“I suppose not.” Fiona took the file, glanced at the note, which she always assumed Suzie had written, and then opened it up. “I see. Stepmother. Father deceased. Mother deceased.”
“Very sad case. Poor girls. Their dad hasn’t been dead more than a month. The stepmother said she could not cope. So the girls are here.” Suzie walked along the hallway and stopped outside a door, her hand on the knob. “They need to go to one of your special placements. Especially the older one.” Suzie lowered her voice to a very low whisper. Fiona was quite sure the girls inside the room would still be able to hear her words, but it was too late to hush Suzie. “She’s very angry. Calling her poor stepmother all kind of names.”
“I bet she was,” Fiona said. “Thrown out of their home by a woman who is not their mother. I would be angry too.”
“Now, Fiona, we have talked about your attitude before. You have to make them understand it is no one’s fault.”
“I will. Thank you, Suzie.” Fiona stood with her arms folded across her chest, the file in her hand as she waited for Suzie to walk away. “Maybe you could check on Harlan for me.”
“Harlan. Your male friend?” Suzie asked incredulously.
“Yes, I trust him not to run away with you.” Fiona felt weird admitting she trusted a man she had only just met. Usually, it took her weeks, if not months, to allow her firewall down and let anyone in. She smiled at her own joke. She didn’t exactly think of normal humans as viruses.
Sweeping thoughts of Harlan aside, and burying the pang of jealousy that struck her at the thought of Suzie spending time with her mate, Fiona turned back to the door and knocked lightly before opening it a little.
“Can I come in?” Fiona asked. It was one of the only times she really respected people’s boundaries. For her to be able to help any child they had to trust her, they had to welcome her, and not feel threatened or believe she was forcing her presence on them.
“What if we say no?” a voice said.
Fiona squeezed her head around the door a little further. Her eyes met with those of a strong-willed teenager, who looked as if her other side was about to pop out and bite the intruder’s head off. This was unmistakably Ruby.
“Then you can stay in here for the night. Although I would not recommend it. The cleaner uses this disgusting detergent to wash the floors that smells as if someone puked their lunch on the floor. And if you have tasted food from the cafeteria, you might half believe they did puke.”
“We have tasted it,” the younger girl said, wrinkling her nose up.
“Well, if you want, once we have filled in the paperwork, and figured out where you two are going to go for the night, I promise to buy you something else. There is a deli across the street that serves the best chicken salad.”
“Salad.” More wrinkled noses.
“It’s healthy.” If Fiona had learned one thing, it was if you wanted to live a long time, you ate well. And she planned on living a very long time.
“If all you have to offer is chicken salad, you might as well stay out in the hallway,” the older girl said.
“OK, but if that happens, you will have to deal with Suzie instead. And Suzie does not understand your particular requirements.” Fiona had a knack for being cryptic.
“Particular requirements?” Ruby frowned and jerked her neck back. “You mean because we are shifters.”
“Shhh, Ruby. You know we aren’t supposed to say,” the younger girl said.
“She knows what we are, that’s why we’ve been waiting here, so that she can come deal with us. Stop us from acting out. Stop us from killing that bitch who stole our treasure.”
The file fell out of Fiona’s hand, the pieces of paper scattering across the floor. Her face paled, which was probably what Ruby had intended. Although Ruby did not know the real reason for Fiona’s reaction.
“Keep your voice down,” Fiona ordered, coming into the room and collecting the pages off the floor. The younger girl made a move to help, but Ruby glared at her, and she sat back down, her lips pressed tightly together, her eyes wide with fear.
“Or what?” Ruby said. “You know I could take this place down.”
That was enough. Fiona scooped up the remaining pages, slammed them down on the table in front of the younger girl, and stalked across the room toward Ruby.
To her credit, Ruby stood her ground, right up to the moment Fiona opened her mouth and puffed smoke in her face.
“What the fuck!”
“Language!” Fiona snapped. “Now, sit down and shut up. Know when someone is trying to help you.”
The younger girl reached out for her sister’s hand and pulled the shocked young woman into a chair beside her. “We thought we were the last.”
“Don’t we all, dear,” Fiona said, shuffling the file into order, and opening it to the first page. “Now, let’s get on with this.”
“You mean let’s get you sent to some stupid foster home while the woman who duped your father into marrying her gets to live in your house and spend your mom’s treasure.”
Fiona clasped her hands together and placed them down on the file in front of her. “Is that really what happened?”
“Yes,” Ruby spat vehemently, and a red glow flashed across her eyes.
Her sister reached out and took Ruby’s hand. “You have to calm down.”
“I can’t, Sapphi, not when she’s in our house, in our parent's bed…with that man.”
“Right now, we have to get through today. If I don’t find you a placement, then someone else will. And since you seem unable to control your dragon, that could end in trouble.” Fiona glanced down at the file. “OK, Ruby and Sapphire. I guess your mother knew what color your dragons were going to be.”
“She said I was going to be the deepest blue. And Ruby was going to be blood red.”
“I sure would like something to be blood red,” Ruby muttered.
“Not helpful,” Fiona warned.
“I don’t want to be helpful.”
Fiona pinched the top of her nose, thinking things over as she stared at the notes before her. “How did she get you here?”
“In a car. You know, one of those things with four wheels that drives along the road,” Ruby replied sarcastically.
Fiona smiled indulgently. “I see you might have grown into your dragon, but not into your adult brain.”
Ruby opened her mouth to speak, but Sapphi got there first. “Mommy always said Ruby let her mouth run away with her. Think before you speak.”
“Shut up about Mom.”
“No, I won’t. You can’t make me.” Sapphi stuck her tongue out at her sister. “Just because you don’t like talking about her. But you’re not the boss of me.”
“Enough!” Fiona’s hand came down so hard on the table, one of the legs cracked. But it had the desired effect. The two girls looked at her with some respect.
“You broke the table,” Sapphi said.
“Tables can be replaced. Dragons cannot. Ruby, let it go. For now, there is nothing we can do. But I promise you, I will look into your stepmother. If I am your caseworker. But if I can’t place you with a family, you will be passed to someone who might not be so understanding.”
With a dramatic sigh, Ruby slid further down in her chair and looked petulantly at the door.
“Where were we?” Fiona asked, as a knock came at the door, and Suzie poked her head around.
“Everything OK?” She looked nervous.
“Everything is fine. Why?” Fiona asked in her best why are you disturbing us voice.
“I heard a loud bang.” Suzie smiled weakly and cast her eyes around the room.
“I know. Can you tell whoever it was to be quieter? I am trying to work. These two poor girls are upset enough without all that noise.”
“I will.” Suzie pulled her head back out of the room and shut the door quietly.
Fiona felt a pang of guilt, but there was no time to explain any more to Suzie, who would not understand anyway.
/>
“Right. I have a choice for you.” Fiona pulled her notebook out of her pocket. On it was scribbled the names of families who were willing to take in a foster child. A twinge of unease passed over Fiona. None of these people were prepared for the raging ball of anger that was spinning relentlessly inside Ruby.
“A choice?” Ruby asked. “I choose we go back home and kick that woman out of our house.”
“You can either go to a family who does not know about shifters. In which case you will have to keep yourself under control.” Fiona eyed Ruby. “I personally do not see that happening. So I suggest we go with choice number two.”
“Which is?” Sapphi asked.
“For the immediate future, you will have to go to separate foster families.”
“No.” Ruby’s one-word answer was blunt.
“No.” Sapphi agreed, meeting her sister’s eye.
“That’s what I thought.” Fiona stared at the file, her eyes out of focus. This was madness. But she really had no choice. Getting up from the table, she collected the file and tucked it under her arm. “Come on.”
“Where are we going? We just said no.” Ruby got up, squaring her shoulders to Fiona.
“There is only one person who will take you in. And she is standing right here.”
“You?” Ruby asked in disbelief.
“Yes. I believe I am uniquely suited to the task of keeping you out of trouble until we get to the bottom of what is going on.” She walked to the door. “Come with me, or stay. As I said, you have a choice. But be warned, if you do come with me, you will live by my rules.”
Ruby put her arm protectively around Sapphi. “This isn’t a trick?”
Fiona frowned, seeing the vulnerability in Ruby’s face. “No trick,” she answered softly. “At least not for you. I may have to bend the truth a little for Suzie’s sake, but she knows better than to question me.”
Ruby looked at Sapphi, who nodded. “OK. But I warn you, any funny business, and I’ll singe your eyebrows off.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Fiona said, and walked out of the room, with the two girls following.
Fate was a strange beast. Fiona hadn’t met another dragon for decades. Today she had met three.
What that meant, she could only guess, but she sure was glad to have a mate like Harlan by her side. Oh, as long as he did not object to having two girls gate-crash their dinner plans.
Chapter Eight – Harlan
“What’s going on?” Harlan asked Fiona as soon as they were all in the car.
“I have offered to take Ruby and Sapphire home with me.” Fiona turned to look at him, her expression telling him it was not up for discussion.
“That is your answer to finding them a place together?” Harlan asked, surprised.
“Yes.” Fiona was ready to fight tooth and talon for this. He was not.
“I think it’s a great idea.” He turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot. “But I’m assuming by our quick exit, that Suzie might not.”
“You would assume correctly.” Fiona turned away from him, to look out of the window.
“How long do we have until the sheriff comes knocking on the door?” Harlan asked.
“Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I doubt Suzie will do much checking. She trusts me.”
Harlan cast a sidelong glance at Fiona. She might not admit it, but it bothered her that she was lying to Suzie. No matter how much bravado she put on, Fiona did not like people thinking badly of her, or believing she had acted to deliberately hurt them. What a complex character she was.
There was little conversation on the way back to Bear Creek. Ruby sat with her arm protectively around Sapphi, who stared at the floor. She looked exhausted. Harlan had to wonder what these two girls had been through and what he could do to help. Having raised a child of his own, he had a protective streak a mile wide and a mountain high. Not that he had any doubt Fiona needed protecting. But the girls. They would be strong and fierce one day, but right now they were children in an adult world.
“What is the plan?” Harlan asked Fiona as they passed a sign for Bear Creek. He turned off the main road and followed the back roads that twisted and turned on their way to town.
“The plan is for them to stay with me.” She looked at him as if to say we’ve already been over this.
“And where exactly is that?” Harlan prompted.
“Oh.” Fiona sat up and looked at the road ahead. “We should go back to Caroline’s and I can get my car.”
“I’ll drive you home.” He wasn’t going to let her argue about this. “I want to see you all safe. I can run out and get anything you might need while you get settled, and perhaps Chrysi or Nevis will drive your car back with me.”
“Pizza,” Ruby said. “We need pizza.”
“You don’t need pizza,” Fiona said firmly.
“I have always found pizza to be a good cure for any ill,” Harlan said, gently. He lifted his hand and placed it over Fiona’s. “It won’t hurt for one night.”
Fiona looked at the two girls. “OK, just this once.”
“Yes.” Ruby looked down at Sapphi, and brushed her hair from her face. “Hey, Sapph. The old dragon is going to let us have pizza.”
Sapphi sat up, looking around as if she had forgotten where they were. “Sounds good.”
“Are you OK?” Fiona asked, concerned.
“Tired.” Sapphi tried to fix a smile on her face, but the corners of her mouth turned down and her bottom lip trembled.
“I think we might need ice cream too,” Harlan suggested. Fiona looked at him sadly and nodded.
“Up here, and follow the road around. I live in one of the small cabins on the upper slopes.”
Harlan nodded and followed her directions, making no comment when Fiona directed him to a wooden cabin that had seen better days. Fiona got out of the car and pulled her keys from her purse, leading the girls to their new temporary home.
“Don’t you have any treasure either?” Sapphi asked.
Fiona pushed the front door open, and turned to them. “No. I gave it up years ago.”
“Why?” Ruby asked.
“For a ring.” Fiona shrugged. “You can live just as happily without treasure.”
“She’s right,” Harlan agreed, coming up behind them, and putting his arms around the two sisters. “This is the thing you must treasure most. Family.”
“Don’t say you have no treasure either?” Ruby scoffed.
“Oh, I didn’t say that.” He stepped back from them. “In fact, I aim to use my treasure now to go and buy you some pizza. Anything else anyone needs?”
“A head on a plate,” Ruby requested casually.
“I think we’ll leave that until tomorrow.” Harlan walked back to his car while the others walked into the cabin, and with a small wave in his direction, Fiona shut the door.
Harlan sat still for a moment, the shock of the day’s events settling into his brain. He’d found his mate. He’d always hoped that when he did, he would have family with her. He just never expected to have an instant family.
And that was exactly what he figured he’d gotten. He would fight for the girls to stay with Fiona. This was where they belonged.
As soon as they were out of the building on the pretense of taking the girls to a foster home, Fiona had whispered to him that they were dragons. His initial shock had been replaced by a need to keep them safe. The thought that their stepmother was trying to trick them out of their treasure was almost too much. His dragon had demanded to be let free to go and smite the woman where she stood, in a house that did not belong to her.
It had taken all of his strength to calm his dragon down and convince him that things were done differently these days. The only way to successfully smite anyone these days without ending up in jail was through lawyers.
Which reminded him. Using his phone on hands-free, he made some calls as he drove back to Bear Creek. He had a lawyer on retainer who was a shifter
, an owl no less, who really was wise, but had a cunning streak he had inherited from his father, who was a fox shifter. There was nothing like the mixing of blood lines.
“So you’ll dig up everything you can on her?” Harlan asked. It had only taken him giving the girls’ names to his lawyer for him to go online and pull up all the information available on the stepmother, Roxanne Cunningham.
“I will. Rest assured, if there is any dirt, any skeletons in her closet, I will know,” Jerry Oswald assured Harlan.
“Good man. I can’t bring back their parents, but I sure as hell can get their treasure back. While you are at it, can you look up adoption procedures? I’m sure things have changed since I adopted Chrysi.”
“I will. Does that mean you plan on adopting them?” Jerry asked.
“We need to keep them safe. And the best way to do that is for them to be with people who understand them.”
“Raising a couple of girls alone? You are a brave man, Harlan.”
“I’m no longer alone,” Harlan said. He had been so wrapped up talking about the girls, he had forgotten to tell Jerry his news.
“You found your mate?” Jerry asked, his voice conveying his pleasure at that news.
“I have. A dragon, too.”
“I look forward to some baby dragons being born in the near future,” Jerry said.
“Me too.” They ended the call, and then Harlan dialed Chrysi’s number. She answered on the second ring.
“Dad, how are you? Where are you?” Chrysi asked. “How is Fiona?”
“I am good. I’m driving into Bear Creek, and Fiona is all kinds of… remarkable.”
“Remarkable. That is praise, I suppose.”
“I mean it. She is a woman in a million. A woman in a billion, even.” Harlan smiled to himself; Fiona would probably be delighted that he had not described her in a romantic way. “Listen, I need your help.”
“Shoot. What do you need? Flowers, an idea for a great first date?” Chrysi asked excitedly.
“No, I need you to order pizza.”
“Your first date is going to be take-out?” Chrysi asked. In her head, her father had gone down in her estimation.
Silverback Dragon (Return to Bear Creek Book 6) Page 5
