Who Runs in Moonlight

Chapter 3

Conner was from Montana.

A first generation college student.

He'd never admit to anyone that being away from home was difficult. Mom and dad worked hard to make this possible for him. He wasn't going to complain. But he did miss them. He missed the arid open country of the northern Rockies. He missed ranch life.

So he sometimes drove his Chevy to Sunnyside cafe where two old ranchers met for breakfast.

The taller and thinner of the two saw him come through the door. "There he is!"

Conner touched the bill of his olive Ducks Unlimited cap. "Mr. Horst."

"Hey, there, kid." The shorter and rounder of the two pulled out the chair beside him with some effort. "Sit down."

"Thanks, Mr. Roswell."

"What do you say, Conner?"

"Not much, I reckon."

These two sat for over an hour, drinking coffee and talking. He came to hear the cadence of their wisdom and outlook on life. They liked him, he thought maybe because he listened and spoke when spoken to.

"So Conner, how're things over at the school?"

"They're fine. Thank you for asking."

"I s'pose there's a lot of them enviro-mentalists there, isn't there?"

Conner smiled good-naturedly. "That may be."

"Why is it they want to turn loose everything we fought so hard against in this country?"

Conner pushed his cap to the back of his head. "How do you mean?"

"I just can't understand a person who thinks it's a good idea to set wolves free to kill and maim ever living thing. What are they thinking? It ain't good for the elk, or the deer, nor anybody, I reckon, who genuinely cares for the land. It's just money and them nuts down in California that pay out for whatever they think is cute and cuddly."

"Cute and cuddly. Shit," spat Mr. Roswell. "If you've seen what they do, it ain't cute and cuddly."

"And it's folks like us that lose the money in cattle they kill."

"Hell, it's us that's held hostage by this damned tree-hugging, wolf-loving foolishness."

Conner stroked down the front of his short hair thoughtfully. "What brought this up?"

"Roswell thinks he's got wolves on his place already."

"I'm telling you! Something spooked my cattle last night."

Conner furrowed his brow. "You think they've come this far? From Eastern Oregon?"

"Well, I don't know." This frustrated Mr. Roswell. "I couldn't swear by it, no."

Mr. Horst ready for a change in subject. He said, "You still lookin' for odd jobs, Conner?"

He nodded. "Yes, sir."

"I could use some help this week."

"I'll head out right after class."

Mr. Roswell: "Well, when he's finished with you, let me know. I have some fences need work. If you got the time to help a couple old ranchers."

Conner laughed. "I do. Russell's back home with my folks, and I'm on top of my classes."

"You want to go to class with me?" Edwin asked Lou.

She leaped up.

For his part, Edwin knew he'd been a dog. He was looking for a chance to apologize. So as they crossed campus he said, "Lou, I didn't mean... to... I guess, take advantage of you or anything. You know, that first night."

"Yeah?" She looked surprised.

"Yeah," he was sincere. "I'm sorry."

Lou smiled her toothy grin at him then pushed him backward with both palms, laughing. "We're good."

His professor gave permission for her to visit. During class, she sat, silent, mildly interested. Edwin didn't think she acted as though the content was relevant to anything in her own universe. Still, after class, the professor reached out to that same reserved charisma that took us all in. Lou slathered her with attention like she'd understood every word. The professor invited her back.

Edwin was curious.

But he wasn't surprised when Lou asked Wendy and Tomomi if she could tag along with them. By the end of the week, she'd worked her way into many classes. She had this whole network of friends on campus. For not being a student, it was like she was enrolled.

Not that we thought we had a monopoly of Lou, but that that girl got around. Got around to making friends. Got around to making lovers without hesitancy or shame. She went on her own to visit people across campus. We'd find out from other students or professors we never heard of that she'd sat in on their classes. She'd gone to lunch with them, attended their parties until people all over town knew who Lou was.

But within another week, it was the five of us who remained each other's home away from home.

Her legs and arms ached.

The moon bled through curtains. It spilled through the gaps, soaked the mattress she lay curled on before she twitched awake. She held her eyes closed for sleep. But her body couldn't find rest. It was like growing pains deep within her limbs. It pulled at her muscles and drew along her thighs and biceps. She turned against the wall, twisted away, pushed the headboard then kicked the blankets into a pile.

A low growl underscored her breath as she exhaled in frustration. She rolled and rocked up to her feet. She pressed her face against the cold glass of the window. Her hot breath escaped her mouth and condensed to make her nose wet and slippery against the pane. Outside, the top edges of dorm architecture, benches, and sidewalks were white-grey with moonlight.

Lou turned and padded soundlessly toward the door.

"You okay?" Wendy asked from her own bed.

Lou froze and whispered, "Yeah." She fidgeted between returning to her bed and the longing she felt to get out that door. "I'll see you later."

As the door closed behind her, Wendy pulled her phone from beneath her pillow.

She texted Edwin: 'Did she go out when she slept with you?'

Edwin: 'She didn't sleep with me, remember? What do you mean?'

'Like in the middle of the night. Just leave.'

'idk. Don't think so. Why?'