“You didn’t have many choices,” Pauline said, letting him go. She kept a hand on his shoulder. “We’re going to try to give you some more.”
“And first things first,” Carlos said slowly, “I’m going to call up a couple of people who might know what to do better than we can.”
“Please,” said Pauline.
Carlos took out his phone and dialed, and spoke quickly to whoever was on the other end. Drew, meanwhile, was looking at the package in his hands, a sick expression on his face.
“Here, give it to me,” Pauline said impulsively.
Drew hesitated, but handed it over. He looked relieved to not be touching it anymore.
Now Pauline was holding it. What did you do with a package full of something very illegal? She didn’t want to open it, but beyond that, she had no idea. For now, she set it on the table.
Drew, meanwhile, went over to his brother. He tugged the blanket a bit further up over Troy’s shoulders, then leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. Carlos, who had hung up with whoever he was talking to and was dialing someone else, paused to tell him, “Val’s in the bedroom. Through there.”
Drew nodded and went over to check on her. Pauline watched as he repeated the little goodnight ritual with her, smoothing her tangled hair back from her face. She murmured softly, then settled back down.
When he came back out, he looked a little more settled, and Carlos was just hanging up again. “Cal and Colonel Hanes are coming over,” he told Pauline.
Colonel Hanes was Carlos’ old commanding officer, and Cal had served alongside them—and Nate and Ken. “Why them in particular?” Pauline asked.
“Cal’s lived here for years, and the Colonel wouldn’t settle in a place without getting to know the local law enforcement,” Carlos said. “I’ve met the sheriff, briefly, last time I was here, but I don’t know her stance on delinquent minors. They’ll have advice for us.”
Pauline blinked a few times, then bit her lip.
“What?” Carlos asked softly.
She glanced over at Drew, who was sitting on the couch with Troy. Softly, she said, “I’m not used to having a...network like this, that’s all. For a long time, it’s been only me. The shifters around here tend to break up into family groups, packs, according to what animal they are. I’m the only owl here, and I don’t have any siblings. It’s nice to think...that might change.”
Carlos reached out and cupped her cheek. “You’re not alone anymore,” he told her.
Pauline could feel the truth of that in her chest. She took a breath, keeping her composure for Drew’s sake, but she could tell that it would be a long time before she could really think about it without wanting to cry a little.
Then Carlos grinned. “If I depended on other tigers only, I’d have a big problem, because we’re a standoffish bunch. And few and far between.”
Pauline frowned. “You’re not standoffish.”
“Learned behavior,” he told her. “You should’ve seen me as a kid. I hated everyone. It took the Marines to teach me the value of trusting the people beside you, working together as a team.”
“And it’s still bearing fruit decades later,” Pauline marveled. “I’m glad.”
He nodded. “Me, too. Best thing that ever happened to me, until now.”
That was a pleasurable shock that took a little while to wear off.
Sooner than Pauline would’ve thought possible, there was a solid knock at the door. Carlos opened it to reveal a big man with short, iron-gray hair—and a beautiful African-American woman behind him. Colonel Hanes and his mate Mavis. Pauline had seen them in Oliver’s often, but had never had a chance to talk to them.
“Carlos,” the Colonel said, coming forward to shake Carlos’ hand warmly. “Good to see you again. I’m looking forward to collecting all of my old men in one place again, which, from the rate it’s been happening, shouldn’t take more than another week or two.”
Carlos laughed. “Here’s hoping. I’ll call up Ty and see if he wants to move to Montana.”
“You’re unlikely to pry him away from Los Angeles, I think,” the Colonel said dryly. “What can I help you with?”
“What can we help you with?” Mavis put in. She came over to Pauline, reaching out to take her hand. “Pauline, I hope you don’t mind that I invited myself along. I want to help too, if I can.”
“Of course,” Pauline said, a little overwhelmed. Mavis had moved here about six months back, from a big city where she’d worked as a financial advisor. She was busy beefing up the economy around Glacier Park, helping all the small businesses thrive in ways they’d never done before. She was soft-spoken and graceful, with no outward indication of what a powerful woman she really was. Pauline had been a little intimidated by her from the moment she’d arrived in town and people had started talking.
She and Colonel Hanes were both snow leopard shifters, and the snow leopards were the fastest-growing pack the area had ever seen. They were quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with, and a close-knit community. Pauline had tried not to be wistful at the sight of all of them coming to Oliver’s in bigger and bigger groups. Or wildly jealous.