Four
Bad Mornings
The next morning started bad and ended worse. The minute I woke up I knew the day was going to be bad because I had slept wrong. So, my neck was sore and my entire right arm was numb. When I struggled out of bed, I stepped on Shade's tail, which made him reach back and bite my ankle. So, needless to say, Shade and I decided to ignore each other the rest of the morning. Which was hard for me, considering it was my responsibility to feed him and check his water dish.
When I started my own breakfast, I burnt the bacon, over-salted the eggs, and dropped the toast. I decided against shaving, it wouldn't have been safe with how my day was going, but decided to risk hacking at a carving or two. I had finished a couple when Shade reluctantly came to me.
"I suppose y-you want out?"
He snorted with a yawn and I shrugged. I had finished reading the second book I'd borrowed last night, so I could conceivably track over to her cabin with the excuse of returning it. She would definitely be there this time. Where did she have to go? She'd already done her shopping and there weren't exactly any of her relatives close for her to visit. So, I gathered my stuff and struck out for her cabin. What are you going to say when she asks your name? I thought back to the photography books on my coffee table and took in a deep breath. Darin McGovern. I could introduce myself as Darin McGovern.
Pangs of conscience made me think twice.
Darin McGovern was my alias for my agent to use when selling my photographs. I'd had so many bad exposures as Keith Tyler that someone would surely have recognized the name and complained about my books being sold at the establishment. So, telling Allison I was Darin McGovern was not exactly lying. I was protecting her from an ugly truth. So why had I signed my real name to the notes? To be truthful, I hadn't thought about it. Another foolish mistake. I ran a hand through my hair and let out a deep breath. I felt as though I was becoming the star in a soap opera.
Shade and I finally arrived at the clearing in front of her cabin and I straightened. Now for the moment of truth. Was I going to be truthful and say I was Keith Tyler, reformed sinner, journalist, and author of said notes? Or Darin McGovern, unknown photographer with a humiliating stutter and a fascination for nature. I let out another breath. Now I knew how Clark Kent felt when confronting his feelings for Lois Lane. But if I told her I was Darin McGovern, what was I going to do about Keith Tyler? He was me, so I couldn't exactly kill him off!
Keith, you've got yourself in a doozy this time.
With a shake of my head, I headed for the cabin, but no one answered when I knocked. I looked down at Shade with a raised eyebrow and then pushed open the door. I allowed him to step into the house this time and we both cautiously looked around.
"Hello?"
I closed the door behind me and felt a chill. When I made my way to the fire, I noticed the stove was cold and there were no embers or coals. With a shake of my head, I realized that she'd probably had a bad day as well, so I started the fire for her. After it was roaring nicely, my eye caught sight of the doe figure and I made my way to it. There was a note underneath and I took it with a hard swallow and began to read.
Keith,
I never expected to receive a first letter from you, not to mention a third, but I must say I appreciate your honesty and help. You're welcome any time to raid my book stocks, or to sit at my fire. What good is a house if not to share its warmth? The doe figurine is beautiful. I only wish I knew how to repay your kindness. Again, I thank you and hope you enjoy my hospitality further.
Allison Campbell
AKA Alice Kreyssler
I sat in the recliner by her fire stove with a dumbfounded grunt as I read the note again. There had been no mention of my past. No mention that she had ever heard my name before.-- My eyes focused on the second name she'd signed, then I fumbled to get the second book I had borrowed out of my pocket. When I compared the names, my mind went blank. Alice Kreyssler. They were one and the same. She's the author.
For some reason, that thought amazed me. I had met congress members, mayors, governors, and even Supreme Court justices, yet the fact that I now knew an author intimidated me. Why? Was it the fact that this woman, in both books, had described me as if she'd known me all my life? Or was it the fact that she had pulled the ideas for these characters out of her own experiences. Why did the fact that she might understand scare me to death?
Shade sniffed at the letter and I stroked his soft head. "She sounds so k-kind, Shade."
I folded the letter and slipped it into my jacket pocket, and then I stood and put the book back by the first one I'd borrowed, taking another after a slight pause. I passed by the old, manual typewriter and stared down at it. Was this where she came up with her ideas? Was that the typewriter that she'd used to pound out the books I had just read? Hesitantly, I sat at the desk and took a simple glance at all the nicks and crannies. I noticed a drawer and pulled it out. Then I slipped out a folder with my name on it.
She'd filed my notes.
To be truthful, I didn't quite know how to react to that little tidbit. I shook my head suddenly and put the folder back, but when I saw all the other neatly titled folders, I couldn't resist the urge to pull some out and look them over. A lot of the ideas were do-able, but needed definition on the plot lines, not to mention the conflicts. And there were several that I personally felt were ready to hit the typewriter stage, but what did I know about writing books?
I smiled reluctantly and wrote out a note, but as I placed it under the doe figure, I heard a car pull up. I hadn't realized so much time had passed! With a snap of my fingers, Shade was by my side and we were rushing out the back door. I didn't understand why I hadn't just waited there for her to come in. It would have made everything so much easier instead of all the hiding as well as the notes 'passed behind the teacher's back.'
Shade and I made our way to the front of her cabin, staying just outside of the clearing so she wouldn't be able to see us. Standing there, just watching her cabin, I had the oddest feeling. Shade nuzzled my hand and I looked down at him, then back at the cabin. How long had she been out here? How long had she been alone? Was she hiding from a dark past, as well? I lowered my head, but immediately looked up when I heard the sound of her front door opening and closing. She positioned herself on the wicker bench on her porch, wrapped up in a colorful looking blanket of some kind, and began to hum. I kneeled beside Shade as I listened. After a few minutes, the humming stopped and I heard a slight thump as something she'd been holding fell to the floor.
"She f-fell asleep, Shade."
Shade licked my face and I stroked his head. "You know, I've g-got a favor to ask y-you." He gazed up at me with an expectant look. "I want you to become h-her dog." He tilted his head. "Shade, sh-she doesn't have anyone. N-not even a bird. I w-want you to keep her company."
He changed his gaze to her cabin, and then looked at me. I nodded and pointed at her. "Shade, guard."
Shade gave me one last look, then made his way for her cabin. I stood, watched him and her meet for the first time, and then made my way toward home after she'd led him into the house. The way things were going, I'd never see him again. A small smile broke out and I shook my head. No. No, I'd see them both gain. God would see to that. But why was He going to all the trouble to have us meet when I had already failed one relationship? I shook my head again, running a hand over my scalp in confusion.
"God, why can't You ever write a memo like normal CEOs when it comes to a life-changing situation?"
The sun broke out from behind some clouds as I picked up some pieces of wood. I thought back to the lady's meticulousness when it came to her desk and smiled. Allison was a woman after my own heart: organized almost to a fault. The one folder I didn't quite understand was the one for my notes. What possible importance could they be that she would want to keep them? I shrugged, stepping up the steps to my cabin as the sun began to disappear behind the clouds.
Getting ready for bed, though, the thought of that folder kept nagging at me. Why would a few notes be kept so deliberately? Why would they be important enough to her that she would want to find them so easily? My face twisted in a scowl and I fell into bed, already missing Shade's presence on the floor beside me.
"Well, what would I do with that folder?'
That was something I didn't really want to think about.
*
The next morning, I noticed a note under the carving of the wolf that I hadn't noticed before. I looked at the name signed on the bottom of the page and sat at the kitchen table. So, that's where she'd been... How did she found my cabin? Who knew? I could ask her myself if I ever got up the courage to actually meet her.
Keith, It seems God wishes us to pass each other as ships in the night. Who else knows best? I admired your carvings and photographs, so perhaps one day we can discuss them over a cup of hot tea? You're welcome at my cabin any time.
Allison
P.S. If this is in fact Darin's cabin and not Keith's, I loved your pictures and figurines. ^_^ And you can come to visit, too.
I smiled and searched my jacket as it hung on the chair for her other note. Pulling it out, I unfolded the note and smoothed it. Keith, introduce yourself.
My stomach growled, so I made my way to the kitchen, placing the notes on the kitchen counter. I opened the refrigerator and just stared into it, not really seeing any of the food. My mind kept working out what I would say to her when we finally met. Nothing sounded good. I clenched my jaw and reached in to grab the bacon and eggs. It wasn't an article, so what was I worried about?
I succeeded in cooking breakfast without any major mishaps, but after a few bites, I lost my appetite. Too bad Shade wasn't there. He loved bacon and eggs. Thinking of Shade made me realize that Allison wouldn't have any food for him. I cursed my stupidity as I washed my dish. I'd have to pack up Shade's things and take them over.
"Here's your excuse to m-meet her."
But what was my excuse going to be for having Shade's things? Would she have a problem with being given a dog? I ran my damp hands through my hair and nearly moaned in exasperation. 'Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.' I couldn't recall who had made the famous quote, but I had begun to feel the repercussions already. Why couldn't I have simply ignored my overly curious self and left the trail of smoke alone?
I laid back on the couch and put my hands behind my head. Getting any work done was going to be impossible now, but I had some things to work through. Things? What things? I missed Shade's usual nuzzling when something bothered me. Had I done the right thing?
I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes. God, what am I doing? I'm confused. I'm scared. I'm making excuses for not meeting her. I'm even planning on not telling her my real name if we ever meet. What am I supposed to do? There has to be a reason You wanted me to spot her fire's smoke trail. There's got to be a reason I felt like I was supposed to leave Shade with her. What is it? What am I doing?
But I couldn't hear the answer to my prayer. Maybe I tried too hard.
"So now what?"
With a shake of my head and a shrug to my shoulders, I took my jacket off the chair and put it on. Pictures. That's what I'll do. Take some pictures. Before, when something bothered me, I would go jogging or play racquetball. Now I took photographs.
When I had first moved up here, I'd never stayed at the cabin longer than a week before I had found a way to get out and fly to some sort of civilization. That's where most of the nature shots from my first book of photographs were taken. Each retreat I had found myself at another popular National Forest, or National Monument. I had been to Yellowstone with all its geysers and hot springs. I had gone through Teton National Forest and Monument Valley, as well as seen the tracks left by the pioneers of the Oregon Trail on the way to Owyhee, Oregon.
Now, I simply took hikes around the outer edges of simple Sumter and found spectacular shots of nature.
I slipped into my hiking boots, lacing them up with a jerk as my mind wandered. After looping a camera around my neck, I put on my leather gloves and made my way outside. The sun was shining, but I could tell that winter was on its way when my face tightened because of the cold. Not only that, I dreaded the time that I would have to spend alone when my agent wouldn't be able to get up here. His Cherokee was nice, but it wasn't a miracle worker. I got about two or three feet of snow at a time up here on light winters and I never had a snowplow clear the roads like city-folk. I hiked nature trails, not smoothed or paved ranger paths.
"Keith, y-you should have j-just introduced yourself."
And now I kicked myself for not doing just that. It would have been great to have a friend up here who had wheels as tough as hers, and yet all I did was give her my dog? I clenched my jaw and took a firm hold of my walking stick as I started down the steps toward the nearest known trail. To think I could be taking this hike with an author and my dog if I had just stayed at my cabin yesterday. I took in a deep breath and let it out slow as my jaw muscle twitched. Of all the stupid decisions in my life, not meeting Allison when I had the chance was the cherry on the cake.
I swiped at some tall grass with my walking stick, missing it entirely.
My steps came to a stop in the clearing outside Allison's home. Her vehicle was gone, and I fought an overwhelming urge to make myself comfortable and wait for her to get back.
"Well, what are you fighting it for?"
My confidence swelled when I hadn't stuttered and I climbed the stairs, amazing myself when I walked into her home like I belonged. Yeah, Allison would be thrilled with that concept. About as thrilled as finding a bear in her bathroom making use of the tub. I paced around nervously, rubbing the back of my neck to keep myself from touching anything. Like the folder that was in her desk with my name on it. I sat on the love seat and rubbed my knees.
Well now what?
I grumbled and stood again to wander to the infamous wall of books. I placed the latest book, Daddy's Girl, back in it's original place and found myself counting the number of books Alice Kreyssler had published. 22! Incredible! She couldn't be more than 27 years of age, so how could she have published that many books? I checked the back page of one of her books for the 'about the author' paragraph and scowled when I couldn't find one Apparently, she wanted to be as big a mystery as I was to the outside world. But why?
With a shrug, I pulled out another book and made myself comfortable. Who cared if it was going to be hours before she came home? I had a book, a warm fire, and my own thoughts. As for the moment of truth when I would need to introduce myself, I was going to let that worry about itself.
And it did. I had totally forgotten the problem by the time I heard her car pull up in the driveway. Of course, I had already written a note and left it under the doe carving by the time she and Shade got back. In fact, I had finished the book, chosen another, and was ready to start my hike home when she pulled up. Shade came to stand in front of me and I smiled down at him, my silent way of telling him he'd been doing a great job. I watched her as she leaped out of the tall Blazer and told myself again that there was no way she could be older than 27, but I couldn't exactly introduce myself and then ask her age. Then she really would slap my face.
And she was pretty.
"Hi," she called out.
"H-hello."
I tried to ignore the stutter, but all I could think was she more than likely thought I was scared of Shade. That, and what an unusual color her hair was. Her smile widened, and I was amazed that a simple smile could brighten an already pretty face.
"I'm Allison Campbell." She pulled off her leather gloves and offered me her small hand as a greeting. "You've already met Ralph."
I took her hand slowly, looking down at Shade in pity, and then patted his side as I tried to figure out how she'd come up with an awful name for the poor pup. Shade just laughed up at me, immensely pleased with himself and his charge. I released her hand, and she started talking again in her bright voice.
"I hope you weren't waiting long. Ralph and I had a little adventure at the grocery store and we were laughing about it. Otherwise, we would have been home sooner."
"Th-that's all right."
She cleared her throat and made a motion toward the house. "Would you like to come in for tea or coffee?"
"N-no, th-thank you."
I caught her examining my face as I spoke and could have cut out my tongue. The humiliation of a stutter! But then her eyes seemed to sparkle a little brighter and she put her glove back on, sending me a charming smile. Forget the stutter, why did you just turn down coffee?
"Well, I've got to unload the supplies from the back of the Blazer. I would ask Ralph to help, but he hasn't quite got the hang of it yet."
I grinned. "It's no p-problem. I-I'll help."
"Wonderful!"
And the way she said it made me believe her.
Allison was quite a talker, and I couldn't keep from laughing as she retold the excitement at the supermarket. Then, after everything was brought in, we unpacked groceries to the cadence of her talking about how she and 'Ralph' had met. Afterwards, she led me to the small couch and sat beside me, seeming to not have a single problem with sitting so close to a stranger.
"Thanks a lot for helping," she said. "I've never known unloading groceries could be so fun. Are you sure you didn't mind?"
I lay back, surprising even myself when I spread my arms along the back of the small couch. "N-not at all, Allison."
"So, are you going to tell me your name, or leave me with a silver bullet wondering 'who was that masked man'?"
"S-sorry. The n-name's Darin. Darin McGovern."
The minute the name was out of my mouth, I could have slit my throat with a butter knife. My smile disappeared. Keith, what are you doing? She looked confused for the first several seconds, but then a change came over her and her whole face brightened. A little of my tension eased when she smiled at me.
"Then you took me up on my invitation!" She chuckled. "I'm glad, too. I don't like unloading groceries, and I don't get many good Samaritans up here." Her eyes twinkled. "In fact, I don't get many Samaritans at all: good or bad."
"N-no one at all?"
Allison shrugged slightly. "Okay, the past couple days a nice man has been leaving notes for me."
She pointed at the doe carving and her cheeks went a little pink. I kept from smiling, but just barely.
"And he carved that, but other than him... In fact," she continued as she looked over at me again, "I thought you were him. And I thought your place... that was your place, right?"
I nodded, again wishing I'd cut out my tongue rather than talking and wrapping myself up in this tangled web...
"Well, obviously, I thought that was his place, too." Allison laughed brightly.
I smiled, enjoying the sound of her voice and her quick conversation switches. "D-do you mind m-me asking how l-long you've been up h-here?"
She stood, still smiling, and I began to wonder how a person smiled like that.
"I've lived up here for almost eleven years."
I blinked in shock and watched her bring down a percolator and teapot. Eleven years! How old was she?
"Care for some?" she asked.
A sudden sense of panic made me stand. "N-no thanks. I must be getting back b-before it gets t-too much later."
Allison set the things down and followed me to the door, as did Shade. "Are you sure?"
I could hear the disappointment in her voice, and it only heightened my terror. "Y-yes. I'll t-try to stop b-by later."
She continued to follow me out the door and even down the stairs. I could sense she wanted someone to talk to as much as I did. I also remembered the note I had left, but it was too late to try and get it now.
"You don't need a ride?"
I turned, saw the uncertainty in Allison's eyes, and couldn't help but smile. Yes, I would definitely stop by later. I turned and headed back toward my cabin, hearing her close the front door with a sense of regret. Then, I remembered I had left my camera and walking stick on her kitchen table. Lord, why can't I just slip away before I make a complete idiot of myself? She's a nice girl, and the last thing she needs is a guy like me - who's almost old enough to be her father, by the look of her - in her life causing trouble.
I looked into the night, then over my shoulder. After giving a shake of my head, I turned and headed back toward her cabin. A ride would be nice.
When Allison opened the door, she seemed happy to see me. That fact alone was enough to send my confidence through the roof. She stepped out of the way with a brightly said "Darin!" and smiled up at me with a light laugh.
"You said you would try to stop by, but I had no idea it would be this quickly."
"I'm s-sorry--"
Allison waved a hand. "Oh don't be. I'm glad you came back. I haven't had many people to talk to, you know. Poor Ralph has probably gone deaf in one ear from all the noise."
I couldn't help but laugh as I made my way over to the table to retrieve my things.
"Hello. I didn't even see those things there. I'm sorry. If I had, I would have made sure you had them before going."
"Are you s-still offering that r-ride?"
Allison blinked up at me, and it seemed her mouth became detached from her brain she was so shocked. "Oh!" she finally said. "Yes, yes. Of course. Let me get my coat and we can go."
I picked her coat up off the recliner and held it out toward her. Her eyes widened, and I smiled. "Come on," I urged. "H-haven't you been helped into a j-jacket before?"
She slipped her arms into the sleeves, and I nearly choked on my tongue when I realized her hair smelled like Valerie's. Vanilla. What's with women and vanilla shampoo... I pushed it aside, held the door open for her, and then followed her to the Blazer. My conscience nagged at me the entire time. Keith. You're going to tell her right? What was the big deal? I was Keith Tyler. I was Darin McGovern. It didn't matter which name I used. Did it? I clenched my jaw slightly.
"How long have you been living up here?" Allison asked as she climbed up into the Blazer.
Shade jumped in before me - he always had to be first - and made himself comfortable between the two of us. "F-Five years."
"Really? Wow." She sent me a wide-eyed expression. "I'm surprised I haven't ever met you before. I do a lot of hiking around here."
She gave me a smile when Shade rested his head in my lap. "He l-likes me," I told her. Duh. You big idiot! Tell her! But I still wasn't sure how to tell her he was mine. After all, I didn't want her to feel bad.
Allison laughed, making the guilt worse.
"I noticed. He's a very loving puppy. I've enjoyed having him around."
I scrubbed him behind his ears. Good boy, Shade.
"How often do you come out this way?" she asked as she backed the Blazer and then turned it down the path toward home.
Guilt and conviction. Always a hardy pair... "I've been over this way a c-couple times lately." I had to hide a cringe. How close was I to lying?
"So you'd seen my cabin around and finally decided to visit?"
Keith? What are you going to say to that? "I certainly have. In f-fact, I heard you chopping w-wood one day." Well that was a surprising confession.
Allison laughed. "Oh boy. Now I'm embarrassed."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I guess the fact that you've seen me in my not so genteel glory has me at a disadvantage."
I examined Allison's profile and smiled when she turned to look at me. Paulette Bunyan she was not. Bright eyes. Pretty face. Eager smile. And that intriguing colored hair worn in a spunky style... "I don't s-see it that way at all." At that comment, she really did blush.
"Why thank you. That's sweet."
Shade lifted his head and blinked up at me, again congealing my guilty conscience. I know, I know. But I'd already dug myself so deep, I didn't know how to climb out of the darned hole without making this prospective friend hate me.
"So, those figurines..."
Crap.
Allison sent me a glance. "Do you know Keith Tyler?"
Yeah. He's an ass.
"Because they definitely look like his work. Does he sell them in Sumter?"
I cleared my throat as I concentrated whole-heartedly on rubbing a specific spot behind Shade's ears. "Yeah. K-Keith sells them in B-Baker and Sumter, a-and he even s-ships some to Portland and Oregon City." Well, at least that's what I plan to do as soon as I contact my 'agent'.
"Really? Wow."
Allison sent me several more glances, which made the hair on my neck stand on end and my five o'clock shadow begin to itch.
"You guys are chums then?"
And I can hear the web of my deceit begin to fray and snap... "In a m-manner of s-speaking..."
We arrived at my cabin then. She stopped the Blazer and undid her seat belt. Shade leaped from the open window and began barking and bounding around the Blazer as I climbed down and went around to Allison's side. I held the door open for her and then closed it before falling into step beside her to the front porch.
Uncertainty, guilt, and a heap of other things weighed down the silence. Dang it, Keith... My heart skyrocketed into my throat, and I could feel her sidelong glances. Then we halted outside the door to my cabin and I scrubbed at the back of my neck.
"What's wrong?" she asked, genuinely concerned.
I lowered my arm to my side with a quick breath and a thought of Suck it up, Tyler and then extended a hand. She blinked down at it a moment before taking it and sending me a curious glance with those big and pretty blue eyes.
"Nice to meet y-you, Allison," I said. "My n-name's Keith Tyler."
Allison stopped shaking my hand as her eyes widened and her jaw dropped slightly. Okay, Lord, please... Please what? Brain-wash her to forgive an idiot? I could feel my ears burn pink and lowered my eyes to an examination of our still clasped hands.
"I-I'm sorry," she said, clearly confused. "Did you just say... Did you just say you're Keith Tyler?"
I nodded and forced myself to release her hand. Thankfully, she didn't slap me with either of them.
"Um..." Allison took in a deep breath. "Okay. Could you tell me what's going on please?"
I tapped the porch with my walking stick. "I use the name D-Darin McGovern f-for my photog-graphy books."
"Oh."
Silence came, but I couldn't look up. Idiot...
"If you didn't want to get to know me once you'd met me, all you had to do was say so."
Not want-- I looked up and met her eyes. "I d-didn't use it b-because of that," I said quickly, the stuttering making my frustration redline. "I-I-It just s-slipped o-out." I released a deep breath and leaned back against the porch roof support beam. "I-I'm s-s-sorry, Allison," I stammered. "I d-didn't mean f-f-for you to think a-anything... I m-mean..." What do I mean? And Lord why can't I form a complete thought without sounding like an idiot?
Allison lowered her eyes and hooked her thumbs on the belt loops of her jeans. She kicked at the floorboards of the porch. "It's all right. I forgive you," she said softly. Then she peeked up at me from under her lashes - girls always looked cutest when they did that - and smiled. "It's been a while since the last time someone surprised me. I'll have to put this in one of my books."
I returned her smile. "You k-kind of already d-did."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"Daddy's Girl. Rem-m-member?" Dang stutter! God, please help...
Her eyes widened. "You know what? You're right. That whole stranger-on-the-train and Robert Trent thing." She giggled. "How could I forget that? Duh."
Tension began to fade. Thank you, Jesus.
"Do you mind if I hoof it over tomorrow?" she asked. "I'd love to talk to you about your pictures and your carvings and--"
"Your books?" I asked, actually hopeful.
Allison smiled. "Of course! I love talking about my books, but you have to promise to talk about your favorite scenes and how you felt and what you thought and what you liked best."
I laughed. "S-Sure. Sure. But o-only if you do the s-same for my pictures."
Her eyes twinkled. "I'd love to." She presented her hand. "It was very nice to meet you... Keith?"
I nodded, disappointment at her leaving weighing down my smile.
"Thanks for stopping by," she said. Then her smile widened and she sent me a wink as she leaned slightly forward. "And thanks for letting me in on your secret. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure."
She released my hand, watched me for another smiling moment, and then made her way back to the Blazer. Shade bounded around her-- Shade!
"Allison?" I stepped down the porch steps and up to where she'd stopped between cabin and Blazer. "Confession n-number two," I said sheepishly.
She smiled. "You're a producer who wants to offer me a movie contract?"
I laughed, but my ears burned just the same. I rested a hand on Shade's head. "No, no. It's j-just... His name's Shade."
Allison blinked, smile disappearing as her eyes widened. "He's yours?"
I cleared my throat as I nodded.
"So why did you leave him with me?"
I looked down and met Shade's dark eyes. He blinked up at me. "It seemed... I didn't like..." I sighed and met her gaze again. "You were alone. I d-didn't like that, and God almost seemed to..." Allison smiled. I liked it when she smiled.
"Thank you, Keith. I really, really appreciate it. He's been wonderful company."
I motion in the general direction of her cabin. "You keep him with you." Hey! No stutter!
Allison's eyes widened. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to--"
"I know," I told her, nodding, "but he's not d-done guarding you yet." Darn it.
"I-I..." She looked down at Shade and stroked him fondly. "I don't know what to say."
"Then don't." It's enough to see your face. I almost grimaced. Keith, you big softee. "I'll load y-you up with some of his things t-tomorrow."
Allison smiled again and met my gaze. "Thank you."
I felt about 18 years old again. "Sure."
I stepped forward to open the Blazer door for her. Shade piled in before and then laid his head in her lap once she'd climbed in after. I closed the door and rested my hands on the door-frame/open window. Allison met my gaze.
"Drive slow," I told her. "It's really black tonight."
She started the Blazer while smiling at me. "I will."
Then she put the Blazer in gear and headed out. I watched her go with a slight smile. I would see Allison tomorrow.