August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (31 page)

"I said let go of my mother!" Richard strained against me as he tried to get to Tog.

Destiny blocked the little kids at the back door. They were quiet as they watched and listened.

Tog tucked Cara under his arm as though ready to protect her if things got out of hand. "Or what, Richard?"

Richard shook with anger. "Or I'll make you let go!"

The bigger man slowly nodded. "I'm sure you would try.” He shook his head. “But I don't want to hurt you."

"In your dreams,
Toglak
." Richard took on the same tone as he had with Caleb. He was trying to goad the bigger man. How stupid could he be?

Tog smiled. "I didn't realize you were this threatened by me." He was calm and gentle, kind of fatherly.

Not what Richard wanted, which made him madder.

I couldn’t see what was going on as I was being stretched straight out behind Richard, like a human leash. But I could feel as he shook even harder with his anger, he was at his breaking point. He wasn’t the only one.

Cara, however, was in the middle of this and knew her son well. "Richard, honey, Tog would never hurt me."

"Oh, yeah? Well, I know exactly what he wants and as soon as he gets it he'll turn his back and walk away."

Cara wasn't the only one who sucked in a breath. I distinctly heard Destiny and Tam.

Tim whispered to Eddy. "What does he want?"

Thank goodness for naivety.

"Richard, Tog wouldn't do that. He probably hasn't even thought about it."

Tog chuckled. "You're kidding, right?" There was silence. "I'm not going to lie to you, I have thought about it."

"See?!" Richard tugged harder.

"But that step I will only take with someone I'm going to spend the rest of my life with …" Richard tensed to interrupt, but Tog cut him off. "… after I have committed myself to her." He cleared his throat. "I don't take that lightly. Others may drop their seed anywhere, but I only plant my garden where I can tend it. There is too much at stake with the next generation and, believe it or not, I like being a father."

Richard’s shaking stopped and he didn’t pull as hard. I found this a little uncomfortable as I sagged.

Eddy whispered something just before Tim whispered back. "Oh, really? Gross."

"You're a father?" Richard’s voice was incredulous.

"Yes."

"Then, you're married." Richard pulled my taunt.

"No, unfortunately, I'm widowed."

"Oh." Richard eased up.

"Richard, I don't know how this is going to turn out. Your mother may get tired of me and not ask me to come back. That's a chance I have to take. I've been accused of being crazy but I've never been accused of being stupid. To walk away from Cara would be pretty stupid."

"Those are just words." Richard hadn’t given up.

"Yes, they are. I can't tell you how I feel, you'll just have to watch and see for yourself."

Richard sighed. I could only imagine why since I was still stuck, unable to move.

"Please, don't hurt your mom by pressuring her. And before you try, I want you to know I won't make her choose between us, I care too much for her."

Richard relaxed some more and my back begun to really hurt.

"It's still just words." The fire had left his voice.

"Yes."

The room was quiet once more.

My pain intensified. "Uh, guys, any chance you might be done posturing?"

"Oh, geesh, Sylv, sorry." Richard reached for me.

Tog and Cara rushed over to help me down. My legs had frozen in that twisted position and Richard had to pry them apart while Tog held my body up. Cara and Destiny pulled my fingers from the fridge handle and shut the door. It took a few tries before my legs would straighten out and hold me.

After the fussing was done, Richard put his arm around me. "I'm sorry, Sylv, thanks for holding me back."

Something wasn't right. Normally when he did that I looked into his Adams apple, but now I looked into his mouth.

"What's wrong, Sylv?" Richard looked concerned.

"I think I'm taller." Oh no, the last thing I wanted was to be taller!

Destiny nudged my arm. "Richard’s squatting."

I looked down as Richard laughed and stood up straight. I shoved him as hard as I could and he backed up a couple of steps.

"You jerk!"

Everyone laughed.

Cara put her arm around her son’s waist. "Richard, we will talk tomorrow, but don't you have a movie to watch?"

He smiled and looked down at her. "You know I love you, right, Mom?"

"Yes, I do and I love you, too. Now go, I need to talk to Tog."

That didn't sound so good.

Destiny and I dragged Richard out while pushing the kids in front of us. We made sure everyone was in the sitting room with goodies and a drink before I started the movie over.

Every time Richard twitched, Destiny and I twitched toward him. He thought it was funny.

Despite the cloaked tension, I enjoyed the movie.

The twins and Eddy were asleep by the end of the credits. Richard carried the twins up one at a time before he carried Eddy home.

I said good-bye at the door and shut it when my friends were mostly home. The evening was finally over and I could relax. The evening had not been the fun filled adult-free event I had planned, but we all survived.

Alone in the sitting room, I plugged in another movie and finished off the rest of the eatables in the room along with the last two liter bottle of pop. My eyes were drooping when Dad and Sue finally arrived.

I didn't bother to tell them about the ruckus. The twins would have fun doing that tomorrow. I gladly dragged myself up to bed.

Ah, two mornings in a row! I woke up in my own room, in my own bed, and felt fairly rested.

I stretched as two birds swooped in through my window and landed on my headboard. They sang of the morning, to me, and all was right. I could tell today was going to be much better than last night had been. I was right.

The Petersons, back from church, were all talking to each other and Richard was in a surprisingly good mood. Sue was in a really good mood, too. She even hummed all day as she went about her projects.

The twins went to church and told me Danny had begged them to talk me into coming to the youth activity Wednesday. They were doing a game night. I would’ve liked to have gone, but that would have to wait for four more months.

Sundays were always good because Sue didn't make us do any work or projects and the house was even more quiet than usual.

I finished the book Destiny loaned me, before lounging around my raspberry patch. I lounged because I couldn't find any weeds to pull and had already spread the last of the grass clippings from yesterday’s mowing over the top of the old mulch. The air turned cooler and Emma told me we would need to winterize the patch next weekend. Dad was happy because yesterday was his last time mowing this year. It was a bit sad to have to put my little patch of heaven to bed for the winter.

Yes, all in all, Sunday was very nice.

When I turned out the lights, my mind was calm. I drifted off quickly.

The crisp night air ruffled through my hair as I looked out across the wide expanse that flowed away from the mountaintop where I stood. From my high vantage point, the grandeur of the mountain range stood sentinel in every direction. The dark sky was clear of clouds. A lone eagle floated on the wind currents. In the distance, a bank of clouds climbed forever and assembled over the purple western ridge. At first glance they looked harmless, but in the back the black broiling clouds gathered density. An angry zap in the atmosphere foretold of a tumultuous storm brewing.

Down the path I’d ascended, a horde of boys called my name as they climbed toward me. Their eyes were glazed and their mouths gaped open with silly smiles. They were
affected
, a sight I’d come to recognize and fear.

This was the worst year of my already pitiful existence. Because our family fairy tale had come to life I was going through a weird change that started last December, on my sixteenth birthday. I wouldn't be rid of the awful side effects until my next birthday which wasn't for five more months. Being sixteen and old enough to date, but unable to, was the pits. And get this, I can’t date because every boy who gets close to me loses his mind and thinks he’s in love with me. It was like being handed a million dollars and told to spend it on anything in the world I wanted, but not being allowed in any of the stores and having no internet connection.

The Affecteds were closer. Backing away from the trail, I looked around for an escape, and found none. I walked the semicircle that made the top of the mountain. Back and forth, back and forth, nothing. The west side was a sheer drop into a darkening abyss. The distance alone made my head spin and I backed away, literally shaking in my boots … well, er … slippers. On the north side, the overhanging cliff converged with a ragged peak shrouded in shadow. Only half as far down, still, not an option. Maybe the east side would give me the escape I sought. No, only sharp pointed boulders like the maw of a giant beast.

With all sides abrupt drop offs and my fear of heights, climbing down was out of the question. The only escape was blocked by all those affected guys. The muffled calls drew nearer. I was trapped and shivered in the cold night air which gusted with the wrathful, brewing storm.

Panicked, I looked again hoping I’d missed some small goat path. On the north side, away from the affected boys, a man stood alone at the bottom of the mountain, looking up at me. I couldn't see him clearly since he stood in the darkening shadows. As I studied his obscure features there was a crack of lightening that brightened his face for a second. He was handsome with short black hair and dark brooding eyes. I knew him, it was Eli.

The thunder boomed nearby and I looked up as the first of the raindrops hit my face. The storm swept in. The mountains all around were overwhelmed. Wind buffeted me from all sides as it swirled around the mountain top. Icy rain trickled down my back. From over my shoulder I saw the first of the male horde as a blonde head marched into view. Maybe Eli knew a way down.

I searched the dark north side again. Lightening lit the side of the mountain. Eli was gone. In his place was a beautiful, large white wolf with deep, brown eyes looking balefully up at me. The handsome beast howled and sent shivers down my spine.

The wind churned harder and blew hair into my eyes. The lightening crackled all around me. My skin prickled. The storm frightened me. There had to be a way down from this great height. I didn't want to be up here when the boys and the storm collided.

I paced the crescent again. The south side definitely was the only way up or down. The Affecteds were at the summit. I needed to get down now, but couldn't find a way that wasn't blocked by adoring boys. The north side drew me. The wolf was gone and Eli was back.

He held his arms out and yelled up to me. "Jump, I'll catch you!"

Was he crazy?! There was no way I was going to jump off of a mountain. I didn't even like jumping off my bed.

The sky sizzled with lightening, cloud to cloud.

His eyes beseeched me. "Trust me!" His voice and the storm thundered.

The sounds vibrated through me. I wanted to trust him. I was too afraid and trust wasn’t one of my strengths.

“Sylvia! Stop!”

Was that my father?

“Sylvia, don’t move!”

I looked over my shoulder, back to the only trail down. Where was my father? I know I heard him.

The boys gathered and the mob grew. The horde undulated as it watched me. One by one they stepped from the muttering mass, my own personal nightmare. There were hundreds of them, calling my name. I knew I couldn't get past all of them. I was trapped like the lone survivor of a zombie movie.

Down below Eli called. "Sylvia, jump before it's too late! Trust me! I'll catch you!"

There was something about him that made me yearn to trust and jump fifteen stories to the bottom of the mountain. Deep inside, a still, small voice told me he was the one. My fear was my only obstacle.

“Sylvia, come back away from the edge!”

My father, again. He thinks he’s keeping me safe, but he doesn’t understand that I can’t stay up here.

A hand clamped on my shoulder. I turned with a start to see Calvin. His bright glazed eyes fixed on me and my knees weaken. I remembered the warm embrace we shared the day I left Oklahoma. Did his hair still smell like strawberries?

"Sylvia, I love you."

My heart melted into Calvin’s eyes. These were the words of my most pleasant of dreams.

Lightning struck nearby and I jumped.

Behind my childhood crush stood the Beck boys from Nebraska and Rob from Oregon. What were they doing in Alaska? I thought I’d never see them again after my father took the stupid job here two months ago. Kevin, who had me convinced I should move to Nebraska, was tall and strong. Rob, who taught me to look past his bad boy exterior, frowned. His tattoo glowed on his bare chest. Drew stepped up beside them, but no one saw him. I didn’t know whether to smile or run.

Calvin wrapped both his arms around me. Rob pulled him off, knocking him to the ground. I wanted to kneel beside Calvin to make sure he was okay. Kevin wouldn't let me. He put me behind him as though the comparatively weak Calvin could get through them and hurt me. But it wasn't Calvin he was protecting me from.

I screamed when I looked up. Adrenalin coursed through my veins. The other boys—many of whom I recognized—pushed forward. All tried to get to me. Rob and the Beck boys fought them off valiantly. Drew sneered and made snide remarks. There were too many and it was only a matter of time before the horde broke through. Donny, my best friend in Oklahoma, emerged from the crowd and fought to keep the others back. I should’ve known he, too, would show up to protect me.

In all the excitement and noise I heard Eli. "Quick, jump, Sylvia, jump!"

On my knees I crawled to the edge and looked over. Eli still stood there with his arms held up to me. I could see no other way out of this and swallowed my fear.

“Sylvia, no, don’t jump!”

My father? Where was he? I couldn’t see him anywhere.

Before I could jump someone grabbed me around the waist. *"Mi bonita Chiquita, I love you."* It was Shalem.

Crete, Nebraska and the spicy aromas of the Mexican restaurant swam in my head as I yearned to give myself to him. Shalem bent to kiss me.

Eli growled. "Let go of her! Sylvia, jump!"

“Sylvia, come away from the edge!” It was just like my father to tell me what to do, but not be here when I needed him.

I struggled from Shalem's eager arms. No hesitation, this time. As the cool air raced past me, my scream was whipped from my throat. Above, the boys stared down, some reaching for me, though I was long gone.

Below, Eli was still there. No wolf to eat me this time.

The End

List of characters are next, but first a word from Kathryn Gilmore.