Page 32 of Combust
The biggest news, other than the crash of a big rig up at North Fork, was that the Christmas tree rustlers had taken all of the mature blue spruce trees from the Tringstad Nursery’s tree plantation. Everyone in Bearpaw Ridge was now on high alert for any suspicious activity.
Cade also learned that Elle’s mate, the affable Justin, owned a successful Texas-style barbecue place a block down from Cinnamon + Sugar. He decided to ask Maggie out for a meal there.
Even if she was hard at work in the bakery, she was bound to get a lunch or dinner break. He figured that was nothing like a good smoked beef brisket or a rack of tender spareribs to win a shifter girl’s affections.
To his frustration, he hadn’t had a chance to speak with her over pre-dinner drinks and snacks. And now she was seated so far down the table from him that he would’ve had to bellow his request for a date.
For an instant, he was wickedly tempted to do just that. Then sense won out. He’d just have to practice a bit of patience, and wait for his moment. Then he’d corner her alone, like a wily hunter.
Once everyone had eaten their fill and the dishes had been cleared from the table, Elle cleared her throat. “I have a few announcements to make this week.”
Everyone immediately quit talking and gave her their attention. Except for Maggie. Cade saw her slip quietly away and disappear through the swinging door that led to the kitchen.
“Athena received an A on her chemistry test,” Elle began.
Everyone clapped, with a few whistles and “Atta girl!” comments.
A girl who looked maybe thirteen or fourteen, with blue-tipped brown hair, rose from her seat at the kids’ table. Her face red, she beamed at them and waved before dropping back into her chair.
“Evan reports that he’s won a special grant for his continuing work with Canadian lynx,” Elle continued. “And he’s been invited to give the keynote address at the North American Big Cat Conservation Conference in May.”
More applause. Mark leaned around his blonde mate Caitlyn, and clapped his younger brother on the shoulder. “Great work, Evan.”
“It’s being held in Seattle, at the same time as West Coast Video Game Expo, so we’ll both be going,” Evan’s mate Steffi announced. “Ash plans to premiere ‘Hunters Blood VI: Survive Alaska’ at the expo.”
More applause.
Ash, the youngest of the five Swanson brothers, was absent tonight, attending some kind of conference in Las Vegas. Cade had been told that Ash ran an extremely successful video gaming company from the ranch, and that several of the ranch’s residents, including Steffi, worked for Grizzly Creek Games.
Then Elle startled him. “And it’s Cade’s birthday today. Let’s wish him many happy returns of the day.”
Before Cade could protest, Elle sang the first notes of “Happy Birthday,” and the rest of the dinner guests joined in.
Maggie emerged from the kitchen, carrying a beautifully-decorated chocolate cake piled with extra-fancy chocolate-dipped strawberries. A single candle had been wedged into the top of the cake, and lit.
“It’s chocolate with a strawberry filling,” she told him, placing the confection in front of him. “Happy birthday, Cade.”
“You baked this? Forme?” he asked in disbelief.
She smiled, her hazel eyes lighting up in a way that made him want to pull her down on his lap and thank her in a very personal way. “Yes. Though Grandma Elle was the one who asked me to do it.”
Elle inclined her head in his direction, her expression warm and maternal.
He blinked, his eyes suddenly burning. “Thank you, ma’am.”
The last person who’d baked him a birthday cake had been his mama. He hated that he could scarcely remember her face now. Or any of his kin. They’d faded to vague outlines in his memory, and there weren’t any photos to remember them by, not any more.
To his horror, tears welled up, blurring his vision. He couldn’t hold them back. They flowed, hot and stinging, down his cheeks.
Everyone at the table was looking at him, but he didn’t see any contempt or amusement at his emotional state. Just sympathy and kindness.
In fact, Annabeth and Maggie both looked like they might start cryin’ in sympathy at any moment.
“I—” he began. His voice cracked, and he choked on the upwelling of emotion. He cleared his throat, wiped at his eyes and began again. “Thank you all kindly.” He looked straight at Maggie. He added, awkwardly, “This…this means a lot.”
He’d figured Elle and Dane’s acceptance of him into their clan was a mere formality. But here they were, treating him like he was actually part of the family, rather than a clanless drifter.
“Make a wish and blow out the candle,” Maggie urged, grinning.
