"Ya know that ain't it. I just need the
presents wrapped."
Butch looked back at Roman, caught his gaze,
read nothing in it, and left the room.
~
Charlie watched him go. "He's got a crush on
you now more than ever, Roman."
"I know." Roman tapped keys. "Look. Here's
the old file." Roman pointed to it on the screen.
"Any addresses?"
"A few." Roman brought up a new screen and
cut and pasted the names and phone numbers into it.
The sound of Roman's mobile phone chimed from
the kitchen.
Butch yelled, "Ya want me to get that?"
"I'll get it," Charlie told Roman and then
kissed Roman's cheek and walked down the hall. He met Butch who was
holding a pair of scissors in his hand. "I got it." Charlie picked
up the phone and could see it was Phil Dean calling. "Phil?" he
answered, putting the phone to his ear.
"Roman?"
"No. It's Charlie. Hang on." Charlie walked
down the hall, looking back to see Butch locating tape and bringing
it to the living room.
He handed Roman the phone. "It's Phil
Dean."
Roman made a sour face and took it. "What?
Let me guess. Nick asked you to babysit."
Charlie left Roman alone and sat with Butch
on the floor of the living room. He picked up a small box and
placed it on the floor in front of him. Charlie reached for the
green and red wrapping paper and Butch handed it to him. "Roman is
my man. You know that."
Butch spun around to stare at him.
"I mean it." Charlie cut a piece of the
paper.
"I know. I didn't do nothin'. But you boys
let me watch once in a while."
"We did. Not no more."
"'Cause of the wolf thing?"
"That an' I don't think it's right. You need
yer own fella."
"I'm not tryin' to take Roman from ya.
Honest, Charlie."
"But yer keen on him. I see the way you
stare." Charlie folded the edges of the paper, taping it.
"I stare at ya both."
"I ain't stupid, Butch."
Butch blew out a loud exhale. "I can't help
it. He's…he's…"
"I know." Charlie dug through a plastic bag
of bows. "But right now, with the pressure of this wolf thing
coming back, and bein' let off work, he don't need you sniffin' at
his hindquarters."
"So. I can't even watch no more? Can't jerk
off with ya?" Butch tossed a wrapped box aside and picked up
another one.
"I hate to say no, since I think its harmless
fun, but…no."
"She-it, Charlie. I got no sex life.
None."
"Go out an' find a man."
"Are you kiddin' me? In Washoe County? I'll
be strung up. I'd have to go to Reno. I can't date men here. Or in
Heber."
"Have ya tried online stuff? I think there
are gay fellas everywhere. Ya just have to find them."
"Oh no. Not them sites. No way. Some of them
lure gay boys and then kill 'em. No, thank you, kindly." Butch cut
a piece of the wrapping paper to fit the large flat box which held
a scarf for Connie.
"Look, I do appreciate yer attraction to
Roman. He's, well, special. In every way. I know that best. Believe
me."
"I told ya. I'm not askin' to take him."
Butch reached for the tape and Charlie handed it to him.
"Yer askin' to share him. And the answer is
still no."
"I like lookin' at him, Charlie. Ain't no
harm lookin'."
"No. Ain't no harm." Charlie heard Roman's
voice raise in anger. "Damnit! Here we go." Charlie hopped to his
feet and raced down the hall.
"…Phil!" Roman shouted into the phone, "Just
help me track down these fuckers! I swear I do not want you
shadowing me!"
Charlie saw Roman grab his stomach in pain.
He snatched the phone out of Roman's hand and said to Phil, "Hey,
it's Charlie again. Look, can you not piss him off?" Charlie rubbed
Roman's shoulder, trying to soothe him.
Sitting on the chair, Roman wrapped his arms
around Charlie's hips and pressed his face into Charlie's
stomach.
Phil said, "Charlie, you know I have to keep
an eye on him."
"No. Ya don't. I'm here. Butch is here. Ya
don't."
"Are you kidding me? You change too. Roman
just told me that. So, Butch is supposed to watch both of you?"
"Yeah. He can. He does. Phil, all yer doin'
is gettin' Roman to a point of fury. I have to intervene."
"Well, Charlie, I have my orders, and I'm
afraid they take precedence. I'll see you when you arrive in
Heber."
The line disconnected and Charlie looked at
the phone and shut it completely off, setting it on the desk. "You
okay?" He caressed Roman's hair, hugging him.
Roman moaned softly and pressed his face into
Charlie's body.
"Okay, baby. Okay." Charlie held Roman tight.
"You jus' keep workin' on findin' that cult. Okay? We'll figure it
out. Don't you fret."
"Why…" Roman moaned. "Why is this happening
again?"
"I wish I knew." Charlie glanced over his
shoulder and found Butch at the doorway of the den. Butch's
expression of sympathy went right to Charlie's heart. He gave Butch
a soft smile.
Butch reached out and touched Charlie. "I got
yer back, Charlie."
Roman raised his head, his eyes watery from
the battle inside him.
"And yers." Butch smiled at Roman.
"You want
me
to be on
your
back," Roman said.
Charlie couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, don't
you worry, Roman. No one is top dog around here no more but
you."
Butch cracked a smile and blushed.
Roman looked at Charlie, and they smiled at
each other.
Once Roman finished working on the computer,
Charlie headed outdoors to feed the chickens and make sure there
was water for the horses to drink.
Several cars were parked in their drive and
Charlie spotted Butch on his painted horse, sitting high in his
western saddle. When Butch saw Charlie, he walked Scout over to him
to talk to him. Scout snorted in reluctance but Butch forced the
spotted horse to move close enough to talk to Charlie. "We gotta
few walk-ins, wantin' a ride on the trails in the snow."
"Okay." Charlie nodded, seeing Scout shift
and show the whites of his eyes as if Charlie was about to pounce.
"Did they say how they found us?"
"Couple of gals who board their horse here
mentioned we don't mind takin' a few people out for an hour or so
on the trails."
"You good?" Charlie asked, walking closer to
Scout. Scout lurched sideways, avoiding Charlie.
Butch gained control of his horse and shook
his head. "I'm good. Yer not." Butch looked over his shoulder at
three young women who were sitting on small, passive horses that
the ranch rented out for public rides. "Get lost before you cause
them horses to bolt."
Charlie backed up slightly, and waved in
greeting to the women who were bundled up in heavy coats and winter
hats, appearing excited to ride in the snow.
Butch said, "See ya in an hour. Ya think you
two can stay out of trouble that long?"
"I hope so." Charlie was unnerved the horses
were reacting badly to him. Previously the small herd had let him
do anything, including helping one mare give birth to a foal.
The day workers had left and Charlie walked
to the paddock where the rest of the horses remained. He adjusted
the brim of his cowboy hat and used a shovel handle to break the
ice on the surface of the trough of water. Once he had, he set the
shovel down and called to his gelding. "Git over here, boy."
The brown horse snorted and his ears lay flat
then perked up.
"Come on. Don't do this to me." Charlie loved
his horse and tried not to take offense, but it was hard.
He removed an apple out of his pocket and
held it out. "Got somethin' for ya."
Spirit appeared interested.
"I ain't a wolf. Come 'ere." Charlie entered
the wooden fenced enclosure and most of the other horses scattered
to the far end. "Come on, big fella. Show 'em it's jus' me. Jus'
yer ole Charlie."
He reached the apple out to Spirit, wondering
if the horse was confused. Charlie's shape was right but perhaps
his scent was not. The big gelding stood his ground as Charlie
moved closer. The rest of the horses made noises of worry and their
body language told Charlie he was not trusted. "Come 'ere,
darlin'."
Spirit stretched his neck and flapped his
lips at the treat. Charlie didn't let him have it until he held
onto Spirit's halter strap. The horse jerked to rear up but in the
end, wanted the apple. Charlie fed it to him as he bit it in half.
He leaned against Spirit and sighed. "It's me. Ya know no matter
what I smell like, it's jus' me."
Spirit finished the apple, letting Charlie
pet him and run his hand down his long neck.
"Charlie?"
Spirit panicked and reared up on his hind
legs, nearly trampling the other horses to get away.
Charlie noticed Roman's surprise. "Did I do
that?"
"Yeah." Charlie approached him, climbing out
of the paddock. "Scent. We stink like predators."
Roman sniffed his hands. "Should I put on
cologne?"
Charlie tried not to roll his eyes. That
trick hadn't worked two years ago, it wouldn't now. "What? What did
ya want?"
"I have addresses in Salt Lake City for a few
of the people we listed on the report. So, they aren't all
gone."
"Okay." Charlie walked to the barn to feed
the chickens.
"Phil is going to meet me out there. You
know, when we go. So, I want to go."
"Go?" Charlie turned on an inside light and
picked up a bag of feed. The chickens took interest but kept their
distance.
"Yes. Go to Vernon's place."
"When?" Charlie threw a handful of the feed
on the ground and the chickens went for it, pecking at it and
flapping their wings.
"When? Now. Tomorrow. As soon as
possible."
Charlie met Roman's gaze. "We can't just pick
up and go. When did you ask the day workers to start covering for
us?"
"Thursday."
"Then we got four days to stay 'round here. I
can't ask them to be here fer almost a week."
"So?" Roman folded his arms over his leather
jacket. "I have to deal with this? No big deal?"
"I'm not sayin' that." Charlie put the feed
bag down and brushed off his hands.
"Yes. You are. You're basically telling me to
put up with this shit again even when we know the answer to our
problem is in Utah."
"You go." Charlie headed to the coup to check
for eggs.
"Go? Alone? Drive to Utah and turn into a
wolf on the way? Really? You're good with that?"
"If you would just learn how to control that
temper of yers." Charlie filled a small basket with fresh brown
eggs.
"Fine. Me and Butch will go."
Charlie spun around, meeting Roman's gaze.
"No."
"Why not?" Roman tapped his shoe
impatiently.
"'Cuz I said so."
"Charlie!" Roman threw up his hands. "I can't
go to work with this wolf-shit back. Either let me and Butch go or
come with us."
Charlie glared at him. "You think it's so
damn easy. Jus' pack up an' go. No worries about the horses, the
damn goats and chickens. Huh? The guy who drives to Reno every day
for his 'secret agent' job can't figure out why this is full time,
twenty-four-seven?"
"I'm sick and need to get this curse removed
again!" Roman showed his teeth. The chickens scattered and clucked,
running in every direction. "And I can't work! You get that? I
can't go back until I get rid of this thing
… again
!"
"You want Butch? Huh?" Charlie put the basket
down and poked Roman's chest. "You want him alone? Is that what
this is all about?"
"No! But he can handle it and drive me if I
turn into something!"
Charlie began to feel sick and knew why. He
inhaled loudly to calm down. "Fuck."
"You're the one picking a fight!" Roman
yelled at him. "You tell me not to get upset and then when I know
where these people are, and need to get to them, you say, no!"
Charlie hit the cement ground with his knees.
At first he felt dizzy, then intense pain.
"Fuck! No, Charlie! No!"
Charlie closed his eyes, his hands on the
dirty floor, his stomach aching and tightening. Ringing came to his
ears.
He shook off his clothing and licked his
canines. A big black wolf was standing near him, grimacing and
showing its teeth. The chickens squawked and a flurry of feathers
erupted like a cloud around them.
Charlie nipped at Roman. "
Now look what
you done!"
"
Me? I'm not the one who wouldn't help
when I wanted to fix this!"
"If ya wanna fuck Butch jus' say so!"
Charlie bit the hair on Roman's neck, trying to bite him through
his thick winter coat.
"
Fuck Butch?"
Roman attacked Charlie
and pinned him to the concrete floor. "
What the fuck are you
talking about? I want to rid us of this fucking curse!"
Charlie pushed his paws into Roman's face.
"
Bullshit! I see the way you look at each other!
"
Roman snapped at Charlie's muzzle. "
How do
I deal with you right now? Huh? How?
"
Charlie heard a very low threatening snarl.
He strained to look at the open barn door. The largest white wolf
he had ever seen was standing there, baring its fangs.
Roman backed up and Charlie scrambled to his
four feet.
The enormous timber wolf stepped closer.
Roman snarled but to Charlie it was like a
cat meowing at a lion.
Charlie shivered and his tail went between
his legs as Roman kept showing his teeth and making threatening
noises. Knowing Roman was crazy enough to engage this enormous
animal in a fight, Charlie curled into a ball and put his paw over
his nose, forcing himself to stop being upset, to calm down.
Now!