“Mole hunts. Are they not the nastiest things? If there’s one there’s more and he loves to sick the pack on them. Well, the boys like it. Maybe I will get a headache.” Cindy chuckled.
Harper seasoned her bird with salt and pepper then stuffed a halved lemon and an onion inside him. Cindy watched. “No stuffing?” Harper shook her head.
“Not in there.” She scrunched her nose and Cindy made a face at her. “You’ll see.”
“So is there going to be stuffing?” Cindy’s brows raised with hope. Harper laughed.
“You like stuffing.” Cindy nodded. “Okay then I will make stuffing but it wasn’t on his list.”
“It was implied under ‘all the trimmings’.”
“Did they save the insides?”
“Yep, in a ceramic bowl in the fridge.” Harper went to find it then put its contents in a saucepan. She simmered the items from the bowl while she heated chicken broth.
“I’m ready to taste that frosting now.” Lucy said climbing up on a stool.
“We haven’t started that yet Lucy. Your jobs won’t come until later.” Lucy pouted.
“How about you go brush your hair like I asked you to before breakfast.” She climbed down and left. “She’s not going to do it.” Cindy said. “That kid is the devil wrapped in an angel suit.” Harper giggled.
***
Harper was mashing potatoes when Alan, Jack, and Curtis wandered into the kitchen. They’d cleaned up and were waiting patiently at the table while Lucy set the places. Jasper, Justin, and Kelly came in next and sat down. Harper knew they were there but didn’t notice their eyes until she was almost finished. She glanced up and froze. Eric, Evan, and Lee sat at the bar in front of her. Every pack member in the kitchen watched her.
“What?” She whispered. Evan nodded at the turkey resting on the counter beside the sink. She smiled. “Smells good huh?”
“You have no idea.” He licked his lips. Ryder was suddenly beside him and slapped the back of his head. Evan laughed loudly.
“Mine.” Ryder growled and kissed her temple.
“Not her.” Evan’s smile broadened. “The turkey.”
“Mine too.” Evan growled and it was Ryder’s turn to laugh. Harper added milk to the potatoes and continued to mash then added butter and salt. She tasted the potatoes closing her eyes. Opening them she added more salt and stirred then tasted again.
“Perfect.” Sticking the spoon in, she handed the bowl to Ryder. “Can you put this on the table?” He took it and carried it over. She handed the green beans to Evan, the stuffing to Eric and the turkey to Ryder when he came back. He carried it to the table to a round of applause. “Ryder can you carve?” She brought the knife and serving fork to him then took her place at his side.
“Before I start carving,” Ryder said to a response of growls. “I would like to say congratulations and great work to everyone involved in the project in the attic.” They all nodded. “Also, I want to announce that after dinner, there will be a mole hunt with a thousand dollar prize to the wolf who brings in the most of the creatures. We can’t have them tearing up the ground if we expect to raise crops and build. I expect everyone to participate in the hunt.
Nicole chose that moment to make her appearance. “I don’t hunt moles.” She sniffed. Will who had been standing just inside the door beside Mathew raised an eyebrow at her and lifted his chin. “Oh fine. I’ll go but isn’t that more a game for the single wolves?”
“Everyone will go.” Ryder said again. “Now let’s enjoy this beautiful bird that Harper caught and prepared for us. Take a seat everyone, Will and Mathew go clean up while I carve.” He tilted his head at the sink. They worked their way through the kitchen and went to the sink. They’d come in during the beginning of Ryder’s speech. The pack started passing bowls of food around then the turkey after Ryder took a thigh. He’d put a wing and a slice of breast on her plate. Harper tried a bite. It was just like she remembered, just like her mother’s.
“This is incredible.” Ryder said between bites. “Will, Mathew, we are raising turkeys.”
“Damn straight.” Jack said through a mouthful of food.
“You can cook my turkey upside down anytime hun.” Cindy said and winked at her. Harper smiled back at her.
“Wait until you taste the frosting.” Lucy said spooning mashed potatoes into her mouth.
The pack demolished her meal. They cleaned up every single crumb. Even Nicole finished every bite plus seconds. Harper was glad they enjoyed it and wondered how she could catch another turkey. “Everyone go relax on the porch for a few minutes then we’ll begin.” They cleared the table and put their dishes away one by one then filed outside. “Nicole and Kelly, clean up the rest please.” Ryder asked. “Cindy, Harper join me outside.” Lucy skipped past her grinning and went outside. The screen door banged loudly. Cindy and Harper filed out behind her.