Faithful Shadow Read Online Free PDF

matter, not as long as they signed his paycheck. Doug sighed, already feeling the extreme boredom starting to settle in. He pulled up a chair and took a seat, knowing this would piss off his manager, but his legs were sore. Standing in one spot all day made his feet ache; besides, this low vantage point offered a much better view of Rowena. Sure, at times he felt like a stalker. Watching her from across the way for hours on end, looking through the leaves of the fern between them. But he loved her. He’d liked many women before, but this was different. She had replaced the faces of all the women from his past. All those nights behind the bathroom door masturbating to magazines or fantasies, were now all replaced with his lovely Rowena.

7
    J oe turned off the main road and headed toward Fairy Falls, pulling into the parking lot to watch a handful of tourists walk the wooden boardwalks around the Grand Prismatic. Joe looked up at the sky, the sun now well past the middle of the day. The clouds were black and the air smelled of fire but the scene was still lovely. Joe opened his brown paper bag and pulled out the tuna sandwich he’d made yesterday. The best part about being a ranger was his freedom; driving through the park every day, pulling over wherever he pleased to have lunch while looking out over the valley, or watching the waterfall in the canyon. Joe took a bite of his sandwich. He was barely three chews in before the radio cracked.
    “Yeah, go ahead Rita,” Joe said through a mouthful of bread and tuna.
    “Andy wanted me to let you know that there’s no sign of those hikers. No sign in at the trailhead.”
    “Okay, thank you Rita.” Joe thought for a moment. “Did Andy post that warning about the rogue bear near the Inn?”
    “I believe so. Did you want me to do a drive around?”
    “No, the notice is fine. Thank you, Rita.”
    Joe turned off the radio, letting the receiver fall to the floor. He didn’t want to deal with any more calls or see any more dead animals. Too much blood on his hands lately; the thought put a sour taste in his mouth that overpowered the tuna. He set his sandwich down and closed his eyes, feeling the headache beginning to creep toward the front of his head. A child’s laughter drifted in through the open window, startling him from the light slumber he’d slipped into. He turned his head toward the boardwalk and watched a family of four; a mother, father, a boy about six, and a girl about three. The perfect, picturesque family. Joe smiled, watching them walk the last of the boardwalk, pausing briefly to look down at the steaming pools of water with wonder. But this normal display of family bliss began to turn sour, like an allergic reaction tightening his throat. It became hard to breathe. His heart rate rose as the truck’s interior went from a comfortable warmth to a sweltering inferno; all mental of course.
    Joe started the truck and put it in reverse, backing up without looking into the rearview, peeling out as soon as he had room. He was succumbing to another panic attack, moving recklessly down the road at speeds well beyond the posted limit. A cool sweat had broken out across his brow. It felt as if he couldn’t pull in a deep enough breath no matter how deep he sucked in. He pulled onto the shoulder and slammed on his brakes, pressing his forehead to the wheel. Slow breaths in and out; over and over again until his racing heart faded into the background. A fresh batch of tears poured from his eyes, cascading down his cheeks like an uncontrollable river. The small boy’s face from a few moments ago had been replaced with his son’s. A younger version of his boy from when he’d been little, an innocent face that was always smiling. Where that child had gone, that innocent nature, was beyond him.
    Joe took a sip from his flask, closing his eyes as he let the booze work its magic. He held the cold glass to his forehead. How long until it would numb the pain? However long,