Chapter Three

 

 

 

For once, Jerrica woke up earlier than she had to. It was barely still dark as she slipped out of bed, then washed her face and cleaned her teeth before getting dressed. Her mom’s head appeared at the top of the loft’s ladder as Jerrica pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

“Oh, you’re awake already,” her mom said.

“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep anymore.”

“Was it because of what happened in the field yesterday?”

It was, but not because of what her mother thought. The zombie attack wasn’t behind her wakefulness. Calan was. Over and over again, Jerrica had replayed his coming to her rescue and getting her away from the undead by allowing her to ride on his back while in his wolf form. Then there was when he’d brought the buck to her home…

Jerrica shook her head. “No, it wasn’t because of that. And I’m fine with returning to the fields to work today.”

Her mom smiled. “Maybe it’s because a certain someone will be there too.”

She felt her cheeks warm. “Mom.” She hadn’t thought she’d given anything away to make her mother realize Jerrica couldn’t stop thinking about Calan.

“It’s all right,” her mom said with a chuckle. “That happens when the boy you like shows you some attention. Your dad told me how Austin spoke to you yesterday.”

“Oh.”

Jerrica wasn’t going to correct her mom. She’d forgotten she’d told her dad about Austin noticing her. Of course, they wouldn’t think Calan was a boy she might like. He was the Werewolf Defender and, therefore, too special to be thought of as a person like everyone else.

“Well, come downstairs. I have your breakfast ready.” Her mom climbed down the ladder.

She followed her then sat at the table to eat. Once Jerrica had finished, she collected her bow and quiver of arrows before she headed to the gates as she did every morning. The sun had risen high enough by that time to chase away the darkness. She walked down the road, wondering what it’d be like having Calan around.

She’d just passed Austin’s family’s cabin when she heard someone call, “Hey, Jerrica. Wait up.”

Jerrica stopped and turned to find Austin running to catch up to her. “Hi, Austin,” she said, once he reached her.

“You don’t mind if I walk with you to the gates, do you?”

“No.” She turned back around and continued walking.

Austin fell into step beside her. “Good. So are you ready for another hard day in the fields?”

“Yeah, but I hope it isn’t quite as exciting as yesterday. That was too close a call for me with the zombies.”

“With the Werewolf Defender standing guard, I doubt that will be a problem. My dad said Calan went beyond the gates last night, found another fifteen zombies in the woods and ended them.”

“He did? Then I guess we don’t have anything to worry about. Makes me wonder why so many zombies are hanging around all of a sudden. I’ve never heard numbers like that being so near before.”

“I know. Lots of people are talking about it.”

As they walked in silence, Jerrica snuck glances at Austin. She still found him good-looking, but she didn’t know how she felt about him anymore. An image of a boy with black hair and ice-blue eyes made her heart beat a little faster. Austin’s hair was brown, and his eyes were as well.

They were just entering the center of the settlement closest to the gates when Austin said, “The Werewolf Defender is already here.”

Jerrica looked where Austin was and saw he was right. Calan, already in wolf form, stood by the gates. He was off to one side, but stepped out more into the open as she came closer. His gaze landed on her and seemed to stay.

Mathias clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “All right, same tasks as yesterday. We’ll leave shortly.” He looked at Jerrica and motioned her to him. “Jerrica, come here for a minute.” Once she stood in front of him, he said, “I’m taking you off work detail today.”

“Why? Is it because of what happened yesterday? I’m fine. I can work.”

He smiled. “I figured you’d be okay. I’ve never taken you for a weak girl, mentally or physically. That’s not why I’m doing it. Watching you shoot those zombies, I’ve come to realize you’ve gotten even better with that bow of yours. And you didn’t lose your cool. I think you’d be better off standing guard with the Werewolf Defender. Another set of eyes and ears will help. The both of you can rotate together between the fields and orchard. I’ll feel better knowing that if a zombie manages to slip past the Werewolf Defender, you’ll be there to take it out.”

Jerrica glanced at Calan to see him watching her before she turned her attention back on to Mathias. “Did you ask if he was okay with it?”

“Yes, though it felt a bit strange talking to a gigantic wolf. He nodded his approval.”

“And what about the others? I’m sure some of them will complain because I’m not working in the fields.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them if it comes up. You might not be doing manual labor, but you’ll be doing a job. You’ll be protecting their butts.”

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Good girl. I knew you wouldn’t mind.” Mathias left Jerrica and headed for the horse and wagon.

“What did Mathias want?” Austin asked, as he came to stand beside her.

Jerrica turned her gaze on Calan. “He pulled me from working in the fields. Instead he wants me to stand guard with the Werewolf Defender. He thinks, between the two of us, we’ll be able to take care of any zombies that might be around.”

“Well, I know I’ll feel safer with you watching over me.”

She pulled her gaze off Calan and turned to look at Austin. He smiled, which she returned with a smile of her own. “If it comes down to it, I think Calan will be doing a better job of ending the undead than I will. Compared to him, I’m slow moving.”

“Just think of yourself as backup. And it got you out of having to work in the fields.”

“Very true. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not happy about it.”

Austin chuckled. “I figured you wouldn’t miss that work.”

As the gates opened, Austin left Jerrica and joined the main group of workers. She stayed where she was as Calan stepped toward her.

Once he stood in front of her, she said, “I guess I’ll be hanging around you all day. Even though I’m sure you don’t need me to keep guard with you, thanks for letting me.”

He lifted his large lupine head up and down in a nod. Calan moved to her side, and they fell in behind the rest of the workers. Once they passed through, the gates closed behind them.

Calan kept pace with Jerrica. His walking beside her hadn’t gone unnoticed. Some of the girls glanced their way then whispered to one another. Becca shot hate-filled glances in Jerrica’s direction. She figured the other girl didn’t like that Jerrica had been singled out to spend time with Calan. It hadn’t been her idea, so Becca was staring daggers at the wrong person.

Once they’d arrived at the field, she and Calan positioned themselves at the edge of it. The others picked up what tools they needed from the wagon then went to do their assigned tasks. It was going to be another hot day. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

After a half hour of nothing happening except for Jerrica sweating, she asked Calan, “In all that fur, aren’t you overheating?” She looked at him to see he’d turned his head toward her. “Sorry, I forgot you can’t talk while a wolf.”

“Actually, I can, but only telepathically.”

Jerrica started at the sound of Calan’s voice filling her mind. “You can? Mathias didn’t tell me when he spoke to you that you could do that.”

“That’s because I didn’t talk to him that way. I usually don’t show anyone I have this ability.”

“Why? It must be frustrating not being able to communicate when you’re a wolf.”

Calan laughed only inside her mind. “Not really. I’m not much of a people person anymore.”

“I see. So you pretend you can’t talk so people will leave you alone.”

“Basically. We should check in on the orchard.”

“All right. Even though Mathias said we should guard together, it might be better if I stay here, and you go. I can’t run as fast as you. If some zombies show up here while we’re at the orchard, I’d never be able to get back here in time. You could.”

“There’s a way to fix that.”

“How? Are you able to give me wings so I can fly?” Jerrica asked with a chuckle.

“No,” Calan said with a laugh. “You can ride on my back. It worked yesterday.”

“I could easily get a horse if it really is necessary.”

“I can run faster than one of them. If you aren’t comfortable with the idea, you don’t have to.”

“It’s not that. I just don’t want to weigh you down.” She looked away, then back at Calan. “Even though the situation had been scary and I had come close to losing my life, I have to say riding on your back was one of the most thrilling things I’ve ever done.”

“Then say you’ll do it. I didn’t mind carrying you.”

“Fine. I’ll ride on your back.”

“Go tell Mathias we’ll be back soon.”

Jerrica nodded and headed for the pump where Mathias stood while he filled a bucket with water. He must have taken over her job of helping to water the fields. He might be in his middle fifties, but he was still strong and really didn’t look his age. Her mom had said how a few of the widows from the settlement who were around his age had set their sights on him. Mathias had lost his wife to a zombie attack more than twenty years ago and had never remarried. His only child, a son, had taken a wife and had started his own family years ago.

Once Jerrica reached him, she said, “Mathias, Calan and I are going to the orchard now, but we’ll be back in a little while.”

Mathias stopped working the hand pump and straightened. “All right. I’ll keep an eye out until you both return, though I doubt we’ll have any trouble. The Werewolf Defender cleared out quite a few zombies yesterday.”

“We shouldn’t be too long.”

The orchard didn’t need much tending this time of year. The trees had already blossomed and fruit was growing. The peaches weren’t quite ripe but would be soon. The pears didn’t need to be picked until August, then they had to be stored in a cool place to ripen off the tree. The apples weren’t harvested until closer to the fall.

Jerrica returned to Calan. “Mathias will watch over the field until we get back.”

Calan sank to the ground. “Climb on.”

Unlike the first time, Jerrica was able to think about what she was going to do. Before, she’d just thrown a leg over Calan’s back then had held on to the fur around his neck for dear life. Since she wasn’t fearful this time, she tried not to hold too tightly as she slowly climbed onto him.

“Jerrica, you’re not going to hurt me. I have thick fur, and, to be honest, you hardly weigh anything at all. You can’t break me.”

She gripped his fur tighter as Calan rose to all four paws. “Okay. I’m ready.”

He took off at a run. Jerrica squeezed her legs around Calan to keep from falling off and leaned a little over his neck to help with her balance. It really wasn’t anything like riding a horse. His wolf strides were a lot longer, but it didn’t take her much time to get the hang of it. She couldn’t hold back her laughter as he put on another burst of speed. It was just as thrilling as it’d been the day before.

Calan’s fur was soft to the touch. Jerrica hadn’t expected that. Yesterday she’d been too afraid for her life to have really paid too close attention. She sank her fingers deeper into it. All too soon they reached the orchard. She made to climb off Calan’s back, but he stopped her.

“Stay there,” he said. “We’ll do a quick patrol, then head back to the fields.”

“All right. As long as you don’t mind having me up here, I’m fine with it.”

They started at the closest perimeter and worked their way around the entire orchard. Only a few settlers worked with the trees, watering them. Her brother and father were among them.

“My dad and brother are working,” Jerrica said.

“Then let’s go say hello.”

Calan changed direction and headed for Hunter and her father. Both of them looked up once they heard Jerrica and Calan approach. She had to hold back a laugh as Hunter’s eyes widened, and a shocked expression came over his face. Her father wore almost the same one. Hunter had known Calan was large in wolf form, but he obviously hadn’t expected him to be as big as he was.

“Hi, Hunter and Dad. Calan and I are doing a zombie check.”

Her father met her gaze. “I see.”

Hunter stepped closer and looked right at Calan. “Wow, he’s huge.”

Jerrica gave him a hard stare. “Calan can understand you, you know, so stop talking about him as if he weren’t here.”

“It’s all right,” Calan said with a laugh. “A lot of people do it.”

“Sorry,” Hunter said sheepishly. “I didn’t mean anything by it, Calan. I’m Hunter.”

“Since you won’t be calling me ‘Dad’, I’m Geoff,” her father added.

Calan nodded in her dad’s and Hunter’s direction.

“We should get moving,” Jerrica said.

Her dad held out a hand to stop them. “Before you go, I want to invite Calan over for dinner tonight to show our appreciation for him saving you and bringing the buck to the cabin.”

Calan nodded again.

Jerrica smiled. “I guess that means yes.”

“It does.”

“He’ll see you later then. And, Dad, you’d better tell Mom so she can plan on an extra person.”

“I will.”

They left Hunter and her father behind as they finished the final sweep of the orchard before heading toward the fields. Jerrica kept an eye out for zombies as the landscape went by, but none were in sight.

“Thanks for not letting on that I can communicate telepathically to your brother and father,” Calan said.

“You told me you don’t usually tell people you can, so it isn’t my place to say anything about it.”

“It can be our little secret.”

A warm feeling washed over Jerrica at Calan’s words. She figured he really didn’t mean that much by it, but the thought of being the only one he talked to while in wolf form meant a lot to her. He’d singled her out, trusting her with the knowledge of that ability.

Once they reached the fields, Calan lowered to the ground so she could climb off his back. He stood and walked at Jerrica’s side as she headed to the best vantage point to see over the worked land. She adjusted her bow and quiver on her shoulder.

“I have your arrows to return to you,” Calan said. “The ones you used to take down the zombies. I recovered them before I disposed of the bodies. If you want, we can stop by my cabin before we go to yours.”

“Oh, thanks. I figured I wouldn’t get them back. And sure, we can do that.”

“You’re good with a bow. You took them out with only one arrow, hitting each time in a kill spot. I can see why Mathias wants you on guard duty.”

“Thanks,” Jerrica said, feeling her face heat. “I’ve practiced a lot. My father taught me how to shoot.” The sound of a horse and wagon heading toward the fields drew her attention. “Looks as if lunch is here.”

“Go eat. I’ll watch over everything.”

“Don’t you want some food? I can bring you something.”

“It’s all right. I can eat at your cabin. Skipping meals isn’t hard on me.”

“All right. I’ll come back once I’m done.”

Jerrica left Calan and joined the line that had formed at the back of the food wagon. Once she had her sandwich, she walked a short distance away to sit on the grass out of the way. She looked up as Austin plunked down beside her.

“How goes guard duty?” he asked, as he unwrapped his sandwich.

“Uneventful. No sign of zombies anywhere.”

“Which is a good thing.”

“Yes.”

“I saw you riding on Calan’s back.”

“Yeah. I suggested it. I figured we could get between the fields and orchard faster that way. He didn’t mind.”

Jerrica told that little white lie to keep Calan’s secret. If Austin was at all observant, he’d have known Calan hadn’t shifted to his human form since coming out to the field.

“That makes sense.” Austin took a bite of his sandwich, chewed then swallowed, before he spoke again. “I was wondering if it’d be okay if I came by your cabin this evening and spent some time with you.”

“Ah, you can’t. While Calan and I patrolled the orchard, we saw my dad, who invited Calan over to have dinner with us. It’s to thank him for saving me and getting the buck I shot. He brought it over to our cabin.”

“That was nice of him. All right, how about tomorrow?” Austin met her gaze. “I want to spend more time with you, Jerrica.”

She swallowed. “I think that should be okay.”

Jerrica had wanted Austin to notice her for months and had thought it’d be too good to be true that he’d want to spend time with her when they weren’t working in the fields. Her thoughts strayed to Calan, but she pushed them away.

“Then tomorrow it is.” Austin put the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth. Once he’d swallowed, he said, “I’m going to get back to work. I’ll talk to you later.”

Jerrica nodded as Austin stood then headed out into the fields. She felt as if someone watched her, and she found Calan staring right at her. As a wolf, he really wasn’t able to show much emotion, but the way he looked at her stirred something inside her. There was no future with him, not like there was with Austin. Calan would move on to a new settlement, and she’d never see him again.

 

* * * *

 

Calan hadn’t been able to stop himself from watching Jerrica with the other boy. He was too far away for even his sensitive werewolf hearing to pick up what they’d said. Seeing the two of them together had an emotion rearing its ugly head inside him, one he thought he’d never feel—jealousy.

After spending all morning having Jerrica to himself, Calan had enjoyed being around her. She wasn’t like the others, who seemed to put him on a pedestal. Even in his wolf form, she treated him as she would anyone else. With her, he felt as if he could be himself, say anything to her and not have her look at him as if he were something she had to keep at arm’s length.

She had him wishing for things he couldn’t have. He should keep his distance from her, but he didn’t think he could. Having her ride on his back, her fingers sunk into his fur… It made him realize how much he’d missed being touched. The last person to ever give him a hug had been his mother a hundred years before. Sometimes he forgot what it felt like to have someone hold him close.

After the other boy had walked away, Jerrica turned and looked at Calan. She walked toward him. When she reached him, he asked, “Ready to go do another patrol?”

“Sure.”

Calan went down on his belly on the ground and waited for Jerrica to climb onto his back. After she was seated and her hands were buried in his fur, he stood. As he headed for the orchard at a run, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was exactly where she needed to be—with him and no one else.