AllFreeNovel
Share Us
If he were never to have the use of both eyes, he didn’t want to be anyone’s burden. No fucking way. When Glen visited right after the doctor left, he was waiting for him.
“What? Not gonna do it, man. You’re alive. You’re right here.”
“Yeah, but not really. I can’t see. Don’t you get it? I’m pretty much blind. No way Demi needs to look after a cripple when she’s just getting settled. Both of you will have way too much to do without having me to babysit as well. It’s not fair.”
“I’ll look after you, Whit. You gotta know I will.”
Thereafter followed a battle he didn’t like to remember. Using strong intimidation, he’d gotten his way. Glen promised he wouldn’t tell and that was all he cared about.
Whit shoved his hand out toward the kid and realized at the last minute he’d reached in the wrong direction. Fury seized him at the blunder and made him aware that he wouldn’t be dealing with this situation as easily as he’d gone through other setbacks. This was big. And he wanted to be on his own to figure it out.
“You need to leave, take my truck, and go back to the cabin. I heard on the weather report it might be snowing soon. We both know Demi’s never dealt with a winter storm and won’t have any idea how to manage.”
“I don’t want to leave you like this, Whit.”
“But you will… today. Before the road becomes impassable. If it’s a big dump, you’ll need to get the winter tires on the truck. They’re in my garage. The keys are in my gear. My iPad is there too. I want your promise to send me a message as often as you can. And don’t forget. You have no idea what happened to me.” Whit waited to hear Glen promise. “Now, go. Sitting around here isn’t helping anyone.”
Grudgingly, Glen gathered the keys, gave Whit one last hand shake, and left the room. Not any too soon. As Whit’s emotions overflowed, tears seeped through the scars on his uncovered eye.
Chapter Three
Norrie’s jeep pulled to a stop. “Demi. Are you all right? After you hung up, I couldn’t stop worrying. I closed the store early and came to find you.” Norrie had driven close to the lake and hurried to where Demi still sat on the log.
She looked up and slowly waved away her friend’s concern. “You didn’t need to do that, Norrie. I’m fine or as fine as I’ll be until they find Whit.”
Norie perched next to her, and using a soft voice, she answered carefully. “Honey, you know that a huge section of forest burned to the ground. They might never find his body.”
“So you’re saying he’s dead? See… I don’t believe it. Not Whit. He’s too smart. You said it yourself; he’s lived in these woods all his life. He’ll be back.”
Norrie sighed. “Maybe. But only if the angels were watching over him and performed a miracle. Otherwise, we might have to face the fact that he didn’t survive.”
“Okay. You can face that fact. Until I see his body, I can’t. When’s Glen coming home?”
“Soon. Or at least it’s what he said during his last call.”
“He called again?”
“Just to confirm that they had the fires under control now, and they wouldn’t be needing the extra manpower anymore. Figures he’ll be back by tomorrow or the next day at the latest.”
Rising stiffly like an old woman, Demi headed in the direction of her truck.
“Let’s go back to the cabin,” Norrie prompted. “I brought a bottle of Canadian Club whiskey. Used to be Johnny’s favorite.”
“Now you’re talking. I’m thinking it’s the perfect day for a drink.”
“Good. I could use one too. Only one though. I have to drive.”
“Yeah, I don’t.”
Norrie chuckled. “You’re right there, my friend.”
***
The howling of the wolf woke both drunks the next morning. Demi’s head lifted from the chair she’d curled up in… Whit’s favorite chair. A groan came from the couch, and Demi had to grin at the comical appearance of her drinking buddy.
Guess the multitude of toasts had gotten out of hand.
Norrie’s eye liner appeared in rivulets from under her eyes, probably from the crying jag they’d engaged in after the subject of Whit’s various escapades had risen. Norrie had filled her in with a lot of Whit stories, many that had made her laugh, some that had made her cry, and others that brought sighs. The man was a legend around these parts, and his actions had been the reason many of the old-timers were still able to live in the town they loved.
