A woman derisively snorted. "How can he still be alive after so long?" she incredulously asked him.
Patterson's lips curled back in a strange smile. "Because, miss, this man wasn't a man. The reason no doctor could help him was because he'd been turned into a werewolf!"
Some of the smaller children squealed in play fear and the adults laughed at their antics. The lights were turned on for the final time and the terrifying atmosphere was expelled from the lobby. All was well and sane in the world.
Chapter 3
Some guests stood and mingled again. Mr. Patterson happened to move close beside us and delved deep into conversation with one of the lady guests.
"Was that story really true?" she asked me.
"Well, the previous owner told it to me like it was true, so I tell it to my guests like that," he replied.
"But have there been any recent sightings of this werewolf?" she wondered.
Patterson rubbed his chin and looked off in the distance in thought. "There was a young couple a few years back staying in cabin thirteen who swore something scratched at the back of the cabin between the two beds, but we didn't find any footprints. Of course, that was a dry, windy summer so not even a beetle could leave a trail for very long," he pointed out.
"And is anyone in cabin thirteen?" she inquired.
"Not right now. I don't let it around the full moon. I used to, but some people became so nervous about their room that half of them always wanted to change, so I gave up giving it at all. It's let out again two days after the full moon," he admitted.
"So you don't think it's real?" Greg spoke up.
"Well, I don't say it is, and I don't say it isn't, but it does keep some of the wilder kids from running out at night when they should be in bed," he replied with a chuckle.
"So would you stay out in the woods on a full moon?" Greg persisted.
"No, I wouldn't, but not just because of the story. Werewolves are part of folklore, but there are wolves in the area and hikers have come across their food, or what's left of it," Patterson told us. "I'd like my guests to stay inside so they don't become that food."
"Are your employees allowed outside after dark?" Greg wondered.
"I'd rather they not go out, but I don't lock them in their rooms at night to keep them in," Patterson replied, obviously annoyed with Greg's questions. "If you'll excuse me, I have other guests to attend to." With that he hurried off to other groups.
"Why did you antagonize him?" I asked Greg.
He shrugged. "I don't know why he was so sore," he argued.
"He's sore because it sounded like you were going to go out and get yourself hurt," I pointed out.
Greg laughed nervously and shook his head. "Nah, I'll be a good boy and stay in bed. Promise, Mom," he teased.
I nodded at the windows. The rain poured over the glass in heavy sheets. "You'd better or you'll end up a wet rat."
Greg stood, stretched, and faked a yawn. "Well, after that long drive and all that food I'm ready to hit the hay."
"It's barely ten. You usually got to bed at midnight," I reminded him.
"Not after that long a drive. I'm tired and I'm going to bed. You coming?" he persisted.
I rolled my eyes at his childish behavior. "Fine, I'll come, just try not to snore," I commanded him.
We stepped outside and our coats were instantly soaked. The rain pelted our heads and we rushed past the cabins to our little abode. Even in such weather I slowed down to look at cabin thirteen. It looked just like any other except for the lack of car and lights. I thought it'd be exciting to stay in such a spot tomorrow night. That was the time of the full moon.
"Hurry up!" Greg called from our step.
I rushed inside after him and we took turns dressing in the bathroom. I wouldn't even go that far with him, and as things were going we weren't bound to hit that point any time soon. It was far enough that he saw me in my short nightshirt. Greg slipped into bed and a few minutes later I heard the sounds of him snoring. It was going to be a long night, but I made the best of it. Stuffing my pillow around my ears gave me enough reprieve to fall asleep.
At ten minutes till midnight I was awoken by a soft rap. I sat up and, after figuring out where I was, looked at the door. "Hello?" I called out. No answer. I glanced at Greg's bed, and my eyes widened when I noticed it was empty. He was gone.
I swept aside my sheets, slipped my bare feet into my shoes, and peeked my head outside. The rain had stopped and the ground had turned to mud. Two sets of tracks left the porch and headed toward the lodge. I glanced toward the lodge and my heart skipped a beat. There was a dim light in cabin thirteen. My suspicions overrode my fear when I noticed one of the sets of footprints led to the porch. That was the pair that had come from our cabin. The other set had come from around the side of our cabin in the direction of the woods.
"Hello?" I whispered to my mystery knocker. No answer. Whoever it was probably slunk back to their own cabin.
I grabbed a flashlight and crept over to the infamous cabin. The shades were pulled in the front, so I tiptoed around to the rear. The window that stood between the two beds was ajar. I sloshed through the muck, ducked low against the waist-high window, and listened.
"Oh god," a woman's voice moaned.
"Not so loud," a man's voice replied. It was Greg.
"I can't help it. You're just so good," the woman cooed.
I could just imagine Greg's smirking face. "You're feeling pretty good yourself," he replied.
I'd heard enough. I stood, lifted the window and shone my flashlight into the cabin. On one of the beds were Greg and the woman from the lodge. They were both naked and with how close they were they could only have been having sex. My face reddened, but not from embarrassment. "You ass!" I shouted at Greg.
"What? Ally?" he wondered.
"Don't you dare call me that, and don't you dare go back to the cabin. I'll toss your stuff out to you," I told him.
"But it's not what-"
I'd seen enough not to listen to anything he said. I marched my way back to the cabin, grabbed his bag, and tossed it onto the porch. Then I slammed and locked the door, and plopped myself on the end of my bed. Greg came up to the door a minute later and tried the knob. Wouldn't work. "Ally, come on! It was just a little fling!" he argued.
"Then go back to your fling and finish it. Go back to town for all I care because you're not getting in here tonight!" I shouted back.
"Come on, Ally, we aren't even supposed to be in that cabin. We can't get caught in there," he replied.
"Then sleep in your car," I suggested.
"We can talk this over. Give me another chance," he pleaded.
"No! You're selfish, spoiled, and a womanizing ass! Just go away!" Tears slipped down my cheeks. I'd never been hurt like this before, and to face it far from home made it all the worse. I didn't even have my teddy to hug.
Greg pounded on the door and his tone threatened violence. "Alice, let me in!" he demanded.
"No, now go away or I'll call the lodge!" I warned him. Each cabin had a phone with a direct line to the lodge.
I heard Greg growl, but he picked up his bag and stalked off the porch. There was some talking between him and his new girlfriend, and a minute later he started his car that sat on the side of the cabin. He skidded out of the muddy spot and the headlights flashed through the windows. Then the car, and Greg, drove off down the road. He didn't stop at the lodge. I cautiously opened the door and stepped onto the porch to glance down the road. The back lights of the car disappeared over the crest of the hill.
He'd abandoned me. That ass had actually abandoned me because I wouldn't let him in. That broke me. I fell to my knees and sobbed my heart out. In that moment I felt like my life was ruined. I wanted the earth to open and swallow me. I begged for lightning to strike me down and end my suffering.
That is, until my guardian angel showed up, or rather sloshed up. I heard the sounds of footsteps in the mud to my left and looked up expec
ting the woman. Instead my eyes fell on the man from earlier that evening, the one who rescued me from my fall. I hurriedly wiped away the snot and tears, and stood to my shaky feet. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He must have been the occupant of cabin fifteen.
"You don't have to apologize. If you need to cry then cry," he told me.
So I did. I bawled my guts out and almost fell to my knees again, but he caught me. I know this doesn't sound very flattering, but I appreciated the feel of his warm, strong arms around me, and my feminine instincts, the ones that had been right about Greg, told me he was sincere in his caring. I clutched onto him like a woman drowning and he didn't even care when I covered his nice coat in tears.
After a few minutes I pulled away. I turned away from him and wiped the muck from my face. "I-I'm sorry about that," I murmured.
He chuckled. "There you go apologizing again. I'm fine."
I glanced at him. "You're coat isn't fine." Though there was a fine coat of snot on it.
"It'll wash off, but did you want to go inside? It's not exactly warm out here," he pointed out. The air was chilly after the rain and being out of his warm arms didn't help.
"Y-yeah, sure. Won't you come in?" I invited him.
"I'd be delighted," he replied.
Chapter 4
I led him inside and plopped myself down on the bed. He took the other one and sat on the side facing me. I fiddled with my fingers and tried not to admire his perfect face. His physique was hidden beneath his large overcoat and boots. "I must look stupid to you being with that kind of a guy," I commented.
"It wasn't the wisest relationship I've ever seen, but you were smart enough to get out of it," he pointed out.
I sighed and gave a nod. "Yeah, and now I'm stuck here. He drove off with my only way off the mountain," I told him.
"Do you really need to go so soon?" he wondered. I turned to him and raised an eyebrow. He smiled. "What I meant to say was your former boyfriend left too quickly to cancel your reservation, so you still have several more nights left in the cabin," he reminded me.
I shrugged. "But what am I going to do? I was going to go hiking with him, and hiking alone isn't all that fun."
"I could show you the trails. I know them better than anyone else," he offered.
"You? I don't even know your name," I pointed out.
He smiled, stood, and gave a bow. "Michael Spalding, at your service, but you can call me Mike," he greeted me.
I copied his movements, but curtsied. "Alice Gooding," I replied.
Mike took my hand and planted a soft kiss on the back of it. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Gooding. I hope you give me the honor of escorting you along the trails tomorrow," he requested.
I gently removed my hand from his and teasingly scrutinized his beautiful features. "I'm not sure I can trust you to have that honor, Mr. Spalding," I replied.
"Does my face look like the face of a person like your former boyfriend?" he asked me.
"No, it looks better," I told him.
"And does my voice tell you that I mean you no harm?" he wondered.
"It does seem to be telling me that," I agreed.
"Then trust your instincts and let me lead you through a wonderful fantasy land full of interesting trees, flowers, and wildlife," he insisted.
I laughed. "If you insist," I answered.
"Good. What would you say to an afternoon walk with me, say about one o'clock? You could have lunch and we could meet on the trail behind this cabin," he suggested.
"Why so late?" I asked him.
"The trails are less crowded then, and I have something special I want to show you," he replied.
"Something special?" I wondered.
He smiled. "It's a surprise, but I hope you'll like it."
I narrowed my eyes. "I don't mean to sound paranoid, but why would you want to surprise me? We barely know each other," I pointed out.
"Do souls need a certain time to know when they've found someone they feel to be a kindred spirit?" he returned.
"I'm not sure. Maybe I sold my soul to a Girl Scout for a cookie," I teased.
"Be that as it may, I still want to be your guide and company on the trails. Will you give me the honor?" he persisted.
I looked at his sincere, eager face, and my heart and brain told me to do it or else I'd regret it. "All right, one o'clock at the trail behind this cabin," I agreed.
"Excellent. Until then sleep well and try not to worry about the monster who left you here," he suggested.
Mike left and I felt like I was walking on clouds. I started to think Greg had done me a favor by leaving me alone. Here was this handsome young man wanting to take me on a guided tour through the hiking trails, and he also had a surprise waiting for me, to boot. I was like a child on Christmas Eve hardly able to sleep a wink waiting for the next day to come. Come it did a few hours later, but I had managed to fall asleep and I slumbered through the sunrise and half of the breakfast hour.
When I did awaken I noticed the time and sprang from my bed. I hurried on my clothes and rushed out my door into a bright, albeit wet, day. I wasn't one of the last ones out of the cabins, however, and was startled when a family of five clamored out of cabin fifteen. I paused on my porch and watched them walk past with a frown on my face. Apparently my new acquaintance wasn't my neighbor after all. It made me wonder how he'd heard the ruckus last night if even cabin fifteen wasn't awakened by the noise. Maybe I'd get a chance to ask him at breakfast. He said to meet him at the path at one, but that didn't mean we couldn't chat before then.
I entered the lodge and glanced around for him. No sign of him on the lower floor, but everyone was breakfasting on the upper. I hurried toward the stairs, but Mr. Patterson hailed me from behind the large wooden desk. "Miss? Miss, could I speak with you a moment in private?" he requested.
I froze. Things were never good when the management wanted to speak with you. "S-sure," I agreed.
Patterson led me to a small office behind the desk. There was a smaller desk there and chairs on either side of it. I took one of the chairs in the front of it, and Patterson shut the door behind us and took the single chair on the other side of the table. He looked at me with a grave expression. "It has come to my attention that there was some sort of problem last night between one of my employees and the man you came with," he commented.
"How did you-" He held up his hand and I shut my mouth.
"I caught the young lady in question re-entering the lodge, and she told me everything. She also mentioned the man, Mr. Benson, had abandoned you here without any means of getting home. Is that true?" he wondered.
I hung my head. This was so humiliating. "Yes," I replied.
"Did you need any assistance getting home today? I could call a taxi service that comes up here," Patterson offered.
I whipped my head up and shook it furiously. "No!" He raised an eyebrow and I reined in my excitement. "I mean, not yet. Can't I stay here for a few days longer?" I pleaded.
Patterson raised an eyebrow. "You may stay until the rental terms expire, but wouldn't you rather leave?" he asked me.
"Yes, but not yet. This man I met yesterday offered to take me along the trails. A Mr. Mike Spalding," I explained.
Patterson's eyes widened and he leaned over the desk close to me. His voice dropped to a whisper and there was a tremor in the words. "What name did you say?" he questioned.
"Mike Spalding?" I hesitantly repeated.
He pulled away from me, but his face was pale. "Miss, there is no one by that name in any of my cabins," he told me.
"But he said that was his name. I'm sure of it," I protested.
"And I'm sure that is not his name because there is no one registered under that name at this time, and I believe there has only been one gentleman by that name here only once," he insisted.
"Once? When was that?" I asked him.
"Michael Spalding was the name of the gentleman who fled to the lodge to escape the police," he informed m
e.
Now the color drained from my face. "The werewolf murderer?" I guessed.
"The one and the same. Whoever your friend is must be using an alias, though I can't imagine how he found the name. I never mention it in my stories," Patterson mused.
Everything was so confusing, but I had two priorities to deal with right then. "So I can stay for a week?" I asked Patterson.
"You may, but-"
"Thank you very much." I stood and hurried from the room. My other priority was to find Mike and figure out what was going on. I climbed the stairs to the upper floor and looked around. There was no sign of him among the diners, but maybe he'd eaten earlier. I grabbed a bite to eat and went outside to pace the porches in front of the cabins. My stalking earned me some suspicious stares, but I didn't care. I wanted to find out which cabin belonged to Mike.
By noon I'd learned one thing. None of the cabins belonged to Mike. With the hour of our meeting approaching I choked down a hearty lunch and prepared for the hike. I converted my bag into a large hiking bag and stuffed more than just granola bars in there. I grabbed both a heavy rock from the porch that was used as a doorstop and a small metal pipe I'd found rusting away around the other cabins. These I stuffed into the bag, and these I would use against him if things got hairy between us. I had no idea how right I would be.
At five minutes to one I stepped outside and walked around my cabin to the trail. I stopped in my tracks when I beheld a figure hidden in the shadows of the trees at the mouth of the trail. It stepped out to reveal itself as Mike, and he had a smile on his face. I couldn't stay mad at that smile. It held so much sincerity and kindness. I also remembered how he'd held me last night against the darkness of the night and my own grief. My rankled suspicion slipped away, replaced only by questions.
"Good afternoon," he greeted me.
"Good afternoon," I returned as I walked up to him.
"Ready for a hike?" he wondered.
"Sure, Mike, if that's you're real name," I commented.
His smile faltered and he raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't it be?" he asked me.
"I talked with Mr. Patterson and he said there's only been one man by the name of that at the lodge, and that was a long time ago," I told him.