Amy shook her head. “He’s fine. I moved him into a nursing home about six weeks ago. He’s eighty-seven now. His health was failing, and I couldn’t keep track of him anymore.
“He spent a great deal of time wandering the woods around the farm trying to see a wolf. Naturally, he did see you folks from time to time. I always considered it rather harmless. Just an old man on a Don Quixote quest for werewolves.” Amy chuckled but then sobered. “I’ll bet anything he’s responsible for the trap. Probably dug it years ago when he was still in perfect health, physically at least. I’m so sorry. It’s my fault for not paying better attention. I had no idea he was hiking so far from home. Is it possible the trap had been there for some time?”
Richard turned to Michael. “What do you think?” He glanced at Tyler next.
Tyler spoke. “It was very well disguised. Could have been there for years I suppose with leaves and debris camouflaging it more each season.”
“My dad isn’t well, but I’m going to see him this afternoon. I’ll see if I can get anything out of him. Maybe he can shed some light and confirm our suspicion.”
Richard stood. “That would be excellent. Amy, thank you so much for all your help. We really appreciate it. We’ll all sleep better knowing this isn’t some madman out to capture one of us.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be far from the truth.” Amy smiled as she stood. “My father certainly fits the description, but he didn’t have a harmful bone in his body. He just wanted vindication for his suspicions. I believe he was already suffering from dementia before the incident twelve years ago.”
Amy turned to Charles. “I’m so sorry for your mate’s tragic loss.”
“If it’s any consolation, ma’am, Jessica holds your father in very high regard. If it hadn’t been for him happening by at that precise moment, she truly believes those men would have killed her. His presence scared them off and saved her life. I’m just sorry the incident left him so scarred.”
Amy took Charles’ arm in her hand. “I’m glad he was at the right place at the right time. And don’t worry for a minute about his mental health. He was always rather strange, even when I was small. That event just gave him something new to focus on.” Amy grinned.
Chapter 14
“Alyssa?” Tyler reached out for his mate as they drove back to the Masters’ farm.
“In the barn. Are you coming back soon?”
“On our way now.” Tyler leaned back and glanced at Michael, relieved just to make contact with her.
“I’ll meet you at the house,” Alyssa communicated.
Just her voice alone in his head made Tyler’s cock hard. He held himself rigid and turned to look at Michael. One crisis seemed to have been averted, but what about all the unanswered questions? He still couldn’t visualize living on this farm. He was an educated man with an advanced degree and no intention of throwing it away. Could he convince Michael and Alyssa to move to Denver? Should he turn that job down when the time came and look for something closer, like Portland? Turning down a good job in the current economy wasn’t exactly wise. Not to mention the pile of student loans Tyler needed to start paying back next month.
He’d only been in town a little over a day, and already he’d learned to block Michael from his thoughts. He could tell by looking at the man’s narrow gaze that Michael was straining to get into his head, unsuccessfully.
Michael smiled. “You’re learning.”
Tyler raised his eyebrows. “That’s a blessing.”
Charles turned the truck onto the gravel driveway, and Tyler looked out the window to see Alyssa standing on the front porch. She looked even younger than her twenty years the way she leaned against the railing waiting for them, a huge grin on her face.
As soon as they approached, she bounded down the stairs and headed toward the truck.
In his peripheral vision, Tyler noticed Charles and Richard disappearing toward the barn as soon as the engine stopped. He and Michael were left in front of the house with a sexy little pixie sauntering their way.
“Well?” She cocked a hip and leaned against it when she got within about a foot of Tyler.
Michael stepped around Tyler and pulled Alyssa into his embrace. He planted a long kiss on her lips, leaving Tyler beside them filled with a mixture of jealousy and desire. It was still weird thinking of sharing this woman with another man for his entire life, but on the flip side, his cock jumped to attention in his jeans whenever he saw her in action with Michael. Nature must have precisely perfected the plan for them. And who was Tyler to deny nature?