Page 86 of In You
Wolf On A Hill
Caleb
WhenIserved,Igarnered the nickname Wolf on a Hill because of my solitude and my unwavering obsession to pursue justice at whatever cost. I only know now, two decades later, that this need to tip the scales of power is driven by my trauma. And though I have good intent, there's that beast inside me that needs to be fed on the blood of those who hurt others.
Trevor's wife, Nancy, looks up from her spot in the bed as I walk in.
She's sitting up, with the baby on the comforter between her legs, and is in the middle of changing his diaper. Obviously tired, she whips her head up to look at me, and it takes a second for her brain to process that I'm not one of her older kids. Her eyes dilate, and her face flushes as shock morphs her features from one of exhaustion, into one of fear.
Not even through putting the diaper on, she moves fast, crying out and snatching the baby to her breast so fast I'm momentarily afraid for its neck. I put a finger to my lips and then shake my head no as I close the door behind me, then lock it.
My eyes leave hers briefly to land upon Trevor, who's knocked out cold in the bed next to her with his back to us.
My entire being fills with disgust at the sight of him laying there oblivious to his imminent demise. Though, it doesn't surprise me. He is a man with absolutely zero protective traits, after all.
She draws her knees up, cradling the baby to her chest.
"Don't hurt my babies," she whispers, keeping her eyes on mine. Not blinking, just clutching that baby to her with everything she's got. I tilt my head. "You can have whatever you want, just let me get my babies out of here."
"Wake him up," I say, taking a seat in a nearby chair.
She moves fast, shaking him with a hand to his shoulder. "Trev. Trev, wake up.Wake up!"she whispers, shaking him harder.
He moans and then flops to his back, pulling a knee up on a deep sigh. "Nancy, I told you I'd get up in the morning with them to make breakfast if you let me sleep tonight. I'm so tired." He puts a hand to his eyes and then groans.
"Trevor," she says, her voice trembling."Trevor, the man from the grocery store is in our room."
He sits up fast, locking eyes with me before sliding down to the rifle clutched loosely in my grasp. They widen, and I swear I can hear his heart pounding from where I sit fifteen feet away.
"What do you want?" he asks softly, his eyes now narrowing. "We don't have money."
"I want you to tell your wife about Tamryn."
He frowns, curling his lip. "Who? I don't know a Tamryn," he spits out.
"Oh, that's right, youwouldn'tknow her as Tamryn, would you? No." My eyes stay tight on his and I lean forward, pointing my rifle at him. "You know her asCunty."
Nancy's head recoils, and her mouth twists in disgust as she turns in the bed to look at him.
"What?" When Trevor gets another guilty look on his face, she leans forward and smacks him hard on his arm."Cunty,Trevor?What kind of sick shit is he talking about?"
"I promise, Nancy, I don't know what he's talking about," he stammers, shaking his head and trying to push himself up further against the headboard.
I take the safety off and prime the chamber. Trevor's face goes red.
"You didn't think it was odd that a woman would come up to him like that at the grocery store, Nancy?" I say, bringing her attention to me.
"She was mentally ill!" he says loudly.
"Be quiet, you wouldn't want to wake your other kids up."
He turns his eyes back to Nancy's who's staring back with tears in hers.
"You're going to get us killed because you had an affair?" she says, her breath hitching as disbelief meets betrayal."Trevor."
"I don't know her."
I sit and stew in his desperation for a second, instinctively knowing that there's a reason he's not wanting to confess for more than just the fact he's cheated with a grown woman. Evenifyou throw in the fact that there was a sick adolescent theme which centered around her acting like an animal, there's something more here. He's not begging for his kids to be spared, or for his wife. He's willing for them all to die to protect something.
