious before.
“You have to stop telling the reporter anything about the wolf. And you cannot change in front of him ever again. The elders are furious. It is bad enough you’ve been caught and imprisoned, but you’re exposing us. I’ve tried to defend you, but they’re not hearing any of it.” Kenneth reached out an arm toward me and opened his hand.
I reached for him, but I was so bound that all I could do was touch a finger to his palm. It was the best feeling, my skin against his, as limited as it was.
“I don’t understand—what are you talking about? Elders?”
“Hood. You and I. We’re not the only ones. There are others like us. I can’t say more. Someone might be listening. Just promise me you’ll behave yourself.” Kenneth reached over and grabbed my finger and squeezed it.
“Okay. But you have to tell me something. I need to know. Why? How? What happened that night?” I begged. I was so desperate for the real reasons.
“It’s a long story, and not one I’m going to have time to explain to you today. But the short of it is this. Your dad found out about us. He was furious. And when you were on the way to take your grandfather’s medications to him, your dad was already there waiting for you. He had beat on the old man something fierce, and you were next. He was going to kill you.”
“What?”
“If I hadn’t punctured the oil pan in your car and stopped you from getting to your grandfather’s place, your father would have killed you. So when you were stranded on the highway, I…I’m sorry, Hood. I’m so sorry—it was the only thing I could think of to do.”
“I think I’m more confused than ever.” I scrunched my eyebrows together, trying to figure out what Kenneth was saying, but then he whispered so low even I barely heard it.
“We’re coming to get you. Be prepared. It won’t be easy, but we’re getting you out.” Then Kenneth rose. “I have to go.”
He walked around to my side of the table, and as he had done before, he hugged me in a bear hug that damn near squeezed the life out of me. But when he released me, the doors opened.
Kenneth quickly grabbed my face and planted a rough kiss on me and whispered, “Be ready.” His beard rubbed against my cheek as his hands gripped harder. I could barely breathe. “I love you, Hood. Soon, be ready.”
The guards hauled him off of me and threw him to the floor.
Cologne-marinated Roland was leading the charge. “No touching. You were warned, Lowell. Get out.” Kenneth was escorted unceremoniously out of the room.
I stood there in shock—happy, confused, excited, and aroused.
They were coming to get me, although I had no idea who they were.
Kenneth had kissed me. He had said he loved me. In a million years, I’d never have believed he would utter such words.
I didn’t get my hour, but I had received so much more.
THE NEXT DAY saw another transport to the interrogation room. It was becoming a “thing.” The guards didn’t look happy about it at all.
As I was brought into the room and strapped down, the big squeaky door swung open and in walked Samir Amari. He looked far too pleased with himself.
“I trust life has improved?” Amari said while shifting his gaze toward the prison officers.
“Considerably. Thank you?” I asked, unsure if he had anything to do with the perks.
“You’re welcome. You owe me.” Amari seemed a little too cocky. As the guards left, they cast a sideways glance at the reporter that almost looked threatening.
As soon as the door closed, Amari started, “So General Hamada will be visiting you tomorrow. I suspect that should go well for you. But before he comes, I want you to tell me and your adoring public more about you. People want to know all about ‘Hood and his Red Ride.’”
“My red ride?”
“Yeah, your car! People think yo
ur granddad is the best!”
“I have everything I could want for now. I’m not so sure there’s more to add to this story of yours.”
“Nothing?” Amari was being shady, and I didn’t like it at all. Especially considering that Kenneth had asked me not to divulge any further information.
“Nope. I think I’m good.”
“Well, I managed to dig up some information. I took a drive out to your community. Asked a few questions. Seems people around there like to gossip, and you’re still the talk of the town. So, I can rely on chatter, or…” So that was it. Amari couldn’t give me anything because I wanted for nothing at the moment, so he was going to rely on rumour and innuendo. And knowing I would probably not like what other people had to say, he was counting on me blabbing.
In part, I hated to admit, he was right.
“I hear your grandfather never liked your father very much. But apparently he really liked the ladies…and a couple of the gentlemen too. Kind of unheard of back in the day, chasing after both—and all while your grandmother was still alive! That might explain some of your proclivities. People would be interested in that.
“And then there’s the financials of your father’s farm. Wasn’t doing so well.”
“So, if I don’t tell you what you want to hear, you’re going to drag my family through the mud. Nice. Classy too. You forget who you’re in front of, Amari? I will rip you apart,” I growled.
“You might, potentially. But after our last session, the guards have been instructed to be hypervigilant, and they’ve upped the dose in the tranq gun.” Amari hiked his eyebrows up as if to say “so there.”
“You’re an ass. What question is so burning that you feel the need to blackmail me and my family name?”
“Oh, there’s a few. When did you and Kenneth Lowell get romantically involved? When did you find out that Mr. Lowell was also a werewolf? And of course the big question—what happened that night? Did you do it? Did you kill your own father and grandfather? Come on, out with it, Hood. People want to know.”
I weighed the questions before me carefully. Kenneth had asked me to not change into the wolf in front of the reporter. As much as I wanted to sink my teeth into his soft human flesh and tear his limbs off, he wasn’t asking for any further proof of my claims of being nonhuman.
None of his questions centered on anything about the wolf. I supposed if I answered them, I wasn’t going against anything Kenneth had asked me to be silent about.
But it meant sharing some personal things.
I hated doing that, and I hated this asshat. “So, when I said that my father, as sick of an asshole as he was, had always taught me that you don’t share your personal business, you didn’t think that value was something I held on to?”
“You haven’t so far. Face it, Hood. As long as you get what you want, you’ve be willing to compromise those values. What’s one more time?”
I looked down and a flush washed over my face. I turned red, angry at myself and furious at the reporter. The wolf stirred.
Amari was right.
“You’re a fucker. One day, you will answer for this.”
“Maybe. I doubt it.”
Seems he had me bent over. Fine. I’d give him what he wanted, but in no way was I going to disrespect what Kenneth had asked of me. “Kenneth and I didn’t get involved until I was eighteen. He wouldn’t have dared touch a minor. He has more morals than you do.”
“Morals are a personal thing. And may I remind you that you can’t speak to me about morals. I didn’t kill my own family.”
“I didn’t do it!” I lurched at him again. The chains halted my movement forward, and the restraints cut into my wrists. The wolf slinked under the surface of my skin, so close to coming out.
Cool water. Cool running mountain water…
“All right, Hood. Calm down. Go back, tell me—how did you and Lowell’s relationship change? What happened that took it to the next level?”
“I hate you.”
Amari shrugged. “So what?”
I sighed. I’m sorry, Kenneth. This should have stayed between us. I would tell him everything later, and I hoped he wouldn’t hate me for it.
“It was September, a month after I turned eighteen. I was entering my senior year in high school, and I needed new clothes, my school fees hadn’t been paid, and my car wasn’t running again. Kenneth pulled me aside and took me for a walk in one of the paddocks we weren’t housing any animals in, and it was far away from the ranch house. Dad would have never seen us.
“Kenneth asked me if I had everything I needed for school. I had on the last pair of jeans I owned, and even they were torn and dirty. Doing chores was hard on my clothes.”
“HOOD, YOU’VE WORN the same pair of jeans for the last four days. You got everything you need for school? Or are you saving your clothes for your last year?”
“No, sir.”
“Stop calling me sir. Call me Kenneth.” He wrapped his furry muscular arm around my neck.
“I…that’s…I’m not sure I can, Mr. Lowell.”
“Yes, you can. Come on, I’m not that much older than yourself, you know. I’m only twenty-six. And besides, the last two years, we’re more friends, right?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Okay then, it’s settled. Now tell me. What’s going on with the jeans? You just like them that much?”
“No, sir. I…um, Kenneth.” It was awkward, but at the same time, he was right. We had seen each other every day for the last two years. He was more a part of the family than anyone else. He was kinder than my father had ever been, had certainly filled in for him on numerous occasions. And I told him more things than I did my own dad.
“Out with it. It’s okay. You can tell me.”
“I spent my money on Grandpa’s meds. There’s a new prescription the doctors gave him that’s not covered by his insurance. When I went to pick it up for him, the pharmacy wanted money. So I paid for it. I don’t have any more money for school clothes or for my fees.”
“Did you tell your granddaddy?”
“No. He’d be so embarrassed. And he’s getting worse. He doesn’t remember the important things most of the time, and he’s even starting to have a hard time coming up with my name.”
Kenneth hugged me close.
“Okay. You’re a good man, Hood. You’re a good man. You look after family first, so I will look after you, okay?” He squeezed me again.
“What do you mean?”
“Your dad’s passed out again?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, we’ve got several hours. Let’s go to town. I’ll get you some clothes. How much are your school fees?”
“Three hundred and fifteen,” I said, looking at the grass at my feet. It was a lot of money.
“No problem. If I give it to you, can you go to school and pay them? Or do I have to go there?”
“No, I can do it. Kenneth…I…thank you.” I turned and embraced him.
“Oh,” he said, looking somewhat shocked at my display of affection. It was more a sense of relief. “Hood,” He gently hugged me back. “You’ve got one year left. Then you can really go anywhere you want, become anything you want. I want you to get away from here, well…from him. Okay? In the meantime, you can come to me with anything, all right?” He squeezed me again.
“Thanks, Kenneth.”
That hug stayed with me for a really long time.
I HELD MY head up and looked at Amari. Thinking about Kenneth’s kindness, judging the reporter against that, made me hate Amari even more.
“After that, we drove into town and went shopping. I made sure I never picked out anything that had a label on it—you know, the expensive stuff. He bought me clothes to wear, and I had textbooks for my last year of school.”
“So the werewolf has a conscience. Nice. Too bad he didn’t pass along those traits to you, huh? So, when did it get, you know, romantic?”
“Do I really have to go there?”
I closed my eyes, sighed heavily, and calmed myself down. Amari was pushing buttons and the wolf paced again. My demon needed to be locked away.
“It started in late September. We were out in the field all day, baling. We didn’t have much for livestock at that point, but the cows we did have needed hay, so we went out to wrap and stack. Kenneth was running the 1025R cab tractor that pulled the baler, and I was hauling them and stacking them. It’s hard work, and by the end of the afternoon, I was exhausted.”
“THAT’S THE LAST one, Hood!” Kenneth yelled from behind the glass of the tractor. “Get it placed and let’s get gone. We did good this afternoon.” He was all smiles.
As soon as that last bale was done, Kenneth drove over and swung open the cab door of the tractor. He was dusty, sweaty, and shirtless. For late September, it was hot. The tractor didn’t have air-conditioning.
It wasn’t the first time I’d seen him half-naked, and in fact, I had once caught him just coming out of the shower. He’d had nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I hadn’t been able to help but notice the number of scars he had, and some of them looked like they ran quite deep.
Somehow, those old wounds made me more attracted to him.
“Get in! I’ll drive us home.”
“There’s not exactly enough room, Kenneth. It’s okay. I can walk,” I said.
“Don’t be silly. It’s a twenty-minute hike home. It’ll be dark by then. Just get in.” Kenneth spread his legs, patted the edge of the seat in front of him, smiled and nodded, inviting me in.
I was so tired. I thought, what the hell. And in truth, my stomach was churning butterflies at the thought of sitting that close to him while he was half-naked.
I climbed in and took my seat. We had to do a little readjusting, but between me working the pedals and the steering and Kenneth pulling the gear shifts, we managed to get going.
Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume One Page 33