The Gatekeeper's Daughter by Eva Pohler Page A

an arrow into the man’s heart and make him love his dog.
     
    In the darkened theater in the middle of the center row, Therese sat between Jen and Pete, pretending to be interested in the bucket of popcorn in her lap, which the three of them were sharing.  Courtney sat on the other side of Jen, with Ray and then Todd on the end. At first, Therese was disappointed she wasn’t closer to Ray and Todd, since she hadn’t seen them much this summer, but she realized not far into the movie that it didn’t matter where she was sitting. All she could think about was piercing Pete. Her arrow of hate should neutralize Cupid’s arrow of love so that when Pete looked at her, he would feel indifference. There was a chance the hate would be stronger than the love, since it would be the fresher wound. She fidgeted in her chair and mopped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her sleeve.
    Her plan was to ask him to walk her to her door and then, when they were alone, she’d shoot him at such a high speed that mortal eyes couldn’t detect it. Then she’d tell him she was getting back with Than and wait for his response. Hopefully he’d shrug and walk away.
    When the time finally came and Pete was pulling into her gravelly drive, she said, “Pete, would you mind walking me to the door?”
    “I’ll walk you,” Jen offered.
    “Thanks, Jen, but I need to talk to Pete. Call me later. Maybe you can sleep over tomorrow.”
    Jen wrinkled her brow. “O-kay.” Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm.
    Pete turned off his truck and followed Therese to the base of the wooden steps leading up to her screened porch.
    “Pete, I…” before she could say another word, he took her in his arms.
    “Oh, Therese. I knew you’d come around.” He showered her with kisses.
    She pulled back, a bit too forcefully, forgetting her god-strength.
    “Whoa,” he said, stumbling back.
    “I’m so sorry. I just want to talk.” She whipped out the invisible, collapsible bow from her purse and cocked it in position. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
    “What are you doing?”
    Therese took the arrow from her back pocket and fitted it into the bow in less time that it took to take a breath. As she released the arrow into his chest, afraid of the finality of whatever consequences lay ahead, Jen ran up from behind him.
    “Pete!”
    “No!” Therese cried.
    Pete turned toward Jen as soon as the invisible arrow struck, his eyes falling upon his sister.
    “What do you want?” he growled at Jen. “You’re interrupting!”
    Jen stopped in her tracks and looked at Pete, bewildered. “What? Mom’s been trying to get a hold of me. I’ve got a ton of missed calls from her.”
    “All our problems would be solved if you’d just go away.”
    Therese staggered forward. “Wait.” Now what would she do? She couldn’t have Pete hating his own sister. And she couldn’t pierce him with a love arrow in Jen’s presence and risk him desiring her. Her father was bad enough. Oh, god! She prayed to Than and to Cupid as the two siblings yelled at one another. What have I done?
    “Take another arrow,” Than prayed back. Then he appeared beside her, invisible to the others. “Tell Jen to wait for you in your room upstairs and pierce him again as he looks upon you.” He disappeared, leaving her with the arrow in her trembling hand.
    “Jen, Pete’s upset.”
    “No shit, Sherlock,” Jen snapped.
    “Leave him alone for now. Wait for me in my room.”
    “He’s never talked to me like that before. God, Pete. How can you say that to me?”
    “Please,” Therese begged. “Go to my room so we can talk. I’ll be right there.”
    “Get out of here, Jen!” Pete hollered. “I can’t stand the sight of you.”
    Jen wiped tears from her red cheeks as she ran up the porch steps. “Shut up already!”
    Therese waited until Jen was out of sight. Then she fitted the new arrow to the bow and shot Pete once more. “Look at me, Pete!”
    He wore a sneer,