Page 52 of What a Wolf Wants
“While Noah is working here with you, I was thinking we might have him over for a meal occasionally,” Charlene said from the adjacent bathroom. “Since he’s on his own and doesn’t have anyone to talk to, I thought it would be kind of nice. Maybe he could even go for a wolf run with us, once you’re healed up.”
“I thought of that too, but for now, I want to spend the time with you.”
She smiled. “You’re still worried about him trying to get on my good side and win me over. You don’t have to worry about it.”
He called out, “Hey, are these pictures of you and your family?”
She returned to the bedroom and picked up one of her favorites off her dresser top. “We were at the beach in Destin.”
“Beautiful. Your family, the beach, the water. I can see why your family loved it there.”
“But crowded. Do you see how many people are on the beach? As soon as it warmed up, tons of tourists invaded it.”
He laughed. “Can I help you hang it up?”
She hesitated. “Uh, sure.” She went and got a hammer and a picture hanger, and then he held the picture up on different walls until she picked the place she wanted to hang it. A special place over an antique chest in the living room—her mother’s favorite piece of furniture.
“Thanks.” She appreciated him for helping her to decide where the picture would go and that he understood how important her family was to her. “After lunch, do you want to take a walk on the beach?”
“Yeah, I’m all for it.”
They checked the tide schedule, then dressed for the walk. Ethan carried the backpack, and they headed down the stairs to the beach. What was fun about her beach was that it was practically private, rocks jutting out into the ocean keeping other beach walkers from reaching the area below her home except maybe during low tide.
“Ohmigod, look at these huge mussel shells filled with brightly colored, juvenile, ochre starfish and baby gooseneck barnacles that look almost pearl-like. They’re beautiful.” Charlene began taking pictures of them. “Isn’t that the most stunning thing you have ever seen?”
“Besides you and seeing your enthusiasm at seeing such a sight? Yeah, it is truly magnificent.”
“Coming down here with you and seeing this has made my day.”
“I can see living here will be a really great experience,” Ethan said.
“For sure.” After taking a ton of pictures, she and Ethan began checking more tidal pools, but they didn’t see anything as spectacular as the mussels filled with small starfish.
They spent a good two hours on the beach, just enjoying the water, listening to the sound of the breakers, and feeling the sun shining through the clouds. Then they headed back to the house.
“Do you want to go to the Fort Stevens State Park and see the shipwreck of thePeter Iredale? It’s only an hour away from here,” Charlene asked.
“Yeah, I would love to. I figure when we can’t do our surveillance, we can enjoy some trips close by.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
He loved that about Charlene. She was eager and ready to do things at a moment’s notice, just like he would be. Flexible. Fun-loving. “Do you have an ice chest? We can take some cold bottles of water and snacks in case—”
“We get lost in the woods?”
He laughed. “In case we get hungry or thirsty.”
“I have an ice chest and we can take backpacks in case we get lost in the woods—but together.”
He smiled. “It’s a deal.”
They were already dressed for hiking, so they gathered somesnacks, bottled waters, and the ice chest filled with ice, then drove to the park. He enjoyed every moment he was spending with Charlene. It was like taking a mini-vacation with her every day.
When they finally reached the park, they didn’t have too far walk to see the shipwreck. It was just beyond the parking lot and the tide was still low so they could walk out to it. They looked up the description and discovered it had been a four-masted steel sailing vessel from England.
Charlene gave Ethan an abbreviated account of it. “A sudden squall forced thePeter Iredaleonto the beach on a foggy morning. The ship has been rusting on the shore for almost 120 years.” She looked at the rusty frame of the hull. “After all that time and with the salty water washing over it, it’s amazing that any of it is still here.”
“I know. It’s iconic. I’m glad they didn’t remove it.”
