“Yeah, I’m not nervous at all,” Hex wiped his hands down his thighs. “I get sweaty palms just thinking about Martha going into labor.”
“It’ll be fine,” Joey told him.
“Yeah, it’ll be fine. It’s not like you have to do the pushing,” Beck joked. His brother didn’t find it funny.
“I hate the thought of Martha being in pain,” Hex confessed.
“Just focus on the baby you guys are going to get at the end of it,” Kelos told Hex.
“How do you know so much about babies?” Mac asked as he leaned against his desk.
“I’ve seen my fair share born,” Kelos told them. “But I don’t imagine it’s the same as watching your own child take its first breath.”
“I hope we all get to experience that one day,” Joey said wistfully before his mouth dropped at the corners and he nodded at the list. “So, what do you have for us?”
“I need a couple of you to go into town. The museum needs a couple of trees cut back. The branches are overhanging the roof.” He looked up at the four men in front of him. “I figured Kelos and Hex.”
“Sure,” Hex nodded at Kelos.
“We’ll get loaded up.” Kelos slipped out of the office.
“You still didn’t tell us what the problem is.” Joey leaned out of the office door as Kelos and Hex strode toward the storeroom.
“I met my mate.” Kelos smothered a smile as Joey slipped and nearly fell flat on his face outside of Mac’s office. As he reached out his hand to steady himself, Mac and Beck appeared behind him.
“You did what?” Joey spluttered.
“I met my mate. She’s an old friend of Shawn’s who has come to visit.” He didn’t say anymore as he continued on his way to the storeroom.
Hex was frozen to the spot for a moment before he turned around and ran after Kelos. “Is that true or are you just messing with them?”
“It’s true,” Kelos told his friend. “I met her late last night. I still feel as if I need to pinch myself to check that I’m not dreaming.”
“That’s how it feels when you meet your mate.” Hex shook his head in disbelief. “I was beginning to think you might have to wait another couple of hundred years or something. Then there she was, at Shawn’s of all places.”
“Yes, if I hadn’t offered to drive last night, I might never have met her.” Kelos took down a chainsaw from where it hung on the wall. “Fate.”
“Fate.” Hex placed his hand on Kelos’s shoulder. “I’m so happy for you, Kelos. You deserve to find happiness. And if you need a hand fixing your house up, let me know. I know you said you wanted to take your time, but things have changed.”
“Thanks.” Kelos nodded. “I haven’t had time to process the implications yet.”
“No wonder you’re walking around as if you found treasure. In so many ways you have.” Hex chuckled. “I can’t wait to tell Martha.”
“Thanks, Hex.” Kelos loaded the gear into the back of the work truck and then climbed into the passenger seat while Hex shut the back of the truck and joined him, jumping into the driver’s seat and inserting the key in the ignition.
“So, what’s the story with your mate?” Hex asked.
“Story? What story?” Kelos asked a little too quickly.
Hex’s eyes narrowed but he switched his attention to the trail leaving from the sawmill to the road. “Why has she come to visit Shawn? I heard from Joey you got home late last night, and Shawn obviously wasn’t expecting a visitor, or he might not have gotten himself quite so drunk.”
“He did have a lot to drink.” Kelos rolled down the window and leaned his elbow on the door, inhaling the fresh air, letting the smell of damp earth and wildflowers wash over him. Spring was reclaiming the world around them, waking the flora and fauna from its winter sleep.
“Is she in trouble?” Hex asked quietly. “If she is, you know you can count on me and Martha to help out. We owe you.”
“You need to focus on your wife and baby,” Kelos told his friend firmly.
“So, she is in trouble.” Hex’s jaw tightened. “Anything you need, you know we are all there for you.”
“Amber isn’t the one in trouble,” Kelos confided. “It’s her sister-in-law. Well, her brother. There’s some big court case and he’s supposed to testify. He did a deal to keep his family safe. Witness protection, the whole works. But someone leaked their whereabouts. Amber got a call from her brother and she promised to keep them safe.”
“And what better place to keep them safe than in the mountains.” Hex nodded. “So, they’re staying with Shawn.”
“No, they are at my house.” Kelos smiled as Hex jerked his head around in surprise.
“They’re at your cabin?” Hex looked shocked.
“Yeah. It seemed like the safest place. If anyone traces Amber to Shawn’s place, then they will find it empty. There’s no previous connection between me and Amber, or any other member of her family. So, they should be safe.”
“And what does Amber think of your home?” Hex asked cautiously.
“Amber likes it. Her sister-in-law, Margie, not so much.” He shrugged. “My mate can see what it will be like when the work is finished.”
“Does that mean you are going to part with any of your gold or jewels to make that work go any faster?” Hex knew how much Kelos treasured his dragon hoard.
“Nope.” Kelos shook his head as they turned onto the main road that threaded its way through town. The museum was located just off the main street and Hex parked the truck in the parking lot next to the old building.
“You know, the museum might be interested in some of the treasure. You could get paid and they could get some new items to display,” Hex suggested.
“I like my treasure right where it is,” Kelos told Hex. “And I want to do the work on the cabin myself, too. I enjoy it.
