Quinn's Christmas Wish (6 page)

She stared up at him and her stomach did butterflies. “Thank you for saying so.”

He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand tenderly. “Keep looking at me that way and I’m going to start thinking I can’t live without you.”

For a moment she wished that could be true. Instead, she changed the subject.

“I hope Quinn is okay, maybe he had another spell,” she said biting her lip.

“If he’s not back soon I’ll take a look for him.”

“Thank you.” She wondered if she’d been wrong to let him go visit with a new friend after school. It was dark and he should be home.

Quinn, darted out of the forest, back the way he’d come, until he came to the edge of the park. Only then did he slow his pace, but kept moving ahead quickly. His mom would be worried for sure and he wondered if he should consider telling her the truth. Who would believe him? A talking wolf…not likely.

He continued through the snow when he saw a figure stumble and fall to the ground, where it lay, unmoving. Why couldn’t he just keep walking? Quinn turned and entered the alley, stopping where the man lay face up in the snow. Immediately, he knew who it was.

“Mr. Jack…you okay?” Quinn asked.

When no response came, he bent over and shook the man’s coat. “Jack, wake up. You can’t stay out here, you’ll freeze for certain.”

A grumbled response came from his mouth. Then the man pushed himself to a sitting position and squinted up at him.

“It’s you,” he slurred.

Quinn blinked, unsure what to say. “Pardon me, sir?”

Jack propped himself up against the building and reached in his jacket, pulling out a bottle of whisky.

“You’re Quinn, Amanda’s son, the one who has spells.” He laughed before taking a drink.

Quinn was immediately annoyed. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Jack laughed even harder and Quinn got angrier. “You shouldn’t drink so much.”

The laughter stopped and Jack pushed himself up the wall of the building. “Young Quinn, you don’t know what you’re are dealing with. Neither does Samuel.”

He shook his head, trying to make sense of the drunkard shaman. “What do you mean?”

“She’s a beauty, but not of this world. Do you understand?” Jack asked.

Panic gripped him. How did he know about Jazira? “You’re drunk. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jack took a swig of whisky and blew it out in the snow. For a moment he stood perfectly still, then pointed at the dissolving snow and spoke. “It’s always the same, young Quinn. Lost Lake holds many souls. I’m not sure Christmas will be merry this year.”

Unable to speak, Quinn turned and ran with his lungs heaving. Sometimes he knew certain things would bring on the spells, perhaps over exertion, stress, or even the weather. He never knew for certain, but he knew he had to get home, and he hoped with all his might Jazira would make it safely to the cellar.

He rounded the corner. Not far from home, he noticed them. It just wasn’t meant to be his night.

Billy Ellis, Norman Strump and Thurston Winlop stood not more than three feet away from him.

“Well, look what we have here, guys,” Billy chided, rubbing his gloved hands together.

Quinn’s heart thudded with fear and his stomach recoiled with apprehension. He’d pretend to ignore them. Slowly, he stepped to the side, prepared to go around them. Thurston stepped in front of him, blocking the way.

“My Pa told me he saw you in the park after school. Whatcha been up to Quinny?” Billy asked sarcastically, moving toward him.

“I have to get home, Billy. My mom will be looking for me.” Quinn replied quietly.

“Well, we can almost see your house from here. I don’t hear or see her,” he mocked, shaking his head.

Quinn stepped backward and spun around, smashing into Norman. He was trapped. Thoughts dashed through his mind in a rush as he tried to remember what Samuel told him.

“We could be brothers, Quinn. My Pa’s real fond of your mom.” Billy laughed.

Anger made his fist clench. He bent to the side, not taking his eyes off Billy, and set the lantern in the snow. “You will never be my brother. And your despicable father will never have my mom,” Quinn responded angrily.

“My father always gets what he wants,” Billy spat out.

Thurston and Norman laughed and snorted.

“That will never happen!”

Billy reached out and shoved Quinn’s shoulder.

Quinn stepped away from him, trying to imagine which fist Billy would strike with first. He watched the right hand tighten into a ball.

“I see I’ll have to deliver another message.” Billy swung, but Quinn ducked, missing the blow. He’d done it, but he’d also infuriated the round-faced bully. This time when he swung again, Quinn threw a punch of his own, landing his fist right in to Billy’s nose.

Red trickled from his nose and despite the fact Quinn knew he shouldn’t be happy, he was.

Billy’s hand reached for his nose and he cried out with anger.

“Now you’re gonna pay. Don’t just stand there you idiots. Grab him!”

Quinn turned to run, but Thurston grabbed him by the back of the coat, yanking him over. Quinn stumbled and fell into the snow. Instantly, Norman pounced on top of him. It was pointless. Billy’s goons held him to the ground while the bully kicked and punched him repeatedly.

No matter how hard he tried to pull away or turn his head, he found another fist. He could taste the blood pooling in his mouth. His vision swirled and his hearing muffled. It couldn’t happen again. It just couldn’t. He could feel the spell coming on.

Suddenly, the beating stopped. And he vaguely heard what he thought was a growl. Though one eye was swollen and everything seemed blurry, he could see her. Jazira approached them slowly and methodically, with a menacing growl and teeth bared.

Billy screamed, and the others turned and ran frantically. Before he could get away Jazira knocked him to the ground with one paw. Billy continued to scream while Jazira stood with her front paws holding him in the snow.

“No!” was the only thing Quinn could mutter.

Her eyes were narrowed and her ears were flat to her head.

“I should rip your throat out! And if you ever touch him again I will.” Jazira growled and pounced on Billy’s chest harder, probably knocking the breath out of him.

She left him alone and Quinn felt her tongue on his cheek. He heard Billy get up and run screaming through the streets.

“Jazira…get…out of here,” Quinn managed before he let the darkness engulfed him.

She whined and nudged him with her nose. She knew she could drag him home, but she didn’t think that would be a good idea. With no other choice, she turned, putting her nose to the wind. It took only seconds until she picked up Quinn’s scent in the cool winter air.

With a mighty leap, she took off in the direction of his house. She was beyond terrified. Nobody seemed to be watching as she climbed the steps of the house. Voices could be heard behind the door and immediately she could smell the scent of the man who’d saved her from the lake. Maybe there was hope.

Hesitating, she walked to the door, dropped her head and began scratching furiously. The whine was genuine. She had to get help to Quinn.

She heard the voices grow louder when the door opened.

The woman screamed and stumbled backward, falling in the doorway. Almost as quick, the man named Samuel stood in her place.

Jazira figured she should try to make herself look less frightening, so she sank to her belly and continued to cry.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Samuel bellowed.

“Quick Samuel the gun…it’s over there,” the woman who must be Quinn’s mom yelled and pointed.

Jazira whined louder and looked back the way she’d come. How could she make them understand?

Samuel approached her cautiously, tilting his head. “You are the stupidest creature I’ve ever seen. I don’t know why you’re following me?”

“Samuel don’t get to close to it,” she said, grabbing his arm.

He turned to her and spoke. “I know this wolf.”

He continued to move forward and Jazira crawled toward him on her belly. He bent down to look at her. “Are you hurt?” he asked. “If you’re not, you must be determined to end up dead.”

Jazira gently reached up and grabbed his shirt. He looked at her questioningly and she pulled at him.

The woman gasped again. She pulled harder and brought him down the stairs. What if somebody saw her, she thought full of fear.

He followed her and she continued to pull him until they were in the street. At that moment, she let go of him and ran toward where Quinn lay. She stopped and looked back for him, waiting.

He turned back to the door. “Amanda, please throw me my coat,” he demanded.

“Samuel, Quinn’s out there. What if that wolf hurt him?” She cried holding her hand to her mouth.

“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll find Quinn.”

When Jazira knew he would follow, she ran to Quinn and lay down beside him. She licked his face. “Samuel’s coming Quinn. He’ll take you home. Please don’t die,” she whimpered.

∗ ∗ ∗

Samuel saw the figure in the snow and broke into a full run. It had to be Quinn. Impossibilities never ceased to amaze him. He stopped beside the furry beast and Quinn. He picked Quinn up and looked at the creature.

“You really are a mystical creature from Lost Lake, aren’t you?”

She closed her eyes and licked Quinn’s hand. Loud voices could be heard from a neighboring street. Jazira spun and shuffled back and forth nervously.

“Run you crazy animal! Go before somebody takes a shot at you.”

Her red eyes bore into his. He could see how terrified and sad she was…or so he thought, but then again, it was a deformed wolf he looked at. “Go,” he shouted again.

Only then did she turn and run.

Samuel carried Quinn back to the house.

Amanda shrieked and ran down the porch stairs. “Oh God!”

He marched into the house and placed Quinn’s motionless body on his bed.

“What happened?” Amanda cried, running to get a cloth.

Samuel undid the boy’s jacket and took off his boots. Amanda leaned over him and wiped his face. His swollen eye, split bloody lip, and a bruise on his cheek told the story of what had happened. Samuel could feel his rage pulsing through his veins.

Only cowards and bullies would pick on a child, and by the scuffle and footsteps in the snow, Quinn had been outnumbered. What surprised him was the wolf creature. It sure seemed like the beast knew the boy…but how would that be possible. His mind drifted quickly to the superstitions that floated around Bandit Creek and Lost Lake.

“He said he was going to visit a new friend,” Amanda stammered between sobs and tears. “I shouldn’t have let him go.” She shook her head.

Samuel placed his arms around her shoulders. “A friend wouldn’t do this,” he stated with clenched teeth.

Shouts and yelling could be heard coming closer to the house. Samuel stood and exited the bedroom. Amanda followed with a puzzled look.

“What’s all the ruckus?” she asked, trying to peer out the window of the sitting room. George Ellis and a few other men approached Amanda’s home.

Samuel moved towards the door, pushing Amanda behind him. He pulled it open.

Standing at the bottom of the stairs George Ellis seethed with anger. His jacket remained open and his rifle rested on his hip.

“You! What are you doing here?” George spit out with hostility.

With his jacket and boots still on, Samuel stomped down the stairs without a care. George pointed the gun at him. Samuel thrust the barrel of the rifle away with his arm, glaring at the balding man.

“Men like you don’t deserve to crawl on this earth,” Samuel seethed, stepping closer to the man and pushing him in the chest.

George cocked the rifle and Samuel heard Amanda’s muffled scream. “George leave him alone,” she pleaded.

The rotund man gave an evil laugh, pushing Samuel back with the end of the barrel. “I warned you, Amanda. If you would marry me like I’ve said all along, things would be so much easier.”

Unable to control his temper any further, Samuel knocked the rifle sideways. The shot rang out through the cold night air. His fist connected with the man’s face and he held him by the neck, twisting his arm behind his back.

He heard the other rifles cock. “Stay away from Amanda and Quinn. If you, or your son, ever touch either of them again, you’ll deal with me. Then the nightmares surrounding this hellish town will seem like a pleasant dream compared to what I’m gonna do to you.” Samuel shoved him forward with a giant push.

George stumbled, falling on his knees.

He felt Amanda grabbing him by the arm, pulling him back. “Leave him, Samuel,” she begged.

George stood wiping the blood from his lip. “That was a mistake,” he said, spitting blood in the snow. “Let’s see what the rest of the town folk have to say about that boy of yours, Amanda. He is evil, and my boy and the other boys are the proof. Quinn’s beast creature speaks and has made threats, swearing to tear their throats out. Quinn needs to die just like that wolf creature.”

Amanda gasped. Samuel could hear the disbelief in her voice. “Why are you so cruel? Haven’t I been through enough, George Ellis! You could have anyone else, please just leave us alone.”

He smiled. “You are what I want, Amanda, and one way or the other, you will come to me.”

Samuel lunged toward him once again, but Amanda’s arm held him back.

George’s sinister laugh made him sick.

“Come on, boys, we’ve got a wolf to shoot and skin.” He smirked turning on his heel.

Amanda stood unmoving and numb, watching the monsters wander down the street.

Samuel ushered her back up the porch stairs and into the house. He removed his boots and grabbed a shawl from the coat rack and swung it over her shoulders. God, what would she have done if he hadn’t been here? She closed her eyes briefly and the tears fell. Maybe she should marry George. How else would she protect Quinn? And now she was putting Samuel in danger.

His strong arms pulled her close and stroked her head. “I won’t let him hurt you or Quinn,” he vowed.