Inheritance (The Dark Gifts) (19 page)

“
No, I’m good.  Don’t eat the burgers here.”  Sarah said and managed a not quite believable laugh.

The woman patted her arm.  “All right, hun.  If you say so.”  She took a few steps forward before turning back to Sarah.  “Look, you need anything you just let me know, I’ll be here for a couple hours.”

Sarah nodded and the woman entered the bar.

Dark clouds loomed on the horizon.  The wind picked up velocity, blowing dirt and small gravel across the parking lot.  Sarah gazed at the trees in the woods across the road as they danced gracefully in the wind.  They beckoned, whispering, enticing.  She wanted to shift and run away.  Not home.  Not to Aunt Edna’s.  Away.  Somewhere no one would ever find her again.  Somewhere she could be normal.  Where the man she loved didn’t want her dead.  Trickling tears turned to sobs as she ran toward the trees and safety.

***

Shad watched the door close behind her.  A tap on his shoulder caused him to turn.  “She might be right back.  This isn’t smart.”

The old man motioned for Shad to follow him and walked toward the bar. 

“Hey,
Tilda.”  Shad said as he moved behind the counter.

The old woman gave him a nod and continued fixing a tray of drinks.

Shad followed the old man into the kitchen and shut the door.  “I know what you’re thinking--”

“You don’t know squat.”  The old man’s eyes sparkled with anger.  “You got too close to this and you know it.”

“Really, Gramps.  I got it all under control.”

“Bullshit.  I see the way you look at her.  Do you have any idea how much this operation is costing the tribe?  You gonna waste all that money on one girl?  Her brother is a vicious killer.”

“Maybe so, and maybe not.  We don’t have any real proof it was him.”  Shad shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the kitchen wall.

“You know of any other dog living in that area, son?  Cause if you do, I’d sure like to hear about it.”

“Look, Jason is a nice guy.  A really nice guy.  I’m tellin you these two are different.  Completely different from any of the others we’ve seen.  Maybe cause they weren’t raised with the pack. I don’t know. If you’d just talk to them, get to know them--”

“
Humph
. I don’t need to get to know them.  I know what they are and that’s enough for me.” 

“But, Gramps--”

“But nothing.  You get out there with her and try to fix this.  She’s got some idea what’s going on now I’ll wager.  We can’t do a blessed thing now, not with all these people showing up.  We’ll have to set up another time and place.  You get back in her good graces and do it fast.”

Shad looked at his feet.

“You hear me, boy?”  The old man reached out, and pushed Shad’s chin up to look him in the eyes.  “This ain’t no time for fooling around.  From what we can tell, this pack is larger than any we’ve seen.  We have to take them all out before more people are killed.  Do your job.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The old man searched Shad’s face for a moment before letting go of his chin.  “Now git.”

Shad wove his way through and around bar patrons.  With forty occupants, the place had nearly reached capacity.  Once outside, he searched the lot for Sarah.  He went to the truck to look for a note, but there was no sign of her there.  Wherever she was, she didn’t want to be found.  Not by him anyhow.  He slipped into the truck and revved the engine.  Waiting a few moments more, he finally gave up and drove onto the road. 

It was a long tedious drive home.  His eyes darted back and forth, searching the tree line on both sides hoping to find her.  Every so often, he thought he could make out a dark shadow in the trees following along beside him.  Each time he’d catch a glimpse, the shadow would disappear.  Shad rubbed his tired eyes and continued searching, hoping wherever she was, she was not in harm's way.  The growing dark clouds broke open with a thunderous crash.  As rain pummeled the windshield, his worry turned to fear.

***

Sarah watched from the trees as Shad exited the building.  She saw him walk around the parked cars, sometimes bending to look underneath.  He went to the truck, looked it over, and stepped inside.  After the engine revved and he pulled onto the road, she followed.

Keeping up with him was no problem.  He was only going 40 mph and in her wolf form that was akin to a brisk walk.  Sarah hated leaving her clothes behind.  She didn’t have many anyhow, but she didn’t have much choice either.  She was not about to go back in the bar, and riding home with him wasn’t an option. 

As she ran through the trees, her thick coat protected her from slashing branches and bushes.  A few times, he slowed and peered into the woods.  Sarah quickly fell back further into the trees.  As night fell and the storm progressed, it was easier to cross the open intersections without being seen.

Halfway home, Jason’s voice entered her mind.  “
Where are you?
”

“
On my way home.
”

“What’s wrong?  Why have you shifted?”

“I’ve got it handled.”

“Sarah?” 
Pete’s voice slipped in.

“
I’ll be home after awhile.  I’m fine.  Don’t worry.”

Sarah felt Jason push his way into her head.  She felt his anger as he read her recent memories.  Suddenly, from seemingly everywhere, howls went off inside her head.  She felt her pack shift and transform.  Anger crowded their minds and emotions.  Pete’s rage boiled over as she felt him running to meet her, protection mode in overdrive.  Jason was on his heels, leaving from a different location.  The only clansman she couldn’t feel was Thomas.  His mind remained closed to her.  In her heightened state of perception, worry consumed her. 
“What is he doing?  Why can’t I feel him?”

“We are coming.” 
The pack, working as a hive mind, was on its way to protect their Alpha.

Thirty miles from home, a small red sports car had stopped across the in
tersection blocking the road.  As Shad pulled up, a tall thin man exited the car.  He bent over and pulled out a twelve-gauge shotgun.  Shad leaned over, popped open the glove box, and removed 44 Magnum.  Slipping it in the small of his back, he also exited his vehicle, leaving his hand behind his back on the gun.  “What seems to be the trouble here?”

The man leveled the shotgun at Shad’s head.  “Where’s my niece?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.  I’m alone.”  Shad answered, slowly pulling the gun from his waistband.

Thomas' voice was cold and filled with anger.  “I know who you are.  I’ve been tellin them who you are from the beginning.  I don’t want to start a war with you, but if you’ve hurt her, I’ll drop you where you stand.”

“Look, old timer, you’ve got me confused with someone else.  My name is Miguel Garcia.  I don’t know your niece.  I don’t date white girls.”  Shad moved his arm directly to his side. 

Thomas, using the gun, motioned for Shad to step away from his truck.  “Get on over there.  I want to have a look and see if she’s in there.”

“Don’t you think she’d get out if she was?”  Shad scoffed.

“If she was conscious.”

Shad took several steps to the left and stood on the lip of the road.

Without taking his eyes from the younger man’s face, Thomas moved to the driver’s side door.  “Why don’t you just have a seat and let me look your truck over.”

“Look, if you want money…”

“Your act ain't fooling no one, boy.  You can drop it.”

Thomas quickly peered into the window.  

“Okay, mister, put the gun down.”  Shad aimed his 44 directly at Thomas’ head.

Thomas spit to the side.  Tobacco juice ran down the window of the truck.  “Never could trust an Indian.”

“I said put the gun
down
.  I’ll shoot you if I have too.”

Thomas laughed and spit again.  “That gun got silver bullets?  Of course it does.  What am I thinking?  That’s what you’re here for.”

Sarah watched in horror.  She couldn’t feel Uncle Thom because he’d never shifted.  The pack was close now, any minute they’d arrive.  “
Stop!   Everyone stay where you are.” 
Sarah called out.  In unison, she felt them slow before stopping in their tracks.  All except for Jason, he was still coming full force right at them.  “
Jason, please, he‘s got a--”

“
I can see it.  Shut up.”

Sarah leapt from the trees with a mighty growl and landed in front of the truck. 

Not knowing which one was more dangerous, Shad began moving the gun back and forth between her and Thomas. 

Sarah moved lithely between the two, facing Shad.  She whimpered.

His face became drawn and white.  He looked into her eyes as she whined.

Sarah moved her head from side to side.

“Guess you’re out numbered, boy.  You might get one of us but you won’t get both.” 

Jason appeared, running full-speed, he leapt over the red car and landed right beside Sarah.  He didn’t utter a sound.  Just stood in his enormity, staring at Shad.

Shad’s gaze moved between Sarah and Jason.  “I don’t want to hurt you.  I-I…you’re my friends.  I’m trying to make them understand.  Can’t you see that?”

“
I don’t believe him.”
  Jason’s head turned to Sarah.

“
No!
”  Pete screamed in their minds.

“
Hush.
”  Sarah answered.  Then turning her back on Shad, she looked at Thom and let out a short bark.

“You have got to be kidding me.”  He said.  Thom glared at Shad, but lowered his gun.

Sarah turned around and barked once.

“That’s good.  That’s fine.  But promise me you’ll let me explain.”  He said as he brought his gun to his side. 

Sarah brought her head down and whimpered.

Jason moved his head from Shad to the truck and growled.

Thomas stepped away and Shad slowly made his way to the truck door. 

Sarah maneuvered her body to stay between them.  After he was inside, she backed away. 

“You kids are crazy.  You’ll be the death of us if you keep this up.”  Thomas said as he walked to his car.  “You can run home.  I’m not getting wet hair all over my leather seats.”

Jason barked once as he entered his car.  Thomas put it in reverse, backed up, turned around, and drove away.

Shad rolled down his tobacco-stained window.  “Tomorrow then?  I want to meet with both of you tomorrow and explain this.”

Sarah barked and Shad pulled away.

“
I hope you know what you’re doing.
”  Jason said.

“
Me too.
”

Before they reached the trees, gunshots rang out through the now quiet night. Bullets whizzed past their heads.  Sarah let out a yelp as one grazed her hip, sending fire through her body.  Instantly the pack began running toward the Alphas.  The trees offered no cover.  Whoever was shooting at them, hid in the woods surrounding the road.  One shooter jumped from behind a tree in front of them.  Without thinking, Jason plowed into him ripping out his throat as he fell.  Blood splattered all over, but the two continued running.  From behind them, they heard voices yelling.  Someone screamed out in pain as one of the clansman took them down.  Bullets zipping through the trees made thunking noises as they exploded into tree trunks.  

They reached a small clearing.  Sarah’s left flank had gone numb causing her to limp.  She slowed as the leg gave out altogether.  Pete was at her side then, growling and walking circles around her.  “
I can’t go on.  I have to stop.
”

“
You must.  There are too many.  They’re all over!” 

Ruby screamed in agony as a bullet pierced her heart.  Sarah felt her drop as her life force left her body. 
“No!  Run.  Everyone get away from here.”

Sarah heard a thud land close by and felt Jason falter.  His pain seared through her.  She stumbled as she tried to reach him and fell unconscious to the ground.

Pete’s rage overwhelmed him.  Crazed by the sight of Sarah’s blood, he stood over her snarling, ready to kill anyone that came too close.  Jason sent out a call to the pack telling them to take out the shooters.  Pete growled as Jason moved toward his sister. 

“
Settle down.”

Pete’s mind was a mass of boiling emotion that collided with Jason’s thoughts.

“
I said settle.  Look at me.”

Pete looked into his eyes, saliva dripped from his barred teeth.

“
Get hold of yourself.  I need you with me not against me.” 
Jason felt him struggle to regain control. 
“That’s it.  Calm down.  Think with your head.”

“
Sorry. I-I…
”

“
I know.
 
I feel it
.”