A Beast Among Gods (The Mac Tire Chronicles) by Garnet Davenport (big screen ebook reader txt) 📗

mother to do things around the house or to get me out of the room.

The woman with blonde hair and wire-rimmed glasses smiled at me as we walked toward them. The man reached out to shake the officer’s hand. “Good to see you again,” the man said.

“Thanks for doing this on such short notice,” the officer said.

“Of course, Kurt. You know we’re always here to help,” the woman said. “How’s Linda?”

“Linda is good.”

“Good, good. Come on in,” the man said.

The officer put his hand on my shoulder and led me inside through the screen door that slammed against the wood when it shut. No one jumped but me. It wasn’t a sound I had been used to hearing. We walked through into a living room, and the couple sat on a couch after indicating for the officer to sit.

“I’m really glad you were able to do this. I’m not sure how long this placement will be …” the officer said, letting the last little bit hang.

“That’s no problem,” the woman had said with a smile. “William?” I looked over to her. “Are you hungry? I’ve got some fresh cut ham, and I could make some scrambled eggs.”

I wasn’t sure if eating anything would help, but I could feel my stomach growl and cramp at the sound of the meal. I knew I hadn’t eaten since my grandmother had handed me the biscuit. A sadness that the grandmother I had just met I would never get to know. I wished so badly I could have had a normal family where the father cared about his son and grandparents that came over to read bedtime stories and spoil them rotten. I held back tears making pressure on my nose and nodded.

“Come on,” the woman said, holding out her hand, and I looked at the officer.

“It’s okay,” he said, encouraging me to go with her. “I’ll be right here.”

I followed her toward the kitchen. She pulled out a chair at an old wood table and tapped the chair for me to sit. I pulled myself up and onto the blue and white plaid seat cushion and watched the woman as she walked around the kitchen with ease. The scents of ham filled my nose, and my mouth salivated. As the sounds of popping came from the frying pan, I stretched my hearing around and into the living room.

“Kurt, I know what you’re saying. He’s in danger. We’re taking a risk by bringing him here, but O’Dorcha said he would be by in the morning to place a protection over our property.”

“Really? I’m surprised O’Dorcha wants to get involved with ogre blood.”

“He’s mac tire, Kurt. First and foremost. You know that. His mother was of mac tire blood, and he is one of us. He will be protected by the moon.”

“That’s why I brought him to you and Diane. I knew you would protect him. Things are coming.”

“And we will keep him safe,” the man said.

“I’m counting on you.”

“I know. Now, let’s get you and William set up to get some rest tonight. Can’t have you drive back exhausted.”

The woman placed a plate in front of me with a fork and a glass of milk. “You know it’s not polite to listen to others’ conversations.”

I looked up at her, uneasy and apologetic.

“Eat up, sweetheart. There are no worries here.” She gave me a loving smile and brushed my hair away from my eyes.

“Thank you,” I whispered so quietly I barely heard myself.

“For what?” she said, kneeling down. She wiped a tear from my cheek I hadn’t known I let loose.

“For kindness,” I said and then went back to my plate to start eating.

I heard her sniffle as she stood and turned away from me. She went to clean up the small mess she had made while preparing me something to eat. I took a bite of the scrambled eggs while I watched her as she moved smoothly and made sure her hair was covering her face. I looked over when the man entered the room and walked over to her. He reached for her and made her look him in the eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” He looked at her with concern.

I tried not to look her in the eyes, but when she looked out of the corner of her eyes, our eyes met. I heard her sniffle again, which only made the man more concerned.

“It’s nothing bad,” she said through a laugh of happy tears.

He pulled her close and kissed her forehead and hugged her tight. “All right, Kurt and I are going to make sure the guest room is ready for him and the spare is ready for William.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

He walked away from her, and as he passed the table, he stopped and said, “She makes some good scrambled eggs, right?”

I nodded, and he smiled back at me before leaving the room.

I kept eating as I heard their boots step along the staircase and across the wood floors. I looked up at the ceiling as they walked, and I could put together an exact map of the floor plan in my mind. I now knew all the ways to get out of the house and where all the best places were to hide. Just like Mom taught me.

➣ Chapter 5

First Day of a New Day

When I awoke the next morning, Kurt was already downstairs sitting at the table, eating a biscuit covered in a white gravy. It looked really good. I licked my lips and then heard chuckling coming from the other side of the table.

“Oh, stop it. He’s a growing boy,” the woman said as she smacked him on the arm.

I flinched and took a step back, waiting for the man to attack the woman and put her on the floor. They all watched as I did this with concern in their eyes. But not concern for the woman, concern for me.

“William, are you all right?” the woman asked.

“Wasn’t he going to hit you?”