Katlyn found scented candles at the next business and took a whiff. “They’re all homemade, right here in my shop,” the woman said. “And beeswax. You won’t find anyone else in town that makes a better candle.” She began to whisper, “Across the street, they’re selling knockoff Yankee Candles.”
She wasn’t sure if that meant she should shop right here or across the street, since Yankee made some pretty good scents.
“What about the wicks? Do they leave that smoky residue that ruins your walls when they burn?”
“Oh, no. Not my candles. I use cotton wicks and they’re smokeless.”
Katlyn nodded as she paid the woman. She’d much rather buy a candle from a woman who made her own and used smokeless wicks since she had many experiences with candles marking up walls and wallpaper with black residue.
Brendan and Chase were mingling along the front of the saloon that was selling drinks outside. They were speaking to Raphael and Seth. Katlyn grabbed Tessa’s arm and made her way over there.
“What now, Katlyn?”
“Look, it’s Raphael and Seth.”
Tessa froze in her tracks. “They won’t want to talk to me. I’d better just stay with Paige.”
Katlyn stared over to where Paige was. She was talking to Clayton, who was in charge of investigating livestock losses in the area. Luckily, of late there hasn’t been any. Otherwise, Clayton would have been over to Shadow Creek asking questions. Since Paige appeared to be enjoying herself, Katlyn turned her attention back to Tessa who was, at this point, dragging her feet. By the time they were standing nearer to the men, Raphael gave Tessa a slight smile. Only then did Seth also glance up.
Seth was the first to speak. “Hello, there.”
“Oh, so you remember Tessa?”
“How could I not? We don’t see many women around here like her.”
Tessa didn’t smile but stared him down, refusing, for the moment, to say anything until Raphael said, “I’m sorry about when you came over to Silver Creek. I might have overreacted.”
“Might have?” Tessa asked. She then lowered her voice. “I can’t say I blame you since I did attack you. Lucky for you, I was sick at the time. Our next go around will be quite different.”
“I look forward to it,” Raphael said with a glint in his eyes.
Lively music distracted them all and Katlyn pulled Brendan and Chase away. “I want to dance.”
By the time they all made it to the wooden platform where a makeshift wood floor had been set up, couples were already packed on the floor. Katlyn was led out there by Brendan and she enjoyed the feeling of being whisked across the floor with his strong arms around her. Out of the corner of her eye, Raphael and Tessa were also dancing while Seth stood watching from a distance.
Katlyn left the dance floor nearly breathless after a few rounds, spotting Seth and making her way over there. “I sure could use a glass of punch.” She smiled at Seth. “Where’s Melody tonight?”
“In the children’s tent with Maxwell. They have games set up for the kids.”
Laughter was heard from behind them and Katlyn saw Carrie staggering toward them in the clutches of Jason. So much for Carrie breaking it off with him.
“Hey, Seth. Thanks for taking the brat off Carrie’s hands. Now those bastards at Shadow Creek can mind their own business,” Jason said, with a cocky tilt of his head.
Katlyn glared at him. “You have your nerve. I don’t know what Carrie sees in a jerk like you.”
“Oh, you must be Brendan and Chase’s newest diversion. Good luck with that. You shouldn’t trust them. Mountain lions don’t mate for life.”
Katlyn opened her mouth to tell this jerk off, but Brendan raced over and took one look at Carrie with Jason and bellowed, “I can’t stop you from seeing Carrie, but if you ever go near my mate again, you’ll mysteriously disappear.”
“Carrie, please don’t do this,” Katlyn said.
Carrie shook her head. “I can’t help who I fall in love with. Seth will look after Melody just fine.”
“So that’s it. You’re just going to choose Jason over your own flesh and blood?” Katlyn pressed.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you, teacher.”
“My lawyer is drawing up the papers giving Seth permanent custody of Melody,” Jason said.
Seth nodded. “Thanks, Carrie. It’s about time you put Melody first and did the right thing.”
The couple took their leave and Katlyn was just sick that Carrie was so willing to drop her daughter for some idiot, but she realized that Carrie was every inch the party girl, the kind who always hooked up with the wrong fool.
“Don’t worry. I never planned to allow her to take Melody back,” Seth said. “Now if she signs over custody to me, I won’t have to worry about her showing up at my door making a scene. Melody hasn’t even asked about her.”
“That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t think about it, but I see your point. Just be sure to never let the child down. I don’t think she’d be able to handle it.”
“She’s a tough little girl, but believe me, I have her best interest in mind.”
Katlyn hugged Seth and Brendan had a raised brow when they pulled away. She then found the children’s tent and watched from a distance as they played board games. It was apparent from the way Melody and Maxwell were chatting up a storm that they were already forming a tight bond.
Tessa hugged Katlyn when she walked back. “Oh, thank you so much for getting me to talk to Raphael. He’s very interesting in a mysterious kind of way. He promised to take me hunting with him sometime.”
“Just hopefully not tonight.”
“Oh, no, and it turned out that there wasn’t anything wrong with the medication I’d been taking. It was the blood substitute that was to blame for my medical problems.”
Katlyn now had some misgivings about making Tessa talk to Raphael and Seth, but she did like how happy Tessa looked. “Just be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Tessa smiled and gave her another hug before heading back over to the dance floor, joining Raphael. Katlyn found a chair to watch them from a distance. She was glad to see Tessa enjoy herself since she hadn’t done anything remotely fun since she was turned into a vampire. Paige and Clayton were also on the dance floor and Katlyn was just happy to see them all having a good time.
Katlyn walked to an area where picnic tables were set up and jumped right in and helped carry pans filled with grilled chicken and ribs, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and cornbread to a table that was being set up for the buffet-style meal. The man attending the grill smiled kindly as they all did, but Katlyn couldn’t help but feel that they might be just as curious about her as she was them.
Finally, an older woman approached. “I’m not sure if you remember me, but I’m Palina. I’m Maxwell’s granny.”
Katlyn admired the woman’s gray-streaked hair and found it odd that she wasn’t completely gray since she had informed her at one time that she had had many litters of werewolf pups. “Of course, but are you a werewolf, too? Maxwell told me that the werewolves at Silver Creek were half-breeds.”
“No, I’m all wolf. I had many sons who mated with humans. You’re carrying twins. How nice. Brendan and Chase will both have a son, then.”
“I-I don’t know about that since I don’t know whose children I carry.”
Palina put a hand on Katlyn’s stomach. “I can smell the wee ones and they smell male to me. Fraternal twins with separate fathers.”
“Well, I’m not sure yet. I’ll have to wait until I’m further along to know the sex of the babies or if it’s fraternal twins or not.”
“You’ll see,” is all she said. “Do you enjoy your mates?”
“I-I … yes.”
“Good to know, since many humans don’t have a good understanding about what it’s like to have two mates instead of just one. And, of course, that you don’t need a wedding to be mated to them.”
Katlyn had never thought a
bout that one, but she did realize that she lived a completely different lifestyle. “I understand that both Brendan and Chase are committed to me, and that’s enough for me. But my parents will be here soon and I’m not all that sure how they’ll react.”
“Yes, humans,” she sighed. “No matter what, you have to be honest and not allow them to dictate what your life should be like. Be who you want to be, and don’t get wrapped up in your human traditions that just don’t apply to a shifter’s life.”
“Thanks, Palina. I really appreciate your kind words. I’ll keep that in mind once I figure out how to try to explain that they’re shifters. I almost think that might be more of a shock.”
“It might be, at first, but I’m confident that you’ll work through it. No matter what happens, approach it calmly. Give them the chance to get to know Brendan and Chase. I’m sure when they do, they’ll know they need not worry about you.”
Brendan and Chase joined Katlyn at the eating area, with worried expressions on their faces. “Oh, you’re here. I wish you wouldn’t stroll around by yourself,” Brendan said, clucking his tongue. “I was worried.”
“Not to worry, Brendan. We were having a chat,” Palina said. “I remember the days when my mates were worried when I was carrying their children, too.”
“Mates?” Katlyn asked.
“Yes. I’ve known more than one, since humans are so unpredictable. That’s why Nate looks so different than Raphael. It broke my heart when Nate was killed, but I’m trying to handle my grief the best I can. It helps being around the grandchildren. Children really are a blessing, and when you look at the world through their eyes, it’s hard not to smile. It was great that Seth brought his daughter, Melody, to live at Silver Creek, but I can see already that child is going to keep us all on our toes with her antics. We had to talk her out of a tree today. She still hasn’t mastered how to fly. If only Carrie was of a mind to show the girl the ropes, but that ship has sailed. All any of us can do is accept the child into our pack. When she gets older, having a red-tailed hawk should prove useful. They can spot prey for miles.”
Katlyn sat down with a plateful of food since Palina insisted she eat right away, with Brendan and Chase on either side of her. Soon, Paige and Clayton sat opposite them. When she glanced around, Tessa sat at another table with Raphael and Seth, and she frowned since she wouldn’t know what was happening. Her curiosity was hard to contain.
“She needs her privacy,” Brendan whispered.
“Yes, Tessa needs to find her own mates,” Paige said with a twinkle in her eye as she gazed at Clayton, who positively beamed when she spoke. “I prefer one to two. It’s hard enough trying to satisfy one man.”
“I bet you have no problem with that,” Clayton said. “Not meaning any disrespect.”
Paige smiled, hiding a laugh behind her beer glass. Palina came over and handed a plate with a very bloody steak to Paige and she thanked her. Instead of sucking the blood directly out, she simply sliced and ate it, thankfully.
After their main course, dishes of ice cream were passed around and Katlyn was ashamed to admit that she ate two bowls. “These babies are hungry tonight.”
“Eat your fill, little mama,” Clayton said. He then changed up the conversation. “I’m so happy that I haven’t had any loss of livestock of late, but I must admit, I’m a little bored with nothing to do much these days. Can’t you boys take a sheep every once in a while so I have something to do?” Clayton laughed.
“That wouldn’t do well at all since you already told us you’d show up first at our place,” Brendan said.
“Perhaps I can ask Paige to lunch sometime.”
“Dinner perhaps,” Paige quickly added. “I have a terrible sun allergy.”
“I forgot all about that, Paige. I heard about your condition and it’s a shame. I’m still trying to get used to shape shifters in the area, and now a vampire,” he whispered. “It’s not a real problem unless livestock is being found dead,” he winked. “And just so you know, I like being a human.”
They all laughed and Katlyn began to feel bone weary, asking if they could head home soon.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Brendan chastised her. “We’ll leave.”
“I’ll stay if Clayton can bring me home later,” Paige said.
“Sure can, ma’am.” He glanced over to Tessa. “I’ll make sure Tessa gets back, too.”
Brendan and Chase walked arm in arm with Katlyn until she settled into the SUV with her mates. She hadn’t been exaggerating, either. She about fell asleep on the way home.
Chapter Fourteen
Katlyn had begun to feel uneasy the last few hours, nerves-wise, but she didn’t say anything to anyone since she didn’t want to ruin anyone’s happy time. When they arrived back home, a strange car was in the drive, and when they piled out of the SUV, Angus made his way toward them.
“Is everything okay?” Katlyn asked, concerned when Angus appeared flushed.
“Sure is, if you think your parents arriving while you were out good news.”
All the hairs on the back of Katlyn’s neck stood on end now. “Oh, my. I had hoped that I had one more day to prepare for their arrival. Now, I’m very nervous.”
“You? I’ve never met anyone more inquisitive than them before,” Angus said.
They made their way into the house and Katlyn’s mother, Lena, raced forward and gave her a tight hug, and then her face contorted oddly. “Wow, Katy. You sure packed on some pounds.”
Katlyn’s mother wore a white dress that hugged her frame that was still quite shapely even though she was in her fifties, whereas her father, George, was more on the big side, standing at six foot four, his stomach complete with beer belly that he boasted was only from her mother’s good cooking. The fabric of his silk shirt was stretched to capacity, making him appear even larger, as he said, “Our Katy, gaining weight?” George said. “I’ve never known the girl to do that.”
“Of course I haven’t lived at home with you since college, and we all have our flaws. I just happen to be an eater, especially if I’m stressed.”
“What on earth do you have to be stressed about, Katlyn? This is a nice house to call home. You told us, you came to Shadow Creek for a teaching job,” George said, glancing around the house. “But I suppose you wouldn’t be able to live like this on a teacher’s salary.”
“She has a very nice cabin, as most of the help does,” Brendan said.
“Oh, and who might you be, sir?”
“This is Brendan and Chase. They are the owners of Shadow Creek.” Katlyn then introduced her parents, George and Lena.
George massaged his full beard. “I’m not sure if I like my daughter being out this late in the evening with her bosses. Folks like to talk.”
“Er,” Katlyn began. “There was a night bazaar in town and just about everyone attended.”
“Except that big fella over there,” George said, indicating Angus.
“That’s Angus. He stayed behind to watch over the place while we were gone.”
“Why does the ranch have to be watched over? I thought Wyoming was a safe place.”
“It is,” Brendan said. “Except for cattle rustlers, and breaking and enterings happen on occasion, too.”
“Oh, my. Did you hear that, George? It’s a good thing that Angus is watching over the place. He looks like the type of man I’d want in my corner. I mean, if there was trouble.” Lena began to fan her face. “It’s hot in here, don’t you think?”
Katlyn smiled nervously. Was her mother actually making inappropriate comments about Angus? Actually, that made this a little more bearable.
“Oh, Angus. Do you happen to know which room upstairs my parents are staying in?”
“Not exactly. Didn’t Paige come back with you?”
“No, she’s busy with Clayton in town.”
“Oh, really?” Lena asked. “That must be the nice woman Angus has been talking about. Is she related to Brendan and Chase?”
“No, she runs the ranch.”
“Let me get this straight. These two have a woman running the ranch for them? Is she married to one of you then?” George asked.
“I don’t think I’ve never known anyone to ask so many questions before,” Brendan said. “And no, to your question. Paige is just a good friend who happens to be good at managing things and making sure the bills get paid, since Chase and I would much rather work the ranch.”
“Now, George. Stop interrogating them already. George is a retired detective,” Lena explained. “If you could show us to our room, we’ll see you all in the morning.”
“I’d feel better if I could escort our Katlyn to her cabin.”
Katlyn was in a wild panic. “I can find my own way there, Dad. I’m not a child.”
“Katy’s right. Let’s go on upstairs and find our room. If you young fellas could help us with our luggage, that is.”
Brendan, Chase, and Angus carried the luggage, and once her parents were upstairs, Lena said, “What a dark hallway, and quite an interesting lighting choice—red.”
Sure enough, all along the hallway was red wallpaper with red nightlights twenty feet apart from one another. Angus began checking rooms until he found one that he entered all the way. “I think this must be the room. It has clean bedding,” he said.
Yes, as opposed to red bedding that was in all the other rooms, thought Katlyn. Lena stopped in her tracks. “How about that room on the end.” Before anyone could stop her, she darted down the hall and entered the room where Tessa had gotten her blood transfusion just the day before.
By the time Katlyn made it there, her mom and dad were in the room and staring at the IV pole and blood that dotted the white sheets. “Oh, my. Is someone sick?”
“No. I mean ... I’m not sure.”
“Paige moonlights as a nurse,” Brendan said. “On occasion, a patient needs a blood transfusion and since there are no major hospitals nearby, we allow her to see them here.”
“I see. Well, that sure is peculiar, but who am I to say since we live nearer to civilization,” Lena said.
They wandered back to their room and Katlyn just wanted them to calm the hell down and go to sleep so she could go back to her cabin with her mates, and after they went into their room and closed the door, Katlyn finally let the breath go that she was holding. “Finally,” she muttered, stomping her way down the stairs. “I’m so sorry. I should have told you about my parents. Since Dad was a detective, they are way on the inquisitive side, to the point of asking so many questions you’d think they were interrogating you. I’ve always felt like they knew all of my secrets without having to tell them. And leave it to them to start wandering around in places they shouldn’t be going, but I’m embarrassed to admit that’s how they are.”
Taken (M/F/M red-hot menage shifter romance) Standalone (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 2) Page 11
