Wolf Call

by Jane Jamison

  “Miss Heather, are you sure you don’t want me to take you home to the ranch?”

  She shook her head at Joe, answering the same question he’d already asked several times. Although it was one of the last nights she’d spend at the ranch, helping the Banning brothers was more important. She knew her mother would understand.

  But would her plan work? If it didn’t, then at least she could say that she’d tried. If it did, she’d be able to leave town knowing that the ranch and her mother’s resting place were in good hands.

  A car pulled into the parking lot. She hopped out of her car as Caitlyn exited her rusty older-model Honda and started toward the front door.

  “Caitlyn, hold up!”

  The beautiful waitress pivoted, her purse clutched in her hands, a surprised expression on her face. “Yeah?” Her posture relaxed as she recognized Heather. “Oh, hi. You’re that friend of the Bannings, right?”

  Heather let out a breath after racing across the street. “Right. We talked in the ladies’ room the other night.”

  Caitlyn spun on her heel back to the door and dug into her purse. “Sure. What can I do for you?”

  “I have a proposition for you.”

  The perfectly plucked eyebrows lifted. “O-kay. I get at least one proposition a night, but it’s generally not from a girl. Not that there’s anything wrong with it if that’s your thing. It’s just not mine.”

  Heather laughed then waited until Caitlyn opened the door and motioned for her to go inside. “Are they here yet?”

  “Naw. It’s my day to open up. The owner, Rob, is too lazy to do it himself. I doubt Rick and his brothers will get here for another hour or so.”

  “Good. Then can we talk?” The club seemed odd without the music playing and the chatter of the crowd.

  “I don’t see why not. If you’ll help me get the place ready while we chat.”

  “No problem.” She’d never worked in a club, but she was ready to do whatever it took to talk to Caitlyn.

  “Then grab the chairs off the tables while I get the bar ready.”

  Heather snagged one of the chairs that was turned upside down and resting on top of a table. “Sounds good. I wanted to talk to you about the guys. And about their money.”

  Caitlyn glanced up from her work. “Their money? I don’t get it. Are they in some kind of financial problem?”

  “Yes and no.” She slung another chair off the table. “Did you know that they’ve been saving to buy a ranch?”

  Caitlyn wiped a towel over the top of the bar. “No kidding? They’ve never said one word. So how’s that going?”

  “Not so great. You see, my father’s ranch, Windy Hills, is up for sale. But the guys don’t have the kind of capital it’ll take to put in the highest bid.”

  “Wait a sec. You’re John Cumming’s daughter? Wow.”

  “Yeah, I’m Heather Cumming. Which means I can’t buy the ranch and keep it the way I’d like it to stay. But if they bought the ranch, they could.”

  Caitlyn dropped the rag she’d used to mop the counter, her mouth falling open at the same time. “Oh, my God. It just hit me. They don’t have the money because they’ve been lending it out—hell, giving it away—to people like me.” She hurried around the end of the bar and took a seat on one of the chairs Heather had put down.

  She sat next to the waitress. “I’m afraid so. But I’m sure that’s what they wanted to do. Still, here’s what I was thinking. Do you think we could get all the people that have gotten a loan from them to chip in some cash? I know it’s tough times for everyone, but even a little bit from a lot of people might add up to what they need.”

  Caitlyn waved away the tears threatening to fall. “We’ve all taken advantage of their kindness, but that’s stopping right now. Trust me, Heather. I’ll spread the word. Once people find out that they need the cash, I’m sure they’ll come up with every cent that they can.”

  “But can it happen quickly? I have to open the sealed bids tomorrow afternoon and announce the winner.”

  “You leave it to me.”

  Heather leaned over to hug the girl. “They don’t think much of me right now, so do you think you could get everyone to come here tomorrow morning? Then ask the guys to show up a little later? I don’t think they’d show up if I asked them to come. What do you think?”

  Caitlyn pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I think I’ve got a lot of calls to make.”

  Now it was Heather’s turn to hold back the tears. “Thanks. I owe you big time. I’d love to put in money of my own, but that would violate the rules and jeopardize their chances.”

  “Don’t worry about it. But you’ve got to show up tomorrow, too, got it?”

  Heather’s stomach dropped. As much as she’d love to see the turnout, she couldn’t risk getting near the Banning brothers. Not until they’d forgiven her, and she didn’t think that would happen until after the ranch was sold. Even then they might not forgive her. “I can’t.”

  “Sure you can.” Caitlyn searched her face. “At least show up and watch from out of the way. They’ll never know you’re here. I promise.”

  Could she? What if it was the last time she’d ever see them? Could she miss out on that chance?

  “Okay. As long as they don’t know I’m here.”

  * * * *

  “Come on, man. What did she do that’s really all that bad?” DJ had started the same conversation several times since leaving Heather in Rick’s office and had continued it throughout the night and the following day.

  He wished that Heather had hung around after the blowup, but she’d hadn’t. She must’ve gone out through the side door because he hadn’t seen her leave. Not that he blamed her. After the way they’d acted and especially after Brandon let her have it, she was most likely too afraid to be around them.

  Yet almost as soon as they’d made it into the main area of the club, he’d come to the realization that Brandon was being stubborn and foolhardy and that he should’ve stopped the confrontation before it had gotten so blown out of proportion.

  “She lied to us. She hid who she really was.” Brandon spread out across the sectional couch in their small condo, taking up most of the space. They’d opted to rent a small two-bedroom condo in a run-down section of Passion to save money. Very few pieces of furniture filled the rooms, but what they had was of good quality. It was their dream to buy their ranch and let their mate do the decorating. As long as she was happy, they’d be happy.

  Rick was going over their finances as he’d done several times, looking for a miracle that didn’t exist. DJ resisted the urge to tell him to give it up. If his brother wanted to keep trying to find a way to buy the ranch, who was he to make him stop?

  “Oh, yeah? You mean like how we’ve hidden what we are from her since the beginning?” DJ shot a glance at Rick, who came to his support.

  “He’s got a point. Hiding the fact that we’re werewolves who intend on taking her for our mate is a bigger deal than her using a different last name. I can understand why she did it, too. Can you imagine the shit she has to put up with as John Cumming’s daughter? Think of the guys that would play her just to get a chance at her inheritance. Are you ready to have her angry at us for holding back the truth?”

  Brandon scowled and took a sip of his morning coffee. DJ was used to his brother’s bullheaded nature, but he’d always been reasonable, once he’d calmed down. But sometimes Brandon’s pride got in the way, especially when he thought someone had lied to him.

  “Brandon, are you really going to let that keep us from having her for our mate? Is it worth losing her? Because, as far as I’m concerned, it sure as hell isn’t. So what, anyway? Would it have made a difference if she’d told us her real name?”

  “It might’ve. But she didn’t give us that chance.”

  “Maybe not, but at least she didn’t jump on the top of our car in her alter-form and scare the fuck out of us.”

  Brandon took another, longer drink. “She wa
sn’t scared. In fact, I think she was excited. Showing her what we are is going to be easy.”

  “So you’re still planning on going through with it? She’s still our mate?” He could sense Brandon’s resistance faltering, the even-tempered, rational side of him coming back to the surface.

  “Yeah, but not until after the winning bid is announced. If that damn Duke Simpton wins, it’s going to be hard to believe she didn’t help him.”

  “I don’t think she did. Think about it. Were they chumming it up in the car? From what I remember, she was glued to her door and shooting him looks that could kill. I think we need to reserve judgment until we hear her out.”

  Brandon finished his beer, bringing his feet to the floor as he came to a sitting position. “Okay. I’ll hear her out. But only because she’s our mate.”

  The Dixie Chicks ringtone announced a caller, and DJ snatched up his cell phone. He didn’t care who thought it was weird to have the female vocal group on his phone. He liked their music, and that’s all that mattered. “DJ here. Caitlyn? Is everything okay at the club? Why are you there so early?”

  He listened to Caitlyn explain that a problem had arisen at the club and that Rob wanted every employee down there to help out. “Sure. Consider us already out the door.”

  Rick and Brandon waited for him to fill them in. “She didn’t get into the specifics, but when the boss calls, we’ve got to go.”

  Scooping up the keys to his pickup, DJ headed for the front door. Rick and Brandon hung at his heels as they thundered down the steps and into the parking lot.

  Minutes later, he pulled the truck into the parking lot. “Crap. Rob’s called everyone but the military in. This doesn’t look good, guys.”

  “No shit. I recognize some of our regulars’ cars. Why the hell is he bringing in customers? We’d better get moving.” Brandon was out the passenger side and leading them into the club.

  They burst through the door in one motion then came to a stop. The place was packed with not only employees and customers they knew by name but with people they’d met but who had never come into Saddles before.

  DJ scanned the crowd, noting the quiet yet excited tone of the crowd. Even Rob appeared ready to pop. “What’s going on? Did you fix the problem? Why are all these people here?”

  Caitlyn stepped in front of the group. “Yeah, I think we’ve come up with a solution. Here.” She pulled out three chairs. “Take a seat. We need to talk to you.”

  Rick leaned against DJ and whispered, “What the hell did we do?”

  “I don’t know, but my wolf’s about to go nuts. Let’s just hope they haven’t found out what we are and are out to skin us alive.”

  He took a seat along with his brothers, even though he felt more like running than sitting. “Okay, what gives? And have I told you lately how sexy you are?”

  Caitlyn laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “Relax. It’s nothing bad.”

  He let out a breath and hoped she was telling him the truth. Brandon squirmed in his chair, his nervous gesture giving it away that his wolf was scratching just under the skin, trying to break free.

  Hold it together, bro.

  “Here.”

  DJ stared at the envelope that Caitlyn held out to Rick. Rick glanced at him then took it.

  “What is it?” Rick didn’t open the envelope. Instead, he held it in his lap like he expected it to explode at any moment.

  “It’s what I owe you. I’d planned on paying you guys back earlier, but, to be truthful, I got greedy. In fact, I have to apologize. I needed money for the rent like I said, but that was only because I spent my money buying a new television. Please forgive me for lying and taking advantage of your kindness.”

  “Seems lies are going around like wildfire lately. But we appreciate you telling us the truth.” Rick was quick to hand the money back to her. “Keep your television.”

  She pushed it away from her. “Nope. I owe you, and I’m paying up.”

  “We’re all paying up.” Cliff, a part-time bartender at the club, stepped forward and handed a similar envelope to Rick. “I appreciate the loan and your help. Giving me the money for the new baby’s crib, then helping me move my family into a house, was one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for me. So here. Take the money and know that any time you need help, all you have to do is ask.”

  Rick accepted the envelope then shook Cliff’s hand. “We were glad to help.”

  Brandon remained uncharacteristically quiet. But DJ knew that both his brothers were as surprised and touched as he was.

  Cliff took his place back in the crowd even as the people made way for Rob and an elderly lady in a wheelchair. She was frail and tiny, but her eyes sparkled with strength.

  “Ma’am, I don’t mean to be rude, but we don’t even know you. Is there anything we can do for you?” Rick, DJ, and Brandon stood up, showing their respect for her.

  “What’s the matter with you, boy? Don’t you have eyes? Can’t you see the resemblance? I’m your Miss Lucy’s younger, prettier sister. I’m Mrs. Laura Dupree.” Her voice cracked with age, and her smile made even more wrinkles in her face.

  “Wow. Now that you mention it, you sure do look like her. A younger, prettier version of her, of course.” DJ grinned and took the woman’s hand between his two. “What can we do for you, ma’am?”

  She waved him off, fluttering her hand in front of her. “Don’t go trying to smooth talk me, you hear? I’m here to represent my sister. I heard what you boys did for her, but, until now, I couldn’t think of a way to repay you.”

  “You don’t have to repay us. We loved Miss Lucy.”

  DJ nodded, agreeing with Rick. “She was our best girl.”

  The older lady’s face grew even brighter. “Woo-wee, you really are a flatterer, aren’t you? But I’m not here to have you whisper sweet nothings in my ear. I’m here to give you what my sister would’ve wanted you to have.”

  DJ couldn’t imagine what that was. Miss Lucy had led a frugal life, and they’d assumed she’d lived on a fixed income.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” He gazed around him. “What’s going on here? Are we dying or something? Why are you people paying us back?”

  “Because we know good men when we see them. Take this and use it to buy that ranch you want. Go on. Open it up.”

  “How do you know about that?” DJ scanned the crowd. “How do any of you know?”

  “It don’t matter. Now open up the envelope. Hell’s bells. You’re taking so long I might just pass on to my Great Reward before you get to it,” chastised the old woman.

  Rick took the envelope she held out. At her continued urging, he tore it open and took out a check. “Holy shit. Excuse me, ma’am, but are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

  “Do I seem like I’m addlebrained to you?”

  “No, ma’am, but this is a check for a hundred thousand dollars.”

  DJ gaped at his brother. Had he heard him right? “Why would you want to give us that kind of money?”

  “Who else am I going to give it to? I don’t have any kids, my husband’s gone, and that good-for-nothing son of Lucy’s done got himself shot. The way I see it, you three are a good investment. Buy that ranch and pass the good along to someone else. Oh, and wait. Girlie, come on out here.”

  She waved at Caitlyn, who took the cue to move to the darker area at the back of the club. When Caitlyn returned, she had her hand clasped in Heather’s.

  Mrs. Dupree pointed at each of the men. “Any fool can see in your eyes right now that you love that girl, and any girl that cares enough about you to round all of us up has to care about you, too. Now quit acting like your mama smacked you upside your head too many times and get to making her happy. Do you understand me?”

  “This was your idea, Heather?” A strange mix of joy, desire, and bewilderment flowed through him.

  She nodded then added, “Caitlyn pulled everyone together. I couldn’t have done it without her.”


  “But it was Heather’s idea.” Caitlyn arched her eyebrows as if to say “so what are you going to do now?”

  Each brother murmured their agreement to Mrs. Dupree, promising to give her words consideration. DJ smiled at Heather, telling her that he had no ill feelings, then shot a stern look at Brandon, who was studying the floor. Heather didn’t say a word, but he could tell by the way she wiped her hand on her jeans that she was nervous. He tried to relay a sense of comfort to her but wasn’t sure she understood.

  Now if only I can get my hardheaded brother to look at her.

  “That’s not all. We have a few more folks who want to pay you back, too.” Caitlyn stood back and opened her arms, indicating the rest of the crowd. One by one, each person stepped forward, offered their thanks for the Banning brothers’ help, then handed Rick an envelope. After a while, Rick had to give DJ some of the envelopes so he could accept more.

  DJ’s throat closed up as he fought back the tears. He’d never cried in public before and he didn’t want to now, but the generosity of their friends overwhelmed him. Brandon’s eyes glistened as they listened to each person then thanked them for the envelope. After each person gave them their envelope, they exited through the front door.

  As the last person left the bar, a tall, middle-aged man stepped inside. “Miss Heather?”

  Heather jerked her head up. “Joe? Is there anything wrong?” She glanced at everyone. “Everyone, this is my driver and friend, Joe Higgins.”

  “I heard about what was going on, and I wanted to offer my help to the boys, too. Windy Hills Ranch means a lot to me, and it meant even more to Lydia Cumming, too. I want to contribute in her name.”

  “Joe, are you sure?”

  Joe nodded to Heather then walked over and handed Rick an envelope. “Yes, miss, I am.”

  Rick opened the envelope then stared at the man as though he’d gone insane. “This is a hell of a lot of money to give someone you don’t even know. Why would you do this?”