Flicking the switch to turn the porch light on, Betsy mumbles to herself while watching the dogs scamper down the short flight of steps.  Taking the steps one at a time, Betsy moves slowly behind the dogs and peers at the dark shadow visible through the glass pane on the front door.  “A teenager, no likely” Betsy thinks as the blurred image through the sandblasted glass appears to be dressed in all black.  “Hush, dogs” Betsy commands, “Sit.”  To any stranger or non dog lover the presence of three large dogs is intimidating and all the protection any one needs out in the country even thought a loaded colt 44 revolver rests atop the cabinet in the entry hall.

Cracking open the door Betsy’s peers at the pale faced, dark eyed lad standing on the stoop.  “Hello, what the devil are you doing out on dirt roads on a night like this” Betsy hails mincing no words.

The almond shaped dark eyes squint back at Betsy, the defiant stance shifting forward as the intruder stutters in a lilting sing song, “I need help.  You.”  The black clad youth points at Betsy.  A string of words barely understood flow from the wide set mouth, “The black one, the one with amber eyes.  I need that one.”  the youth points to the black pup.

Betsy lowers a reassuring hand down, rustling the fir on the black pup.  The dog stood, his hackles raised, poised ready to strike.  Betsy cooed under her breath, trying to ease the dogs.  The two blondes still stood at the top of the stairs but the black stood by her side with his “Mohawk” hackles raised evident.  “Of course, we’ll help.  Are you off in the ditch or just stuck in a muddy rut?”  Betsy moves to get her rain jacket and plucks the keys to the tractor off a hook.  As she rustles around the youth makes a strange motion with her hands and softly incants.  The two blonde female dogs retreat into the house while the black still stands protectively at Betsy’s side.

“Come, we must hurry.  The night is dark, we find our way by the amber eyes.”  said the youth in the same odd way, stuttering with a sing song effect.  Betsy shakes her head and grabs the flashlight on the way out the door.  The night is dark, no moon and the overcast sky blocks even the faintest of starlight on this damp dreary night.  Betsy knew that once they moved out from the pool of light shed by the house that the pitch black ink would close in about them quickly.  The mist pooled about them as they moved down the dirt road, swirling in the soft light shed from the house.  The dampness mutes the sounds of the evening encompassing the trio in darkness and silence.

The black clad youth strides a fast pace down the dirt track while Betsy follows behind with the black dog striding between the pair.  The youth stops, turns and stares at the black pup.  The amber eyes on the black dog glow in the eerie mist light.  Soft murmurs break the silence as the youth mouths strange sounds and incoherent words.  Betsy stops in her tracks and stares boldly, resisting the urge to run back to the house.