Page 44 of Must Love Mistletoe

Chessie had stopped in front of them, head low, ears back, and hackles raised. A low, steady growl emanated from her.

Beth counted seven wolves in total. Seven wolf shapes, and Chessie was moving slowly toward them, but Cal didn’t call her back. Instead, casual as you please, he followed in her tracks.

She spotted the puppy next.

Andthere. Right there, with his back to a tree, stood Sam. “Cal, I see him!”

“Don’t call out. Just keep moving, slow and steady. No fear.”

Funny man.

Seven wolves, one boy, and Cal with a gun. That was the hand they’d been dealt, and it was something of an uneven one. She eyed Cal’s broad back, and in particular, his little backpack speculatively. “Is there another gun in your pack?”

“There’s a 9mm Glock and ammo in the side pouch. It’s not loaded.”

It would be soon. “Can I have it?”

He stopped to make it easier for her to unpack, but he didn’t help. His attention was too fixed on the wolves up ahead, and for all his casual stance, that gun in his hand could be in play in an instant.

She loaded it fast but kept the safety on. Seven wolves and two people with guns now. They moved forward again, with Chessie now way up ahead.

It was a remarkable sight, once she got close enough to take it all in. Sam backed up against the trunk of a large pine, his eyes wide and fearful. Chessie standing half a dozen feet in front of him, facing the wolf pack. The puppy Bo was busy trying to make friends with the pack, with his belly to the ground, a few feet in front of Chessie, completely submissive in the face of seven gray wolves who stared silently back at them.

“Did you ever get clarification on where they’d come from?” she murmured.

“Yellowstone.”

Did that mean they were used to people? Friendly? They didn’t look friendly. They looked fierce and unyielding. Connected by silent communication using a language she didn’t understand. “Cal?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m thinking,” Beth met the alpha wolf’s eyes “they all know each other. What if these wolves have been in the valley looking for Chessie and the pup all along?”

“I’m thinking you’re right.”

What she had yet to determine was whether this was a reunion or a custody dispute. Because Chessie had stepped up to protect Sam, which was brilliant, and beautiful, and she was such a good dog, but what aboutherpup? “Cal? What if I wade inand take Chessie’s place? Maybe she’d go. Maybe they’d all go.” Out of the valley. Home. Wherever that was.

“Do it. Come in from behind. I’ll move to the side and cover you both.”

“I love you,” she murmured, just in case this all went wildly wrong. “Never change.”

“I’m going to take aim at the alpha, but I won’t shoot unless I have to. Show of strength. Negotiating tool.”

“For a guy who thinks he’s dumb, you’re really, really smart.”

“It’ll work. Go protect your boy.”

And he would protect them both.

“Mama bear,” she murmured. “Got it.”

*

Cal wasn’t interestedin any deviations from the plan but, of course, the puppy had to turn and rush to greet Beth as she moved into place.Of course.

And, of course, Beth was going to stoop down and pat the happy, wriggly puppy, because,of course.

Chessie, never for one second, took her eyes off the alpha.

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