by Mel Favreaux
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “They are both former Marines. Coffee is a staple in their diet.”
“Good.” He pulled out a small pan and filled it with snow and set it on the fire to boil. “Try scenting them.”
Casey turned away from the fire and closed her eyes, thinking about her father and brother. Taking a deep breath, she called upon the wolf. Braedyn stepped up behind her, lifting his nose into the air.
“I-I'm not sure,” she groused.
He slipped his arms around her. “How long does it normally take you to hike in here?”
“About five hours.”
“So with their survival skills and figuring in the weather, we'll add maybe another three or four hours, which should put them getting here really soon since they left just before sun up. Try again.”
Casey closed her eyes, feeling his arms around her, and lifting her nose into the air, once again called the wolf. She could catch scents of the animals in the area and tried to narrow them down. After a few minutes, she shook her head. “I can't pick them up yet.”
Braedyn nodded. “It will take you some time, and the distance will take you a little longer.”
“Can you pick up anything different yet?”
“Not yet. But I can feel them getting closer. Which is why I've been getting everything ready so they won't be in such a rush to get you out of here. My hope is they’ll see you are well taken care of.” He sighed and squeezed her a little tighter.
Turning in his arms, she looked up at him. “We'll have to devise a way of how we met.”
“The truth? I met you here in the forest, and we got snowed in together?” He grinned when she frowned at him.
“That wouldn't work, though it sounds very romantic...”
“Yes, it has been, hasn't it?”
She laughed and looked in his eyes. “We could say we met through my work.”
“Like I'm a fan?” He furrowed his brows a moment. “How about...I'm a fan of your nature work, and this trip was to take some pictures for an article I’m writing.”
“You write?” She wasn’t sure why that would surprise her. But trying to imagine him sitting at a desk with a computer just didn’t seem to fit with the hands of the man she knew. Sitting in the wilderness with a pad, though...would seem more likely.
He grinned and shrugged. “I have written a few wilderness articles, about wolves and hunting with various weapons, survival techniques, that sort of thing.”
“Really? You know that could really work out for us. I've really wanted to get back into nature shoots.” She smiled and felt him hug her closer.
“I think working with you would be fun.” He kissed her again. “I rather like the thought of hiking out in the woods, watching you take pictures while I sit back and write.”
“I think I'd enjoy that very much.” She pulled away and turned her attention to the venison, her mouth watering. “Will it take much longer?”
“No, it should be ready now.” He pulled the skewer off the fire and set it onto another bracket stand he’d made. With a sharp knife he began slicing off large chunks of the meat and setting them on a plate.
Casey knelt to stir the vegetables and check to see if they were done. Licking her lips, she pulled the pot away from the fire as he sat down on the log with the plate and two forks.
Feeling like a starved animal, she procured her place next to him and devoured her portion of the meal. She’d never eaten this much in her life. Never had she felt compelled to show the nearly gluttonous craze that seemed to fill her now in front of anyone other than her family.
Luckily, Braedyn didn’t mind the ferver in which she ate. He seemed pleased she enjoyed his meals. She sat back and watched him finish his part of the meal. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and set the empty plate aside. Looking up at the sky, she saw the clouds were swollen and heavy.
“Looks like we're in for another bad storm,” he said with a frown.
She nodded. Worry crept up on her. “I hope my father and brother make it here before it gets too bad.”
He nodded. “If they’re half as resourceful as they’ve taught you to be, they should be here any time now. They shouldn’t have any trouble. With the impending blizzard, we should go and collect more wood, we're going to need it.”
She followed him, gathering what they needed, and brought it back to their ever growing pile. When they were content with the amount they'd accumulated, Casey stopped a moment to stretch and caught a new scent in the air.
“I think they're near,” she whispered, noticing Braedyn watch her.
He smiled. “I've smelled them for a little while now. How close do you think they are?”
Her eyes lost focus and she sniffed again. “I'm not sure.” She turned around and looked over the fire to the clearing about three hundred yards away and saw a flash of orange.
* * * *
Braedyn walked over and stood beside her while the two men lumber their way closer.
“Casey, is that you?” A deep baritone boomed.
Large, fat, snowflakes began to fall.
“Daddy?” Braedyn fought to control his grin when he felt her joy at seeing her family. “Daddy! Dean!”
Both men broke into as much of a run as they could manage in snowshoes, dropping their packs to move quicker. She sprinted toward them and was lifted up off the ground, crushed by the embrace of the largest of the two.
“I'm so glad you're all right,” her father said taking off his goggles, looking his daughter over. The relief on his face apparent when he gave her another bone obliterating hug.
A moment later, her brother had her off her feet in another tight embrace. “I told Dad you were tough and could handle things out here.”
Braedyn watched with a smile, but still felt a pang of jealousy when the men touched her. The wolf raised its head with a snarl, but with one sniff of the air telling him they were her family, settled back down. Peyton turned to him and extended his hand.
“Looks like she had some experienced help. I'm Peyton Maynard, Casey’s father.”
“Braedyn Walker.” He returned the old Marine’s handshake with one equally firm, keeping eye contact. “She's a fighter.”
Peyton couldn't contain his grin and looked back at his daughter. “She was raised to be.”
Dean walked over and shook his hand. “You’re the writer, aren’t you?” The look on his face was caught between surprise and admiration. Without waiting for Braedyn to reply, he continued. “I’m a big fan.You seem to know the wilderness like the back of your hand.”
Catching Casey’s expression from the corner of his eye, he tried to suppress another grin. Braedyn wondered if he should have mentioned something sooner about his other line of work.
“I've lived here in the Cabinets my entire life. My home is about sixty miles or so from here. With the snow, we just battened down the hatches here instead of trying to make that haul.” Braedyn held his hand out to Casey when she walked over to him. He watched the look in Peyton's eyes when she took his hand and moved to his side.
“I'm guessing getting snowed in together has made you two a little close,” Peyton noted with some obvious amusement in his voice.
She blushed and looked away from her father. Once more Braedyn found he had to fight to control his grin.
“I contacted Casey about working on a few articles together. I was surprised when she mentioned having grown up around here. Something was mentioned about making a weekend of it with you two, but you’d had other plans and couldn't make it.” He squeezed her hand, letting her know they had to keep this believable so her family wouldn’t get suspicious.
“Had she told me I would be meeting you, I'd have taken a vacation.” Dean grinned and pulled off his gloves, warming his fingers over the flames. “As it was I had to take one anyway with the worry and all.” He gave his sister a scowl that had absolutely no ferocity in it whatsoever.
She grinned. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I had the feeling
you two had probably read something of his and would like to meet him.”
Peyton eyed him a little longer. Braedyn watched his expression soften at the smile that lit up his daughter’s eyes.
“Are you two hungry? We took down a deer yesterday, and I've spent most of the day cooking. Some veggies too. Maybe some coffee?” Braedyn offered motioning toward the fire.
Dean smiled and moved closer, shivering. “Sounds great.”
Braedyn pulled the boiling pot of water from the fire and pulled out some metal cups and filled them with hot water, then rummaged around for the instant coffee. It was too early to give them the pills that would knock them out for the night, but it was getting close. He hoped they sucked down a few cups before he slipped them the pills.
They moved over and sat down on a large log they rolled near the fire while Casey fixed them both generous portions. While they ate and recovered from their atrocious hike, Braedyn and Casey set up their tent.
Thankfully, they’d brought extra propane cylinders for the heaters.
When Dean finished he went to help. Braedyn felt it was time for the conversation with her father he knew was coming. Sitting down he noticed Peyton's formidable gaze over the fire, burrowing into him.
“I know you're a survivalist. I'll be honest, I expected to come out here and find my daughter either dead or seriously injured. How have you managed to keep her well?”
“She's far stronger than you give her credit for, Mr. Maynard. She took down the deer you just ate.” Braedyn motioned at the empty plate on the log next to Peyton.
“I know she can handle a gun and bow. I'm talking about the weather. I have taken her camping in the snow before, but it was nowhere near this extreme.” He frowned and dropped his gaze to the flames, running a hand through his short hair. “I had an awful dream the other night. She'd been attacked by something and was close to death. I nearly lost my mind because the damned Rangers wouldn't let me in. Dean and I had to force our way in this morning. I couldn't wait any longer. That dream had me torn up. All I could think of...was my baby lying here in these woods dying, with no one to help her.”
He could hear the emotion in Peyton's voice and stayed quiet, listening. It was never easy for a man to admit his feelings for a woman, even if she was his own daughter.
“I can’t begin to express how thankful I am you've been here for her,” Peyton finished looking back over the fire.
Braedyn nodded and shifted his weight on the log. “Casey’s not your average woman, by any means. Spending time with her has...brought me a peace I’ve never known.” He gave a genuine smile, something that hadn't come readily to his face for many years. “I never thought I'd ever find a woman quite like her.”
Peyton grinned, glancing over at her and Dean as they put the finishing touches on the tent. “She'll always be my little girl,” he whispered.
“I know that sir, and I'd never keep her from you, but I don't think I can go back to my life without her.”
“Does she know this?” Peyton cocked a brow at him, the same amused look she’d given him numerous times lately.
“I think she does. But Casey's scared, too. She's mentioned that relationships haven’t come very easy for her, and she's afraid of hurting me.” He shrugged. It felt odd sharing his feelings like this but found he couldn’t help himself.
“Of becoming her mother.” Peyton nodded. He sighed and rubbed a hand across the back of his broad neck. “That's always been her fear. I've tried to tell her she has too much of me in her to ever do that to someone. Her mother left us when they were very young. There was no note, and I’ve not been able to find her, even with all of my resources.”
Casey came back over and put her hands on Braedyn's shoulders. “So what have you two been talking about?”
“You.” He smiled, taking her hands in his.
She grinned and sat down, leaning against him. “Really, now? Has Daddy told you about the time I got hit in the head with the baseball bat yet? Or broke my nose playing flag football?”
“We've not quite gotten around to those stories just yet, Baby-doll.” Peyton grinned, his dark green eyes dancing over the flames.
Braedyn couldn't resist the urge to put an arm around her and hold her close to his side.
Looking up at the sky, Dean yawned and sat on the log next to his father.
The flakes were falling faster. The storm grew in intensity.
With a glance at his watch, Braedyn noticed the time was drawing near to put the pills in Dean and Peyton's coffee. He wished he didn't have to drug them, but they needed to get through Casey's last shift this moon before trying to think of a way to explain to her family what she’d become.
“More coffee?” he asked the two men across the fire.
“Of course,” Dean said passing his cup over to him.
Peyton in turn graciously passed his cup over as well. Braedyn slipped the pills in while he poured the water and stirred in the instant coffee. It wouldn't take more than twenty minutes for the medicine to begin to take affect. They were already exhausted from their treacherous hike.
Casey leaned into his arms. Peyton began some warming stories of her and Dean's childhood. Braedyn listened intently while Peyton explained how he’d raised them on his own to become the people they were today and how proud he was to have them as his children. They had given meaning to his life. Then the stories turned humorous, and they exchanged funny childhood tales.
Dean's eyes began to droop. He had a hard time holding himself on the log. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “I don't know what's done me in more, the hike or the food,” he said with a yawn. “But I think I'm going to have to hit the rack.”
Peyton nodded and yawned himself. “I think I'll join you, son. Braedyn, keep up the good work with my little girl. I'm leaving her in your hands.”
She rose and hugged both her brother and father. They stumbled their way into their tent and zipped themselves in for the night.
Braedyn carried the extra propane cylinders and set them up for use later when they would need them most. Casey popped in behind him.
“Do you think my dad bought it?” she asked when he turned to look at her.
He nodded. “I think he has. Not sure about your brother though, since I spent more time with your dad than I did him.”
Casey smiled and put her arms around him. “My brother loves you to death, honest. Says he is a huge fan of yours.” She raised her brows and looked in his eyes. “So...when were you planning on telling me you were the famous author of a survivalist column?”
“I figured it would come up eventually.” He stroked her hair back from her face. “Your father dreamed of your attack, that was why he was so insistent on coming out here. He was afraid he'd find you dead or horribly injured.”
She was quiet for a moment, and he watched the mild surprise and confusion pass through her eyes. “He's had them before. Used to have them a lot when he was out on operations. When he left the military they stopped, I thought.”
“It’s the bond between a father and daughter. It’s an incredibly strong one.” He stroked her cheek and looked at his watch.
“It’s not much longer. I can feel the hum already.”
He nodded. “We'll not do much tonight because of the storm. Wolf or not, its still bone chillingly cold out there. The temperature will drop well below freezing tonight. We can't stray too far away.”
Fear lit her eyes. “I don't want to hurt my family.”
“You won't. You've no fear or aggression towards them. Giving neither you nor the wolf reason to. She only attacks mostly out of anger, fear, or hunger. Neither of which afflicts you right now. You'll have no reaction to your family.”
Casey nodded and plucked at a stray string hanging from her gloves. “I feel it getting stronger now.”
“It’s time to go.”
Her watched her glance over at her father and brother's tent and prayed they stayed asleep for the duration of the night.
Chapter Twelve
Braedyn rubbed his eyes and rolled over, watching Casey sleep. He’d taught her to dive through the deep snow drifts and work her way out. She’d been so exhausted when they returned, she’d barely been able to make it to the sleeping bag before collapsing.
He felt Amber calling to him and knew she could smell Casey’s family, making her unwilling to enter the camp. Slipping from the sleeping bag, Braedyn willed clothing onto his body and a pair of snowshoes. Securing the flap on the tent to retain the warmth of the propane heater inside, he set off to find her.
About three hundred yards from the camp, Amber leaned against a tree. He trudged through the newly fallen snow. The storm overnight had dumped another six inches.
“I see you’re alive,” she said with a grin.
“Yes, they happen to be fans of my work.” He smiled, feeling the bite of the frigid morning air burn in his chest.
“They arrived safely, I assume?”
He nodded. “And glad to find her alive and well. Peyton dreamed of her attack. Nothing could keep him from coming to find her.”
Pursing her lips, Amber raised a brow looking at him. “Her father has prophetic dreams?”
His eyes narrowed and he nodded again. “I’m curious to find out what other special talents have been passed through their bloodlines.”
“Witches?” Both her brows raised in question.
He tapped the snow from his shoes and shook his head. “I’ve not seen or scented anything of the sort. Some people are just blessed with abilities like Tamara, my mother, and countless others.” He glanced back toward camp as the first rays of sun began to show shades of purple and pink through the trees. “Understanding there are Were’s in the world is not as easy as acknowledging those with gifts.”
“To accept one you must accept them all. Vampires, witches, wizards, Were’s in general, the entire lot of them. People are less likely to believe in those things because they can’t wrap their minds around the fact that people can have abilities, too,” Amber said with a deep sigh.