by Terry Spear
“I want to see if Lena is at your old residence. I have to know for sure one way or the other.”
“I know. It’s in your blood to help others in need.” Though Peter suspected it wasn’t all about that but also the need to put Lena to rest. “I know. We’ll…we’ll do something.”
“The sooner the better. If this maniac wasn’t out there…”
“Don’t you dare go over to the site.” He needed to let everyone in the pack know they weren’t to escort Meghan or her sisters over there while Rollins was still in the area. Beyond that, Peter didn’t want to risk that Meghan would anger Lena’s ghost, if she was there, and suffer the consequences. He assumed Meghan would want to go inside the house, and that could be dangerous.
Peter came into the inn looking like a wolf ready to hunt some prey. Everyone stepped aside, respectful of the way he looked so concerned. He quickly joined Meghan and pulled her into his arms. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. He can’t get to me. That’s why he resorted to calling me.”
“The bastard,” Peter said. “Bill’s been released, and several pack members watched him leave town. I heard a few even followed him for several miles.”
Meghan smiled. “I love your pack.”
“Ours. They’re as much yours now as they are mine. I’m having someone put a tap on your inn phone and the one at your home.”
“Thank you. Though I suppose Rollins will assume that and not call again.”
“True. I never thought he’d be that bold, or I would already have placed them on the phones. I’m making sure we have a guard force watching our backs the whole time we’re caroling.”
“I wouldn’t think Rollins would try to go after me when we’re going to be with such a large chorus of carolers,” she said.
“We’ll be busy and not on the lookout for him.”
He let his breath out in exasperation, wishing this business with Rollins were over.
After that, Peter hung around and pulled guard duty over the sisters too, just in case, and had lunch with them. Then before it was time to leave, he escorted Meghan home to get dressed.
* * *
“Are you ready for caroling this evening?” Peter asked as they entered Meghan’s home. He couldn’t imagine how she’d feel after having to deal with Bill and Rollins and the issues with the ghosts. When he had to work a murder case, that’s all he thought of for days, even after the case was resolved. It was hard to let go of things like that.
“Oh, absolutely.” She reached over and ran her hand over his arm, smiling. “I’m sorry if I seem a bit preoccupied. I just keep wondering how we can resolve the business with Oliver. But I’m really looking forward to caroling with you. When we’re through caroling and nibbling on all the sugary treats everyone’s preparing for us, we’ll have a nice dinner.”
“I’m already hungry.” But he was thinking more of what he was planning for after the caroling. He knew Meghan wanted to resolve the situation with Lena’s ghost, if she was hanging around, but he wanted to move forward with Meghan. He didn’t want to wait, which was why he hadn’t canceled the next phase of his plan.
He smelled the delightful aroma of the pot roast she’d started earlier in the day and was looking forward to having dinner with her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her generously on the mouth, parting her lips with his tongue, invading her, luxuriating in the feel of her sweet, silky softness. “I wish we could spend all our time like this.”
“You see why I say we need to resolve the situation with Lena soon?” Meghan rubbed her soft body against his.
“Yeah, and I agree.” He didn’t want to think about that right now. “I still need to change into my Victorian attire. You do, too, or otherwise I’d say we could make time for some…loving.” But he knew they needed to leave soon. Later tonight, they would have all the time in the world. He hoped.
Peter took hold of her hand and escorted her upstairs, checking all the rooms before she entered her bedroom and began to strip off her jeans and sweater.
“Do you need any help?”
She chuckled. “No, I’ve got it. You can help with the corset, though.”
“I can sure do that.” Peter unfastened and removed her bra for her, too, and ran his hands over her bare breasts. He groaned, wanting to skip the caroling all together. But they had too much at stake tonight. He tied up her corset for her, then kissed her breasts. “Gotta keep our minds on business, or we’ll be late.”
“And you are never late.” Meghan pulled on her petticoats while Peter called CJ about what was going on now.
“The wiretaps are on the phones,” CJ said. “But I doubt he’ll call either of the landlines now. Guards are in place at the square and will follow the group of carolers throughout the festivities.”
“Good.”
“Is everything all right between you and Meghan?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
Meghan flashed Peter a smile.
“What are you going to do about Lena? Laurel’s been asking me as if to remind you the situation needs to be resolved.”
“We’ll have to figure that out later.”
“Okay. We haven’t found Jake’s truck, and he’s about ready to blow a gasket. One of his cameras was in the truck. He’d been taking pictures of the snow scenery for a new Colorado art gallery,” CJ said.
“Well, hell. I’m sure we’ll get it back.” At least Peter hoped.
“Yeah, I hope so. He said he’d been called to help out and hadn’t taken the camera out of his truck like he normally would have.”
“Hell, I’m sorry to hear that.” Peter knew how much photography meant to Jake. That was Jake’s whole life. Well, and of course Alicia and the kids. Though Jake had been talking about the two of them starting a bounty-hunter business, since that’s what she’d been doing before he met her and mated her. The kids were getting bigger, and pack members would take care of them when he and Alicia took off after bail-bond jumpers.
Peter realized Meghan had already pulled on her boots. She grabbed his belt loop and headed for the stairs.
“Hey, we’re running to my place so I can get dressed,” Peter said to CJ.
“Okay, and we’re all set for the finale.”
“Great.” Peter was thankful there hadn’t been a hitch with that. “See you soon.”
As soon as they were downstairs and he slid Meghan’s woolen cloak over her shoulders, she took Peter’s arm. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.”
After Peter dressed at his home, he and Meghan met at the square where everyone else had gathered.
All the carolers were decked out in Victorian clothing, and Jake was there taking pictures of everyone with one of the spare cameras he had, partly for his own exhibits, but also for the newspaper because Brett was caroling with Ellie too. Meghan and Peter joined the group of twenty others who would do their caroling down the main part of town, into the tavern, and back outside where people from all over were gathered—human and wolf visitors alike and pack members enjoying the festivities. The carolers had practiced for months on their songs and the route they’d take. It was the first time Peter and Meghan had taken part in the caroling. He’d done it because she’d wanted to, and he’d wanted to do it with her. Ellie and Brett were singing beside Meghan and Peter at every stop they made, while Laurel and CJ had prepared a sweet feast for anyone who wanted to drop in at the inn.
Meghan had bought Peter a red wool scarf and red-and-green-plaid vest, early Christmas presents to wear with his top hat, long winter coat, white shirt with turnover collar, wide red tie, dark tailcoat, trousers, and black leather gloves. He loved them. He’d ordered a white fur muff and hat to keep her warm as her early Christmas presents, and she seemed just as pleased to wear them. She was wearing a forest-green velvet gown and a heavy wool cloak. She’d opted for a full pe
tticoat, not one of those whalebone hoopskirts. He couldn’t imagine wearing one either, but she looked great.
Midway through their program, the carolers stopped at the MacTires’ inn for refreshments—hot cider or eggnog, and petit fours and pecan pie. Then they sang several songs to the guests and visitors before they made their way outside into the snow and cold and began caroling again at Silva’s tea shop. The shop was normally only open for lunches, but Silva had opened it that night for the special occasion. They also dropped by Bertha’s bed-and-breakfast. Then they went to the Silver Town Tavern where the local wolves hung out to make them sing along.
Peter hadn’t thought he could have this much fun singing, but it was all because of the she-wolf who was bumping his side, trying to snuggle up to him to keep warm. He finally wrapped his arm around her and hugged her tight, carrying the caroling candle and loving being with her like this. He kissed her cold nose and was glad the caroling was about done so he could take her home and they’d have a hot dinner and warm up. But first he had a special treat in store for her.
Their final stop was a trip out to the ski lodge where night skiers were getting in a last-minute trip down the slopes. Beside a warm fire blazing at the hearth, and the obligatory Saint Bernard sleeping by the fire, they sang their final songs as skiers hurried in to hear the music and lodge guests stood around with hot toddies cupped in their hands.
Afterward, the carolers were given hot drinks of their choice and more sweet treats to eat, though Peter and Meghan were saving room for their late dinner after the sleigh ride home. He’d thought of a lot of different scenarios that would make for the most special way to pop the mating question. This topped his list, and Laurel had told him none of the sisters had been on a sleigh ride before. They had lived in the warmer regions of the States, for the most part.
Of course, when he’d originally planned this, he’d thought he and Meghan would be alone. He’d never considered his ghostly mate could be hanging around or that Rollins would be an issue. Or Bill. Instead, they had to have their very own guard force on the sleigh ride. Everyone who was asked to be part of the sleighing guard force was thrilled to take part in the memorable occasion.
CJ bowed low before them and made the announcement, “Your sleigh awaits, my lady.”
Meghan’s expression was one of surprise and then delight. She threw her arms around Peter and kissed him lavishly. He kissed her back hungrily. He couldn’t have been happier with the way she had reacted to the announcement.
He’d decided he wanted to mate Meghan, and he wasn’t getting talked out of it this time.
Whether Lena’s ghost was haunting the old homestead or not, he had decided he had to move on, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Meghan. He just hoped she felt the same way. But he wasn’t naive enough to think she would agree before they discussed matters further. What a special way to do it, though! At least he hoped that would help convince her how important she was to him.
When they went out into the snowy night, lanterns were lighted on the three sleighs. One had green leather seats, another blue, and the last one red. One had a burgundy exterior, and the other two black, each with gold trim, and they all had miniature, battery-operated strings of lights draped along the sides. Drivers were dressed in Victorian attire, and two horses were pulling each of the sleighs. Peter’s other deputy, Trevor, was driving their sleigh. Though everyone was dressed in Victorian clothes, the men were all armed with modern guns. Brett and Ellie were in one of the sleighs, and CJ and Laurel in another.
“We would have taken the sleigh ride alone if the issue of Rollins hadn’t come up,” Peter said, wishing they had more privacy like he’d planned all along.
“Oh, Peter, it’s just beautiful. And this makes it even more special for me.” Meghan smiled at her sisters and brothers-in-law.
They smiled back at her, delighted to take part.
“I’m so glad you’re happy.” Peter helped her into the sleigh, and everyone gathered around to take pictures of them sitting in it.
Jake was busily snapping shots, and Brett was taking some for the newspaper, though if his didn’t turn out, Jake would give him whatever photos he needed.
Peter just hoped Meghan would say yes to a mating and wouldn’t want to wait to consummate the relationship. He couldn’t imagine anything worse than all the fanfare and then Meghan turning him down over the ghost business. Which was why he told both Jake and Brett to hold off publishing any of the pictures of the sleigh ride until after he knew for sure she would say yes. They both agreed to wait. Brett wasn’t a reporter who reported the highs and lows of pack issues. He was careful to post only what wouldn’t hurt any of their people.
After all the picture taking, Peter told Trevor to take them for their ride.
Settled under a red-and-green-plaid wool blanket, Peter and Meghan snuggled together as the sleigh slid over the snow.
“I wanted to tell you that you are the only one for me. If we wore jewelry, I’d be giving you a ring.” He leaned over and kissed her, and she kissed him right back, her lips clinging to his. “But I know we still need to talk.” His voice was husky with emotion. He wanted her for his own in the worst way.
A full moon spilled light all over the snowscape, and Meghan said, “I agree. If it’s all right with you, I’d love to stop the sleighs before we go all the way to the house and run as wolves.”
“We talked about it beforehand, and everyone said they’d love to after they’d eaten so many sweet treats tonight. We’ll stop by Bernard’s old barn and run from there down to the river and back. That’s a three-mile trek, so the men guarding the horses and sleighs don’t have to sit in the cold for too long. The food you have cooking in the Crock-Pot will be fine, right?”
“I’d love that. And yes, it can cook for another couple of hours or so and be fine. I put the Crock-Pot on low.” She let out her breath. “I don’t want to ruin this nice surprise and what you want to ask me, but if you don’t mind me asking, why didn’t you tear down the old house, Peter? Did you sense Lena’s presence there? Did you see or hear Lena while you were still living at the house?”
Peter really didn’t want to talk about this and have Meghan think less of him, but they did need to discuss it before they were mated.
“After Lena died, I was drinking a lot, not eating enough, and I imagined…seeing her a couple of times. Hallucinations. Nothing more. I thought I heard her sometimes, but it was just the creaking house, or the wind stirring the trees nearby, or the rattling of the shutters on the windows.”
“But you thought the sounds and sightings might have been her. That’s why you kept the house and property.”
“I…I don’t know. Maybe. Did you see her?” Peter asked.
“Peering out the window at us, maybe.”
As sensitive as Meghan was to seeing ghosts, he was afraid of that. “Unless it was Rollins.”
“True. Then the face was gone and I wondered if it was my mind playing tricks on me. I need to go inside to verify if she’s there or not.”
“You can’t go inside the house. It’s not safe.”
“Is that where you had always seen her? Inside the house?” Meghan asked.
“I imagined seeing her. But yes, it was always inside. Once in the kitchen, once in the parlor, and once in our bedroom. I slept on the sofa that night.”
Meghan smiled at him. “I don’t blame you. Did she have a favorite season?”
“Summer. She loved the flowers. She was from New York City.”
“Okay. Was she a real homebody? And didn’t get out much?”
“Yes.”
“No garden or other interests?”
“She had a vegetable and flower garden. She’d never had one when she was in New York City.”
“I wonder if she ever goes outside as a ghost. If I really did see her.”
“
You’re saying you think she’s really there.”
“Maybe. What I’m wondering is if she’s attached to the house. She might never leave it. If it’s torn down, she might roam the area where it had been. Did she like to run as a wolf?”
“No, she didn’t like that wild side of her. Her parents were proper Victorians from New York City. They came here to start a millinery shop because they had too much competition in the big city. Plus, they wanted to be with a pack. They blamed me for Lena’s death because I hadn’t protected her, but I’d had a job to do, and I never thought anything like that would happen in our territory. They closed down their shop and moved back east. But they felt the same about running as wolves as she did. I’m sure it was because they’d all been raised in the city.”
“Okay, so she probably won’t be running as a ghost wolf then.”
“I doubt it.” Peter wondered what Meghan was getting at, and he hoped this wasn’t a sign of her continued reluctance to mate until they resolved the issue with Lena.
Chapter 21
Meghan wondered: If she went inside the house, Lena’s territory, would Lena be angry? What if the roles were reversed, and the house and Peter had belonged to Meghan while Lena was a rival wolf trying to steal her mate from her? Meghan would be mighty territorial, she figured. Even if she was a ghost. Though Peter had said Lena was sweet—sure, toward him, but toward another she-wolf who wanted her mate? She suspected that would be another story.
“What if we run to the old home as wolves?” Meghan was trying to come up with any scenario she could think of that might work to get Lena to move on if she was hanging around.
“Couldn’t she still attach herself to you?” Peter asked.
“Maybe.”
“Can your ghost-hunter cousin, Yolan Wernicke, see if Lena’s there? Maybe exorcise her himself so you wouldn’t have to be there? I know we talked about her maybe attaching herself to him and then him showing up in Silver Town for whatever reason, but maybe he’d just see her. And maybe he could help her find her way to the other side.”