Chapter 9

 


It was getting close to ten. The occupants of the cottage could hear the wind begin to howl. A few small snowflakes started swirling around the clearings that had been dug out of the snow.

"Brian, we should get back to the house," George said as his group started bundling up.

"Okay, we'll see you in the morning. You have enough flashlights?"

"We're fine," George said with confidence. Their trek was short, however Bobby and John decided to walk with them. Within twenty-five minutes John and Bobby were back at the cottage.

"We should get going too," Drew began. "Our trip is longer." Drew and Emmett's bunch began to bundle up, fortifying themselves against the elements.

"I want Beau to go with you," John offered. "As soon as you get to your door, tell him to go home and he'll come right back," John instructed Drew and Emmett.

"But isn't it dangerous for him?" Emmett asked as he petted the large dog on the head. Emmett had grown very fond of the bear-like dog.

"No, he has a very thick undercoat. He'll be fine for the short time he's out there and I'd feel better knowing he's with you. He'll alert us if you get into any trouble. With you all wearing thick gloves you may not be able to use your phones well. And it's very dark," John insisted.

"Wait, I have an idea," Bobby began then sprinted to his end of the cottage. He was back in a flash with a couple of light necklaces, the type you get at clubs or what kids wear at Halloween. "We had a few of these left over from when the kids went Trick or Treating."

Bobby snapped the ends of the necklaces to begin the chemical reaction that activated the light. The light would last for a few hours, plenty of time for Beau to lead the guys to Emmett's and then come home again. Bobby attached the two necklaces together to make one large enough to go around Beau's neck and secured it to Beau's collar so it wouldn't slip off.

"There, that should do it," Bobby said, satisfied with Beau's new accessory. Beau didn't seem to mind his temporary necklace at all.

The guys were saying good night to the family remaining at the cottage, when John knelt down to give Beau instructions.

"Guide them home, boy, then come right back," John said softly but firmly to the large dog. Beau looked solemnly at John as if he knew the important task he was given. He wagged his tail and placed his muzzle into John's palm. "You're a good boy, Beau. Protect them."

The guys started their trek down the lane with Beau leading the way.



*****

 

"Hello?"

"John, it's Drew, we're here, safe and sound. Beau's on his way back. And thank you for sending him with us. Even with the flashlights, we didn't see the small opening where the two paths joined. Beau saw it and led us through. He's one hell of a dog. He deserves an extra treat when he gets back. He took off running as soon as we were in the door and Emmett told him to go home. Is he there yet?"

"No, not yet...oh, wait...he just came through his doggie door. He's fine, Drew. I'll give him that treat. I'm glad you're safe. Stay warm and we'll see you in the morning."

"Night, John."

"Good night, Drew."

John hung up the phone then saw to Beau. Leading the dog into their bathroom, John took out 'Beau's towel' to dry off the large dog. He paid special attention to Beau's feet, making sure ice or the rock salt they had thrown down didn't cut the pads. Satisfied that nothing was amiss, John led Beau to his cushion and commanded that he lay down.

Taking a large ham bone out of his refrigerator, John presented Beau with his reward.

"You're a good boy, Beau," John said as he patted the dog on the head. Beau happily began to gnaw on his bone.



*****

 

As with the previous night, everyone took turns using the bathrooms and preparing for bed. Everyone took up their same assigned bedrooms except for Owen and Sharon. They insisted on switching with Jennifer and Joan so that Joan wouldn't have to climb the spiral staircase. Joan graciously accepted.

With the cottage settling in for the night, coffeemaker timers all set, the occupants of Edna's Treasures retired for the night.

"Night, Seth," Brian said.

"Good night, Brian," Seth returned. "Night, Justin."

"Night, Seth," Justin answered.

"Night, Raph, Hector," Brian said.

"Night!" the two in the brass bed called out.

"Night, Sharon, Owen!" Brian directed his call to his balcony. They heard giggling then...

"Good night, Brian and Justin!" Sharon and Owen said in unison. The sun porch dorm giggles became louder.

"Good night, Bobby," Seth called out aiming at John's balcony.

"Good night, everyone." Bobby tried to be practical, having an inkling of how this was going to end.

"Good night, John-boy!" everyone called out, unable to resist the joke. When the laughter calmed down...

"I'll get you for this, Kinney," John growled then added his giggles to the rest of the family's.

"Woof!" Beau contributed his sentiments. The family finally settled and went to sleep.

 

*****

 

Brian awoke with a start. The wind was howling around the outside of the sun porch. A tree limb banged on the roof of the cottage.

"Shit!" he muttered. The trails they had dug out were going to be blown full again. The only good thing was that it wasn't snowing, at least not much as far as he could see through the windows. There were still some flakes swirling outside, but it was hard to tell if they were new or were part of what had already fallen and were being blown around by the wind.

"What's the matter, Bri?" Justin asked sleepily.

"Didn't mean to wake you," Brian said gently as he pulled Justin against him and made sure he was covered with the quilt. The chaise was conducive to togetherness but not really to a good night's sleep.

"What's wrong?" Justin asked again.

"Just the wind. Go back to sleep."

"'Kay," Justin replied snuggling up against his husband.

Brian waited a while until he was sure Justin had fallen back to sleep. Once he was sure Justin was in slumberland, he gently eased himself out from under his mate. That was no easy task, as Justin didn't seem to want to let go of him. When he finally was free, he stood up carefully. He looked down at Justin's handsome face so soft in the moonlight. He felt his heart fill with love. It was something he had never intended to experience, something he had known for years he wasn't entitled to. Joan and Jack had taught him that oh so many years ago. But somehow, in spite of everything, this wonderful man/boy had found him and made him love him. Yes, made him. There was no doubt in Brian's mind that without Justin's early tenacity they never would have ended up together. Brian had been quite willing to kick Justin out after that first night they spent together. He had intended never to have anything more to do with him. But Justin had other ideas. And thank the gods he did. Brian couldn't even imagine where he would be now and what his life would be like if Justin had given up on him.

With a gentle smile on his face, Brian tucked the quilt around Justin. He padded quietly to the end of the sun porch to look out at the winter night. Beau raised his head as he heard Brian pass by.

"Go back to sleep, Dog," Brian whispered. "Everything's all right."

He stopped at the door of the sun porch and stared out at the snowdrifts. The moon drifted lazily, a silver shadow high in the sky. Black clouds scudded across it from time to time as he watched.

"Quite beautiful, isn't it?" a voice behind him said.

"Shit! You scared me."

"Sorry," Seth laughed quietly. "I was watching the sky and listening to the wind when I saw you get up."

"That chaise seemed like a good idea, but it's fucking uncomfortable," Brian whispered.

"We've kind of taken over your life."

"Yeah," Brian admitted. "But I'd much rather have you here with us than stuck out in the storm, with us worrying ourselves sick."

"You would worry, wouldn't you?" Seth asked.

"Of course," Brian replied with a frown. "Why would you ask that?"

"I've heard of your reputation as…"

"A cold heartless bastard," Brian supplied.

Seth chuckled. "Something like that. But I've seen a very different side of you, with Emmett's business and at the wedding, with your daughter and husband."

"Thanks," Brian said.

"Brian, I have to tell you that I'm very interested in Jennifer."

"Anyone who isn't blind can see that," Brian replied with a twinkle in his eye.

"Am I that obvious?"

"'Fraid so."

"Anyway," Seth sighed. "I wondered how you felt about me and Jennifer, you know, together."

"What do I have to do with it?" Brian asked.

"You could be my son-in-law if all goes well."

"Fuck!" Brian reacted.

"You…you don't like the idea?" Seth asked feeling like Brian was putting the kibosh on any plans he might have with Jennifer.

"No, it's not that. Shouldn't you be talking to Justin about this?"

"Justin's not standing here in the middle of the night."

Brian chuckled. "You have my seal of approval for what it's worth, and it's not worth much."

"I'll take it," Seth laughed. He squeezed Brian's shoulder. "Thank you."

"I think you need to be talking to Mother Taylor, not to me or Justin."

"Yeah, but I'm pretty much of a coward in the romance department."

"She likes you, Seth. I can see it on her face when she looks at you."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Go for it."

"I'll take that under advisement," Seth said slowly.

"Don't wait too long. Happiness isn't something to put on hold."

"That's good advice."

"I hope so."

"Thanks."

"I should try to go back to sleep. Looks like there'll be some more shoveling in the morning."

"Yeah, but I don't think sleep is in the cards for me," Seth said.

"I didn't take you for an insomniac," Brian chuckled.

"I'm not … usually. But when I wake up at … 4 am," Seth said looking at his watch, "I know I'm not likely to get back to sleep."

"Me either," Brian admitted. "This is the time of night I'd kill for a cigarette."

"Didn't know you smoked."

"I don't … anymore. Used to … long, long ago in another lifetime."

Seth nodded knowingly. "If I was home, I'd go read a book or watch infomercials."

"The only place we don't have people sleeping is in the kitchen. Let's go make a pot of coffee."

"Sounds good to me," Seth said with a smile. "Got a deck of cards?"

"Yeah, somewhere, why?"

"I'll teach you to play pinochle," Seth said as they tiptoed past the sleeping bodies in the sun porch.

"How do you know I don't already know how to play pinochle?" Brian asked with a smirk.

"Only about one person in a million knows that old card game."

"Haven't you heard? I'm one in a million," Brian laughed as he turned off the timer on one of the coffee pots and started the coffee dripping.

"Now, that's something I totally believe," Seth said with a big smile.

That was how Justin found them a couple of hours later, sitting at the kitchen table playing pinochle and drinking coffee.

 

 

Return to Blizzard Wizardry