We went upstairs, split up, and started looking for windows that had one or more whole panes left in them. Sometimes, just one of the four panes had a thin crack; those windows we left alone as they would still keep out most of the wind and rain. Usually, though, the glass was missing from at least one of the window’s four squares.
Any window missing glass, we removed altogether and brought the frames to the main room. There, we puzzled over how to remove the good glass without any tools. The cracked glaze that held each pane in place barely clung to the wood and was easy to pick away. But the little metal pieces stuck into the wood to pin in the glass were much trickier than the nails that had held the frames in. Mary had been able to pull the frame nails out with just her fingers.
“We’ll have to ask for help,” Mary said after trying to remove one. “I don’t have enough control to just change my nails or I could do it.” She glanced at the closed door. “You want to ask?”
I totally didn’t want to but moved to the door anyway. It opened with a creak and drew everyone’s attention.
A pile of neatly stacked boards lay on the ground to the right of the door. Anton was in the process of setting another on top and looked up at me. It relieved me that someone I knew was nearby.
“We need a hand for just a minute,” I said to him and stepped back.
One of the wolves in the yard softly growled as Anton stepped through the door. The men who had been removing additional boards from the shed stared at me. Did I sound too demanding?
“Um, thank you for your help,” I called. One of them nodded in acknowledgement, but they all appeared angry anyway.
I closed the door and nearly walked into Anton, who stood just behind me. I put my hands up to stop myself and almost touched his bare chest. He smiled at me, the glint in his eyes making me nervous.
“Uh… Mary can explain,” I said, motioning to Mary who watched us with interest.
He reluctantly went to Mary’s side and listened to her point out the tiny metal pieces he needed to remove without breaking the glass. He nodded; and as I watched, the nail on his first finger grew to a lethal point. He gently prodded the metal and worked it from the wood.
After he’d picked out all four, he scraped away the remaining chunks of glaze and removed the pane. He turned to hand it to me. His searching gaze and hesitant smile made me sad for him. Mary was right. They totally were trying to seek my favor.
“Thank you, Anton. Mary, if you want to work with him, I’ll get some more windows.” I left them and pretended not to notice his disappointed look.
He worked with us for the rest of the morning. By midday, we’d removed all of the windows from the second story and had salvaged enough whole glass for ten complete windows. Anton had replaced the glass and pressed the metal back into place while Mary and I reinstalled the frames. I made sure to fix the window in the main room first. When we finished, I thanked him again for his help and awkwardly walked with him to the door.
“Will you consider me?” he asked before leaving.
I met his hopeful gaze. He was good-looking and seemed nice. If we’d met in the real world and he’d stopped to talk to me, maybe my heart would have given a little kick. But we hadn’t, and I knew what he was. When I answered, I didn’t pretend to misunderstand him.
“I won’t consider anyone. My neck isn’t healed.”
His eyes drifted to my neck, and he gave a slow nod. “I would be gentle,” he said.
I didn’t say anything. Anything I had to say would upset him. He wouldn’t be gentle. No one could be when they intended to bite my neck. I bore eight puncture wounds already.
He gave me a last pleading look before he finally left.
Sighing, I went to help Mary sweep out the rooms with the restored windows.
“Do you mind if I keep sleeping in your room?” Mary asked when we finished the last one. Daylight was starting to fade and our makeshift brooms were wearing down.
“Not at all.”
In fact, I preferred it. I’d only known her a few days, and two of her kind had bit me; yet, I felt safe with her in my room at night.
****
Sounds of fighting in the yard woke me. It wasn’t yet light. When I sat up in bed, Mary flicked the lighter. She was sitting up, too. Our eyes met. Outside, the noises quieted.
“What was that?” I whispered.
After a moment, she shrugged and lay down again. The light went out. I stayed upright, listening. Nothing but silence remained outside.
Mary’s breathing slowed once more. Obviously, whatever had happened wasn’t important or worrisome to her. However, it took several minutes before I settled back on the bed.
I had no idea how long I lay there in the dark, but gradually the room began to lighten. Lying on my side, I watched Mary as she woke with a stretch on the floor.
“How can you sleep like that?”
“I’ve never slept any other way. We don’t have beds out there.” She glanced at the window.
Out there, where fights broke out in the middle of the night, where there was no protection. The warmth of my blankets wrapped around me, and I appreciated that I’d found this place. I’d slept outside often since leaving home, but I’d longed for something more permanent, somewhere I might belong. It was that longing, and the possibility of their understanding about my ability, that had me fixing windows when I wasn’t even sure I wanted to stay.
“Maybe they can find you a mattress or bed, too,” I said.
“That’d be nice, but I doubt they would be as willing to fetch me a bed as they were for you.” She grinned at me.
I didn’t want to think about their eagerness to please, so I changed the subject.
“What was that fight about last night?”
“This morning,” she corrected. “I don’t know. My dad wouldn’t say when I asked him. He just told me to turn out the light and go back to sleep.”
“You asked your dad? How?”
“The same way I talk to Wini. All leaders can talk to their pack members, just like Wini can talk to everyone.” Mary moved to the window and looked out. “The yard’s busier than it was yesterday. Come see. They’ve brought back a lot of stuff.”
I tossed back the blankets and joined her. She was right. More wolves and men milled in the yard below. Amidst them, items lay scattered about. I spotted an old claw foot tub, several wooden chairs, a tipped over table, a dresser with no drawers, and several other objects I couldn’t identify from the window.
“Want to go see?” she asked.
“I’ll join you in a moment.”
She nodded and left me. I pulled the bucket from under the bed and wrinkled my nose. I needed to figure out a better way to pretend this place had plumbing. It had been embarrassing emptying the bucket yesterday. Thankfully, Mary had shown me a back door.
Joining Mary in the main room, I asked her to help me pump some water. There, I washed my hands with the bar soap I’d set out from my bag and brushed my teeth.
“Winifred wants to know how your neck feels,” Mary said as I dampened the cloth with alcohol to dab on the healing marks.
“Still hot and tight.”
Mary nodded at my words and, after a worried glance at the door, frowned.
“What is it?”
“She said that a few of the males have contacted her asking when she means to return.”
I didn’t see why that would upset her. After all, Winifred had told them they couldn’t bite me without her permission. Of course they wanted to know when she would come back. Maybe the frown was because my neck still hurt. But why the look at the door? Was Winifred thinking of sending someone my way?
“I’m definitely not up for another bite if that’s what she’s suggesting.”
Mary shook her head. “She knows you’re not ready.”
A relieved sigh escaped me. Mary gave me a crooked grin.
“Come on. Let’s go see what they brought back,” she said, tugging me toward the door.
I reluctantly let her lead me.