by Vella, Wendy
She raised a hand and hurried down the nearest aisle. No way did she want to talk to anyone else today; she’d spoken more words in a few hours than she normally did in a week.
These people were way too friendly.
Grabbing the things she needed, Lani avoided contact with anyone else and was soon at the checkout. Maybe she didn’t need all the things in her basket, but the homemade peanut fudge had looked good, and the rose-scented candle would smell nice in her Bronco.
“You got a dog?” The young girl at the counter asked her.
“Ah, sure,” Lani said, wondering what had possessed her to put those homemade dog biscuits into her basket. Money was always tight, and that dog was probably gone now.
“You don’t know if you have a dog? You’re not one of those people who eat dog biscuits, are you?” The girl shuddered, then flicked her long brown braid over her shoulder, narrowly missing the small set of glass figurines on the shelf behind her.
“There are people who do?”
She rested her elbows on the counter, and Lani again recognized the sign of someone settling in for a conversation. “I think so, but we have cookies that cost less than these you could get.”
“These are for a dog, not me.”
“Which dog?”
“A dog.”
“Okay, so I got it now. You’re one of those people who don’t own dogs, but have dog biscuits so that if they turn up you can feed them?”
Clearly the girl wanted to believe that story, so Lani nodded.
“That’s all right then, because these are for animal consumption, it says so right there on the packet.”
“I’m not going to eat them, I promise.”
“Look.” The girl looked left and right, and Lani found herself doing the same. “I shouldn’t be saying this, but you can get the plain dog biscuits at the grocery store, instead of these homemade ones, for a way better price. Especially as they’re not for your dog.”
She still looked suspicious of Lani’s motives.
“No, I’ll take these, thanks.”
The girl shrugged and then proceeded to talk as she rang up and bagged the rest of Lani’s things, extracting information with a smile. By the time she walked out with her supplies, the girl knew her name, that Lani was working for Mrs. C, which she probably already knew since Patrick McBride did, and that winter was her favorite season.
“This place is weird.”
Getting into her Bronco, she drove slowly around the lake and then turned onto the narrow track where she’d park for the night. The dog was still there when she reached the end, standing where she’d left him, his tail wagging as if he was welcoming her home like he did every day after work.
“Hey, you.” He trotted forward as she got out of the driver seat. She gave him a pat. “So are you a stray like me, or just really good at getting food out of people?”
She’d never had a dog. Her home had been a happy one, but her mother had been allergic to pet hair, which secretly Lani had thought an excuse. What her mom had really hated was mess, and a dog would bring that.
“Okay, let’s eat then.”
Taking the groceries into the back, she sat, turned on her little burner, and heated water for coffee. Once that was done, she found a bowl and poured some of the dog biscuits into it, and topped up the water bowl. She then unwrapped the chicken and mayo roll she’d purchased and ate her food in the back while the dog crunched on his below.
“I’m only eating one piece of fudge,” she told him, opening the cellophane bag. “Okay, maybe two.”
After she’d washed her dish and the dog’s, Lani found a tree to hang her shower in and washed in the cold water. It was bracing, she reminded herself, and something she should be used to by now. She wasn’t and likely never would be. The thought of the shower above Cribbins Cakery had her longing to feel the hot water that she’d find there.
Not happening, she reminded herself—and of the reasons why.
When she was dried and dressed, she repacked everything and climbed in the back of the Bronco and onto the mattress. The dog jumped in beside her.
“I don’t think so, bud, you’re way too big and dirty.” Lani tried to move the dog, but it wouldn’t budge. “I don’t want flea bites, so you need to move.” It didn’t. Just sat there staring at her with those big sad eyes. After several more attempts, she gave up and found an old towel.
“That is where you sleep.” She patted it, and the dog reluctantly crawled onto it. For now she was tired and wanted to rest up before her workday started tomorrow. Tomorrow was soon enough to deal with the dog.
“I’m excited about work, bud, and I can’t remember the last time that happened.” The dog edged closer and poked its nose under her hand. “Excited to be here in Lake Howling and working at Cribbins Cakery, aka the Howlery, and maybe I’m just a bit scared too.”
She patted the dog, and its eyes closed as hers did, and for the first time in years, she fell asleep with a smile on her face and, feeling safe.
Chapter Eight
Lani and Buddy—after calling him bud twice more, she decided to extend it to Buddy until she found his owner—headed into town. She’d opened the driver door, and in he’d jumped. She’d tried to get him out, but he wouldn’t budge so she’d given up.
He wasn’t hers but it couldn’t hurt for him to ride with her into town, and maybe his owners were there looking for him.
Lani had passed on making her own coffee this morning. She was celebrating her new job, and that included spending some of her precious money. She hoped that little cafe she’d seen, the Hoot, another weird name, was open.
“I’m thinking a muffin and coffee, Buddy.” The dog replied with a little sound that she’d termed “wuffling,” because she and her friend had made up the word back in grade school. It was important to find his people soon, or she’d make the mistake of getting attached, and there was no room for that in her life.
Last night she’d dreamed of the life she’d once lived, and the terror of what had happened before she’d run from it. Having Buddy beside her had been nice when she’d woken in a terrified sweat. The dog had laid his head on her chest and she’d stroked his soft body until she calmed.
But he’s not yours.
Parking minutes later, she got out, and Buddy followed.
“Right, now you go on and find your mom and dad, Buddy, and I’ll see you around.” He sat on his haunches and looked up at her.
“I’m going for coffee.” He wuffled, which to her mind indicated a muffin or savory item wouldn’t go amiss with him.
Opening the cafe door, she entered and inhaled the aroma of coffee and freshly baked food. Moving closer to the counter she tried to step around a couple who seemed to be having a heated discussion about food.
“I want a double chocolate muffin with caramel filling.”
“You told me to tell you no if you asked for it.”
“I didn’t mean it.”
“Sure you did, honey.”
The woman was heavily pregnant, but looked lovely in a long blue dress. She was a stunning, actually, with blonde hair that was long and silky, high cheekbones, and soft, unblemished skin. Lani had never managed to control her hair when it was long, as it curled. She’d tried with a variety of products to no effect. The straightening iron had been her best friend before she’d chopped it all off.
“You begged me to stop you, actually. Going as far as saying your thighs were spreading.”
The man was hot; no other term for him. Dark hair and strong features. He wore jeans and a button-down shirt. To Lani’s eye, they could have stepped right out of some glossy magazine.
“I told you that in a weak moment.”
“No, you didn’t. I’m just thinking of you, sweetheart. You said you didn’t want to put on too much weight during the pregnancy.”
Lani winced at that. Even she knew that wasn’t the way to talk to a heavily pregnant woman. The man clearly had a death wish, even if he had
said the words in a bone-melting Texan drawl.
“What!”
“Ah, excuse me, can I—” Before Lani could finish her sentence, the woman turned to face her.
“Did you hear what this idiot just said to me?”
“Unless she’s deaf, it’s highly likely she did.” The man didn’t seem particularly worried that he was surely only a few seconds away from being injured or sliced apart with a scathing reply. In fact, he was smiling, a gentle one directed at the fuming woman.
Love, Lani had realized long ago, made fools of sane people. Not that she knew if they were sane, but still.
“Are you Lani?”
She didn’t ask how the woman knew her identity, just nodded and hoped that whoever ran this place made an appearance soon so she could get her coffee and a muffin, then leave.
“I thought so. Bran said you have dark blue eyes and really smooth skin. She does, don’t you think, Ethan?”
The man leaned in and looked at Lani. She dug her toes into her boots to keep from backing up a step.
“She does. Hello, we’re the Geldermans.” The man held out his hand, and Lani shook it. “This firebrand is the love of my life, Annabelle, and I’m Ethan.”
“I want a chocolate muffin and he’s trying to stop me.”
“Not sure I’d want to get in the way of woman in her condition wanting anything.” Lani went for honesty.
“The problem here, Lani, is that she’s always telling me not to let her eat bad stuff. Personally, I don’t have an issue with it. I say go for it if you want a quart of ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, but in her saner moments she’s all about being healthy,” the Texan said.
“He’s right.” Annabelle sighed, opening the cabinet and taking out the muffin. “Today is not one of those days where I’m experiencing sanity, however.”
“What are you two doing here again? Should I maybe just put in a bed so you can sleep over?” A man walked out wearing a black apron. His hair was cut short, and he had wide shoulders and a scowl.
“This is the owner of this fine establishment. Buster Griffin, say hello to Lani,” the Texan said.
“Hi. I suppose you want coffee too? You have the look of a person who needs it.”
“I would like some, please.” What did she look like? Glancing down the legs of her worn baggy jeans, she thought maybe she looked scruffy, but then she didn’t really take much notice of her appearance anymore. Once, she’d spent hours in front of the mirror and used her daddy’s credit card to go shopping.
“Coffee to go, thank you, and one of those muffins.” Lani pointed to the one Annabelle Gelderman appeared to be inhaling with a ferocity Lani reserved for peanut butter.
“I’ll make the coffee, you get the muffin.” Buster Griffin walked away.
“He’s really a good guy, it’s just the facade that’s about as friendly as a grizzly,” Annabelle said, licking the caramel out of the center of the muffin now.
“What is that about?” Lanie pointed to a sign that said mystery muffin.
“You get the ingredients right, you get a free muffin and coffee,” Annabelle said.
“I’ve never seen that before.”
“And likely never will again,” Ethan Gelderman said. “Buster likes to be different.”
Lani took out the muffin with tongs because it was clear no one else was getting it for her, and put it in a bag. She then moved away from the counter and wandered around the cafe while the Texan and his pregnant wife debated her eating a second muffin. Annabelle suggested she go for a cookie instead, as it was smaller.
Stopping before a black-and-white sketch on the wall, she saw a group of people who were all standing around laughing. She recognized the Geldermans, and the couple from last night. Jake and Branna McBride. Buster was there, as were Noah and another girl. Looking closer, Lani thought there may be a similarity there and remembered him mentioning that he had a twin sister.
“My wife draws those.” A coffee appeared before her.
“They’re amazing. She’s incredibly talented.”
“She is,” the man she now knew as Buster said. The words weren’t overly demonstrative, but there was something in his tone that spoke of his pride.
“Thank you for my coffee. I’ll come up and pay for it and the muffin.” Taking the cup, she took a sip and sighed.
“Good?”
“Really good, thank you.”
“I learned fast in New York to make coffee well or people didn’t come back, as they had plenty of other options.”
“I bet.”
“You been to New York, Lani?”
“I haven’t, no, but I have worked in a cafe and understand how important good coffee is to some people.”
“It really is. They go kind of crazy if it’s not right.”
She remembered that from a time or two when she’d got it wrong. But she’d usually been just passing through; there was no hanging around to serve people again and again. No time to put down roots and make connections.
“It’s good to know you can drive a coffee machine if I’m down a staff member.”
“Oh, well—”
“I know you just took the job with Mrs. C, but she doesn’t work the hours I do.”
“Oh right, well then… of course,” Lani said, because she didn’t know what else to add. She’d thought these people were weird, and things just got weirder. Why would this man trust her in his cafe when he knew nothing about her, just like why would Branna McBride invite her to dinner when they were strangers? She followed him back to the counter and pulled out her wallet.
“I’ll start a tab for you, and you can settle up end of month.”
“Pardon?” Lani stopped a few feet from the counter. Buster Griffin wandered round it.
“Regulars have a tab,” he told her calmly.
“B-but you don’t know me.”
“Mrs. C trusts you, and Noah seems to know you. That’s enough for me.”
He was serious. What was wrong with these people? She could be some career criminal who had spent her life stealing from people, and yet the locals in Lake Howling had just accepted her…. Well, the ones she’d encountered had, anyway.
“What’s with you people, anyway?”
“Trusting you, do you mean?” He was wiping down the counter now.
Lani nodded.
“You need to go with trust sometimes, Lani, or you spend your life looking over your shoulder and not making friends.”
She’d been doing that for years. Battling down the panic, Lani tried to stay calm. He couldn’t know about her past. No way could he know.
“I’d rather pay.” She pulled out some money and put it on the counter. “Thanks, I have to go.”
“Sure, no worries. If you change your mind, the offer is open. Enjoy the muffin and coffee.”
Lani made herself walk slowly from the cafe and found Buddy outside waiting for her.
“He yours?” Buster had followed her.
“No. He turned up outside my c—lodgings and has been hanging around.”
“I don’t recognize him. Could be that someone came to town with him and left him when they decided to go.”
“What?” She looked back at Buster, horrified. “Seriously? People do that kind of thing?”
“Constantly.”
They both looked at Buddy, who in turn tilted his head to one side as if he was studying them right back.
“So maybe he’s chosen his next owner.”
“I can’t have a dog. I move around too much.” Lani stepped around Buddy.
“Shame. He clearly likes you.”
She didn’t answer that; instead, she crossed the street with the dog on her heels. There was enough time left to sit on the bank and eat her breakfast before she went to work for her first day. Time to relax after yet another weird encounter in this town. She walked between buildings—one was the Lair, and a plaque told her that was the sheriff’s office.
“Another st
range name, Buddy.” He made the wuffling sound that she knew was a coincidence, but it sure sounded like he was answering her. “We’re not a thing, you and me. You need to understand that.”
The dog pressed into her leg, so she scratched his head. “Oh, you’re good.”
It was a pretty town, but also so much more. Lani couldn’t put her finger on exactly what that more was yet. Heart, maybe? Community? Both of those things, she guessed. She could feel the sense of belonging in the people here. Not for her. Lani didn’t want to belong anywhere. She was a wanderer.
When she reached the lake, she kicked off her boots and pulled off her socks. Then rolled up the cuffs of her jeans. Wading into the shallows, she bit back the shriek as the hit of cold cleared her head. Fall was advancing, and that would bring Thanksgiving, a time where she wanted to be far away from a place like Lake Howling. A place that celebrated with friends and family.
The water was so clear and unpolluted, a huge, sprawling body before her. The mountains rose through clouds today, and the beauty around her was beyond spectacular. She almost wished she could paint it; however, the best she could do was stick figures.
“It’s a rite of passage for Howlers to climb one of those. We usually go for the smaller one.”
Lani tried not to stiffen, but failed as Noah’s voice reached her.
“Which one did you climb?”
“The largest one, with Jake, Buster, Cubby, and Newman. It wasn’t pretty. In fact, we damn near froze to death and ran out of food. But we did it. Idiots that we were.”
She couldn’t ignore him, so she turned to face him. One thing Lani had never done was avoid her mistakes—well, for those she could apologize for. And what she’d said to him last night had been wrong.
He held a kayak in one hand and paddle in the other. Long legs bare from the thighs down. He was in red shorts for swimming and a long-sleeved tight swim shirt. She felt her nerves climb again. He was intimidating in so many ways, and it annoyed her that he affected her when no one else had before him in quite the same way.
“I’m sorry.” She said the words quickly.
His smile was small. “About?”
Clearly he wasn’t going to make this easy on her.