Home Safe Home
I grabbed my bag as Casper jumped to the ground -strutting around sniffing. Stepping inside, I flicked on the lights. The house had been recently dusted, everything in its right place. I removed my shoes and placed them on a mat.
Walking down the hall, I opened doors.
“You’re in here. I’m down at the end, bathroom across the hall. Freshen up quickly, they are expecting us.”
-
I waited at the kitchen table.
“There’s a few things you should know before we go.” His face was impassive as I began. “First- Frank is the suspicious type, be extra polite. Second- the woods are not safe for you. Third- Elaine will try to mother you, don’t resist. And lastly, whatever else you do, don’t let them see you’re angry and distrustful of me, they can be a bit… protective.” I watched him processing the information as I pulled my boots on again. He followed me out of the house and I started for the bush path I knew by heart.
“What’s in the woods?”
“Wolves.” I pondered how they might react. “You should be safe with me.”
“Wolves?”
“Just stay close and don’t let them see your fear.”
We walked, snow crunching underfoot as we entered the line of trees. A tingle of hair on my neck, we were being watched. They would let us pass.
I kept my eyes on the path, pointing out gnarled tree roots for the sake of my companion. Through the bush, to the edge of the farmyard.
The cows lowing as we passed to the house. The backdoor light was on and warm light spilled from the windows. I felt him stiffen behind me as I stepped up to the door.
“Relax.” I whispered back as I knocked an old pattern in the door.
It swung open to reveal an elderly man, holding a shotgun.
“Frank!” I embraced him without a second thought. “That won’t be necessary.” I said, tapping the barrel.
“Frank, really? Put that away.” Elaine chastised her husband before turning a warm smile on us. “Come in, come in, don’t keep the door open. Get in the warm, children... there you go. Here I can take that.” She bustled about taking our coats.
I made sure to put my boots on the mat correctly, indicating Barnes to do likewise.
“Come here Kitten! Oh! It’s been too long.” She pulled me into a tight hug and I shuddered as the pain lanced my side again. “You’re hurt! Frank, she’s hurt, get the kit, will you?” Frank moved off down the hall, every second footstep hollow on the wood floor.
“And you dear?” kind brown eyes inspected my guest. He looked at me in confusion.
“He doesn’t have any injuries, Lovely.” Her eyes sparkled at my use of the pet name.
“Still, you look like you could use a good feeding, both of you. I made stew; it’s keeping warm.”
Frank bustled in with a large first aid kit and pointed at a stool by the fire.
I sat, resigned. unzipping the sweater, and lifting my t-shirt, revealing the corset beneath.
“What on earth did that?” Elaine always kept her cool under pressure, but her tone belied her worry. She just got busy untying, helping me to unlatch the front, revealing a white cotton shift. Barnes averted his eyes as she lifted the fabric to reveal the black and blue creeping up my ribs.
“Missile, small thing really, packed a punch... This thing is nearly bulletproof, or… it was.” I ran my fingers across the corset, the material had frayed and some of the spiral steel boning was showing.
Frank ts'ked at me as he inspected the area, fingers gently pressing, I inhaled sharply. “You’re lucky nothing’s broken.” Elaine handed him a salve from the box and he spread it over the area, wrapping my torso before inspecting the cuts and abrasions on my hands and forearms, doctoring each as he saw fit before giving me a nod of approval.
“Must have been some fight.” Frank turned to give Barnes a glare that could melt ice. “So, who are you?”
“Frank, Elaine, this is James. He’s a friend.” I locked eyes on him, warning. “James, Frank and Elaine are the crazy folks who took me in.”
Elaine smacked me, lovingly. “And we’ve not regretted it yet, Kitten.”
Frank was still staring down Barnes. “Where were you when Shay was getting shot at?”
James didn’t respond but a flicker of pain crossed his face.
I interjected quickly before the situation escalated. “Frank, he was out. He couldn’t help.” I put a hand on his bent shoulder. “Not his fault. Let’s not start things off on the wrong foot now, eh Frank?” I smirked as his face finally wrinkled into a grin.
“Our chances were 50-50.” He chuckled at the confusion on James’s face. Frank lifted a pant leg to reveal a prosthetic leg. He turned back to our guest who was still wearing his gloves. “I showed you mine.” It was a dare, and Frank wasn’t backing down.
James looked at me. A slight nod of encouragement. He pulled the glove off his right hand first, then the left to reveal a gleaming metal hand. Frank gave a short nod of acknowledgment and began to pack away the medical kit. I smiled at James; he’d passed the first test.
Stepping into the kitchen, I helped Elaine set the table. We lapsed into a rhythm so natural it was like breathing. Barnes stood in the doorway, watching, uncertain.
“Come sit, dearie. Let’s get some food in you.”
As we tucked in, Frank and Elaine caught me up on the local news: Fred, their oldest son had taken over the running of the farm, and two of their grandchildren were graduating. Apparently, John was back in town -having divorced his second wife. Sally was campaigning for the local riding. And Angela was pregnant with her fifth.
After the meal Elaine shooed me from the kitchen, insisting we go sleep.
“You must be tired after such a long trip and you need to heal.”
We left the warm fireside, and started back to the house. I greeted the old familiar stars with a private smile. We stepped onto the bush path, the big dipper guiding me home. The watcher remained a few paces to my left as we moved through the woods. Curiosity became alarm, the sense alerting me to the change in the animals intent. I put my hand on Barnes's arm, pulling him close behind me.
“Stay where you are, no sudden movements.” I spoke quietly, absolutely calm.
*Hello old friend*
A pale muzzle and yellow eyes appeared between the trees, studying us. Stepping back against Barnes, I felt his hands on my shoulders.
*My friend, safe* The wolf stepped further onto the path, almost glowing in the moonlight. He grumbled and I responded with a whimpering sound. The tail wagged once, stopped.
“Stay here.” I spoke softly before taking several slow steps forward. Dropping to my knees easily, I held out my arms. A slight keening sound, followed by a flash of fur, the white wolf launched himself into my arms, rubbing against me and sniffing everything he could reach. When he was satisfied, I regained my footing and stepping backwards, wrapped an arm around the frozen man.
“Mahih, this is a friend, be nice.” I spoke for James’s benefit, as I was communicating through glow and body language to the wolf. He slunk over the ground sniffing boots, pant legs and lingering long on the metal hand. Finally, he sank back and waggled his tail before evaporating into the shadows once more.
We walked to the house in silence, our breath freezing in the air.
I lay exhausted in my bed that night and let the owl and wolf song lull me to sleep.
Home sweet home.