The Shadows of Christmas Past

  He threw back his head and laughed. "Modern kids? I don't think so. I meant what I said about their being lured out of hiding for Christmas presents and parties. Everything I told you about my methods of finding them is true." He tapped his long, elegant nose. "This is not much good in trying to track down my own kind."

  They sat across from each other in silence as Marj absorbed everything he'd told her. She couldn't help but believe that he was essentially telling her the truth. But she was still confused and suspicious.

  "What about Noel?" she asked. "What about the men who stole her? Why did they shoot you? What have you got to do with them?"

  "Not a damn thing," he answered. "I was just out for a run that night. The same way you were just coming home from a party." He hopped down from his perch on the shelf, stretched, and yawned, then held his hand out toward her. "Look at it this way: without those jokers, we never would have met. It's late. Let's go to bed."

  Marj considered how easy he was about continuing to fit into her life. What should she do? Tell him to go? Where, back to the Fennicks? To the motel in town? It was too late for him to go banging on either door.

  "There are four bedrooms in the house besides mine," she said, getting to her feet. "Go pick one while I lock the rifle back in the kennel."

  * * *

  chapter 11

  Harry woke up the next morning feeling resentful at being exiled from Marj's bed, no matter how comfortable the one he'd chosen was. He'd slept in a second-floor bedroom at the back of the house, directly over Marj's first-floor bedroom.

  At least she hadn't made him sleep in the kennel. Or brought the rifle into her room with her. She wasn't afraid of him, and that was heartening. He'd tried to bolster her trust by keeping away from her, when he wanted to do anything but. He'd been aware of her nearby while he tried to get to sleep, like any male could feel his mate, and it had been difficult to stay all platonic and safe.

  Alpha called to alpha, dammit! And that woman called to him, even while she slept. When he finally got to sleep, she called to him in his dreams. He hoped she hadn't slept any better than he had.

  The dogs were waiting outside the bedroom when he opened the door. Taffy's tail thumped enthusiastically on the floor as Harry appeared. Noel stepped forward and butted her soft head against his thigh.

  Harry paused to give them a friendly pat and scritch. Then he suddenly recalled some things Marj had done and said about her own relationship to animals. His curiosity piqued, he settled down on the worn hallway carpet, the dogs surrounded him. He continued stroking Taffy and Noel while he connected with them on a deeper level, asking their opinions of Marjorie Piper.

  "You really are Dr. Doolittle."

  "You've been talking to the animals--about how I talk to the animals," Marj answered.

  She was standing by the sink with a mug of coffee cradled in her hands. She hadn't heard him enter the kitchen, but she'd felt his presence, had anticipated his arrival more with each step he took. She was looking out the kitchen window at a faint dusting of snow covering the landscape below. She loved the view down across the valley. The jagged peaks of the San Jago Mountains rose in the distance, densely covered in pine and aspen below the snowline.

  It was a beautiful, sunny winter morning, yet her usual pleasure in the view was tinged with loneliness. The world was so very wide and empty to her today.

  Then Harry spoke, and her heart sang.

  He put his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. For a moment she lost all awareness of everything but his warmth, his size, his presence. The world stopped being lonely, or empty, and she leaned back against him. She closed her eyes on a heartfelt, contented sigh.

  "You listened in on our conversation upstairs?"

  "Not exactly. I felt a kind of buzzing excitement coming from Taffy's direction. It's hard to explain."

  "I know. Do you know how wonderful your talent is? How special it makes you?"

  His words went to her heart, but she answered, "I know how weird it makes me to other people."

  "Not to me. That smells good."

  She didn't mind when he reached up and took the coffee from her hands. It was her second cup, anyway. And she wasn't weird to him. That was worth far more than a cup of coffee.

  She couldn't, and wouldn't, let the moment last. But she let it go on for a while. He smelled good, and he felt good, very male. She felt very protected. She told herself that enjoying this sensation was detrimental to her independence, but didn't try to deny the arousal that built second by second, with sweet, steadily growing heat.

  "I'm making your bones melt, aren't I?" he asked after a few minutes.

  She tilted her head back to get a look at his face, but mostly got was a view of his strong, square jaw. "You are so very sure of your effect on women, aren't you?"

  He set the empty mug on the counter and turned her to face him. "Yeah."

  "Animal magnetism?"

  "I'm just a hot guy."

  "Yes," she agreed.

  He grinned, and for the first time, she noticed he had dimples. He was so attractive that it hurt, which was why she decided that the moment was at an end, even as he bent his head to kiss her.

  When she moved sideways, he straightened and let her go.

  "I made oatmeal," she said. "Do you eat oatmeal? Or are you strictly a carnivore?"

  "Oatmeal's fine. I don't do the Atkins thing." When she reached into an overhead cabinet for a bowl, he stepped up behind her. "Let me get that."

  She sat at the table while Harry served his own breakfast. After setting his bowl down at the table, he went back to the counter and brought mugs of coffee back for both of them.

  When their hands touched as she took the mug, he said, "You know I'm going to kiss you eventually, don't you?"

  "Eat your breakfast." She glanced at the cushions in the corner, where Taffy and Noel were now lying side by side. "Or I'll feed it to the dogs."

  "Okay," he said, and pulled her up and out of her chair.

  The next thing Marj knew, they were holding each other tightly, and their mouths were pressed hungrily together.

  The kitchen, her worries, all the world went away. All that existed was where they touched, and where they touched they blended in a flash of shared desire.

  Marj had no idea how long they'd been kissing before she became aware of Taffy barking.

  The dog's excitement finally got through to her, his emotions translating to Here! Here! Someone's here!

  Just as this registered, a loud knock sounded on the back door.

  Harry spun away from her, and swore.

  Marj leaned her hands on the kitchen table to steady herself. Her body raged with need, her head spun--and the knock sounded again. She pulled herself together enough to psychically tell Taffy to shut up. Then she crossed the kitchen and flung open the door.

  A pretty, nervous-looking girl stood on the back porch. "Dr. Piper?" she asked.

  Marj stared at her. "Yes?"

  "I'm Heather Adams. You had an appointment to see me this morning. About the vet tech job?"

  Marj had completely forgotten about the job interview. She forced a smile now. "Of course. My office is just across the--"

  "Come in, Heather," Harry said, stepping up behind her. He put a hand on Marj's shoulder. "I think Heather would be more comfortable talking to you in the living room." He maneuvered Marj away from the doorway and ushered the young woman inside. "Here. Let me take your coat."

  Marj didn't think the young woman noticed him holding the fleece jacket close to his face and taking several deep breaths before he hung it on the coatrack. Marj was briefly surprised, then she remembered who he really was and what he was here for. He was barking up the wrong tree, though, if he thought a job applicant would be one of his runaways.

  Then she almost laughed at the look he gave her, realizing that he'd caught her barking up the wrong tree thought.

  Living room, he thought at her. Christmas tree. Warmth. C
oziness. Longing for home.

  "Come on into the living room," she said to Heather. She smiled at Harry. "Why don't you bring us some tea and cookies?"

  "That went well," Harry said, after Marj returned from showing Heather around the property. When Marj gave him a slightly annoyed look, he gave her a reassuring smile.

  "Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do," she replied.

  He heard the girl's car start and drive away, and fought down the hunter's urge to start the pursuit immediately.

  He held his hands up in mock confusion. "What?"

  "Why were you in the living room while I was talking to Heather?"

  "I finished decorating the tree," he answered. "It needed to be done. Besides, did you see how wistfully she looked at it? That girl is going to go back to her boyfriend and tell him she wants a real Christmas."

  "That girl isn't a werewolf--a werefolk."

  "Oh, and how can you tell?"

  "Because the dogs barked. I've noticed that animals stay quiet when you're around. Heather's one of the people who e-mailed me about the job."

  "You're an observant woman, Dr. Piper," he said proudly. "But do you think werefolk don't use e-mail?"

  "Not if they're hiding out in the mountains."

  "We live in a wireless society, Marjorie. Modern kids might want to live free and furry, but they're going to have their laptops and PDAs with them. Or maybe she saw your ad pinned on the bulletin board at Murphy's store when she came in for supplies and used the Internet connection in the motel lobby to apply. I didn't expect them to let their one human member come into town."

  "She seemed quite independent to me," Marj said. "I don't think anyone lets her do anything."

  "We werefolk males are always attracted to strong women."

  "Why wouldn't they want Heather to come into town? And are you really sure she's involved with your runaways?"

  He chuckled. "There's werecougar scent all over that girl. You know what cats are like when it comes to claiming what's theirs. Like this." He drew her close to him and rubbed his cheek against her throat and shoulder.

  She leaned into his touch. "Keep that up, and I'm going to start purring."

  "We'd be more than purring," Harry said, and reluctantly made himself step back. He did stroke her face with the back of his hand one more time, enjoying the way they so easily aroused each other. "I have to go."

  He felt her wanting to reach for him. But she also understood that he had a duty to perform and a need to hunt.

  "Where?" she asked. "Following Heather? I thought you said you couldn't--"

  "She's human. I can follow any human scent, and she's leaving me a trail that will lead straight to her boyfriend and all the others. Gotta go." he said.

  He gave her a swift kiss, and was out the door.

  It was only after he was miles away from Marj's place that it occurred to him that she hadn't asked him if he would be back, and he hadn't told her that he would be.

  He hoped that wasn't a big mistake.

  * * *

  chapter 12

  "How does he think he's going to get those kids home?" Marj said as she rubbed the ears of Bailey, the bloodhound/beagle mix. They were long ears on his short body, and helped make him look silly, and funny, and cute. She couldn't understand why she hadn't been able to place him in a home yet--though she'd miss him when he was gone.

  She was going to miss Harry when he was gone, too. She missed him already.

  That was one of the reasons she was in the kennel, giving the animals some TLC. She had affection to give, and these lost, unwanted animals were quick to appreciate it. A more practical reason for spending time holding, petting, and playing with them was to socialize them, of course.

  But she wasn't feeling practical right now. She was upset, and being with the dogs and cats was comforting. She'd taken them out of the pens one by one for exercise and play. She was sitting on the concrete floor in the center of the kennel, with the excellent tracker Bailey on her lap.

  Marj had been worrying and wondering about Harry's dilemma since he left a couple hours ago. It was all very well and good for him to track the kids down to their lair, or commune, but then what?

  Not that it was any of her business, she supposed. She had her own worries, her own responsibilities.

  But--

  What was Harry going to do when he found those kids? Talk them down out of the mountains? Handcuffor possibly leash--them? And what would being rounded up like that do after they were carted off home? Why, make them want to run away again, of course.

  "You can catch more flies with honey, can't you?" she asked Bailey, who was more interested in her continuing to scratch his belly than in inane questions from a human. "I bet those teenagers would rather have honey than lectures."

  An idea occurred to her, and she turned the dog back onto his feet. "Bailey, old boy," she said, thinking what she wanted at his doggie brain as she spoke. "Remember how you helped me find Harry's things before? You know his scent. He can't track werewolves, but you can. You and I are going to find Harry."

  But first she was going to go to Murphy's store to do a little shopping.

  "Hi, there "Marj said.

  Still in wolf form, Harry had heard her and the dog coming, but he'd kept his gaze on the shack, tent, and SUV occupying the hollow below this stand of trees. He was very glad that to be upwind of the hollow, especially when he became aware of the approaching human and dog.

  Since he couldn't do anything but growl or howl at her in his current form, Harry closed his eyes and willed himself back into his human shape. He could have used telepathy, but it was so much more satisfying to vent annoyance vocally.

  He turned his glance briefly to her when she came up beside him, and whispered, "What are you doing here?"

  She had a large pack hoisted on her back and was carrying a canvas bag. "Brought you some stuff, including some clothes," she said, looking over his naked form.

  It was cold up here, with an icy wind already cutting into his naked skin. His feet sank uncomfortably into snow-covered pine needles. Marj was wearing a heavy parka, heavy boots, and gloves. She was obviously comfortable in the winter climate.

  "Thanks," he said, and quickly put on the clothing she'd brought in the bag. When he was dressed, he asked again, "What are you doing here?"

  "This was your idea," she answered. "I'm just here to help execute it."

  "I have no idea what you're talking about."

  He was both irritated and surprised that she'd followed him, and happy to see her. He looked at the dog she'd brought with her. Not her trusted Taffy, but a short mutt with loose skin around its head and long ears. "Don't tell me you used that mutt to find me?"

  She nodded. "You can track humans, but not werefolk. Did it ever occur to you to use dogs to track werefolk?"

  "Of course I wouldn't use dogs to--!" He almost sputtered with indignation, and had to struggle to keep his voice low. "That's insulting."

  "Even Taffy picked up your scent. And Bailey, here, is much better at it than Taffy."

  "But--"

  Harry was an expert tracker, and being stumped by the runaways had hurt his professional pride. But if he stopped taking it personally, he saw how Marj's actions made sense. Marj's actions had worked. And hers was a solution that wouldn't have occurred to him because, well, because he was a werewolf.

  He chuckled softly and touched her cheek. "Okay," he said. "You found me. But you still haven't told me why you're here."

  "To help you lure them back to the real world," she said.

  She peered down the hill, shrugged out of the pack and handed it to him, then set off down the slope toward the cabin. The dog ran ahead of her. Neither of them were moving quietly. Upwind or not, the young people down there were bound to notice Marj soon. There was nothing for Harry to do but follow after.

  He caught up to her quickly, and they heard the shouting coming through the thin walls as they got closer.

  "I am so ta
king the job!" The voice was Heather's.

  "No, you're not! You're my mate, and you do as I tell you!" a male voice shouted angrily.

  "Don't take that tone with her!" another woman spoke up. "We didn't come here to be dictated to by males."

  "We came to live the old ways," another male said. "That means the males of the pack--"

  "Do what the females tell them," the second woman cut him off.

  "Maybe in your home pack, Alison, but--"

  "We need the money!" Heather overrode them. "And this is our home pack."

  "What do we need money for?" yet another male asked. "We can survive in the wild."

  Marj turned to Harry and whispered, "The last one's Phil Fennick."

  "I want--things," Heather declared. "I need--"

  "You want to go home," the first male declared.

  "No! I love you, Clark. I want to be with you!"

  "Then what is it you need?"

  "Christmas!" Heather shouted back. "I need Christmas."

  Harry grinned at Marj. "See? I was right."

  She nodded. "And that's our cue."

  With that, she stepped up onto the creaky porch, and knocked on the door. Harry, close behind her, realized that she was humming "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" under her breath.

  The door was flung open dramatically by Heather. She stared at them for a moment, while the other people in the cabin gathered behind her. Finally, she said, "Dr. Piper? What are you doing here?"

  "See what you've done?" Alison accused Heather. "She followed you here."

  Clark stood behind Heather with his hands on her shoulders, protective as he glared at Harry. "Interesting company your Dr. Piper keeps."

  "I like to think of her as my Dr. Piper," Harry said.

  He moved forward, nudging Marj ahead of him, but not taking his gaze from Clark Losimba's the whole time.

  He'd been playing the dominance game for twice as long as the werecougar boy had been alive. Besides, he was an Alpha lobo, which was the top of the food chain in the werefolk world. Harry didn't think Clark was even aware of stepping back as he advanced into the shack with Marj at his side.

  Once he and Marj were inside, Harry kicked the door closed behind them. That didn't help the temperature much, as the small woodstove in one corner wasn't any defense against the frigid air let in through the thin walls. The place had only one room with a small window, a bare floor, and no visible amenities. The room held three cots and an assortment of cardboard boxes. The mingled scents, physical and mental, of fox, cougar, wolf, and human was strong, with all six of the runaways crowded into the one-room shack. With Harry and Marj inside, too, there wasn't much room to move.