Love Hurts (Eternal Flames Book 12) Read online

  Flyer smiled. “I know you will, and thanks, Timmy. Now, before I’m late and Wade chews me a new one, I better get going. I put Spike in his pen in the barn and put some food out for him already, so he should be okay.”

  “Oh, thank you, Flyer,” Timmy said with a large smile.

  “You’re welcome. Have a good day, Timmy, and tell York I’ll see him at the station tomorrow.”

  “I will. He would have been here too to welcome you, but we got a few Emus and purple peacocks in yesterday, and Wally, our wallaby has something against them for some reason. He keeps getting into their pens and chasing them around. The purple peacocks get so scared that they open their tail feathers and run, but some of those feathers keep falling out. Soon they’ll be naked so Yorkie has gone to make sure Wally can’t get into their pens anymore.”

  Flyer stood there stunned as he listened to Timmy talk about his and York’s ever-growing family of animals. How the hell York put up with all those different critters was beyond him. Now they had Emus and peacocks? And when the hell did they get a wallaby? Flyer shook his head and chuckled, amused by the whole thing. “Well, you tell York I wish him luck. I’ll see you around, Timmy.” And with that Flyer left and headed back to his truck.

  As he walked across the porch and down the steps, Flyer heard a commotion coming from the barn area. Once on the dirty driveway he turned to look at what was going on, then stopped and stared in silence.

  York was standing in the paddock or corral or whatever the hell they called that fenced in area, and he was facing off against a pair of really large birds. The birds were about ten feet in front of him, just staring and if Flyer was right, they looked pissed. The bird on the left kept squawking and shaking its ass, then the bird on the right would squawk at the other bird and look back to York and squawk again. Suddenly a small pure white kangaroo hopped over and stood before the birds and started squealing like he was yelling, then began to jump up and down. As he jumped up, he threw out his long rear legs toward the birds in a threatening manner, making the birds take a few steps back.

  The whole time, York just stood there staring at the display in front of him, until the wallaby started kicking. Then York moved closer and tried to grab hold of the thing. The wallaby fought against his hold and the birds attacked, nipping at the wallaby, and pushing York with their overly large bodies.

  Timmy went rushing over and tried to get in the middle of the craziness as he yelled and waved a pointed finger at the large birds as if reprimanding them. One of the birds faced Timmy and just stared at him for a moment, then turned and walked away, but the other one started squawking at Timmy as the little gargoyle argued back. The whole situation was unbelievable if he hadn’t seen it himself. It was comical to say the least, but Flyer couldn’t stay any longer and watch the show, Wade and the guys would be gathering tonight to go over some things and Flyer was wanted there earlier than the others to go over some aerial shots so he had to get moving.

  Flyer turned and headed back to his truck, then opened the door and climbed in. He started the truck, put it in gear, and headed down the driveway. Suddenly a movement came from his lower right, down on the floor of the passenger side. Flyer turned his head to look and found Spike trying to get under the seat. Just his back end was sticking out and he was digging hard with his front paws trying to get beneath it.

  Flyer shook his head and sighed before stopping the truck. He leaned down and carefully pulled Spike out, then held him in front of his face as his eyes narrowed at the critter. “I thought I put you in your stall? What the hell are you doing here, Spike, and how in the world did you get into my truck?”

  Flyer just sat staring at Spike as if waiting for him to actually answer. Then he huffed in frustration at his own stupidity. “Now I’m talking to an animal and waiting for answers like he’s actually going to give me one. Shit, I must be losing my damn mind. Okay, buddy, back to Timmy for you. It’s where you belong, so let’s go.

  He turned the truck around and drove back up the driveway, then put it in park and climbed out with Spike in his hands. He walked over to the pen where York and Timmy were still trying to control the chaos and cleared his throat. Once Timmy and York turned to look at him, Flyer held Spike up high. “I think you need to have that conversation sooner than you think. I found this escapee just now in my truck.”

  “Oh, fudge muffins,” Timmy replied as he stomped a foot, then came to Flyer and took Spike from him.

  “You are a bad boy, Spike. You need to leave Flyer alone and let him live his life. Then you and I need to have a chat,” Timmy reprimanded.

  “Why don’t you take Spike in and talk with him, while I take care of Frick and Frack, then let all the peacocks out?” York offered.

  “Okay, Yorkie,” Timmy said, then turned with Spike still in his outstretched hands and walked to the barn.

  Flyer watched them go, then turned to York with an amused look on his face. “Frick and Frack?”

  York smiled. “Yeah, these two stay close together acting like twins and are the laziest birds I have ever seen. They are like every definition of Frick and Frack that I have ever heard. It’s perfect for them. So, I heard you had an overnight guest and there was some poking going on in that bed,” York said with amusement.

  Flyer could see his friend was trying hard to control the laugh that was threatening to escape. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Yeah, yeah. Make jokes, but let’s see how you react if you wake up to find a porcupine in your bed.”

  “Brother, I wake up most mornings with a freaking zoo’s worth of animals in my bed. A porcupine wouldn’t even be noticed.”

  Flyer smirked. “Yeah, I think Jett was a little off when he said you were an animal in bed. I think he was talking about all the animals in your bed.

  “Yeah, well, Jett is always a little off.”

  Flyer threw his head back and laughed, then walked back to his truck and climbed in, closing the door behind him. He put it in gear and headed down the driveway, literally leaving the crazy farm behind.

  CHAPTER 3

  Timmy walked into the house with Charlie on his heels. Sitting Spike down on a chair, Timmy started wiggling his finger at the porcupine as he admonished, “Don’t move from that spot, Spike. You and I have to talk.”

  Sitting across from Spike, Timmy sighed, not knowing what to say. Charlie sat next to Timmy, and Timmy started petting his best friend. Charlie always knew what Timmy needed and was right there to provide it for him. When Yorkie had to work patrol or at the fire department, it was Charlie who stayed by his side at night. Timmy loved all his children, and he knew it wasn’t right to have a favorite, but Charlie had been his first. The English Mastiff was as smart as he was loyal, and Timmy could count on him to lift his spirits when Timmy was sad, and right now, Timmy was sad.

  Wiping the wetness from his eyes, Timmy rasped, “I just don’t know what to do. I try and talk to you, Spike, but all I get is the silent treatment or a bunch of chatter which I can’t understand. The only way to fix this is to talk it out. Do you hate me? Am I such a bad parent, you insist on running away from home? What do I have to do to make you feel part of our family? Do you want to go be with your own kind? Is that it?”

  More tears ran down Timmy’s cheek, when Spike still said nothing. Peeking at Spike, Timmy saw the sadness in the porcupine’s eyes, and sighed. Standing, Timmy swallowed past the lump in his throat, saying, “All I ever wanted was to make you and all my children happy. To force you to stay where you don’t want to be is cruel and wrong. I’ll have Yorkie take you to the local zoo. I’m sure they’ll know where to take you so you’ll be happy.”

  When Timmy went to pick up Spike, the porcupine started chattering louder than Timmy had ever heard him chatter before. Spike was definitely not happy with Timmy’s announcement, but for the life of him, Timmy had no idea what the porcupine was saying. Tossing his hands in the air, Timmy said, “I don’t understand you, Spike. I want to, but I can’t. Maybe I shou
ld call Helio and Briar, they gave me the ability to talk to animals, maybe it’s broken or I’m doing it wrong.”

  “He doesn’t want to go to the zoo. Spike is begging you not to take him.”

  Timmy turned to Charlie. “You understand Spike?”

  “Yes, I always have.”

  “Then why the heck haven’t you said something before?” Timmy asked in frustration.

  “I didn’t want to interfere. The others already have issue with me, because you and I are so close. I didn’t want to make it look like I was stepping in where I didn’t belong.”

  Timmy went to Charlie, kneeling in front of him. “I’m sorry, Charlie. I had no idea. I’ll talk to them. They shouldn’t be mad at you because of something I’m doing. We’ll have a family meeting tonight and get it all out. But Charlie, if you know something, you should tell me. Yorkie always says communication is the key to a happy family.”

  “Well then, you should know that Wally keeps attacking Frick and Frack because they get too close to the racoon babies under the barn.”

  “Racoon babies? There are babies under the barn? What about their mommy and daddy?” Timmy asked in concern.

  “I’ve never seen any adults. Wally’s been taking some of Frick and Frack’s fruit to give to them and they get pissed because they’re trying to have a baby. Frick is trying to gather what he needs to make the nest and it’s right next to the racoon babies.”

  Spike started chattering louder, but Timmy held up a finger. “Just a second, Spike. I have to save those babies.”

  Pulling out his new cell phone Yorkie had given him after he dropped the last one down the toilet, Timmy pressed the one button. Yorkie answered on the first ring. “Hey Nugget, how’s it going with Spike?”

  “I’m still working on that, Yorkie, but I called because I need you to go to that pile of stuff Frick has been making and check under the barn. Charlie says there are babies under there. Save them, Yorkie. Please save them. They could die in this cold. I don’t want my babies to die,” Timmy rapidly said through his sniffles.

  “Calm down, Nugget. I’ll go get them. Who had babies? Blossom or Puff?” York asked.

  Timmy sniffled. “Neither. Charlie says they’re raccoon babies.”

  “But we don’t have any raccoons in our family,” York replied in confusion.

  “We do when you get the babies to safety. Oh, and make sure to put W—”

  “Ouch! Damn it, Wally back the hell off!” Yorkie shouted sounding hurt. Then calmly asked, “What were you saying, Nugget?”

  Timmy sighed, “I was saying you might want to get Wally in one of the stalls until you get the babies. He’s kind of been feeding and protecting them. I’ll be out there as soon as I finish talking to Spike. I love you, Yorkie.”

  “Love you too, Nugget. If you need me I’ll come and help when I get the babies safe and warm,” York said just before hanging up.

  Spike chattered louder, and Timmy turned to him, then to Charlie. “What is he saying?”

  “He says to focus. He has to get to his mate,” Charlie replied.

  Timmy gasped and smiled wide. “You found your mate? Why didn’t you say something? Why not bring your mate here? You know we would welcome him or her with open arms. Yorkie and I would never keep mates apart.”

  “Um, Timmy, Spike isn’t a regular animal.”

  “What do you mean, Charlie?” Timmy asked.

  Spike chattered faster, and Charlie quickly said, “Slow down, Spike. I can’t keep up with everything you’re saying, and I have to tell Timmy what you just said.”

  Spike stopped making his noises and Charlie looked over to Timmy saying, “Spike is a shifter. His name is Ireland Lancer.”

  Spike started his chatter again, and then stopped so Charlie could talk to Timmy. “He left home to see the world. However, being alone was scary and one day he met a man named Orban Haliti. He saw Spike shift and Spike freaked out. Orban, calmed him and explained that the gypsy tribes knew of shifters and accepted the gifts they were given. They talked, and Spike told the man about his wanting to travel, but that he was thinking about going home because it was scary being out on his own. Orban offered Spike the opportunity to travel with his gypsy caravan. They knew of shifters, accepted him, were really nice to him, and let him travel with them.

  The back and forth continued from Spike to Charlie and then to Timmy. “Spi—Ireland—”

  Spike started shattering and Charlie said, “Thanks it will make it a lot easier. He says he really likes the name you gave him, so I can keep using it.”

  Smiling wide, Timmy said, “Thank you, Spike. I like it too.”

  Charlie continued before Spike or Timmy could say anything else. “There was this one man, Danior Boswell. He kept making passes at Spike, but he wasn’t interested. One day Danior tried to force himself on Spike and Spike went to his friend, Orban, who was also the Rom Baro. He’s the head of the Gypsy Tribe, and he told them what happened with Danior. Apparently, this wasn’t the first time that Danior had tried to take what wasn’t his and had been warned of what would happen if he didn’t control himself. The attack on Spike was the last straw and they placed a curse on the man, then banished him from the tribe.”

  “Good! He was mean and should be punished,” Timmy said crossing his arms and giving a sharp nod. Then shivered, saying, “But it’s still scary.”

  “The Rom Baro was a very powerful gypsy and the curse was something like if he was going to act like an animal, he could be one. Every time he tried to take what wasn’t his, the animal would grow within him.”

  Timmy gasped, “Oh wow!”

  “Danior was pissed at Spike for ratting him out and getting him banished. One day, when the tribe had stopped in a small town, Spike was just leaving a store after picking up a few things, when Danior showed up. He said something in Romanian and poof, Spike was transformed into his shifter animal. He’s tried everything to shift back, but for almost three years, he has been stuck in this form.”

  Spike chattered on, then Charlie said, “One day he got caught in a trap and was sold to an exotic animal farm. When he smelled you and York, he thought he might have a chance of getting another shifter to see or maybe scent who he really was. He did everything he could, and thought he was the luckiest guy in the world when you picked him out and brought him here with you. He was really disappointed when no one figured out he was a shifter, but things were easier to accept, because you were always so good to him. He even liked—” Charlie turned to Spike asking in a surprised tone, “Seriously? Huh.”

  Turning back to Timmy Charlie said, “He even liked the pajama parties. It reminded him of the times he and his brothers would get together with friends for a sleepover.”

  Timmy beamed with pride. “I told Yorkie you guys enjoyed it. Maybe we can do that more often, Charlie. If Spike really likes it, I bet the others do too.”

  Charlie turned to Spike, giving a soft growl then turned back to Timmy when Spike continued his chatter. “One night, you had put on The Princess and the Frog, it’s when he realized what he needed to do.”

  Timmy gasped and clapped. “Yes, you need the fairytale kiss! But who will be the Prince to release you from your curse?” Timmy’s eyes went wide with understanding. “Flyer! Flyer is your prince!”

  Spike chattered, and Charlie said, “He smelled him as you were passing the auto shop. That’s why he ran inside. He knew the moment he saw him, that Flyer was his mate. His aroma overpowered the smell of grease and rubber. Spike has tried everything to get his mate to notice him. He even had a crazy thought about what his life would be like if Flyer just kissed him. Would he shift into his human form again like that toad did in the cartoon movie? Then Flyer would see they were meant to be together.”

  “And they would live happily ever after,” Timmy whispered.

  “Spike has tried time and time again, but Flyer won’t even give him a chance. Spike knows he shouldn’t keep putting himself through the rejections he keeps get
ting from Flyer, but he has to try—not just because he wants his life back, but because he wants his mate and the life a mate has to offer like everyone here.”

  Timmy sniffed, and wiped at his eyes. “That’s so sad. There has to be something we can do. You’ve met your mate and can’t be with him. That just isn’t right. I don’t even want to think about my life without my Yorkie.”

  Spike chittered and chattered, and Charlie said, “He doesn’t really know, but he has to try. Flyer is his mate and he wants to be with his mate.”

  Timmy stood. “And you should be with your mate.”

  Just then the phone rang, and Timmy picked it up. “Timmy here.”

  “Timmy, this is Wade, is Bullseye there yet?”

  “He got home about an hour ago. I don’t see him, but he might be in his room.”

  “Okay, I need you to get Bullseye. Tell him Flyer is going on a mission and he’ll need help doing the preflight stuff. He needs to hurry, because Flyer is leaving in the next hour.”

  “Flyer’s leaving? No! He can’t, Wade. Spike—”

  Laughing, Wade said, “Yes, we know, Spike will miss him, but this mission is imperative to my team. Now can you get Bullseye to get to the airport hangar? Flyer is already there.”

  “I’ll tell him,” Timmy quietly said, then hung up.

  Turning to Spike he could see the porcupine was upset and trying to get down from the chair he had been placed on. Timmy rushed to Spike, picked him up saying, “Calm yourself, Spike. I have a plan. I have to talk to Yorkie first but—”