Seasons of Wither (The Great North Woods Pack Book 3) Read online

  Amy turned her face toward the blur of colors passing by her window. If we ever get home, she thought, I’m not speaking to you for a long, long time. And I’m sure not helping you with your classes.

  “You know, it’s a shame you’re eyes are all swollen like that,” Jessie remarked after a moment. “This place might be hard to find, but it sure is pretty.”

  No, Amy thought. Not the silent treatment. I’ll strangle you long before we get home.

  ***

  “Be careful,” Celia said as she followed Evie through the swinging doors to the kitchen area. “That sort of passive aggression gets very addictive.”

  “You mean,” Evie said as they each began taking up plates from under the heater, “‘quit trying to scare off the paying customers?’”

  “I mean, be careful not to enjoy it too much. You’ll end up with Erica’s personality.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about that.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “Hey, I sort of understand her now. Let’s not beat her up too badly.”

  “I’m just kidding,” Celia said.

  “I miss her,” Evie said. “Not the way she was lately, but you know.”

  “Yeah, I miss her too. But she’ll be fine with you know who.”

  Evie’s thoughts then jumped from Erica, picturing her wandering the woods at Abel’s side, to the problem at hand that gave her insight into Erica’s frustrations. “I know I shouldn’t listen in on their conversations,” she admitted.

  “No, you shouldn’t,” Celia agreed with a smile.

  “Don’t tell me you haven’t done it.”

  “Of course I have. We all have at some point. I’m just saying that it’s not good for you. It makes everything harder.”

  “Fine,” Evie said with a roll of her eyes. “I’ll try my very best from now on.”

  They started for the doors, Evie in the lead, and then suddenly Evie stopped dead in her tracks. Through the screen door at the rear of the kitchen, a cool breeze carried with it a sound—a hint of a voice different from those of the busy restaurant.

  “Watch it!” Celia said as she nearly ran into her younger cousin. A ballerina-like display of grace is all that saved her from dropping her armload of plates.

  “Listen,” Evie said, her face suddenly stony serious. “Did you hear It? That voice?”

  “Which one? There’s like thirty people blabbing at once in this place.”

  “It was really high. Like there’s something either really wrong or really exciting. I swear I know that voice.”

  Celia turned her head toward the screen door. A deep sniff of the cool air moving through the screen revealed nothing unusual. There was no one near the back door. Then she glanced toward the noisy dining area. “I don’t hear anything different,” she said. “You’re still getting used to your new ears. Maybe it was someone’s squeaky brakes in the parking lot.”

  “No,” Evie said with certainty. “It was a voice.”

  Celia took one more deep breath. “Well, I don’t know what you heard, but I can tell you who isn’t far away.”

  Evie raised an eyebrow.

  “David. I can smell his bad mood from half a mile.”

  “Give him a break,” Evie sighed.

  “Give me a break. Now move it; I’ve got two booths waiting.”

  ***

  “Flatlanders,” David remarked. He and Matthew were just exiting the store with sandwiches and drinks when they saw two girls stepping from a car. The 90’s Civic was parked crooked before the gas pumps, steaming and burning oil. “They get worse every year.”

  “Yeah but did you hear that?” Matthew said. “They’re not just any flatlanders.”

  David listened to the southern accents jabbering away. Evidently the two didn’t agree on much. “Long way to drive just to see some maple leaves,” he said quietly to Matthew.

  “Yeah. And you see that Crimson Tide sticker on the bumper?”

  “Maybe it’s a coincidence.”

  “I’m afraid it’s not. They’re Evie’s age.”

  The driver’s side door creaked open. The driver, a tall blonde, stepped out and began going through a primping ritual.

  “Either way,” Matthew continued. “They sure know how to grow ’em down there. Hey, buddy?”

  David smiled weakly in spite of his heavy mood. “It looks that way.”

  “Blondie just spotted us staring. I guess we should make ourselves agreeable and see what’s up.”

  ***

  Jessie Trent gave her face a quick check in her compact. She smiled at what she saw, thinking it to be pretty darn good … considering the circumstances. She stepped from the car brimming with relieved energy. She saw the store with the restaurant next door—the one she’d heard Evie mention about a hundred times, and was overwhelmed by a feeling of accomplishment.

  Through days of blazing sun followed by dark nights she’d pushed on like a seasoned adventurer. On strange roads, through cold nights and foggy mornings she’d pressed on diligently, in spite of her dead weight companion and lack of cellular service. And now she stood reveling for a moment, stepping away from the strong smell of the overheating Civic for a deep breath of the fresh mountain air.

  After a quick stretch she smoothed the wrinkles from her shirt, gave her hair a flip, and faced the store, thinking maybe someone inside would know how to get in touch with Evie. That’s when she noticed the two boys standing near the doorway. One in particular, the larger of the two, had his eyes fixed on her.

  “Hey there!” Jessie said with a wave, just as Amy brushed by her, trotting with that reckless get-out-of-my-way-because-I-gotta-pee-right-now gait. She flew between Matthew and David as if they weren’t there. Under her breath she was muttering “please be empty, please be clean.” She fumbled with the door for a moment, pulling madly in spite of the PUSH sign just above the handle. Then finally she pushed, nearly falling forward, and disappeared inside the convenience store.

  “Hey yourself,” Matthew said, turning his head as the short redhead rushed by. “You girls, uh …”

  Jessie clicked up closer to them on her heels, smiling as Amy rattled the door. “Don’t mind her,” she whispered. “She doesn’t travel well.”

  “Did the car get the better of you?” David asked once the redhead was inside, the sound of her panicked breathing fading as the big glass door closed.

  Amy looked at him. He was dark-haired and good-looking; he smiled slightly but his eyes did not seem as pleasant as the bigger one’s eyes. She looked back to Matthew, who seemed to be enjoying looking her over.

  “Need a hand with that rig?” he asked.

  “Oh that junk heap? That’s not even mine. No, no. Actually, I was wondering if you could help me find someone. I’m assuming y’all are from around here, right?”

  Matthew nodded. “Who might that be?”

  “Evie Ludlow,” Jess answered, at which point the two boys looked at each other. “We’re friends of hers. I guess her family is named after the town. Or the town’s named after them. Something like that. Do you know her by any chance?”

  “I know her,” Matthew answered.

  “Oh thank God,” Jessie sighed. She held her hand over her heart for a moment, then patted Matthew’s big arm. “You wouldn’t believe what we’ve been through trying to get up here.”

  “I could take a guess,” Matthew grinned, moving his eyes momentarily to the car. He held out his big hand and introduced himself.

  “You’re Cousin Matthew! This is crazy! I’ve heard so much about y’all, I feel like I already know you!”

  ***

  David stepped into The Kitchen and surveyed the busy little restaurant. After a few seconds he found who he was looking for. As Evie came through the swinging doors with a burden of plates, she made eye contact with him on her way to a table. He watched, waiting, his hands in his pockets, until she was finished at the table and started his way.

  “Aw, you came to ask me to lunch?” s
he teased. “How thoughtful.”

  David smirked, half looking at her, half at his feet. He despised crowds and noise, like many young wolves did in their early years. But with his touchy mood of recent weeks, he found it almost unbearable just to stand in the entryway of the little restaurant. The voices were like nails on a chalkboard; the eyes staring at him felt like unspoken challenges.

  “Lunch,” he said. “That’s not a bad idea. I wish I came up with it. But actually … I need you to come outside for a minute.”

  “Only for a minute,” Celia said from across the room, causing the majority of the customers to look in his direction. “We’re swamped here.”

  “Couldn’t wait till I got off work,” Evie said through a big smile—a smile the two bear hunters were keeping close tabs on from their table a few feet away.

  “Must be the boyfriend,” one whispered.

  “Almost as pretty as her,” scoffed the other.

  David felt their eyes and heard their comments clearly. Evie heard it too, but ignored it. Against his better judgment, David turned partly toward them. With almost black eyes, he gave them a screw you look. Then he placed his hand lightly on Evie’s back and followed her out the door.

  “You got something to say?” the larger of the bear hunters asked.

  David stopped halfway through the doorway. Evie turned back and reached for his arm. Both men stood from their table. The larger one stepped forward. He was slightly taller than David with a heavier build.

  “Go sit down,” Evie told him. “You’re food is almost ready. Celia’s about to bring it to you.”

  “I wasn’t talking to you, honey,” he said, staring hard at David. “What’s your problem, boy?”

  David felt Evie pulling at him and gradually gave way, allowing her to tow him out through the doorway. But he never lowered his eyes from the hunter with the big mouth. He was a few yards from the doorway when he planted his feet and stopped. There he stood, feeling his heart rate climbing, his wiry muscles beginning to twitch.

  “Don’t act like this,” Evie whispered. “They’re just morons. Let it go.”

  David said nothing. He just stared. The smaller of the men stepped aside and lifted the Velcro strap from the holster on his belt. David looked at the black pistol grip and then up at the man’s face. He must have fancied himself the Clint Eastwood type, strutting into a country diner with a 9 on his hip. Elmer Fudd was more accurate.

  “You know,” David said, struggling to keep from laughing at the wannabe with his Velcro holster and camouflage hat. “You can pull that gun if you want, but you’re gonna be walking funny with that thing sticking out of your—”

  Evie pulled hard at David’s arm—so hard that he fell back into her before he could finish his insult. Her mind too was beginning to race now, her heart rate climbing. From minute to minute, life in Ludlow was a rollercoaster. The next to last thing she needed during the lunch rush was a fight in the parking lot. The very last thing she needed was a raging wolf butchering two patrons with a restaurant full of others looking on. But right then it looked like that was exactly what she was about to get.

  ~2~

  Lars had watched from the counter as the two men picked a fight they were bound to lose. Once the commotion started, he made his way outside unnoticed, stepping through the doorway just as Evie drew David back. Moving up quietly behind the closest one—the smaller one itching to pull the pistol—he plucked the weapon from the open holster, ejected the round from the chamber, and dropped the clip out into his hand.

  For the next few seconds the bear hunters stood awkwardly silent. Lars had appeared so suddenly and taken the gun so quickly, neither knew quite what to do. The odds had evened out, they were standing in the middle, minus the gun, and to top it off, the girl that had seemed so friendly had now referred to them as a morons.

  “You hand that back,” the gun owner said nervously. “Or I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?” Lars said over him. He stepped closer to both men, unafraid and unaffected by the tension. “Get your smart phone off that nifty little belt clip and call the police?”

  “Mr.—”

  “Listen up,” Lars said calmly. “I don’t like repeating myself, so I’m only going to say this once. You’ll do well to get in your rig and get the hell out of here. We’ve got no police here in Ludlow, and I’d bet there ain’t a State Trooper for a good many miles. You’re real close to stirring up a nasty hornet’s nest, if you get my drift. I suggest you walk away.”

  The larger hunter looked from David to Lars. He had started to smile when Lars began speaking, taking it for a tough guy routine. But by now the smile was gone. Something in the way the man handled himself spoke louder than words. He wasn’t acting tough, and he wasn’t the least bit afraid; his words were deadly serious.

  “All right,” he said after a moment’s thought. “Fair enough. But you give him back that piece.”

  Lars handed over the empty weapon to the larger hunter.

  “And the clip.”

  “It’s yours,” Lars told the owner, extending his hand. “Take it. Just don’t put it back in until you’re well away from us.”

  The smaller man held still, extending only his arm to retrieve the clip. Lars nodded at him and then to the larger one.

  “We’re good,” Lars said.

  “You know I wouldn’t have used it,” the smaller one said, “unless your friend there did something unfair to my friend.”

  “You think I was helping them?” Lars answered with a quick glance from David to the hunters. “Trust me, friend … he wouldn’t have fought anywhere close to fair. I just saved you’re A. You can thank me by getting on out of here.”

  The larger one huffed. Although he’d quickly developed a level of respect for Lars, his take on David was still that of a punk with an attitude. By fair he took Lars to be suggesting that David was also armed, although the kid didn’t completely look the part of a packing hick. A sharp look from Lars convinced him to abandon that train of thought and hold his tongue.

  “As you can see,” Lars explained, “the locals don’t care much for your type. And as for the girls … boy, you’re really barking up the wrong tree. The kindest of them would chew you up and spit you out. Get on back to your camp and find yourselves a bear. You’ll have better luck with one of them.”

  The smaller one chuckled. The larger one had more pride and so could not bring himself to smile.

  “I guess you’re right,” he said. “We didn’t come here for this —”

  “Happy hunting,” Lars said as they both turned and stepped away toward their truck. They took turns looking back over their shoulders. Lars didn’t budge until they were in the cab and the engine was running.

  “Thank you,” Evie said to him once the hunters were gone from earshot. It wasn’t an overly exuberant statement, but it was sincere. What struck Lars the most was that they were the first words Evie had ever spoken to him that weren’t laced with contempt.

  “No harm done,” he replied, still keeping one eye on the dynamic duo. “Just the same … keep a firm hold on him until those two are down the road a ways. We both know how badly that could’ve gone.”

  ***

  “Sorry,” David said to Evie. He felt ashamed to look at her, so he looked over to the store where Matthew was still occupied entertaining the blonde. He could feel many pairs of eyes on him through the big diner windows. “I don’t know what to say. I’m just … sorry.”

  “Yeah,” Evie said, following his glance. She noticed the car, then her cousin. He was talking to someone—none other than Jessie Trent from Alabama. Her eyes may have been superhuman, but right then Evie could hardly believe what they were showing her.

  “There’s two,” David said. “The other one’s inside. Their car barely made it here. They were asking for you, so I figured it would be better to have you come out than send them in the diner and cause a scene for you.” He laughed softly. “But then I went ahead and made a s
cene anyway.”

  “That voice,” Evie muttered, only half hearing David. “I knew I heard her. I just didn’t think it was possible.”

  “You heard right.”

  “What are they doing here?”

  “The blonde one seems concerned about you. At least she was until Matthew started paying attention her.”

  “No kidding.”

  “I guess you can’t hide from them forever,” David said.

  “I know, I know.”

  “At least you know they’re real friends. Look how far they came.”

  “I’ll get enough guilt from them,” Evie said. “Thank you very much.”

  “Well, you might as well get it over with.”

  “Yeah,” Evie sighed and began weaving between cars with David following close.

  As she emerged into the open space between the two buildings, Jessie caught site of her. Her face lit up with recognition, she waved, squealed, and hopped excitedly. A second later Amy staggered from the store, appearing lost, disheveled, and highly distressed.

  “What was that all about?” Matthew called over.

  “Nothing,” David answered. “A little disagreement.”

  “You dirty …” Mathew said. “You know it hurts my feelings that you’d start a fight without inviting me.”

  At the same time, Jess spoke over the boys’ conversation. “Look at you in your diner outfit,” she said as Evie approached. “Somehow you pull it off. And the shoes, and … oh my lord. What have you done to your hair?”

  “Ludlow genes,” Evie said with a shrug. “I’m just lucky, I guess.”

  “You’re joking,” Jessie said. “Really? I thought it was the sun at first, but—”

  “Evie!” Amy gasped when she heard her voice. She lunged towards David, the nearest body to her. While Evie and Jessie hugged, David got accosted by poor Amy.

  “I’m here,” Evie said as she turned, pried Amy off of David, and closed her arms around her. “What happened?”