A Witch's Holiday Wedding

by Tena Stetler

  “Yes, Kaylee, we are almost there,” Pepper crooned to the osprey.

  The private jet touched down. Lathen thanked Jay for the ride and confirmed a meeting time for the return flight early Sunday morning after Thanksgiving. Pepper sprinted toward the terminal when Lathen called out to her, “Jay arranged to have the rental SUV brought to the tarmac.” He pointed to the large silver SUV waiting on the other side of the plane.

  Pepper jogged back, leashed and released Ember and Tonk while Lathen carried Kaylee and her crate to the SUV, then went back to get her ice chest. Jay grabbed the crates and loaded them in the back of the vehicle. She walked the canines to the private terminal building where there was grass out front to do their business. After returning to the van, dog and wolf jumped into the SUV. Tails down, they entered the crates. Pepper locked the crate doors, and Jay closed the rear door. Lathen and Pepper said their goodbyes. Lathen started the SUV and followed the frontage road and navigation to I-70 toward Evergreen where her parents lived.

  “It’s about an hour drive, but we’re going to hit rush hour. Traffic on I-70 will be a nightmare, count on a couple hours. Want to stop and grab a bite to eat before we descend on them?”

  Lathen glanced over at her. “What time are they expecting us?”

  “I didn’t give them a specific time, just Sunday evening, in case we ran into problems.” She shifted in her seat to check out the restaurant signs along the highway. “How about that one?” She pointed to a familiar sit-down eatery.

  They went in and ordered. Pepper went back to the truck to feed Ember, Tonk, and Kaylee. By the time she returned, the food was served. They ate quickly, opted to take a piece of banana cream and coconut cream pie to go in case traffic was still snarled. Ninety minutes later, Lathen turned the SUV onto a gravel road in the foothills, slowed to a stop, and stared at a building resembling their original cabin in Maine.

  “Told you it probably looked a lot like our cabin.” Pepper smirked.

  Lathen no sooner turned off the engine then the perimeter and driveway lights blinked on. Klaren, a petite woman with brown hair and bright green eyes like her daughter, came flying down the path toward them. She was dressed in jeans, a green and black plaid flannel shirt over a black turtleneck. Pepper stepped out of the SUV and gave her mother a warm hug.

  Her father, Duncan, a tall, husky man with bright red hair and freckles that made him look younger than he was, sauntered up behind them and kissed her on the cheek. His worn jeans, a light blue sweater, denim jacket, and boots gave the retired Zoology professor the look of a seasoned rancher.

  Klaren turned her attention to Lathen with a hug and kiss on the cheek while Duncan grasped Lathen’s hand then pulled him into a quick hug.

  “We’re so glad you made it. Any trouble finding us?” Klaren asked.

  “Nope, navigation system directed us right here. This is some kind of spread,” Lathen said turning in a circle. The cabin with a two car attached garage was nestled in a valley with mountains surrounding it on three sides. The land adjacent to the cabin was fenced in with a white picket fence and iron gate across the road leading into the property. A huge red barn with a red roof stood beyond the fence to the left of the house.

  Duncan ambled up the drive to the gate and swung the two sections closed threading a padlock through the latch.

  Pepper laughed. “Now that we are here; you don’t want us escaping?”

  Her mother’s lips twitched then kicked up in a wide smile. “Well…nooo, your dad figured Ember and Tonk had enough of being cooped up. You can let them out to run, can’t get in any trouble around here. We normally keep the gate shut, pup here”—Klaren looked back to the whining husky puppy in the doorway— “doesn’t seem to know how to stay in boundaries, yet.”

  “Aww what a cutie.” Pepper started toward the door. “When did you get her?”

  “The day after we got back from Maine,” her father said. “Neighbor raises Siberian Huskies. They had a litter of puppies, and your mother fell in love with this one. Refused to come home without her. Good thing the pups were ready for new homes, or I would have had to leave your mother there.” Duncan chuckled.

  “She has the most beautiful blue eyes.” Klaren sighed.

  “What’s her name?” Pepper squatted down eye level with the pup.

  “Timber.”

  “Are you sure a wolf on the property won’t make your neighbors nervous?” Lathen asked.

  “We own twenty acres which are pretty mountainous, as you can see. The cabin sits right smack dab in the middle of it. Unless Tonk is going to sit next to the property line and howl, no one will know he’s here. Besides, our closest neighbor down the road knows you’re coming and bringing a menagerie with you. He and his wife may stop by to meet all of you. If that’s all right?”

  “Sure the more, the merrier,” Pepper said.

  Duncan followed Lathen around to the back of the vehicle. Lathen opened the back and flipped the latches on Ember and Tonk’s crates. The canines leaped out of the vehicle, did a couple laps around the cabin, stopped to sniff the pup at the door, and returned, Ember beside Pepper and Tonk next to Lathen.

  Klaren shivered. “Why don’t we go in the house and warm up. Duncan built a heated aviary onto the back of the cabin, for Kaylee.”

  “Thanks.” Lathen carried the osprey and her crate toward the aviary. Duncan grabbed the two suitcases. Pepper slung a little purple pack over her shoulder and picked up the bird’s ice chest.

  Pepper started around back following Lathen.

  Her dad grabbed her arm, and Lathen skidded to a stop a couple of feet in front of Pepper. “You can go right through the house. The aviary is connected. Haven’t quite got the doorway finished, but it works.”

  Pepper pushed through the door into the aviary and skidded to a stop. “Oh—wow. Pops this is just like Kaylee’s at home.” She flung her arms around her dad. “You didn’t need to go to all this trouble for us.”

  “Once I got started—it made sense to finish it properly.” He put his hands behind his back and surveyed the area nonchalantly.

  Pepper’s eyes narrowed. “Pops, I know that look. What are you up to?”

  He flung his arms wide. “Nothing. Your mom and I are hoping for more visits?” Her dad sort of shrugged and smiled uncertainly. “Besides we can use it for other things, maybe a greenhouse in between your visits.”

  Pepper chewed on her bottom lip. “That’s so sweet, Pops. Not sure how much free time we’ll have with the rehab and all. But—yeah, we’ll be here more often.”

  Looking from father to daughter, Lathen raised an eyebrow as Pepper glanced at him schooling her expression from incredulous to normal in the blink of an eye. He shrugged it off and set the crate on the bench in the center of the room.

  The thought passed silently between them: Why else would her father build an aviary?

  Her dad smiled wide as Lathen opened the crate, and Pepper offered her arm to Kaylee, who promptly jumped on and swiveled her head taking in the new surroundings.

  After a few minutes, Kaylee flapped over to the perch and looked expectantly at Pepper. She reached into the ice chest and tossed a fish to the osprey. Kaylee settled into her accommodations.

  Pepper returned to the family room where Lathen grabbed Ember and Tonk’s bowls and filled them with fresh water and kibble in the kitchen.

  “Where do you want us to set up the feeding area?” Lathen asked. “I’m afraid we are still working on Tonk’s manners. He’s a messy eater.” He waved a couple large place mats in the air.

  “It’s okay. Timber still plays in her water bowl with her front feet. That’s a mess.” Klaren grimaced. “So just put their bowls next to the back door.”

  Lathen looked at the dainty pink paw printed ceramic bowls on one side of the door. He put Tonk and Ember’s stainless steel bowls on the opposite side of the door. “Will that work?”

  Klaren nodded, followed Duncan and Pepper into the family room.

&
nbsp; The interior of her parents’ cabin resembled the McKay cabin in Maine, except there was wall-to-wall carpeting and the log cabin furniture in each room matched the rustic setting. Whereas the McKay cabin had hardwood floors, a hodge-podge of furnishings Pepper brought from Salem and stuff Lathen had moved from his cottage. The only new items were the TV, couches, and end tables Pepper purchased shortly after arriving. There were always other pressing issues to tend to, rather than worrying about interior design.

  Lathen smiled to himself, pulling out his phone and tapping the alarm icon. He entered the user name and passcode, handed the phone to Pepper.

  She grinned and swiped through the video feeds. “Looks like all is well at home.” Holding up her phone, she went on to explain the last minute surveillance cameras Lathen had installed.

  Seated around the roaring fire, Lathen wrapped his arm around Pepper’s shoulder as she leaned into him on the buff-colored leather couch.

  Pepper’s mom brought in four crystal wine glasses, set them on the end tables, and returned to the kitchen. Her dad brought in a bottle of red wine and set it on the china cabinet. A large bowl of chips, salsa, and guacamole sat on the dining room table adjacent to the family room. Except for the bedrooms, the rest of the cabin’s rooms ran together with only the furnishings to distinguishing where one room started and the other ended. A long breakfast bar with tall stools separated the kitchen from the dining area.

  “Thought you might like a bite of something when you arrived,” her mother said walking out of the kitchen with a plate piled high of Pepper’s favorite peanut butter cookies. She set them in the center of the table. “Why don’t you gather around the table and grab something to eat. You can take it into the family room and enjoy the fire.”

  Pepper, followed by Lathen, picked up plates, heaped them with the Mexican snacks and peanut butter cookies, then returned to the warmth of the fire.

  Once everyone was seated, Duncan said, “Elijah and Amy, Kolby and Hayley will be here Tuesday afternoon.” He paused as Lathen nodded. “But you already knew that, huh?”

  “Yeah, talked to Dad this morning before we left, and Kolby last night. They’re excited about meeting you and seeing Colorado.”

  “Your dad and I talked for quite a while the other night.” Duncan leaned back in his chair.

  Grimacing, Lathen said in an uneasy voice, “You did?”

  “Yep, he told me a bit of the shenanigans you boys pulled growing up. I told him what a determined child Pepper was. We decided you two deserve each other.” Duncan chuckled.

  “You did?” Pepper turned to stare at her father.

  He ignored her. “Weather permitting we’ll take a drive to Rocky Mountain National Park, see what roads are open. It’s really a wonderful place during the winter. Lots of interesting wildlife venture out when the tourists are all gone. Great snowshoeing and cross country skiing most times, especially around Bear Lake. Nothing like Denali, but…”

  “That’s a great idea,” Lathen said popping a chip loaded with guacamole into his mouth.

  “Supposed to have a fast moving storm blow through Thursday night into Friday. Figured we’d take the trip on Wednesday, hunker down with turkey and the trimmings on Thanksgiving. Maybe drive around a bit on Saturday.” Duncan leaned back against the double recliner with a plate of chips, guacamole, and a peanut butter cookie.

  “That sounds great, Dad. Thanks for doing all this. I’m really grateful for the break.”

  “Glad to do it.” He took a bite of the cookie and chewed. “Klar these are the best cookies you’ve made this year!”

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full, dear.” Klaren laughed. “Pep, how are the wedding plans coming?”

  Pepper peered at her plate, chased a spot of salsa around with a chip, and stifled a yawn. “Good. Amy found a wonderful wedding dress. A woman in the pack is sewing it for me. Another is creating a tiara.” She whipped out her tablet from her backpack, found the email and pictures, passed the tablet to her mom. “Amy said she’d bring everything with her.”

  “I didn’t know you were having trouble finding a gown.” Klaren took the tablet, swiped at the screen a couple times, browsing through the pictures. “I’ve never seen anything quite like that dress. Amy’s right; it’s you.” She handed the tablet back to Pepper.

  Lathen stretched his legs and raised an arm above his head as Pepper’s eyes drooped. “It’s been a long day. If you don’t mind, can we continue this conversation in the morning?”

  “Of course. What would you like to do tomorrow?”

  Lathen pushed to his feet and extended a hand to Pepper. She grasped his hand and stood slipping her arm around Lathen’s waist. “We’d like to see your property, catch up, and relax. Seem to remember Mom saying something about horses?”

  “We took in a few horses that needed a good home. Came with a sleigh and horse trailer too.” Her dad grinned. “See you two in the morning.”

  Chapter Seven

  Who Says You Can Never Go Home? An Adventure on Horseback and Four-Paw Bliss

  Pepper’s eyes blinked open. Golden rays of sunshine streamed through frozen snowflake patterns on the window, shimmering like diamonds. She rolled over to face Lathen, his strong arms wrapped around her, and peered up at the butterscotch stubble on his peaceful face. How did I get so lucky? He tightened his grip then opened his eyes sleepily.

  “Morning sunshine.” He lifted his hand and brushed the sleep tangled strands of hair out of her face. Buried his face in her neck, kissing the bite mark that sealed her as his mate a few months ago.

  “Good morning to you. Did you sleep…”

  A knock on their bedroom door was followed by her mom’s voice. “You guys decent?” She pushed the door open.

  Pepper squealed, and Lathen calmly looked toward the door, one bare leg thrown over her, various body parts naked poking out of the covers.

  Her mom drew in a breath and backed out. “Oh, not quite. But that’s okay. Breakfast is ready, and your dad’s out in the barn saddling the horses. You did want to see the property via horseback?”

  “Sure. We’ll be there in a few.” Pepper pushed at Lathen’s chest in an effort to break his hold. He trailed kisses from her throat, along her jaw line. When he reached her mouth, the tip of his tongue teased open her soft lips then gently explored. The kiss sent the pit of her stomach into a wild swirl of desire.

  “If we don’t get up…” she murmured against his lips. “She’ll be knocking on the door again.”

  Raising his mouth from hers, he gazed into her eyes. “I love you. But you’re right.” He released her. “But she might be embarrassed if she barges in here again.”

  “I love you more. You’re incorrigible. You know that? And you don’t know my mother.” Pepper swatted his arm and swung her legs to the side of the bed. “She’d probably stand at the door and watch.”

  Lathen chuckled. “Oh, one of those.” Throwing off the comforter, he got to his feet. “How about a quick shower, behind a locked bathroom door?” He crossed to her and tugged her out of bed, she fell against him. He swept her up in his arms and carried her into the bathroom.

  She squealed. But loved it when he swept her off her feet. So romantic.

  ****

  Dressed in several layers, warm socks, and boots, Pepper along with Lathen walked into the kitchen where the aroma of bacon, eggs, and coffee wafted through the air. “Sorry, we’re late. Kinda slow getting started this morning.” Pepper shifted her eyes to Lathen, who couldn’t hide a little smirk.

  “No need to apologize, we’re just glad to have you here.” Klaren raised an eyebrow and gave her daughter a knowing look.

  “Thanks for the invitation.” Pepper forked up eggs and slipped them into her mouth followed by a gulp of hot tea. “Yoweee. That’s hot.”

  Her mom laughed along with Lathen.

  “Gee who would have thought.” Lathen shoveled in the last bite of egg and toast then put a lid on his travel mug of coffee. “I b
etter get out there and help Duncan with the horses.” He shrugged into his coat just as Duncan pushed open the back door. Ember, Tonk, and Timber scrambled in behind him.

  “We let them out of your room a couple hours ago, figured they were hungry and you needed to sleep.” Duncan said by way of explanation since Pepper was switching her gaze from him to Ember and Tonk.

  “Oh, and Kaylee’s been fed too.” Her mom grinned. “I remembered how you ran the frozen fish though hot water before tossing it to her. She gave me a sideways glance for a beat or two before she tore into the fish.”

  “Thanks, but you should have woken us up. They’re our responsibility. It was great of you to allow us to bring them and”—she shifted her gaze to Duncan—“and build a place for Kaylee to stay.”

  “Oh, we don’t mind. Enjoyed taking care of Ember and Kaylee when you two were in Alaska. In fact, that’s one of the reasons we adopted the horses and Timber. Didn’t know how much we missed the unconditional love and acceptance of animals until we worked around your Center.”

  “It does grow on you.” Lathen smiled wide.

  “By the way, talking about your wildlife rescue and Lobster Cove. We’ve purchased the cottage we leased last time we were there. Hope you wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on the place when we aren’t there.”

  “Wow, that’s great. No problem, we’re happy to keep an eye on your cottage.”

  “We were thinking about volunteering at your place during the summer, early fall. If you don’t mind?”

  “Mind? We’d love it. But what about your horses?”

  “Oh, we have a hired hand that comes in daily to help with the chores. When we are gone for a longer period of time, Jack and his wife, Gale, will live in the apartment above the barn/stables and take care of the horses and property. We plan on taking Timber with us; she’ll love Lobster Cove.” Duncan filled his travel mug with steaming fresh coffee.

  “Sounds great. We look forward to having you and Timber help out.” Lathen smiled watching the pup bounce and tumble all over Tonk and Ember. Finally, she let out a sharp bark correcting Timber. “I was about to join you in the barn to ready the horses.”