Shimmying on her stomach, Reagan inched her way under the table, scooting to the far end at the back of the dim dining room. The table was long, ten chairs lining each side. When she reached the end, she placed a trap under the chair at the foot of the table. Turning, she started to inch her way back, figuring on placing the last trap at the halfway point.
What the hell? She felt a hot, moist breath on her ankle. Looking back at her feet, she didn’t see anything, but there it was again, the hot breath bearing down on her. She started to crawl faster and kicked out with her feet. She connected with a chair, sending it scooting backward. She heard a snarl and felt a searing pain in her left ankle. Yelping with a final effort, she scrambled out from under the table. She looked down to see blood streaming from a gash in her leg.
“I told you so.” Cora Rose stood in front of her with a menacing smirk. Reagan stared at her and then looked back at the dark space between the chairs. Nothing. “Come on, let’s clean you up.”
As they headed toward the kitchen, they were startled by a loud SNAP. Turning, they saw the tiny body of a mouse caught in the jaws of one of the traps under the table. Reagan looked at Cora Rose triumphantly, who merely scowled at her and pointed at Reagan’s ankle.
In the kitchen, Reagan examined the jagged gash in her skin. She couldn’t for the life of her figure out what had caused it. She could explain her imagination running away from her thinking she could feel the panting breath of an imaginary wolf, but the cut in her skin was far from imaginary. Willow walked in as Cora Rose poured hydrogen peroxide on the wound.
“What happened?” asked Willow.
“Wolf bite,” replied Cora Rose
“Right,” said Willow. “Reagan have you had your rabies vaccination?”
“What the hell?” said Reagan
“I’m kidding. Have you had a tetanus shot within the last seven years?”
“Yeah, I had to get one before I went to camp two years ago.”
“Good, then there is nothing to worry about.”
“Ya wanna explain to her just what bit her?” asked Cora Rose
“Where did it happen?” asked Willow.
“I told you, it’s a wolf bite. It happened under the dining room table. Reagan decided to put mousetraps under the table, and a wolf got her,” said Cora Rose with a creepy satisfaction.
“And I caught a mouse, too,” said Reagan, smirking at Cora Rose. “It’s still in the trap. Cora Rose refuses to get it. As soon as she is done torturing my leg, I can go get it,” Reagan said with bravado.
“No need. I’ll go fetch it myself.” With that Willow stalked off to the dining room.
“Well, Cora Rose, aren’t you worried about Willow getting attacked by the wolves?”
“They won’t bother Willow. They know better. Willow has a pact...”
“CORA ROSE,” Willow reprimanded, “here is the mouse. Please dispose of it, and Reagan, here is the wolf tooth that bit your leg.” Willow produced a large splinter, the pointy end stained with fresh blood.
“Satisfied?” asked Reagan, looking pointedly at Cora Rose.
“No, I would expect Willow would have a perfectly good explanation. Don’t matter. I’m telling you, you was bit by a wolf. Now stay clear of the dining room table, or they will grab you and drag you down to the cellar.”
“Cora Rose, don’t you have linens to change? Reagan, if you’re okay, I am going out to the studio to work. Don’t expect to see me today. I have to start on my large order. If you need me for anything, just ring the large bell by the barn door, and I will come out. Okay?” Reagan nodded in agreement, acutely aware of the glowering look Cora Rose was giving her. Reagan couldn’t wait to escape to the ocean and away from this craziness!
Chapter 12
With a fresh bandage on her leg, Reagan slipped out the screen door and onto the porch. The day was crisp, and the dazzling blue sky was fresh and clear. Yesterday’s bad weather had washed clean the world.
Wiley bounded up beside Reagan, eager to join her on an adventure. They walked past the barn where Reagan could her the radio blasting 60s music. She chuckled to herself thinking of Darcy’s story of the UPS man hearing chanting. In this backwoods town, the UPS man probably would mistake rap music for chanting with the devil. Smiling at her own wit, Reagan made her way to the cliff and the trail that led to the ocean.
The waves were crashing this morning, which shocked her. The day was so calm and beautiful. She expected the ocean to be the same way. She had been warned enough about how dangerous the rocks were when the ocean was rough, so she was extra careful to stay up against the cliff and away from the reach of the waves. The tide was out, so she had lots of room to walk. In a few hours, when the tide started to come in, she would have to be careful. As rough as the ocean was today, there wouldn’t be any room between the battering waves and the cliff face once the tide was all the way in. Still, there was plenty of time to sit on the rocks and enjoy the day.
She had brought her book down and a beach towel she had found. She folded the towel to make a comfortable seat and leaned back against the cliff. Gulls whirled overhead, crying in the wind. They would dive into the rough chop and surface, sometimes with a fish in their beaks. Then they would bob on the waves, not caring that the ocean was a rough riot of swirling, crashing water. Reagan envied them that they could float, unconcerned about their safety. She opened her book and became lost in the intricacies of her current serial killer character.
Engrossed, she never saw or heard Seth approach. He stood, watching her as she read, close enough to touch her. He waited. Within a few minutes, Reagan had this uncanny feeling that she wasn’t alone. Looking up she gasped to see Seth just a foot away.
“When did you get here? How long have you been watching me?” Seth just shrugged, a slight grin playing around his lips. “Well, it’s not very nice to do that. I don’t like people sneaking up on me!”
“What did you do to your leg?” asked Seth, calmly.
“A wolf bit me,” Reagan answered flippantly. Seth paled slightly. “I’m kidding, sheesh,” said Reagan. “Seriously, is everyone around here crazy?”
“What makes you think that everyone is crazy?”
“Well, Cora Rose thinks, oh never mind, or I’ll start sounding crazy, too.”
“Mind if I sit with you?”
“Not at all. Hang on, let me unfold this towel so we can share it. It’s softer for your butt that way.”
“My butt can handle the rocks, but thanks.” The both got situated and stared silently out to sea. Seth sat close to Reagan, and she became acutely aware of his slightly citrus and spicy scent. He smelled clean and fresh.
“What?” asked Seth
“Nothing,” said Reagan, her face coloring slightly. “I was thinking how I loved the way the ocean smelled.”
“Uh huh,” said Seth, as he slid his eyes to her. Her stomach fluttered a little. His eyes had taken on a green hue today, reflecting the color of the turbulent ocean.
“So, ah, what do you do with your day?” asked Reagan. “Do you have a job or anything?”
“I work with my father. We fish.”
“So, it’s too rough to fish today?”
“Nope.”
“Then why aren’t you fishing?”
“We already did. The boat has been out, and we brought back nets full of fish. They have already been taken to market.”
“It’s still morning. How did you do that?”
“We were out very early, and it was a good day.”
“So, you never did tell me. Where do you live?”
“Over there,” Seth gestured down the coast. “I live beyond the curve of the cliff.”
“I live up in the house above the cliff.”
“I know,” said Seth.
“How do you know that?”
“Because you don’t live down near me, and this trail leads up the cliff to the old house. So, obviously you live there.”
“Have you always lived her
e in Littleport?”
“All my life,” said Seth
“So, you know all the stories about the house I live in?”
“I know a lot about the house you live in, but I’m not sure of the stories you are talking about. If you mean the things the people around here gossip about, I don’t pay much attention to that. People like to think all kinds of things. It gives them something to talk about.”
“That’s exactly what I think. These people love drama, so they embellish every story with fiction and lose the fact. Take this morning. If Cora Rose has her way, by tonight the entire town will think I was bitten by wolves under the dining room table. If I am not careful, she will have them believe I was drug down the basement stairs by a pack of dining room wolves like old Adelaide. People are nuts. Don’t you think? Seth?” Reagan glanced over at Seth to find him staring off at the ocean with a wistful look on his face. “What, don’t tell me you believe that stuff?”
“Adelaide was drug down the basement stairs, but I don’t think it was wolves that did it.” Seth’s jaw clenched, the muscle working in and out along his cheek.
“Wait, you know the story of Adelaide? She was alive, like eons ago. Why do you know the story?”
“Most people have heard it.”
“Wait, what do you think drug her down the basement stairs,” asked Reagan.
“The embodiment of pure evil. That’s what I think.”
“I knew it. You’re crazy, too. What was it, the bogey man? An evil poltergeist? What?”
“No, I don’t think it was the bogey man. Don’t you think there are people in the world that are just plain bad, pure evil?” Seth glanced at the cover of her book. On it was a picture depicting a woman who had been murdered, blood splattered everywhere. A knife was prominently displayed above her body.
“I guess you’re right. People can be evil, but where does everyone get this wolf story?” Reagan asked. Seth shrugged his shoulders but didn’t meet Reagan’s eyes. She couldn’t decide if he believed in that crap or not. He was being evasive. Despite that, the man was definitely easy on the eyes. That’s for damn sure.
They sat companionably for the next hour. Seth told her about the kinds of fish they preferred to catch from the sea and explained how a lobster pot worked. They became comfortable with each other, and the sun made them lazy and warm. Reagan closed her eyes, soaking in the soft rays of late morning.
“How do you feel about spiders?” Seth asked.
“I hate them, why?” Reagan stiffened.
“Don’t freak, but you have one on your shoulder.” Seth reached over and knocked the spider off of her. The minute he brushed her shoulder with his fingertips, a jolt of electricity vibrated through her body, and an unholy scream echoed off the cliffs.
“What the hell?” exclaimed Reagan. She peered up the cliff, searching for the offending sound. She could just see the fourth floor of the house peeking over the top of the cliff.
“Just a gull screaming. I think one got in a squabble with another over the ownership of a fish.” Reagan nodded, accepting the explanation, but then she saw what looked like a face peering out of one of the windows on the fourth floor. Reagan squinted and looked again, but all she could see was the reflection of the sun in the upper floor windows, and then another gull let out a bloodcurdling scream. Reagan jumped knocking into Seth.
“Hey, are you okay?” Seth took hold of Reagan’s shoulders, looking at her face anxiously.
“Um, yeah,” said Reagan, embarrassed, “I just hate the screaming of the gulls.”
“You’ll get used to it,” said Seth. He still held her shoulders, and his eyes locked into hers. A tingle of electricity seemed to pulse from his hands and travel to her stomach where the butterflies wreaked havoc again. He reached up and gently brushed aside a strand of hair from her face. “You’re fine. The gulls won’t hurt you.”
“I know, but it sounds more like a woman screaming, and I swear I just saw a face in the fourth-floor window.” Reagan’s face colored as she realized just how stupid she sounded. Despite that, she glanced over her shoulder again up at the old house. Seth gave her shoulders a little squeeze before he let go. She found herself immensely disappointed. Maybe this is why all the women in romance novels are simpering weak women. Men hold their shoulders when they think the damsel is afraid. Well, she was not one of those silly females. Yes, the holding was certainly nice, but she could hold her own!
Seth looked at her with amusement dancing in his eyes. “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing.”
“Right, nothing. You just got the look of a bulldog guarding his territory. I’m sorry I touched you. I’m sorry if it bothered you.” He smiled, waiting.
“Oh, no, it was fine, I liked it.” Oh crap. What did she just say? “I mean, oh my God, I should say thanks, or… shit, I’ve got to go.” With her face turning a bright shade of scarlet, Reagan grabbed her towel and book and headed up the trail, not even taking a minute to look back.
“Okay, then. Bye,” said Seth. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Maybe,” yelled Reagan, as she raised her hand in a casual wave, trying to walk calmly away despite the fact that she was mortified.
The next day, Reagan once again headed down to the beach. This time she had her backpack with her. She had a larger blanket to sit on, her book, and a couple of bottles of water. She was going to spend the day there reading, but if Seth showed up, well, there was enough blanket to share and a bottle of water for him if he wanted it.
The ocean was calmer today, and the gentle crash of the waves lulled Reagan into an impromptu nap in the sun. Wiley curled up next to her with his big, square bony head resting in her lap. As she dozed, Reagan dreamed of a dark hallway with lots of doors. Someone was calling to her, but she couldn’t tell which door the person was behind. At first it sounded like her mom, but it wasn’t. The voice became increasingly insistent that Reagan find her and help her, and Reagan became more frantic that she wouldn’t be able to find this person and help them in time. She methodically tried every door, but as she worked her way down the hall, she discovered that they were all locked. The voice screamed for help, and Reagan became wild with fear. Then one long, agonizing scream pierced the air.
Reagan startled awake as Seth gently nudged her shoulder. She looked around wildly. Her dream was so vivid. Where was she? What had happened, and who was screaming? As she became more and more awake, she realized that Seth was there trying to wake her up, and the gulls were wheeling overhead again, screaming their blood-curdling cry.
“Reagan, what’s wrong? You’re shaking.” Seth crouched down and gathered her into his arms. Reagan leaned into his shoulder breathing in his citrus scent.
“I had a terrible dream. Someone needed my help. I was in a long corridor with rooms on both sides. I could hear the person calling for help, but I couldn’t find which door, and they were locked. Then there was this terrible screaming.” Reagan shuddered against Seth, grateful for the strong arms locked around her. His hand stroked her silky hair as he held her, rocking her slightly.
“It was just a dream and noisy gulls. Your mind just turned the cry of the gulls into a dream that’s all. You’re safe now.”
He lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. Today, they were gray like the ocean during the rain. She gazed into them, lost in their depth. Calm filled her soul and her trembling stopped. Still, he held her, cupping her cheek, his thumb gently brushing across her lower lip. Her breath hitched, and the stomach butterflies returned with a vengeance. He leaned close and softly brushed his lips against hers. They were cold, as if he had been in the ocean swimming, yet they kindled a fire deep in her belly. She stared up at him, willing him to give her more. He groaned and threaded her hair through his fingers at the back of her head. He crushed her toward him and kissed her hungrily. She gave back, her hot lips bruising his, warming the cold that was his, while the surrounding air reverberated with heart-breaking screams.
; Abruptly, Seth pulled away. The air was filled with electricity, and the seagulls were diving around them. Seth batted at one large gull as it swooped at Reagan’s head. Wiley leapt to his feet, jumping in the air, snapping at the annoying birds.
“Why are they so close to us?” asked Reagan. “What are they doing, and why are they acting weird?”
“I don’t know, but they are really getting aggressive,” answered Seth, as he threw a rock at another swooping bird. Seth moved away from Reagan and settled himself on the folded blanket. The flock of gulls wheeled around and headed out to sea.
“That was really weird,” said Reagan, “I didn’t know gulls attacked people.”
“Well, they really didn’t hurt us. They just came close. Are you all right now?”
“If I said, no, would you kiss me again?” said Reagan boldly.
“Maybe, let’s try it and see.”
“Then no, I am not all right now,” whispered Reagan.
The corners of Seth’s mouth twisted up slightly, and he leaned toward her, taking her hands in his and kissed her gently on the mouth. Again, his lips were chilled, his hands cool over hers. He deepened the kiss, drawing her nearer. She closed her eyes and sighed and then screamed. A gull’s talons tore into her hair, scratching her scalp, ripping at her and beating her head with its wings. Seth jumped up and grabbed the gull, slamming it into the rocks. Reagan sobbed and watched as Seth killed the bird in front of her, twisting its neck as a final assurance that it was dead. He wiped his hands on his pants and drew her close, parting her hair to check the wound.
The Starfish Talisman Page 7