Chapter 46: The Big Bad Wolf
Sadie was in the meeting tent outside Darach ar an gCnoc, looking over more recruits on a list when Charles walked in with coffee for her. She took it graciously and began drinking it. "Any good news?" she asked.
"Not really. Still looks like Arthur and Lilly aren't coming home any time soon," Charles said.
"Dammit. We can't keep holding off these god damn werewolves on our own."
"Sure we can. You already took down three of 'em."
"But it's difficult and exhaustin'."
"True, but even Lilly and Arthur can't do it all on their own."
Sadie huffed with submission. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated, is all. We got more reports comin' in about these damn things."
"Should we get Gerald on it again?"
"Maybe." Sadie swirled a fingertip around the rim of the coffee cup. "You think he'd come back out with us again?"
Charles chuckled. "Yes, as long as you're goin'. He's sweet on you."
"What? No he's not," Sadie said with a laugh.
"Sure he is. Don't act like you haven't seen the way he looks at you."
Sadie cleared her throat uncomfortably. "I have no idea what you mean, Charles."
"Oh come on, Sadie."
Sadie glared at him. "Even if I knew what you meant, which I don't, I'm not looking to replace my husband!"
Charles frowned at her. "That's not what I meant and you know it. Nobody wants you to replace Jake."
Sadie sighed. "I know. I'm just cranky." Sadie took another sip of coffee. "Cranky about everythin' goin' on."
"I know. Maybe you should take a break."
"I should." Sadie got up with her coffee. "I'm gonna go for a ride, I think."
"Sounds good. I'll keep an eye on things here."
Sadie finished her coffee and walked out of the tent. It was unusually bright and warm for April in Ireland, but the blonde woman was not complaining. She walked towards the stables but took a quick glance over to Gerald's unit. He wasn't there at the moment so she assumed he was taking a break. She eventually got to the stables to see Gerald saddling up his own mount, a strawberry roan Ardeness named Jupiter. "You goin' out somewhere?" Sadie asked.
"Not in particular, Mrs. Adler," Gerald said with a smile. "Just lookin' to get put fer a bit."
"Huh. So am I."
Gerald finished up as Sadie walked over to her horse Bob to saddle him up. "Ya wanna come with me, lass?"
Sadie shrugged. "Sure, why not?" Once Sadie was done saddling Bob, she mounted up and the two trotted out of the stables together towards the main road out of the estate. "So, where to?"
"There's a trail in the woods we could travel on. I'll lead the way."
"Sure." Sadie followed Gerald along the road and they eventually got to the tree line of the local woods. Gerald found the trail and they went on it. They traveled in silence at first until Sadie decided to break it. "So, Gerald, where are you from?"
"A small village tah the north called Rosscahill. And you, lass?"
"I'm from Minnesota, U.S. of A."
"Is that a state?"
"Yes."
"So what about yer parents?"
"They emigrated from Germany. Died about six years ago. What about your parents?"
Gerald sighed sadly. "They died when I was three. I was raised by me Uncle Fergus and Aunt Ellen."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I hardly remember them."
"So where are your aunt and uncle now?"
"Back in Rosscahill tendin' our farm."
"Is that where you learned how to fight with a sword?"
Gerald chuckled deeply. "Yes. Me uncle taught me, and he was taught by his father, and his father before him. It's a family tradition, ya see."
"Well, you're very good at it," Sadie said with a smile.
"Thank ya, lass."
They continued on in awkward silence as they went up a hill in the trail. Gerald went to open his mouth but then he closed it. making Sadie laugh. "Somethin' on your mind, Gerald?"
"Well, yes, but I'm not sure how tah say it."
Sadie eyeballed him. "What is it?"
Gerald let out a deep breath. "I was just gonna say...if ya ever need tah talk about things, ya can come tah me."
"What kind of things?"
"Well," Gerald rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Things ya wantah get off yer chest, or things that are botherin' ya, or...things from yer past, maybe."
Sadie stopped her horse. "Like my dead husband, you mean?" she spat bitterly.
Gerald pulled his horse to a halt. "I mean no offense, lass. I just thought if ya needed tah talk about it, I'm here."
"Why would I want to talk about it?"
"I dunno. I suppose because I can relate."
Sadie blinked. "How can you relate?"
"I had a wife and a child. Lost them both tah typhoid."
"...I'm sorry."
"It's alright, lass. It was a long time ago."
They continued on and Sadie looked at Gerald a little differently than before. Perhaps she could talk to him about it. "What were their names, if you don't mind me askin'?"
"Sarah and Gerald Junior."
"Huh. Like Arthur's son."
"Yeah."
Sadie lowered her gaze. "My husband was named Jake. He was murdered by a gang of outlaws called the O'Driscolls."
Jake and Sadie Adler were in their bed sleeping when Sadie woke up to noises outside. She shook Jake awake.
"Mm? What's wrong Sadie?" he asked her sleepily.
"There's someone outside!" she hissed.
This immediately got Jake's attention and he got up, reaching for his rifle. "Get in the cellar, Sadie."
Sadie refused. "No, I'm goin' out with you."
Sadie got out of bed and went to the door but Jake stopped her. "No, Sadie. You get in the cellar while I deal with it. I'll let you know when it's safe."
"But Jake, I-"
"Sadie. Please." Jake begged with his eyes.
Sadie frowned. "Alright."
Jake's wife went to the cellar and shut the trap door. She listened to Jake pull the rug over the door then walk to the door. He opened it and started to shout. "Hey! I advise you to get off my property right now."
Sadie heard the cocking of the rifle and then there was a shot and a scuffle. Sadie held a hand to her mouth as she heard multiple footsteps above her. Whoever it was that was outside was now in the house. She saw through a small hole in the planks that her husband was being held captive. He was tossed tp the floor angrily by a fat man with a beard. Then another man appeared into view with medium length gray hair. He looked like a vicious bastard.
"Whatchu want us to do with this one, Colm?" the fat man asked.
Colm leaned over Jake and smiled. "Kill him."
Sadie watched as the fat man aimed a gun and pulled the trigger, shooting her husband dead. She covered her mouth with both hands to muffle herself and shut her eyes as tears flowed down her cheeks.
Gerald looked at Sadie in shock. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph," he uttered.
"They found me in that cellar and held me hostage for three days. Colm and the fat man left, but the rest if 'em stayed to party and rape me. Then Dutch, Arthur and Micah came and killed the bastards that remained. They saved me, but my house got burned down."
"Jesus Christ," Gerald said, rubbing his beard. "Did ya ever catch up with Colm and the fat man?"
Sadie laughed bitterly. "Oh yes. We made sure Colm got hung and I killed the fat man myself."
Gerald gave her a sad grin. "Well, at least yer husband was avenged."
"Yes, there is that."
"Who is Micah?"
Sadie scoffed. "Another bastard that Lilly ended up shootin'. He betrayed our gang and was a rat. Wasn't really his fault, but he was an asshole anyway."
Gerald eyed her curiously. "How was bein' a rat and betrayin' yer gang not his fault?"
"It's a long story."
"Well, we got plenty of time to talk, I'd say."
Sadie paused. She wasn't sure she could trust Gerald with all the information. She decided to ask some questions of her own. "How much do you know about this werewolf problem?"
"That some witch named Carman is controllin' them. Why?"
Huh. So he did know about Carman. "She had a hold on Micah back in the states. And Dutch, too, but Lilly took care of that."
"I see."
The two came across a clearing in the forest and Gerald looked around. "Do ya know how tah hunt, Mrs. Adler?"
"I sure do? Why? You hungry?"
"Famished."
Sadie smiled at him. "Well, let's go catch us some lunch."
Dutch was in the nursery reading to Aoífe and Arthur Junior, trying to settle them down for their nap. He paused to look out the window. A storm was coming in. Thunder rumbled in the distance as he went back to reading.
"And then the big bad wolf said, "Well, then I'll huff...and I'll puff...and I'll blow your house in!"," said Dutch in a low, grumbly voice.
He took in a big breath of air, then let it out sharply with a sharp, breathful whistle. The twins giggled at the display. Dutch chuckled and turned the page. "And the wolf blew hard, but the brick house did not fall down. The wolf tried over and over to blow the little pig's house down, but the brick house stood firm. The wolf got tired from all his blowing, so he decided to climb into the house through the chimney. But little did he know that the piggies had a pot boiling in the fireplace. And then-"
Suddenly there was a loud crash in the hallway. The children screamed and Dutch got out of the rocking chair to go take a look. He pulled out his gun and opened the door slowly. There was a diseased werewolf in the hallway. Shit. Dutch shut the door and grabbed the crying babies. He could hear gunshots and shouts outside as he put the bairns in the closet. He knelt down to them and hushed them, putting a finger to his lips.
"Settle down, okay? Shh...you gotta be quiet now, okay?"
The babies sniffled up at their grandfather, their watering eyes full of fear. Dutch kissed their foreheads and shut the closet door with them inside. He could hear the beast just outside their door, sniffing the air as if searching for something. Dutch crept towards the door with his guns out. Immediately the door cracked open and the creatures roared at Dutch. It stood on its hind legs and drool dripped from its lips. It swiped at Dutch but he backed up and started shooting. Thank God he had silver bullets. Still, it wasn't enough to put the beast down. It charged him and knocked him into the wall, where he immediately hit his head and lost consciousness.
When Dutch woke up, he had a splitting headache. He looked around, his vision blurred. The babies. Oh shit. He went to sit up but someone pushed him down.
"Easy, old friend," he heard Hosea say. "Lie still."
"The twins," Dutch groaned. "Where are the twins?" Dutch's vision cleared and he looked up to see Hosea and Charles staring down at him with frowns on their faces. "Hosea? Are they alright?"
Hosea looked at Charles before looking back down at his friend. "Junior is fine, but Aoífe was taken."
