Chapter Six
Before he left the unconscious criminals, he tugged the light parka off of the smaller of the men and pulled it around himself. He casually walked back to the truck and sat on the hood, legs dangling in front of the bumper. He made it a point to lean back and swing his legs to tap his feet against the grill, as if he were keeping time. After a moment, a young woman riding a horse much too large for her crested the hill.
Her eyes flashed in surprise as they happened over the young man on the hood of the truck, but she smothered it and smiled warmly at him as she approached. Andrew returned the smile, trying not to show too many teeth. The way the young lady held her own smile in place told him he was doing a good job of appearing non-threatening. They were still a football field apart, too far for easy communication – they just studied each other as the horse casually clopped its way down the road. When they were close enough together, the girl raised her hand in a wave.
"Hi," she said shyly. Her eyes didn't leave Andrew's, but the ruby color didn't seem to disturb her the way it did the other humans.
"Hello," he said easily. To have something to say, he commented on the size of the massive horse she was riding.
Her laughter was a soft, delicious sound to Andrew. "Shiloh here isn't my usual mount," she admitted. "Times are tough. I'm taking him to Cassel to sell him to a rancher there."
Andrew took in all the mouthwatering details of the girl – her skin was flawless, tinted a light tan that was natural as opposed to sun-induced. Her hair was the very lightest shade of true black, which gave it an almost purple sheen. She was young, fit, and confident. He forced himself to calm down as asked the obvious question. "How will you get home, if you're selling your horse?" As he asked the question, a small part of him went to war. He enjoyed this...toying with his meal. He also inexplicably loathed himself for it, and berated himself for not just killing her quickly and peacefully. Because letting her go was not an option – he would have her.
She tugged lightly on the reigns, and the horse seemed more than happy to stop. "Well, I'll walk," she said, as if that were obvious. "It's only a few miles." She took her eyes off of the young stranger for the first time, and her smile faltered as she took in the truck he was sitting on. "Isn't that Red Grumman's truck?" she asked, trying not to sound suspicious and not succeeding.
Andrew carefully kept his easy smile on his face. "Was. I made him an offer he couldn't refuse on it."
He couldn't tell if she believed him or not, but her features were schooled toward innocent indifference. "I'm Anne," she said, changing the subject.
"Andrew," he replied, and another part of him rebelled at this familiarity. It told him that he was opening the door to regret what he would do to her later.
"Nice to meet you, Andrew." She reluctantly glanced at her wristwatch and sighed lightly. "I would love to get to know you, but I do have an appointment to keep. Maybe we'll see each other again?" she asked hopefully.
Before he knew what he was doing, the words were out of his mouth. "Why don't I follow you and give you a ride home?" He carefully watched her for her reaction.
If he had scared her, or even caught her off-guard, she hid it well. "That would be just fine," she said easily. He didn't know whether she was brave or just naïve, taking a ride from a total stranger. His killer's mind was rejoicing in the fact that she'd be all his to take as he wanted, and the fact that they'd be in the other human's truck would only take the suspicion off of him. "It's not much farther," she broke him out of his thoughts. "Maybe a mile."
He kept pace with her as she traveled. The roar of the motor made conversation impossible, but he didn't miss the way she kept stealing glances at him. Part of him was encouraged – she was obviously smitten, and he knew she'd go anywhere with him. Part of him was disturbed, taking advantage of her like this. 'No wonder I never took the time to be familiar with them,' he thought. 'It's harder this way.' He couldn't let go of the hope that human interaction would bring more memories back to him, though.
She yelled over the engine noise when they arrived at the dirt path that would take her to the farm. Andrew promised that he'd wait at the end of the path for her to return and she spurred her horse into a gallop, obviously wanting to hurry back to the enchanting young man.
She disappeared from sight but her scent lingered, which made rational thinking difficult. Andrew admitted to himself that if he could stand being in the enclosed cab with her for any amount of time, it would be a major victory on the self-control front. He went into an almost-meditative state, trying to will himself toward controlling his thirst.
Both too soon and too long, Anne returned into view, walking buoyantly down the path toward him. He again felt guilty and shoved it aside. What would happen would happen – he was more or less a slave to his instincts, he knew that. But if he could just deny them for a while, something good could come of it.
As she approached, Andrew got out of the cab and went to the passenger's side, trying to move slowly. He opened the door for her and encouraged her in with another radiant smile. She returned it and climbed in, brushing the front of his new coat ever-so-slightly as she did. Andrew shivered from the contact, so different from the normal feeling of feeding. He got in himself and cranked the engine. He started back toward Big Bend, driving slowly in first gear to dampen the noise enough to talk.
"So," she said breezily. "I thought I knew pretty much everybody in these parts. Are you new to town?" There was no suspicion in her tone, no accusation – just plain curiosity.
"No," he said carefully. "I'm passing through, and I needed a vehicle. The man I met sold me his truck. He got more than a fair deal," he said honestly, thinking that his being left alive was an over-the-top payment from a newborn vampire.
"Oh." There was no mistaking the disappointment in her voice. "Will you stay a while? I'm sure my father could be persuaded to put you up in the guest house," she offered, trying not to sound hopeful and not succeeding.
Andrew didn't answer – he could no longer resist tasting the air in the cab, and allowed a few molecules of air to pass through his nose. He visibly jerked, unable to resist moving toward her slightly and quickly. Quickly enough that she didn't notice the indiscretion, fortunately. The bouquet flowing off of this girl was quite possibly the most flavorful thing he'd ever smelled, and he was vastly proud of himself for not taking her right then.
"I don't…think that would be a good idea," he said distractedly. He was doing his best not to kill the girl, but he was losing the battle. The scent was intoxicating, like a powerful wine after a long bout of sobriety. It left him wanting more.
Unafraid, she leaned a little closer to him and studied his schooled features. "You're a funny one," she said with a trace of humor in her voice. Her posture somehow grew braver, and she smiled. "Don't you like me?" she asked.
"Too much," he muttered absentmindedly. He was already studying various places along the road to pull over so he could lure her among the trees. It took every ounce of his will to keep the truck on the road. The war in his mind was maddening. On one hand, he really did like Anne. She wasn't unlocking any memories for him yet, but there was an openness about her that he liked on a level other than the need to feed. On the other hand, he had never come across such an appetizing human – probably because most of the people he encountered in the forest were males, predators in their own way. He glanced at her and barked a laugh as he realized she was looking at him almost hungrily.
"You're funny," she repeated. "So, if you won't stay, why did you offer me a ride?" she challenged.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. He knew why he wanted her, of course, but not why he'd suggested this painful charade.
His instincts finally won out. He abruptly pulled the truck off of the road and got out, ignoring her questioning look. He walked around to her side and opened the door. He looked at her as sensually as he could manage and said in a low, seductive voice, "Come for a walk with me. Please." This last part wasn't a plea, more of a promise that she wouldn't regret it. It was a lie, of course. He didn't wait for her reply, he just led the way into the trees. A short moment later, he heard the door close and the light footsteps behind him, and he smiled to himself.