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"I'm going to have to come up with a plan for dealing with Billy and his ilk." He was talking to Johnny, who seemed to be listening quite attentively. Kevin didn't use firearms, never learned how to use them, and never felt the need to. "Yes, you are correct, Johnny. I do have plenty of sharp objects around." He laughed and ruffled the cat's fur.
Johnny jumped from his lap and stood on the windowsill, looking out into the dark. He sat there and appeared to be watching something. The cat seemed to be tracking something with its stare and was so intent that Kevin got up and tacked a tablecloth over the window, feeling suddenly exposed and on display.
"What did you see out there, Johnny?" He asked, feeling suddenly on edge. He peeked out the side of the cloth he had tacked up for privacy. He saw nothing, but then he wasn't a nocturnal animal like Johnny. Johnny did not respond apart from walking to the door, which was a request to go out. Kevin hesitated for a moment and then opened the door. Johnny knew what he wanted, and he was well able to take care of himself. It wasn't his place to interfere with his routine.
Kevin took another peek from the side of the cloth, and again, he saw nothing, not even Johnny. He was becoming paranoid, and that would not do. He didn't want to bring the limits and fears of his old life to his present existence. If there was something out there, he'd find out soon enough and deal with it then. For now, the doors were locked, and he had to get his plans and tools ready for tomorrow. The cabin was coming along great, but he had to start thinking about the interior in a serious manner.
He had a bench that doubled as his bed and enough bedding to make it comfortable, but he needed a dedicated bench or stool for the interior, and his table could be a good bit larger. Those two projects and the continued carving of the parch railing would be tomorrow's plans. He stowed away his dishes and the few utensils he had and cleaned the area before settling down on his bed/bench for the night with a good book. It was comfortable and sturdy, so it served its purpose, unlike so many things in this world.
He read for a while, and then his mind started to wander back to the life before this, the life that was structured and clear and on track and so utterly fake. It was all just a game filled with lies and manipulations, and he fell for it all.
Thinking back, he realized that he believed so many outlandish explanations that he must have been insane or simply checked out. He didn't want to believe it because it did not mesh with his view of his life, his business, and his family. He was living a life that did not exist. In the end, everything was shattered, broken beyond repair.
Kevin returned to the skills he had learned in the building trades to try to center himself once again. Working with his hands and seeing the fruit of his labor at the end of each day was doing wonders for his sense of self and identity. He was a builder, he has always been a builder, and he will always be a builder. With that affirmation firmly in place, he went back to his book.
Archer moved from his position in the treetops to an area behind the cabin. He noticed movement and decided to check it out from the ground, and it had nothing to do with the fact it would give him a better view of Kevin from the window. The movement continued near a pine about twenty feet from the cabin. Archer moved up on them quietly and, once close enough, brought the peeping tom to his knees with a single jab to the middle. A follow-up strike to the neck had him face down on the ground and Asher's knee between his shoulder blades.
"One move and I kill you," Archer whispered next to his ear. "If you don't answer my questions, I will kill you." Archer got all the specifics out of the way. This man was a cougar, so Archer had an idea what he was about, but he needed to hear him say it. "Who are you, and why are you watching Kevin Paulson?"
Archer gave him credit for it took him several seconds to respond, but he did respond as soon as Archer tightened the pressure on his neck.
"Billy told me to watch him and let him know when the guy went to sleep. I'm Elroy, one of Billy's crew." The guy's tone was pained, obviously expecting the worst from this encounter.
“Are you alone?”
“Yes. I have a phone to contact Billy.”
“Call him.”
"I can't; he'll kill me if I drag him out here for this." The guy whined.
“I’ll kill you if you don’t call him.” Archer was very calm and precise with his words and drove home the seriousness of Elroy’s situation by tightening the hold on his neck.
"Okay, okay." He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Billy. Archer watched him type it and saw it send, and then he took his phone. "Hey, I need that." He complained.
"It will be at Coven DuCane. Feel free to claim it at your convenience." Archer saw him tense up and stop talking. They waited in silence for several minutes. He let the man stand up, and they moved another ten feet from the cabin well hidden by a cluster of pine. Billy showed up with the rest of his crew but was taken aback when he saw Archer holding a gun under Elroy's chin.
"What's your plans, Billy?" Archer asked.
"I . . . I . . . we were just going to scare him off. We weren't going to hurt him." Billy was off balance and not sure of himself, looking around at the men with him who looked just as off balance.
"Did Master DuCane tell you to leave this man alone?" They all started looking around at nothing, not wanting to make eye contact.
"He told us to leave him in peace," Billy answered to his credit.
“You thought it was wise to disregard the words of Master DuCane?” Archer was boxing them in. All of them shook their heads and stood silent.
"This is your last and only chance. If you bother this man again, I won't be shooting at your ankles with dummy bullets, and there will be no more conversation." He tossed the man he was holding at the others, and he stumbled but regained his bearing. "That is your warning. Heed it or die." Archer then turned and disappeared into the dark, leaving the gang of cougars frantically vacating the area and getting as far away from Kevin Paulson as possible.
Archer noticed Kevin's cat watching them from the window, but they could not be seen with the naked eye. It wasn't long after that Kevin hung a cloth up to cover the window. He smiled at the effect the cat's concern had and was glad Kevin had someone in his corner like Johnny Orlando. "Don't make yourself a target, Kevin. Always listen to your cat." He said as he returned to his perch for the night.
Johnny stopped by to stare at him for a while before going and doing whatever it was he filled his night with. He was back at the cabin at dawn, and Kevin was letting him in. Johnny had a good life with that handsome man. Archer wasn't sure where that assessment came from, but it was correct. Kevin was an attractive man who looked to be in his late twenties. He wasn't too tall but wasn't short. He was a perfect package.
Things seemed to be peaceful, so he left his perch and went to where he'd hidden his vehicle and put in a report to Silas, letting him know the status of the surveillance. The cougars left and did not return, and from their scent, they were taking his warnings seriously.
"Do the cougars need to be dealt with?" Silas asked, always to the point and always keeping things clear.
"Not at this time." He told him. "They're stupid, but they know how close to death they came, and I believe they will leave this man alone. If not, I will take care of them."
