“Well, I know there are a few cashier spots, some stocking positions, we haven’t had a full time girl in cosmetics for over a year. There is a place in the meat department, one in the deli and one in the bakery. I think that’s all. Oh and there’s a spot for a janitor, me and Mister Thompson have been taking turns sweeping and mopping.” Jordan grimaced. She was working too hard. His mate was working every open position in the store while most of these wolves watched television all day. This stops now! He roared in his head. He let her sit back down in her metal chair on the front row and smiled softly at her.
“If you don’t have a job, stand up.” Jordan snarled at them and most of them stood. “See Lettie and she will fill you in on how to apply at the store. If you are qualified to do repairs and installs on furnaces, air conditioners or if you are a licensed plumber, you will see me. If neither of those options appeals to you, you are either on garden or game duty. I don’t care which you choose but you will be doing one of them or you won’t be staying in this pack. There are also plenty of downed trees out back to split. I have about four cords of firewood but that is not enough for all of us to last the winter and I am looking for volunteers. We will be using woodstoves this year, no electric or gas furnaces, no unnecessary expenses.”
“I’ll take wood duty. Nothing clears a man’s mind like swinging an axe.” Dexter offered rubbing his hands together. He was a sweet old wolf. Jordan wasn’t sure how old he was but he knew that Dexter’s age rivaled dirt. He weighed little more than the axe he was offering to swing but Jordan had no doubt that he would work from dawn to dusk without complaint. Dexter was a lot like Lettie that way.
“I have three or four poles. I’ll be in charge of fishing.” Pete, another older wolf, called out and Jordan smiled, nodding. Jordan watched a few of the younger ones speak to Pete and Terry’s pup was talking to Dexter. That was a good kid, nice and strong so Jordan felt better that Dex wouldn’t be out there alone. Splitting wood was hard on the body. This might work. Lettie was speaking to a large group and there was a crowd forming around him too.
Once the meeting ended and everyone had a job or two assigned to them, Jordan collapsed in one of the chairs. He rested his elbows on his knees and closed his eyes. “It’s going to be okay Jordan.” Lettie stepped between his knees and cradled his head. “Where did you get the idea for this garden thing you were talking about?” She let her fingernails kiss his scalp, a low satisfied growl rumbled through him and she smiled scratching harder. He’d always loved it when she did this. Her nails scraped over the sides and down the back of his head to his neck. Jordan’s hands gripped the backs of her thighs and massaged. They worked their way up to her buttocks and she bit her lip to contain herself.
“I saw it in a movie, I don’t even know if it will work but I rewound that part of the film about six times to get a real good look at it. The only difference is that they had glass over their garden and we are going to use plastic.”
“I think it will work but I think that it will work better if we dig smaller ones instead of one big one. Smaller ones would be warmer.” Jordan considered it. “I also think that we should check the internet too before we do all of that work.”
“Done sweetheart, we need plastic, hay, compost, and plastic jugs.” Lettie raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this. We are planting broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, Brussel sprouts, kale, collards, mustard, garlic, peas, and lettuce.”
“I hate Brussel sprouts.” Lettie complained, she was still scratching so he wasn’t moving.
“We can skip them if nobody wants to eat them. You get the idea though right?” She nodded. “Sprouts are better than starving.”
“I’m not so sure.” Lettie giggled. “Come to bed.” Jordan’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket. It was Nelly. After a boisterous conversation with her, Nelly was in charge of the cold frame gardens. She recalled seeing something like it in her grandmother’s diary and went home to look. Nelly was ninety-six last month, so her grandmother lived in a whole other world. Luckily, gardening hadn’t changed much. Nelly had blue prints in the diary, plant suggestions, directions on crop rotation, and a group of grandchildren that were ‘itching’ to help. She said. Jordan agreed and told her that she was in charge. A good alpha knew how to delegate. He had followed Lettie upstairs as Nelly spoke and by the time that Lettie was climbing into bed without her nightclothes on and her naked backside wiggling as she went, he would’ve agreed to anything Nelly said just to get her off the phone. “Who was that?” Lettie asked innocently pulling the quilt up to her chin and licking her lips. Jordan grinned at her wolfishly.