The tiny wood chips lit and Butch made sure
it stayed that way, creating a bonfire large enough to burn the
carcass.
Once it had caught, he and Charlie hoisted
the dead animal onto the top. Charlie stepped back, making sure the
frozen kill burned.
As the dry logs caught, the goat began to
thaw and smoke. Charlie raised his collar to cover his nose and
walked away from it. The smell sickened him.
He spotted Roman watching, his phone still
cupped in his hand, appearing upset.
Charlie headed to the house, kicking off the
snow and removing his gloves, coat, and hat. He headed to the
kitchen and started a pot of coffee.
A few minutes later, Roman entered the
home.
Charlie opened the refrigerator retrieving
eggs and bread. He looked over the fridge door and spotted Roman,
staring into space. "Call the damn sheriff." Charlie brought the
eggs and bread to the counter.
Roman placed his phone down and washed his
hands.
"Roman."
Roman shook his head. "It won't do any good.
We know what's doing it. And it was bad enough trying to convince
the sheriff in Utah to believe us. Even my men didn't until they
saw it for themselves." He dried his hands and took three mugs out
of the cupboard.
"Do we?" Charlie returned to the refrigerator
to get the bacon and butter.
"The cult."
Charlie frowned and placed the items on the
counter, as well as the milk. "I'm not so sure."
Roman poured a mug full of coffee even though
the pot had not finished dripping. "I'd know if I did it."
"Would you?" Charlie set a cast iron skillet
on the stove.
"Yes!" Roman appeared insulted, and drank his
coffee black.
Deep in thought, Charlie heated the skillet
and began laying bacon strips in it. Immediately the scent filled
the room.
"Charlie."
Charlie glanced up at Roman.
"It wasn't me…or you."
Using a fork, Charlie arranged a row of bacon
slices in the pan.
"That cut was made with a
knife…or…sword."
Charlie spun around to meet Roman's eyes.
"What?" Roman asked.
"A sword."
Roman went pale. "You…you've seen him?"
"Him?" Charlie gaped open his mouth. "You
know who that fella is?"
"Are we talking about the same man?"
Charlie tilted his head in confusion as the
bacon sizzled and spattered grease. "I don't know if what I saw was
real or imagined."
"Big man? All in black?"
"When…" Charlie was hit with a drop of hot
grease. He lowered the burner and turned the bacon slices over.
"When did you see him?"
"I can't believe you saw him and didn't tell
me." Roman backed up as the bacon began to spit grease at him. He
wiped his arm and set the coffee mug down.
Charlie continued to tend the meat and tried
to think. "But…he wasn't real."
"If he's not real, how come both of us saw
him?"
"No. I mean. He didn't even wear a coat
outside in the ice cold. And he vanished when I blinked my eyes. He
wasn't human. I mean. Oh, Lord. I don't know what I mean." Charlie
put paper towels on a plate to drain the cooked bacon.
Roman began to set the table for three.
"Don't tell Butch."
"He needs to head to Vernon's…now. I don't
want him around us, or that fella with the sword."
"Let me find out if our crew can work while
we're gone."
Charlie nodded as Roman left the kitchen. He
lifted the bacon out of the skillet, drained some of the fat and
began frying eggs. As they crackled and cooked in the grease,
Charlie dropped four slices of bread into the toaster. He stared
out of the back kitchen window, at the mountain view and white
landscape, seeing a wisp of smoke from the fire float by the
glass.
He curled his lip in revulsion at the image
of the dead goat, and woke out of his thoughts as the eggs began
spattering like the bacon had a moment ago.
~
Butch made sure the goat carcass had
completely burned before he left the fire alone. Brushing off his
gloves, he walked to the driveway and noticed Roman speaking to the
men who worked part-time at their ranch. Butch stopped his approach
and stared at Roman, his large build and chiseled features. The man
was imposing and powerful, even while in human form, and although
he acted as if he were fine with the household arrangement, Butch
wasn't. He was jealous. There was a strong aura of sexuality and
beauty around Roman that he craved; both to emulate and to be
involved with. At first he had been attracted to Charlie, but the
more he hung around Roman, the more the desire burned.
Did he hate Charlie for having this man as
his? Or hate Roman for receiving Charlie's love?
Butch didn't know. He tried not to. He and
Charlie went back a long way. They worked together on Vernon's
ranch before Roman arrived and disrupted the harmony.
"…thanks, guys. I know it's a lot to ask,
working through the holiday…" Roman smiled sweetly, reaching out to
the men around him to shake their hands in gratitude.
Butch wondered how many of those day workers
wanted to fuck Roman. You just couldn't say no to that striking
man.
"There will be a bonus in your salary." Roman
laughed, his dimples showing under his designer stubble, his green
eyes bright as emeralds.
Butch felt his cock stir and touched it
discreetly through his jeans. Roman either felt his stare or was
turning around to head back to the house.
Butch tried to avoid his gaze and looked out
over the horses as they nosed through the snow to get at the
grass.
"Butch."
Butch sighed and met that handsome man's
gaze.
"Charlie's got breakfast done."
He nodded and approached the house, the two
men meeting on the path to the front door.
"You okay?" Roman asked, putting his arm
around Butch's shoulders.
Butch tried not to tense up, to show any
emotion. "I'm fine." He reached for the door and when he opened it
the scent of fried bacon made his stomach grumble.
They removed their coats and footwear at the
door. Butch hung his cowboy hat on the rack and entered the
kitchen, seeing Charlie had already placed their food on the table
and was pouring coffee into mugs. "I was just about to call
you."
Butch washed his hands at the sink. "The
goat's nothin' but ash now, Charlie."
"Good." Charlie set the coffee pot back in
the maker and met his eyes. "Sit before the food gets cold."
Butch dried his hands and took his place at
the table, watching Roman and Charlie exchange an affectionate peck
on the lips.
He focused on his food, picking up a slice of
the maple smoked bacon to eat. "Thanks, looks good, Charlie."
"My pleasure." Charlie sat down beside him
and sipped his coffee.
Butch glanced up. Roman was staring at him
from over his plate, buttering a slice of toast.
"What?" he asked Roman, mid-chew.
"You okay with the fact we're not calling the
sheriff about the goat?" Roman replied.
Charlie gazed at Butch, waiting for his
answer.
"He'd not do anythin' anyhow." Butch broke
the egg yolk and mopped it up with the toast. "Besides, it's gone.
Ain't nothin' left but ash."
"Good." Roman continued to eat.
"So," Charlie said, "The boys okay to work
over the holiday?"
"Yes."
"Ya better pay 'em good." Butch wiped his
mouth with a paper napkin. "They all have families too, ya
know."
"We will." Charlie narrowed his gaze at
Butch. "They can say no, Butch."
"Naw," Butch replied shaking his head, "they
need the money. None of them is gonna say no."
Roman asked, "You want to stay?"
"No. I don't. I wanna see Vernon and Connie.
They're the closest thing I got to family."
Charlie stopped chewing. "Aren't we yer
family?"
Butch didn't answer, met Roman's intelligent
gaze, and then looked down at his food, eating quietly.
"Guess not." Charlie focused on his food as
well, not engaging Butch any longer.
Every time Butch looked up, he caught Roman
staring at him. And the worst part was…it felt as if Roman could
read his mind. Butch finished eating, picking up his mug and
sipping the cooling coffee.
"Go to Vernon's today." Roman's gaze sent the
hair rising on Butch's forearms.
"Why? Why, Roman? Christmas is next weekend.
Why?" Butch set his cup down loudly, not wanting to be 'sent
away'.
Charlie stopped eating and gazed from one man
to the other.
"It's not safe here." Roman set his fork and
knife on the plate, indicating, he too, was finished.
"I'm a big boy. I can take care of
myself."
"Yeah." Roman didn't express any emotion. "I
saw the twelve-gauge by your bed."
Charlie sat up in alarm. "Huh? You got the
shotgun out?"
Butch tried not to fume. "Why were you in my
bedroom?"
"Why not?" Roman rested his elbows on the
table, leaning forward in a challenge.
"You need me. Now more than ever. You know
that." Butch slouched in the chair. "I know you two! I know. I know
what happens when you go frolicking out there in the snow…ya always
turn. Am I right? Charlie? Ya turn back to human and someone's
gotta go get ya. Right?"
Charlie rubbed his face in what appeared to
be resignation.
Butch stood up and began stacking the empty
plates. Charlie reached out his hand to stop him.
Charlie said, "I got it. Go make sure the
boys are doin' their job."
Butch left the plates and walked around the
table. He moved closer to Roman and leaned on the handsome man's
shoulder, pressing his mouth to his ear to whisper. "You know I'm
right. You two got no one ta help ya but me."
Roman didn't reply or move.
Butch closed his eyes and brushed his lips
against Roman's hair, then headed to the front door and his coat
and boots. Once he was ready, he glanced back but neither man had
budged, still sitting at the table.
Butch opened the front door and left, seeing
the driveway had been completely cleared of snow and the day
workers were bringing manure out of the stable with wheelbarrows.
He adjusted his cowboy hat and had no intention of going to
Vernon's on his own. It was a six hour drive to Heber, and he
wanted to be with his two men.
~
"He's right." Charlie stood and took the
empty dishes to the sink.
Roman still felt the sweet caress on his
hair, the scent of Butch lingered. "It's only a week. And with that
strange man with the sword hanging around here, I don't want Butch
involved."
"Only a week?" Charlie laughed sarcastically
as he rinsed and loaded the dishes into the washer. "You know what
can happen in one day? Come on, Roman. He's fine. So what if he has
the shotgun handy. Wouldn't you with two wolves to deal with?"
Roman stood and brought more dishes to
Charlie to load in the washer. "Oh? Really? So it's okay if he
shoots one of us? Are you kidding me?"
"So? What are you goin' to do about it?"
"I took the rounds. Don't tell him his gun is
empty."
Charlie gave Roman a look of frustration and
finished rinsing the dishes as Roman scrubbed the pan in the
sink.
"Charlie, you can't kill a ghost with a
shotgun."
"A ghost? You don't know what it is…Will you
call Nick? We need to figure out where the hell that cult has
gone." Charlie dried his hands and finished clearing the table.
"I will. He'll ask why. You know that." Roman
set the pan into the drying rack and wiped his hands on a
towel.
"Ya have to know.
We
have to know."
Charlie cleaned the table and counters, then said, "Let me go out
there and make sure them chores are done."
"Get rid of the ashes from that goat."
Roman got a nod in reply and Charlie headed
to the living room. Once Charlie had left the house, Roman picked
up his cell phone and scrolled through the numbers. He stared out
of the back window, at the view and the horses grazing, and put the
phone to his ear.
"Hey, Roman. What's up?"
"Nick…I need your help." Roman pushed the
curtain back on the window and watched Charlie and Butch using
shovels to disperse the smoldering ashes, mixing it with snow and
dirt.
"Shoot."
"Does the department still have a file on
that cult we dealt with in two years ago in Heber?"
"Probably. Why?"
Inhaling a deep breath, Roman said, "Uh…I was
thinking of writing a novel about it." Silence was his answer.
"Nick?"
"Are you shitting me?"
"Um…"
Yes?
"I am considering it.
Research. Not fiction."
"Sure, Burk. Ya wanna tell me what's really
going on now?"
"No." Roman rubbed his face tiredly.
"Fine. I'll see if I can dig it up and email
it to you."
"Thanks. Like soon?"
"Man! It's Saturday!"
"I know. But you're always in the fucking
office."
"I'm not now. Why can't you get it?"
"Fine. Is it still in the current files? Or
archived?" Roman turned away from the window when Charlie left his
field of vision.
"Since it's a cold case it's archived. But we
don't purge those files for decades. That was only two years
ago…Roman? Are you and Charlie dealing with it again?"
Fuck
…
"Roman? Tell me."
"Uh…I'm not sure. Just weird dreams."
"You're a shitty liar."
"Nick, I can't tell you anything. You'll get
me pulled from my shift."
"Damn straight! I don't need a fucking wolf
or crow in the office."
Roman dropped down to sit on a chair at the
table. He ran his hand over his hair and said, "Yes. All right?
Yes."
"Jesus, Roman! I can't believe it. Has it
been happening this whole time?"
"No. Last night. On the drive home…I just
made it to my place and…"