Chapter Nine

After raiding the outhouse that was in the opposite direction from the one I took when searching for it and placing the contents they’d removed from it in a hefty pile over the spot where I’d urinated,  Oscar and Noah said their good-byes.  Kenzie had been given last minute instructions and had audibly vowed to start out first thing with the intention of getting the job done in record time.  Oscar vowed the same.

That night, I slept very little.  Every sound in the night made me jump. With the moon on the verge of being full, it was bright enough for me to see the cabin’s surroundings without the aid of a light.  I periodically peered out of the window to search the tree line for a man who was really a werewolf come to steal me away.

I was still awake when I heard Kenzie clambering about the kitchen in an effort to get going for the day. It was obvious that she wasn’t a morning person. I’d neglected to bring a robe.  So, when I climbed out of bed, I pulled on a cardigan to help ward off the early morning chill before joining my friend in the kitchen.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” Kenzie apologized.  “I’m not used to using a French press for my coffee.  I dropped the kettle in the sink while filling it.  My damned eyes always fight me when they first wake up.”

“Your eyes or your hands?” I asked as I took the French press from her and measured the appropriate amount of coffee into it.

“I have poor depth perception when I first wake up.  If that’s not enough, my ever faithful  arthritis likes to say good-morning,” Kenzie lamented.  “I slammed the kettle into the faucet and then my fingers gave out.”

“I had no idea,” I said with concern.

“I take meds to keep it under control,” she explained.  “By the time you see me, they’ve taken effect and I’m good to go.”

“I don’t usually see you until the afternoon,” I said with concern.  “It doesn’t take that long, does it?”

She shook her head and murmured, “It takes about an hour,” as she popped a few pills into her mouth and forced them down with a tall glass of water.

I watched her throat work at moving the pills and the water down into her esophagus until the glass was empty.

“Geez,” I said in a voice just above a whisper.

“Yep,” she said as she caught her breath after holding it long enough to guzzle the water. “Every morning.” Bending over the sink, she splashed water on her face several times before adding, “I don’t need glasses.  My vision is good. It’s just that my eyes are lazy in the morning.  Once I wake them up, I can see just fine.”

“That’s good,” I said as I pulled the kettle off the stove and carefully poured the steaming liquid over the coffee grounds at the bottom of the French press.  “This smells delicious.”

“There’s nothing better than a fresh cup of java in the morning,” she said as she held her cup out for me to fill.

“We have to give it just a minute to brew,” I explained.  At the look of disappointment on her face, I said with assurance, “It will be well worth the wait. I promise.”

“I want to get going within the next fifteen minutes,” she nervously said.  “I slept very little last night.  I can’t explain it, but my gut is telling me that we should get out of here before the full moon.”

“You really believe what they said about the werewolves?” I asked.

She looked at me with concern as she said, “Normally, I’d say no, but I’ve never known Oscar to fabricate stories.  Especially stories of such a nature.  I was going to ask you what you think.  I mean, what does your psychic think?”

“My psychic isn’t alive to think,” I said with irritation.

For some reason, it bothered me when people referred to my abilities as if they were independent entities.  It happened more than I cared to admit, but it had never happened with Kenzie.  I was a bit disappointed when it did.

“You know what I’m saying,” she said with irritation.  “It’s morning and I’m waiting for coffee.  Cut me some slack.”

Feeling a bit better for that response, I smiled and said, “I don’t really know.  When the matter involves me, I have trouble deciphering.  I will tell you that there is an energy coming from both brothers that is different and strong.”

“Werewolf energy, maybe,” she mused as she held her cup out for me to fill with the freshly brewed, aromatic liquid.

“Since I’m still debating about the existence of werewolves, I couldn’t say,” I replied.  I could have told her that I’d also spent a night of hell worrying about werewolf men, but I didn’t.  Looking around the room I added, “Speaking of wolves, where’s Snow?”

“He took off as soon as I went out to use the outhouse this morning,” she replied as she lovingly cradled her coffee cup. “Damn, I love this stuff.”

I poured coffee into a mug for myself and nodded. “I can’t imagine starting the day without it.”  Feeling my bodily urges coming alive from the caffeine as I sipped my coffee, I added, “I need to use the outhouse. Seeing as Snow didn’t feel the need to guard me, I’m assuming it’s safe.”

“It’s beautiful out there already,” Kenzie said with a nod.  “You’ll be shedding that sweater fast enough.”

“Good,” I said over my shoulder as I stepped out onto the porch. “I want to wash up in the lake.  Warmth is good when you’re using Mother Nature’s supplies for cleaning up.”

Her voice trickled out to me as I stepped off the porch as she chuckled and said, “So true.  So true.”