Chapter 25

Spreading margarine on the slice of toast with long smooth motions, William was getting ready to enjoy breakfast. Lucy watched him, waiting for him to cut his slice of toast along the diagonal. Rich enough to afford butter, it always amazed her that he actually enjoyed margarine more. William looked up from his toast and winked at her.

Rock, the nighttime bodyguard, was watching him with narrowed eyes. The other three bodyguards were seated at the far end of the table eating their eggs. Taking a seat at the table, Ling asked, "What time did he get home last night?"

"Two in the morning," answered Rock.

"He was missing for ten hours and sits here with without any remorse for all the worry that he caused," Ling observed.

"Of course not," William said winking a Lucy.

Watching William like a hawk, Rock said, "It appears that our young charge was out last night playing games with Missy. They took her to the hospital. From what I understand, she had a major nervous breakdown."

Lucy looked at William in surprise at the idea that he would harm someone. Shrugging her shoulders as if it was exactly what she expected, Ling said, "It doesn't surprise me. He's been driving me crazy for years."

The comment brought a few chuckles around the table. While cutting his toast across the diagonal, William asked, "Did I miss anything?"

Deciding that she would talk with him later about what he had done, Lucy said, "Kelly and I took Jan out to buy some new clothes. She's moved in with us to stay."

"Good. I was going to suggest doing that," said William. Breaking the yoke of his fried egg with the corner of his toast, he said, "I assume Cole came over and dealt with everyone."

No one answered as he ate his breakfast and William decided that was what had happened. Looking up from his empty plate, William said, "I told Fat Fred we were going to have a picnic around four this afternoon. Ken, I'd appreciate it if you could arrange for enough food to feed fifty from the Barbeque Barn. I think that ribs, chicken, brisket, potato salad, Cole slaw, baked beans, and rolls should be appropriate. Colt and I will stop by the store and fill an ice chest with ice and soft drinks."

In all of the excitement created by his absence the previous night, Lucy had forgotten that William had suggested they host a picnic in the park. She was pleased that he had remembered it and that he had scheduled it for after her last class of the day. She said, "I'll be there. Can I arrange for dessert?"

"That would be great," answered William.

"How about you and I put together some Peach Cobbler," suggested Lisa wanting to get in on the picnic.

"Oh, that sounds good," Lucy said.

Feeling energetic, William said, "Let's get to it."

Everyone left the table except William and Colt. Before the bodyguard could say a word, William said, "Don't quit."

Colt glared at the young man. William smiled and said, "Things will be a lot quieter around here for a while. I'm going away to write my Dissertation. You'll like it there. Lots of fishing and outdoors activities with very few people around. Lucy will be here, but the major threat against her is gone."

The fact that the kid knew what he was going to ask was one of the reasons that Colt wanted out. Frowning, he said, "I don't mind the excitement, but you're one scary guy."

"Why? Because I can see a little of the future?" asked William.

"Yes," Colt answered. It was that and the reports that he'd heard about what William had done the previous night. The Chief of Police had mentioned the little episode with the pistol. The story had sent chills up and down his spine.

"You do it, too. In fact, everyone does it."

"No I don't."

"You don't get nervous and irritable just before something bad happens? You don't get this feeling along your spine when things are just about to spin out of control?"

"Well, yeah," Colt answered while shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

"So you do see a little of the future," William said taking a sip of his coffee. Smiling, he looked at Colt in the eye as he said, "You've come to trust and rely upon those feelings."

Slumping back in his chair, Colt said, "Yes, I have. It's why I'm as good at my job as I am."

"I know. You just haven't figured out how to develop that little talent even further," William said.

"Did you enjoy what you did last night?" Colt asked. He wasn't going to work for a sadist who could and would destroy the mind of another.

"Yes and no," answered William. Colt raised an eyebrow in response to the answer. It wasn't what he was expecting. William explained, "Last night, the skills and talents of my red blood and my white blood worked in concert with each other. I could ghost through my enemies like a warrior of old. I could see the future like the Druids of the past. It was an amazing feeling and I enjoyed it. Even though it was the best course of events for her, I didn't enjoy what I was doing to that poor young woman."

"What do you think about the whole thing?"

A bitter laugh escaped William at the question. He answered, "I can't use my gift to protect Lucy, but I can use it to create the best future possible for the woman who tired to kill her. Ironic, isn't it?"

Their discussion was interrupted with the arrival of Jan. After a good night's sleep on a real bed, the woman looked twenty years younger. Taking a seat at the table, Jan could see that she was the last to wake. Gesturing to the remains of breakfast, she said, "I guess I overslept."

"Overslept? I wouldn't say that. I'd say that for the first time in a long time you slept as long as your body required," answered William. The transformation that had come over the woman was amazing. Lines that had appeared to be permanently etched in her face had smoothed out. Her speech, rough and broken, had become more formal. Her posture and manner had become more confident.

"Thank you," Jan replied picking up the last piece of toast on the platter in the center of the table.

"That piece of toast is stone cold and hard as a rock. Let me fix you something for breakfast," William said.

"Don't put yourself out for me."

"No problem. What would you like?" William asked as he rose out of his chair. Colt watched his employer surprised that the young man was willing to prepare a meal for a woman who had been homeless only the day before.

"Cereals would be nice. I haven't had cereals in years," Jan answered.

"That's easy enough," William said. It took him a minute to get a bowl, the milk, and three boxes of different cereals. Looking over the boxes, Jan poured a bowl of the cereal that Tim liked. Looking sheepish, she said, "It's been a long time, but I remember this one."

William nodded his head in understanding and smiled. He could understand her choice. As she prepared her cereal, he said, "By the way, welcome to the household."

Smiling in appreciation for the welcome, Jan replied, "Thank you. It is very nice of you to take me in."

"Did you and Lisa work out acceptable arrangements for you?"

"Not really. We discussed sleeping arrangements last night. I mentioned that I wanted to keep a little distance from the rest of the household. I'm not used to be around a lot of people all of the time."

"I can understand why you might want to live by yourself for a while. I can see where being surrounded by people and living in a place where lots of strangers drop in for visits would be stressful. How about we pick up an RV this morning? We can park it to the side of the house and it can be your private place."

Looking at William in amazement that he would do that for her, Jan said, "That would be perfect."

Colt shook his head at the contradiction between William's actions the previous night and those of the morning. He had tortured that woman last night and now he treated a homeless woman like a queen. He hoped that he never angered William because he didn't think there was a chance for him to escape the young man's wrath.

The RV lot had a lot of the low-end models parked along the front. These were the kinds of RV appropriate for a weekend trip to the local lake and were on display with a boat trailer, motorcycle trailer, or snow mobile trailer attached. With the invention of fusion motors, power was not a concern. Gone were the days of propane tanks, manual levelers, and cloth awnings. Instead, even the low-end RVs were loaded with electrical appliances and features that made them homes on wheels.

The dealer watched as William walked past all of the low and medium priced RVs before heading directly towards the most expensive item on the lot. Although he had seen William get out of the Hugger, he didn't think there was much chance of making a sale. After all, he had other two people with him. The middle aged woman with him was old enough to be his mother. The man with him was probably his brother. Taking a sip from his cup of coffee, he decided that the young man was window shopping with his mother.

With a sigh, the man levered his body out of the chair and made his way across the lot. Giving voice to a line that his coworkers often thought ironic considering his business, he said, "God, I hate tourists."

He reached the RV and examined the trio looking at the RV. William was actively examining the RV. Colt was not concerned with the RV, but was watching everyone else on the lot. Jan was looking at the RV with an expression of wonder on her face. Turning to her, he asked, "What can I help you with today?"

"You need to talk to William," Jan answered pointing to the young man who was walking around the outside of the RV.

"What can I do for you, young man?"

"Do you have this in double width?" William asked without even bothering to greet the salesman. He stuck his head in a storage container built into the back of the RV.

"Yes," answered the man raising an eyebrow. The double width version was basically the same as the single width version except that one side could extend out to provide for a living room. That particular model had come out several years earlier and was the best selling model on the lot. Rumor had it that a Druid had designed it.

"Good, I'll take it," William said as he held out his debit card to pay for it.

"Don't you need to look at it?" asked the salesman.

"No, my brother-in-law designed it as his senior project," William answered.

The man looked at the card with a raised eyebrow and accepted it. Glancing at the name on it, he recognized the Carter last name. Rather than act foolish, he said, "We've got two of the doublewides over there. After you pick out the one you want, I'll take care of running this through the bank. We'll have a crew get it ready for you. It shouldn't take more than about three hours. You can wait or I can have someone deliver it."

William was impressed that the man didn't make an issue out of his age. Nodding, he said, "That would be excellent. I'll have Jan pick it out. I'm sure that she'd like to stay here while they prepare it for her."

Nodding her head, Jan said, "That would be nice. You don't need to stay here."

"I wasn't planning on it. We've got to get ready for the picnic," William said.

"What picnic?" Jan asked.

"Ah, we are having a picnic at the park for all of the folks who helped Lucy yesterday," William answered. He said, "Of course, you are invited. In fact, I'd say that you are the guest of honor."