Page 38 of Valentine's Day Treasure

“Wow,” Heather breathed, a little lightheaded.

Graeme transformed into a man and put his arm around her shoulders. “That’s a job well done. We can go home—”

He quieted, then spoke to her in ruhi.Someone’s close by.

She held his shirt and froze, quiet. Listening.

He spokeruhi,not to her, but she could hear him.

Trent?

Graeme?

Aye—we’re in the gorge near the waterfall.

Heather and Graeme left the nook behind the waterfall and walked out into the gorge, barely able to see the black blob in the snow that was Trent. He was halfway down the incline into the gorge, making his way through deep snow, wearing a reflective ‘police dog’ vest .

Trent stopped moving.I didn’t expect to see you two out here. Are you good?

Aye. Fine. What about ye? We’re miles from home.

Everyone went to Serenity Falls Resort for the night. We already watched a movie and now they’re all eating dinner. I finished my steak so I came out to patrol.

Who’s everyone?Heather asked.

Ah, Ella, Trevor, Troy, Mac, Bruin, Cerise, Beckett, Crew and Dahlia. They’re at the buffet. You guys can come eat. Trevor prepaid for your dinner, just in case you showed up.

Graeme’s stomach rumbled.I’m hungry enough to eat the head off a loch monster,he said.

Heather stepped away from him and looked at him like she’d never seen him before.You what?

A horse,he said.I’m hungry enough to eat a horse.Do ye like that better?

She laughed.Actually I do.

Come on,Trent said.I’ll take you there.

Within a few minutes, they were approaching the resort. Heather had been there before years ago, but she was certain Graeme never had. Trent took them around the back of the resort where they could hear grunting and swearing. Heather moved closer to Graeme and he took her hand.

Under an overhang, Mac and Bruin sat at a picnic table just outside a door, arm wrestling, with beers and a large, covered stockpot next to them. They both were straining but neither was moving the other. Bruin saw them, looked back to Mac, and gave one mighty heave that knocked Mac over into the snow. Mac bounced to his feet, downed his beer, and dropped his elbow back on the table.

“That was your last freebie, Teddy McFuzzy, ” Mac snarled. “Let’s go.”

But Bruin stood and fist-bumped both Graeme and Heather. Mac waggled two fingers at them, then sprawled his legs out, looking bored.

“Graeme! Heather!” Bruin said. “You two missed a great day.”

Graeme said nothing, but Heather nodded and smiled.

“Glad you’re finally here! Everyone’s inside.”

He opened the door for them. Graeme went in first, holding Heather’s hand, and Trent followed. They were at the far end of an empty dance floor lined with speakers playing rock music, and the delicious smell of roasted vegetables and seared meat made Heather’s mouth water.

They walked across the dance floor, and the moment they saw the food, Graeme pulled her that way. Heather saw her sisters at tables around the room. They were all dressed up and looked beautiful. She waved to them, thinking very deliberately,If I can’t share, I would like to forget,and the answer came back at once—not a voice in her head, exactly, but more an understanding.

And so you shall, once the gold is well-hidden.

19—Wolves Can’t Twerk

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