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“Why don’t you paint? Hallie can take you to town to pick up supplies, or you can order what you need online.”
At last, her dream came true. A place far from Project Sabertooth and the freedom to paint her wildlife portraits. Yet, sadly a dream not to share with Steele.
Slade reached for his phone. The mobile must have vibrated because she hadn’t heard it. “Yeah, she’s ready and waiting.” He put the cell phone away. “Hallie is here.”
Gaby looked out the window. “Where did she park?”
“She’s in back. She arrived in wolf form and just changed in the backyard shed.”
The backdoor opened and in walked an attractive twenty-something woman with strawberry-red hair. Amber eyes. Her wolf aura clear, but not as strong as Steele and Slade’s. More like Cricket’s. She wore blue jeans and a green t-shirt with a Green Man face. Despite the chill, she wore sandals. “Welcome, Gaby, I’m Warden Hallie.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” She reached to shake her hand and then stopped. Not a proper greeting.
Hallie took her hand and shook it. “No worries. Outside wolf territory, we only use human customs.” She turned to Cricket and Slade. “How’s it going?”
“Good, but we need to leave.” Cricket regarded Hallie. “You have all the files?”
“Yep. Don’t worry. I’m on it.”
Cricket turned and hugged Gaby. “You’re in good paws, I mean hands.”
“Okay. Don’t get into trouble.”
Slade smirked. “Cricket’s middle name is trouble.”
Cricket gave him an insufferable glare. “Ha, ha.”
Slade opened the door and out they went.
Gaby stood at the window and watched them drive away in their rental. Would she see them again?
“After Rylee told me you were coming, I came over yesterday and prepared the house for your stay. I hope you don’t mind I stocked up with organic food,” said Hallie from the kitchen.
Gaby went and joined her. Bowls of fresh fruits and vegetables sat on the table. “I love healthy food.” Not that she was used to eating it at her former research facility. They had a cook that made institutional food, probably served at prisons for hundreds of inmates. The facility animals ate better than the human staff.
“I grew all the vegetables in my garden.”
“Where?”
“About a mile from here. I own a small sustainable farm. I have fresh eggs and goat milk I turn into cheese.”
“How can you leave your farm?”
She laughed. “I have two caretakers who do all the work for a free place to live.”
“Students?”
“Two older homeless women. I found them in Portland. They were down on their luck and so I asked them to join me after I earned my warden badge five months ago.”
“That’s cool. Do they know…what you are?”
“Nope. My chickens and goats do, but I never go wolf near them.” She chuckled. “Anyway, it’s not like they’ll tell anyone.”
“I bet being prey animals, they’re not big fans of wolves.”
“Being a vegetarian helped me earn their trust.”
“So I heard.” Gaby looked inside the refrigerator. No meat of any type. She picked up a bottle labeled, “Hallie’s Brew,” with a drawing of two sandals. “Is this beer?”
