by Sable Hunter
Glory and Lily rose to follow Harper out the back door and across the patio, cold drinks in their hands. There was no missing the bright lights illuminating the target range. What was crazy, was that they weren’t shooting the compound bow or a gun of any kind, now they were racing motorcycles around an obstacle course, traveling up ramps and jumping ditches. Their excited whoops and hollers made Glory smile.
Harper and Lily moved closer, yelling their encouragement. After a few more rounds, the men stopped, pulled off their helmets and were sitting on their bikes to talk. Glory hung back, feeling a bit dizzy. She watched T put down his helmet and go to Lily. They began a conversation, something must have been funny, because they were laughing and gesturing with their hands. Lily held up one finger, then moved to join Harper. T made no move to hide the fact he was watching every move the lovely Lily made.
Revel and Waco began pushing their bikes off the field. Glory was thinking about calling it a night when she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. A glint in the moonlight. Her curiosity aroused, she focused, trying to peer through the trees and underbrush – and what she saw put wings on her feet. A man stood on the far side of the bayou, and he had a gun – pointing straight at T.
Glory threw her glass to the ground and began to run as hard as she could. “T-Rex!” She held her hand over her heart, the errant organ felt like it would pound out of its place in her ribcage. “T-Rex!” The distance she had to cover seemed to grow from a few hundred yards to a few hundred miles.
Hearing her, T wheeled around, staring at her like she’d lost her mind, trying to make out what she was saying.
“Get down! Get down!” she screamed.
Almost there. Almost there.
Crack!
Glory lunged through the air and threw herself against him, her weight not enough to knock him down, but enough to move him just far enough that the bullet whizzed by, striking a tree he’d been standing near.
“Fuck!” he yelled. “Somebody’s shooting at us.”
“Down! Everybody down!” Revel called to the rest who were a good distance away.
Crack!
Another shot.
“Over here! Quick!” Waco called as he motioned everyone to maneuver behind the big round hay bales holding the targets.
“Come on, Supergirl.” T wrapped his body around Glory and shielded her as they moved to a safer spot.
“Who the hell would be shooting at us?” Revel asked anyone who was listening, as he dug his cell phone out of his pocket and called 9-1-1.
“What did you see, Glory?” Harper asked, her voice shrill with fear.
“Just a man in camouflage, except for his hat, it was bright orange. T-Rex was standing by himself in the far right of the field; the shooter was aiming at him.”
“Hell, I was hoping it was a hunter, taking wild aim at a deer,” Waco muttered. “I guess this part of the world isn’t as safe as you were making out, T.”
“No, I guess not.” He looked long and hard at Glory. He’d deal with her later. “I’m sure as hell not sitting here waiting for him to get closer.” Standing halfway up, he began to move, still hunkered over. “I’m going after him.”
“I’m coming with you,” Revel said. “The cops are on their way.”
“Be careful!” Harper whispered, anxiously.
“Yes, please,” Glory added, directing her comment straight at T-Rex.
“Waco, get the women to safety. Don’t leave them for a second. Stay with them until we get back. Do you copy?” Revel asked as he started off after T.
“I’ll take care of them.” Waco assured his friend. “You can count on me.”
“Will they be okay?” Lily asked, shocked by all that had happened.
“Revel is a former SEAL and T can take care of himself,” Harper murmured. “I hope.”
Waco kept them in place until they heard shouting in the distance. “They’ve either caught him or they have him on the run. Come on, let’s get to the house.” The women kept low, but they followed Rainwater back to Wildwood. Once they were indoors, Harper led them to an interior room without windows.
A few tense minutes passed while they waited. “I don’t understand any of this,” Glory said, standing at the door to listen. “Waco, why don’t you go out and see what you can see.”
He nodded. “All right. Harper, do you have a gun handy?”
“The front hall closet, top shelf,” she instructed, pacing back and forth across the floor. “Don’t leave us. You promised Revel,” Harper reminded him.
“I’m only going to check out front. I’ll be right back,” he promised, leaving the women trying to figure out who would shoot at them.
“I don’t like this at all,” Lily muttered. “I know my days are numbered, but this is not the way I want to go out.” She winked at Glory. “I want to die from pleasure.”
Glory had to giggle. “You’re nuts.” As she released her emotions, Glory’s laughter turned to tears. “If something happened to T-Rex, I don’t know what I would do.”
Lily glanced at Harper, then back at Glory, a look of surprise on her face. “No one told me you’d staked a claim, Glory Bee, or I wouldn’t have flirted with the man. It didn’t mean anything, I promise. I was just practicing my skills.”
“Don’t be sorry, Lily. I don’t have a claim on him, he’s his own man.” She hugged herself tight, trying to stop her body from shaking.
“Who me?” Waco asked, returning with gun in hand.
“No. I was talking about…”
Seeing Glory was near tears, Waco pulled her close. “Don’t cry. You did good. I’m sure T-Rex will be grateful to you until the day he dies.”
“Thank you.”
“The sheriff just drove up.” Waco went on to explain. “He said his deputies are with Revel and T-Rex, they caught the guy. The shooter was on foot and didn’t get very far. The sheriff said he wasn’t surprised, considering Revel’s military background.”
About that time, T came rushing through the door. He was still breathing heavily, not from exertion but in sheer fear at what could’ve happened. If Glory hadn’t run to him…if the bullet had hit her… His gut was tied up in knots. When he looked up and saw her in the arms of Waco Rainwater, he almost lost it. “Son-of-a-bitch,” he mumbled.
Seeing his angry face, Glory just wanted to get away. She didn’t know what was going on. This evening had been taxing, she couldn’t even remember if she’d taken her pills this morning. The best thing she could do was go home, count them, and take one now if she hadn’t before. Pulling away from Waco, she began to speak, “Harper, I think I’ll…”
“The shooter was Jimmy Dubois’ brother.” Revel announced to everyone as he came bursting into the room. “He blamed T for his little brother’s arrest.”
She jerked her head around and looked at T. Was this over her? An odd feeling came over Glory, almost as if her mind wasn’t connected to her body. “I’m so sorry,” she managed to say before she slumped to the floor and knew no more.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Glory!” T shouted as he dove across the room to catch her before she hit the floor. “Get some water, Harper.”
Harper ran to get a glass and T eased over to the couch to sit down. “Glory? Baby?”
Lily, Waco, and Revel looked on as T pushed Glory’s hair from her face. Her skin was damp with perspiration. “How about a wet rag?” He felt frantic. “Do you think I should take her to the hospital?”
“Maybe she just got too hot,” Harper said as she returned with the water. “I’m sure she just fainted. I know she was scared to death for you.”
Lily came running back with the rag. “Here, T.”
T began bathing her face. “Glory, are you okay? Honey, please wake up.” He held her up in his arms and lifted the glass to her lips. “Take a sip, just a sip.”
His whispered request and the coolness of the water on her face brought Glory’s eyes open. “T?” she asked, puzzled at the concern o
n his face. “Are you okay?”
“Of course, I am. What happened to you? Do you need to go to the doctor?”
Glory glanced around, embarrassed to see she was surrounded by their host, hostess, and the other guests. “No, I’m good. I just need to get home and take a pill.”
“Okay.” He stood, helping her to her feet. “I’ll help you.”
“Oh, no. I’m good.” She tried to stand and another wave of dizziness hit her.
“Grab her, T, I think she’s going back down,” Revel warned.
“Get the door, Waco. I’m going to drive her home. I need to leave my truck here, Revel.”
“No problem.”
Lily and Harper followed along behind. “T, call us later and let us know how she is.”
“Okay, I will, Harper. Glory, did you leave your keys in the truck?”
“Yes.” Glory wanted to argue, she just didn’t have the strength. “I can walk.” Maybe. She might be able to crawl.
“Harper and I will get your truck back to you,” Revel called out from the porch as T-Rex loaded her on the passenger side.
“I can do it.” She tried to push his hand away as he fastened her seat belt.
“Hush, you’re weak as a kitten,” T fussed, slamming the door and going around to the driver’s side. Once he was in, he started up and put the truck in gear. God, what a night! His heart was still hammering from what nearly happened. Pete Dubois had come bent on revenge, it was a wonder he hadn’t killed one of them. And Glory…Glory was his own private Achilles heel. “What kind of pill do you need?” He couldn’t imagine. “Are you diabetic?” She was so still, her head back, facing out the window. “Are you asleep?”
“No,” she answered. “I’m not asleep or a diabetic. I’m transgender. If I don’t take my pills, I start turning back into a guy.” She let out a weak giggle. “Makes sense, since you’re gay and all. Huh?”
T growled and gritted his teeth. “You’re full of prunes, Glory Bee.”
“You’re full of hot air, T-Rex,” she whispered back.
He drove a couple of miles, then reached over to feel her cheek. She wasn’t quite as sweaty. “Feeling better?”
“A little, I’ll be better once I get a pill.” She knew he was worried, so she told him just enough to satisfy him, hopefully. “It’s nothing, I just forgot to take my blood pressure pill. I have an…irregular heartbeat.” There. That was close and partially true…just without the gory details.
“Damn, that sounds serious.” He looked at her again. “Is it serious?”
“No, my heart has a distinct sense of humor, which explains my former strange attachment to you.”
Her dry wit just made him shake his head. If he hadn’t been so worried, he’d be laughing by now.
They made the rest of the drive in silence, T didn’t know if she was asleep or just tired of talking to him. The slow rise and fall of her chest reassured him she was still okay. Once he arrived at the bait shop, he was out and around to help her before she roused up enough to unfasten the seatbelt. Before she could protest, he had her out and up the steps, holding her with one arm while he unlocked the door with his other hand. “Now, where are those pills?”
She pointed to the small room where she slept. He headed that way, sitting her down on the edge of the bottom bed. “They’re by the sink.”
He retrieved them from the restroom, not taking time to do more than glance at the long names of the drugs, wanting only to get one in her so she’d start to feeling better quickly. Finding a glass, he drew some water, then hurried back to her side.
With a grateful glance, she accepted the pill bottle, opened it and swallowed the small white tablet with a sip of water. “I’ll be okay, now.” She laid back. “You can take my truck home and bring it back in the morning, maybe meet Revel outside or something.” Glory was amazed she was thinking coherently. “I just need to sleep.”
“If you think I’m leaving you like this, you’re as crazy as you look.” He didn’t mean that; it was just all he could think to say.
“Why would you do that?” She wanted to argue, she was just too tired. “I need to close my eyes. Lock the door on your way out.”
…A few hours later, T tossed and turned on the lower bunk. Like the prison cot he’d slept on years ago, this damn bed was about a foot too short, his feet almost touched the floor where they hung off the end. He’d put her on the top, mainly because he was afraid he’d break this damn flimsy outfit. Twice, he’d got up to check on her. She was cool and seemed to be sleeping well. Certainly, better than him - he felt like he’d been hit by a charging bull. T still couldn’t believe she’d risked her life to save his sorry ass. No one had ever put themselves on the line like that for him. Not his mother. For sure not his father.
No one. Only the small worrisome bundle of cuteness lying above him.
Damn, he wished he could hold her.
Damn, this pillow is horrible. He punched it.
Damn, his feet were getting cold.
He flopped over and the wood creaked, and snapped.
Damn, I broke the bed frame.
“What?” Glory felt the earth move beneath her. She felt for the floor with one hand and a foot, then realized she was on the top bunk. “Good grief! What’s going on-n-n-n-n…” she squealed as the bed gave way and she began to fall.
T rolled to his left and scrambled off the bed and just managed to catch Glory against him before she hit the floor - again. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” he mumbled dryly as the mattress from the top hit the bottom and the ladder toppled to one side. The feel of her soft body against his was a relief in itself. “Feeling better?”
“You broke my bed, moose!” Glory pushed from his arms. “What are you still doing here? I thought you went home last night.” When she was on her feet, Glory hastily pulled down her sleep shirt, which barely covered… “Did you change my clothes last night!?!”
T surveyed the damage. “You couldn’t rest if you weren’t comfortable.” Hearing her cute, low, grumbly growls, he hazarded a peek toward her. She looked annoyed, but at the same time defeated. “If you’re supposed to take a pill, don’t forget to do so.”
She met his eyes, darts shooting from her own. “Yes, Doctor.” Putting one hand on her hip, she raised one of the mattresses with a foot. “Well, I guess it’s back to sleeping on the floor. At least I’ll have a mattress instead of a pallet under me this time. Unless…”
When she looked at him imploringly, he knew exactly what he wanted her to say.
“Unless, you have a hammer. Can you fix my bed, T-Rex?”
Fixing her bed wasn’t what T had in mind.
Despite his reservations, despite the risks – there was only one answer that his heart and body would accept. “No, it can’t be fixed.” When he saw her bottom lip pooch out, he couldn’t resist. He stepped over the debris on the floor and pulled her against him. “I’m tired of fighting this. You’re coming to stay with me.”
Glory’s faulty heart started hammering in her chest again. “What? Why?” she asked the question, then gave her own answer. “You mean until I get another bed. Well, I can probably find one pretty quick if I start looking.” She waved away his suggestion. “I’ll be fine. Even on the floor, this mattress will be like the Hilton compared to the pallet.”
T was still loosely holding her as she seemed to talk through her problem. He stood it as long as he could, before finally taking her face in his hands. “Hush,” he muttered, then insured she followed his edict by covering her mouth with his, taking what he’d been dreaming about all night.
Glory was drowning in this man. All he had to do was touch her and she burst into flames. From personal experience, Glory knew she would be burned. That sure knowledge didn’t prevent her from tangling her fingers in his hair and kissing him back with all her might. Never let it be said, Glory Bee Hudson didn’t take advantage of every opportunity.
But anything more would be foolish.
So, after she’d thrilled at his kiss – every lick, nip, and pass of his questing tongue, she turned her head and pressed her face in the crook of his neck. “I can’t. You’re just being nice to me. You have this oversized Prince Valiant complex, you’re a protector. Now to complicate matters, you’re confusing gratitude with…something else.” She didn’t dare try to define what he felt for her.
Glory’s take on their situation flabbergasted T. He didn’t know which of her nonsensical points to refute first. “Wrong.” Taking her by the shoulders, he set her gently to one side. “I hate to burst your bubble, baby, but I’m not being nice. I’m not a protector by anyone’s standards.” As he spoke, he began gathering her things, reaching for her well-worn backpack to fill with Glory’s belongings. “And while I may be grateful, that’s not what I’m feeling at the moment.”
“What are you feeling?” Glory was hanging onto his every word.
“I’m being very selfish,” he spoke lowly, but emphatically. “I want you with me more than anything. Being with you, holding you, having you share my bed and my days was a totally addictive experience. Since you left, I can’t think of anything else. My body feels like it’s going through withdrawals.” Glory was hypnotized, watching him go through the old dresser and choose garments and underwear to pack for her. When he held out his hand, palm downward, his gesture drew her eyes. “See. I’m shaking,” he said. “And you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve turned me inside out, you walked into my life and flipped everything on its head. So, please, come home with me so I can sleep.” He went to the bathroom to gather those mysterious pill bottles. “Did you know that after the storm, I caught Dubois pilfering with your stuff over at the old shack? He had your keys in his pocket and he made more than one reference that he knew you were here and that you were alone.”
Glory let out gasp. “No, I didn’t know. He came here, but I thought he was just being nice.”
T reentered the room, his fist full of pill bottles that he stuffed in the small case. “To show you how you’ve got me tied into knots…I spent every night from that point on, standing guard right outside. Some nights I sat on a stump across the road and some nights I halfway dozed in my truck. But I haven’t left you unprotected from the day of the storm until the day you fed those Swamp stars and I would never have left you at all, if Dubois hadn’t been arrested.”