Free Drawing Blood by Mary Lou George

the window when Holly walked to her car to drive home after dark. She had to check the backseat and lock herself in. With the interior light on, Holly would wave goodbye to him. He wasn’t satisfied that she was safe until she got home and called him. The ritual was like second nature to them and they’d brought it with them when settling in Muskoka.
    All those years ago, Holly had appreciated Avery’s father’s concern. It was so different from Alan Seaton’s more stifling behavior. Avery’s father, Will, wanted her to grow independent, but always safe. Her own father didn’t care about the independence part of it. He meant well, but he wasn’t an easy man.
    Margaret Wickham, the fortune teller had been right, Alan Seaton had loved his wife above all else. Holly was so like her mother, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her too, so he tried to cushion every aspect of her life. But Holly had a life of her own. She had to live it.
    At home at last, with her doors locked securely, Holly turned her porch light off and on. She watched as Avery’s light went off and on in reply. Perhaps they’d brought urban fear into rural life, but they didn’t care. It was a part of their childhood and they liked it. The kids loved it. Given the opportunity, they took turns flicking the light switch. The silent communication reassured them. Holly was close by and that made them all happy.

    * * * *

    Stryker Cain made it home on foot. He had excellent night sight and could move quickly over Mother Nature’s carpets. He didn’t fear the creatures of the night. He knew they were all around him, but they wouldn’t hurt him as long as he posed no threat. As usual, he was granted unmolested passage.
    Back on his own property, he was greeted by Polly, his dog. She was a yellow lab and as loyal and good-hearted as a dog could be. Stryker smiled down at her. In sync, man and dog entered the house.
    Stryker’s home was a renovated farmhouse. Most people wanted lakefront property in Muskoka, but not Stryker. He was content just to have land he could ride his horse over comfortably. The rocky waterfront properties wouldn’t have been a great choice for him. Since he’d moved in, he and his black stallion, Dakota, had been over every inch of his land. Either of them could map it blindfolded.
    He mourned Irene’s death in silence. She was an understanding and generous human being, the kind of woman who opened her heart to things most people feared. Their cause needed humans like her. Upon hearing of her murder, Stryker had slipped onto Dakota’s bare back and the two of them covered miles and miles of Muskoka ground without stopping. He longed to feel Mother Nature’s hand upon him. He understood and accepted that all living creatures had to die, but murder was abhorrent to him. Animals killed to survive. That was sanctioned by nature, but senseless, cold blooded murder was not and in this instance Stryker knew he had to do something about it. Irene was gone, brutally slaughtered. He refused to accept the police’s simple explanation of her death.
    Holly’s drawing had foretold it. Stryker had sensed her power the moment he’d felt her presence in the grocery store, but had no idea what form it would take. Yesterday, sensing that power was all he’d needed to know. But that was before he’d lost a friend. Holly’s gift was intrinsically entwined in Irene’s murder and now there was no avoiding the fact that she was involved. Irene’s death had to be part of something bigger. Something he had to stop. He knew it wouldn’t end with her. More was coming.
    He regretted that Holly Seaton had to be a player, but his gut told him that destiny was in play. Meeting her in the grocery store was one thing. That put him on his guard, but finding her tonight had hammered the point home. Stryker couldn’t let anything happen to her. He’d have to protect her. Instinctively he knew that she would have gotten involved whether he liked it