get to know them. Tried to be a good neighbor. They were not interested."
"Well, they are pretty insular."
"Insular!" His bark of laughter held no humor. "I tried to do my duty as a Christian. Did you know, Ms. Nelson that not one of those children have been baptized?"
Vicki shook her head but before she could say anything, he continued. "I tried to bring that family to God, and do you know what I got for my caring? I was told to get off their property and to stay off if I couldn't leave my God at home."
You're lucky you didn't get bit, Vicki thought. "I bet that made you pretty mad."
"God is not something I carry around like a pocketbook, Ms. Nelson," he told her dryly. "He is a part of everything I do. Yes, it made me angry... "
Angry enough to kill? she wondered.
"... but my anger was a righteous anger, and I gave it to the glory of the Lord."
"And what did the Lord do with it?"
He half turned toward her and smiled. "He put it to work in His service."
Now that could mean any number of things. Vicki stared out the window. How do you bring up the subject of werewolves? "Your nephew mentioned that you're a birder... "
"When I can spare time away from the garden."
"Ever go into the conservation area?"
"On occasion."
"I have a cousin who's a birder." She had nothing of the sort; it was a textbook interrogation lie. "He tells me you can see all sorts of fascinating things out in the woods. He says the unusual and bizarre lurk around every corner."
"Does he? His list must be interesting then."
"What's the most interesting species you've ever identified?"
Gray brows drew down. "I had an Arctic tern once. No idea how it got so far south. I prayed for its safe flight home and as I only saw it the once, I like to think my prayers were answered."
"An Arctic tern?"
"That," he told her without taking his eyes off the road, "was exactly the reaction of the others I told. I never lie, Ms. Nelson. And I never give anyone a chance to call me a liar twice."
She felt as though he'd just slapped her on the wrist. "Sorry." Well, that got me exactly nowhere.
"Looks like good hunting out here," she said casually, peering out the car window, watching trees and fields, and more trees and more fields go by. "Do you hunt?"
"No." The single syllable held such abhorrence, such strength of emotion, Vicki had to believe it. "Taking the lives of God's creatures is an abomination."
She squirmed around to face him, wondering how he'd rationalize his diet. "You don't eat meat?"
"Not since 1954."
"Oh." His point. "What about your nephew?"
"In my house he follows my rules. I don't try to run the rest of his life."
Nor do you approve of the rest of his life, Vicki realized. "Has he been staying with you long?"
"No." Then he added, "Mark is my late sister's son. My only living relative."
Which explains why you let the slimebag stay around at all. She sensed his disapproval, but whether it was directed at her or at Mark she couldn't say. "I've, uh, never hunted," she told him, attempting to get back into his good graces. Technically it was the truth. She'd never hunted anything that ran on four legs.
"Good for you. Do you pray?"
"Probably not as much as I should."
That startled him into a smile. "Probably not," he agreed and pulled over at the end of the long lane leading to the Heerkens farm. "If you'll excuse me, this is as far as I can take you."
"Excuse you? You've saved me a long hot walk, I'm in your debt." She slid out of the car and with one finger holding her glasses, leaned back in through the open window. "Thanks for the ride. And the water. And the chance to see your garden."
He nodded solemnly. "You're welcome. Can I convince you to join me at worship tomorrow, Ms. Nelson?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Very well." He seemed resigned. "Be careful, Ms. Nelson; if you endanger your soul you endanger your chance of eternal life."
Vicki could feel his sincerity, knew he wasn't just saying the words, so she nodded and said, "I'll be careful." and stepped back onto the shoulder. She waited where she was until he maneuvered the big car around in a tight three point turn then shifted the weight of her bag on her shoulder, waved, and started toward the lane.