Chapter 12 – Harley
S leep was effectively ruined, so I sought comfort in the one soul who truly understood. I stroked the soft neck of my mare, breathing in the warm scent of horse, hay, and farm, but even Lila couldn’t calm me down. After sneaking out of my bedroom window, I wandered down to the pasture, not wanting to drive anywhere that was open at this hour. Still, I had my keys, phone, and wallet in case I needed them.
A gust of wind shot across the wide-open space. It seemed to mock me. Being the oldest granddaughter didn’t matter. Nothing did.
Humidity blanketed the air, promising a storm. But the weather app said it was an hour away. Even without the approaching storm, it was too dark to ride. The only times I took Lila for a nocturnal stroll was when the moon was full and bright. I didn’t want to risk her breaking a leg.
With a final pat, I took my leave, securing the pasture gate behind me.
I wasn’t ready to go to bed. I understood my grandpa, I did. But understanding didn’t take away the hurt.
Wandering down the path, I let my feet carry me away while my mind raced.
Loud splashing was the only thing that told me I was close to the water. But what could be making that noise? I peered through the trees, ready to run back up toward the house. I didn’t have a pistol, so if it was a large predator, I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
The shadow that appeared through the trees was monstrous, but it moved on two legs, not four. I inched closer. I knew that shape.
“Kole?” I hissed.
His focus swung in my direction.
“Kole, what the hell are you doing?” I moved to the bushes and reached out to pull him from the bank. “You’re lucky my grandpa sprays down here for poison ivy, or you’d be in a world of hurt.”
Even without seeing his eyes, I could tell they were glazed and unfocused, although they were pinned on me. I held onto him, looking over the lake. He had to have walked along the whole shore, wading through parts. He couldn’t have swum far.
Worry knotted in my chest. “At least you’re safe,” I whispered.
But now what did I do with him? Taking him to the farm wasn’t an option. I chewed on my lip. Tiny splashes of liquid accompanied the rustle of leaves. Shit. The storm was coming. I patted my back pocket to check the weather but remembered my keys were there as well.
“I’ll take you home, big guy,” I breathed, relief washing off me.
For being spaced out, Kole was surprisingly lithe in the dark. We managed to climb back up the path and right as the rain began in earnest, we made it to my car. The two-door coup dwarfed in comparison to the six-and-a-half-foot man. Somehow, I managed to fold him into the passenger seat. Thanking whatever presence of mind convinced me to turn off the overhead light, I proceeded to back out of the drive.
“You’re soaked,” I muttered, turning the heater on full blast and pointing it at him.
While it took ten minutes to speed across the lake, it took double to drive around. The McTavish place was on the southwest side, and the storm brewed over there. We were about a mile out when the first bits of lightning crackled through the sky.
Kole tensed.
“It’s just thunder, bud,” I promised. Damn, he really was like a hound or even a horse. I turned up the volume of the radio, doing everything I could think to fight the noise of rising thunder.
As we pulled to the gate, which was shut, I had to roll down the window. “Um, any help getting in here?”
Kole looked at me expectantly.
“I don’t know the code,” I insisted.
Thunder boomed.
The gargoylesque being shuddered.
“Okay, we’ll have to make a run for it.” I unbuckled. There had to be a spot to climb the fence. If not, we’d go around down by the lake. Not that I wanted to swim in this storm, but there was always the dock access to the property.
I laced my hand through his, locked the Volkswagen, and tugged the sleeping giant along. I kept up a steady stream of chatter, hoping my voice helped him. A story about raspberry picking in the fall tumbled from my lips. The trees here reminded me of the spot we’d foraged.
“So, you see, I’m blessed to walk through poison ivy, but everyone else in my family is cursed,” I explained.
Thunder exploded close by.
Kole froze, grabbing for his head. I had to bounce on my tiptoes to reach that high since he didn’t release my hand.
“What happened to you?” I whispered, wishing I could know.
But also, it didn’t matter. He found me . Whatever condition this was, he came to me. And like any other stray, I would never turn him away.
“Okay, just a little farther,” I promised. Thinking through every tactic in case Kole panicked, one popped into my head. It was how my grandpa worked with any animal—especially the larger ones like cows and horses. “Oh, do not make me sing.”
I managed to tug Kole forward. The fence didn’t enclose the entire property, tapering off in the trees. It was designed to prevent vehicles approaching from any direction except the paved drive. I tugged Kole through the trees, jibber-jabbering about the best way to build a chicken coop. The house appeared a few moments later, and I shook my head. All the lights were on again.
Lightning ripped the sky in two.
Kole froze. He wouldn’t budge.
The clap of thunder was two Mississippis away.
Oh, shoot! I had to try something!
“’Tommy used to work on the docks, union's been on strike,’” I croaked.
Kole looked at me. That stormy gaze that I could lose myself in was shrouded in shadows.
It wasn’t like he would remember, right? Crap! I’d forgotten to ask if he remembered anything from these strange episodes.
Electricity blazed through the sky, making me belt out, “’He's down on his luck, it's tough, so tough. Gina works the diner all day, working for her man. She brings home her pay, for love, mmm, for love.’”
With a smile on my face, I drew Kole forward. It was hard to believe Bon Jovi was what came to mind, but it worked.
Thank you, Grandpa.
Drenched, we made it to the front entrance just as another clap of thunder shook the earth. I shut the door in the face of the storm. Kole continued to shake, as if the thunder rattled inside him. I didn’t have a weighted blanket or anything calming to give him—not that giving him a shot of trazodone in this state would be smart. But there were natural remedies we gave the nervous pups, even some CBD or weed would do the trick.
“Not if he’s unstable,” I chided myself. The chemicals could mix with his brain and produce an unknown effect.
I rubbed his upper arms. “It’s over, we’re safe. And you made me sing, crazy man.” I laughed. “Let’s dry you off and see if we can’t find a way to distract you.”
Murmuring soothing words, I tugged him upstairs, turning off lights as we went. If the downstairs seemed staged and fake for the cidiots summering here in years past, the rooms on the second floor felt empty. Sure, there were larger pieces of furniture, but otherwise, the spaces were cold, yawning tombs. There weren’t any touches of homeyness or signs a family lived here. Even the room that had his stuff seemed just another unused space. It was the phone on the nightstand that tipped me off.
“Another trendy grey comforter, would you look at that,” I chattered, raising my voice to talk louder than the storm. I tugged Kole into the bathroom and turned on both the sink tap and the shower. The more background noise the better. I considered playing white noise on my phone, but the darn thing was nearly out of battery plus it was damp.
“Stay right here while I find us something dry,” I instructed.
I kept the door open as I padded around his room. Kole stood in the doorway, laser focused on me but staying put. His phone was on a charging pad, so I scooted it over and set mine down in its place. The screen of his phone lit up. I tapped it.
The words were in a different language—a different alphabet. I frowned, looking between the phone and the stony figure looming in the doorway.
What is this?
Shaking my head, I found us a dry change of clothing. I nudged past him, jabbering and chirping about strawberry picking, my favorite books to read, the shows I binged on TV, and anything else that popped into my head. With a fluffy towel, I proceeded to pat him down. I started with one hand, slowly letting time pass as I examined his ink. It was gorgeous. The artist was extremely talented. I shot a glance to the middle of his pants but felt guilty for checking him out while he was like this.
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder.
When I wiped him down the best I could, I handed him the dry clothes. He stood there, holding them and not moving.
“Oh, come on,” I protested. “You made it around the lake but can’t put on a dry tee?”
The idea of dressing him stirred more of that warmth inside.
He’s not in the right head space. I huffed at the unfairness but vowed to do the ethical thing. I would just dress him, and not look more than necessary.
“Like this.” I tugged my own shirt over my head, dropping it on the vanity.
Kole mirrored my actions.
“That’s it, now these.” I proceeded to change, keeping my eyes chest-level. I’d already seen the beauty that was his chest, all carved muscle and impressive ink.
What would he do if I leaned forward, pressed my lips against the warm skin? Slid my fingers over his body?
Sighing, I shimmied out of my clothes and tugged on the only pair of sweats he had. Kole copied. Only when I didn’t offer him a pair of sweats, only the boxer shorts, he frowned.
“You don’t have another pair, silly,” I laughed softly.
Eventually, I got him into the things. I fully intended to go downstairs, but since he seemed comfortable up here, and there were minimal windows to shake in the booms, we stayed.
I tugged him from the bathroom, made sure an alarm was set on my phone and then patted the bed.
As he curled into me, warmth pulsed between my legs. “I wish you weren’t in a trance, gargoyle.”
Determined to stay awake with him, I yawned. This felt right. Not the storm or this situation, but the deeper connection. Being here with the man who waded through the dark to find me. His strong presence chased away the turbulent thoughts and left me warm, relaxed, and calm. Sleep tugged me away.