Cole stood and cocked the weapon. “Yeah, well, after what I just saw in that kitchen … if this goes bad and they turn on me, I might not be using the last shell on one of them.”

CHAPTER 42

YOU expect me to believe a word of that story?”

“No, Dad, I don’t. God knows I wouldn’t.” Savannah folded her hands on the dining table. “But you have to believe it. Lives depend on you believing it. Not to mention quite a few souls.”

Hickham knocked back the last of his coffee and fixed her with a cold glare. “Young lady, are you on drugs?”

“What? No, Dad, I’m not on—”

“’Cause let me just make sure that I’m understanding you correctly. You’re telling me that some old lady used a magic spell to bring my football team back from the dead . . .”

“I know it sounds—”

“And now my team is damned to walk the earth for eternity, subsisting on horses and cattle, unless I can save their souls by helping them defeat the Elmwood Badgers for the district title?”

“That’s pretty much it, Dad. Only, Cole thinks they’ve probably gone off livestock now that they’ve gotten a taste for human flesh.”

“Pardon?”

“That’s another thing. You know Willard Blunt, your starting free safety? Well, last night the Jackrabbits ate his father.”

Through clenched teeth Hickham said, “Where the hell is Cole Logan?”

“He’s out looking for the Jackrabbits.”

“Looking for them? Where are they?”

“Well, if he knew that, he wouldn’t be looking for them.”

“Damnit, Savannah, this isn’t funny!”

“Dad, believe me, I know that. I’m not trying to make jokes. If I seem glib, it’s because I don’t have time to talk my way around this stuff. Crazy as it sounds, everything I’ve told you is the truth.”

“How about the truth as to where you were all night?”

“I was in Cole Logan’s bed.” On his look, she raised calming hands. “Don’t worry, he … he was the perfect gentleman. Our falling asleep was just an accident. We were so tired—”

“I don’t care if you were knocked unconscious. We have rules in this house!”

“Dad, this is beside the point! You want to ground me for staying out all night, fine. Send me to my room until June for all I care, but right now I need to know if you’re going to help us!”

“Ah, hell, Savannah!” He stood and planted his hands on his hips. “All this you’re telling me … it can’t be true.”