Healing Their Mate (The Love of a Shifter) (2 page)

Six months later…

River stretched as she watched her fourth customer of the day pay their bill without leaving a tip.  Mary walked over and sat down beside her.  “It’s not looking good today, hun.”  River sighed.  She had to agree it was looking like she would have to stay in town another week in order to save enough money to move on. 

“
Nope, Mary, it’s not looking good at all.  Damn man and woman made me get them this and then that.  Then they don’t even leave a dime for a tip.  What do they think, we work for free?  Hell, I would take anything at this point.”  River sighed, thinking about what to do now.  “I don’t know what I’m going to do.  I’ve got to move before he…”  Horrified, River stopped herself from saying anything else.  She wouldn’t put Mary at risk.  She knew they were looking for her.  She could feel it.  Something else that had changed since she met Paddock and that was gut feelings.  She would always get the feeling something bad was going to happen and it usually did.  One of Paddock’s goons would show up asking if she worked there.  She had to move and move often.  She needed to stay one step ahead of them if she was going to survive.  People had already died because of her.  River shuddered as she thought about the past.  Mary looked up when River stopped talking.

“
Listen, I have some money saved up so if you need it then it is yours,” Mary offered.

“
Oh, Mary, you are such a sweet, sweet lady.  That is your nest egg.  Remember you have to go to Hawaii and live with your sister.  You need to live it up and party like there isn’t a tomorrow.”  River smiled as she teased Mary about being a secret party animal.  “Plus, I’m being serious now.  I know how long you have been saving for that move.  I appreciate it, but no, ma’am, I can’t take your money.”  River leaned her head on Mary’s shoulder as they sat in silence looking out the window. 

Mary Swift was the mother she never had.  She never knew who her parents were.  She had been in and out of orphanages all of her life.  Never even had a friend until Mary.  She knew the first time she met Mary that she had cancer.  This so-called gift she had allowed her to see things and know stuff that nobody else could see.  She could see the cancer nestled in her stomach.  Two weeks later Mary went to the doctor and they informed her that she had cancer.  Mary refused any treatments, said she wanted to spend the rest of her days on the beach at her family home, enjoying life without sticking her head in a toilet throwing her guts up from the chemo treatments. 

Forty years ago, Mary lived in Hawaii and met a solider who she fell in love with.  They were married and then moved back to his hometown.  They never had any children but Mary said River was her adopted child.  Mary’s husband passed away a few years ago and she wanted to go back home to die.  Her sister still lived at the old home place she was raised in and planned to move in with her.  Mary kept adding to her nest egg so she could afford to stop working.  She didn't want to owe anyone when she passed away.  River hated the thoughts of Mary dying.  The woman was filled with so much life and happiness and she was an all around great person.  Everyone in town loved her.  River felt privileged to be her friend. 

Mary patted River
’s arm, rubbing up and down trying to soothe her.  It broke her heart thinking of Mary leaving. 

The bell over the door jingled when River smelled his scent as he walked in the door looking around.  The man was a
vampire. 
Don’t panic, River.  Don’t panic.
River told herself over and over.  River’s body tensed and then trembled as the man came in and looked around then sat down at one of the booths.  The change in River was obvious to Mary so she patted River’s arm then got up and went to the man’s table. 

Pouring on her charm, Mary turned and spoke in her grandmother voice,
“Hello, sweetie, can I get you something to drink?”  Mary placed herself so the man couldn’t see River. 

The man ti
lted his nose in the air.  River could see the flair of his nostrils as he took in the scents of the diner.  River had gotten up and walked over to the window where the food was cooking so he couldn’t smell her.  She had learned long ago how to mask her scent.  That was another thing Jacky Boy wrote about in his letter.  Vampires had incredible sense of smell.  The man never looked over at her.  He turned his attention back to the menu, ordering from Mary.  Watching for any movement, the man got his phone out as Mary walked over to where River was standing. 

“
Mary, I have to leave now.  I can’t explain it, but I know he will find me if I continue to stay here.”  Mary was about to protest when River grabbed both of her hands.  Whispering, River pleaded, “Please, Mary. Listen I will write you a letter using your sister’s name just like we talked about.  Remember how I explained the codes.”  Mary nodded her head.  Silently, Mary listened as River told her the plan.

“
Okay, just act like I’m going to get some sugar in the back to refill the jugs.  Please get my check and cash it for me.  Remember the codes, Mary, and I will send you the address where you can send the money.  I love you, Mary.  Always know that.  We will see each other again.  I promise you.  Thank you for caring for me, Mary.  You have been like a mother to me.”  Mary nodded and started to tear up.  River shook her head, “No don’t cry, Mary.”  She reached down and caressed Mary’s face before winking at her.  Then she reached down, grabbed her hand, and kissed it mouthing, ‘thank you’. 

Mary reached in her pocket, taking out her tips for the day, and placed them in River
’s hand.  Mary spoke so the man could hear her.  “Dotty, can you go and pick up some sugar in the back room please?” 

River smiled then turned around, placing the money in her pocket.  Once she got to the back
, she grabbed her pocketbook and jacket then ran out the back door.  The cook, Pete, looked at River as she got her stuff together.  He smiled at River then waved bye.  She knew Pete looked after Mary and he must have heard her conversation with Mary.  With all her heart, River prayed that Mary would be okay. 

She didn
’t have time to waste or they would find her.  The man in the diner had to be a scout.  Her hair was colored and it was much longer than before.  She prayed that all of the changes would fool him long enough for her to leave.

River looked over at the truck the man drove up in and decided she needed a little insurance policy to go along with this escape.  Remembering when she was a kid in the orphanage, River watched as the girl placed the nails in front and back of the tires.  That was one of the fondest moments of her life when the Director left out the driveway and all four of her tires blew out.  River opened her trunk, pulled out the toolbox, and took out a handful of nails.

Looking around to make sure nobody was looking, she got down on the ground and crawled toward the truck tires.  She placed the nails just like she remembered the girl showing her.  Placing nails in the front and back of the tires just in case he backed out instead of going forward, River crawled back to the safety of her car then prayed her piece of shit car made it down the road.  She rubbed the top of the dash and spoke to the car.  “Please, Betsy, get me far away from here.  Come on, girl, don’t let me down now.”  As she held her breath and turned the key, the car started without making any sound.  River blew out the breath she had been holding and praised the car.  “Thank you, old girl.”  Without turning on the headlights in the car, she pulled to the edge of the building, watching the man as Mary walked toward him with his drink.

  River waited for the best opportunity to leave when Mary carried the man
’s drink toward him.  She saw Mary look over at her then she smiled as she dropped the tray just as River drove past the window without her lights on.  The man never saw her leave because he had reached down to help Mary.  She didn’t know if she should jump up and down or scream at the top of her lungs.  River had pulled it off, but she had to leave Mary behind and that wasn’t worth celebrating over.  Mary was her only family and best friend, and she just left her there.  She had thought about asking Mary to go with her, but Mary was sick and needed to go home, and it was too dangerous for her if Paddock or his goons found them.  River silently cried as she watched the city streetlights pass by as she drove out of town.

River drove for two hours straight, constantly looking behind her as she drove toward Colorado.  She didn
’t know a lot about them, but she hoped vampires hated cold weather. 

River drove further into Colorado wondering what she was going to do now.  She had thought about going to one of the ski lodges seeking some type of work.  She could waitress, cook, or clean.  River knew she would do just about anything for a roof over her head and food to eat.  The money she had when she ran was just about out.  She had used most of it for gas and the motel she rented for the night three days ago.  She had been sleeping in her car since she left the motel.  She didn’t want to take the chance of someone following her home to Mary’s so she left the restaurant with the money she had in her purse and what Mary had given her before she left.  The rest of her money was locked inside Mary’s house.  

She was starving too.  Her stomach felt like it was eating her insides out.  River went days without eating
, saving the money for gas.  She had learned to drink a lot of water in order to make her stomach believe it was full.  She learned early on in life that being hungry kept you going.  She was a fighter and knew how to do without.  With very little clothing and keepsakes, River disciplined herself to pack light, because material things only slowed you down.  She kept traveling from town to town knowing she was going to have to leave again.  A friend was something she couldn’t afford. 

Her entire life had been a hard road for River.  Living in an orphanage in New York City at the age of four taught you to do without and keep your head down.  However, she didn
’t always manage to stay out of trouble.  She ran away numerous times because of the beatings and how they treated her and the others.  They used a belt at the orphanage to discipline the kids.  At least that was what they called it—“discipline”.  River called it abuse, and how nobody reported those people she never understood why.  River tried to repress most of those terrible times she got the beatings, but the nightmares would always bring them back.  She lived there for two years then she was shipped off to another orphanage in New Mexico where she lived until she was sixteen years old.  Finally, she ran away living off the streets, working odd jobs just to stay alive.  Her special gifts kept her out of trouble for the majority of her younger years, until she turned twenty-five years old. 

That
’s when she met him.

Paddock Reed was the best-looking man she had ever seen.  He had those bad boy looks River craved in a man.  He came in the restaurant she worked at every night asking for her to be his waitress.  He tipped big and flirted with her all the time.  That should have said something to her.  She knew nothing was free in life.  Everyone wanted something from you.  He seemed to be a rich man and he was acting
as if she was the best thing since sliced bread.  Clue number one.  She thought she was in love with Paddock until the night he revealed his true self to her. 

River shivered as she remembered that terrible night she had agreed to meet Paddock at his house.  He lived in a huge mansion across town.  The mansion had twenty acres of trees hiding it from the public eye.  Clue number two.  River found out soon enough why he lived so far out away from other people. 

She was excited because Paddock had told her he wanted to talk to her about something important that would change her life forever.  River knew she was stupid and immature.  But those stupid fairytale dreams girls had pulled her into his web of terror.  Clue number three.  Who would want to marry her? 

She lived too much in those romance books she read.  Little did she know her life was going to change again and romance had nothing to do with it. 

When River pulled up in Paddock’s driveway, she looked out the passenger side window with her mouth open.  The house looked haunted to her.  The eye-like windows appeared to be looking at her.  Grim images flooded her mind as she looked up at the house.  Death was what she had seen and felt as she walked up the porch and knocked on the door.  Clue number four.  Instincts were what she should have used, but River was too young and dreamy-eyed to take heed to her own gut feelings.

Paddock met her at the door with a gluten smile as he welcomed her into the living room area.  Looking around, she could tell the house was gloomy and out of date.  The lights were dimmed and the room looked out of the sixteen hundreds.  She remembered the way her skin crawled as he touched her.  Never had she felt such death in a room before.  Her mind and body were telling her to get out of the house, but her stupidity and romantic fantasy she created wouldn
’t allow her to leave.

“
I guess you’re wondering why I called you here tonight?”  River nodded, as she smiled up at Paddock who came to sit beside her.

“
You see, River, I can smell you and it calls to me.  You will stay here with me.”

River remembered how naive she was.  She actually thought he was talking about how he loved her not that he wanted to suck her blood and make her his play toy that he could drain every night.  The demanding voice he used should have made her get up and run out the door, but NO, she had to lose every bit of sense God gave her.  Clue number five.

She muttered, “You want me to move in here with you?” 

“
Yes, I do.”  It was then that Paddock’s men came into the room.  Looking back, the men appeared to flow into the room.  A man by the name of Rick Johnson and behind him were three more men who were carrying a man.  She remembered Paddock telling her that Rick was his right hand man.  He always gave her the creeps when he joined Paddock for dinner.  The way his eyes roamed over her body was an insult, but Paddock only laughed, like he was joking with her.  River could tell Paddock didn’t like being interrupted as he glared at the other man who appeared to be unconscious. 

“
Take him down to the basement,” Paddock ordered as Rick looked over at River and flicked his fangs down before he left the room.  River inhaled sharply not knowing if what she saw was really fangs.  Before she could ask, Paddock grabbed her by the arms and pulled her over to a couch.

“
Sit, River, I have some business to take care of.  I will explain to you what I expect in a little while.  Don’t leave or go anywhere but here.  Do you understand me?” Paddock ordered.  River nodded then rubbed her wrists where Paddock manhandled her over to the couch.  Paddock left, following the men in the basement.  One of the men stayed in the room with her as she waited.  The man stared at her the whole time.

Looking down at her wrists, they had turned red from the death grip he had used on her.  River couldn
’t believe she didn’t see what was so obviously in front of her.  She hated how she fell for a beautiful face.  She grew up knowing better than to trust someone like him.  When it’s too good to be true then it usually was.  All the clues she had been given was thrown out the window.

Left in the room, River began to look around trying to bide her time until Paddock returned.  She couldn
’t shake the uneasiness she was feeling as she walked around the room.  As she looked closer at the artwork on the walls she noticed that every picture was violent in nature.  One of the pictures appeared to be from a vampire movie.  One man who looked a lot like Paddock was being held down as a man drank his blood.  He was nude and appeared to be near death.  River went to each picture and they all had similar captions.  She shivered at the violent acts portrayed in the pictures.  Women and babies were being held down as the men in the pictures drank their blood.  Horrific scenes of abuse on every wall were all River could see.  Again her gut was telling her to flee the house before she ended up like the people in the pictures.  Again she continued to stay in the house to wait for Paddock to return. 

A few minutes later she heard the living room door creak open, her friend, Jacky, opened the door.  Everyone called him Jacky Boy since he looked like a young boy.  He didn
’t say anything to River but walked by her with a crow bar in his hand.  He walked over toward the basement.  River couldn’t see if he went down in the basement or not.  The other man watched Jacky Boy walk back into the room and the fight occurred.  Everything that happened changed her life forever.  She was on the run from vampires and life as she knew it was gone.  After Jacky Boy had gotten her out of Paddock’s house, she left and drove until she couldn’t drive anymore.  She rented a hotel room then settled in for the night reading the letter Jacky Boy had left for her.  He explained everything a vampire could do, including how strong they were and how fast they could run.  She got a taste of how fast they were when Jacky Boy got out of her car and ran to the third floor of her apartment waving back at her.  It happened within a couple of seconds.  This was too fast for any human to accomplish.  Watching as the blur of Jacky Boy ran up the stairs, River felt her heart accelerate. 

Unfortunately, she found out later that she didn
’t drive far enough when a man came in the diner she was working at asking if a girl by the name of River Channing worked there.  River was in the back picking up her check when she heard the man.  The girl that worked there was suspicious and told him no.  It finally dawned on her that he was probably tracking her through her cell phone.  Jacky Boy had told her in the letter to get rid of her cell phone frequently so he couldn’t track her through it.  River threw her phone in the dumpster then drove further out of state. 

River continued the practice of a to-go bag.  She never stayed any place long.  She changed her name and looks frequently so he couldn
’t run checks on her social security number or show pictures of her.  Most of the places she worked at paid in cash, so that wasn’t a problem for her. 

River noticed that since the incident with Paddock she started seeing things.  River had stopped at a grocery store to get some bread and when she went down the bread aisle, she noticed a man pushing a buggy.  River didn
’t know if she was seeing things but when she looked closer at the guy, she could see a wolf sitting inside the man.  As she walked by the man the wolf watched her.  This freaked River out so much she left the store without getting her items.  River figured it was from all the stress she was under, but time and time again she could see wolves sitting inside of certain people.  Soon it became normal for River and she decided that it had something to do with the incident with Paddock.  Maybe it was her body’s way of handling the fact there were actually vampires out in the world and most likely other magical beings. 

River also had another theory and that she was just crazy from everything that had happened in her life.  Her mind was playing tricks on her.  She knew she wasn
’t normal but then again when was her life normal.  She didn’t know what normal was.  She grew up in orphanages and never had friends or family so normal wasn’t in her past or future.  The life of hard knocks was what she had to look forward to.  All River knew what to do was survive. 

She didn
’t stay anywhere long enough until she met Mary her first day at the diner and they instantly clicked.  When Mary found out that she needed a place to live, Mary offered her a room she could rent out of her house.  Living with Mary was the only normal life River ever experienced.  She got to cook and sit down at a table like she had seen families do on TV with Mary.  She stayed with Mary the longest and she prayed that it wasn’t too long.  If Mary got hurt because of her, she didn’t know what she would do.  All she needed to do was get lost again in a new town with a new name.  

Tears fell from River
’s eyes as she thought about all that had happened in her life.  River drove for hours but had to stop for fuel.  She wiped her eyes then saw the sign for the State Line Truck Stop.  Pulling into the parking lot, River got out and filled up her gas tank when she saw the advertisement for the Meadowland Lodge.  She figured she could get lost in a town where tourists came and went through the town every day.  Maybe she could contact Mary and get her to send her the money she had saved.  She drove further into Colorado until she arrived in Freedom, Colorado.  The town was beautiful with all the mom and pop stores that lined the streets.  People sat outside in the rocking chairs, sipping hot chocolate, laughing as they went from store to store.  This was just too good to be true.  This town could be on a postcard at Christmas time. 

Needing to stop for a while, River was so tired that she thought she was seeing double as the fatigue set in.  She needed to get some sleep or she wouldn
’t be worth two cents if trouble did find her.  Knowing she didn’t have any money left after spending the last of it to fill the gas tank, River decided to stop somewhere and sleep in her car.  She saw the local Walmart and pulled in the parking lot, trying to stay as far away from the front doors as possible.  She had done this several times, pulling over long enough to get some sleep until she could drive a few more hours. 

When she thought nobody had seen her she crawled into her back seat and covered up with an old blanket.  It didn
’t take long for sleep to find River as she drifted off. 

*****

Sheriff Larsen Wilder pulled up at the Walmart looking for the old Honda Accord that was sitting at the back end of the parking lot.  Someone called it in as a suspicious vehicle.  Just like the caller reported, Larsen spotted the black Honda Accord. He called the tag in and cautiously approached the vehicle.  Larsen didn’t see anyone in the vehicle until he saw the movement in the back seat.  Someone was asleep in the back seat covered up.  He knocked on the window when a woman jerked up looking around.  Larsen could see she was surprised by how wide her eyes were.  He could see the fatigue as her eyes drooped when she stared at him. “Ma’am, can you step out of the car please?”