Page 37 of Midlife Wolf Captured My Heart

He showed her the pictures he took on the mountain and Lydia was ecstatic. “People love local stuff. You should focus on that book instead of your wolf book. Not only would the book about New Mexico wildlife sell tons, you wouldn’t be able to keep enough pictures in stock.”

Dakota shook his head. “First, I already have a contract for the other book. Second, I would only want to put out one set of pictures focusing on the different animals. Otherwise, there will be too many of them and photos that sell for a couple thousand now will only fetch five bucks. That wouldn’t help the conservation charities much.”

Lydia reluctantly nodded. “I know and that’s the advice I would give to artists. Make limited editions to boost prices.”

They talked a little longer about whether six months was enough time between exhibits but didn’t come to any conclusions. He signed the forms to have the money earned from the sale of the photos direct deposited into his bank account and then headed back. He would donate all of the money to the World Wildlife Fund. Approximately eighty-five percent of all donations were used to directly help animals.

As he drove, his mind automatically thought of Sadie. She was an incredible woman. If he ever considered settling down, it would be with someone like her. No, not like her – her.

He hadn’t talked to Patrick in a while, so he used his blue tooth to call him.

“Howdy, Dakota. How are things?”

“Good. And for you?”

“Alright. Planning for my next outing. You know I got a contract with one of the wildlife conservation groups to document the changes they’ve made. I have all the before pictures. Now, I get to go back in and take pictures of restoredhabitats and other improvements that have been made. I won’t be in the documentary they’re producing but my videos and photos will. I guess I don’t have the rugged handsomeness it takes to be a star like you.”

“Yeah, right. You just don’t have the right negotiating skills. How are Emily and the kids?”

“They are good. Emily is a nurse, as you know. She has been moved to the neonatal unit, so she is ecstatic to be able to help save lives from the moment of birth. Eli is starting sixth grade and thinks he is a big man now. Of course, when I go on assignments, I remind him that he is the man of the house, but still has to listen to his mama. Sarah is starting fifth grade and is three grades ahead in reading.”

“How do they feel when you go on assignment?”

Patrick sighed heavily. “I think they have mixed feelings. They are sad that I’m leaving again. However, it’s been a constant in their lives. Emily knew what the deal was when we got married. We Skype or Zoom every chance we get when I’m gone. It’s not the same as being there, but we make it work.” He paused. “Are you thinking about talking to Sadie about something similar?”

“I’ve thought about it. Angel’s Creek could be my home base, and I would just come home in between projects. I would be gone about fifty percent of the time. I’m not sure that’s fair to Sadie.”

“Don’t you think you should let her decide for herself? If you two love each other, then you will be able to work it out. She knew that you were out in the field for long periods of time when she met you and accepted the fact that you wouldn’t be staying in Angel’s Creek. She might be ecstatic to have you fifty percent of the time as opposed to zero percent of the time. If she loves you, she would want you to be happy.”

“I’ll have to think about it. It might be nice to have a home base instead of staying long term in hotels, boarding houses, and hostels.”

“Not to mention a warm woman to go home to. I’m not saying that it’s easy. I miss Emily and the kids when I’m on assignment. I’ve missed important events in their lives. However, I know that if I was forced to stop traveling the world and doing what I do, I would go stir-crazy. I wouldn’t be the man I was when we met. They miss me, too, but understand that this is who I am.”

Dakota thought about that for a minute. “I’ll think about talking to Sadie about it. What will you do when you get too old to go out on assignments? It would be very hard to drag around all the equipment when you’re a ninety-year-old man.”

“Shut your mouth. I’m going to be forty-five forever. The end.”

Laughing, Dakota said, “Sometimes my mind tells me I’m twenty-five. Then my body reminds me that I’m not.”

“Tell me about it. I feel your pain.”

They changed the subject and Dakota told Patrick about his encounter with the men on the mountain. Patrick wasn’t a shifter, but knew Dakota was.

Patrick groaned. “Some people suck. You need to be careful.”

“I will be. We’ve come across dangerous people in the past and managed to get out of sticky situations.”

“We have, but there could always come that time when you can’t. It would be ironic and terrible if you survived all of the dangerous encounters you’ve had around the world only to bite it in your own hometown.”

“Yes, it would,” Dakota agreed. “I’m going to do my best to not let that happen.”

They talked for a little longer and then Patrick had to get off the phone because the kids just got back from their grandparents’ house.

Sadie texted him about an hour after he got home.I’m feeling restless. Do you want to shift and go for a walk?

He hesitated and then replied.Do you think it would be safe? You know I encountered those three men the other day.

His phone buzzed.We’ll survey the area before we shift. We’ll check for cameras, drones, and any signs that there have been people stalking the area. I don’t want to let fear keep me from living my life.

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