Sunset Glade Panthers: The Original Trilogy and Epilogue Page 3

  Tucker’s answering bark of laughter made Benny frown. The hurt look in his brother’s eyes sent a stab of guilt to Tucker’s gut.

  “It’s not that easy, Ben. I’m not exactly normal, either,” he reminded.

  “But you’re not the only panther out here at least…”

  Tucker sighed. Benny longed to know there was another like him out in the world. The legends had to have come from somewhere, right?

  If there were other sasquatches in the area, they kept to themselves as much as he and Ben did. They’d never heard of another.

  “A normal life isn’t in the cards for either of us, Benny boy,” Tucker said, trying to inject a little humor into the dour mood that hung over them.

  Ben cracked another crab body with his unnaturally strong teeth and sent pieces of shell flying across the kitchen.

  “I can take care of myself. I’m not a kid anymore, you know,” Ben protested.

  “Unh,” was Tucker’s reply again. It had been nearly a decade since his brother interacted with the outside world. He didn’t remember how nasty people could be. How vicious they’d turn when faced with something new and different.

  At least being with Parks and Wildlife afforded him the freedom and flexibility to stay in the swamp. To make sure he kept Benny safe from prying eyes and shifter noses. If he could do that much, he’d be happy.

  Chapter Three

  Gabi

  “Remember the year you gutted your own fish for the first time?” Dr. Fairway asked his younger daughter as he perused an old yellowed photo album.

  “Ugh!” Gabi exclaimed, “How could I forget? First and last time,” she joked looking at a younger version of herself proudly holding a largemouth bass by the gills.

  “We had so much fun on those trips, didn’t we, bear?”

  Gabi sighed and flipped to the next page in the album. There were plenty of pictures of Lily in school plays, recitals, pageants and events, but none of the older girl in the wilderness. That had always being their thing. Gabi and her father’s.

  She saw her dad getting emotional at the old pictures. When she was younger, they’d taken a camping trip into the swamp every year this time. Rich Fairway liked for people to think it was a way to bond with his daughter, but Gabi knew what he was really up to.

  “Oh, this was the year we found tracks, remember?” he tapped a picture of a fourteen year-old Gabi with her forearm used as scale for the massive footprint.

  She sighed again, “Yeah, of course I remember.”

  That was before she understood just how crazy her father was. Just how deep his obsession ran.

  “Would you ever want to do something like that again? For old time’s sake?”

  The hopeful expression on the old man’s face made Gabi feel so much guiltier for her response.

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, dad. It’s dangerous out there for…”

  “For what? An old man?” he asked with an offended look.

  Guilt gnawed at Gabi’s intestines.

  “That’s not what I meant…”

  “Of course it is! You’ve been listening to Lillian again. I’m not senile, Gabs.”

  She frowned. She owed it to him to give him a chance, didn’t she?

  “Promise me this isn’t a bigfoot hunt in disguise?”

  A wide smile split his wrinkled face, “Scout’s honor, cross my heart,” he answered, making an ‘X’ over his chest.

  “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret this?” she muttered, rolling her eyes.

  Who knew? Maybe it would be fun. Maybe it would be like old times. Maybe they’d bond and make memories that would last a lifetime.

  She laughed inwardly. And maybe bigfoot really exists.

  scene break

  In all of her fond memories of camping, Gabi never recalled having so much trouble sleeping. They’d spent the day exploring the swamp, playing wildlife bingo, fishing and generally doing the things that had filled her childhood.

  But now it was time to sleep. Her father snored loudly in the sleeping bag next to hers, his rumbling wasn’t the cause of her insomnia, though.

  Sleeping in the woods had always been an adventure. Something exciting and fun. This had been so much easier as a kid. How did dad do it?

  She’d never noticed the sharp twigs poking through her sleeping bag or the deafening drone of cicadas outside. Her childhood memories conveniently omitted the sheer volume of mosquitoes, too.

  Sleep seemed like an impossible fantasy.

  Gabi decided to walk around camp a little to stretch her legs. Hell, maybe she’d walk enough to get tired.

  She fumbled her way through the darkened trails with a flashlight, keeping a lookout for the tell-tale red of a gator’s eyes in the light. The last thing she needed was to come up on a gator in the middle of the night.

  At least then she could stop worrying about the thugs’ threat to her father. She’d tried to mention it to him, but the old man waved her off as being a worrywart.

  It wasn’t as if she were just inventing things to worry about like Lily.

  No wonder she couldn’t sleep, Gabi thought, she couldn’t stop agonizing over her father’s future. If she went along with Lily’s plan, he’d lose his freedom. If she didn’t, he might lose so much more.

  Her flashlight caught a glow of wild eyes in the night. She whipped back around, her heart hammering. Please don’t be a gator…

  It was probably a raccoon. She swept the wide beam of light over the trees in front of her, looking again. Whatever it was had probably scattered seeing the flashlight.

  Another flash of gold caught her eye and Gabi settled the light on the predator, feeling her blood freeze within her veins: a panther.

  She’d heard stories of the big cats that once laid claim to the Florida wilderness, but she’d thought they’d all but died out in the last few decades.

  Now, Gabi found herself face-to-face with undeniable proof that the panthers were still alive and well.

  “Nice kitty,” she mumbled, taking a step back.

  The panther regarded her with a look of confusion. It didn’t move or show any aggression toward her and Gabi felt her panic melt away. This creature wasn’t going to hurt her.

  Against all reason she wanted to move towards it. She wanted to touch its fur and nuzzle into its neck like an overstuffed teddy bear.

  What was wrong with her? This thing could disembowel her with one swipe of its powerful claws. Yet, as she stared into his glowing gold eyes, Gabi felt the Earth shift on its axis. For a moment she was transfixed, a strange connection bridging them together.

  Reason finally gripped her and she took her chances, running the other way back towards camp.

  She took her time picking through the foliage, trying to come to grips with whatever monumental shift had just occurred. Maybe it was just sleep deprivation. No one had reported seeing any panthers. Certainly not any friendly ones.

  And there was something about those eyes… she couldn’t get the golden gleam out of her mind. The pieces didn’t fit together.

  She broke through the tree line to find her campsite in a tizzy of activity.

  “Oh thank heavens, Gabi, you’re alright!” Her father exclaimed, limping over to give her a firm hug.

  It took her a moment to take in the scene: paramedics, law enforcement and a handful of other campers gathered in the clearing.

  Panic gripped her chest with iron fingers.

  “Dad, what happened? Are you hurt?”

  “I was so worried about you,” he answered with another hug.

  “What? Why?”

  His face turned grim, “There was an attack. An… animal.”

  His emphasis of the word didn’t escape Gabi. Her father clearly had other theories but didn’t want to say so around the other people.

  “What happened? Why are you limping?”

  “I woke up and you were gone, so I went out to look for you. I stumbled — quite literally — on the vi
ctim of the attack.”

  “Oh my god,” Gabi gasped, realizing that the Rangers were taking statements from the other campers.

  “Is he…?”

  “They think he’ll make it,” her father answered the question she was afraid to ask.

  Gabi sighed, nodding in relief.

  “Now will you listen when I tell you it’s dangerous out here?” she scolded.

  “I wasn’t the one traipsing off alone at night, young lady. I taught you better than that,” he reprimanded in turn.

  Gabi felt her cheeks flush with guilt, but then she remembered the panther. And those eyes.

  A shiver traveled down her spine. Was there something to her father’s theory? Was there something in the Glade that wasn’t completely animal? Not entirely human?

  For years, she thought her father just as crazy as the rest of the town did. She’d dealt with ridicule and name-calling growing up. She was tormented as a kid, her entire family ostracized by the rest of the community.

  Part of Gabi resented her father for never letting it go. For never seeing how his theories affected his children. How miserable they were. But what if he was onto something? What if she’d been too harsh with him? Too quick to judge him as lonely and senile?

  Before she could agree to lock him away, Gabi needed to be sure. She had to know what was out there.

  Chapter Four

  Tucker

  He’d heard the rustling nearby. Scented the intruder. Pursued and stalked her. Their eyes met.

  MATE, the panther growled internally, refusing to bare its teeth to Gabi.

  Mate? What the hell was that about?

  Tucker opened his front door, raking a weary hand over his stubbled face. He had enough on his plate without a mate. The panther must be mistaken.

  “Out for a midnight stroll?” Benny asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “Not now, Ben,” he grumbled.

  “You missed a call from the Sheriffs. Where were you?”

  Benny’s revelation gave him pause, “What did the Sheriff want?”

  “I asked first,” his younger brother teased in a sing-song voice.

  “There was someone out there. What more do you need to know?” He really didn’t have the patience for Benny’s games right now.

  “Just wondering why you look so star-struck,” Benny added, his tone wounded.

  Tucker flopped onto the well-worn couch in the center of the living room. The springs were all but completely destroyed and Tucker sank down a few inches as the cushions enveloped him.

  “Fucking panther… He tried to claim a mate,” Tucker groaned. Saying the word out loud made it so much worse.

  “Really?” Benny asked, not even trying to hide his amusement, “That’s wonderful. Who is the lucky lady?”

  “No. It is not wonderful. You shut your blasphemous mouth. What did the Sheriff want?”

  “Changing the subject,” Benny taunted, waggling a fur-covered finger in his direction.

  “Gabi Fairway. Happy?” Tucker growled.

  “Ooooh. You could do worse.”

  He had to agree with that much. Thinking about those wide grey eyes, the mane of unruly dark hair and her sweet innocence all wrapped in that little curvy package made him groan. He could certainly do worse than Gabi. But could she do worse than him?

  “Sheriff,” Tucker prompted again, changing the subject once and for all.

  Benny sighed, “There was an attack, looks like it might be a panther. He’s at Sunset Memorial, expected to pull through.”

  Tucker cursed.

  First, he had to keep his secret. Then Benny’s. Then he’d discovered his mate. Now, people were being attacked in his territory and the other shifters could be behind it. What else could go wrong?

  He should’ve known better than to ask that question. Even to himself.

  The next morning, he took the half hour drive to Sunset Memorial Hospital, hoping the victim of the attack would be able to shed some light on what happened.

  He showed his credentials to the receptionist and asked for the victim’s room number. As he neared he heard hushed voices discussing something. His panther itched to investigate.

  Rounding the corner, he got his first glimpse of a round bottom in tight denim shorts — his other half reacted immediately as the blood rushed to his groin.

  “Tell your father ‘thank you’ for me. I’d be a goner if he hadn’t found me,” the patient said with a wheeze.

  “I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear you’re doing alright,” Gabi answered.

  Gabi?

  Tucker prowled the corner, fixing her with a pointed stare as he did. What was she doing there?

  She seemed to sense his presence, turning to face him with a startled look.

  “Hello Mr. Pierce,” Tucker said, reading the man’s name off of his medical chart without sparing another glance for Gabi. He’d find out what she was up to in good time. For now, he needed to know who the culprit behind the attack was.

  Mr. Pierce’s face was covered in gauze to protect his mauled flesh. His chest and arms were similarly bandaged and the exposed skin he did have was covered in bruises.

  “I’m from Parks and Wildlife, I was hoping you’d be able to tell me a little bit about what happened last night?”

  As he said the words, his gaze roved to Gabi. Yes, Gabi, what the hell happened last night? He wondered, his control of his panther slipping. The beast couldn’t be kept from its mate forever, no matter how ridiculous the concept of a mate was to Tucker.

  “I already told this young lady,” he gestured to a suddenly crimson Gabi, “that I don’t remember anything. It dragged me out of camp and I woke up later when the EMTs showed up. I wish I was more helpful. I keep wondering why it went for me… if it had gone after my boy…” Mr. Pierce’s voice cracked as he tried to choke back emotion.

  “It’s time for our walk, Mr. Pierce!” A cheery nurse bustled in, shooing Tucker and Gabi out of her way.

  “I’m fine… no more tests,” he begged.

  “Oh, don’t be such a baby, we just don’t want you to get any blood clots. We’re just going to take a little stroll,” she promised, helping him out of bed.

  Mr. Pierce gave Tucker an apologetic look, “I hope you can figure out what did this.”

  Tucker nodded and debated waiting for the man to return. It didn’t seem like he had any valuable information though. And then there was Gabi, trying to slink out of the hospital room without saying anything to him.

  He blocked her exit, caging her in the room with his bulk.

  “Mind telling me what you think you’re doing here?” He asked with a stern look.

  “It’s none of your business, but if you must know, my father wanted to make sure the man he found was okay. I didn’t want him making the drive all the way up here, so I came instead.”

  Tucker didn’t buy her story for one minute.

  “That’s awfully sweet of you. Now, why are you really here?”

  Gabi groaned and rolled her eyes at him. How could she be even more enthralling when she was annoyed? It had to be his panther talking. He did not have time for this.

  “Goodbye, Tucker,” she said, pushing her way past him.

  He watched her retreating figure, the seductive sway of her hips, the heavy footsteps as she tried to escape without looking panicked. No, she was up to something. And there was no way in hell he’d let her out of his sight until he knew what it was.

  Tucker let her have a head start as she stormed out of the hospital. She thought he was fooled.

  He followed her at a distance through town. Eventually, he realized that she was going back to her father’s house. For a moment, he breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe she wasn’t as foolish as she seemed.

  Still, he couldn’t rest until he knew she hadn’t inherited her father’s lust for danger. He turned the SUV down the rutted driveway, planning his excuse as the vehicle bounced — her father could have witnessed something in the attack
, he should ask him questions. That was plausible, right?

  It sounded good in his head. Then he saw her bent over the tailgate of her father’s truck.

  “Fucking hell,” he swore, imagining all of the dirty things he could do to that sweet ass bent over like that. She had no clue the effect she had on him. If it were up to him, he’d keep it that way.

  He hopped out of the SUV and slammed the door before she even noticed he was there. Hadn’t she heard him coming up the driveway? Her lack of awareness made him more concerned for her wellbeing than ever.

  “Did you follow me home?” she screeched, her face flushed with a combination of exertion and anger.

  “Why would I do something like that? You said your father found Mr. Pierce, right? I was hoping to ask him if he saw anything last night.”

  Gabi’s hands settled on her hips in a show of defiance, “Bullshit.”

  “Don’t be so full of yourself. Why would I follow you all the way out here?”

  She opened her mouth to retort, but closed it silently after a few moments. She didn’t have an answer.

  A predatory grin spread across his face as he strolled casually to inspect the items in the truck bed: camping supplies.

  “Planning another trip so soon?” he asked.

  “What do you want, Tucker? Really?” she huffed, hurling a duffel bag over her shoulder.

  You.

  “You’re not really considering going back out there, are you? Did you not see what happened to Chevy Pierce?”

  “Why does it matter to you? What if I am?”

  He growled, resisting the urge to shake sense into her. All his panther wanted was to bend her over again and have his way with her, but she was busy being infuriatingly stubborn.

  “Don’t you realize how dangerous it is out there? The kind of things that could hurt you? Kill you?”

  “I can take care of myself,” Gabi spat back, “no matter what the other people in this town want to say, this is my home, too. I’m not a stranger to the Glades.”

  “Damn it, Gabi,” he grumbled his hand balled into fists at his side. How could she make him so angry?

  “You can’t go out there alone,” he said, his voice nothing more than a dangerous whisper as he closed the distance between them, pressing her delectable body into the truck.