“Mmm me too. Get dressed and I’ll race you to the kitchen.” He grinned. Harper got up and dressed silently beside Ryder. “Hurry up.” He patted her behind and went out into the hall through their new door. Harper slid her feet into her flip-flops and followed. Nicole was in the kitchen and loading two crock-pots with roasts and vegetables. Ryder sat at the bar with a bowl of cereal and a mug of coffee. Hers was waiting beside him. The milk was still on the counter and she poured it over the cereal he poured into her bowl. “If you’re late, this is what you eat.” He murmured in her ear then kissed it. She shrugged.
“That looks good Nicole.” Harper said peering into the crock-pot. Nicole’s lips lifted a fraction. “Thank you for helping out. I appreciate your efforts.” Nicole’s eyes softened and she nodded then left them alone.
“That was good baby.” Ryder said and kissed the side of her head.
“I don’t know if I’m getting through or if she’s plotting revenge.” Ryder reached out and turned the crock-pots on then smirked at her. “Plotting. She made the dinner but didn’t turn it on. That’s twice.” Harper hopped off her stool to follow Nicole. When she got to her door she knocked then opened it. Nicole was lying on her bed with a book.
“Nicole.” She looked up at Harper with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Even though I appreciate your efforts of making dinner, we would all appreciate it if your meal was cooked. Please remember that if you are going to use the crock-pots you must turn them on.”
“Didn’t I?” She asked with mock innocence.
“No you did not and that’s the second time.”
“Are you keeping track of my errors Harper?”
“Absolutely. If you prove to be useless in the kitchen, I will have to find different chores for you. You do cook well and we would hate to lose your talents but if you think screwing it up will get you out of work, you’re mistaken. It will only get you different work. If you don’t like cooking, just say so and,” Harper held up a finger when Nicole tried to interrupt. “And tell me which chores you would rather perform.” Nicole’s mouth snapped shut. “We will all work for the good of the pack. Maybe when you move into your new house you can lie around but not while you are in mine.”
“You just got here. This isn’t your house. It’s more mine.” Nicole sassed and Harper growled at her. Nicole backed up and dropped her head in submission. “Fine. I’ll behave.” Harper nodded.
“Thank you.” Harper closed the door and turned running into Ryder’s chest. “Are you supervising my supervising?” She smiled up at him.
“Just making sure you were safe. I don’t want my girl or my pup in danger.” Ryder pulled her into a warm hug then kissed her hair. “Let’s go see the new freezer then how the pack is doing on that house.” Ryder led her back down the stairs to the kitchen and through to the old laundry room.
“Wow.” She stopped short. He gave her a wicked grin. “That’s big.” He nodded. When she reached for the door handle, he stopped her.
“I just want to see if it’s that big inside.”
“It needs to stay closed so we can use it.”
“We don’t have anything to put in there anyway. Let me look.” Ryder pulled the door open and Harper gasped. “Oh my God Lucy!” Harper rushed forward and scooped her up. Lucy was huddled in the middle of the floor shivering. Her lips were nearly blue and there were ice crystals on her eyelashes. Harper carried her out into the kitchen. “Find Cindy!” She shouted. “Oh baby.” Harper carried her through the house and outside into the sunshine. Lucy was in her footed pajamas and mittens. “What were you thinking Lucy?” Harper sat with her in the grass rubbing her arms. The sun was shining brightly down on them.
“Lee said you could freeze in there and Jack said that you couldn’t.” She stuttered shivering. Harper continued rubbing as the rest of the pack surrounded them.
Cindy came streaking across the yard and burst through the crowd immediately going to her knees beside Lucy. “What on God’s green earth did you do?” Lucy was beginning to warm up but Harper still rubbed her vigorously. Her teeth were chattering and she could barely get the words out.
“They said…”
“I told you to never mind what they said.”
“I wanted to see.” Harper motioned for the men to back up. She wanted the sunshine on Lucy. Jack squatted down beside the little girl.
“I told you to stay out of there pup.”