The Artist Cries Wolf

by Heather Horrocks

  “That’s good, unless they’re selling trees.”

  The clearing held much more than trees. As she went further into the store, it began to look more like a regular shoe store, if regular shoe stores had monster cutouts at the end of each aisle. A large growling bear, a vampire baring his fangs, and a huge wolf with raised fur on its back — a werewolf, perhaps? — stood sentry at each aisle, all sporting trendy shoes on their feet.

  Amber flung out her arms and turned, like Julie Andrews in Sound of Music. “These hills are alive with more than just the sound of music.”

  Samuel quirked a smile at her. “Choose whatever pair you like.”

  There was row after row of shoes — all sorts of shoes. She stopped and picked up a pair of stiletto heels. She could break her ankles in these things. Suddenly she grinned and asked, “Do you know why Bigfoot wore tennies?”

  Samuel crossed his arms, a half-smile on his face. “Why?”

  “Because nine-ies were too small and eleven-ies were too big.” She smiled at him sweetly, and he laughed.

  An employee walked up — blue mohawk, earrings, in his twenties — and greeted them. “Hey, Samuel, ma’am. Looking for some new shoes?”

  Samuel pointed to Amber’s shoes. “For the lady. New tennis shoes.”

  The kid looked at the shoes and whistled, almost reverently. “Those are classics.”

  “Yeah,” Samuel said drily. “She’d like some new ones.”

  Having regained her composure, Amber smiled up at Samuel and smirked. “Yes. Brightly colored tennis shoes, size seven.”

  “I know just the pair. You’ll love them.”

  Samuel shook his head and shot both of them a smile. “I’m sure we will.”

  Amber took his arm, experiencing another whoosh of heat, but she held on this time. If there was attraction between them, she was going to exploit it. He hesitated, and then crooked his arm. Together they followed the kid.

  He pulled out a pair of shoes that looked like they’d mated with an Amazon parrot. Purples, blues, yellows, pinks, and oranges swirled together in an intricate pattern. Amber held out her hand. “These are great.”

  The kid nodded. “I know, right?”

  With a pang of regret and nostalgia, she slipped off her old, comfy shoes — the ones her mother had given her just before her death — and pulled on the new ones. “Wow. Very comfortable.”

  The kid nodded again. “Yeah. This brand has great padding, and there’s some mesh on top so they don’t get too hot.”

  “So you like them?” Samuel asked her, sounding as if he were trying not to laugh.

  She met his gaze. “Yes. Very much. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He chuckled. Turning to the kid, he said, “Jesse, we’d like a package of socks to go with this, too.”

  Amber narrowed her eyes at him. “I didn’t say you got to buy everything for me.”

  “I know. But you need new socks to go with your new shoes.”

  She paused, debating. Normally she would not let anyone — especially a man — buy her shoes and socks. But this wasn’t just anyone — this was Samuel. Adam had asked him to take care of her, and she found that she very much liked him taking care of her. Go figure.

  It kind of reminded her of when Adam had watched over her while they were growing up.

  A pang of homesickness swept over her.

  Jesse looked between them and waited.

  Samuel raised a questioning eyebrow.

  Why not let someone take care of her for a little while? Thirty days. She had thirty days to be pampered and taken care of. Then she’d be on the run again.

  Unless … She looked up at Samuel. “Thank you.”

  With a smile, Jesse asked Amber, “Sport socks?”

  “That will be great. Thanks.”

  She smelled so good!

  Even with the travel grime on her — he’d need to let her shower after they got back home — she had a delightful scent. Like jasmine and cinnamon, mixed with sugar and spice and everything nice. It was all he could do to not reach out and touch her again. But he didn’t dare. When she’d taken his arm, as if she belonged to him, something had shifted inside of him. Something in him had whispered, “Mine!”

  But that was crazy. Sure, he’d emailed her for a couple of years, but they’d never even met before. Now she’d shown up, with her little white dog and her holey tennis shoes — and his inner wolf wanted to claim her?

  He’d better watch his step around her. He only had to take care of her for thirty days. That’s all the time she’d be his. Thirty days.

  After he paid, he took the bag Jesse held out and handed it to Amber. “Why don’t you put your new shoes on now?”

  As she did, he turned back to Jesse. “How’s your father doing?”

  Jesse shrugged. “Better.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Jesse’s father had been shot by some hunters a month ago, and wasn’t healing like he should be. It happened sometimes, even in shifters.

  Amber put her old shoes in the box, put it into the bag, and took his arm again. He could sense her heart rate increase and her face flushed, so he was guessing she didn’t feel comfortable doing it, apparently, but was forcing herself. Why? Because she felt the attraction, too? Or because she thought Adam wanted her to?

  Once outside, she asked, “Can we go to the movie lot now?”

  “How about we start with a tour of downtown now and save Creature Features Studio for another day while you’re here?”

  She considered his words. “All right.”

  “It’s just a block farther, but it’s hot out, and we’ll be walking in the heat already as it is, so we’ll drive.” He disengaged long enough to toss her shoes and socks into the cab of his truck. Then he helped her back into the cab.

  He drove up Mane Street, past Imaginary Friend Way, and pulled into Town Square parking lot.

  He helped her out, and put out his arm. She took it. To get to the square, they had to walk up Movie Star Road, which crossed the square.

  “Look!” she cried, pointing. “They’re filming something. Does that happen often?”

  “Every weekend., and sometimes during the week. The tourists love being extras, plus occasionally talent scouts from the studio walk around town and offer people a speaking part. Everyone’s hoping for a speaking part.”

  “Do they have screaming parts, too? These are monster movies, after all.”

  He laughed. “Yes.”

  He could hardly take his eyes off her. She was so thrilled with what she was seeing. He asked, “Do you want to be an extra? I can probably get you on.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Actually, I’d rather keep a low profile.”

  The sound of her laugh pulled at him. He couldn’t have her around, tempting him to want things he couldn’t have, but he couldn’t turn her out, either. He had to honor Adam’s last request.

  So he’d play tour guide.

  He motioned to the large building on their right. “Here’s Monster Mash. It’s the town’s dance hall.”

  “That’s such a quaint phrase. Dance hall.”

  “We’re just quaint folk here.”

  She shook her head. “I doubt that.”

  A film crew was in the town square shooting a sequence with Frankenstein’s monster. He was one of the few monsters in town that wasn’t real — except that the actor who played him was half-giant.

  Amber stopped and watched. “This is great. I want to come back here. This would be a great place to set up —”

  “Samuel!” A woman’s voice sounded behind them.

  He turned, and repressed a groan. Olivia Paxton. His intended, if his mother had her way. Her family lived in New Mexico, but they sent her to Moonchuckle Bay to stay with relatives every summer so she could interact with Samuel.

  He watched as his life-long friend joined them. “Amber, this is Olivia Paxton, a friend of mine. Olivia, this is Amber Newman. She’s my buddy Adam’s sister. She’s visi
ting for a month.”

  Olivia said to Amber, “Oh, I was so sorry about the news of his death.”

  Amber nodded. “Thanks.”

  “I’m giving her the grand tour of Moonchuckle Bay.”

  “You couldn’t have gotten a better guide to take you around town,” Olivia said with a laugh. “He knows every bit of town trivia and history — as well as the laws.”

  “He is a great guide,” agreed Amber, and Samuel saw her covertly studying Olivia.

  Olivia turned toward Samuel. “Hey, your parents called me. We’re supposed to get together and come to dinner this Saturday.”

  He shared a knowing look with Olivia, who was no happier with the arrangement their parents wanted than he was. “I’m afraid I’m too busy right now. I have a houseguest.”

  Olivia’s eyes widened and went back to Amber.

  Amber’s eyes widened and went to Samuel. She whispered, “What are you doing?”

  “Your parents are going to find that very interesting,” Olivia said, sounding amused.

  “My parents are interfering.”

  “As are mine,” Olivia readily agreed.

  Amber looked from one to the other. She could tell there was subtext behind the conversation, but she didn’t ask. She did, however, narrow her eyes at him.

  Olivia hugged Amber. “Welcome to Moonchuckle Bay. I hope to see you around. Now I’ve got to go. I’m helping my parents today. They’re in town to plan the wedding.”

  Samuel winced. The wedding to him. The wedding that wasn’t going to happen. It couldn’t. He and Olivia didn’t love each other. “See you around.”

  As he watched Olivia walk away, Amber punched him playfully in the side. “Okay, buckwheat. What was that for?”

  “What?” He tried to play innocent.

  She was having no part of it. “What happened to protecting my reputation?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know what came over me.”

  “I don’t, either. Now everyone is going to know I’m staying with you.”

  “Yeah. About that. We need to get you moved out.”

  As soon as possible. By tomorrow, if that could happen.

  She smiled up at him sweetly. “But how are you going to protect me like Adam asked if I’m not staying with you?”

  He was sure he’d come up with a good answer to that by tomorrow, because one sure wasn’t coming to him now.

  So he changed the subject. “There’s a pet store across from the shoe store. Cats in the Belfry. Let’s stop there on our way home.”

  Amber could hear the little dog howling outside, and she couldn’t stand it anymore. She couldn’t keep him outside. She was going to make a break for it — or help Wolf make one.

  Samuel had already gone to bed, after going for what he’d said was his customary evening run. She hadn’t heard any sounds from his part of the house for the past hour, but she couldn’t sleep.

  When Wolf howled again, a long, mournful sound, Amber slipped out of bed. She was going to go get him and bring him inside. She’d ask Samuel’s forgiveness tomorrow.

  Carefully, she turned on the flashlight on her phone, and used it to make her way down the hall and to the staircase. She tiptoed through the kitchen and dining room to the back sliding door, praying there wasn’t an alarm as she unlocked it and slid it open.

  Nothing sounded. Good.

  As soon as Wolf caught sight of her, he started prancing around, his tail flying back and forth.

  He barked happily, and she shushed him. She opened the kennel door, and he flew into her arms. “Hi, buddy. I’m here to sneak you inside, but you have to stay quiet to make it work.”

  The little fluffball seemed to know what she was saying, because he quieted and snuggled into her arms. She made her way back across the lawn under the light of the moon and went back inside. Setting Wolf down, she relocked the sliding doors, then scooped him up again as she headed back upstairs.

  At the top of the stairs, she listened intently for any sounds, but all she heard was her own breathing. After a minute, she moved quietly to the room Samuel had let her use. After closing the door behind her, she set Wolf on the bed. “If you’re quiet, and you behave yourself, you can sleep on the bed. Otherwise, on the floor. And if you’re naughty at all, it’ll be back outside for you.”

  Wolf turned in a circle three times and sank into the blanket with a happy sigh.

  She smiled and scratched behind his ears.

  Going into the bathroom, she took off the new jeans and shirt Samuel had insisted on buying her after the tour of Town Square was done, and put on the nightgown he’d also insisted on buying her. She owed him more than she was comfortable with already.

  Climbing under the covers, she reached out and patted Wolf. “Good boy.”

  The little dog stood, circled again, and sank down closer to her.

  Content, Amber continued to pet his head and back.

  She really loved this quirky little town, and Town Square was fantastic! She was definitely going to set up her easel and do some painting while she was there. She needed to earn some cash, and this tourist town ought to be good for some income.

  She already knew she was going to stay for the full thirty days that Adam had specified. After those thirty days, if she still liked the town, she might just settle here. She didn’t need to be on the run anymore. Technically, Keith was behind bars, and she was safe. But she was afraid that his reach extended beyond the walls of the institution he was currently held in.

  But if she wasn’t on the run, this was a town she could see herself staying in — making her home in.

  Maybe even with Samuel. She’d felt safer around him than she had in a long time. For the first time since her brother died and her stepfather crossed the line from merely creepy to truly insane, she didn’t feel like she had to constantly watch over her shoulder.

  She shook her head. She refused to let thoughts of Keith ruin this evening. She’d think about Samuel, instead. And how his touch had seared her.

  Her thoughts drifted to Olivia. What, exactly, was his relationship with the pretty woman? If his parents were inviting them both to dinner, what did that make her?

  A cousin?

  A friend?

  A girlfriend? There’d been nothing to suggest that in the way they’d treated each other.

  And whose wedding had she been planning with her parents? Surely not hers and Samuel’s. But why else would Samuel’s parents invite them all over?

  Okay, this was driving her crazy. This couldn’t be an arranged marriage. That was silly. Nobody did that in this day and age. She was reading far too much into this.

  Wolf started running in his sleep and making little sounds. She patted him and said, soothingly, “You’re okay, little guy.”

  And Amber would be okay, too.

  One way or another, she would be okay.

  If she kept telling herself that, maybe she’d eventually believe it.

  In his bed, Samuel chuckled. He ought to be upset that Amber had brought the little dog in without discussing it with him, but he was actually more surprised that she hadn’t done so before bedtime.

  And then she’d sneaked out, as though she could do it without him hearing her. Without him smelling her delightful scent in the hallway.

  It had been a long time since he’d been genuinely amused by a woman.

  He liked Amber. As a matter of fact, he liked her too much.

  And that which was all the more reason to keep his distance.

  Swoon Worthy

  IT HAD TAKEN A LITTLE convincing to talk Samuel into driving her into town the next day on his way to work — along with Wolf, her easel, her backpack of art supplies, and her newly-purchased canvases — but it was worth it. She’d been right. Town Square of Moonchuckle Bay was the perfect spot to sketch and paint.

  Samuel had been kind enough to buy a harness and leash for Wolf. He’d told her, “If you’re going to keep him, you’ve got to keep him contained.” Since h
e’d also purchased a bag of dog food and some treats for him, she suspected he liked the little dog more than he let on.

  To her relief, he hadn’t given her any grief about finding Wolf inside this morning. He’d just raised an eyebrow, and said, “So he’s an indoor dog now?”

  “Of course. He’s just a puppy. He was lonely.”

  Samuel decided it wasn’t a battle he wanted to fight. He liked the little dog, too — now that he knew Samuel was top dog.

  He helped her set up before continuing on to work, promising to pick her up when his shift ended. Wolf sat on her backpack and studied all the people who walked past, while she settled in to decide what she wanted to paint first.

  It was ten in the morning, and the town was already hopping with tourists, fake monsters, and another film crew. Today they were filming a vampire, who looked quite regal. His glistening, pointy fangs were quite convincing. Movie magic was everywhere. Special effects were fantastic, giving the illusion that this was the real deal right down to the smallest detail.

  As if.

  Amber forced herself to focus. She couldn’t decide whether she wanted to sketch and do caricatures of the tourists, sketch quick portraits, or sketch and paint something bigger.

  Looking around, she made her decision. This town demanded something bigger. It was all about monsters, so why not paint monsters? Then she could either sell that painting as is, or, if her customers wanted, she could add them into the scene for an additional fee.

  She started painting a vampire that looked somewhat like the fake vampires she’d seen strolling the streets, except she added a hint of danger and a dollop of humor. Humor was her thing. She found she couldn’t leave it out of her art or else it didn’t feel like her. She painted the menacing vampire holding a cute little cuddly dog — one that looked amazingly similar to Wolf — and patting its head.

  Once she had the vampire and dog sketched in, she hooked the canvas to her portable easel, and began adding splashes of color.

  Wolf circled and settled himself, falling asleep at her feet.

  Hours slipped by as she painted. People stopped to study her work, and some commented that they liked it. A couple asked how much she was selling it for.