Like most shapeshifters, Carter’s body had a remarkable ability for absorbing injury and healing itself. He felt mostly normal now, three months later.
“I was the target of a hit,” he said finally, slowly. “Happened the day you left, actually. I’m glad I got you out of Fort Worth.”
“A hit?” She blinked, absorbing the information. “What happened? Was it Nosizwe?”
“Of course. Who else?”
“I’ve heard rumors about Sean Costas. I’m sure a man like that has enemies.”
“Pfff.” Carter waved a hand, blowing the assumption away. “Nothing like Nosizwe. Most of them aren’t after actual blood.”
“Actual blood? What happened? What did she do? Should you be out here? Maybe you should be home where it’s safe.”
He was either crazy, or else Ellie was scanning him, looking him over, maybe with a nurse’s eyes, trying to asses if he was really okay.
“It’s probably safer out here than back home,” he answered wryly. “It’s war between Nosizwe and Sean. What happened? Car wreck. Something they figured could pass for an accident during their so-called truce, but none of us believe that. I was t-boned while sitting at a stoplight in front of my lawyer’s offices. Hit and run. Could it have been an accident? Maybe.”
“Too big a coincidence…” Ellie guessed softly.
“Exactly.” His hands were cold and he burrowed them deeper in his pockets, fighting off another kind of chill, one that had been slipping in and out of his brain ever since. If it had been Nosizwe, and if it had been a hit, how had she known where he would be and what time? The implications of that thought were potentially devastating. Word travelled, he told himself. The meeting with Miguel hadn’t technically been a secret. Still…
“And you’re really alright?”
“I’m fine, Ellie. You don’t have to worry about me.”
She stared at him a second before letting that remark slide, inquiring instead, “Then, is Nosizwe still after blood? You said war,” she reminded him.
“There’s been a few deaths,” he hedged, resuming his walk.
Ellie hurried a few paces to catch up.
“Anyone I know?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“That’s good.”
Silence for a moment, broken only by the sound of cars passing on the road, the wind in the trees, their boots on the frozen path.
“I wondered why I didn’t hear from you,” Ellie said, breaking the silence. “I, um…I kept waiting.”
Glancing down at her, Carter saw the faintest hint of color tinge her cheeks at the admission.
“I’m sorry,” he offered. “Took a while for me to get back on my feet and get matters settled where I had actual news for you. When I did have it, I could’ve gotten my lawyer to deal with it, but I guess I felt like I owed you a personal explanation.”
“I see.”
She kept her gaze in distance. Carter wondered what she was thinking. She surprised him by admitting, almost shyly, but with a smile, “You know, even though I’m in hiding, because of the…bond between us, I guess I still thought I might at least hear from you over Christmas. I even bought you a Christmas present.”
This took him aback. He stopped walking. So did she.
“You did?”
“Uh huh.”
A sly grin curled the corners of her lips.
“Want to know what it was?”
He couldn’t imagine.
“What?”
The grin broadened into a full-fledged teasing smile.
“A package of t-shirts.”
“A package of t-shirts?”
“You know, because you’re always shifting, and when you do your shirt sort of…explodes. See, I’m a good wife. It was thoughtful and practical.”
For the longest second, he just stared at her, but her humor was too much. He couldn’t hide a laugh.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.”
Ellie snickered. “I knew you would be. I still have it at my house. I can get it to you if you’re not leaving town right away.”
“Don’t bother,” he responded dryly, but it was funny, and somewhere in his innermost being there was a part of him that was oddly touched. The fights they’d had, the arguments, the accusations, and the misunderstandings—willful or innocent—the outrage, the quarrels…and yet she’d gone out and gotten him a Christmas gift. A gift that nodded to his shapeshifter heritage with gentle wit instead of fear. Or disgust. Or prejudice, like she’d shown in the past. If Carter didn’t know any better, he’d almost think Ellie was trying, in her own way, to make up for some of her prior mistakes.
Talking about buying things made him recall the wedding ring he’d purchased for her before their sham wedding in November. Which reminded him that he needed to bring up the subject of why he was actually here.
She must’ve been thinking along the same lines. Before he could say anything, Ellie said, “Christmas gifts aside, you keep saying you have news for me. I know you wouldn’t have flown all the way out here to see me in person if you didn’t. You could have called.”
“I could have,” he admitted, strolling again. “But, as I said, I felt like, given our history, this should probably be discussed in person.”
They had finished over half the circuit and were facing the back of the church now, across the street. A few cars were starting to file into the parking lot. Ellie noticed the direction of his stare.
“Sunday school,” she explained.
Carter nodded. “I see.”
He wasn’t sure why being with Ellie here, in her natural element, a church-going girl with a minister-father provoked discomfort. Maybe it reminded him of the lives he’d taken in his line of work, the blood he’d shed. But he wasn’t a murderer. Most of those lives were spent in self-defense, or in defending others. Like he’d killed more than one shifter defending Ellie herself. Ellie had even taken a life to preserve his. Ellie wasn’t acting judgmental. So why did he feel like his shirt collar was suddenly a little too tight?
Uncomfortable with the idea of walking past the church, seeing all those folks heading inside to learn their Bible lessons, he offered, “Want to get out of this wind?”
“That’s fine. Are you getting cold? I noticed you grew your hair out. Was your head freezing over the winter?”
She was teasing him again, referencing the close haircut he’d had last fall when they’d first met.
“Ever heard of no-shave November?” he quipped.
“Your beard is still nice and trimmed. Clearly, you’ve been shaving.”
“I only applied it to my head.”
“Hmmm. Well, for what it’s worth, I think it looks nice.”
Carter again felt that distinct twinge of discomfort, like he didn’t know whether he should enjoy the fact that Ellie had complimented him or brush it aside.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t think much about haircuts when I was laid up for so long. This just kinda happened.”
“I get it. If I were laid up, I doubt I’d worry much about haircuts, either,” she said, leading him into the stone picnic area. The walls did help block the wind. More importantly, they blocked the view of the church. Ellie took a seat on the stone bench. She pulled a terrible face.