Chapter Eight – Interlude

Lila showed Deke to a secluded, cozy bedroom that would be his retreat for the night. The look in her eyes made him increasingly uncomfortable, the look that said she liked what she saw and wanted it for herself. Normally the prospect of a beautiful, willing woman desiring him would be a welcome event in his life, but not now, and certainly not this creature. Still the job dictated he play along and act the part, so he smiled at her displaying all his charm and returning her interest with his sparkling eyes.

He tried his best to hide the nervousness that simmered in the pit of his stomach from having to spend the night so closely associated with evil, as he tenderly bid her goodnight. He sighed knowing he would get precious little rest and would be on edge all night waiting for evil to present itself.

He was hardly disappointed as the grandfather clock ticking away the minutes down the hall struck midnight and his door quietly opened. He felt cold, steely eyes observing his still form from the open doorway, and then instantly the being was beside him caressing his face. He opened his eyes to gaze into Lila's leering face, her mind picturing all the wicked things she could do with his body.

She yearned for the feel of his strong, muscular arms embracing her and moving her onto the highest level of heaven. He yearned for an escape from the worst fate evil could possibly impose and the image of her hastening his descent into hell.

"Lila, you lose your way in the night?" Deke wisecracked.

"Just checking if you needed anything. Your room satisfactory? I thought you might be lonely." Lila whispered.

"Me? I'm fine. The room's great. Got a big day tomorrow, guess we all better get some sleep."

"Is that what you really want to do? Sleep? I thought maybe we could find something else to occupy our time. Any ideas on that Deke?" Lila teased.

Deke raised up until he was sitting upright on the bed, Lila sitting beside him, pressing her body close to his, leaving no room to doubt what her intentions were for this tranquil night.

"Patience, Lila. I love your boldness, but I'm old-fashioned. I like to make the first move. You're everything a man could want, but in due time. When we get together it's going to be something special, something memorable, and it definitely won't be in your father's house." Deke gave her a look that filled her up with want and need, but also told her delaying her satisfaction would be so worth the wait.

"Promise me soon."

"Soon. Lila, no man could wait long for you. We'll be together soon enough." Deke caressed her arm and then she leaned in and kissed him. He struggled to maintain his composure as he felt the chilling essence of her overwhelm his senses, plunging him into the darkest depths of evil. Man, talk about taking one for the team!

"See you in the morning, Deke." She murmured as she slinked back through the doorway and was gone.

Deke shuddered involuntarily as he contemplated how long he could keep her at bay. They better get this plan moving and take out these evil vamps before he was forced to do something that….., well his mind really didn't want to go there.

Morning couldn't come soon enough as Deke awoke in a cold sweat in that sinister house. He had drifted off to sleep after Lila left him and had some nasty, weird dreams that he was sure emanated from the evil that infused this place. Dreams involving Lila, and those wicked things she wanted to do with him. He felt consumed with the evil of this place and he didn't like the feeling. The sooner he was rid of this place, this job, the better.

He went downstairs to find Lila waiting with an intimate breakfast for two. Her eyes never left him and he could feel her undressing him still and fulfilling her fantasies. Damn, even her thoughts made him shiver in disgust.

Rance was a welcome relief when he appeared to take Deke on that tour of Carpenter's operations. The main questions he needed answered he could never ask of the foreman, but he kept his eyes open trying to ascertain how many of the occupants of this ranch were vampires and where they would keep their den of hostages. All of the missing had not yet turned up at the undertakers, so they must be keeping them alive somewhere and bleeding them slowly, making their life's blood last.

After spending the morning in the throes of evil, Deke was relieved to be released from that hell and head out back to the relative safety of the town. Deke was just returning from the Carpenter ranch and heading over to the saloon when the stagecoach pulled up in front of the hotel and the most mesmerizing woman he had ever seen peered out to him from the stagecoach window.

She was dressed all in lilac with a large brimmed hat covering her face until she lifted her head and peered out shyly, locking eyes with the handsome cowboy and capturing his imagination. She smiled at him and he hurriedly stepped off the boardwalk and offered his hand to her as she stepped from the coach.

"Maam."

"Thank you kind Sir." She sweetly replied.

"Let me get your bags for you." He offered.

The driver of the stage threw down a tapestry satchel and a larger leather suitcase. Deke held the satchel between his arm and body and picked up the suitcase with the same hand, offering his free arm to the lovely lady to escort her into the hotel.

"My name is Deke Taylor. Welcome to Valentine."

"I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Deke Taylor. I'm Gabrielle."

The hotel clerk quickly took the bags from Deke and proceeded to greet the young lady, rudely stepping in front of Deke and ignoring the captivated cowboy. Oblivious to the clerk's bad behavior, Deke stood there grinning like a school boy, thoroughly taken in by this woman's charms. The clerk seemed annoyed he was still in the room as he motioned for her to sit on the settee by the door to rest from her long journey. Suddenly an older man breezed past Deke with his arms outstretched in a greeting.

"Gabrielle, you look wonderful. I'm so glad you made the trip safely."

"Uncle, so happy to be here. Lovely little town you live in." She warmly greeted him as they embraced.

"Well, it could be a lovely town." He replied.

Deke pondered what he meant by that, was he one of the dissident townsfolk? He suddenly felt like he was intruding into a quiet family reunion and decided it would be best to leave, hoping he could return later to see this Gabrielle again.

"Anyway, hope to see you around town." He finally uttered, receiving a tender smile from her before turning and leaving.

As handsome and confident as Deke was, respectable women sometimes had the effect of turning him into that shy school boy. He'd never had time to devote to a real relationship and had never revealed his true self to a woman.

In his life he had found it easier to just be the charming, handsome rogue who could bed a woman and leave in the morning with no remorse over failing to explain the scars on his body or exposing the wounds to his soul. He allowed the surface of his handsome features to be the only part of him accessible to the women he bedded. He had learned long ago to keep his shield up to protect his heart and tender soul. Better to keep your distance, keep your secrets.

He headed on over to the saloon to meet up with Aggie again. She had begged him to take her out to see Jake and he had decided to grant her wish to help ease her mind. He needed to inform his dad and Scott what he had discovered out at the Carpenters and see if they had uncovered any more information.

He rented a horse at the livery and mounted up and headed out of town with Aggie for a secret meeting with his brother and dad.