Chapter Fourteen
Jillian
Overdue for my payment in life?What did that even mean? And telling me everyone gets what they deserve good and bad? Magda had been a mentor of mine since I’d been on my own and happened upon her in the woods one day. The hovel I’d been relegated to a teen far too young to be alone had been barely standing up when I moved in, and Magda had offered both advice and materials to improve it. I knew she’d have helped even more if she hadn’t been so old, but when she offered, I insisted she not do anything that might cause her harm.
She recommended that I go for structure repairs on the outside but didn’t do anything to make it look so nice, someone might take it away from me. Even though it was a distance from the other homes, another pack member with more status might cover it. Sad but true. What was anything but sad was the fact that my hovel was made of logs. The big kind that hadn’t been found around here in a century or more. I replaced the chinking with a mixture of mud and other findings I thought might be appropriate, making the walls weathertight. The roof was another thing, since some of those logs had fallen in, but I’d managed to make do, so at least the rain and snow stayed outside.
As a result of my hard work, no one passing by would recognize that the exterior did not reflect the interior. Not that it was fancy, but it was comfortable and cozy and, since Dean moved in, actually felt like a home.
But her comments this time had my head swimming. I’d never felt like life owed me a thing, just wanted the minimum comforts and, secretly, to belong somewhere. That desire might be encouraging me to make more of my company than I should.
I found Dean standing by the hearth, staring dubiously into a pot. His profile was so regal, my breath caught in my throat. I let the door close and he faced me, a smile stretching his lips. “You’re home just in time for ummm...dinner.”
I paced to his side and took a look at what bubbled there.
“Rabbit stew,” he told me. “But I don’t think it will be as good as yours.”
I picked up my pad and pencil.No fur in here?
“Actually, it’s the one you had skinned earlier. I still haven’t managed to shift without you around.”
Smells great.Actually, it smelled kind of over-spiced but for first effort? Not bad. He’d been really clear that he’d never done much cooking before.Thank you.
“Don’t thank me until you taste it.”
Will be good.I thought a second then wrote.Because you made it.I wanted to say his thoughtfulness made it great already, but my writing was still not fabulous, and he’d only managed to shift with me helping. I wasn’t sure he knew that.
“After dinner, I think we need to get serious about helping each other with our lessons.” He could have been reading my mind.
I paused from where I was taking bowls and cups from the shelf over the sink. We had a sink...and a water pump, but it hadn’t worked since I’d been here. On my list of wished-for improvements was a functional well. I gave him an enthusiastic nod.
“Good, now come and risk your life. You’ll need to sign a release first. I can’t have you suing me for all of my riches when you end up with stomach gripes all night.”
I hesitated, bowls held out in front of me, and one brow arched.
“Because it’s bad? But I really don’t think it will make you sick or anything.” He wrinkled his nose adorably. “Probably.”
Actually, it wasn’t bad. A bit spicy. He’d found my stash of ground chili peppers and maybe used a bit too many. His eyes watered as he shoveled it in, and I suppressed a giggle.
“Water?” He coughed into his elbow, and I waved him off and stood to fill the cups from the bucket. “Thank you.” He gulped his cup then I pushed mine over to him. “Ugh. How can you eat it?”
I sat down and ate some more, shrugging. I’d eaten a whole lot worse. And most of it was not made with kindness. That made me ready to forgive a whole lot of flaws.
After dinner, we sat side by side in the glow of the fire, but I lit a lantern, too, wanting to really focus on my lessons. Dean showed me a find.
“I was over by the compound today looking for Ruston and found this white board lying on the ground...as well as these markers for it.”
I frowned.
“I know.” He flashed me a big grin. “Someone probably set it down and walked away for a minute. Technically, we are borrowing it.” His eyes darkened. “But I don’t really care. Ready to learn?”
I nodded.
“I thought we’d try writing useful words, things you might want to use to communicate with others, since I believe that will help the most, okay? Then tomorrow we can get back to trying to help me shift.”
I picked up one of the markers and drew a big, purple happy face.Let’s do it.
Later that night, as we lay in our beds, I pulled the quilt up to my shoulders and considered everything that happened during the day. For so long, essentially nothing happened. I foraged either for myself or for something someone in the pack, often Magda, needed. I sometimes shifted and ran, did a little hunting. Did other menial labor when it came up. Nothing I’d want to remember as I drifted into dreams.
That changed when Dean came into my life. I reviewed the words we’d practiced, tracing them on the underside of my covers so I’d remember. I wanted to show him how much I appreciated his kindness. The meal, the lessons...just the company. One day he’d probably leave. The pack would want him closer, once they realized what an asset he’d be. So I needed to enjoy him while I could.
My dreams were filled with him. Probably always would be.