Garden of the Wolf

  Susie sighed and shrugged. "Can't blame a girl for trying."

  Blackwood chuckled, and the sound sent a shiver down my spine. There was something dark about him that made me want to slip away from his presence. "As eager as I am to hear more about you both, I must be going. Mr. Nelson and I have much business to discuss."

  "I will see you both later," Nelson promised. Our friend eagerly turned and led Blackwood into the depths of the building.

  Susie sidled up to me and lowered her voice. "You get a creepy vibe off that guy?"

  The way the guy looked at me still made me shudder, so I changed the subject. "You mean your boyfriend?" I teased.

  She stuck her tongue out at me. "No, the other guy, that Blackwood guy. The way he looked at us was kind of weird." She raised her shaking hand and rubbed the knuckles. "He's got a really strong grip, too. I thought he was going to break something."

  "Well, you're okay now, so why don't we go get some breakfast?" I suggested

  Susie ignored me. Rather, she looked where the men had gone and rubbed her chin with one hand. "Nelson said he was a neighbor, right? You think we can swipe a golf cart and find out where that Blackwood guy lives?"

  "We almost got kicked out last night, and you want to steal a golf cart?" I scolded her.

  "Yep," she quipped.

  An idea hit me and a sly smile slipped onto my lips. "If you really want some excitement why don't you try to drown yourself in the lake and have that Nelson guy give you mouth-to-mouth?" I suggested.

  Susie was unperturbed. She actually smiled and slung an arm over my shoulder. "That's the way! That's what I've been talking about!"

  I blinked at her. "What have you been talking about?"

  "About having a fun time here and cracking jokes and stuff! That means you're feeling younger!" She flung herself on me with her arms draped over both my shoulders and buried her face into my chest. "You're the old Abby I used to know!" she sobbed.

  I rolled my eyes and peeled her off me. "You're making an idiot of yourself. Worse than usual," I scolded her.

  She grinned and shrugged. "I still think you joking around is a good sign," she insisted.

  I turned her towards the stairs and pushed her ahead of me. "Good or not, let's go eat breakfast."

  Chapter 2

  We reunited with Linda at the bottom of the stairs. "So does he come by often?" Susie asked our attendant.

  Linda pursed her lips and shook her head. "Not often at all. He-well, he isn't fond of the Gardens."

  Susie gestured to the lodge. "What's not to like? The food's great, the company's great, and the food's great."

  "You said that twice," I pointed out.

  "That's because it's doubly great," she countered.

  A faint smile graced Linda's pale lips. Actually, most of her was pale, and I noticed her body was stiff. "I'm afraid he doesn't agree with developing the area and bringing in so many hum-um, people from the cities. Fortunately Scott-Mr. Young and Mr. Nelson handle such problems so I can get you two to breakfast." She led us up the stairs and to our usual table overlooking the ground floor. "Would you like anything made in the kitchen? An omelet?" she asked us.

  Susie raised her hand. "I'll take two omelets with some cheese and a lot of peppers, and watch the cook. He may try to put in a lot of cheese and a few peppers," she instructed.

  Linda nodded. "Can do. I'll be back in a few minutes." She left us alone, and the minute she disappeared Susie leaned over the table and lowered her voice.

  "Remember how I told you not to be suspicious?" she whispered.

  "Yeah, why?" I asked her.

  "Well, that talk with Mr. What's-His-Name-"

  "Blackwood?" I suggested.

  "Yeah, that guy. Well, that talk we had with him has made me suspicious," she admitted.

  I raised an eyebrow. "Suspicious of what? He's just a neighbor with an argument. You argue with your neighbors above you all the time at the apartment," I countered.

  "Yeah, but did you see his shifty eyes? They told me he was up to something, and I bet Dan and your boyfriend are in on it," she insisted.

  My cheeks reddened. "My what?"

  Susie rolled her eyes. "Your boyfriend. You know, Scott. You two may have had that lover's tiff last night, but I bet you two made up behind my back when you went off into the woods." She paused and narrowed her eyes. "Unless you two were fooling me and are trying to trick me into believing you were fighting."

  I snorted. "Why would we do that?"

  "I don't know, you tell me. You're the criminal masterminds," she argued.

  "Susie, there's nothing going on between us, and if there was you'd probably know about it by now. You can sniff out gossip," I teased.

  She sat back down in her seat and rubbed her chin. "Maybe, but I still think something's going on. I want-"

  "These eggs are cold!" a shrill voice complained.

  We turned to the buffet table where the sound originated and saw the elderly troublemaker of a guest, Miss Sylvia Platt. She stood beside the table and viciously tapped her silver spoon against the hard-boiled eggs that sat in a large basket. Their shells cracked and exposed their white innards to the air. Beside her was her pale female attendant.

  "Please, Miss Platt, I can get you a warm one if you want," her female attendant offered.

  "The way the service is around here by the time it's done I'll be dead!" Platt shrieked.

  "I'm sure they can have one made for you in just a minute. Why don't I help you to your seat and then go to the kitchen to see?" her attendant insisted.

  Miss Platt sneered, but stopped her senseless destruction of the eggs. "All right, but hurry it up!"

  Her attendant took Platt's tray and led her to a table beside ours and just behind where I sat. The old guest seated herself and the attendant hurried off to fulfill her promise. Susie looked past me at the cranky individual.

  "Don't stare," I hissed.

  "She's just like that one guy," she whispered to me.

  "What one guy?" I asked her.

  "You know, the guy who tried to beat up Linda. She's acting just like him," Susie reminded me.

  "So? Scott-Mr. Young told us there was some bad eggs this time," I countered.

  "Yeah, but don't you think that's suspicious?" she asked me.

  I rolled my eyes. "You made me promise not to be suspicious, so if you want me to-"

  "What are you looking at?" Platt's shriek interrupted my comment. Her remark was directed at my friend.

  "Science has yet to explain," Susie quipped.

  I half-turned and was in time to see Platt's face twist into an ugly glare. Her cheeks reddened and her hand that held her fork nearly bent the metal. I swore I saw a strange flash of yellow sweep through her eyes. "You insolent little brat! Is that any way to talk to someone who's older than you?"

  "I think you could give Moses a run for his money in age," Susie returned.

  I grabbed her arm and lowered my voice. "Susie! Not helping!" I hissed.

  Platt jumped to her feet with more speed than I would have given her frail body credit for. She tossed down her fork and I noticed it had bent under the pressure of her wizened old fingers. "You think you can say anything to me! I'll have you thrown out! Mark my words, you won't be allowed back here!" she threatened.

  "Miss Platt! Your temper!" her attendant warned her as the young woman appeared from the kitchen. In her hand was a bowl that contained a small pile of warm hard-boiled eggs.

  "Don't tell me what to do!" Platt growled, but the arrival of her eggs tempered her temper. She took her seat and snatched an egg from the bowl. "And about time! Took you long enough!"

  "I'm sorry it took so long. They're very busy with the breakfast," the attendant apologized.

  Platt's anger was soothed with food, and our entertainment was finished. Linda returned with Susie's distractions and set the plate of omelets in front of my friend. "There you are, two omelets," Linda proudly announced.

  Susie sheepish
ly smiled. "Um, thanks."

  I grinned. "Eyes too big for your stomach?" I teased.

  "Is such a thing possible?" another voice chimed in. Nelson walked up the stairs and joined us at our table, though I noticed he stood closer to Susie than me. "Though I hope the food is delicious enough that you won't refuse anything that's offered."

  "Nope," Susie quipped, and she dug her fork deep into the omelet.

  Nelson chuckled. "Good."

  Susie stuffed her mouth and pointed her empty fork at the table occupied by Platt. She lowered her voice and spat out crumbs of egg. "There is a bit of a problem with the company, though."

  Nelson followed her fork and pursed his lips. Platt's attendant was speaking to her, and Nelson spoke to us in a voice that wouldn't be overheard by the irate old woman. "I'm afraid every session has its hardships, but I hope it won't ruin your stay with us."

  "No, but maybe that one neighbor of yours might. He didn't seem too friendly," Susie commented.

  The man's smile faltered, but he saved himself with a chuckle. "That's how things are done around here. The food, employees, guests, and even the neighbors are a rare breed." I noticed he pointedly looked to Susie, who for once in her life was too flustered to give a snarky reply. She blushed and looked away. "I hope you can promise me you won't leave early on their account," he pleaded.

  "We can pretty much guarantee nothing short of getting booted out will make us leave," I assured him.

  Nelson smiled and bowed his head. "I'm glad to hear that." He checked his watch and sighed. "But it seems I must be off. Enjoy your meal and I hope to see you two down by the lake later."

  I raised an eyebrow. "You swim?"

  He chuckled. "I sometimes make myself available to teach classes, and I offered myself to yours."

  I had to suppress a snort. This guy was desperate to get close to Susie. "Then we'll definitely be there," I promised.

  His smile widened and he bowed his head. "Then I'll see you both later." With that, he strode down the stairs and disappeared through the front doors.

  I leaned across the table toward my red-faced friend and lowered my voice. "You still going to tell me he isn't interested in you?" I teased.

  Susie slumped down in her seat and strangled her napkin. "Maybe he's just being nice," she argued.

  I snorted and plopped myself back down in my chair. "Maybe you're just in denial."

  She glared at me. "Well, what about that Young guy, huh? He's pretty interested in you, too."

  Linda choked on a snort. My own cheeks reddened, particularly when I remembered our little love session the night before. I flickered my eyes pointedly at Linda and back to my friend. "We'll talk about this later," I growled.

  "It must be later because breakfast is over," Susie quipped as she pushed away her empty plate. She'd downed the omelets in record time.

  Linda and I stared at the battlefield of egg whites and bits of salt. It was a horrible sight to behold, what with no survivors, not even a speck of a green pepper. "Have you ever learned to chew?" I asked her.

  Susie paused and tapped her chin. "I did once, but I got bored so I went back to inhaling."

  I shook my head and stood. I'd suddenly lost my appetite. "You should have been born a vacuum," I teased.

  "Maybe I'll try that in another life," she mused.

  "Did you two need anything else?" Linda spoke up.

  I shook my head. "Nope."

  Susie raised her hand. "I do. What time's our swimming lessons again?"

  "One o'clock. Don't eat too late or you may be too full to swim very well," she advised us.

  "Then how about you take the day off and we'll get going for a morning nap?" Susie suggested.

  Linda furrowed her brow. "I'm not sure that's allowed. Attendants are supposed to-"

  "Not be waiting on us hand and foot, though that sounds really nice when I say it out loud," Susie mused. She shook herself of thoughts of slavery and turned our attendant towards the door to the kitchen. "Anyway, we'll call you if we need anything. Your number's in the cabin, right?"

  "Yes, beside the phone," she replied.

  "Good, now go enjoy yourself and we'll do the same," Susie assured her as she gave our new friend a light push.

  Susie grabbed my hand, waved goodbye to our perplexed guide, and steered me down the stairs. I shrugged at Linda before we disappeared over the lip of the second story floor. There was no arguing with Susie, there was only agreeing with her and going with the flow of the river of madness.

  Chapter 3

  "So why were you wanting to get her out of the way?" I asked my friend as she dragged me out of the lodge.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," Susie protested as she pulled me towards our cabin.

  "I'm talking about giving our guide a day off without asking my permission. You'd better have a good reason for setting us adrift," I returned. I paused and frowned at the back of my friend's head. "You do have a good reason, don't you?"

  "Of course I do," Susie replied. We reached our cabin and she slipped us inside.

  I stood beside my bed and folded my arms across my chest. "So what is it?" I wondered as she strode to the foot of her bed.

  Susie plopped herself onto her bed and smiled at me. "I didn't want Linda overhearing us talking about her brother. I saw how you blushed when I mentioned Scott, and you still haven't told me what happened between you two last night."

  "You saw us fight, or is your senility catching up to you?" I teased her.

  She shook her head. "No, I mean after the fight, when you went on your walk. You were all upset, and then I catch you by the lake being all happy. What gives?"

  "Well, maybe we did happen to have a talk. . ." I admitted. There was a lot of groaning and moaning involved, but I considered that a discussion.

  Susie pointed an accusing finger at me. "Ah-ha! The truth comes out! Spill the beans, what'd you guys talk about?" she persisted.

  I rolled my eyes to keep her from seeing my avoiding eye contact as I lied. "All I did was apologize for my behavior, and he accepted. He showed me a few constellations, we talked about the lake, end of story. Satisfied?"

  My friend folded her arms and pouted. "No. This sounds like the middle of the story. Where's the happily ever after ending?"

  "In the fairy tales your mom used to read to us which are right next to the stories of vampires and werewolves you used to read," I told her.

  Susie dropped her voice, and there was a slight tinge of hope and reluctance in her words. "You. . .you think they really do like us? Scott and Dan, I mean?" she asked me.

  I looked down at my feet and pretended to study my shoes. "I'm sure it's only a fling. I mean, we're only here for a week, remember? Maybe they're both just being nice to us."

  Susie firmly nodded her head. "Yeah, maybe that's it."

  I lifted my head to stare at her. She stared back with her reddened cheeks and pursed lips. Slowly a smile slipped onto my mouth, and the corners of her lips twitched upward. I let out a snort and she choked out a laugh. We cackled like witches for a good two minutes before we ran out of breath and energy.

  Susie wiped the tears from her eyes and quieted her laughter. "You really don't believe that, either, do you?"

  "About them just being nice to us? Not really. Guys just don't set up that kind of date like they did without a better reason than wanting to entertain some paying guests," I pointed out.

  My friend narrowed her eyes and rubbed her chin. "But do you think they really like us or are they're just attracted to our beauty, poise, and-"

  "Ability to bullshit?" I teased.

  Susie grinned. "Yeah, and that, but seriously, what do you think of them?"

  I shrugged. "I can't really say. I mean, they've been really nice to us, but who's to know what goes on in the minds of men?"

  "Horny thoughts and where their next meal is coming from," Susie guessed.

  "Those, but I was meaning about us," I countered.

  Susie toy
ed with a loose string on her shirt and a pensive expression crossed her face. She lowered her voice to a quiet, soft tone. "So what are we going to do about it? I mean, what if they really do like-like-us?" she wondered.

  I sighed and shrugged. "I don't know."

  A wicked smile slipped onto Susie's face. I didn't like that smile. It always foretold disaster, trouble, chaos, and a little dash of mayhem. Her eyes flickered up to me, and they were no longer the innocent ones that wondered about chaste love. "Want to see what's on the other side of the lake? You know, just to see their bachelor pads?" she suggested.

  I frowned at her. "Oh no, you're not getting me kicked out of this place you keep saying is paradise. Not when-" I nearly slapped myself for almost revealing my more intimate involvement with Young.

  Susie leaned toward me and narrowed her eyes. "Not when what?"

  I cleared my throat and gathered myself. "Not when we're having a good time and are just about to get married to the owners," I quipped.

  She leaned away and rolled her eyes. "Come on, Abby, where's your sense of adventure?"

  "I left that in my other suitcase. Maybe I'll pack it on another trip. Anyway, if we get caught doing that then we'll definitely be thrown out, Remember? That's a definite no-go rule. We might not get a third chance at staying here," I warned her.

  "Well, what if we're not caught?" she countered.

  I snorted. "We'd get caught."

  "No, we wouldn't."

  "Yes, we would."

  "No, we wouldn't."

  "Yes, we would."

  "Well, how about we find out and see who's right?" Susie challenged me.

  "And how about we behave ourselves and stay in our cabin?" I countered.

  Susie frowned. "Where's that suspicious Abby who was just yesterday telling me things weren't quite right around here?"

  "You told her to go away, remember?"

  "Oh yeah. Well, it's time for her to come back and start some snooping."

  I folded my arms across my chest and stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "Do you even know how to get to the other side of the lake?"

  She furrowed her brow and tapped her chin. "Well, there was this one path I noticed the last time I was here. We didn't get to hike it, and when somebody tried to walk down it to see what was around the bend the guide warned them that any farther and they'd be booted."

  "I'm shocked you didn't sneak down it then," I commented.

  She gasped and set her splayed fingers on her chest. "Young, innocent me disobey a figure of authority? How could you suggest such a thing?"