“We will.”
Charley stepped up next to her. “We’re going to stay here a day or two before heading back if that’s okay. The men would like to check out the park, and I would like to see how much food I can catch.”
“Of course.”
“I think I’ll rest for a bit,” Zach said.
Mason helped Zach inside. Many of the men said they would follow behind Kitchener’s people in case what was said had been a lie.
Once more, she thanked each of them profusely. The Grangers were amazing people.
Mike, Zach, and Mason entered the cabin, along with Charley, Ian, and Mick.
“How about the men rest, shift, or do whatever, while I make a meal?” Cassidy said. She really did love to cook and hadn’t had the chance to do much of it.
“Works for me,” Zach said, who shifted seconds later.
“I’ll grab some more wood to keep us warm,” Ian announced. It didn’t look as he’d even been in a fight.
“Thanks.”
While there wasn’t much to do with respect to cooking, other than boil some water, Charley volunteered to get the water. Mick stood. “I’ll help.”
Those two came back a few minutes later with the water while Ian stoked up the fire in the fireplace and in the stove. Once the water boiled, Cassidy prepared some coffee and placed the Mountain House meals on the coffee table.
“Whenever you are ready, dig in.”
Zach and Mike shifted back into their human form, but she didn’t notice much improvement, at least in Zach's case.
“Do you think Doug will stay put in Thomas Ridge?” Zach asked.
“I’m hoping. Besides, he has no reason to come back. I’m unavailable. He’ll have to convince someone else to bear his child.”
Zach shook his head. “I’m thinking Chris won’t let him take over his command. All the men saw how Chris attacked Doug. That’s called leadership.”
Cassidy wouldn’t have used that term, but she was okay with it. The question was when, if ever, she could go back and see her family without fearing Doug would try to harm her. Right now, though, her primary concern had to be her mates.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Two weeks later—Christmas Day
Cassidy looked around in awe. She swore half the Granger family was sitting around the Christmas tree in Josh Granger’s living room. According to Zach, he had the largest house, which was why the family gathered there every year.
Zach said she didn’t have to buy anyone any presents, but that wasn’t who she was. After Tawny finished work one day last week, the two of them had gone Christmas shopping. Since there were so many people in the family, everyone was asked to purchase two gifts—one for a male and one for a female. The gifts were then put in a pile, and Josh Granger would randomly pass them out. Later that night, the individual families would exchange gifts.
Cassidy remembered that shopping experience and smiled.
“What are you going to buy?” Cassidy had asked Tawny after they entered the shopping center in Midvale. It was the closest town large enough to have an actual mall.
“Every year gets harder and harder, but I’m buying a beer stein for the male, and a really nice frying pan for the female.”
That sounded quite sexist to her, but Cassidy didn’t have a better idea. “It's probably been done a million times already, but what about some nice wool socks, a wool cap, or a scarf?”
Tawny smiled. “I think that’s perfect. Just don’t get pink for the men.”
Cassidy chuckled. “Even I wouldn’t have done that, though I bet my dad would wear pink. He’s quite secure in his sexuality.”
“Good for him. Let’s find those perfect items.”