When the pack burst through the tree line again after the kill, they were quicker, keyed up from adrenaline. We continued overland until I saw the edge of clear, blue water at the center of wooded pines.
Wild Lake.
Though I'd lived in the area all my life, I'd never actually seen the body of water for which it was named except on a map. Natural forest land bordered it on three sides. A small peninsula jutted out on the south side. South of that, I could make out a large, yellow farmhouse nestled on a wooded hill. A red barn and horse corral bordered the property to the west.
Callum took the helicopter low, heading for a clearing west of the barn. The horses in the paddock whinnied and reared as we approached. The downdraft blew their manes back. Callum set us down gently and cut the engines.
"We'll meet the pack up at the house," he shouted. "Give ‘em a chance to get all presentable again before they see you."
I laughed. "I was there yesterday. I've seen it all, remember?"
Callum gave me a wink and a two fingered salute. "Yeah, well Pat'll brain us all for having bad manners."
"Where are we?" I asked as Callum helped me down. The tangy scent of pine and earth filled my nostrils. Heat coursed through me as Callum held my hand. He seemed able to transmit the pack's excitement straight through his fingertips.
Before he could answer, a lone figure ran toward us, moving fast for her size. She was maybe Seth's age or older still. Her wiry gray hair flew behind her as she waddled barefoot across the soft grass. She wore a yellow dress which hugged her plump, round curves and her face split into a smile as she got closer.
"You scared the horses half to death, Callum!" She practically sang her words, her voice raspy and warm.
Callum put a hand to my back and nudged me forward, as if to put me between himself and the wrath of the creature barreling toward us. But, her eyes were kind and her smile genuine as she got there. She threw herself at Callum and he embraced her.
She slapped him on the butt and stuck her hand out toward mine. "Don't be an ass," she said to Callum. "Who did you bring me?"
I couldn't help but laugh at her good-natured smile and firm grip as I shook her hand.
"This is Bas's girl," Callum said, the sound of it sent a shock of warmth straight to my heart. Bas's girl. And he was mine.
The woman put a hand to her heart and smiled even wider. "I knew it," she said. "And it's about time, honey. I hope my boys have treated you well. Come on up to the house and let's get you situated. It's going to take those mongrels a bit to clean up. They got into something big and bloody on the way up, I see."
I nodded.
She leaned over and swatted Callum again. "Manners, Mr. Man. Introduce me."
"Ah." She must have hit him harder this time because Callum rubbed his rear end and gave her a sheepish smile. "Right. Abby, this is Pat. Pat, Abby."
"Hello," I said. "I'm glad to meet you."
"Pat Bonner," she said. "Welcome to my home. Now let's get you up to the house. You've got to be starving. I bet they didn't even bother to let you catch breakfast."
Pat Bonner. As we walked up to the house arm in arm, my blood ran cold. Pat Bonner. In my mind's eye, I saw her name on that deed in Foster's office. I saw the wicked glee in Dale's eyes as he realized her tenuous hold on the land on which I now walked. And I saw that instant of malice flashing through Dale's eyes as I explained how she only held this property as long as she lived.
As long as she lived.
Pat squeezed me into a light hug as we walked up the hill.
Chapter Twenty
I never had a grandmother. I grew up listening other kids talk about theirs. They would bring them to school on VIP day or unwrap homemade cookies sent in for other special occasions. They would always have someone to pick them up after school or chauffeur them to practices when their parents couldn't. They had whole cheering sections at the school plays or just 8th grade graduation. I never had any of that. It had always just been my mother and me, and most of the time it was just me. I made my own school lunches. Forged her name on permission slips and other things she forgot to take care of. But, in the span of twenty minutes, with Pat Bonner in her heavenly-scented kitchen, I got a glimpse of what it might have been like for those other kids.
I don't know if she knew I was coming or if she just kept the Bonner kitchen ready. But, when we walked in, she had real fried chicken tenders warming in the kitchen and waffle batter in the fridge. Within about five minutes, she'd made me a heaping plate of chicken and waffles. It seemed like a strange combination at first, until I tasted it. She smiled wide when she saw the look on my face after the first bite.
Pat set a pitcher of orange juice and a bottle of milk on the table, then wiped her hands on the checkered apron tied to her waist. "There's plenty more where that came from. Eat hearty. When those boys get back they'll cut a path through here like Sherman through Atlanta."
I waved a fork at her. "Yeah. I saw what they can do to a kitchen last night."
She laughed and sat across from me, resting her chin in her hands. "Well, it seems like you're settling in with them easily enough. It's good to see. We've been waiting for Bas to find someone like you for a long time."
"Someone like me? You just met me. How do you know?"
Pat didn't blink. "Honey, it's obvious. You've got that glow about you. You're happy when you're with him, aren't you?"
It was so probing a question, but somehow, Pat didn't offend me. I didn't fully understand the relationship she had with the pack, but she mattered to them. So, she mattered to me.
"Yes. It's just been very sudden."
She laughed and flapped a hand. "Oh, it always is, Abby. That's the fun part. I'm going to give you a piece of advice I know you haven't asked for. I don't know how much Bas has told you about me. Probably not much. But, I've been around these boys and their families for most of my life. Follow your instincts where wolves are concerned. You can't go wrong there. You know what you need, I bet."
I closed my eyes and let out a breath. My instincts were clear. I wanted Bas. All of him. Though it had been sudden, I couldn't imagine going back to a life he wasn't a part of. I didn't say any of this, but when I opened my eyes, Pat seemed to understand my thoughts anyway. She likely had her own stories to tell. Ones I very much wanted to hear. Her eyes misted a little, and she reached out and put a gentle hand over mine.
"We've talked. Bas and me, I mean. He told me about you the last time he came this way. He's all in; you know that, right?"
Pat's eyes became laser sharp. As welcoming as she'd been, the conversation turned. Bas mattered enough to her that she wanted to know my intentions. I found it both endearing and scary as hell. In the short time I'd known her, she struck me as a woman whose good opinion was worth having.
I set my fork down and ran a hand through my hair. I wanted to give her an honest answer, but also wanted to guard my own heart.
"Lay off, Patsy. The girl just got here." I startled at the booming voice coming from the stairs off the kitchen. This had to be Harold, her brother. He took halting steps down the stairs, running his hand along the molding at the center of the wall. As he stepped into the light, I saw why and stifled a gasp. Harold Bonner had likely been a rakishly handsome man in his youth. He had a strong jaw, broad nose, and rough, tanned skin over hardened muscles. But, the most striking feature of all was the cruel, jagged scars running across his face in parallel lines. Claw marks, no doubt. His eyes may have been brilliant blue at one time; now they were opaque like pearls, and sightless. There could be no doubt what kind of creature made those scars. Those were wolf claws.
Pat's scrutinizing gaze didn't let up. She took in everything as I watched Harold. He reached across the table and extended a hand. He held it dead square in front of me, sensing my location as I spoke.
"It's nice to meet you, Harold. I'm Abby," I said. Pat raised a brow, and my mouth went dry. She hadn't introduced me yet. She likely thought Bas or Callum had filled me in on the way. Of course she had no idea I'd seen both of their names on that deed in the courthouse.
"She's a good one," Harold said to his sister. Then he straightened and squared his shoulders in my direction. "Don't let Patsy scare you off. She's overprotective of our friends out there. Can't blame her. They really do need it half the time."
Pat swatted a hand toward her brother. He feigned real pain but reached down and kissed the top of her head. Then, he moved off toward the pan of fried chicken. Pat slapped her hands on the table. "Well, those boys don't seem inclined to head back up to the house yet. You feel like going down to them? They'll be at the lake by now. We can ride down. Do you know how?"