“Canvases?” Harm asked.
“Uh-huh. I’m taking several of my paintings to the coast tomorrow. Meeting with a gallery owner who’s interested in perhaps giving me a show. I’m leaving and I doubt seriously I’ll be back before Labor Day.” He glanced at Elgin and smiled wistfully. “Even though I regret not getting up to the plate, I at least hoped to stick around in the on-deck circle. Just in case you had a change in the line up.”
“If I don’t see you again tonight, Chad, I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Leave enough time to have a last cup of coffee.”
“I will Ellie, I promise. Good night everyone.”
“Good night,” Jim called as he retreated. Harm didn’t say anything, just quickly moved to the glider beside Elgin.
“What was all that baseball crap?” he inquired, trying to sound casual but not succeeding.
“Nothing,” she told him softly. “Nothing at all.”
“Well, I don’t know about you two,” Fisher chuckled, draining the last of his drink, “but I’m gonna see about another beer and see when we’re gonna eat. Barbecue’s startin’ to smell real good.” He turned and moved slowly away.
“You hungry?”
“Not right this minute. Even if they are serving, the line will be a mile long and I’m sure they’re not going to run out of food. Marty’s probably got enough to feed Spirit Cove for a week. I’d just like to sit here with you for a minute and enjoy the sunset.” She looped her arm through his and laid her head on his shoulder. The glider rocked slowly and silently they watched the picture postcard scene spread out before them.
Elgin could never remember such peace, such a feeling of ‘rightness’ before. More than anything else, she wanted to stay in this glider, the warm sun hanging low over the blue water, with Camp sitting beside her forever. Make time stand still so that not another day, another moment passed. They’d just stay like this and live happily ever after.
“I think I’ll go get another beer,” Camp chuckled. “But I think I’m going to have to make room for it. Can I bring you back another hard cola?”
“Well, as long as you’re going that way. And since the guest bathroom off the living room will probably have a line, go straight through and down the hall towards the east wing. Second door on the left is a guestroom. The door will probably be closed but you can just go right in. Bathroom’s on the right.”
“Thanks. When I get back, we’ll walk over and see what’s for dinner.”
“I’ll be right here, promise.” They shared a kiss and she watched him stride leisurely toward the house. Camp’d been gone only a few moments when a young waiter approached her.
“Ma’am, the gentleman asked me to give this to you.” He held out a piece of folded white paper. When she took it, he nodded once and scurried back toward the house.
Curious, she unfolded it.
Snagged a blanket and a bottle of champagne. Meet you in the clearing just north of the house.
Horny rascal, she thought as she slipped the note in her pocket, picked up her bear and turned toward the steps leading down from the deck to the grounds below. The bathroom thing had been a ruse to spring his naughty little surprise on her. In the huge crowd, everyone concentrating on dinner, no one would even notice their absence. Marty wouldn’t come looking for them until it was time to leave for the marina, at least another hour and a half. They’d have plenty of time to, as Harm had suggested, make their own fireworks.
Her own desire rising, Elgin hurried across the broad expanse of lawn, checking to make sure she was alone. In a few moments, she reached the edge of the forest and closed the last few yards, breaking into the clearing, expecting to find her lover.
Instead, the clearing stood empty and silent, no sign of an illicit tryst, no sound.
Oh well, she thought, moving to the center, I’ll be here to surprise him. After all, she knew Marty’s place and could find this spot in the dark. Camp would have to get out one of the doors and then circle almost all the way around the house.
A breath of something chilly suddenly raised goosebumps.
Camp didn’t know this place. He’d never been to Marty’s house. How would he have known about this clearing? And where would he have gotten a blanket?
Something grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides and seeming to root her in place. Opening her mouth to scream, something wet and soft pressed itself to her face, clinging like a starfish. She couldn’t smell anything but something slightly sweet trailed into her mouth as she sucked in the material, struggling to breathe. But the harder she fought, the tighter the grip on her body, the harder the wet thing clung.
She couldn’t get any air. Her whole body seemed paralyzed with fear as the thing holding her squeezed the air from her lungs, deflating her body, leaving her limp and sliding sideways. Legs too wobbly to hold her up, unclenched fingers releasing the soft fur of her bear. Heartbeat and breathing vanishing. Darkness.
“Here you…” Harm stopped, the sight of the empty glider bringing him up short. Craning his head in all directions, he didn’t see her.
“God damn it,” he muttered, angry that she’d chosen now to play this stupid game. Well he’d been scared out of his wits once too often to be taken in again. Wherever she was, she could just stay there. In a little while, she’d realize he wasn’t going to bite and come back. In the meantime, he had a beer to keep him company.
Setting her bottle of hard cola on one of the little wood end tables, he settled into the glider and took a long draw, letting his eyes sweep the area to see if he could spot where she might be hiding.
His hand brushed against something. Looking down, he saw a piece of folded white paper stuck between the cushions, almost hidden from view.
Down the steps, across the lawn and into the clearing at the north end of the house.
So, that was it, he grinned to himself, stuffing the paper in the pocket of his jeans. She was hungry but not for barbecue. A little fun and games to work up an appetite. Rising, he walked casually over to the deck steps, his cock, excited by the prospect of a romp in the woods, making his progress uncomfortable.
He wondered what she had planned. A nice, long slow fuck in the pine-scented stillness or a wild quickie, pressed against a strong tree, pumping and grinding like horny teenagers grabbing some before they’re discovered.
His steps picked up tempo across the perfectly manicured lawn, his cock now bulging against his fly. No wonder she’d suddenly decided to wear that sundress at the last moment, he chuckled to himself. Easier than trying to wrestle out of two pair of jeans.
The lawn ended and the forest began as he moved into the trees. It couldn’t be very far he reasoned. Probably just a few feet.
“Elgin?” he called, weaving among the trees.
And then he saw it. A flash of red among the green trees and brown dirt.
“Here I come,” he growled playfully, “ready or not.”
He stepped into the clearing and in a heartbeat, the heat of his need vanished, replaced with icy dread. From the middle of the space, Elgin’s bear grinned up at him, it’s black eyes wide in welcome, it’s little arms outstretched as though glad to see him. The pendant hung from his left paw like an extended gift.
In three long strides, Harm got to the bear, bending down and reaching for the little stuffed animal.
Behind him, he heard a branch snap and turned his head just in time to see a blur of movement before the bomb exploded in the back of his skull and fireworks lit up the sudden blackness.
Chapter Thirteen
He became aware of the pain, even before he awoke. A fleet of jackhammer’s pounded out the “Anvil Chorus” in his head while thousands of little people in spiked shoes polkaed through the mush that had recently been his brain. Yellow lights like points of ugly, glaring neon pulsed regularly behind his eyelids.