CHAPTER 13
The threat must’ve ceased, whatever, or whoever it was. Guy didn’t let the sudden calm remove his guard. Predators usually laid low, in wait, to pounce their lightly guarded prey – that held true for both kinds of beasts – those furry in nature and man alike.
Guy turned to Morgan, helping her up the porch steps quickly and through the front door. Morgan’s barking dogs greeted them briefly before aggressively scratching at the door, wanting out. “Let them out,” Morgan said, “they’ll find whatever it is.”
Guy gave an agreeing nod before opening the door for the two chocolate labs, Bow and Arrow. He killed the porch light, making it easier to see the wooded area from where they stood, while hiding behind the darkness it provided. The shadows danced under the moonlight as the wind drifted through the trees. The movement within was as undetectable as it was unwelcome. A cloak of darkness, thicker than the moon’s light, left them blind to what lay just beyond the wooded edges of the property.
The two dogs, fiercely loyal and protective, raced for the very spot they experienced their startle, barking in a high strung manner. They were excited, anxious to forge on, seeking out that which left the scent that had them hunting. When they disappeared into the haunting forest, it was as if the darkness swallowed them when their barking stopped. They were clearly on the scent of something.
Minutes passed but felt like hours while they waited for something, anything. Chappy had joined them in their stare down with the dank dancing shadows at some point. A quick explanation of need to know
information had him on high alert as well. Morgan had a weapon at the ready; it had been stowed beneath a table where everyone tossed their keys, next to the door. It was strapped and secured with some MacGyver type rigged up contraption that was invisible to anyone who didn’t know it was there – like Guy.
A stir in the brush had their attention and that of the now barking dogs. They found what they were looking for. Breath they didn’t know they were holding was released in a relieved sigh when two fat raccoons waddled out of the woods, and ran up the fence post and down the railing until they were out of sight.
“See? It was just a couple coons. It was nothing.” Morgan chuckled, relieved that her tranquil land hadn’t been tainted by anything more menacing.
“Now hold up there, Morgie,” Chappy interrupted. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he nodded to the woods, watching.
Guy looked from Chappy to Morgan, understanding exactly what he was alluding to. “The dogs. They’re still barking, but they’re not chasing the raccoons. They’re still out there,” he finished, nodding to the wooded area.
Awareness washed over her, reality setting in. They found what they were looking for alright, and they were still chasing it. A sharp crack blasted through the air, echoing like a haunting nightmare with a dull amber flash that fled as quickly as it came.
The yelp and howl that followed, not only confirmed that Bow and Arrow found Morgan and Guy’s watcher in the woods, but also that it had a weapon. From the darkness emerged two chocolate faces, Bow with a dramatic limp in his front left leg, Arrow walking in pace, shoulder to shoulder with his K9 brother, whimpering along with him in sympathy.
“Oh no – Bow!” Morgan shouted, darting from the front porch.
“Morgan, stop!” Guy grabbed her arm, pulling her close, “It’s not safe. They’ll come to us.”
She pulled the gun forward that had been hanging at her side, “Yes it is.” She pulled away, creeping down the steps, with her back to the house, gun held at the ready as she watched the far-off shadows sway in rhythm with the wind.
“I’ll call Blake,” Chappy offered, disappearing in to the house.
Guy knelt down at the corner of the house, having followed Morgan every step. He picked up Bow, mindful of his wound, carrying him to the porch, laying him on a padded bench to assess the damage. Arrow took nearby post, overseeing the activity.
Chappy returned with an update, Blake was on his way, as was the town vet, Doc Bain. Heavy footsteps ran up the side steps of the porch behind them. Still dark from the absent porch light, a face couldn’t be seen, but the force was fast and seemingly vengefully intentioned.
Guy turned, charging whoever the heavy footed, large framed threat was, and cocked his fist aiming to take the bastard out. Guy’s tightly clenched fist met his challenger’s face, knocking him flat on his ass, unable to pull back when the familiar voice landed on his ears.
“What’s going on? Everyone okay?” It was Dunny. “What the hell, man?”
“Oh shit!” The only two words Guy could come up with as he watched Dunny, lying on the porch floor, holding his nose, writhing in pain.
Satisfaction overrode the temporary guilt Guy felt when he realized not only who he hit, but how hard he’d hit him. The scathed, throbbing knuckles were a welcome discomfort and worth every bit of swelling that had already begun.
Morgan stood over him, lowering her once aimed weapon, relieved to see it was only Dunny.
“Oh my God, Dunny. Are you okay?” She bent down, grabbing his hand to help pull him to his feet.
A subtle chuckle escaped Chappy, before he whispered, “S’pose he had that comin’.” He patted Guy’s shoulder, announcing his exit. “I’ll just go grab some ice for the both of ya’s.”
Dunny sat at the end of the bench Bow was on, nose pinched, head back. The porch lights came on, revealing the messy chaos in progress as Chappy found his way back with ice packs in hand. Blood poured from Dunny’s nose, eyes already turning black, and shirt soaked red.
Guy’s hand rubbed Bows head, petting the length of him as he went, whispering endearing words to the wounded dog. “I think it’s just a good graze, Morgie. I don’t think the bullet penetrated the skin.”
“Bullet? Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Dunny pleaded. “What happened to Bow and why did this asshole
hit me?” Dunny tossed his head back again, pain etched in his expression.
“We aren’t sure. There was someone in the trees, watching…us.” Guy glanced at Morgan trying to preserve whatever privacy they had between them, while conveying the seriousness of the situation.
“Watching you? Watching you what?” Dunny sat taller, trying to toss an angry glare at Guy, but his swollen nose, and puffy eyes wouldn’t grant the intimidating emotion he was trying to display. His quick movement and threatening demeanor sparked a low growl from Arrow.
Guy, quick to change the subject, and protect Morgan’s honor, so to speak, suddenly had an epiphany of sorts, “Never mind that, Duncan,
where were you just now?” Guy looked to Arrow, patting his head, trying to comfort the agitated dog. Arrow responded with a hand lick, but kept his attention on Dunny. “You got here awfully quick, don’t you think?”
“What are ya implying, stranger
?” Dunny’s low blow was a clear deflection of the question asked. His head cocked to one side, a smarmy grin plastered to his bruised face. He was inviting trouble, challenging Guy by reminding him of his place, as Dunny saw it.
Wise to his antics, Guy didn’t let Dunny’s attempted dig get the better of him, nor did it distract him from his inquiry. How did Dunny get to the porch so fast? His quarters were a good distance behind the house and he had appeared up the side steps – just shy of the shadowy tree line.
Arrow’s obvious dislike was new, very much a contrasting behavior to what was typical of the dog. Was he just on edge because of what he just went through with Bow? Or, was it because he saw the threat
and he was sitting right in front of him?
“Gonna answer the question, Duncan
?” Guy used Dunny’s full name as if it was an insult, or inferred he was in some sort of trouble, hoping he would crack under pressure. No such luck.
Two vehicles could be seen racing up the driveway, before abruptly parking right in front of the main house where they stood. Blake and Doc Bain – perfect timing.
Dunny had taken to his feet, and moved toe to toe with Guy, who wasn’t backing down. The scene was sheer chaos with Bow whimpering in pain as Morgan sat at his head, comforting him while also telling the men to stop. Arrow had resumed growling at Dunny, lunging at his dangling hand only to be caught by the collar, thanks to Blake’s quick interception.
“What the hell happened to you?” Blake asked, directed to Dunny. Doc Bain didn’t stop for pleasantries, but moved right over Bow, assessing his injury, taking note of Arrows behavior.
He looked between the dog and Dunny several times before grabbing a rawhide bone from his bag and handing it to Chappy. “Hey Chap, let’s give this boy a break. You mind taking him inside? Spoil him with that there bone?”
“Not at’tall, Doc,” Chappy handed a dripping ice pack to Guy and then Dunny. “You boys be needin’ these, ya hear? Ice, both of ya’s.”
The two men complied, each taking his ice pack and applying it to their injuries, still locked in each other’s glare. Chappy disappeared into the house with the dog and his bone when Doc Bain broke the angsty silence.
“He always react to you like that, Dunny? That’s one pissed off dog.”
Dunny’s attention shifted with a fuck you
look to Bain, “No, he doesn’t.” The sharpness of his tone and gritted teeth filled his words with spatter.
“Huh, that’s interesting,” Bain concluded, his response directed to Blake. He turned to Bow, and went to work, not another word on the matter.
Another caravan of vehicles quickly made its way up the drive, Morgan stood, gun at the ready.
Blake reached a hand out, signaling a nervous Morgan to lower her weapon. “Put it down, Jameson, it’s just Dawson and Doc Charles for this guy.” He pointed to Dunny.
“I brought company,” Dawson joked, as he got out of the car. “These guys were at the house too, thought extra hands couldn’t hurt.”
His announcement revealed Colton and Jessie, exiting the vehicle. An obvious sense of relief came over Morgan as her body visibly relaxed and her shoulders sank.
“Wow! I know why I’m here,” Doc Charles chuckled, tossing an amused look between Morgan and Guy, before landing on Dunny. “Looks like Guy gotcha good, real good,” he finished with a subtle laugh.
“He snuck up on us…”
Dunny interrupted before Guy could finish, “I didn’t sneak, I rushed out here to make sure Morgan was okay.”
“Why would you think she wasn’t? Watchin’ from the trees?” Guy fired back.
Dunny approached Guy again, fury tracing his features, anger streaming between pressed lips. “Gunshot, jackass! I heard a gun!”
“Uh huh, then came out of nowhere, knight in shining armor
, awful convenient, dont’cha think?” Guy wasn’t holding back. He knew Dunny was up to something, had been for some time. If he couldn’t beat the shit out of him, too many witnesses, he would have a good time provoking him – trying to trip him up. “Funny, even Arrow wants a piece of you.”
Doc Charles put his hand on Dunny’s shoulder, attempting to lead him back to where he had been sitting so he could examine his injuries. Bad move, Dunny cracked. Without even thinking, he turned and swung on Doc Charles out of angry instinct. Doc shifted his weight, bobbing left to avoid the hit.
“Whoa, easy there, champ
, I come in peace,” Doc said, hands out in surrender. “I guess those years on the boxing team in college finally came in handy – the ol’bob and weave!” he finished with awkward footwork and a few dramatic air punches.
“Sorry, Doc.” Dunny apologized, but kept his threatening glare on Guy.
“Alright, sit down, let’s check out that nose – I think Guy here broke it pretty good.” Doc wasn’t a think before you speak kind of guy, and his loaded words, followed by an entertained laugh, earned him that same threating glare that was previously reserved for Guy.
Doc tossed his hands up in surrender, again. “Hey, calm down there, Mike Tyson. Remember? I come in peace?”
Doc went on to examine Dunny while Morgan and Guy brought the gang up to speed, assumptions mixed with facts, leaving a spotlight on Dunny.