As they drove through the main part of town, half the houses were still lit, despite the late hour. The half that were wereling, Beck knew. The humans would be blissfully sleeping.
They are bear-kind, Beck said reassuringly. And passable singers. If anyone can sweet talk or force a phae, as necessary, itll be barbershop bears.
As they drove through the main part of town, half the houses were still lit, despite the late hour. The half that were wereling, Beck knew. The humans would be blissfully sleeping.
Except one human habitation blazed with a porch light and a string of all-weather rope lighting.
He tapped the windshield, drawing Merrilees attention to the Victorian. Looks like Babette is awake. Lets see if her pickers came up with anything today.
When Merrilee pulled the car around to the big barn, they found Babette already there. She waved them closer then turned the gesture triumphantly to the pile of rusty pipes laying in the drive.
As they piled out of the car, she grinned. What a lucky score, hey? Hauler friend of mine just finished salvaging a tear-down. She peered past them. That old bear with you too?
Grinning, Beck shook his head. But Orson will be thrilled to get all this. Can I pay you now?
Cmon inside, and Ill give you the invoice. She led the way toward the house. Mind you, dont kick a hole through the salt. She pointed out the thin line of the white crystals poured around the house. And, Bexley, dont knock your head on the horseshoes. I didnt have time to hang em right. I did some searching online after I got the foundry design for Orson, and I read the wind chimes are good to have too. But you cant believe everything you read, right?
They ducked under the line of iron crescents dangling from the doorframe into the farmhouse kitchen.
Nally glanced around curiously at the braid of garlic cloves tied into the shape of a cross. You...seem to have barricaded yourself against supernatural assault.
Not against bear changelings, I hope, Babette said cheerfully. Just those damned fairies.
Nally slanted a glance at Beck who shrugged. Babette is our resident collaborator.
The professor nodded. Most humans who stumbled upon the knowledge of werelings kept the news to themselves, rightly suspecting that informing the world of their discovery would not endear them to either werelings or their fellow humans. But the desire to delve deeper into the unknown and forbidden was too much for many of them to walk away, and so they became collaborators, a word that simultaneously acknowledged their new association with werelings...and a certain inevitable distance from the unsuspecting human world they left behind.
Babette clucked. Nobody threatens my friends. Dont much matter whoor whatthey are. She bustled through the swinging door into the dining room which was overflowing with antiques and knickknacks. I have the invoice here somewhere.
Nally sank into a chair that needed a fresh coat of paint. He sighed and leaned his elbow on the end table beside him, then froze.
Beck noticed his arrested expression. Whats up, Doc?
Merrilee made a disapproving noise at the line, but Nally reached out for an object displayed below the stand of silk scarves and beaded necklaces. The hand-lettered sign above read Local Artists.
He held the small metal square a moment, his gaze fixed, before rotating his hand to let them see the engraved belt buckle.
I like my buckles bigger, Beck said.
Merrilee stepped closer. The pattern is the same as the image Peter showed us.
Babette joined them, a yellow sheet in her hand. Found it. Oh, I see you found a treasure too. She smiled. I can add it to your total.
Where did you get these? Beck poked through the other buckles. Three showed more traditional depictions of broncos bucking, but the last had another version of the stylized circle pattern.
Babette pointed at the sign. Sweet local boy. Makes some gemstone ones, but I sell out of those faster than he can get them to me. Names Josh Reimer. She turned over a buckle to show them the RR symbol on the back. Runs some real nice cattle, too, about three hours from here.
Reimer Ranch, Merrilee said. That was on the plat map we saw.
One hill over from Vailes Valley. Beck looked at the older woman. Do you have his phone number?
While Babette dug through her records again, Nally hauled himself upright with a pained sigh, clearly anticipating another long explanation, but Beck put a hand on his shoulder. Babette, you willing to take on a boarder for the night?
She shrugged. Sure, although I still have some work to get done around here. I read how you can smelt iron in a microwave.
The doctor looked horrified and intrigued at the same time. Another online search?
She nodded. There seemed to be some question whether its a good idea.
Beck coughed. I was hoping to have a safe place for Doctor Nally here. When the professor bristled a bit, Beck gave him a look. A fairy-free place.
Nally sank back onto the chair hed just left and looked down at his scuffed hands. Not running sounds wonderful.
Ill take the spores. I have an old iron safe where we can lock it up until... He trailed off since he wasnt entirely sure what came after.
Nally handed over the satchel with another sigh. I pass the onus to you.
Merrilee shook her head. You still have knowledge we need. You stay behind these protections until were sure the phae understand they cant have whats ours.
The professor sat a little straighter, nodding. At the brighter spark in the wolf-kinds tired eyes, Beck was torn between a smile and a nip of jealousy. With just a few words, Merrilee gave the loner new energy and made him hers.
The first part was fine, but after that...
Beck shouldered the bag of shroom spores and gestured Merrilee out through the kitchen, Babette following.
Poor little man, she murmured. Hes tuckered out. Ill get him fed and put to bed. She pulled open the door for them. You send Orson back to me, and Ill have some iron bullets ready for him.
Beck remembered to duck beneath the horseshoes on the way out. Hopefully it wont come to that.
But if it does, thank you, Merrilee added.
Babette stood in the doorway a moment, staring out at the night. I always knew there was more to the world than I was seeing. I just...for some reason, its been a while since I remembered to look. She shifted her gaze to them. So thank you.
As they drove away from the barn with the scrap pipe loaded into the trunk, Beck pulled the vial from the satchel. Seems so innocuous. He slanted a glance at Merrilee. But I suppose even a little thing can change everything.
She tilted her head. I suppose.
A mushroom spore, a roadside bomb, an iron bullet, he mused. You.
Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. I dont think I appreciate the comparison.
Change isnt always bad.
Its the bombs, bullets and toadstools part.
They brought us together.
Us? Lets just get through the next couple of nights alive, okay? Her expression was hard in the dashboard light, but her tone was pleading.
I dont think just living is enough for me anymore.
What are you?
Thats all I wanted while I was overseas, but now... My uncle talked about you when hed call me. Did you know that?
Thats all I wanted while I was overseas, but now... My uncle talked about you when hed call me. Did you know that?
She shook her head wordlessly.
He said you were a fine Alpha, done your grandmother proud. He knew Id be Alpha if I came home, and he wanted me to know about you.
When, she murmured. Not if you came home, when.
He shrugged. It wasnt a sure thing. Nothing is. I could only do my best.
And thats always been...
He waited for a long moment. Been what?
Nothing. She pulled into the parking lot by the bar. Ill be happy to lock this thing away.
Frustration rippled through him. He didnt doubt she would be. Just as she locked up everything else.
Chapter 9
Following Beck into the bar, Merrilee kept her gaze off the pool table. At least he made that easier by not turning on the lights. Instead, he led them directly to the back room and down the basement steps.
In addition to stock for the bar, his home brewing equipment crowded the cool cement room, the stainless steel vats gleaming under the bare bulb he flicked on. The batch was obviously in the fermenting stage, but a lingering bready scent of the mash made her stomach gurgle.
Beck glanced back, lips curling in amusement, as he pushed open a door to a side room. That mac and cheese letting you down?
She wrinkled her nose as she followed him into the little office. If you hadnt stolen my beer, it wouldve been a real meal.
He sat behind his desk and swiveled around to an open cardboard box to withdraw a dark brown bottle. Try this one. He swiveled the other direction to open the solid gray waist-high safe pushed into the corner. Bottle openers up there somewhere.
She tossed her keys on his desk and dropped into the second rolling chair while he stuffed the satchel into the safe.
Actually there was a whole bowl full of bottle openers with every logo known to bartenders. She took the Harley one on top but paused when he grabbed his phone and pulled out the phone number Babette had given him.
He gave her a hopeful crossed fingers gesture as he dialed. When a faintand faintly iratevoice answered, he leaned back in his chair. Is this Josh Reimer? Im a friend of Babette, from the Antique Emporium. I apologize for calling so late, butNo, no, shes fine, but I need to get word to a fellow I think is a neighbor of yours, name of Vaile... His gesture changed to a thumbs up and he shot her a triumphant glance. I understand your reluctance, but about those circle patterns on your belt buckles...
Merrilee listened, nodding as he hit the high points of the story with a certain amount of deliberate vagueness.
My friend Orson will be at Vailes place in a few hours to explain in more detail. Id sure appreciate it if youd let Vaile know whats coming. He paused as the other man responded. Well, sir, mysteries are just a part of life, arent they?
They exchanged a few more words, including Merrilees contact info, then Beck disconnected. He glanced at her. Howd I do?