It wasn’t long afterward that Mary and Gregory returned. Mary went straight for Ann and the cub.
While they talked, Gregory told me what they’d discovered in town.
“There aren’t many jobs. Most people looking to hire shook their head when they saw me.” He looked down at himself. He wore human clothes from shoes to shirt. “Mary said it was probably because of the holes in my shoes. There were a few who didn’t seem to mind, though.”
The bathroom door opened and Charlene walked out, fresh and clean and still a little damp.
“Your turn,” she said, looking at me. She went to the stove and started to remove the pans of fish and vegetables.
“We’ll talk later.” I clapped Gregory on the shoulder, told him he could take the shoes off, then closed myself into the bathroom with two fresh buckets of rinse water.
Using Charlene’s soapy bathwater didn’t bother me. I stripped and slid into the tepid mix and started to scrub with the soap bar she’d left for me.
In the main room, I listened to Charlene ask Ann questions about how the cub first changed. I could tell by her responses she didn’t like what she was hearing. We forced newborns to change into a wolf for their protection. They were warmer and easier to carry that way, when in the woods. Since she and I would stay here, it would be different for our cubs. I wouldn’t need to scare them to force the change and the concern about risking their lives wouldn’t be an issue.
The main door opened and I knew the rest of the pack had returned. Finished scrubbing, I rinsed then quickly dried.
When I stepped out, toweling my hair, Charlene had already sat beside Mary at the table.
“If you want to change, I’ll wash those clothes for you tomorrow,” Charlene said to the males as they all moved to the stove.
“Thank you. We appreciate it. And dinner,” Anton said.
“What did you learn in town?” I asked Gregory, wanting to remove Charlene’s attention from Anton.
Since he had his mouth full, Mary answered.
“There are a few jobs that might work. A plumber is looking for an apprentice. It would require someone to move into town, though.”
I sat beside Charlene as Mary spoke.
“The man has his own business and takes calls any time of night. He has a room in the back of his garage he’d rent out. He’d be willing to deduct the cost from the male’s wages to cover it.”
“I’ll go,” Bine said as he sat at the table. I wished Anton would have offered.
“We looked at the room,” Mary said. “It has a cot in it and nothing else. No electricity or stove for when the weather gets cold.”
“I’ll manage,” Bine said.
“Anything else?” I asked Mary.
“Nothing we thought anyone would be interested in. The library needs some part time help as does the grocery store for stacking shelves at night. The store might be too tempting.”
It would be. We found no issue in taking from humans in the past.
“Bine, your wages first need to house you, feed you, and clothe you. Anything you can spare should return to the pack so we may do the same for all the members,” I said. Bine dipped his head in agreement. “And when you need to run, come here.”
We both knew the urge to run would ride him hard the longer he stayed in his human form.
Charlene finished her meal and brought her plate to the sink. Instead of washing it like she usually did, she went to the supply cabinet and stared at the contents. Her stillness worried me, and I got up to stand behind her.
“Charlene?” I said softly. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong,” she glanced over her shoulder at me. “I’m only thinking of supplies and lists and what we’ll need over the next few months.” She looked at the supplies again. “How much did Winifred get for the metal?”
I asked Winifred and relayed what she said.
“She was able to buy larger bags of oats, rice, beans, peas, pasta, flour, and sugar. She also has some spices, a tub of lard, yeast, books, more clothes, blankets, oil lamps, and chocolate chips.”
“Chocolate chips?” Charlene said, looking at me.
“She wants to bake the cookies here with you.”
Charlene’s expression turned suspicious.
“When is she arriving?” she asked.
Charlene seems wary of the chocolate chips and wants to know when you’ll be here.
I will arrive after midnight. She shouldn’t wait up for me. I’ll see her in the morning.
“She is just leaving now and doesn’t expect to be here for several hours. She suggests you go to sleep as usual, and she’ll see you in the morning.”
She nodded and went to the sink. I brought over some of the hot water from the stove and filled the wash pan. While she washed, I dried. I liked working beside her. It felt right.
The pack brought us their plates then quietly left. When we finished, Charlene turned to look at the empty room. I set my hands on her shoulders and gently rubbed her tense muscles.
“Did you enjoy today?” I asked.
She glanced back at me.
“I did. Why are you asking?”
“I don’t want you to be lonely here, Charlene. If you’re feeling that way again, tell me. Please.”
She nodded. I dropped my hands and left her to make sure Bine had everything he needed to head into town. When I returned, she was already in bed, sleeping. I sat with her and dozed until close to dawn. Then I went down to speak with Winifred.
“Good morning, Thomas,” she said when I entered. She was in the process of setting a box on the table.
“Hello, Winifred.”
“After breakfast, I would like some time alone with Charlene.”
“Why?”
“I have questions for her.”
I crossed my arms and stared at her. I should have known she wouldn’t let go of what had happened since her last trip.
“She didn’t harm anyone.”
“Not this time, no. But what about next? We need to understand what she can do. Her limits. I want her to be here, Thomas. I do. But not if her presence puts everyone in danger.”
“It doesn’t.”
“How do you know?”
I wanted to snarl in frustration.
“And if it does? If she tells you something you don’t like? What then? I won’t allow you to kill her.”
Winifred looked at me for several long moments. We both knew what would happen if she harmed Charlene. I would lose faith in her and her ability to act on behalf of our race. So would many others. It would tear our people apart and likely result in Winifred’s death.
“I won’t kill her,” Winifred said softly. “If she proves to be a risk to us, that will be your brother’s final test for becoming an Elder.”
Pain exploded within me.
“You wouldn’t.” She knew I would never hurt Grey. Not when she would be the one forcing him to act.
She continued while I struggled with my anger and helplessness.
“If she’s a risk, it will be the only way to save our people. He knows this.” She exhaled heavily. “Thomas, I truly believe she is meant to be here. And I believe once she answers my questions, my obligation to ensure the safety of our people around her will be fulfilled and what we just discussed will never come to pass. Now, I would prefer to speak with Charlene first thing after we eat.”
She was right. Charlene was meant to be here. Winifred was only doing her duty to us. A duty she couldn’t ignore.
“I will clear the room after we eat.”
****
When Charlene entered, half the pack was already in the main room. The scent of cooking sausage had brought them in.
She immediately went to the stove and took the fork from Mary. Each pop and sizzle made her jump and wince.
The grease is hot, Thomas. She’s burning herself, Mary sent me.
I went over to Charlene and held out my hand for the fork.
“Please,” I said, watching her wince as another spot of grease landed on the back of her hand. “Let me.”
“No, it’s okay.”
The spot was getting redder so I plucked the fork from her hand.
“Mary, pump some cold water for her, please.” I nudged Charlene toward the sink.
“Bully,” she mumbled as she slowly did as I asked.
As the pump groaned, I flipped through the sausages. They were brown on the outside and greyish all the way through. No pink.
“They’re done,” I said.
The waiting males hurried to line up behind me. I took a plate and loaded it with enough sausages and eggs to feed both Charlene and me. Taking the dish to the table, I set it down and looked toward Charlene. Mary stopped pumping and went to join Gregory in line. Charlene looked at our plate, then the line, and starting moving across the room. When she would have passed me, I grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the bench.
She smiled and sat with me. I handed her a fork, and she dug in with the same enthusiasm she had with the cereal. I waited, willing to let her eat her fill.
As she chewed, she skewered a sausage and waved it in front of my face. She swallowed and grinned.
“If you don’t start eating, there won’t be anything left.”
I chuckled and bit the sausage off her fork. She quickly went back to eating. I picked up my fork and slowly started to eat. I didn’t want to take anything away from her. If hunger still clawed at me when we finished, I could go catch a rabbit. She couldn’t.
After she cleared her side of the plate and had stolen a few bites from my half, she set down her fork with a groan. I pulled the plate closer and ate the rest in a few bites.
Her fork was still on the side of the plate. I licked that clean too, enjoying the taste of her.
It’s time to leave, I sent the pack members, respecting Winifred’s request.
As I stood and carried the dishes to the sink, so did the rest.
No matter the answers, talk to me before you act, I sent Winifred.
I will.
Winifred said that I should stay to help clean, Mary sent me. I’ll leave as soon as I’m done.
Moving to the door, I left Winifred with Charlene, Mary, and Ann while the males followed me outside.
“Winifred brought the netting we needed. The coop is finished,” Anton said when the door closed. “We just need the pheasants and their food supply.”
“I’ll help,” Carl said. He and Bine had enough wood stacked for the winter. If more was needed, we could cut during the cold. However, catching pheasants couldn’t wait.
“We should gather dried grasses, too,” Hem said. “I can start that. I’ve finished off the wood we had to make window covers.”
While they went to work, Gregory lingered in the clearing with me. Mary joined us outside several minutes later.
“We’ll hunt for lunch,” Mary said, taking Gregory’s hand. I was sure they would do more than hunt.
They left me alone to pace the clearing as the scent of warm chocolate drifted from the building.
Instinctively, I reached out to Grey and encountered the empty place where his connection with me had once been. I’d never missed Grey more than in that moment. He would have talked to me, distracted me with some kind of foolish exchange, and helped me see a brighter future instead of letting the horrible worry and fear race inside my head.
Everything is fine, Thomas Winifred suddenly sent me. She can control human will, manipulate them to do as she wants. Her gift works differently with us. She can move us with her mind but not control us. Jean and I see no threat in her gift.
I exhaled shakily and rubbed my forehead.
Thank you.
Now stop pacing and go help your pack. We’ll have cookies when you’re finished.
I spent the rest of the morning chasing pheasants.