Lexia (The Deadwood Hunter Series) (7 page)

Jogging into the forest Lexia took a deep breath releasing her tension with a sigh. She knew she shouldn’t run in the forest but jogging on the streets just didn’t clear her head the same.

The sun streamed through the edge of the trees, shards of light casting them into silhouette, dust particles danced in the beams of light and an eerie orange haze covered the forest before her.

She was in a fairy tale. Out here, alone in this forest, Lexia imagined she could be anyone. If she just kept on breathing and listened only to the music of her feet, she could even imagine no one hunted her, that she hadn’t changed at all. Yes, within the magical walls of this forest she could imagine anything...

 Lexia smiled to herself. When she finally escaped this town to a big city, this would be the one thing she’d miss, stepping out into another world, one filled with life and freedom. Out here in this forest she was free.

“What ya smiling at?”

Lexia screamed as she jumped away from the rough whisper on her neck. She stumbled forward, her feet tangling around each other pitching her towards the uneven forest floor.

“Fucking hell, Lincoln, you asshole!” She felt her anger flare as she looked into his amused golden eyes.

“Sorry, I’m surprised you didn’t hear me coming.” The laugh lines around his twinkling eyes contradicted his statement as Lexia breathed out, dispelling her anger before it took hold.

“I was too lost in... Ouch!” Lexia pulled up her knee and looked at the deep cut she’d made by falling.

“Shit, sorry. Will you be alright?” Lincoln held out his hand for her. Lexia looked at his hand then his face and there within the infinite depths of his eyes, she saw concern.

Clasping his hand she let him pull her up. “I’m fine, I’ve…”

“Lex, your neck!”

Lexia lift her hand to her neck. “Shit, I forgot to cover that up.”

“Cover it up! Lexia, who did that to you?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you; leave it, I’m fine.” She searched for a change in subject. “What are you doing out here scaring me to death anyway?”

“Okay, I’ll leave it.”
I know who did it anyway.
“I was out for a run like you and saw you smiling. It suits you, you know, smiling... So what were you smiling at?”

Lexia couldn’t answer that question while looking at him. Seeing this side of him, so charming and sweet, it chipped away at her defenses, made her question her reasons for not trusting him. She started to run again, slower than before; she’d gone cold while she’d stopped and her knee stung.

Glancing at Lincoln running by her side, Lexia thought over his question.
Why was I smiling?
“I was smiling because I was happy. I can get lost within this forest, it makes me feel free.”

“Oh... I can run on ahead if you don’t want company?”

She looked at him again, into his golden-brown eyes and felt her heart race. “No, it’s fine.”

“So I’m good company then?” he said with a glint in his eyes.

“Don’t push it.”

Lexia pushed her worn out muscles harder, determined not to have Lincoln holding back because of her. They both ran in silence, only the rhythm of their feet could be heard; it echoed off the densely packed trees as they ran higher into the hills. Lexia thought it was strange that the birds had grown silent and no more small animals scurried out of their way but she wasn’t afraid; Lincoln made her feel safe.
Safe with Lincoln, I’m such an idiot!

By the time they’d reached the end of Lexia’s drive, she was bent over panting hard, sweat dripped off her face splattering into gravel at her feet, and her clothes stuck to her skin as if painted onto her body.

“Wow, I’m done in!”

“I’m actually surprised you ran so long with me.” He chuckled. “I don’t normally run that far.”

“God, I bet I look a right state,” she wheezed, pulling up her shirt and wiping the sweat from her face. She glanced at her watch. “Shit! I’ve been gone two hours, I hope Alice isn’t up yet.”

“Who?”

“Alice. She’s my friend. We kind of got wasted last night on my dad’s whiskey; she’d been dumped so she needed some consoling and I bet she has a wicked hangover this morning.”

“But not you?”

“No, I seem to have developed a high tolerance to alcohol. Not sure that’s a good thing, but anyway, I need to go die somewhere now.”

“Not going to invite me in?”

“Ha! I’m sure my dad would really approve, seeing me walk in the house with a grown man covered in sweat. I’m quite certain he won’t approve of you!”

“I can pull off harmless!”

That set Lexia off into a fit of giggles and she turned to walk away. “Sure you can. Later, Linc.”

“Later, Lex,” he laughed.

Lexia walked away from Lincoln. Despite the fact she’d put her legs through a small marathon and they throbbed with every step, she felt great. Being with Lincoln just made her feel good; they’d hardly spoken but just being in his presence was enough to make her feel alive.

She opened the door to find her dad in the kitchen making breakfast, the smell of waffles and maple syrup filled the air.

“Hey, Dad,” she called from the hall, careful to keep her neck angled away from him.

“Lex, there you are. Alice has just been down looking for you. She didn’t look too well, poor girl must be taking the break-up hard, huh?”

“Yeah, she is, bless her. I was out for a run.”
She’s really hung over from your whiskey!

“I said I’d bring her up some breakfast, do you want some, too?”

“Please.”

“Strawberries, coffee?”

“You’re the best.”

She turned to go but her dad called her back, “Lex…”

“Yeah?” Her stomach rolled.

“You’d tell me if something was going on with you, right?”

Lexia stared in silence for a moment; panic gripped her like a steel vise constricting her chest.
Does he know?
He looked up from the pan, concern on his face.
Should I tell him?

“Everything’s fine, Dad, don’t worry.” Lexia hurried up the stairs before he asked her anything else.

She found Alice passed out in bed again; she stirred as Lexia entered the room. Rolling over with a moan, her eyes cracked open slightly.

“I feel like crap, how are you even walking?”

“High tolerance. Dad will be up soon with food, you’d best look less hung-over. He thinks you’re feeling emotionally unwell from the break-up.”

“This is from the break-up, and since when did you have such a tolerance for alcohol?”

“I think you must have hogged the bottle. Anyway, I need to shower.” Lexia picked up a t-shirt and hung it around her neck to hide the mark on her neck.

Alice sat up and looked properly at Lexia for the first time since she walked in. “Hey, Lex, what have you been doing? And your knee!”

Lexia looked down having forgotten about tripping over. The cut on her knee had gone but dried blood still clung to her skin. “Oh, I tripped out running.”

“Jeez, Lex, what’s with you lately? All you do is run, you’re making me look so lazy!”

“Nothing, I love running. It clears my head and I’ve had a lot to sort out lately.”

“Dan?”

“And other things.”

“Need to talk?”

“I do actually, but first let me shower, I’m gross.”

“Mmm, not got the brain power yet anyway. Maybe after waffles?”

After breakfast in bed, Lexia and Alice put on another movie. They both laid out on her double bed pretending to the watch the film when both of their minds were really far off, thinking about boys.

“Hey, Lex.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you going to get with Dan?”

“I don’t know, I mean he’s nice and all, and cute but...”

“But what? What’s wrong with a nice guy?”

“Nothing, I…”

“Come on, Lex, I’m not stupid. You were constantly going on about Dan.”

“It’s just, I kinda like someone else.”

“And nice guys are only good enough when there’s not a sexy bad boy hanging around, huh?”

Lexia laughed. “I’m stupid, aren’t I? I should just go out with Dan.”

“Well, I am not going to judge.”

“Come on, Alice, you always judge and I need you to now! Set me straight.”

“Well, you asked for it! This guy, Lincoln, well, I only met him once when he was being a total creep but I can see the appeal. He’s movie star hot and has the whole bad boy charm going but is that really what you want?”

“He’s not always like that. Sometimes when he drops his guard he’s so sweet—and the way he makes me feel Alice, just one smile, a slight touch and I’m lost in him.”

“God Lex, you have it bad! But you’re going to have your heart broken, if you carry on seeing him and things get more heated. Imagine how you will feel then... He might leave town or get bored with you.”

“But he might not.”

“Lexia, what’s this town got to offer a hot twenty-something-year old?”

“Me?”

“Aww, babe, come on. I love you, but really, wake up.”

“Alice!”

“Okay, say I’m wrong and he stays for you but if I’m right... Is he really worth the risk?”

“I don’t know, I think so.”

“Well, only you can decide and I am always here for you. I’ll pick up the pieces.”

“Thanks. Aren’t I supposed to be picking up your pieces?”

“You did last night. I’m over him now and on to my next target.”

“And who’s this target?”

“Not decided yet but I’ll tell you when I do.”

“Are you planning on going home today?”

“Yes, I best do soon. My head’s stopped pounding but do you think Mike might feed me first?”

“I’ll go ask,” Lexia answered, laughing.

Chapter 9

Lexia walked down her driveway on Monday feeling a little sore from the weekend’s running. She had on a high-collared top and a scarf just to make sure no one spotted the bite mark that the panther had given her; it had mostly healed over the weekend but she still had some slight marks and didn’t want to risk anyone asking questions.

The panther had been on her mind last night and she’d not slept very well. What was he after? Why had he attacked her but not killed her? Then the strange visit on Saturday night, which she still wasn’t sure if she’d dreamt of while drunk.

Lexia froze as she neared the end of her drive. She could feel something in the air; someone or something lurked at the end of her drive. She had planned to meet Dan this morning after his insistence to walk her to school and Dan definitely didn’t give off that kind of vibe. She had a sudden thought that maybe Dan was at the bottom of her drive and in trouble. Lexia started to walk again but with silent deadly focus; she wouldn’t let anyone hurt Dan.

But as she approached she had a sudden feeling that it was Lincoln there and sure enough his smooth voice called, “Are you planning to take forever to reach me?” He laughed softly, almost a rumble and the sound made her heart skip a beat and her legs stretch farther in anticipation.

“What are you doing here?”

“Bringing you coffee—three sugars and lots of milk?”

She smiled. How had he noticed how she took her coffee? “Thanks, but I’m supposed to be meeting a friend this morning, we were going to walk to school together.”

“Really?” From the mischievous smile and the knowing glint in his eye Lexia could have sworn he knew she was meeting someone and that was exactly why he was here. But before she could ask Dan came into view, a wide smile spread on his face which dropped away when he saw Lincoln.

“This your friend?” Lincoln said, giving me his I’m-just-a-sweet-puppy-dog smile before he turned to stare down Dan.

“Hi, Dan,” Lexia said, giving him a reassuring smile as his steps faltered.

“Hi, Lex.” He walked up and kissed her on the lips. “You ready to walk to school?”

Lexia was stunned into silence. She glanced at Lincoln who wore a look of hatred and then to Dan who was looking smugly at Lincoln.
And I thought you were a nice guy.
“Erm...This is Lincoln, he’s ... he’s new to town. We met at the diner.”

Lincoln laughed at her and said, “Come on now, love, I’d say we were friends.”

Lexia glared at him in response suddenly wishing she had the power to vanish into thin air. An awkward silence filled the air.

“Right, time for school.” She didn’t wait for their responses just started walking away with long determined strides.

She soon heard two sets of footfalls coming up behind her and then Lincoln reached her followed by Dan seconds after, slightly out of breath. She laughed softly to herself thinking he must have run to keep up with Lincoln’s big strides.

“Did you want your coffee, Lex?” Dan asked, a nervous smile on his face. “I didn’t know how you took it; I got it with lots of milk?”

Lincoln jumped in before she could answer. “You remember the three sugars, Kid?”

To give Dan credit he didn’t react to the kid remark but Lexia saw his expression change to one of anger before he got control a few seconds later. “I figured she was sweet enough” was his reply, looking straight into Lexia’s eyes giving her his sweet, boyish smile.

“That she is but I already brought her a coffee, just the way she likes it.” Now Lincoln glared at Dan and she heard Dan take a gulp but he didn’t back down.

“How old are you? Like 30?”

That was it, she’d had enough. How had she ended up with two guys fighting over her? She was not a piece of meat to for them to snarl over.

“Tell you what, Linc, here’s your coffee.” She thrust it into his hand splashing it onto his white t-shirt then she glared at Dan. “And he’s right, I take it with three sugars. See you in class.”

Lexia started running then she steadied her pace to a light jog when she decided they hadn’t followed her. A few minutes from the school gates she slowed to a walk, taking deep calming breaths and by the time she said hello to Alice at the school gates, you would have never known she’d been stuck between two males with testosterone issues.

They walked up toward the school’s entrance chatting about nearly being free of school when Lexia froze on the top step having felt a tingle of power in the air. She turned, searching for the source and then gasped when she spotted a black panther’s head peering out from behind a wall. He flashed his eyes at her before disappearing.
I am going to have to do something about you, pretty panther.