Page 11 of The Healer and the Wolf: Part Two

Then Leo’s smile faded ever so slightly.

“What is it?”

“I… I don’t want to push things, but I would like to sit at the kitchen table with everybody else.”

I hesitated. While I knew it was quite beneficial for humans to have positive interaction during the healing process, I worried about pushing things too far too soon. But really, since wolves were pack animals, what if that healing effect was even more exaggerated?

“I’m a little concerned about the stairs,” I answered honestly. If Leo had earned anything at that point, it was honesty.

Leo grimaced, and I was relieved that he understood where I was coming from. “You’re not wrong on that point. I think I could get down them, but I don’t know if I could get back up.”

While I appreciated that he took my objection seriously, his crestfallen expression made my heart ache. He asked for so little, I had to find a way to accommodate him.

“I’m sure Ricky would be more than happy to help you down and up the stairs, if you’re comfortable with that.” I said it gingerly, because even though Leo and Ricky were close, I would understand if the alpha’s pride was a little fragile. Leo took pride in being a large, strong man who could take care of others. While I liked to think he could trust his beta enough to help him up and down the stairs, I’d understand if it was too much for him right now.

To my relief, Leo’s smile returned full force. If only all of our troubles could be resolved by leaning on a friend.

“As long as he doesn’t drop me, I’m game.”

“I’ll go ask him. But first, I need you to promise me that you won’t push yourself too hard. If you feel yourself starting to tire out, if sitting up becomes painful, I need you to tell me immediately. Will you do that?”

“I sure will. Scout’s honor.”

“I’ll go talk to Ricky, then. He’s out watering the plants.”

I’d told myself that this was the year I got sprinklers for all the parts of my garden, but my unexpected guests and their considerable dietary needs had pretty much postponed that until the next growing season. However, it was quite difficult to be resentful of that when they were more than happy to water my garden for me. Hell, it certainly saved me a lot of time.

“Sounds good.”

I hurried down the stairs and outside. While I definitely felt plenty of trepidation about Leo leaving bed and eating solid food so soon, I was ecstatic that he actually had an appetite. That was definitely a good thing. Besides, I could serve him some plain chicken stock and tea to soothe his stomach, along with his small piece of venison. It was a win-win all around, as long as he didn’t push himself too far.

“Really?” Ricky said in surprise when I told him what Leo wanted. “He wants to eat?”

I didn’t miss the excitement in his tone. It was the same excitement thrumming through me. “Yep. He sure does, and it’s all thanks to you hunting down those deer.”

Ricky flushed slightly and looked down at the ground. “Nah, I’m pretty sure it’s the way you’ve been cooking it. Smells so good, it’s been torturing me for the past hour.”

“Ah, sothat’swhy you’re watering my garden.”

“I’m afraid you caught me red-handed.”

I chuckled. “I suppose I can forgive you this one time. When you’re done, will you go get Leo? I’ll set the table and rouse our two guests.”

“They sure do sleep a lot, don’t they?”

“They do, but they’re healing just like Leo. I don’t think we’ll ever know everything they went through, but it doesn’t surprise me how much they need to recover from.”

Ricky’s expression turned grim, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if it mirrored my own. I tried not to think of thehorrors of the lab very often, but it was hard not to. Every time I looked at Leo, I was reminded that the world was quite a cruel place, and sometimes it was our own people who made it that way.

I understood there was a difference between shifters, wizards, and whatever a mindwalker was, but in the end, they were all magical people trying to hide from humans. I would have thought they would be more united, but from what I’d seen so far, that wasn’t the case.

However, that was something I could worry about another time. Right now, I had to get the dinner table ready.

I woke our guests first, standing a good distance away at the entrance of the room and gently calling to them, slowly increasing my volume until their eyes cracked open. I wasn’t stupid enough to approach a sleeping shifter who had escaped a very dangerous situation. The scent of the roast did the job, though, and I was free to set the table.

I knew if I asked, my guests would set it for me in an instant, but I rarely ever had company, and I wanted to make it fancy. So, I broke out the nice set of plates I’d never used, as well as the matching cutlery and teacups.

For the first time since I moved here it felt like I had a real home, and I couldn’t help but be entirely delighted as it all came together. Twenty minutes later, I was pulling the roast out of the oven and setting it on a couple of dish towels on the kitchen table. As everyone gathered around it, it kind of felt like we were a family. A family who barely knew each other, but a family all the same.

---