Ana got a cocky look on her face and offered her hand to the new woman, “I’m an Anastasia.”
I offered a quick thanks to the gods that my mate could hold her tongue, smart ass that she could be.
Meredith pushed the issue, “You aren’t a dragon, though. You smell like dragon, but there’s something else there.”
Then, the woman said the one thing that I was sure would piss Ana off, “You’re a half-breed.”
That catty look crossed Ana’s face and I took one of her flexing hands in mine. It was one thing if someone she knew called her “half-breed,” but for a complete stranger to do it? The woman was lucky to still have her fingers.
“I’m puma.” Like we’d always taught her, she’d left the witch part out of it, unless she was meeting with witches, then the puma was left out. In some places, a puma shifter with witch blood was highly desirable. Too much power could be heady to certain shifter communities.
Meredith flashed her blue eyes at Ana.
“We are Ana’s guardians. She is also newly mated with our son, Bowie,” my father said with a tone that let the woman know that the subject was closed.
Colin and Callum walked around the table and leaned back against the counter. Mama put the breakfast on the table.
“You boys sit down and eat before you leave for work.”
“I’ve gotta get to the station, Mama,” I said, excusing myself from the situation.
I kissed Mama good-bye before I led Ana out to the yard. Colin and Callum followed us out. The camping goods store was closed today so Colin was home all day.
“I’m going to stop in and have Brady come out here. This situation stinks to me, but I can’t figure out what’s going on quite yet. Keep an eye on Ana today. This woman seems to want to push her buttons.” Both heads nodded solemnly.
I looked at Ana, “Kitten, for some reason you are on her radar. Keep a low profile. Let Dad and me handle this. He will call a Council meeting this afternoon. That’s where you will probably have to keep her occupied. Just keep you claws sheathed.” I studied her expression, then kissed her thoroughly. She wrapped her arms around my neck and held on tight.
“I’m scared, Bowie,” she whispered. I thought about lying to her, but in the end I couldn’t.
“Me, too, kitten. Me, too.” I kissed her again. “I love you, Ana.”
“I love you, too, flyboy.”
When I pulled out of the driveway, Colin and Callum were on either side of her, their arms around her waist. It killed me to leave her. My heart was telling me to stay home, but my head told me I could do more at the station.
Chapter Twenty-Six-Ana
With Colin and Callum, I felt safe. But I’d have felt safer with Bowie. There was something about that Meredith woman that pissed my cat off.
“You okay, kitten?” Colin asked.
“Yeah, I’m just having issues with that woman. I’m with Bowie. I smell trouble coming and it’s not going to be pretty.” Callum remained solemn as we went in to breakfast.
Papa locked himself in the office while Mama took Meredith’s suitcase up to my room. Meredith went to take a shower while Mama unpacked her suitcase under the premise of helping the woman settle in.
“Have you taken everything personal out of here, Anastasia?” Mama asked.
“Yes, ma’am. It all sits in Bowie’s room.”
Mama smiled at me, “Have I told you how happy it makes me to see you two together?”
I could feel a blush starting to climb my neck to my face. “He’s making plans, Mama, big plans. As in plans I’m not sure I’m ready for.”
“Oh, baby girl. Bowie’s been thinking on this for a while, I think. He’s always been your protector. He wants to take care of you. But…don’t let him push you until you’re ready. He can be a little stubborn,” she said as she made my bed up with clean sheets.
“I wonder where he gets that from?” I teased her.
“He gets that from his father,” she added with a grin.
I went to the room I was now sharing with Bowie and settled in a little more. It made me happy to have the family’s blessing, but it still scared the hell out of me.
Meredith came out of the bathroom and headed right to the open door of Bowie’s room where I was putting my clothes in his closet.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought this was my room.”
My cat hissed at the redheaded woman. I smiled politely, “Nope, your room is next door. If you need anything, just ask.”
I bit my tongue because I don’t think that was an “accident” by any means. In a matter of moments, she returned to the doorway. “Would you like to take a walk with me? I get restless if I’m cooped up for too long.”
I looked up at her from my laptop. I took a deep breath, “Sure. Let me just get the boys and we will go. Do you have a warm coat?”
“No, I can’t believe I left without one. Do you have one I can borrow?”
I pulled out the winter coat I’d brought home from school. I had a much heavier one that I wore when I was home.
“Thanks, Anastasia.”
I handed her a pair of boots as well. “You’ll probably need these as well.”
Colin stepped around Meredith to enter the bedroom. “What’s up, ladies?”
“Meredith would like to take a walk. You and Callum want to come with us?”
Colin shrugged his shoulders, “Sure. Why not? It’s nice out there today.” He walked back out, calling for Callum, “Get your boots on, bonehead. We’re taking a walk.”
Meredith leaned against the doorway with a smile on her face. “Must have been hard growing up with such three beautiful men.”
“Four. You haven’t met Brady yet. And yes, it was. All my friends had such crushes on them.”
“Isn’t it odd to be dating your brother though?” she asked.
“Bowie isn’t my brother. He has always been my friend. He’s been a pain in my ass as well over the years, but he’s always been my best friend. And it’s not as odd as you might think. It’s more like a transition to a higher level.” That’s when it hit me…that’s why the confusion had faded so quickly. Our love for one another had evolved to a whole new plane of existence.
I refused to take Meredith into our forest. She had not proven herself to be trustworthy enough for that. We walked down the road past the other dragon family homes. Lance was pulling out of his driveway as we walked by. I was the only one who waved. The twins still held a grudge against him. I pointed out a few special pieces of landscape as we walked. The twins put in their two cents with memories that had me laughing.
“Remember when you got Bowie’s truck stuck in Old Dragon Green’s field?” Callum said.
“Oh, man was he pissed off that night.” Colin added with a snicker.
“Well, he shouldn’t have made me mad,” I replied.
“You both lost though. When Bowie tossed you in the jail that night, Dad made you stay there all night and Bowie had to stay with you.”
“I think that made him as mad as anything else. We sat up playing poker that night. I lost a hundred hours of volunteer work at the station to him.” I laughed. “You know what? I think I still owe him hours for that, too.”
Meredith watched us as we walked. “Have you guys always been close?” she asked.
Callum answered, “Oh yeah! Before Ana’s parent’s died, we were together constantly. We only got closer when Mama and Dad were granted guardianship of her.”
Meredith turned to me, “How were your parents killed?” she asked.
Not wanting to give away too much information, I answered, “My dad died in a hunting accident when I was five, and my mom was killed in a fire when I was twelve.”
She laid her hand on my shoulder, “I’m so sorry.” I honestly believed she was sincere in her sympathy. We turned around and headed back home.
Papa was waiting on the porch when we walked into the yard. “Well, Meredith, what do you think of our little nest here?”
“It’s huge!” she said with sheer delight. “I’ve never seen a nest this big. I’m impressed that all the colors can get along. My father always had a hard time keeping his nest from killing one another.”
Papa laughed out loud, “Red dragons are known for their fiery tempers. We have our spats here, but for the most part, we all just respect one another and we don’t have too many problems.” He looked to the boys, “We have to run to town, boys. Why don’t you go help your mother with lunch?”
I understood what Papa meant even though he avoided saying it. The Dragon Council had agreed to convene for an emergency meeting and the boys were staying here with me and Meredith.
We ate a lunch of ham sandwiches and potato soup. While I cleaned up the kitchen, Meredith begged off to take a nap, which was fine with me. I curled up with a book while the twins played video games. I snuck away to check on Meredith. I just couldn’t get over the feeling that this woman just brought a whirlwind of trouble to our front door.
Chapter Twenty-Seven-Bowie
The Council met to get their information in order. The Council meeting was followed by a community-wide meeting. The dragons were closing ranks on their own and felt the prides, clans and packs should be allowed to do the same. My search of Meredith Garnett Rush had turned up nothing out of the ordinary, and I shared that with the Council. I stood in front of my community and admitted the one thing a lawman hates to admit, “I’m worried that she’s brought something to this community that I cannot handle. That’s why it is important that we circle the wagons so to speak. If you see anyone new in this community, let me or one of my deputies know. We’ll check on them. I am hoping that this is just what it looks like…a woman who has left her abusive husband. Unfortunately, you are all aware that we live in a world where what we hope for is seldom what we get.”
There were questions from the pack and pride elders that I tried my best to answer. Dad’s inquiry into the Red Clan of Boston told him that Meredith’s father actually disowned Meredith because he feared something like this would happen. He offered to take Meredith back, if she was willing to divorce her human husband, but she had refused. Mr. Garnett also said he would offer any help he could, if something came down on our community because of Meredith’s arrival. Dad accepted his offer.
I went back to the station after the meeting ended. Callum was on duty tonight so I didn’t bother locking up the station. I unlocked the gun safes because if Hell came raining down on our town, I had men deputized who would need weapons.
Getting home to Ana was the main priority. She was cleaning up the kitchen when I got there. They had eaten an early dinner. I stood in the window watching as she teased my brother, Brady. There was so much love in that house. I was just hoping nothing happened to change that. Ana saw me out of the corner of her eye and smiled. Gods, she was sexy. She pulled on my dad’s coat to come out on the porch. “Welcome home, sheriff. You planning on coming in? We saved you a plate.” I took a deep breath. “Bowie? You’re worrying me,” she said as she pulled the door closed.
I took her in my arms. “I’m worried, sweetheart. I just can’t get rid of this feeling that something bad is about to happen.” I rested my chin on top of her head.
“I’ve had that feeling all day,” she said.
I raised her chin so she looked me in the eye, “Do you trust me?”
She smiled a sad little smile, “Of course, I trust you, Bowie. More than I trust anyone.”
“If something happens and I tell you to run. I want you to run…as far and as fast as you can. If that means you have to shift, then do it. But you don’t look back, you run. I will find you. If I can’t, then one of the others will find you. At your parents’ cabin, there is a spot that is marked by that old oak tree. Beside that oak tree is a door. You will probably have to dig through the snow to find it. It’s a shelter. There’s food, water, clothes and a cell phone there. I stuck a gun and ammunition down there a couple of years ago. I will find you.” Tears filled her eyes,
“Bowie, you’re scaring me.”
“I wish I could tell you that I’m not scared, but I am terrified.” We stood on the porch holding each other for a very long time.
Chapter Twenty-Eight-Ana
We had a family meeting once Meredith went to bed. Bowie let everyone know about the shelter. For the first time in my life, I saw Mama scared beyond speech. Papa took the holiday gifts and locked them in the concrete cellar in the basement. Brady cleaned the family arsenal so that everything was ready to go, if need be.
Colin sat in silence as we all made plans. His twin was away on a night when they really needed to be together. Brady put the guns away and then, in a very unBrady-like move, he hugged and kissed each of us before going to bed. That made it all too real for me.
Colin went to bed next. Once again, hugs and kisses all around. Papa sat on the sofa, playing with Mama’s fingers, a habit he had. He only did this when he was worried or nervous about something. He finally lifted his eyes and looked at his eldest son and me, “Bowie, why don’t you take Ana to bed? We don’t know what will happen tonight. We should spend it loving each other instead of sitting here worrying about what is coming.”
Bowie looked at his parents for the longest time. “You know, I’ve always wanted a marriage like yours,” he said with tears in his eyes. “Now, that I have a chance at it, it could all be gone with the sunrise.”
Mama got up to kiss us both, “Then, go! Make the most of whatever there is.”
Bowie got up to embrace his parents. I couldn’t help but cry. This felt like an end and I wasn’t ready for it to end. Not yet.
Mama’s blue eyes glistened when she turned to me, “My baby girl.” I walked into her arms and held on tight. “Anastasia Plum, you have been a complete and utter joy to have in our lives. If the world ends tomorrow, please know that you have never been considered as anything less than our daughter.”
I sobbed as Papa came to join the embrace. “My angel, if I can make it happen, the sun will rise tomorrow so that you and my son can plan for all of your tomorrows. If it is in my power, we will all be here to see several more tomorrows.”
Finally, hand in hand, Bowie and I climbed the stairs to the bedroom. We undressed and climbed in bed. Our love making was slow, tender and full of sweet vows of love. It was three in the morning when Bowie’s cell phone rang. It was Callum.
“There is a fire out at the Pierce Pride’s land,” he relayed to Bowie.
“Sound the alarm. I’m on my way.” The alarm would give the families time to get to their safe shelters and away from the danger. Bowie was up and getting dressed.
“Gods, Bowie. Please don’t go,” I pleaded through the tears.
“I’ve got to go, kitten. This is my responsibility. This is my town and they count on me to keep them safe.”
“What about me, Bowie? I count on you to keep me safe, too. I need you.”
He crushed me to him. “I know you do, kitten, but I promised you that I will find you. If you believe nothing else, believe that.” His kiss was deep and passionate. It held the whispers of darkness and goodbye. All the things we hadn’t said to one another were in that final kiss. “I love you, Anastasia Plum. I will love you until the final breath is drawn from my body and beyond.”
“Oh, Bowie. You’ve been the center of my universe for so long that I wouldn’t know what to do without you. I’ve loved you since I was twelve, and I will love you for the rest of this life and throughout the next one.”
He strapped on his guns and he was gone.
I sat with my phone in my hand, waiting for the signal that all was well. Instead, I got a text an hour later from Bowie that simply said RUN. I knocked on Colin’s door and Brady’s. They were at full run as they hit the stairs. Mama and Papa were in the kitchen, making sure we all got out. As we suspected, Meredith was already gone. That bitch! As we headed out the back door toward the lake shore, men burst in the front door dressed like SWAT members, firing at anythi
ng that moved. Brady grabbed my hand and pushed me ahead of him. Everyone was shedding clothes as they went so they could shift on the run. I was able to shift quickly and headed for the shelter in the woods. I watched as Mama, Papa, Colin and Brady took off for the skies over Lake Superior. I looked back over my shoulder and watched as the house went up in flames. I had made it almost all the way to the cabin when Meredith appeared out of nowhere.
“Look at the little kitty. Now, you don’t have any big dragons to protect you. What are you going to do now?”
I lunged at her which was my mistake. She had a syringe that she plunged in my neck. I tore a chunk of flesh off of her before I passed out, but the last thing I remember is her telling some guy that I was a dragon slut.
Chapter Twenty-Nine-Bowie
I was so proud of Callum. He’d been on high alert and attempted to make sure every one of our families was safe. Our town was devastated, but we could always rebuild. That wasn’t a problem. Several people were wounded, but nothing serious. There were a few who had suffered from smoke inhalation. It was all minor compared to what it could have been if we hadn’t been prepared. Phone lines were down so we couldn’t call for outside help. Callum was traumatized by what he’d witnessed but he was digging in and helping people who needed it.
I tried to text the cell phone in the shelter, but I wasn’t getting a response which terrified me. The dragons rolled in offering help where they could. There was a fox missing and a couple of older bears. Mama and Dad showed up to help. Brady and Colin were getting Ana from the shelter and would be in soon. I was so relieved to see my family.
The house was destroyed, but we would rebuild. As long as my family made it out, that was the most important thing. Then, the text came in from the cell phone in the shelter: Found shelter No kitten B & I taking 2 air.
My heart sank into my gut and I fell apart. I sat down on the front steps of what was left of Pete’s and cried.
Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart (The Cedar River Series) Page 12
