I smiled at her as I checked her out, shooting my mom a knowing grin.
“I told you so,” I whispered as I packed the woman’s items up. After giving her receipt and bags, I crossed my arms and faced my mother with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes, turning her back to walk through the store. “Why don’t you stay at the store on Monday? I need some help around here. Also, we could eat dinner together at home. I will cook your favorite stuffed chicken if you want.” Her back was to me, but her voice resonated her worry. I knew her all too well. By the way she lured me to stay on Monday, she was hoping I would cancel with Hunter.
Not a chance.
“Mom, I already committed to Monday with Hunter. I’m not canceling on him. We’re going hog hunting that night. That will also give me the chance to train. Plus, his son is coming along.”
“What? You shouldn’t go, Kylie. Who the hell goes hog hunting at nighttime? Practice shooting under the moonlight, when there is nothing but darkness around? And tugging a five-year-old kid along to watch the entire violent animal shooting? No way! You’re not going along.” She was decisive. Her fists were curled into a ball, her eyes ablaze. Telling her about Hunter’s plans was a big mistake. She was overreacting and had to be the most paranoid person I knew in life.
“Mom, it's fine. Hunter and Garren are skilled hunters. I know they are well aware of the land at night. I’m in safe hands. And I hate to point this out, but I’m not a little girl anymore, Mom. I’m twenty-seven years old. I’m going.”
“I’m your mother, Kylie. No matter how old you get, I will always be the woman who knows what’s best for you. Believe me, I know it’s definitely dangerous to go along with Hunter.” She was calmer, but her eyes were frightened.
“Sorry, Mom. I’m going, but I promise I will stay safe.”
I turned to face the next customer who was ready to check out at the front. I was surprised to see that it was the man mother hated the most, one of our regulars.
His face was pale as always, the bags under his eyes getting bigger and darker. He looked awfully eccentric, but upon seeing me smile, he returned a crooked smile. I scanned the barcode of the item he bought, which was a bottled energy drink. Too bad he settled on something to hype him up. He needed a sleeping pill, from the looks of things.
“You should be careful,” he spoke as he handed his payment to me, his eyes fixated on the bill he was handing over.
I looked at him and nodded, thanking him for his reminder. “Um, sure. Thanks?”
“I heard your house got broken into yesterday. Sorry to hear about that.” The man turned his back, refusing to get the receipt of his purchase. He gripped his drink tightly as he exited the shop, not saying another word.
Weird. How did he know that my house was broken into by burglars? I looked at my mother who was sitting behind the pastry stand, her head bowed down as she pretended to be busy reading a novelette as the man left the convenience store.
I glanced toward the window, watching the man walk further away as a chill raced down my spine. With one last look from afar, I caught him looking at my mother, whose head was still down pretending to read her book.
Who is that man? And what the hell does he want?
Chapter Nine
Hunter
Sunday was spent doing the same drill as Saturday, just a little slower. After a long day, we closed up and headed home. It felt like I blinked twice and it was Monday morning again. Time to start another week, but this one would have more of Kylie in it.
A little after lunch, Garren walked through the door carrying a duffel bag around his shoulder. He was not wearing his uniform. Instead, he wore a white shirt and faded jeans.
“So, you like being called Day Late Garren, huh?” I watched as he approached my desk, putting his bag under the one the desk at the counter. He looked tired and didn’t seem too excited about me poking at him. What else was new?
“Sorry, man. I just got back into town. Too bad the bus schedules were delayed.”
“No problem. I hope you have not yet forgotten about our hog hunting game tonight.” I studied him, wondering where the hell he’d been all weekend. We were good friends, but neither of us pried into the other’s life. Just didn’t seem right.
“Oh, yeah, sorry, Hunter. I totally forgot. Man, I got a date tonight with some hot chick I met on the weekend.” He scratched his head and sighed. By the looks of things, he’d had a few too many beers the night before. Damn.
“No big deal, Garren. You better not disappoint the girl.” I patted his shoulder as I turned my back to him.
Several customers filled the gun shop, buying guns for shooting and hunting season over the rest of the afternoon, leaving me happy and the cash register full.
As the late afternoon approached, I heard Vince’s bus stop before our shop. Garren was busy attending the customers when my son came inside, walking slowly, simply dragging his feet to come to my side. Seeing him in that state, I got up from my desk and walked to meet him in the center of the shop.
“Hey, buddy, are you okay?” I took his backpack and lunchbox to ease the weight he carried. Vince looked pale, his eyes drowsy and a little red. As I held his forehead, it was hot. He must have caught something.
“I’m okay, Dad. Look, I can still dance the chicken song we performed today.” He moved along, trying to dance, but the poor thing looked like a limp noodle wiggling. He looked awfully sick, and he needed to take a day off.