Page 49 of Wild Wolf
“They’re from Hetty’s personal collection. She takes pride in thisstore.”
Jordan squinted at the crude hand-lettered sign outside the red screen door. “Goat cheese. Seven types,” she read aloud. “You don’t sell the goat to eat? I likegoat.”
Nolan said nothing, only held open the door forher.
A petite, gray-haired woman limped out of the back room, saw Nolan and cried out. Grinning, he scooped her up into hisarms.
“Hey there, pretty lady,” he said in his deep voice. “How’s that sore hip ofyours?”
“Ain’t nothing but a little bruise, young fellow.” the woman smiled at Jordan, peering over the tops of her half-glasses. “And who’s this beautifulLupine?”
“Hetty, meet my mate, Jordan.” He drew Jordan forward. “Jordan, this is Hetty, mygirlfriend.”
“Oh pooh, stop it now,” she chided, but a delighted smile touched the elderly lady’s face. “Pleasure to meet you, dear. I’ve been friends with Nolan’s grandmother since we werecubs.”
Smiling, Jordan shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you, m’am. And you run this store by yourlonesome?”
She caught Nolan’s troubled look as Hetty’s smile faltered. “For as long as I could. I’m afraid business is falling lately. I suppose I’ll have to retire soon when Nolansells.”
“Don’t say the R word,” he told her, lightly squeezing the woman’s paper thin hand. “While I’m here, let’s take a look at your inventory. Got a mind to send you some of our special summerwine.”
Hetty’s relief was obvious. She beamed at him. “That summer wine hasmagick.”
“It certainly does,” Jordanmurmured.
The woman brought her a tray filled with two wineglasses, a bottle of red wine and gouda cheese. “Here, dear. Sit outside a spell while we go over the books. It’s a lovely day. When Nolan is finished, he can joinyou.”
Jordan was tempted to object and tell Hetty she could help. One of her jobs on the road had been bookkeeping. But she sensed this was a delicate matter, one Nolan wanted to discuss with his employee inprivate.
She sat on a red rocker, tempted to put her feet up on the red porch railing, but thought better of it. Hetty seemed like a sweetlady.
Nolan, on the other hand… Hard to provoke a reaction out of him. Maybe if she shifted into a wolf here on the porch he’d besurprised.
Staring at the steam locomotive on the tracks next to the shop, she thought better of it. With dozens of Skins milling about, wandering in and out of shops, they might get alarmed at a redheaded woman turning into awolf.
On the other hand, her mate surprisedher. Nolan had always been quiet, with an easy grin and a slow-rising temper. Respectful and dutiful, but ready to run off and have fun and break the rules if she egged him on. He cared about her, and his family, but never voiced any concern over his aginggrandparents.
This consideration for his elders showed a new, mature side of the alpha. Absorbing the responsibility of being pack leader had changedhim.
She liked that change, liked how he didn’t dismiss the elderly as his father once had. Craig had seen to their needs, but hadn’t exactly made them feel welcome in the pack, either. It had felt like Nolan’s father preferred to shutter them away so he wouldn’t have to see themdaily.
See them and be reminded of his own eventual fate as he grewolder.
Well, the fool certainly prevented that when he broke his neck in that stupid spring tradition. She had healthy respect for traditions that didn’t risk life and limb or hurtothers.
Such as the disciplining of the pack’s young. That job should be left to the parents, not thealpha.
Jordan sipped her berry wine, enjoying the taste against her tongue. She nibbled on cheese as the screen door opened and Nolan steppedout.
He took the rocking chair next to her and poured himself a glass of wine. “Hetty’s resting a spell in theback.”
For once, she remained silent, sensing he needed to talk. Jordanwaited.
Nolan drained his wine and slammed down the glass, cracking it. “It shouldn’t be like this. She should be set up in a cozy cabin or the lodge, entertaining passels of young and passing on her wisdom. Not working on her feet here,alone.”
“Why does she doit?”
“Pride and fear.” He took the cracked glass, pitched it into the outdoor trash can below the porch. “My father told her that as long as she was able to work in a store, she was worthy of staying in the pack. Nothing I can say will convince herotherwise.
