pointing at Amanda.
Shocked, Amanda could only respond with an, “Excuse me.”
“Your son is evil with all his crazy spells, been touched by the devil he has, and now only one year after your husband’s death, you are keeping company with a complete stranger. I believe all that speaks for itself, don’t you, Mr. Murphy? The town is talking this morning, and I can assure you, you will not have any business should you continue to have someone such as her in your keep.” Mrs. Winlop turned quickly and exited the building.
Amanda felt tears sting her eyes. Ashamed and embarrassed, she could only stand static and unmoving, not having any idea what to say.
Mr. Murphy stepped forward, pulling her in for a hug. “Good thing that bitter woman left. I’ve had enough of her bad mouthing you.”
He stepped back and wiped a tear from her cheek. “You never mind what they say, you hear me. You will always have employment here as long as I live.”
Amanda smiled, wishing there could be more people like Mr. Murphy in the world. “I’m causing you trouble and customers,” she stated. “Perhaps you are right. Maybe we should consider going away, because I can’t bear the thought of marrying George Ellis.”
“I’d refuse to allow you to marry that abomination,” he stated. “But that Mr. Campton seems like a mighty fine fellow.”
“I’ll only cause him trouble, too. I already have,” she said sadly.
“The man has big shoulders,” Mr. Murphy countered.
Amanda looked outside. It had started to snow again. “Tomorrow is December 1 st , but it doesn’t feel like Christmas to me. I guess it hasn’t since Walter’s death. Oh goodness me, I don’t know why I’m going on like this. I really just wanted to let you know that I couldn’t come in until I know Quinn’s better.”
“Go home to your boy, Amanda. His health should always come first.”
She walked to the door and out into the snow, pulling up her hood. Coming around the corner of the building, and not paying attention, a man came stumbling from the alley. She halted, recognizing Jack. How he managed to drink like he did surprised her. It also made her sad.
“Do you need help, Mr. Jack?” she asked.
He stopped not far from her and swayed, but remained standing. “You need help, Ms. Amanda.”
“Mr. Jack, you’ve had too much to drink again. Why do you drink so much? It’s not good for you.”
“I may have been wrong,” he said slurring. “Doesn’t happen often.”
Amanda didn’t know what he might be trying to say. She shook her head.
“There’s evil in this town, but it might not be the she-wolf,” he mumbled.
Now she knew he must be losing his mind. “She-wolf?” Amanda questioned.
“Yup, pulled from that lake the creature was. There’s not much good that comes from that lake.”
The hairs stood on the back of her neck. Could he possibly be talking about the creature she saw last night…the one who helped her son?
“Quinn needs her,” he said, spiting in the snow. He bent over. “See, it has changed,” he continued, pointing to the melting snow. “It’s all here. Quinn needs her, but she must die.”
Amanda’s heart pounded in her chest. “Jack, you aren’t making any sense.” But then he seldom did.
“It’s a struggle of good and evil. I fear evil has descended upon Bandit Creek. Keep the she-wolf safe.”
Then as though he’d never even spoken to her, he stood and stumbled away, mumbling about the old mine.
Amanda caught her breath and ran home. She didn’t know how much more excitement she could take in her life.
She entered her home and quickly went to check on Quinn. There was no change. He’d never been out of consciousness this long. She chewed her nail and wondered about fetching the doctor.
After changing Quinn’s clothing, she put a pot of coffee on the stove and proceeded to do some baking. She kept an eye on Quinn and busied herself in the kitchen. Hours passed and soon she had delicious
Shocked, Amanda could only respond with an, “Excuse me.”
“Your son is evil with all his crazy spells, been touched by the devil he has, and now only one year after your husband’s death, you are keeping company with a complete stranger. I believe all that speaks for itself, don’t you, Mr. Murphy? The town is talking this morning, and I can assure you, you will not have any business should you continue to have someone such as her in your keep.” Mrs. Winlop turned quickly and exited the building.
Amanda felt tears sting her eyes. Ashamed and embarrassed, she could only stand static and unmoving, not having any idea what to say.
Mr. Murphy stepped forward, pulling her in for a hug. “Good thing that bitter woman left. I’ve had enough of her bad mouthing you.”
He stepped back and wiped a tear from her cheek. “You never mind what they say, you hear me. You will always have employment here as long as I live.”
Amanda smiled, wishing there could be more people like Mr. Murphy in the world. “I’m causing you trouble and customers,” she stated. “Perhaps you are right. Maybe we should consider going away, because I can’t bear the thought of marrying George Ellis.”
“I’d refuse to allow you to marry that abomination,” he stated. “But that Mr. Campton seems like a mighty fine fellow.”
“I’ll only cause him trouble, too. I already have,” she said sadly.
“The man has big shoulders,” Mr. Murphy countered.
Amanda looked outside. It had started to snow again. “Tomorrow is December 1 st , but it doesn’t feel like Christmas to me. I guess it hasn’t since Walter’s death. Oh goodness me, I don’t know why I’m going on like this. I really just wanted to let you know that I couldn’t come in until I know Quinn’s better.”
“Go home to your boy, Amanda. His health should always come first.”
She walked to the door and out into the snow, pulling up her hood. Coming around the corner of the building, and not paying attention, a man came stumbling from the alley. She halted, recognizing Jack. How he managed to drink like he did surprised her. It also made her sad.
“Do you need help, Mr. Jack?” she asked.
He stopped not far from her and swayed, but remained standing. “You need help, Ms. Amanda.”
“Mr. Jack, you’ve had too much to drink again. Why do you drink so much? It’s not good for you.”
“I may have been wrong,” he said slurring. “Doesn’t happen often.”
Amanda didn’t know what he might be trying to say. She shook her head.
“There’s evil in this town, but it might not be the she-wolf,” he mumbled.
Now she knew he must be losing his mind. “She-wolf?” Amanda questioned.
“Yup, pulled from that lake the creature was. There’s not much good that comes from that lake.”
The hairs stood on the back of her neck. Could he possibly be talking about the creature she saw last night…the one who helped her son?
“Quinn needs her,” he said, spiting in the snow. He bent over. “See, it has changed,” he continued, pointing to the melting snow. “It’s all here. Quinn needs her, but she must die.”
Amanda’s heart pounded in her chest. “Jack, you aren’t making any sense.” But then he seldom did.
“It’s a struggle of good and evil. I fear evil has descended upon Bandit Creek. Keep the she-wolf safe.”
Then as though he’d never even spoken to her, he stood and stumbled away, mumbling about the old mine.
Amanda caught her breath and ran home. She didn’t know how much more excitement she could take in her life.
She entered her home and quickly went to check on Quinn. There was no change. He’d never been out of consciousness this long. She chewed her nail and wondered about fetching the doctor.
After changing Quinn’s clothing, she put a pot of coffee on the stove and proceeded to do some baking. She kept an eye on Quinn and busied herself in the kitchen. Hours passed and soon she had delicious
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