“That’s better.”
“That’s debatable. Can we go now?”
He pulled her closer. “You need to hold me tighter.”
She made a face but slipped her hands around his neck. “Are we there yet?”
He glanced over at the ladies, who were still watching with smiles on their faces. “Good-bye, ladies.”
They waved as everything went black.
Brynley hung her shirts and jeans in the armoire in the loft. She’d packed light for this trip, knowing the cabin now boasted a washer and dryer and a fully stocked bathroom.
She had to admit she was impressed by how much Phineas had managed to do in thirty minutes. The pantry and refrigerator had food, and the kitchen table was covered with pistols, knives, two rifles, and ammo. She’d figured their first task would be a trip to the grocery store and gun shop, but it was all taken care of.
She climbed down the ladder to the ground floor, then peered through the open trapdoor. He’d gone down into the basement a few minutes earlier to settle in.
Since Phil and Vanda came here often on vacation, the basement had been made cozier for Vanda’s death- sleep. It now sported a real bed and bedroom furniture, two recliners, and a flat-screen television. Obviously, Phil spent a lot of time down there with Vanda.
“Need any help?” she asked.
“No, I’m almost done,” he called up.
“You took down the ladder.” She spotted it on the cellar floor.
“I don’t need it. I can levitate in or out.”
But she couldn’t. “You don’t want me coming down there to check on you?”
“No need. Once I fall into my death-sleep, I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re just afraid of what I’ll do.” She straightened with a smile. “I think I’ll draw a rainbow and unicorn on your chest with permanent markers. It’ll be so—”
“Don’t you dare,” he growled, suddenly behind her.
She squealed, jumped away from him, and teetered on the edge of the open trapdoor, her arms flailing.
He grabbed her and pulled her back against his chest. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“
“I didn’t attack you. I rescued you.”
She glared at him, her heart pounding, her whole body trembling. Tears blurred her vision, and she blinked them away. Her inner wolf hissed.
His eyes narrowed. “Okay.”
He closed the trapdoor. “Wait for what?”
She exhaled with relief. He wasn’t going to ask why she’d freaked. “Transportation.”
She opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of blood for him and a cola for herself. “While you were busy bringing supplies here, I was busy, too. I called a few female friends who live close by, and they agreed to help us. They both have sons at Dragon Nest.” She unscrewed the top off her cola. “I have to warn you, though. If we run into any werewolf guys, you have to act like you never met these women. If their husbands find out—”
“They’d get in trouble for helping you?” Phineas stuck his bottle of blood into the microwave. “Why? Because you left home?”
“No, because of the Lost Boys at school. They were all banished.” Brynley took a sip of cola. “That means they’re dead to the pack, and their families can’t have anything to do with them.”
“That’s terrible.”
She shrugged. “It’s the way it’s always been. The dads go along with it ’cause it’s the law, and they don’t want to get kicked out, too. The pack is everything to them. But the moms—well, they tend to see things differently. No pack can tell them to stop caring for their children.”
Phineas nodded. “Good for them.”
Lights flashed outside.
“That could be one of them now.” Brynley rushed to the front window and peered through a narrow gap between the window frame and the curtains. She needed to make sure it was Sherry or Trudy before stepping outside. “If it’s one of my father’s men, I’ll hide in the laundry room while you go outside to meet him.”
She glanced back at Phineas. “Tell him you’re one of Phil’s friends, and he’s letting you stay here a few days. Don’t let him inside the cabin. He might pick up my scent.”
“Got it.” Phineas strode to the kitchen table and loaded a clip into an automatic pistol.
A pickup truck pulling a horse trailer came to a stop in the gravel driveway.
Brynley exhaled in relief as she saw a woman emerging from the truck. “It’s Trudy. Corey’s mom.” She rushed over to her handbag she’d left on the sofa, pulled out two envelopes, then hurried out the front door.
“Trudy!” She met her in front of the truck.
“Brynley!” Trudy hugged her, then stepped back to look her over. “You’re looking good.”
“Thanks. And thank you so much for helping us out.”
“It’s the least I can do. How is Corey?”
“He’s great. I saw him about thirty minutes ago and told him I’d be seeing you, so . . .” Brynley waved an envelope in the air.
“He wrote to me?” Trudy snatched the letter from Brynley’s hand and pressed it to her chest. “Thank you! I thank God every day that you were able to find a home and a school for my boy. Is he eating all right?”
“Of course. The food is great at Dragon Nest. I swear I’ve gained five pounds—”
With a gasp, Trudy stiffened.
“What?” Brynley turned to see what Trudy was staring at with such an alarmed look.
“There’s a man on the porch,” Trudy whispered.
“That’s Phineas. Remember, I said there would be two of us?”
“But he’s . . .” Trudy stepped closer. “Honey, he’s not one of us.”
“He’s a good guy, a friend of my brother’s.” Brynley glanced back at Phineas, who was staring into the woods, frowning. No doubt he could hear everything with his supersensitive vampire ears.
“But you’re alone here with him?” Trudy asked. “If your father finds out—”
“He won’t.” Brynley gave her a pointed look. “You never saw him. Or me. Just like we never saw you.”
Trudy took a deep breath. “Right.”
Brynley glanced at the horse trailer. “Your husband isn’t going to wonder why two of your horses are missing?”
“He was invited to your dad’s ranch in Montana for the monthly hunt, and you know he can’t refuse that. So he’ll be gone for a full week.”
Brynley nodded. Her father held a huge hunt every month at the full moon. No werewolf would dare refuse an invitation from the Supreme Pack Master. It was considered a great honor. “Have you seen my sister lately?”
“A few weeks ago.” Trudy gave her a sad smile. “You miss her?”
“Yeah.” Brynley looked away, determined not to get emotional.
“Well, let me get these horses into the barn for you.” Trudy strode to the back of the horse trailer. “And I brought some hay in case you didn’t have any.”
“That’s perfect. Thank you.” Brynley followed her, then noticed Phineas had come down the front steps to stand on the grass.
“Horses?” he asked.
“Sure.” She walked toward him. “In case we need to go off-road.”
“Isn’t that what four-wheelers are for?” He grimaced at the first horse being led out of the trailer.
Brynley smiled slowly. “You’ve never ridden a horse before, have you?”
“Never wanted to,” Phineas muttered.
The horse pranced about, clearly upset.
“I don’t think he’s too happy about it, either,” Phineas added.
