County Road 141

Maple Syrup

      Tension in the house grew over the next few weeks when Ren hired Calum Blackthorn the local history teacher and Ren's third in command, to tutor Jenna,in preparation to take her GED. Jenna's education was basic at best.
They had a long way to go but she was an eager student and soaked up information as fast as she could.
   Calum and Bailey argued  constantly. She called him arrogant, he called called her a brat. Ren would usually let it go until it would turn into a screaming match and his nerves would draw up tight.
Jenna would look on In fascination.
She was appalled and enthralled all at the same time.
Jenna wasn't use to arguments that didn't lead into physical violence.
She watched closely one day when Bailey came home from school in a bad mood and when Calum showed up for tutoring Bailey flipped out on him.
Bailey accused him of grading her paper unfairly.
Calum accused Bailey of flirting and socializing instead of using her brain.
Jenna went wide eyed when Calum backed her into a corner and yelled.
"Damn it Bailey your smarter then almost every one in that class stop screwing around and show it.
"Bailey's jaw dropped and she clinched her fist, her face turned red and she screamed.
"Screw you Mr. Blackthorn."
She pushed Calum out of her way, stormed upstairs and slammed her door.
Ren just shook his head. "Smooth Calum, real smooth."
Calum ran his hands through his hair and plopped down on the couch.
Ren's phone rang and he picked it up with a gruff "what."
"Ren it's Taylor we got a body. One of us down on 141."
Jenna heard and stiffened. Ren looked at her.
"Stay in the house Jenna."
It wasn't a request but a command.
He left and drove down 141 until he found Taylor's car and another vehicle on the side of the road. He walked about 100 feet in when he saw Taylor standing there scolding Lana.
"Why the hell did you follow your dad out here Lana?"
"I told you deputy Taylor, I followed him because I thought maybe it was the wolf I saw following Jenna the night I hit her. I didn't know he meant like a real body."
Taylor huffed. "You ain't got the lick of sense God gave a grass hopper Lana Decauter."
"Ya well you have the vocabulary of a backwoods hick Deputy Finch Taylor."
Taylor grinned at that and said with a smirk.
"Well thank ya kindly mam."
Ren rolled his eyes. "If you two are done flirting can someone tell me what's going on?"
Taylor turned to Ren and explained that Lana followed her Dad after he made the call but didn't touch anything.
Where is your dad Ren asked her. "
He went back to the car for some water Sheriff."
Joe Decauter walked back up and noticed the sheriff had arrived.
"Sheriff" he nodded his head to him. "
Joe how did you come across it he asked pointing to the body on the ground.
"Well we live just a mile up the road and I went for a run. I was told this was reserved for our kind."
It is Ren said. "Did you touch anything?"
"No sheriff.As soon as I caught the scent I ran back to call your office."
"Alright Joe you take Lana on home now and keep this to yourselves."
Joe took Lana's arm and they headed out of the woods.
Taylor circled the body and scrunched his brows. "You smell that Ren?"
"Ya It's maple syrup and it smells fresh. Fuck what the hell is a dead body doing in our woods smelling like Jenna."