The Walking Wolves of Tahoe: Slaughter

Chapter 11

There is nothing better than sleeping in your own bed...but as I stretched, trying to wake up, I realized I was alone in bed. I turned my head against my pillow to see that Lou was not next to me...he was gone.

I slowly sat up and looked around my room. The only clothes on the floor were mine. Lou's were gone.

I was starting to wonder if I had dreamt the whole cabin get-a-way.

I pulled my covers down to see a breast with numerous hickey marks across it and that was all the confirmation I needed to know I wasn't crazy and didn't dream the entire event. But where was Lou?

There was a faint recognizable smell that filled my senses with the desire to actually get out of bed. It was the smell of coffee.

That's where Lou was. He was downstairs.

I crawled out of bed, drawn to the smell that starts my day, and walked over towards my closet for my robe. I put it on quickly, tying it as I walked out of my bedroom, eager for a cup of coffee and to see Lou.

I walked down the stairs of my home with a spring in my step. I felt great. I slept great. And I believe, now, I have a great guy in my once dismal world. I was walking on sunshine and judging from the windows in the living room, there was plenty of it to walk on today.

I scooted through the living room, across the dining room and into the kitchen...the smell of my drug of choice getting stronger with every step. I stepped into the kitchen expecting to see Lou in there...but he wasn't there.

I looked out the rear kitchen windows to find Lou sitting outside in one of my porch deck chairs drinking his coffee. He turned his head towards me and waved.

I smiled, waved in response and walked over towards the coffee maker. I opened the cupboard I keep my coffee cups in and removed one for myself. As I poured coffee into my cup, I had to wonder how Lou knew I was downstairs and in the kitchen?

I didn't stomp through the house.

I didn't tap on the window to get his attention.

I didn't yell out his name.

I was still puzzling over how Lou knew I was awake and downstairs when he opened the back door and walked inside.

"Good morning." He greeted me with a smile as he closed the door.

The breeze that blew in before the door shut let me know that it might be sunny outside, but it sure wasn't warm...and true to his character, Lou was outside in only a t-shirt and jeans. He must have one incredible immune system.

"Good morning." I returned the greeting as he moved in closer towards me. "Have you been up long?" I asked.

Lou nodded.

"Sorry..." I mumbled taking a sip of hot coffee, "...I sleep pretty hard."

Lou shook his head, "Don't be. I've been up most of the night."

"Something wrong?" I asked, not sure why Lou was up all night. Maybe his Mother did call all those times while we were up at the cabin because there was something wrong and not just because she likes to 'annoy him', as Lou says she does.

"While I was up last night, I got ahold of my friend, Ancel." Lou said as he reached for the coffee pot to refill his cup. I waited for Lou to continue.

"It wasn't a good phone call." He hesitated as he shook his head, "I've gotta say, I'm very worried about him."

I could hear it in his voice and I could see it across his face. Lou was very worried about his friend.