“Holey Moley, Batman. How’d you get all this done?” I asked. I stood and took another look around. It was almost shocking that a room in such disarray was clear of detritus and debris in so short a time.
“This isn’t my first hunt. Besides, after being strapped to that bed all night, I really needed a workout.”
“Well, I for one am amazed. I guess I’ll start calling you Wonder Woman.”
“Hah, only if you want another punch in the gut.” A cup appeared in her hand. “Here, I made coffee.”
I took the cup and sipped, and then I noticed the fresh bandages on my arms. “Damn, how’d you do that without waking me?”
“You were pretty out of it this morning.”
“Thanks,” I glanced toward the kitchen. “Ah, I know this is a strange question, but what’d you do with the bodies?”
“Not so strange in my line of work. They’re outside, on the side of the cabin.”
“Good, but we can’t leave them here. Bodies will point right back to Dad or me.”
“I know that, Jesse, don’t worry. I’ve got it figured out. I’m not sure what to do about the roof, though. I thought of just getting a tarp for the night, but you’re not going to get any sleep if there’s nothing between you and a werewolf but a layer of tarp.”
“What makes you think I’d get any sleep without or without the werewolf?”
“From what you said, I settled down after a little while and didn’t start up again until the werewolves struck some subconscious part of me. I figure if they don’t come back you could sleep most of the night.”
“They? How many more do you think there are?”
“Sorry, he, I doubt if there are any more other than the boss. If he’d had others, he’d probably have sent them in with the three that attacked you.”
“Makes sense.” I looked at the skylights. “It would be nice to keep the rain out until I can get a contractor out here or have time to fix it myself.”
When I lowered my gaze, Gail was giving me a circumspective look.
“What?” I asked.
She shook her head without answering. She went into the bathroom and returned with my boots. Dropping them at my feet, she said, “Finish getting dressed. We don’t have a lot of time to play around if we’re driving into town and back.”
“Okay. We ought to see if Earl has your ammo ready,” I said and sat down on the edge of the bed to pull the boots on.
“I emailed him earlier and he replied that it would all be ready by four. That’s why I woke you now.”
“Great, cause I sort of used a lot of forty-five rounds last night.”
Gail grinned. “No kidding? There are holes all over the place. What’s your Dad going to say when he comes out here?”
“Knowing Dad, he’s going to shake his head, mutter under his breath, and then tell me to call him when it’s fixed. He stopped asking me for explanations when I joined the Army. He’ll be curious, but he won’t ask unless I volunteer.”
I put on a shirt, being careful of the new bandages. With the shirt on, you could hardly tell I’d been in a fight at all. I took my empty cup into the kitchen, found there was another steaming cup under the basket, and took it.
“We should get another coffee pot,” I said.
Gail gave me a D’uh stare. “Ya think? Don’t worry; it’s on the shopping list.”
“You made a list?”
“I never go shopping without a list. Come on, I’ll buy you a latte in town.”
I downed the rest of the cup and hurried after Gail.
She was half way to her van before I made the porch. I stopped, staring toward the side of the cabin. “Hey,” I called. “What about the bodies? Shouldn’t we, ah, do something with them?”
She motioned me to come on. “They’re good for now. They’re not going anywhere if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I didn’t want to tell her that was exactly what worried me.
Chapter 10 – A Bolt Thrown Home
By the time we reached Earl’s Hunter’s Paradise, the older man had completed three boxes of forty-five silver tips.
Gail smiled when he told us. “Thanks a lot, Earl. I was going to ask you to make another box or two for us to pick up later.”
“Why’s that?”
Gail cocked a thumb at me. “Jesse decided that forty-five rounds were so cheap that he ought to use them by the dozen.”
“Don’t exaggerate, I only went through three magazines,” I corrected.
“Damn, son, didn’t you get enough target practice?” Earl asked.
I glanced around the store. There were a few customers, but they appeared to be intent on their own business. “Let’s just say that in a target-rich-environment there isn’t always time to consider shot conservation.”
Earl laughed. He had a deep booming laugh that drew the attention of the other customers. “Damn, son, I didn’t know you had it in you. Didn’t your lady friend help?”
“She was tied up,” I said and winced as Gail put an elbow into my side.
Earl gave her a thoughtful look.
She shrugged. “It’s a long story, Earl, and while I’m sure Jesse would be happy to tell it to you, in great detail, we need to get moving. Moonrise is at eight thirty-one tonight.”
Earl pursed his lips, considering, and then nodded. “I understand. Say no more today, you can catch me up when you’re able. I’m looking forward to the story.”
I gently rubbed my side to ensure I didn't pull anything; Gail never pulled her punches. “Earl, don’t you carry camping equipment?”
“Sure thing, what do you need?”
“We could use a few tarps.”
“And an ax,” Gail added.
“There’s an ax in the shed,” I said.
“No, I looked,” Gail replied with a narrowing of her eyes.
I looked at her, wondering what I had missed, and then decided it’d be better not to ask in front of Earl.
“Sure, little lady, I’ll
