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“No, but I think replacing me as beta would be far easier than finding someone with his skills and assets.”
“Unacceptable. You have proven your worth time and time again, and regardless of whether or not others appreciate all you bring to the table, I do. Never doubt that you have a place at Windsong and as my beta for as long as you want it.”
Colby’s cell phone rang, and for the third time that morning, his eyebrows rose in curiosity. “Interesting,” he said to her as he read the screen before answering the phone. “Jax. What can I do for the sheriff of Mystic River this morning?”
Winter could hear that Jax was speaking and doing so in his characteristic no-nonsense manner while Colby said little. She couldn’t make out the words on the other end of the line but Colby’s ‘uh-huhs’ as well as his grimaces and other facial impressions made her think that whatever it was that Jax was telling Colby, her boss wasn’t concerned and the longer the conversation went on, the more amused he was becoming. That wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Many times, Colby’s entertainment was not as amusing to others.
“Well, I can see where that might be an issue. What say you to Winter and I coming into town, and we’ll see if we can sort this out. We’ll see you in a bit.” Colby ended the call. “I hear congratulations are in order. I’m fairly sure we could get Asher’s mate, Nicole, to plan a wedding reception up here at Windsong.”
Winter rolled her eyes. Yep, it was definitely ‘take a shot at Winter day’ up here at Windsong. “I am not married to that cretin, regardless of what he may think. He is delusional if he thinks I will just meekly tuck my head and return to the Highlands with him.”
“That’s my girl. I can’t imagine anyone ever thinking of you as meek.”
“So, why did Jax call? Did he accuse me of something?”
“Quite the contrary. It seems that your beloved…” Winter groaned, and Colby grinned. “…took someone’s Jeep in order to track you back to Windsong. He was arrested when he returned the vehicle and spent the night in jail. He is, of course, demanding that you be returned to him. Jax is not, despite evidence to the contrary, a complete idiot. He has to be aware that you are Windsong now, and Windsong owes Sean Campbell nothing. Come along, Winter, let’s go get your hubby out of the hoosgow.”
They headed out to the multi-car garage. Colby opted to take one of the SUV limousines and a driver. Winter understood he was making a point not only to Jax, but to Sean as well.
Sensing her tension, Colby placed his hand on hers. “Do not forget you are the beta of Windsong—my second-in-command. I will not give you up without a fight, nor will any of the rest of those you call family. The family you had by blood might have betrayed you, but the family you made by choice will not.”
“I know, but do I have a right to ask others to fight for me when I am in the wrong?”
“First, how are you in the wrong? You never consented to be used as a bargaining chip by your father. And second, would you deny those of us who claim you as one of our own the privilege of fighting for you?”
“How is it you can make something so selfish sound almost noble?”
Colby grinned. “It’s a gift.”
Another of his gifts was the ability to make people laugh in stressful situations.
CHAPTER8
SEAN
By the time the sheriff deigned to show up, Sean was nearly fit-to-be tied. Hamish had been his one and only phone call and he had come at once. The only problem was the deputy was not in a position to release him without bail and he refused to call the judge to get bail or even a bail hearing set.
“Don’t they understand who you are?” Hamish asked him, sitting on the other side of the jail bars.
“Clearly that idiot polar bear doesn’t know and doesn’t care.”
“I can hear you from out here,” called the deputy, who seemed to find the whole thing rather amusing.
“I don’t care,” returned Sean.
“They’ll have to turn her over to you, won’t they?” asked Hamish.
Deputy Greyson stood in the doorway. “I wouldn’t hang my hat on that. Winter is a well-liked member of this community. She does not bear any kind of claiming mark, although more than one man has offered to remedy that. And Judge Freeman ain’t big on handing over females to those they ran off from. It seems his own mate was one of those. She left her clan and found her way here. By the time her clan could run her to ground, the judge had claimed her for his own. Mystic River has always been a kind of refuge for those that believed they had a say in their own destiny.”
“The Council will not see it that way,” growled Sean.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But you should know, the Council doesn’t hold much sway with the judge and even less with the rest of us here in Mystic River.”
Jax entered the office. “Derek, you can take off. Thanks for offering to stay here with the prisoner.”
“No problem, Jax. I don’t have a mate, and your Autumn is a woman a man wouldn’t want to spend the night away from if he didn’t have to.” Derek picked up his keys and headed out.
“Have you spoken with the judge?” asked Sean.
