Wolf in his Heart (Salvation Pack) (14 page)

Johnny glanced down looking for a nametag, but she didn’t have one. Likely didn’t need one in a small town. He had a quick glance at the menu but the special sounded good. “I’ll take it.” He winked at her and put the menu back.

Her smile widened. “Won’t take long.”

“Darlene, can I get some more coffee?” one of the patrons called out.

“Be right there, Sam.” She stopped long enough to put in Johnny’s order and then went to fill Sam’s mug.

Johnny had a name for her now. He’d found the personal touch always helped when looking for information.

He added sugar to his coffee and took the first sip. It tasted good so he drank deep. He needed more than one coffee this morning to get him going. He half turned on the stool so he could see the room.

The diner wasn’t huge, but it could hold about two-dozen folks at the tables and booths and another ten at the counter. Food must be good too since it was almost full. Some people tried not to let him know they were looking at him while others stared with unabashed interest.

He wasn’t offended. He knew how it was in a small town. After all, he lived in one himself. Everyone knew everyone else, and a stranger stood out like a sore thumb, especially since he didn’t look like a tourist.

“More coffee?” Darlene set his breakfast on the counter in front of him.

Johnny drained his mug and held it out. “Please.”

He wanted to ask her if she knew Sage Gallagher but knew that patience was the key. He had to get the lay of the land first. If this Gallagher guy was popular, folks might not tell Johnny where to find him, or they might warn him someone was looking for him. He wanted the element of surprise. Most folks were more truthful if they didn’t have time to think about their answers.

He wasn’t sure what Rina had told the guy about Johnny, but whatever it was it would have to have been a lie. She couldn’t exactly tell him Johnny was hunting her because she was able to turn into a wolf. She could have told the guy he was an old boyfriend giving her grief. That might tighten the guy’s lips some.

But Johnny was sure he could loosen them if necessary.

He picked up his knife and fork and dug into the surprisingly tasty breakfast. He polished it off in no time and was enjoying his second cup of coffee when the guy two stools down from him finally spoke. “You’re new around here,” the guy pointed out the obvious.

Johnny nodded. “Yeah, just passing through.”

The guy nodded but didn’t look convinced. Johnny decided to go for a more direct approach. “Johnny Bellamy.” He held out his hand to the man.

“Connor McLennan.” The man was dressed in camo and was graying around the temples. He had the look of a man who’d lived here all his life. He was exactly the kind of man Johnny was looking for.

“Listen, I’m looking for someone,” Johnny began. McLennan removed his hand from Johnny’s and leaned back. “My girl and I had a fight and she ran out on me. Got a ride from a guy from around her. She’s not answering my calls and I want to make sure she’s okay.”

The guy nodded. “You know who the guy is?”

“Sage Gallagher.”

The man paled and stood. “You should stay away from him.” He tossed a few crumpled bills on the counter and hurried out of the diner.

Not what Johnny had been expecting. Just who was this Sage Gallagher? When Darlene glanced his way, he held up his mug again and smiled. She grabbed the coffeepot and worked her way back down the counter, filling a couple more empties on her way.

“Get you anything else?” she asked after she’d poured his coffee.

“Just the bill and maybe some information.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Looking for a guy named Sage Gallagher. You know him?”

“Sure. Well, I know him to see him. Everyone does, but those folks keep to themselves.”

Johnny arched an eyebrow in question, his interest peeked. “Those folks?”

Darlene leaned forward and glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to hear her before answering. “They own the old Mitchell place. Have for well over a decade now, probably closer to two. There’s a bunch of them out there. They mostly keep to themselves.”

“Can you tell me how to find them?” Johnny smiled at the waitress as she gave him directions. He stood and placed enough money on the counter to cover breakfast and a small tip.

“What do you want with him?” Darlene asked.

“Just some information.” He regretted leaving his full coffee cup behind, but he had more pressing matters to take care of. It was time to do some scouting.

Darlene watched the good-looking stranger leave. Just her luck. All the handsome ones around here were either married or taken. It was enough to make a girl contemplate leaving town.

Stanley came out of the kitchen wiping his hands on a kitchen towel. “I need me a coffee.” He looked around the diner. “Busy morning.”

Stanley was both the owner and the cook at Kathy’s Kitchen. The original Kathy was Stanley’s grandmother, and he’d kept the name after she retired. “Not too bad.”

“Who was that guy?” Stanley asked, watching out of the big glass window as Johnny climbed into his truck.

“Just a guy looking for some information.”

Stanley poured himself a coffee and had a sip. “What kind of information?”

Darlene shrugged and began to clear dirty dishes from the front counter. “He just wanted to know where to find Sage Gallagher.”

Stanley frowned and rolled his shoulders. “I wonder why?”

So did she. “He didn’t say.” She held up the money he’d left on the counter. “But he did leave an almost two dollar tip, so I don’t care.”

Stanley chuckled and headed back into the kitchen. He thought about Sue Walsh, the gal who’d worked for him. He had to stop and think about it. Ten years ago now. Time sure had a way of flying. He knew she’d married one of the men living out there at the old Mitchell place. He still saw her and Billy from time to time. The boy was a teenager now.

Where had the time gone?

He wondered if he should call and tell her about the stranger. He shrugged. It was probably nothing. He set his coffee on the counter and washed his hands. It was time to peel more potatoes.

Chapter Fourteen

Sage frowned when he looked at Rina’s bare shoulders. “We forgot sunscreen. You’re going to have a burn.”

She touched her bare shoulders and winced. “You’re right. It won’t last long. I’ll heal quickly.” Sage knew she was right. It was one of the perks of being a werewolf, but that didn’t mean he liked it.

“Why don’t you go on over to Gator’s. The women will be there and lunch is in less than an hour. I’ll finish up here and then join you.”

Rina leaned on the rake she held. “You sure?”

Sage walked over to her and kissed the tip of her nose. “Positive. You can see what the ladies are up to. You should check out the quilts Sylvie and Corrine make. They’re amazing.” He took the rake out of her hands. “Go on. You’ve worked hard enough this morning. You’re still recovering.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “Pulling a few weeds and raking some ground isn’t exactly hard labor.”

“Still. I’d feel better knowing you were out of the sun, drinking a tall glass of iced tea with your feet up.”

“Now that you put it that way, it does sound rather appealing.” She went up on her toes and kissed him. “Which way is it again?”

He turned her to the left. “That way. You can’t miss it.”

She tapped the side of her nose. “I’ll sniff it out.”

He laughed and patted her butt as she passed him. She gave him a mock scowl before she winked at him. He watched her go. A few seconds later, Gator walked out from behind a tree, nodded, and followed. Sage relaxed, knowing he didn’t have to worry about Rina’s safety. All the men were on high alert because of the threat. They had mates and children to protect.

Sage carried the rake to the edge of the garden and propped it against a tree. He scented Jacque as the alpha turned down the path, coming from the opposite direction Rina had taken.

Obviously, Jacque had been waiting to talk with him and hadn’t wanted Rina around. Sage couldn’t blame him. This was a matter between him and the alpha. Sage waited until Jacque reached him.

“I’m sorry.” He huffed out a breath and dragged his fingers through his hair. “I know I’ve made a mess of this from the beginning.” Even though he’d made his home here for the past decade and had lived and worked alongside every member of the pack, he still felt as though he was on probation.

No one had ever said or done anything to make him think they felt he didn’t belong. It was simply a leftover anxiety from his teenage years.

Jacque propped his hands on his hips and stared at him. Sage met the man’s gaze without flinching, which wasn’t easy. The alpha exuded the kind of power most men could never dream of possessing.

“You might not be able to shift, but you’ve got a wolf’s instincts.” Jacque tilted his head back and peered up at the clear blue sky. “I understand how that can get away from a man sometimes. Especially when he meets his mate.”

Sage didn’t even bother denying it. “Yeah. I was lost from the moment I laid eyes on Rina.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Didn’t matter what kind of trouble was dogging her. I knew I had to protect her.”

Jacque slapped him on the shoulder. “You did the right thing. There are too damn many females being abused in the packs. You’d think in this day and age people would know better.” He shrugged. “But the old ways die hard.”

“Not here,” Sage pointed out.

One corner of Jacque’s mouth quirked up. “
Non
, not here. I can just imagine how well it would go over if I ordered Gwen to do anything.”

Sage laughed in spite of his worry. Gwen had no trouble standing up to her alpha husband. Of course, Jacque wanted her to be happy, and Gwen never made any unreasonable requests or demands, so their relationship worked out well. Oh, they had their bumps in the road, like any couple, but the love was always there.

He wanted that with Rina.

“I think it’s time to call her brother. Tell him how to find us so he can come directly here and avoid town. I don’t want him asking about us in Salvation. I don’t want folks interested in our business.”

Sage pulled out his phone and dialed the number he’d added to his contacts list. It was answered on the second ring. “Rina?”

“No, it’s Sage Gallagher.”

“Where’s my sister?” Mikhail growled.

“Right about now she should be sitting with the other women with her feet up and a glass of iced tea in her hands.” He resented the insinuation that he was somehow harming Rina.

There was silence on the other end. “You call for a reason?”

“Yeah, my alpha would like a word with you.”

Jacque raised an eyebrow but he took the phone. “This is Jacque LaForge. You have permission to come to pack land. Don’t make me regret my hospitality.” He thrust the phone back at Sage without waiting for a reply. He headed down the path toward Gator’s place. “Join us for lunch when you’re done,” he tossed over his shoulder.

“Man of few words, is he?” Mikhail drawled.

Sage ignored the dig and gave concise directions on how to find pack land. “When you get here, drive down the dirt road and park your vehicle. Someone will meet you.” Sage ended the call and tucked the phone away. He was curious to meet Rina’s brother. Mikhail had given everything up for her. Or at least he said he had. Sage needed to be sure this wasn’t just a ploy to get her away from here.

He strode down the path to Gator and Sylvie’s place. The closer he got, the more voices he heard. Aaron and Nicholas were running around their father while the alpha was talking with his brother. Louis caught Aaron and lifted him onto his shoulders. The younger boy crowed in triumph. Nicholas looked disgruntled until his father plucked him off his feet and deposited him on his shoulders.

Gator’s son was sitting on the porch with his nose in a book while his father sat alongside him talking softly. There was no sign of the women, but he heard laughter waft out through an open window.

Contentment filled him. This was his life. His pack. He wanted Rina to share it with him. For the first time in his life, he thought about children. If he and Rina did have a child, it would be almost fully werewolf since Sage was three-quarter and Rina was a full-blood. Maybe his child would be able to shift.

The thought was overwhelming, and he had to stop and take a breath. He was getting ahead of himself. Rina was still thinking about leaving. He knew it in his heart.

He nodded at the men and went up the porch steps, careful not to disturb young Etienne and Gator. He opened the screen door and walked into the kitchen. It was cooler out of the blazing sun. Sage rolled his shoulders and followed the voices down the short hallway.

He leaned against the doorjamb and smiled as Sylvie and Corrine discussed the merits of using a certain fabric in Sylvie’s latest project. Sue had her head bent over a sewing machine, running a seam. Rina sat next to his aunt and watched. She had several sachets and pillows in her lap, as though she’d been examining them.

Rina scented him before the others and she swiveled around. Her welcoming smile almost brought him to his knees. “Have you seen these?” she asked.

He pushed away from the door and strode over to her side. “Seen what?”

Rina held up one of the small cushions. It was a patchwork of different shades of purple and cream.

“It’s pretty.” He’d seen a lot of Sue’s work over the years, and while he appreciated her skill, he’d never gotten as excited about it as Rina obviously was.

“Pretty.” She snorted at him and rolled her eyes. “It’s gorgeous. A work of art. And Sue said I could have it.”

Sage wanted to kiss his aunt then and there.

“She told me she’d show me how to make one if I wanted.” Rina faltered and ran her fingertips over the edges of the pillow. “That’s if I’m here long enough.”

“Of course you’ll be here long enough.” Sue snipped off a loose thread and set aside her work. “You have no reason to leave anytime soon, do you?”

All Rina’s happiness drained out of her. “I have hunters after me.”

Sue snorted. “You’re not the first of us to have that problem. It will all work out.”

Rina stared at his aunt in shock. Sage didn’t know what Rina had expected his aunt to say, but she obviously hadn’t expected an invitation to remain with them.

“She’s right.” Sylvie set aside several pieces of fabric and came to stand beside Rina. She was tall and elegant even with the scar marring her face. “We’ve all had troubles over the years.” She gently touched her damaged cheek. “But you’re safer here with us than you would be out in the world on your own.”

Rina hugged the cushion to her chest. “But you have children to protect. Homes and mates.”

Sage wanted to speak but held his tongue, knowing it would have more impact coming from someone other than him. Sometimes he thought she didn’t quite believe him when he told her she was welcome here.

“And we will protect them.” Sylvie smiled and patted Rina’s shoulder. “But you’re one of us now.” She stepped away and headed to the door. Sage moved out of her way. “Time for lunch.”

Cole’s mother rose quietly and gave Rina an encouraging smile. She also patted Sage’s arm as she passed.

Sue pushed away from the sewing machine. “Think about it, Rina. I almost let Elias go because I was afraid. Yes, we won’t have as long together as the other couples, but I wouldn’t trade our time together for anything.”

His aunt paused and ran her hand over Rina’s hair. “Don’t run because you’re afraid. You can have a place here with us.”

Sage swallowed heavily, moved by Sue’s support. It had been that way since the very beginning. Sue had a mothering instinct that encompassed everyone in her world. She ran her hand over his arm as she left him alone with Rina.

She was still sitting in her chair with the pillow clutched tight to her chest. Fear and what he thought was the beginning of hope gleamed in her eyes.

“I called Mikhail and gave him directions on how to find us. He’ll be here sometime this afternoon.” He should have asked how close the other wolf was but hadn’t bothered. Their security system would alert them when Mikhail’s car turned onto their private road.

Rina stood and carefully set the pillow on the chair. “It will be good to see him again.”

God, it killed him that she was acting so brave when he knew she had to be nervous if not outright scared. “I’ll be with you.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. She rested her hand on his chest and leaned into him.

There was so much he wanted to say, but now was not the time. The others were gathering in the kitchen and there was no privacy to be found. The light patter of footsteps broke their silence.

Amy popped into the room looking like a little sprite in her pink and purple sundress. The little girl was as rough and tumble as her male cousins but insisted on wearing dresses. Sage didn’t know how long the phase would last, but she was as cute as a button.

She skidded to a halt, and thrust her hand out in front of her and waved a piece of paper back and forth. “I made this for you.” She held it out to Rina.

Rina reached out and took the small drawing and gasped. “Oh my.” It was a surprisingly accurate drawing for a child, but there was no doubt that Amy had done the work. She had her mother’s talent for sure. A bunch of wildflowers were scattered over the paper with the words
Welcome to the pack
carefully printed across the bottom.

Rina bit her bottom lip and her eyes filled. He watched her blink back her tears. “It’s beautiful, Amy. I’ll cherish it forever.”

The child beamed and nodded, making her blonde pigtails bob. “You have to come see my room after lunch. You promised,” Amy reminded her.

“If it’s okay with your mom and dad, I’d love to see your room.”

Amy thrust out her hand, certain of her welcome. Rina took the small hand in hers and let the little girl tug her toward the kitchen. She looked back toward Sage and smiled.

His entire body tightened as he watched the two of them. It was all too easy to imagine Amy was their little girl. Rina would be a wonderful mother. And he’d protect any child they had with his life.

He was proud of the Salvation Pack. They were good people and they’d welcomed Rina as they’d welcomed him, Reece, and Uncle Elias all those years ago. Sure, the men were still suspicious of Rina’s situation, but he didn’t mind that. Hell, he was suspicious too. Not of Rina, but of Mikhail.

And then there was the matter of the men looking for Rina.

Sage would be glad when these problems were behind them and he could focus totally on Rina and convincing her to make a life here with him.

* * * * *

Rina stared in awe at the hand-carved bed. It was a thing of beauty. The headboard and baseboard were carved with the wildflowers that Amy loved so much. The baseboard also had a book carved right in the center. The pages were open and the words
Once upon a time
could be seen. It was perfect for a little girl.

Amy climbed up two steps and jumped onto the bed. “Isn’t it perfect? My daddy made it for me.”

The pride in the child’s voice made Rina smile. It was hard to picture big, tough Cole Blanchard painstakingly carving wildflowers into wood. But there was no doubting how the man doted on his mate and child.

Rina had enjoyed lunch. Soup and sandwiches were a common enough lunch, but she’d learned there was no such thing as an ordinary meal here. The soup was chicken noodle. All homemade. Even the noodles. Apparently, Gator had recently tried his hand at pasta making and was experimenting. Rina could report it was a huge success.

Then there were the sandwiches. The bread was a honey-oat blend—freshly made that morning by Anny and Miss Elise—layered with thin slices of ham, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce. The tomatoes and lettuce had come straight from Sage’s garden. And the cheese was local. Sage had told her he bartered vegetables and herbs with the man in return for cheese. Delicious.

Amy patted the mattress. “Come sit.”

Rina joined the little girl on the bed. The second she sat, Amy scampered off the bed and ran to her bookshelf. Over the next fifteen minutes, she carted books and dolls over for Rina to inspect and admire. She also had a collection of bird feathers and pretty rocks that either she or her father had found.