Page 79 of Protected Promise
“We went to college together. I just graduated.”
“Waste of money if you ask me, but Landon assures me it’ll be worth it for our Tobi.”
While the man’s words appeared crass, his pride in his daughter was evident.
Tobi rolled her eyes.
“Mom, what did you need?” she asked impatiently.
“I was just wondering what your plans were and if maybe we could have dinner this evening in our quarters.”
“Yes ma’am. I’m just going to take Kaitlyn on a tour around the place until Landon is freed up. We shouldn’t be gone long. Dinner sounds great.”
“Well then, that is all.”
Before another word could be spoken, Tobi linked arms with me and dragged me from the room. She didn’t speak until we were outside.
“Shawn and Connie Black. They are a true conundrum.”
“They seem sweet. You’re lucky to have them.”
“I suppose. They’ve verbally opposed everything I’d ever done in life while still being oddly supportive and maybe even proud.”
“Definitely proud. Despite his words, it was very evident in the warmth of them.”
She rolled her eyes. “Welcome to my life.”
“Do they like Jackson?”
“Pretty sure he hung the moon as far as my parents are concerned. It’s downright embarrassing. You’ll see.”
We walked along in amicable quiet for a while as I took in the beauty surrounding me. It was so peaceful. I had never seen anything so wild and untamed. It was a miracle any of them kept their humanity being out here. The forest called to my wolf like never before. I was completely in awe.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered reverently.
“Isn’t it? You can see why those that pass through ask to stay. Though, we’re remote enough that it rarely happens. Pretty big change from what you’re used to, huh?”
“You could definitely say that.”
Longhorn wasn’t the largest pack, but it was a big one. The territory was spread across miles and miles of open fields with rolling hills. We had trees, but nothing like this. Even my time in California couldn’t have prepared me for this.
I closed my eyes and just listened. My inner wolf perked up enhancing the sounds around us. It was so quiet. A rolling brook, a nearby animal, something small scurrying up a tree, all the sounds of nature and nothing manmade for as far as I could hear.
I smiled feeling more at peace than I had ever felt before.
When I opened my eyes, Tobi was staring at me with a grin on her face. “I know Landon has been worried that it would be too isolated for you. You know, you’d get bored, hate it here, and want to leave.” She shrugged. “It’s not for everyone, but I can tell by the look on your face that you’re going to do just fine. This place gets into your soul and doesn’t let go.”
I hated hearing that Landon was worried about me. Why would I leave him? Where else would I go? If bonding myself to him wasn’t enough, I wasn’t sure what I could do or say that would help him worry less. I wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’ve only been here a few hours, and I really can’t imagine ever being anywhere else.”
“Come on, some of the cabins are just up ahead.”
As we got closer to our destination, I started hearing voices. A small wooden cabin came into view. It really wasn’t that small, probably a two or three bedroom if I had to guess, but it was dwarfed by its surroundings. There was smoke coming from the chimney.
Tobi froze. “That’s weird. Hey, who’s there?” she yelled out. “It’s been a long time since we had any squatters out here, though I remember this place being a lot more run-down last time I was here too.”
A girl stepped out on the front porch and glared at us.
