Page 6 of DOG Part 2
3
Kane
Kim sether tin plate down before sighing and leaning back with her legs crossed in front of her. Her body was soft and languid against the blankets, and the sight made my mouth water.
“What did you think?” I asked.
“Not bad,” she answered with a coy smile.
“Not bad?” I repeated, pretending to look offended.
She picked a pillow up and tossed it, but I dodged it deftly. “Tell me the truth.”
“I just said it wasn’t bad.”
“But it wasn’t great.”
She smirked. “True. But it was better because you made it.Andcaught it. And cleaned it. After killing it, I assume.”
A visible shudder went through her shoulders and I laughed. “It’s only hard the first time. After that you get used to it.”
“You grew up hunting?”
“Not really. I learned when I was a teenager. I was into the outdoors way before I joined the army. I used to go out camping on the weekends. It was kind of fun to see if I could make it with just my jack knife and a canteen of water.”
“Wow. And here I thought a trip to the movies and the mall made for the perfect weekend.”
“Banner never took you out camping?”
“Well, sure, once or twice, I think. I was really little. It was all pretty demure, though. There was a lot more marshmallow roasting going on than there was killing.”
“I think you’d be good at it.”
She gave me a look of surprise. “What? Catching an animal and killing it?” She shook her head. “I don’t think I could do it.”
“People are capable of doing amazing things if there’s a need. You’d probably be surprised to see how much you’re capable of.”
She turned and gazed at the fire, its crackling filling up the room. It was eerily quiet all around the ranch, without even the sounds of birds, and I didn’t like it. The silence seemed ominous and it did anything but put me at ease.
“How long are we going to have to stay here?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” I said, mulling over the topic once more while I answered. “I still haven’t gotten a call from Deuce or anyone else, so I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks,” she said softly, looking so beautiful and innocent that I wanted to take her right in my arms and rock her till she felt safe and secure.
“My mom might be being buried today,” she continued, staring at the floor. “And I don’t even know.” She sighed and rubbed her face. “Damn it. Everyone is probably wondering where the Hell I am and why I’m not at the funeral. My friends. My aunt. They probably think I’m dead in a ditch or something.”
My heart contracted so badly that it hurt. “Kim...”
She looked back up at me, her eyes glazed over with tears. “It’s not your fault. Even if I wanted to blame it all on you yesterday. It’s just really shitty, that’s all.”
“But you still think it’s your dad’s fault.”
She sighed heavily. “Yes. No. Damn, I don’t know.”
I reached a hand out to her shoulder and she smiled up at me. “I think that I’ve been angry and resentful for so long that I’m just tired of it, you know? But am I ready to forgive my dad? I don’t know... I don’t think so. It’s just too soon.”
“I understand.”
