Chapter Forty-Two #2
The rogues moved their campground. That’s exactly what I would’ve done in their shoes when Jay was captured for fear she’d give them up under torture.
Not my girl.
Recalling Jeff’s scent, it took no time for me to track the dog down and corner him. Pushing through the branches, I part the forest’s trees to reveal their new stomping grounds.
Jeff wanders nonchalantly, picking the wax out of his ear, then . . . rolling it in his fingers? And . . . sniffing it? Ugh.
I yank him by his lapel and push him up against a nearby tree, then grab his right wrist and pin it by his head—successfully avoiding ear wax contamination.
“What the—Help! Somebody, help!”
Then I cover his mouth, but his hands keep getting in the way. “Hey, hey. Stop.”
“Help!”
“I’m not here to hurt—Would you stop squirming?” I try to calm him down, but he just keeps screaming and wriggling in my hold.
If I don’t shut him up now, he’s going to alert his entire horde.
“Shh! I’m not here to hurt you.” I cover his mouth and just like the dog he is, he bites my hand. Instinctively, I pull back. “Ow!” Great, now I’m going to have to get checked for rabies.
“Somebody! Help!”
That’s it. I’ve had enough.
“You leave me no choice.” I step back to give myself enough room to clock his jaw with a right hook—something he’s familiar with—knocking him out.
Except when I do it, he stays out. For now.
Relief washes over me with the temporary silence that blesses my ears. But I don’t have very long before he wakes up.
I scan their campsite from our location. There’s a tent, a pit with dying embers and weak smoke rising from it, a canteen, a hammock, a bookbag—
A hammock!
And attached to it is a rope tied to two trees.
“Alright, buddy. Let’s go, come on,” I grunt as I bend over and strain as I drag him by his legs.
Goddess—fuck! He’s heavy.
Almost to the tree, I’m careless when I don’t notice the rather large rock sticking out of the ground. Jeff may have hit his head on it, which may cause him to have a headache when he wakes.
I shrug. Accidents happen.
After detaching the hammock and laying it on the ground, I move Jeff’s legs, then his head onto the cloth. I’m about to roll him up in it when a small voice catches my attention.
“Who are you?” A small girl with her pigtails in braids, a striped tank top, brightly colored shorts and flip-flops stands before me.
I still. Great. How am I going to get out of this one?
“Hey . . . Casey, right?”
She nods.
“That’s a pretty doll you have there.”
It’s not. In fact, it’s probably the creepiest looking thing I’ve ever seen—and I’ve seen a lot. It’s seen better days with its matted hair and what looks like dirt or chocolate on her face.
“What’s your name?”
She’s too smart. My attempt to deflect and redirect her attention to something else failed miserably.
“My name? It’s Caleb.”
“Are you a bad guy?”
Her question calls for a simple answer. Are you a bad guy, yes, or no?
Unfortunately, explaining that doesn’t seem so black and white anymore.
Considering what I’m doing, I’d say things are looking rather .
. . gray. Definitely a shade darker than usual, but that answer wouldn’t serve my purpose.
So instead, I say, “No. I’m a friend of Jay’s. ”
Casey beams, balling her fists as she bounces on her feet. In all the excitement, she drops her doll. “Is Jay here?”
“No, she’s not here.”
“Oh.” Casey’s smile falls. She gets a second wind of curiosity once more. “Why is Daddy on the ground? Is he sleeping?”
I turn my attention back to Jeff and cringe. After being knocked out, dragged through the dirt, accidentally hitting his head on a rock, he doesn’t look so good. His tongue hanging outside of his mouth doesn’t help him appear less dead.
“Um . . . yes. Daddy’s sleeping.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s tired.”
“Why?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and think to myself, Probably because he’s having to answer your questions every two seconds.
“Because Daddy is old.”
Because her daddy is old? my wolf judges.
I don’t know. It’s the best I could think of.
“What are you doing to him?”
“Um . . . We’re playing a game.”
“A game?”
“Y–yeah.”
Casey tilts her head. “What kind of game?”
“A pirate game.”
“A pirate game?”
“Yep. I’m—Um . . . We are . . . pirate captains. Yup. Sent by the king and queen.”
Casey’s eyes light up.
“And your daddy here is, uh, wanted for . . . a party.”
“What kind of party?”
“A . . . birthday party. The princess’s birthday party. Yeah, and if he’s not there, her birthday will be ruined.”
She gasps and covers her mouth. “Oh no.”
“Yeah! So, that’s why I’m rolling him up.”
I’m going to hell.
“Can I play?”
Casey is a curious one. There’s no bullshitting my way out of this with some “no because I said so” line. I’m going to have to let her help me.
“Sure, you can. You can start by helping me roll your daddy up in this hammock. Then we’ll tie him to a tree.”
Full of excitement, Casey says, “Okay!”
I think it’s safe to say my answer to her previous question is looking blacker than gray.
***
Casey’s tiny hands were perfect for undoing the more difficult knots in the rope. It was sheer luck that Casey seems to be a little Girl Scout of sorts and can tie “eleventy hundred” knots—according to her. She also can name them all.
Ask me how I know.
In all seriousness, she’s a cute pup. Polite, curious and skillful. I’ve met worse hellions. Pups can be entitled little shitheads if they aren’t raised right, unlike this one. I don’t know what Jeff wants to be, but I know what Jeff should be when he grows up.
For now, he’s currently wrapped tightly in a hammock, leaned and tied against a tree.
He stirs, then his eyes shoot open in a confused panic. His expression when he sees me and Casey is one I’d like to frame. The guy slept so long it’s the kind of look someone to have if they fell into a coma and woke twenty years later.
Priceless.
“Wha—What happened?” He squints. “Where’s Casey?”
“She’s right here.” I point to little Casey who is perched on a stump next to the tree I’m leaning against. My arms are crossed, and my foot is propped up behind me.
Jeff panics, and his eyes widen. “Casey? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“Quiet, you scallyhag!” She giggles.
I lean in to whisper, “It’s scallywag but”—I throw my hands up in acceptance as the point was still made—“close enough.”
Jeff recoils, causing little wrinkles to form under his neck. His brow furrows. “What did you just say?”
“Aye, you heard her, matey,” I say in the best pirate voice I can muster.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Yar! Language, lad! Er, I’ll make you walk the plank.”
Casey giggles at my threat, and I chuckle along with her. With Casey here, things shaped up to be easier than I thought. Jeff doesn’t want to alarm Casey, so he’s forced to refrain from screaming or signaling his horde. It works perfectly. “Now stay calm, and nobody has to go overboard.”
He blinks, trying to make certain his vision is working. He lurches his head forward, squinting and sporting a scowl. “What is on your face?”
“Yar, Captain Wee Bit here fancied me an eye patch.”
Jeff’s eyes travel up to my hair. What was once the perfect messy, bedhead tousle was now bundled up into two of the tiniest ponytails, held together by bright rubber bands. And I’ll die on that hill that it’s still the best damn makeover I ever had.
Jeff gasps with joy, and his tone shifts to one of a proud father. “She did? Wow, good job!”
Casey beams with pride.
Jeff focuses his attention back on me. He closes one eye shut with his tongue out, mocking me, then snickers at my misfortune.
But I wear it proudly. Casey is imaginative. I’m starting to see the creative benefits of growing up without much.
It’s interesting. Jeff’s demeanor changes when he’s not in front of his people. With his daughter a few feet away, he’s not so tough anymore. Instead, he’s kind of goofy and somehow more tolerable. Although that might just be because he’s not trying to kill me.
I don’t like it, but this guy is important to my mate. Which means we’re going to have to get along.
Damn, is this what it’s like for King Dax? If so, I get it now.
Given some time, I could see Jeff and me getting along. Maybe even being friends.
My wolf growls.
That is, if my wolf didn’t want to make him into a chew toy. What has gotten into him? I’ll deal with my wolf later. Right now, I have a birthday to save.
“I was sent—”
“Ahem,” Casey says.
“Oh right, pirate voice.” I clear my throat. “Yar, I was sent here for matters regarding Princess Jay.”
Jeff’s neck elongates as he perks up. “Jay? What’s wrong with Jay? Is she okay?”
“Yar, the lass is fine.” And none of your concern. “Tomorrow is her birthday, and the princess would like for you and Captain Wee Bit to attend the celebration, matey.”
The invitation is unexpected—that’s why I’m not surprised when he side eyes me. “You want me to come to Bloodhound to celebrate Jay’s birthday?”
“And me!” Casey says.
“Aye, that is what I’m saying.”
Jeff squints his eyes. “Is this a trap?”
“No, matey. Unfortunately, it is not a trap.”
Jeff considers it. Then, apprehensively, he says, “Alright. But next time, tell Princess Jay that a simple RSVP will do. No need to send Captain Dick Bit.”
“Language, Captain!” Casey snaps.
“Arr, Princess Jay doesn’t know you’re coming. But as long as there’s no fuss, yer won’t have to worry about being tied up.”
I stand and hand Casey the eye patch.
“No, you keep it.” She points to me. “For next time.”
“You got it.” I hold out my fist. “See ya tomorrow, pup.”
She bumps it.
I look to Jeff. “Show up tomorrow at the waterfall three miles South of here. You know the one?”
“Yeah, I know the one. We’ll be there.”
Still in a pup-friendly tone, I say, “Yeah, you will. Either willingly or strung up as a pinata for the princess. The choice is yours. Either way, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jeff stops me. “Wait! Aren’t you going to untie me?”
I peer over my shoulder at Casey. “What do you think? Should I untie him?”
She smiles a toothy grin and shakes her head and whole upper body with it.
“No?” I chuckle and shrug at Jeff. “Sorry, matey. My hands are tied.”