Page 2 of The Hidden Guardian
“I have to go clock in, see you on the floor,” I call behind me. I have too many issues at home to get involved in other people’s drama. To be honest, I don’t really connect well with anyone here in Rocky Falls. These people don’tgetme or the quirky principles and deities my Mother instilled in us. I’ve had to grow up hard and fast and have responsibilities now, some that a spoiled, single-child, man-eater, like Vicky could never understand.
* * *
I’m showing an older gentleman our new Sureshooter 200 rifle when Vicky finds her way over to me. She butts in, something about the scope being ‘totally awesome,’ and relieves me of continuing this conversation with him. I admire how she can make a sale with absolutely no effort. Sometimes I wonder whether it’s due to her attractiveness or her experience with guns, maybe it’s a combo of both. So I let her take control of the sale; it’s not like we work on commission. All of my energy was drained in my fight with Colton this morning. Mother used to say the Gods don’t like when brothers and sisters are at odds.
“I’ll take it,” the man full-on smiles at Vicky, a missing tooth on the side of his mouth greets us both, and she starts ringing him up.
“A few of my friends and I are going camping this weekend, Autumn, you should totally come,” she offers once again, even though she knows I won’t go.
“I don’t think this weekend is going to work.” I look away because I’ve always been a bad liar. I don’t know why she still tries making plans with me because I always turn her down.
“Don’t lie to me.” She nudges my arm. Working together for two years, she’s picked up that I prefer to be alone. I’m more like my Mother than I care to admit sometimes.
“My brother is getting into trouble. I can’t leave him in an empty house right now …” I shiver thinking of what I would come home to if I left him unaccompanied for an entire weekend.
“You need to loosen up, he’s eighteen—he just needs to get it out of his system,” she states, leaning closer to me and nudging my shoulder. “Don’t you think she should get out more?” Vicky turns to hand the receipt to her salt and pepper friend. He nods and smiles again as she hands him the gun and a box full of rounds.
“I—” Vicky stops me, throwing her hand up.
“I know …” She shakes her head. “Just let me know if you change your mind.” With that, she walks away from me, knowing a lost ‘sale’ when she sees one.
I sigh when the interrogation stops, but part of me—the part that is still young at heart—would love to go camping. It’s been so long since I’ve just hung out with friends, no worries, and laughed. Gods, what I would give to laugh again and be carefree for a few days.
ChapterTwo
AUTUMN
The walk home from work is refreshing as always. Something about the fresh air always seems to put my mind at ease. The scent of the moist earth and blooming flowers hits me and my eyes automatically close. That’s one thing my Mother instilled in us at an early age, a love and appreciation of nature.
As I walk down the road, the sun shines down on me as it breaks through the trees. The worry washes away in these moments when it’s just me and the trees—things are bigger than me. The tension in my shoulders melts with the summer sun. It gives the responsibilities I carry on them some perspective. He is my brother, the only family I have left. Opening my eyes, my anger dissipates until it is all but evaporated. I didn’t realize I’d stopped walking in my little reverie, and I pick up the pace as I head for our tiny cabin.
The little red mailbox standing erect at the edge of the street indicates the turn-off to my dirt driveway. The overgrown path winds until it opens to a small clearing where our four-room cabin sits nestled between two tall pine trees. It’s not much to look at, but it’s where we grew up and holds the memory of my Mother. I never knew my father. When I started school, I saw other families with two parents. I’d asked my Mother where my father was, and she explained he’d died before I was born. Three years later, she told me I would have a brother. I didn’t understand until I was older that it meant we have different fathers. Since neither Colton nor I knew our fathers, Mother was our everything—and now she’s gone.
I try to be that for Colton. I wish I knew how Mother would handle his attitude as of late. But as I walk through the front door that that’s like wishing for something that is impossible. Colton has his back to me, reaching into the cupboard above the sink as I enter. I glance down to the coffee table in the living room and eye the white pizza box and a bottle of soda sitting there.
“What the …”
Turning to face me with two glasses in his hands and a huge smile, he proclaims, “I got dinner.”
“With what money?” I snap, my hands clenching against the back of the couch.
“I have my ways,” he slyly tells me, putting the glasses on the edge of the coffee table and tips open the box of pizza.
“I’m sure you do,” I grumble to myself before the smell of melted cheese hits me and I crumble. It’s been so long since we’ve splurged on something as simple as pizza. My stomach would revolt on me if I didn’t give in and take a slice.
Throwing my purse on the floor, I hop over the back of the couch and sink to my knees before the pizza, grabbing a cheese slice. The other half of the pie has every type of meat possible. Sausage, bacon, ham, and I think I smell anchovies. My face scrunches, but Colton dives right in like a ravenous animal devouring two slices at once. Geez, his appetite lately is insane.
“I’m sorry about last night,” he cautiously starts when he finally comes up for air before shoving down another slice.
“I shouldn’t have snapped like that,” I admit. His soft green eyes make it hard for me to stay mad at him. My brother will always be a piece of me. I sense his regret and sorrow deep in my heart like it’s my own.
“No, I deserved it. I wrecked the place.” The promise of pizza momentarily distracted me, and I finally remember how I left the house with the mess he made. Everything is cleaned up, most of the shelves are now sitting bare, and the old, red cooler is replaced by a brand-new blue one. Apparently, he bought more than just dinner.
“You cleaned it all up?”
“Yeah, it took all day.” Which means he didn’t go to school again today. “I really did a number on the place,” he jokes, flashing me a smile, finally. For some reason, I still see my sweet little brother in his eyes, and not the unruly teenager he has become. We need to be on the same page because we are all each other has left in this world.
“Mother used to make that face,” Colton interrupts. “When she was doing her full-moon ritual and I would mimic her behind her back to make you laugh.”
