
LEGENDS: CATORI

By

Maggie Adams
REVIEWS FOR TEMPERED STEEL SERIES

Whistlin' Dixie –

5.0 _out_ of 5 _stars_ #HARDTOPUTDOWN

By Jennifer Pierson: The Power of Three Readers

_"_ Maggie Adams easy writing style reeled me in quickly, and I read the whole book in one sitting. Her twists and turns made for serious suspense and great OMG moments that came out of left field. I'm very excited to read about the rest of the brothers, so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!"

5.0 out of 5 stars A SPICY READ THAT MAKES U HAPPY!!!

ByEROZ

"IF U WANT A SPICY, EXCITING READ THAT WILL MAKE U FEEL VERY HAPPY & SENSUAL, THEN U HAVE GOT TO GET 'WHISTLIN' DIXIE'!!!"

4.5 out of 5 stars Mac and Dixie are a must read

BySarah Reads

"If you are looking for a western with a fiery heroine and a smokin' hot cowboy look no further!"

Leather and Lace-

5.0 out of 5 stars "The story feels as real as any true love story..."

By Devi Nair, The Verdict's Out Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars "The series gets better and better."

ByPicky Kay

_4.0 out of 5 stars "_ Loving the Tempered Steel series"

ByTracy ~ Book Loving Pixies

Something's Gotta Give –

5.0 out of 5 stars – "Everyone needs a Coalson Brother!"

By DayReader Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars "Loved it!!"

ByAmy Musselman (2 Amy's Love Reading Blog)

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!

ByBooks Laid Bare "The journey they took was fabulous, it was eventful and I absolutely love these guys but from the brothers so far, I have to say that Chance is my favourite."

Getting Lucky –

5.0 out of 5 stars _"_ Sometimes What Happens in Vegas - Does Not Stay in Vegas! A Must Read Novella!"

_By_ Deb_Loves2read

5.0 out of 5 starsReview from Abibliophobia Anonymous Book Reviews

_By_ Tonya Allen _"Can't wait for the next book in this series. I have to find out what is going on!!"_

Love, Marriage & Mayhem –

5.0 out of 5 stars "Sweet With Twists" ByPage Turners Book Blog

5.0 out of 5 stars "Another 5 stars for Maggie Adams and the Coalson Brothers!"

ByMelodyslove4books

Forged in Fire –

5.0 out of 5 stars" __ Maggie Adams' books are all great and I love the Coalson family so much _!"_

By Heather Szczesiak, author of Enticing Sky

5.0 out of 5 stars "Lucky is finally getting lucky!"

ByMelodyslove4books

Cold as Ice –

4.6 0ut of 5 stars This series is a winner!

ByErotic Romance Book Blog with Sandy

Cold as Ice (Tempered Steel Series Book 6) by Maggie Adams is SIZZLING hot, romantic, suspenseful, and will keep readers engaged through out.

4.0 out of 5 stars It had the perfect blend between suspense and romance

Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books

5out of 5 stars Full of Oh-My-Goodness! Contemporary Romance with Suspense

ByDeb_Loves2read

Other books by Maggie Adams –

Lustful Letters -

5.0 out of 5 stars **"** A steamy read **"**

BySassyCupcake

**5**.0 out of 5 stars "A Different Type of Erotic Book **"**

ByTom100

Lustful Lies –

_5 out of 5 stars "_ Seriously Hot Book - One of the Best"

ByWalters

4.0 out of 5 stars "A Lustful Pursuit Of Desires And Love"

ByLiz Castillo

Lustful Longings –

4.0 out of 5 stars I so enjoyed these characters and her life .

Review by Yvonne Evans

This was a wonderful journey that I enjoyed following. I love the way the story is told in journal form, it just adds a certain quality to the story.
Introduction

In many Native American cultures, the name "Catori" means spirit. It is a name given to a female who may embody the wisdom of the owl, the cunning of the wolf, and the courage of the bear. For purposes here, each of these spirit animals will be an intricate part of the outcome of the love story as well as the plotline for future books.

With a nod to creative license, I have written this series with the assumption that not only do particular individuals have the "spirit" of their power animal, but each one can physically attain the 'manifestation' of the animal itself, therefore becoming a shapeshifter. Furthermore, some species have a genetic mutation which allows the manifestation to skip a generation. This series is my interpretation of these spirit guides as flesh and blood men and women - well, perhaps with a slight "shift" in normal human reactions.

If you would like further information on Native American animalism philosophies, please see my author's notes at the end of this book.

Maggie Adams
Prologue

Talon Cavanaugh stood on the grassy knoll above the cemetery, watching the procession as it wound through the cracked tombstones to the final resting place of the Wisdom Council's leader, Leonard Cavanaugh. He smiled in satisfaction as the urn was laid into the dirt pit next to where his human wife would someday reside. Soon, he thought, soon all would be in place and he could claim his birthright.

"Son, I know how much you loved your uncle. Are you sure you don't want to go down and join in the ceremony?" his father asked.

Well, the man he had called 'father' for most of his life, enquired. It was only on his mother, Sylvia's, death bed, that Talon had learned the truth. He was the son of Leonard Cavanaugh, the owl leader of the Wisdom Council, who had died never knowing he had fathered a son. Sylvia had wanted to ensure the bloodline stayed pure when it became apparent that the old fool was planning to wed that woman, Paige, an inferior human. Sylvia had slipped a potion into his wine as the family celebrated her engagement to the leader's brother, Lester, Talon's assumed father. Leonard Cavanaugh had mated with Sylvia that night, the potion making him hallucinate that he was with his beloved Paige. Sylvia's plan worked, and she gave birth to Talon, who was a pureblood shifter, keeping the bloodline intact.

Glancing over his shoulder, Talon shook his head in the negative at Lester. He had no need to go down there. He was the true heir to the leadership position of the Council. He knew the death procedure - one year of grieving for the widow and the family. He looked to Frankie Cavanaugh. She was a beautiful woman, despite her human blood. Her red hair glowed like flames in the sunlight. She was appropriately dressed in black, her cultural brooch, made of gold and the feathers of her father, pinned to her breast. She was crying quietly into a handkerchief, hugging her mother, in solace. It was almost a pity she would have to die, but there could only be one true leader.

And that position would be filled by him.

Chapter One

Tanner Coalson steered his old blue truck into the driveway of the family farm. He parked, got out, and walked down to the mailbox. He grabbed the day's mail, turned and headed back up the driveway as he surveyed what he called, his little piece of heaven. As the youngest of the seven Coalson brothers, he had been away at college during most of the past few years, so he had missed the troubles that had plagued the small river town of Grafton, and his family in particular.

Devastating floods had brought all kinds of vermin into their small town, and he wasn't simply thinking about the animal variety. The whole county had suffered through vandals, arsonists, and drug dealers trying to set up shop in abandoned buildings that had been condemned after the flood. It had then escalated to kidnapping and murder, that is, before his family and a few good lawmen, had put an end to it all last year. He chuckled when he thought of his brother, Sam, as the new sheriff. Sam had been the hell raiser of the group, but he was a new man – and happily settled down with his wife, Angel, and the kiddos. In fact, all of his brothers were married. It just didn't seem possible.

But now it was time to look to the future. As far as his eyes could see, there were rows and rows of apple trees stretched out off to the right. Scanning the area, he noticed the absence of the old oak tree where he and his brothers had crafted a tree house, put up a tire swing, and carved the initials of more than one "true love" into the trunk. Hell, his brother, Chance, had practically decorated the entire thing with all of his many conquests over the years. But Tanner had only ever placed one heart on that tree when he was six years old, and that sentiment still held true today.

The tree wasn't the only thing missing from his memory. The old farmhouse was gone, a casualty in a massive fire. It had also claimed over a third of the orchard and fields. In fact, the acreage off to Tanner's left still showed the scorched remains. That was fine as far as he was concerned. He had other plans for that plot - big plans for not only the land, but for the entire Coalson family farm. He hadn't studied hard for that dual degree in agriculture and business management for nothing.

"Tanner? Tanner Coalson! Just the man I need."

He turned at the sound of the familiar sweet, husky voice, searching across the road for the beautiful woman that it belonged to. Frankie Cavanaugh bounced down the steps of the old Callahan cabin - soon to be the Coalson Christmas Cabin and ate up the distance between them with her no-nonsense stride. She was a tiny thing. He'd often wondered how many shoes she wore out trying to keep up with the long legs of, well, just about everyone she'd ever had to follow. Only his sister-in-law, Dixie, Mac's wife, was shorter than Frankie. But what they each lacked in height, they each made up for with their energy.

"What can I do for you, Frankie?" he asked as she reached his side and a gust of wind whipped up the long curls of her flame-colored hair, sending some strands across her cheek. He resisted the urge to brush it aside and feel that soft, peaches and cream complexion in contrast to his rough hands. He couldn't help how his jeans stretched a bit simply because she was near. He hoped she didn't notice.

"That man, Jackson what-ever-his-name-is, says he's not moving the deer head one more time, but I've finally figured out exactly where it's supposed to go. Could you?"

He looked down at her and tried not to drown in those gorgeous baby blue eyes. "Could I what?"

"Move it," she said, looking at him like he was slightly ignorant.

"Move what?"

"The deer!"

"There's a deer in the cabin?" he purposely misunderstood just to rile her. "That's gonna make a mess, woman. We need to get it out of there." He started across the road.

"No!" She hurried after him, tugging on him to a stop.

"No?" He grinned. "You mean you want that damn animal in there?"

She stamped her foot. He noticed the red creeping into her cheeks, a sure sign she was getting angry.

"Dammit, Tanner," she shouted. "I want you to get the deer head down from the rafters and put it above the fireplace!"

"Well why didn't you just say so?" he said, grinning as he watched her struggle to contain her anger. There was no pretense with Frankie. If she was pissed, you knew it. If she was happy, she could shine like a diamond.

"You. Are. An. A-hole," she punctuated each word with a jab of her finger to his chest.

He grabbed it, bringing it to his lips. "And you are sunshine on a dreary day."

She snorted, snatching her hand away. "Save that nonsense for your Saturday night sweetheart. I've got things to do."

She walked away from him, mumbling about Coalson boys and their twisted sense of humor. Tanner refrained from laughing out loud. He knew she wasn't unaffected; he had felt her pulse jump when he kissed her hand.

She stopped and turned back to him. "You comin'?"

"Yes, ma'am," he touched the brim of his cowboy hat. She nodded, turning back around and continued on to the cabin. He watched that fine ass wiggle in her tight jeans for a moment then trotted up to join her. That woman was going to be his wife one day, come hell or high water. And there'd been a lot of both in Grafton the past few years.

His boots hit the creaky board on the porch. It triggered a memory. He was transported once again to his childhood, sitting there while Mr. Callahan smoked his ever-present pipe, and regaled him and his brothers with tales of Native Americans, trappers, and the heroic efforts of good Christian men to settle the unchartered areas of the Midwest. He had especially loved the stories about the legend of the Piasa Bird, which had originated around these parts. The folks here had even painted a depiction of the bird on the bluff walls near Grafton. Whenever he'd traveled home from his college in Kansas, he had always felt a kind of relief upon seeing that painted bird on the bluffs as he entered the village. It was a welcome home sign to his mind.

He crossed the threshold of the old place, an actual log cabin that Callahan had purchased and had moved onto his land, looking for wherever Frankie had disappeared to. His nose picked up the scent of Pine-Sol cleaner and the odd waft of air had a hint of the old cherry vanilla pipe tobacco, even though Callahan had been dead nearly ten years. He thought it already smelled like Christmas in here, even though it was mid-June.

"See?" Frankie's voice drifted down from the small loft.

Tanner looked up. She was already trying to unhook the damn deer head from the rafters, and she was going to kill herself and anyone unlucky enough to be under the thing.

"Stop! I'm coming!" He shouted, taking the stairs two at a time. _Damn woman was as impatient as a kid at Christmas._

By the time he got there, she had unhooked the right cable and the deer head was hanging drunkenly by the remaining cable still connected to its antlers. He reached over the railing, grabbed Frankie by the waist and hauled her back onto the loft floor. "Are you crazy?" He gave her a light shake. "You could have fallen over the edge."

He yelled for a worker to help him take the damn head down, then scowled at her. And he said, "Don't you dare move. You pull another stunt like this and you are off the project."

"You can't fire me, Tanner Coalson! Your parents hired me." Frankie stood up, brushing the dust off her butt. "And if you use that tone of voice on me again, I'll tan your backside."

He leaned close to her face. "Well, I'm not really into that, darlin', but if you're game, I'm willing to try." He winked at her for good measure.

Tanner knew the exact moment his remark registered. Frankie turned beet red, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He leaned his head back and howled with laughter.

"Am I interrupting?" Jonas Blackshire stepped into the loft. "I thought I could be of assistance."

Tanner watched as Frankie squealed and launched herself into the newcomer's arms like an old friend. Tanner made an effort not to rip her away from Jonas. His brothers had told him about the man. He was a friend of Sam's, from Las Vegas, who was helping their town rebuild. It appeared that he and Frankie were on more than friendly terms. As far as Tanner was concerned right this minute, Jonas had worn out his welcome and needed to head on back to the neon lights.

But his mama's good manners won over his irritation. Tanner held out his hand in welcome. The fact that Blackshire had to let Frankie go to shake it was an added bonus in his mind. "What brings you by, Jonas?"

"I was checking on the progress. I'm heading into Alton so if you need anything..."

Tanner took the opportunity of a freed Frankie to slide next to her, putting a casual arm around her shoulders. "Well, I could use some help getting this head down. Frankie has finally decided where she wants it." He noted the fancy dark suit. "Not sure you're dressed for it. It's heavy and dusty."

Jonas began to take off his suit coat. "A little dust never hurt anyone."

He leaned over the railing, grasped the farthest horns and pulled the head back into an easier position for maneuvering. Tanner was impressed. The damn thing weighed a couple hundred pounds. He grabbed the other end to relieve Jonas of some of the weight.

"Frankie, are you sure you want this thing hanging up at all?" Jonas asked. "Santa may take offense, having a cousin to his reindeer mounted like a trophy over the fireplace."

"Oh! I hadn't thought of that!" She huffed. "But if I don't, what will I put up there instead?" She looked down into the main room. "I guess I could reframe that old picture we have of Mr. Callahan riding the goat. Or maybe something from one of the local artists, make it like a marketing spotlight for what's available in town. Or...,"

"FRANKIE! This is heavy!" Tanner shouted. His arms were beginning to ache, but Jonas looked unperturbed. In fact, he seemed to be barely straining. He was as fit as any Coalson brother, even though he wore designer clothes. He also appeared to be closer to Frankie's age, maybe around forty, Tanner surmised, and obviously, rich. So why was he hanging around their small town?

Tanner felt Jonas' eyes on him and he returned the stare. He wasn't backing down, even when Jonas smiled, and Tanner felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck. He bristled under the scrutiny of those silver-grey eyes. There was something about this guy...

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry! Let's just take it down completely. I'll figure out what to do with it later," Frankie said.

Despite his best intentions, Tanner broke the stare first when Frankie dove between them, standing on tiptoe to help them and she almost went over the edge again. Jonas growled at her to step back, which even though Tanner appreciated, that for Frankie's safety, it also annoyed the hell out of him at the same time.

Shaking his head at Frankie, they hauled up the offending deer head and dropped it with a thud onto the floor. "Don't even try to move this. I'll send some muscle over to tackle it later this afternoon," Jonas declared.

Tanner bristled at the authoritative tone. "No need," he thrust out his chin. "My brothers and I can handle it."

He was subjected to that silver stare again before Jonas nodded with a slight smile. "Then I'll leave you to it." He picked up his jacket, quickly donning it before he swiped at the dust on his pants.

"It's good to see you, Tanner. I'm sure your family is happy to have you home." He reached out his hand.

Tanner shook it. "Thank you, sir. Yes, I've got some great plans for the orchard."

"That's what I hear from your mother. She's excited to see what you have planned." He leaned down to kiss Frankie on the cheek. Tanner noticed the difference from Frankie's fair skin and blue eyes to Jonas' dark hair and dark eyes as they hugged. They say opposites attract, but not if he laid claim first!

Tanner envisioned planting his fist in the man's face as Jonas continued. "I'd be happy to fund whatever project your family has in mind. I know a good investment when I see one."

Over my dead body, Tanner thought, but nodded. "We'll keep that in mind."

"Oh Jonas, I almost forgot. I know you like to jog along the bluffs, but Earl down at the Seed and Feed, told Ms. Maisy that there are rumors that bobcats and even bears have been spotted." Frankie nodded in affirmation. "He said he's sure he saw a huge wolf himself, but I'd bet it was just a coyote. Earl's been known to smoke a little weed while he's taking in the hot springs up there," Frankie surmised.

Tanner looked skeptical. "Bears? Nah, he probably just saw Noah up there. The man's as big as a bear," he laughed, since Noah was another one of Sam's friends who had left Las Vegas too, to come here and help with rebuilding the town and getting rid of the seedy element that had tried to take over.

Jonas glanced at him sharply, but then his eyes settled on Frankie. "Thanks for the heads up on the animals, Frankie." He nodded to Tanner. "And let me know if you hear of any more unusual animal sightings. I'll have a talk with Cletus over at the animal reserve. Make sure none of his exotics have gone missing."

"And don't forget the Piasa bird, Jonas. He might make an appearance, too," Tanner responded sarcastically.

Jonas simply stared at him. Tanner felt the red creep into his cheeks. Damn that man for making him look like a fool in front of Frankie, though he had just blurted out that remark instead of keeping his cool.

"All legends start for a reason," Jonas paused at the stairs. "And not all of them are just stories to scare children. Some are based in fact." With that remark, he descended. Seconds later, he was gone.

"Whew! He's pretty intense, isn't he?" Tanner smiled at Frankie, but she shook her head.

"He's intense for a very good reason, Tanner. He's said to be a ruthless businessman. But if you're his friend, he's loyal to a fault. However, you don't want to get on the bad side of Jonas Blackshire. He's been known to cut down an enemy without a thought."

He suddenly felt like a scolded schoolboy and he knew he deserved it, letting Jonas rile him like that. "I'm sorry, Frankie. I didn't mean to upset you."

She hugged him tight. "You didn't, honey. You just need to learn to pick your battles." She leaned back to look at him. "Although I have no idea what Jonas ever did to you?"

"Nothing yet," he murmured, pulling her close once again, breathing in her scented curls. "I'm not sure I trust him, that's all."

"Well, you better make up your mind. Your family seems eternally grateful to him for his help with rebuilding the town." She stepped away and Tanner felt the loss. "I think Jonas is going to be staying for a while, so it's best to get along with him, Tanner."

I'll tolerate him as long as he keeps his hands off of you, __ Tanner thought, but changed the subject. "So, what's the plan for this space?"

Frankie launched into an animated description about the loft being set up as a workspace for the craftspeople who would be leasing space to sell their goods during the Christmas season. "It's going to be sort of a 'watch us make your special gift' place. I'm also going to include gift-wrapping and personalization areas for workers."

He led her down the stairs to the main floor. "And here?" He knew exactly what was planned but seeing the joy in her eyes as she described how each section would feature the fancy seasonal items was something to behold. Frankie in passionate mode was breathtaking. He could imagine how she would glow beneath him on their bed.

The twins, Nikki and Ricky, bounced into the room with all the energy reserved for ten-year-old's. "Grandma Ginny told us to bring y'all something to eat." Nikki held out a basket filled with gooey butter cake cookies.

"And Aunt Angel said to tell you that it's your turn, Frankie," Ricky smiled and grabbed a cookie.

Tanner barely contained his chuckle as Frankie passed the basket to the workers. "My turn for what?"

"For us to help you," Nikki said, heading for the stairs.

Tanner grabbed her around the waist and snagged a hopping Ricky by the back of his t-shirt. "I'm sure some of the guys could use your help scrubbing down the outside of the cabin. Plus, you can get wet."

The twins yelled in glee then ran out the back door. He chuckled and turned to Frankie, only to find her face a mixture of wistfulness and sadness. "Hey," he tugged on a curl. "Why the frown? I thought I solved that problem."

Frankie stepped away, refusing to look at him. "I love kids. I sure wouldn't have minded having one or two of my own."

He nodded, wondering why she sounded as if it was an impossible idea, but he couldn't find the words to ask the reason for her doubt. When he couldn't figure a way to help her out of her mood, he did what his mother always did when faced with a problem – he cleaned. Tanner picked up a nearby broom. "Well, time to stir up some dust," he said.

As he swept the floor, he thought about the many burdens this woman had carried in her life. She hadn't dated much; seemed to prefer the quiet times with family and friends as opposed to the high school parties. He remembered her always being at the Coalson functions. She had been a good friend to his sister in law, Angel, and to his brother, Sam, by keeping their secrets until after they were reunited a few years ago.

Then she had helped her mother care for her ailing father as Alzheimer's ate away at his memories and turned the docile man into a violent mess on occasion. He had passed on just last year, but the battle had lasted ten long years. She was nearing forty and had spent her life in this quiet community. He wondered if she had ever wanted to break out, to see the world, or simply to take a vacation. He vowed then to find out her favorite place, her dream, and take her there for the honeymoon.

"Jesus, Tanner, you're smoking us out of here with all that dust," Pat Hibbins complained. "Use a damn ShopVac for goodness sake."

Tanner flipped him off, setting the broom aside and picked up the vacuum hose. It had been damn tough, being away at school all those years. He'd missed his family, his friends. He'd only ever gotten a second-hand accounting of the many joys and sorrows they had gone through. But he was home now, ready to start his life, and make his dreams come true. He looked over at Frankie. It was good to be home.

Talon perched on the tree near the cabin's window. It gave him an unobstructed view of the main room where Frankie and Tanner Coalson conversed. He noted the body language of the young man, how his eyes had narrowed when Jonas had hugged Frankie in farewell. It appeared his prey had more than one suitor. Well, no matter, it was time to call his good friend, Marcus Davis . He specialized in procurements, humans to be exact. The shifter world often had use for a particular type of human, and Marcus, though not a shifter, was cunning enough to take advantage of the desires of clients that wished to be anonymous. Of course, the humans rarely survived the needs of a shifter, but then, that's exactly why Marcus needed to meet Frankie.

The fact that Jonas Blackshire was Marcus' arch enemy would be icing on the cake to Marcus. Hurting Jonas while helping Talon, heir to the Wisdom Council leadership, may be enough for him to waive his usual fee. Talon stretched his wings and took flight. It wouldn't do to have folks spotting a great horned owl during the daylight. It might get back to the Council.
Chapter Two

It was late June and Frankie was in the cabin bright and early. It was expected to top ninety degrees today and she wanted to get a good start on the loft preparations before it heated up too badly. She made a mental note to talk to Tanner about upgrading the air conditioning system if they planned to keep this cabin open year-round.

_Tanner_. Just the thought of him made her skin tingle. It was completely improper for her to notice him as a man, she'd babysat him years ago when she was a teen and he was a toddler. Still, she could admire what a handsome hunk he had turned into, if only to herself. A girl should count herself lucky if Tanner decided to spend time with her. He had grown up as fine, well finer, in her opinion, than all the other Coalson brothers. And that was saying something as they were all good looking, intelligent men. But there was something different about Tanner. Almost as if he had cloaked himself in a mantle of maturity and strength, ready to face the world and conquer it. She shook her head at her fanciful thoughts. She'd been reading too much of those romance novels that made her toes curl and her lady parts pulse. Imagining Tanner would even look twice at an older woman like her when all those pretty young things were panting after him, was ludicrous.

She was just reaching for the last of the Snowmen figurines, when her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. She picked it up while juggling the box on her hip. "Hi, Mom! You're up early."

"Well, it's just a few weeks before your birthday, honey, and I wanted to know if you were coming to Phoenix or if I should book a flight out to you," Paige Cavanaugh inquired.

"Oh, Mom, you know I don't celebrate birthdays. Ugh! Just a full day of remembering I'm getting older."

Paige chuckled. "Well, so am I, honey, but I still want to celebrate the day God blessed your father and me with you, so what's it going to be?"

"Well, since you put it that way," Frankie smiled. "Why don't you come up here? It's been awhile since you've seen the town – it's shining like a diamond now, a regular tourist attraction! Plus, Sam and Angel's babies are growing like the corn here. You won't recognize them."

"I'm sure! Good, it's settled. Maybe I'll come up now, help you with the cabin decorations, see what's new and catch up with old friends." Paige's voice sounded overly chipper and Frankie was immediately suspicious.

"Mom, what are you up to?" she sighed as she ripped open the box. "Please, no parties. I just want a nice, quiet dinner and maybe one of your fabulous praline cheesecake."

"No party, honey. I promise. I'm just excited to see my baby girl." She paused. "Have you by chance seen Zoe lately?"

Zoe Kincaid was a psychic that lived here in Grafton. Paige Cavanaugh called her at least once a week to check on her future. Although Frankie was skeptical, it was true that Zoe had been spot on with her predictions on several occasions, including the one that had helped the Coalson brothers catch a killer.

"No, Mama. She's been spending time with Lucky Coalson and his wife, Renee'. She owns that new detective agency here. Why?"

Silence greeted that statement. Frankie could tell her mother was mulling over what to tell her. "Just spit it out, Mama. Has Zoe had a vision about us?"

Paige answered in a whisper. "Yes. She said you're in danger, Frankie. That you were surrounded by animals about to attack."

Frankie frowned and held the phone to her ear with her shoulder as she placed the fragile snowmen and women on a shelf. "Mama, I'm pretty sure I know what that vision was about and so do you. It's okay. It means they are going to start pressuring me to accept the position, but they are going to be disappointed. I'm not a leader; I don't want to be a leader. I'll tell them that, and they can find someone else."

"Oh, honey, if only it were that simple. The Wisdom Council is a hereditary position, a legacy handed down from one generation to the next. The Council won't pick someone else. It goes against their laws. Please, I don't want you hurt. Just accept and then give all the responsibilities to someone else. You'll see the visions of your spirit animal, find the solutions, and then appoint someone to fulfill them."

"I can't, Mama. There's another part of the legacy I want no part of and you know it. I will not pass on this genetic curse to a child. I saw what it did to Dad, how he suffered with the secrets, how he had to fight all the time for our safety because we are human."

"Honey, I'm human. _You_ are special, the first one of a kind in our line. There was bound to be dissention."

"Which proves my point. When I die, our owl line dies with me. No more dissension. No more grief for our family. They can pick another pure blood Catori to sit at the seat of honor on the Wisdom Council."

Paige tsked. "The Cavanaugh family has been the head of the Council for hundreds of years, and we only took over because the Black Plague killed all of the Chin family of the Eurasian Eagle Owls. The leaders of the Council are not going to give up simply because you don't want to do it."

Frankie shrugged and almost dropped the phone. She scrambled to grab it. "They also don't like the fact that I'm more than half human, Mom. You know as well as I do that most of the owls consider their human shifting to be an inferior nuisance. They mate in their owl state. Dad was one of the few that didn't believe that inferiority nonsense and mated with you." She returned the phone to the stand and hit the speaker button to talk free-hand. "So, it goes to figure that if they aren't happy with my more-than-human blood, and I don't want the legacy anyway, then we can reach some sort of agreement."

Paige sighed. "Frankie, do you ever feel, well, cheated, because you aren't one or the other?"

"Mama, are you asking if I wish you and Dad had never gotten together? The answer is no. I believe that I have a different type of life because of it, but I wouldn't know the true depth of love and devotion if you hadn't been brave enough to believe when Dad told you about shifters."

"Oh honey, he didn't just tell me, he showed me. Anyone you fall in love with will only have your word, as you can't shift because of that damn mutation gene deciding to show up in you, and that's a hard row to hoe. Most will think you're crazy. Some would insist on proof, and no shifter is going to do that kind of favor and possibly cause a panic in the human world. No, it will take someone very special to accept the truth about your bloodline and be willing to keep its secrets."

"I know, Mama. That's just another reason why I don't plan to marry or have kids."

"I'm sorry, Frankie. You shouldn't have to shoulder this burden, but I do believe that someone who truly loves you, well, their love will open their understanding," she said. "Just look at your father and me."

Frankie knew her mother meant well. "But you, Mama, are a very special woman. Dad always said a woman like you only comes around once in a thousand years."

"And you are physically and emotionally, one of a kind, Frances. You deserve a one-of-a-kind man that only comes around once in a thousand years. I'll see you soon, baby girl. I love you." Paige hung up.

"I love you too, Mama," Frankie whispered. Then she slid down the cabin wall, covered her face with her hands, and cried as she contemplated her lonely future.

Hours later, Frankie's normal optimism and energy had returned. Despite the heat, because she refused to turn on the A/C unless it was close to ninety-five – after all, she wasn't paying the bill, the Coalsons were – she managed to finish the loft portion of the cabin. The lights twinkled on the trees, the work stations were shiny clean, the drawers filled with supplies, and snow people and elves lined the walls, hung from the ceiling, and dominated every corner. The discreet elevator for those that couldn't handle the stairs, was even bedecked to look like a giant present.

She ambled down the stairs, taking a glance at the enormous mirror she had finally decided should grace the fireplace mantle and stopped in shock. Her t-shirt, once a pretty light pink, was stained and filthy; her face, was devoid of makeup but was complete with sweat and dirt smudges; and her _hair,_ once tied in a pretty green ribbon, was a wild, curly mess of scraps from ribbons, bows, a pen and what looked to be a Styrofoam packing peanut. She hurried out the door to dust herself off and empty the trash, thankful no one was around to see her like this.

She was bent over, shaking her red curls to loosen any remaining bits, when she noticed a pair of expensive loafers in her line of vision between her legs.

"Hello, Frankie."

Slowly, she rose to her less than intimidating full height. She tried to meet Talon Cavanaugh in the eye, but with him over six feet, she couldn't do it. He was her only cousin, but something about him had always frightened her. He was handsome, blonde hair and tanned skin, his amber eyes and lean physique gave him no end to women willing to be on his arm, but Zoe said he gave off a creepy vibe. She was inclined to believe her.

"Hello, Talon. What brings you here today?" She said with false brightness. She didn't need this Council horse hockey right now. Her momentary bout of self-pity this morning had left her emotionally drained.

"I saw you from the road. I thought you might be ill, the way you were bent over." He stepped closer.

It was as if the animals sensed the danger. It was suddenly still around her. No birds chirped, no crickets, nothing. Frankie realized how isolated she was here. True, the Coalsons farm was across the road, but it was a good quarter mile to the house. If she needed help, it was doubtful they would hear her shouts. Squaring her shoulders, she stood firm. Talon was not going to intimidate her as he had when they were kids.

"Nope. Just shaking the Christmas decorations out of my hair," she replied.

"Christmas?", Talon smirked. "So, it's true. The Coalsons are expanding once again. How incredibly fortuitous that the old man that lived here left everything to them, at just the right time."

Frankie got control of her temper, but her green eyes flashed. "Just what are you implying, Talon? You know the Coalsons and Mr. Callahan were on the best of terms. Why wouldn't he leave it to them? He had no other family to speak of."

"I meant no insult, my dear. Simply that the Coalson family has the most incredible luck lately. I mean, they've managed to almost single-handedly turn this backwater town around into a tourist attraction. They've made something out of nothing. It's almost as if they've had spiritual help." Frankie felt the hair on the back of her neck raise as he stared at her.

"Why are you here, Talon? And don't give me some excuse about seeing to my welfare, because we both know you'd like nothing more than for me to cease to exist."

Frankie thought she saw a flicker of shock move across his face, but it could have just as easily been the sun moving behind a cloud. She looked up, noticing the darkening sky. When her eyes lowered, a large gray and black wolf stood in the clearing near the cabin. His silver eyes remained on Talon, while a low growl emanated from his throat.

Talon grimaced in distaste. "Call off your bodyguard, Frances. I'll leave in a minute. I thought you might like to know that the Council has ordered a special meeting tomorrow night. Your year of grieving is up and then some. It's time you took your place within the Council. The sooner you produce an heir, the safer you will be, cousin."

He nodded to the wolf, then turned and headed toward his expensive luxury car, but stopped and turned, looking at her once more. "Oh, and Frankie, do us all a favor and mate with your own kind this time. Your father's love story left the paranormal world in these parts on edge. Factions have been known to form in times of trouble, so I'd watch my back if I were you." He then climbed into the sleek car and sped off.

Frankie stood silent and watched him leave. She knew he was right. Hadn't her mom warned her just this morning? She'd been living in limbo this past year, overcome with sorrow at the loss of her father and the way he had passed. In the latter years, he had not truly recognized her or her mother most of the time, as Alzheimer's took its toll on his body and his mind. Some shifters even wondered aloud if the onset of the disease had somehow come about by mating with a human as rare as it was in the shifter world. It was a ridiculous notion, but those who needed an excuse to hate, grasped the theory like a lifeline.

She had been safe within that year of grief, but now Talon was warning her that her time of peace was over. Her reckoning, and the fate of the leadership position within the Wisdom Council, was coming due tomorrow night.

A wet nose pushed at her hand. She glanced down at the silver eyes of the huge wolf. Sinking to her knees on the soft grass, she hugged him. "What am I going to do, Jonas? I've combed over all the legalities of the issue. It appears to be ironclad. I can't just abdicate the position. It's an act of treason to the Council and I will be killed. But the only way to pass it to another line is either through birth of an heir or my death." She cried into the wolf's fur. "I promised my father, in his lucid moments, that I would marry for love, like he did. How can I break that promise?"

The clouds gave way to a starry night as Frankie cried herself to sleep against the soft fur of the wolf. He stared off into the distance, seemingly lost in thought, but on high alert to the dangers that the darkness brought to the land, and to the Great Owl's child.
Chapter Three

Tanner brushed the sweat off his brow with an already damp handkerchief. It felt good to be back at manual labor, to turn over the earth, smell the freshness of the enriched soil. He had plenty of workers to do the task for him, but he needed it. Mindless effort gave him time to think. He wanted Frankie, hell, he loved her. But how to tell her without sounding like a school kid or a complete idiot was another matter.

"Hey Frankie, you kissed my knee when I scraped it at six; I consider that a commitment," he mumbled sarcastically. "Marry me."

He dug the shovel in the ground. "Or better yet – Hey, Frankie, wanna watch a movie and snuggle together like we used to? This time you can lie in my lap." He hit a rock and the shovel vibrated harshly against his hand.

"You are one sick son of a bear, brother."

Tanner jumped back, stepping on a rake, which conked him in the head with the handle. He tripped over his feet and fell to the ground. "Ow! Dammit, Nick! You scared the living shit out of me."

Nick Coalson laughed at the disgruntled look on the face of his younger brother. He stretched out a hand to help him to his feet. "Be glad it was me instead of Frankie. She'd be calling the pervert police."

"That's not funny," Tanner brushed the dirt off his butt and picked up the shovel once more. "I was being sarcastic, okay?"

Nick reached into his back pockets and pulled out two beers. "Here, I froze my ass bringing you a cold drink."

Tanner took the cold can and brought it to his lips. The drink was a welcome relief, even if he got knocked on his butt because of it. Swallowing, he asked, "You here to take Becca to lunch?"

Nick's eyes twinkled. "Something like that."

Tanner choked on his beer at that remark, taking in Nick's crisp, button-down shirt, jeans and boots. His brothers were in varying stages of the BDSM lifestyle. He didn't understand it, but their wives seemed to be happy and so did they.

Nick slapped him on the back with enough force to almost topple him over. "I wouldn't expect her back today."

"Yeah, and I'm the pervert," Tanner smirked.

"Since you and Dad built that banquet center, she's practically lived there, fixing it up fancy. You're booked solid from September on, so she tells me. So, I figure I've got June, July and August to kidnap her for an afternoon. After that, it's a quickie whenever we can find the time."

"Jesus, Nick. I don't want to hear that stuff! She's my assistant and my sister-in-law." He finished the beer and in true tough guy fashion, squeezed the can tight, then stomped on it to crumple the can into a flat aluminum disc.

"Fair enough. Why don't we talk about why you're out here on your way to sunstroke instead of taking Frankie out for a nice lunch?" Nick took a long swallow of his cold brew.

"Now why would I do that?" Tanner busied himself by turning over more dirt, avoiding Nick's eyes.

"Because you've been in love with the woman since you were a kid. The initials in the tree, remember?" He repeated Tanner's moves with his own beer can and sat the disc next to the rake. "F. C. plus T. C. isn't hard to figure out. It was either Frankie Cavanaugh or Freddie Crawford. I was banking on Frankie, but I can't speak for the others."

Tanner laughed. He had missed the easy comradery, and the insults and teasing, from his older brothers. "Okay Mr. Know-It-All – how do I approach her?"

"You're over thinking this. You assume that age difference is going to be a deterrent. You're an adult and she's an adult. You are both unattached and attracted to each other. Just ask her."

"And what about Jonas?"

"What about him?"

Tanner huffed. "I think he's interested in her, too, maybe even more than interested."

"Well all the more reason to stake your claim now, brother. Make sure the woman knows who she belongs to."

"You sound like Sam, now."

"Sam's mellowed out with his new career as sheriff and becoming a husband and father." Nick leaned in to whisper. "Although he can get you a great deal on handcuffs, you know, if you and Frankie were so inclined to try them out."

Tanner pushed him away. "Stop that! I'm never going to be able to look my sister- in-laws in the face again." He shook his head. "You sound like a Neanderthal."

Nick smirked. "Let me tell you what I've learned. Women want a gentleman, a barbarian, and everything in between. You simply have to figure out their mood, and then you will be one happy man."

"So, you cater to your wife's whims? Sounds like she leads, and you follow, brother," Tanner teased.

Nick looked past Tanner as his beautiful wife walked out of the banquet center doors. "She can lead me anywhere, bro. She has an amazing imagination and quite a thirst for adventure, if you know what I mean." He winked.

Tanner rolled his eyes. "So just ask her, huh?"

Nick slapped him on the back. "The worst she could say is no." He headed toward his wife.

"And crush my heart and my future plans with that one simple word," Tanner mumbled. He went back to overturning the ground, once more in thought, trying not to be envious of his brothers' loving relationships with their wives.

As the sun began to set, Tanner approached the back entrance to the lingerie shop, Merry Widows, that Frankie owned with his sister-in-law, Angel. She had moved upstairs in the old house when Angel and Sam had built their home on the bluffs. He climbed the back stairs and knocked on her door. Moments later, she answered.

"Hi, Tanner! What's up? Something going on with the Christmas Cabin?"

He could feel the heat creep along his neck as he tried to formulate a sentence. Frankie was dressed in a navy suit, with a pink top discreetly covering her perky breasts. She wore high heels, and had large, dark-rimmed glasses perched on her dainty nose. She looked every bit the part of a sexy librarian from a man's dreams.

"Oh, uh," he forced himself to focus. "I was wondering if you wanted to grab some dinner and talk about long-term plans for the Christmas tree farm." He tried for a casual tone, leaning against the doorframe.

"I'm sorry, Tanner. I have plans tonight."

Tanner straightened as Jonas Blackshire came into his line of vision. The man was once more dressed in a suit, and he was sporting what looked to be a Rolex watch on his wrist. "Ready, Frankie? Oh, hello, Tanner. Everything okay with the family?" He placed his hands on Frankie's shoulders. A diamond pinky ring winked from his finger.

"Yes. I stopped by to see if Frankie was free to discuss more plans." He nodded to Frankie.

"Perhaps another time. We were just leaving," Jonas said.

Tanner knew he was being dismissed. He had no choice but to retreat. "Of course. It can keep." He smiled at Frankie and managed to say, "Enjoy your evening, Frankie."

"Good night, Tanner," she whispered, not looking at him.

"Frankie? Is something the matter?" asked Tanner. If she didn't want to go with Jonas, by God, she wasn't going with him. He took a defensive stance.

"No, uh, no Tanner," Frankie tried for a smile that Tanner saw didn't meet her eyes.

He spared an angry glance at Jonas. What the hell was this guy's deal? "I don't know what's going on, but I will always be here for you." He reached for her, but she pulled back, leaning into Jonas. Tanner's heart sank.

"I'm fine, we really have to leave," she stepped out forcing Tanner to step back.

"Frankie, talk to me..."

"We are in a bit of a hurry, Tanner. Please step aside," Jonas commanded.

"I don't care if you're late to your own funeral, Blackshire."

Jonas seemed to grow before Tanner's eyes, his face taking on an almost feral look. "Step aside, boy. I haven't done anything to Frankie, but we are late, and you are being rude and adolescent."

Tanner stood his ground despite the anger he could feel coming off the older man. If Frankie was in trouble, he wasn't budging.

"Tanner Coalson!" she huffed out. "What is wrong with you tonight? Whether I am upset or not has nothing to do with Jonas and besides, I'm the one who made plans with him."

He heard Jonas sigh. "Tanner, please, I would never harm Frankie. I give you my word and my word is my bond. The fact that you would even think something like that is an insult to me, but we don't have time right now to find out your reasoning."

With another glance at Frankie, who smiled and nodded, he gave a quick nod and stepped away, following them down the stairs to the parking lot. Before she entered the car, she stopped and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Please don't worry, Tanner. I'm fine."

He hugged her, staring over her shoulder at Jonas. "I hope so, Frankie."
Chapter Four

Jonas pulled up to the entrance of the lumber yard and sawmill. He parked, and Frankie was out the door and running as fast as her high heels could carry her to the women standing near the entrance to small office building.

"Mama!" she cried, wrapping her arms around the small woman. Paige Cavanaugh returned the hug, kissing her daughter's cheek.

"Mrs. Cavanaugh, it's nice to meet you," Jonas stuck out his hand in greeting.

"My dear, after all Zoe has told me about you, please call me Paige." She let go of Frankie long enough to give Jonas a fierce hug.

He returned it and smiled. "It would be an honor." He turned to Zoe Kincaid. "Glad to see you here, Zoe."

"I wouldn't miss this for the world, darlin'," she leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Bad storm brewing," she whispered.

He nodded. "You didn't have to wait outside for us."

Paige sent an uneasy glance to Zoe, who said, "Well, actually we did. It seems in the year of grief some new rules have been put in place. No full-blooded humans allowed at the Council meetings."

Jonas sent Zoe a sharp glance, while Frankie gasped in outrage. "The nerve of them! They want me to be their leader, and then do something like this behind my back!" She turned to the door and furiously punched in the key code. "Well, you are coming in with me. Let them dare try and stop us."

Jonas escorted the women through the entrance a step behind the furious Frankie. She blew through the main office and headed straight for the President's door. Opening it, she marched to the far wall bookcase and pushed down the copy of "Animal Farm". The case slid across the wall to reveal a stairwell.

"Um, Frankie, it might be best to calm your emotions before confronting the Council," her mother said.

"They started it."

"Frankie! Enough!" Jonas grabbed her elbow to stop her flight. "If you want them to take your seriously, you have to be serious," he hissed.

"Fine." She jerked away from him, continued down the stairs at a more sedate pace, and entered the room. What she saw gave her pause.

"My father's table is gone," she whispered. "He had it made especially for the Council meetings, like Camelot's Round Table. He said although he was appointed leader, no member of the Council was above another. That they all had a vested interest in the past, the present, and the future."

She turned to her mother with tearful eyes. Paige grasped her daughter's hand, as she too, noted the changes. The table was, indeed, gone and in its' place was a raised dais with one chair. On the floor, the other chairs were lined up, apparently according to blood line ancestry. She noted the individual lineage banners that once graced the walls, were gone; only her lineage banner remained behind the empty chair.

But the most ominous absence was sound. Where in the past, this room had been filled with laughter and chatter, a feeling of warmth and fellowship surrounding the members, and the tone was of a family gathering; this, now, was a stony, judgmental silence. It chilled her to the bone. What had happened in the past year to cause this change?

She started forward to the empty chair, but Talon entered from her father's old office and sat down in the remaining seat. He looked very comfortable on the dais, almost as if he knew he was meant to occupy the seat. Frankie saw red but held her temper as Jonas had asked. She greeted all with quiet dignity, placing her hand over the ceremonial brooch of her father's feathers and nodding to each member. She would never tarnish his reputation with inappropriate behavior. Jonas was greeted as well, but her mother and Zoe were ignored.

"Frances Cavanaugh, why do you bring humans into our sanctuary?" Talon boomed from the platform.

She was nonplussed at the disapproval of the Council. Humans had always been welcome as far as she knew. What was going on? "My mother, Paige, has been an honorary member of this Council since her marriage to my father, and we know the special gifts of Zoe Kincaid. She has been an invaluable help to all of us at one time or another."

Talon leaned forward, his elbow resting on his knee. Frankie wanted to wipe the smirk right of his face, preferably with her fist. "You've been gone for over a year, Frances. Did you think the Council would simply wait around to conduct important business until you returned? Yet, you selfishly denied your birthright and didn't bother to even enquire about the effect your father's death would have on the Wisdom Council."

"I was allowed that time to grieve; it's in the rules of the Council, so I took it." She shot back.

"Nevertheless, business had to be continued, so as the only other person of the Cavanaugh bloodline available, I took it upon myself to conduct the meetings in your absence."

"Where is your father, Lester? He should be the one to conduct the meetings until I returned."

"My father, like you, was inconsolable at the death of his dear brother. He asked that I take his place as well."

"How very convenient for you, Talon," Frankie sneered. "And you decided to put forth these changes without even consulting the true heir to the position?" Although Frankie still wanted very little to do with this, she wasn't going to let that little owlet of a cousin steal it right out from under her.

"The changes were necessary to restore the true order of the Wisdom Council and to secure the bloodlines. Your father and his selfish desire for that human," he pointed to Paige, "wreaked havoc on the shifter Council. We now know that apparently the disease which took his life had an even deeper effect on his mind, allowing hallucinations, particularly deep passion for human life. He should have been removed when he suggested wedding an inferior human."

Jonas' hand on her shoulder was the only thing keeping Frankie from leaping up on the dais and tearing her cousin limb from limb. The low growl emanating from Jonas' throat reverberated throughout the room and reassured her that she had support if needed.

She turned to look at the rest of the members of the Council. Some stared at her in defiance; others wouldn't meet her eyes, but it was evident that all of them had been convinced to follow her cousin. So be it.

"Although I believe you are making a terrible mistake, ruling with prejudice instead of the wisdom and tolerance that has been a crucial part of this Council since its inception, I will concede to the obvious majority." She looked at each of them in disdain.

"As a matter of fact, as the standing leader of the Council, I hereby put forth a motion that leadership be determined by all members of the Council, based on wisdom, experience, and honor – not on a bloodline."

The members gasped at her audacity. Paige reached for her daughter's hand, giving it a squeeze. Zoe gave a shout of "Right on!" as Jonas simply offered a small smile. Talon, however, was not amused.

"You have no more rights than the other members until your official coronation. After that time, you can put this ridiculous idea before the Council for a vote." He stood up. "Until then, as interim leader, I suggest you spend your time refreshing your mind with the laws of the Council. That is," he paused, "unless you do not wish to assume leadership?"

"You know very well at this point I have no choice, Talon. If I abdicate, it's considered an act of treason and I will be hunted and killed. If I am a puppet leader, and allow another to make the decisions, I am refusing the wisdom of my bloodline to help the Council and I can be killed. The only way for me to refrain from this position, is for my death or to be declared mentally unstable." She glared at him. "Whatever you mistakenly think of me, Talon, I have studied the laws."

Talon stepped down from the dais to stand in front of her. The rest of the Council stood as well. Frankie realized they were surrounded. Jonas shoved her behind him as Zoe did the same for her mother.

"There appears to be one thing you have left out, dear cousin," Talon smirked. "You must produce an heir within one year of your leadership. Due to the new laws enacted by the Council regarding humans, it must be a pureblood shifter. If not, you will be sterilized in order to ensure your genes are not passed onto the humans, and of course, you will be removed from the Council and a new leader will take your place."

"No!" Paige gasped. Frankie saw Zoe twist her hand, producing a fireball while Jonas' face took on a feral look, his teeth elongating and his eyes glowing silver. While it was true that she didn't want any child of hers to shoulder the burden her father had to bear as a shifter, the sterilization process not only involved the removal of her ovaries, but also a complete blood transfusion into full human form. The procedure often proved fatal for the shifter because human blood could not sustain the DNA structure of the shifter.

"Why not?" Talon sneered. "Isn't that what you want, Frankie? You want to be fully human, to remove yourself from your heritage, your legacy, your responsibilities and to end your bloodline with the Council!"

Frankie turned white as the implications of her careless words crashed down on her. She had blatantly ignored the fact that shifters have eyes and ears everywhere. Someone had gone to the Council with that tale. She glared at Talon in disgust. She could guess who it was.

She had no choice. If Talon was named leader, he would crush the less dominant members of the Council. There was already proof of that. She had to stop him. She moved away from Jonas. "I hereby accept the position as leader of the Wisdom Council per the lineage of my father, and his father before him."

"And you will produce an heir within the required time period?" Talon smirked.

"Yes, gods willing."

"Very well, then, cousin. I will be prepared to instruct you on what you have missed this past year."

Talon looked quite pleased with himself. Frankie wondered what he was up to, and then the enormity of her circumstances hit her.

She was now the leader of the Wisdom Council. 
Chapter Five

Tanner sat on the worn barstool at Nick's bar. Montana Max's had been the local watering hole for more than fifty years, back when Grafton was just a fishing village. Old man Max had rented the rooms upstairs for the out of towners that came for a weekend of fishing. He'd even taken to feeding them, usually something fresh from the river, as a way to keep them here and drinking. When Grafton, thanks to his family and others, had turned the town's main focus from fishing to tourism, Max decided to retire, and he sold the place to Nick Coalson. It looked pretty much the same as when Max owned it, but it didn't smell as fishy, in thanks, no doubt, to his mother.

He took a sip of his beer, casually keeping an eye on Frankie, who was laughing with Angel and a few folks from around town. He wondered again why on earth Jonas Blackshire had called him with a special request this afternoon.

"Tanner, this is Jonas. I need you to keep an eye on Frankie for a few days. I'm needed out of town."

"I'll always watch out for Frankie." Tanner heard the man sigh heavily into the phone. "But if you're so worried, take her with you."

"I can't. It's, well, she's needed here."

"Why? My folks would give her time off. Or are you planning on leaving for good?"

"She has business too, that she can't leave. Business besides your family."

"Tell me straight, Jonas. Is she in some kind of trouble?"

"I don't know. Just keep an eye on her, and Tanner, I'm not talking just a casual eye."

"You called me. You knew I'd do it. But you were hoping for no questions asked, right?"

"It would be best."

"Fuck that, Jonas. I can't protect her from something if I don't know what it is." Tanner switched to a whisper. "Something's going on and I need to know, Jonas. It's the only way to protect her."

There was a pause on the other end. Tanner waited patiently. Finally, Jonas spoke. "There's quite a bit you don't understand, but I promise to explain it all to you when I get back. For now, just keep an eye on your woman."

"My woman?" Tanner hissed. "If you know she's my woman, then why in the hell are you chasing her? And how the hell did you figure she's mine? If you know anything about Frankie, you would know she makes up her own mind in her own time."

Jonas chuckled. "That she does. Let's just say Zoe had a vision and I was privy to what was in it."

"Tell me, Jonas."

"Just keep an eye on her, and know that I'm not a threat, Tanner. I'm a friend. Both you and Frankie are going to need me in the future."

"Now you're sounding like Zoe."

Jonas chuckled. "Well, she is my sister."

"What?!?"

But Jonas had hung up, leaving Tanner here tonight, getting hard, watching Frankie, in a flirty floral sundress and cowboy boots mingle with friends, and wondering how in the hell the sophisticated Jonas, and the free-spirited Zoe, could be related.

Tanner finished his third beer and checked the old Stag Beer clock. He'd been here a little over two hours. Frankie had come up to him three times to talk, to ask him to dance, and to tell him how much she loved his family. He watched as her cousin, Talon, handed her another beer. It was at least her seventh. His woman was on her way to being falling down drunk and her cousin, who had never spent two minutes with her as far as Tanner knew, was supplying the booze. Now, why did that make him suspicious?

He left his spot and walked over to the laughing group. "Hey, Frankie, maybe you should let the beer settle a bit before you start another one."

"Hi, Tanner!" Angel hugged him. Sam, his brother, simply raised an eyebrow at his statement.

Talon glanced at him. "Don't worry, Tanner. If she needs a ride, I'll see her home."

"Hah!" Frankie poked him in the chest. "You'd rather see me in hell, cousin." She swayed slightly. "But I say, you first!" She tried to annunciate the point with a punch to his shoulder, but she missed completely and would have fallen on her face if Tanner's quick reflexes hadn't saved her.

"Oh honey, I think you're going to call it a night," Tanner whispered in her ear as he lifted her into his arms. "I've got her, Talon. Why don't you just enjoy the rest of your evening?"

"Take her straight home, my boy. I'll check on her later." Talon's smile didn't reach his eyes.

"No need. As I said, I've got her. She'll be safe with me," Tanner countered, willing the man to back down.

The group around them quieted as the atmosphere was suddenly charged with tension. Sam pushed Angel behind him, looking to Tanner. Out of the corner of his eye, Tanner saw two burly guys stand up and walk toward Talon. Nick quietly took his place next to Sam.

He started to lie Frankie on the pool table next to them, preparing for a confrontation. A loud burp broke the silence. "Oh, dear. So sorry," Frankie slurred. She looked up at Tanner, rubbing her hand against his jaw. "Why so serious, Tanner? You're too handsome to be frowning."

She covered her mouth in shock. "I shouldn't say that! You're too young for me." She tried to scramble out of his arms, but he suddenly held firm. "Hey! When'd you get so big and strong? Oh yeah, you're grown up and sexy as hell." She touched his lips with her fingers. "God, I wanna kiss those lips." Her arm flopped down, and she passed out.

Tanner lifted her a bit higher in his arms. "And on that note, folks, Frankie's calling it a night." He started for the door, keeping an eye on the large mirror at the bar, reflecting the rest of the place. Nick and Sam still held their fighting stances. Talon stared at him in the glass as he waved his men off. Tanner now knew why Jonas had warned him. He had been leery of Talon, but why?

He managed to unlock his truck and slid the still unconscious Frankie inside. He grinned as she snorted in her sleep. He hopped in the driver's seat and took off for his apartment adjacent to the new banquet center on his parent's farm. He'd worry about Talon and his motives tomorrow. His Frankie had said she wanted to kiss him. Maybe, with some gentle persuading, one day she'd want to do a whole lot more.
Chapter Six

Frankie awakened with a moan, the sunlight piercing her eyes, her brain. She pulled herself to a sitting position, cringing as a wave of nausea hit her. Putting one hand to her stomach and one hand on her head, she focused on trying to open her eyes. Ugh! She hated hangovers. Forcing her eyes open, she looked around the strange room, noting the masculine details on the dresser and nightstand – a wallet, a watch, a picture of Tanner and his family posing in front of the new marina on opening day – wait! Her head screamed as she swiveled her vision from the dresser to the slightly opened door. She cringed as her sensitive ears caught the off-key notes of "Ring of Fire", a Johnny Cash classic, being murdered by Tanner's singing voice.

"Oh my God!" She plopped back on the pillows, the soft scent of his aftershave confirming her fears. She was in Tanner's house, in his bed. She closed her eyes. What had she done? She jackknifed into a sitting position, ignoring her splitting headache as the sheet slipped to her waist. She stared at herself in the dresser mirror directly across the room. Her hair was a massive mess of red tangles, her mascara had smudged so much she looked like a raccoon, and she was naked. Naked?!

She covered her breasts with the sheet, then put her pounding head in her hands. It was obvious she had slept with Tanner. And as punishment for her sins, God had erased her memory of a never to be forgotten moment with the man of her dreams. How drunk had she been that she couldn't remember even being at a bar, let alone seducing Tanner? And where the hell were her clothes?

The door opened on her musings and Tanner stepped in. Frankie shrieked and dove under the covers. "Dammit, Tanner! You could've knocked." She mumbled from under the sheet.

"What for? I've already seen what you got under my sheet." Frankie heard the laughter in his voice and reddened in embarrassment.

"That's beside the point! It's just good manners," she scolded him.

"You weren't worried about manners last night, darlin'," He reminded her.

"Stop that! It's also impolite to remind a lady about her, well, her, um, enthusiasm in a passionate moment."

Tanner laughter boomed within the room. "Woman, you are a treat. Just what do you remember about our passionate moment?"

She peeked out from under the covers. "I'm naked, Tanner. I'm pretty sure that speaks for itself."

Tanner sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled the sheet away from her head. "Frankie, I'm not one to brag, but if we had a passionate moment, you'd damn well remember it because it's only 8:00 in the morning and I'd still be loving you."

Frankie searched his face, seeing the truth, and a hint of cockiness. "You mean we didn't?"

"Of course not," Tanner said. "Do I look like the kind of guy that would take advantage of a drunken woman? I took off your boots and your dress smelled like booze, so I threw it in the wash. How was I to know you weren't wearing anything on underneath?"

"I was too, Tanner Coalson. Where are my underthings?"

"You were three sheets to the wind and I couldn't let you sleep in damp clothes, so I took my knife to them."

"You just wanted to see me naked!"

"I'm a man, Frankie. Of course, I'd like to see you naked, but naked and willing, not naked and drunk." He scowled at her lack of faith in his character. "And by the way you snore."

Frankie gasped. "I do not!"

"Yes, you do. And I've got the tape to prove it." He laughed at her disgruntled expression. "Go on, get dressed. Your stuff's hanging in my closet. Breakfast is waiting."

Chuckling, he crossed the room. "Oh, and Frankie?"

"Yes?" she grumbled.

"Nice tits." He closed the door to give her some privacy.

Frankie smiled softly, he was such a heart pumping combination of charm and naughty boy, then crossed the room and opened the closet. She found her clothes neatly hanging on the rod. Her boots placed on the floor. She grimaced. No way she could wear those boots now. Her feet still hurt from wearing them last night. She decided to go without. She hurried through a shower and dressed quickly so she could find out exactly what had happened last night.

She followed her nose to the smell of bacon down the hall to the kitchen. Pretty placemats were set at the wooden table, and a meal of bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast sat on the square plates. Frankie was suddenly ravenous as she sat down and waited patiently for Tanner to pour steaming cups of coffee.

He said across from her with a smile and passed her the jelly. "Thank you," she said quietly, and then asked, as she spread his Mama's homemade plum preserves onto her toast. "What exactly happened?"

"You really don't remember?"

She shook her head. "I only remember meeting Angel and Sam there for dinner. I said hello to Nick, I think. After that," she shrugged.

Tanner told her about the evening with a bemused frown. "Talon was there. He kept plying you with drinks and got very upset when I said I would take you home." He finished with, "I don't know what happened afterwards, but Talon and his friends were prepped for fighting Sam and a few others. I guess I'll have to call Sam later."

Frankie was horrified at the thought. Talon was aching for a fight with the humans. She was pulled back from her musing by Tanner's next question. "So, what is it with Talon suddenly coming around all the time. And why does Jonas want me to keep you safe?"

Frankie said, "Jonas is overprotective. There's no need. I can take care of myself."

Tanner smirked. "Yeah, looks like you were doing a really good job of it last night."

She looked down at her plate. "I'm sorry about this. I really don't know understand why Jonas involved you."

Turner sat back and took a sip of coffee. "So, you're gonna sit here and lie to my face, now? Tell me nothing's going on?"

Frankie's eyes filled with tears. She didn't want this, not with Tanner. Her feelings were so mixed up. She wasn't sure what to do. She knew she could trust him, and Jonas did too, but if he knew the whole truth, how would he react? No, she couldn't take that chance.

She decided to give him a bit of the truth, but just enough to satisfy his concerns. "You know my father purchased the saw mill and lumber yard after Angel's dad passed, right?"

Tanner nodded. "Yeah, it was the talk of the town. She sold it to him for a dollar."

Frankie smiled. "Yes. Miranda was always very generous with the workers and their families. She knew my dad would do a good job keeping her father's legacy alive. He would undo the damage her husband had done. Restore the morale."

"He did a fine job of it, Frankie. Folks here count themselves real lucky to work there."

"Yes, he did." She smiled in thanks for the support. "Anyway, now that my father has passed, and we've had some time to grieve, well, it's time for me to assume control of the company," She sighed. "And the board of directors. Talon doesn't want to give up his temporary position, and I guess we're having what you might call a hostile takeover."

Tanner leaned forward in his chair. "I had absolutely no idea this was going on." He took Frankie's hand. "What do we do?"

She smiled at him. "I've got Jonas on it. He's got some legal pull, but he's afraid Talon might do something rash."

"Like physically hurt you?" Tanner asked.

"We're hoping it doesn't come to that. I told Jonas that he had ample opportunity while I was in mourning to take over the company."

Tanner shook his head. "No, he knew how folks felt about your dad and your family. No way the employees would work for him. Jonas is right. He'll try it now that you're assuming control. Probably small stuff to make you seem incompetent or unable to handle the union."

Frankie's eyes lit with fire. "He can try, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let him sully my father's memory or the good he's done for the company."

Frankie could almost see the wheels in Tanner's mind turning. "You're staying here," he said. She started to object, but he stopped her. "No Frankie, I can keep a better eye on you when you're right here. We've got the family close. You work across the street. Right now, it's a win-win. There is no need for you to stay alone."

"But the shop..."

"You're closing the lingerie shop anyway. Angel told me something about having an offer to lease it now that you guys are online only."

He paused, his eyes narrowing. "The closing doesn't have something to do with Talon, and Angel didn't tell us, does it?"

"Oh no!" she exclaimed. "That has nothing to do with him. Angel and I were talking about how it seems silly to keep the shop open when we do 90% of our business online. But we wanted to keep it in the family so to speak. And that's when I approached my friend from college - Tilly or Matilda actually. She wanted to start a bookstore and coffeeshop where you could sit and enjoy your book, have some coffee and maybe a muffin. Something more intimate than those giant warehouse stores that you see. She also wanted it to be community friendly and offer fun workshops, storytelling Saturdays for kids and in the tourist season, maybe some signings by local authors. It's a good plan, so we're going to lease it to her. I think she's a great fit for this community." She looked like a cat that swallowed the canary. "And if there are poetry and wine nights, well, guess who will be supplying the wine?"

Tanner grinned. "You are a marketing genius, Frankie." He kissed her hand. "Thank you." His visage took on a serious tone. "Now, getting back to you. I'll take you home. You gather up some clothes. While you're doing that, I'll let the family know what's going on."

"I don't want your family involved. I just managed to get my mom back to Phoenix, so I don't have to worry. I don't need to worry about all of you, too."

"We've done this before, remember? We've even got a hacker, a private eye, and a few army and navy men in the family. There's nowhere safer than right here with me. If Talon knows what's good for him, he will exit quietly and with all the pompous dignity he likes to cloak himself in."

She knew there was no changing his mind and frankly, she was relieved. She knew Jonas couldn't be everywhere, and Zoe's visions were getting more intense. "Thank you, Tanner. I appreciate it."

She watched as he walked over to her. "There's just one thing, Frankie." He grabbed her up and out of the chair, putting his arms around her. "There's only one bedroom. You're going to be sharing it with me. And I don't mean in a platonic way."

Frankie gasped. "Then something did go on last night?"

"No, honey," Tanner said. "But having you close last night, your sweet body pressed next to mine, I'm pretty sure I could get used to the idea of sleeping next to you." He took advantage of her shocked expression and kissed her open mouth. Frankie melted at the first touch of his lips on hers. It was shameful, this need of hers for a younger man. No, she corrected herself. Not any younger man. Only Tanner made her feel this way. She wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss with as much passion as he was showing her.

She drew in a quick breath when he finally released her lips to trail kisses down her neck and collarbone. She felt the buttons of her dress give way as he tore it from her. With a quick flick of his wrist, it was gone, and he fastened his gaze on her small breasts. She watched as his eyes darkened in desire.

"You're beautiful," he said, looking up into her eyes.

She blushed. "I'm not as curvy as some girls."

He gently touched her nipple with a callused finger, watching the pebble harden before his hungry eyes. "I said you're beautiful. I meant it."

Frankie believed him. There was such want in his gaze. She had every reason not to give in to her needs, but maybe for just a moment, she could pretend that he was her man and she was a normal woman. "Show me. Show me I'm still beautiful." She kissed his collarbone through his shirt.

"You've never stopped." He picked her up. She giggled as he licked at her nipple. "Woman, I'm going to love you all day long."

Tanner walked her to his bed never breaking their contact. Frankie was on fire with every touch, every time he stroked her skin. When he laid her on the bed, he simply looked at her. She was overcome with the emotion shining from his eyes. His hands stroking her breasts, teasing her nipples with this thumb. His touch made her squirm. She reached for him. He came down on top of her. His tongue again demanded entrance of her lips and then swept into her mouth. She met him tongue to tongue, moaning in his mouth as his fingers continued the assault on her sensitive breasts.

Her hands clutched at his shoulders trying to get to his skin. She could barely breathe as his embrace sucked the air from her lungs. When he pulled his lips from her to trail his hot tongue to her ear, she almost came undone. She could hear him panting, trying to get control, and she shivered as he trailed his mouth along her neck, and then licked at her breast. He replaced his hands with his mouth on her nipples as his fingers descended along her stomach.

"I need you here in my bed. I wanted it for so long. I've imagined it so many times in my mind. Do you have any idea how long I've wanted this, Frankie? You've always been mine," he said.

As his fingers descended to cup her mound, he toyed with the tender folds, his fingers sliding smoothly into her. She clasped his head as he tenderly stroked her nipples with his rough tongue.

"Oh God, that's so good," Frankie cried.

She felt his strong fingers as they caressed, seeking her pleasure, then they were bold as they strummed along her inner lips. "Yes, please, more..." she was begging for him.

His mouth trailed down her stomach, and she squirmed, her body burning with need. She scraped her nails across his back to bring him closer, to feel more of him. As his mouth left her breast, she cried out.

"Shh, love. I want your taste." Tanner's mouth moved closer to her core. She closed her legs in reaction, not sure she could endure this new sensation, but he was having none of that. Moving between her legs, he spread her open, exposing her. Frankie's body trembled as his mouth clamped onto her clit. His tongue became bold, delving into her inner depths.

"I can't, Tanner, please." She pulled at his hair, but he had no mercy. Closer to climax, his tongue flicked over the tiny bud, as her hips continued to wiggle in need. She was lost in pleasure as he inserted his fingers in her. She clinched around him, hungry to capture him and orgasm. Her body was burning for releasee, and she strained against him.

"You're so slick and tight, baby," Tanner panted. His fingers continued to pump into her, and she was helpless trying to hold back her climax, so these wonderful sensations would never end.

When he pinched her clit with a twist, she knew she could not endure more. "Oh, hurry, please, so close," she whimpered. She raised her hips as high as she could, trying desperately to make him take her. His fingers hit a particularly sensitive spot and she came apart. With a creamy rush, her channel contracted on Tanner's fingers.

She cried out as he continued to lap at her sensitive flesh. "Tanner!" she screamed as her hips jerked and her body trembled in climax again. She had never experienced anything like that. She opened her eyes to see Tanner licking his fingers with a sexy grin. God, he was so damn hot!

"Don't get too comfortable, baby. I'm just getting started." She watched as Tanner rose from the bed and shucked is jeans. Apparently, he didn't believe in underwear. His cock spring forward hard and huge. She couldn't help but stare, as he quickly rolled a condom.

Her heart was thundering. She looked quickly away. Not because he had embarrassed her, but because she realized in this one act, he had stolen her heart. She had been able to ignore her feelings for Tanner since she couldn't imagine they would ever be together physically. It was silly, but as long as she had held onto that thought, she could keep her heart from aching for him. A sob escaped her lips. It was as if her dreams were within reach, then being ruthlessly snatched away.

He crashed on the bed beside her, his expression pained. She knew that he was struggling for control. "Frankie, baby, did I hurt you?" He held her close, his erection pressing into her bottom. "We can take it slow if that's what you want. I want to make love to you, Frankie, not fuck you. I can wait until you're ready to be with me completely. You will always come first."

She laughed in spite of her tears at his unwitting entendre. "Oh, Tanner. You make me so happy."

"Then why the tears, baby?" She watched his hand creep along her stomach, his fingers wandering down to play.

"I always cry when I climax," she lied and wiggled her bottom against his hardness.

"Then I guess you're going to be crying a lot around me." He kissed her passionately. "But I promise to dry your tears with my kisses," he kissed her eyelids, "and my tongue", he licked her lips, "and my hands." He tenderly touched her nipple where a teardrop had fallen.

Frankie stopped thinking about the future. She needed to be in the moment with Tanner, to be filled by him, consumed by him. She turned on her back. "Make love to me, Tanner. I want you so much."

"Frankie, I feel like I've waited forever for you," he told her.

He positioned himself above her, kissing her tenderly, then lifting her hips. Teasing her with the tip of his cock. Pressing forward, his body shaking, he murmured, "So tight, so hot."

Frankie lifted her hips, desperate for him. "Please Tanner, now." She squirmed against his cock.

His control slipped, and he buried himself inside her completely. She could feel her walls expand and clenched, not used to being filled. The fullness left her breathless, eager to have him move, to start those lovely sensations again.

"Yes, more," she hissed, wiggling her hips, trying to grind against him.

"You are mine now, Frankie, and I will make you come until you beg for mercy." His voice was wild with passion.

Tanner pulled out and pushed back in, faster and harder. Frankie met him thrust for thrust. It felt so good, holding him, loving him. She wound her legs around his waist. His hands cupped under her ass. She could feel his need and she wanted it as much as he did. He was forcefully staking claim as his cock pommeled her.

The waves of ecstasy started to roll over her. She threw her head back as her body exploded, her muscles grabbing and clenching at Tanner's cock. He continued to pleasure her as she screamed, milking him within her clinching walls. He then gave a great shout and released within her.

Moments later, he crushed her with the weight of his body. Frankie didn't mind in the least. Bringing his body onto his elbows, he kissed her neck. She was flooded with erotic pleasure, the emotions too intense. She held him tight and tried to quiet her sobs once more.

He held her, letting her cry it out, handing her tissues, murmuring the sweet love words he had longed to tell her for years. She finally quieted, but still held fast to him, as if she didn't believe in this, in them. Tanner sensed her fear. "Tell me, Frankie. This is more than incredible orgasms. You are crying as if your heart is breaking." He brushed her hair out of her eyes. "There is nothing you could tell me that would make me turn from you, baby. Just tell me and I'll make it go away."

Frankie looked up into his eyes. He was so serious and so sure that he could make all of her problems take flight. She knew he would always try, he was a protector, it was part of this nature, it was a part that she loved about him. She didn't know how she was going to let him go when she took over leadership of the council.

But that was for another time. Tanner was still holding her, still pulsing within her. She would make this feeling last, to take it out as a beautiful memory, when she was lonely. With a push on Tanner's shoulder, she had him on his back, never releasing their union. "I'm going to explore you, Tanner. I want to touch you. Kiss you. Lick you." She grinned as the desire lit his eyes once more.

"You're gonna kill me woman," he growled but put his hands behind his head and allowed her to pleasure him. At least until he couldn't take it anymore. Then he took control and did some exploring of his own.
Chapter Seven

Tanner finished putting the last of the boxes from the wineglasses into the recycling bin. In just a few short months the winery would be open. Just in time for the beautiful fall foliage that ran along the bluffs. Tourists came from all over to take in the beauty of the river and the bluffs filled with multi-colored trees. It was no wonder the Department of Transportation had dubbed this stretch of highway 'The Scenic Byway'.

Tanner scanned the winery welcome center and bar. He was ready to ply those tourists with wine and tasty tidbits from Sweetie Pies Bakery and fresh pickings from the local farmers market. Yes, things were coming along nicely, he thought. As a matter of fact, he couldn't think of anything that he wanted. The woman of his dreams was in his bed every night, no longer just a dream, but flesh and blood. His family's businesses were thriving thanks to the hard work of his brothers. The family itself was also expanding with Nick and Rebecca expecting their first child.

Yes, indeed life was good. He walked across the large room and made a sharp right to his apartment. He expected Frankie to be there, but he could tell as soon as he walked in the door, that she was not. He felt her absence. Now where has she got to? He looked around, saw the note on the refrigerator door. _Went to town with your mom. Be back soon._ He smiled. She had drawn a little heart. He loved that about her. Well, he loved everything about her. He took the paper off the refrigerator, folded it and went into the bedroom to stick it in his dresser. Maybe he was a sap. He kept everything she gave him.

He opened the closet and pulled out fresh jeans and a shirt. He noticed the box that had come just a few days before sitting on the floor. It was from Paige. He remembered how she had cried when she had opened it, taken out the items within and hugged them to her heart.

He was beginning to realize just how passionate she was, in the bedroom and in life. He wanted more than anything to be there for all her passionate emotions, to watch every single tear she cried in joy or sorrow, and dry them with his kisses, comfort her with his love.

He picked up the box and opened it, staring at the tiny leather boots that would grace her delicate feet. She had told him that they were her mother's, a family heirloom apparently. He reflected on that conversation as he caressed the worn leather.

"Frankie honey, your mom sent you a box. It says for your birthday, and that you were gonna need it."

"Thanks, love." She kissed him on the mouth, then like a kid at Christmas, tore open the paper. She opened the box and then had stared in disbelief. "Oh my. It's her boots. The first gift my father had made for her. She's giving them to me."

Then she started to cry. Tanner had gathered her in his arms, with her hugging the boots as he hugged her. When she quieted, she had told him the tale of how her father had given them to her mother before they were married. "You see, my father loved to go hiking, camping, to be out in nature. He had these boots specially made for my mother, so her feet could handle the rough terrain that he wanted to take her through to show her his favorite places. There's even a little place to put a paring knife if they happened to find some apple trees, and they were hungry," she said with a sly grin.

"Your parents stole apples from our orchard?" Tanner growled in mock anger.

"Well, maybe not stole. Mama always made sure there was an apple pie or fritters for the Coalsons."

"Your father was a great guy. Your mom's a lovely woman. she can take our apples anytime she likes." Frankie had stood on tiptoes and held him close.

_And things had taken a decidedly sensual turn after that_ , Tanner thought as he hit the showers, wishing Frankie was home. Just thinking of her had him hard. Maybe he should use the time in the shower to come up with some innovative way to play.

Tanner finished his shower, donned some clothes and called Frankie's cell phone. When she didn't answer, he tried his mother. She told him she had dropped Frankie off at Jonas' place as he was back in town. Tanner thanked his mom, grabbed his keys and headed up Power Line road near Pere Marquette State Park. Coalson Construction Company had built Jonas' mansion, set into the bluffs and surrounded by trees.

He approached the gate drive and it swung wide before he could push the entrance button. Parking the car, he heard Jonas' raised voice and then Frankie answering in anger from the back of the house. As he approached, he heard them talking.

"What do you mean you didn't find anything? There's got to be something," Frankie cried.

"I've gone through all the legal documents. I've researched all of the history of the Council," Jonas countered. "Even the Council's bylaws."

Tanner heard him sigh. "You are going to have to formally assume the position, Frankie, and then change the law."

"I don't want to assume the position, Jonas, you know that." Frankie was adamant. "Well, I'm not going to do it. I'm going to do what my father asked. I'm going to marry for love." She took a step forward, poking Jonas in the chest.  "Not because some stupid law says I have no choice."

"Frankie," Jonas hugged her to him. "Why don't you just tell Tanner? Tell him what is going on. If he loves you, as you think he does, as he said he did, then he will understand."

"No, Jonas. I can't take that risk. It's not just my secret to tell." She pulled away, wrapping her arms around her waist. "It's better to leave now before things get too complicated. I couldn't stand him to look at me with fear and disgust."

"Did your mother look at your father that way, Frankie? No. She accepted him and his gift or curse or whatever you want to call it. She loved him. Tanner deserves to know the truth. He doesn't deserve to be left like this, if you truly love him."

Tanner had heard enough. "Tell me what, Frankie? And what's this about leaving?"

Frankie jumped at the sound of Tanner's voice. Jonas slid his gaze over to the young man then back to Frankie. She shook her head in the negative.

"It's nothing, Tanner, just forget it." She tried for a smile, but he could see it didn't reach her eyes.

"It's not nothing, Frankie, if it's got you this upset." He advanced on her with an angry stride. "But the fact that you can tell Jonas and not me, has me a bit concerned. I have no secrets from you, Frankie. You know I love you. Everyone knows I love you. But why you can't trust me, I do not know." He reached for her, but she backed away. He turned and started to walk away, shoulder slumped in defeat. "I guess my love and trust isn't enough."

Frankie cried out, "Wait! It's not like that, Tanner. I do trust you. I just..." She looked at Jonas for help.

"Tell him," he growled.

"Tanner, I can't have children," she whispered.

Tanner turned back. "That's what this is about? That you can't have my child?" He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "Frankie, I don't care. Do you think I love the twins any less because they don't share our family DNA? You want kids, we will adopt." He marched back to her. "A child doesn't have to be of my flesh and blood, for me to love him or her. It just has to be a child we love Frankie, you and me."

Frankie looked once more to Jonas, but he kept silent. "It's not just that, Tanner. I know you want a family, a wife, children, and you deserve all that." She waved him away as he advanced, his arms out to hold her. "I can't be that for you. I'm going to take the position as the head of the lumber company, and that will be my life. I don't want to be your wife or the mother of your children."

Tanner's heart was breaking at the cold sound of her voice. "I don't understand. Plenty of women have full time careers and are mothers and lovers and wives. Why not you?"

"Because it's not fair to you!" she cried. "You're a young man, and you deserve those things; you want those things. You're fifteen years younger than me. What we had was a fling. I didn't expect it to last. I didn't expect you to want it to last. I'm settled into my life and I don't have room for you in it long term. I didn't want to tell you like this. But you gave me no choice."

Tanner stared at her, hearing the hateful words coming from her mouth. Knowing that she couldn't even tell him privately. Jonas had to be witness to his humiliation. She really didn't love him. He could barely catch his breath as that fact settled in his brain. He'd made a fool of himself over a woman who had only wanted a good time in the sack.

"I guess what they say is true – you can't go home again. The Frankie I knew would never have been so selfish as to hurt another person just to scratch an itch."

He turned to Jonas. "Good luck with her, brother. You've seen what she's really like now. If you still want her, she's all yours." He started to walk away.

"I'll be out of your house tonight." She started toward the back doors of the mansion.

Tanner grabbed her arm, making one last attempt to find his Frankie of long ago. "You don't mean that, Frankie, I know you don't."

He gave her a little shake. Jonas took a step forward. "Careful, Tanner."

"You stay out of this! I don't know what the hell you have told her, or why she thinks she can't have it all with me. But you won't win Jonas. I won't fuckin' let you win."

"Let me go, Tanner, just let me go." She yanked her arm out of his grasp. "I don't want you anymore." She ran into the house.

Fierce anger was coming off Tanner in waves. He looked at the door, wanting to go to her, and then looked back at Jonas wanting to take his head off.

"Calm down, Tanner. I'll talk to her. I'll try to get her to see reason."

"You are the fuckin' reason, Jonas," he snarled. "Why don't you just go back to Vegas where you belong?" Tanner turned on his heel and headed to the front of the house.

He got his truck and quietly backed down the driveway. He couldn't remember how he made it home. He alternated between numbness and blinding pain in his heart. He entered the house and immediately regretted coming here. It was filled with Frankie, her perfume, her essence.

He got a beer out of the fridge, welcoming the icy burn down his throat as he paced around his living room. He didn't know what to do now. He glanced into the bedroom and saw the boots still sitting there.

"Fuck it!" he exclaimed and threw the bottle against the wall. Snatchings his keys, he headed for the bar.

Montana Max's saloon was the happening place on a Friday night in small town Grafton. It looked like everybody was here, well, except for his brother Nick. Noah was manning the bar this evening. Noah, Sam's SEAL buddy and resident tech expert, was a mountain of a guy. That was saying something as Tanner was over six feet and so were his brothers. Between his shaggy brown hair and long dark beard, plus assorted tattoos, he was one scary looking dude, but Tanner knew he was a teddy bear. He'd seen him blush on more than one occasion when a woman wanted to get friendly with him.

He found an empty stool at the end of the bar and plopped into the seat. "Hey, Tanner. What's up, bro? Haven't seen you in a while." Noah slid an ice-cold beer over to him. "Guess you been keeping pretty busy with Frankie, huh?" he chuckled.

Tanner took a sip. "Yeah, that's done. I'm a free man. I don't need that relationship shit. I'm just like you, Noah, single and ready for a good time."

Noah fixed him with a fierce frown. "Well now there's wanting to be single and having to be single. I'm thinking you're more the having kind. So, what happened?"

Tanner took a long swallow of beer. "Nothing. We had a good time, we had some laughs. Jonas is back, so we're done." Tanner couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. "Good old Jonas. Suave, sophisticated, comes to town from Vegas, has lots of money and years of experience in whatever the fuck it is that he does." He set the beer down with a hard thud. "Yes Sir, no way some fresh outta college kid is gonna compete with that shit, so I'm out."

Noah nodded, mixed a few cocktails and handed it to the waitress, and then came back to Tanner. "You, son, are acting like a baby. Ain't no wonder the woman doesn't want that; she wants a man."

"Well that's just great, Noah. Thanks." He pointed the beer bottle at his friend. "She seemed to think I was man enough when I was between your legs."

Noah grabbed Tanner by his shirt and pulled him across the bar. "Now listen up, pup. Say another word like that about Frankie, and they'll be picking pieces of you out of the Mississippi, got it?" He set him back on the stool. "Only reason you still have teeth is because you're hurting. I've said a shit ton of stupid stuff when I was hurting, too. Don't worry, I'll forget I heard it." He leaned in close. "Unless you repeat it to anyone again. Then, well, then, I'll tear you limb from limb, like I said."

"What the hell has happened to this town all of a sudden?" Tanner grumbled. "Everybody sniffing around my woman. She's not the only one, you know. There's plenty of fine looking women here. Go find one, Noah." He straightened his shirt. "Maybe I'll do that, too. I ain't good enough for Ms. Frances Cavanaugh? Well fuck that!"

Noah was in his face once again. "You are acting like a twenty-four-year-old nitwit. You don't know..."

"Yeah everybody says that, but nobody wants to fucking tell me anything. You wanna tell me, Noah? It seems like everybody knows what's going on, but me." He slumped against the bar.

"If I had my way, son, I'd do it, but it's not my call, it's Frankie's." He turned to serve another customer and then came back. "Here, you get one more," he handed Tanner another beer, "and then your ass is going home. Go to bed, and in the morning, when you're thinking clear and you're not so damn emotional, you and me and Jonas are gonna have a talk 'cause I love your family, man, and you don't deserve this shit, either." He took Tanner's empty bottle, rubbing a bar towel along the counter. "But I'll be damned if you're gonna take it out on Frankie. She needs you and you belong together whether she wants to believe it or not. There's a lot of trouble coming her way. She's gonna need all of us."

That's sobered him up like nothing could. Noah's serious tone sent chills down his spine. "What is going on? Jonas wants me to watch over her; you're telling me bad shit's coming."

Noah whispered, "We need to be prepared, man. Do you remember how we had to take out the trash that came here after the flood?"

"Is it gonna be like that again?" Tanner lowered his voice as well.

"No brother. It's worse. It's much worse." He reached for Tanner's now empty bottle. "Go on home, have some dinner and get a good night's sleep if you can."

Tanner had never seen him so worried. Frankie was in serious trouble. He didn't know what it was, but it didn't matter anymore. It didn't matter if she didn't love him. He had to protect her. My God, he loved her; how could he not protect her? "All right, Noah. I don't trust Jonas, but I trust you, man."

"Jonas is a good guy, Tanner, and by tomorrow night, you'll know everything. But understanding it? Well, just keep an open mind - a real open mind."

Noah suddenly turned his head and looked to the door. Tanner could have sworn he sniffed the air. He peeked around the big man. _Talon_. Tanner knew that bastard played a major part in Frankie's troubles. He hopped off the stool. Noah snarled, "Stay!" but Tanner was already heading through the crowd toward Frankie's cousin. He didn't even break his stride but threw back a fist and punched Talon right in the face, then walked out the door. He heard Noah's booming laughter through his open window as he got in his truck and drove away.

Tanner pulled onto the lane where the winery and his folks house stood. Tomorrow he'd get his answers. Noah had made a promise and he never reneged on a promise. Tanner glanced over to his childhood home, noting the darkened windows. He checked the time on the dashboard. It was after eleven and he wanted to be up by six in the morning to get some fresh planting done. He turned to park along the back of the banquet center, but as the head lights flashed onto his apartment he noticed the door flung wide open. Hopping out of the car, he grabbed his rifle from the back of the truck and made his way cautiously into his dark apartment.

"Frankie, is that you?" He reached for the wall switch and turned on the lights, then his heart skipped a beat. His apartment was in shambles. Furniture smashed, overturned tables and the kitchen was a mess. The refrigerator was knocked over, and food spilled out onto the floor. He made his way back into the bedroom through the debris. "Frankie? Frankie?" he called out in panic. _What if she had come upon the thieves?_ He opened the closet, saw her clothes were still here. His fear intensified as he flipped on the bathroom light. Her toiletries were still cluttering his countertop.

"Frankie!" He ran through the bedroom and back into the living room. He tripped over his kitchen table. Looking down, he saw the empty box where her mother's boots had been. He was damn sure now that someone had taken her. He forced himself to calm down and think.

He punched in the number on his cell phone and Jonas answered on the first ring. "Tanner, I,"

"Never mind, Jonas. Is Frankie with you right now?"

"No," Jonas' voice was sharp with concern. "What's going on, Tanner?"

Tanner raked his hand through his hair in agitation. "Someone broke into my place. It's a mess all over. Frankie's stuff is still here, but she's nowhere to be found. I thought she was coming to get her stuff. Did you drop her off here?"

"Don't touch anything, I'm coming right over."

Tanner heard the click and looked around in silence at the debris. His next call was to Sam. Within five minutes, Sam, Noah, and Jonas were standing his living room.

"You touch anything, Tanner?" Jonas looked around at the mess.

"No. Well, the light fixtures. I put on the lights."

Jonas nodded. He scanned the room, eyes narrowed, prowling around, picking up debris. He turned to Noah. "It's him. Marks on the wood. He wants us to know he has her."

Noah's big hand clamped down on Tanner's shoulder. "It's almost midnight so that's close enough to tomorrow." He looked to Tanner's brother. "Sam, you might wanna see if you can get your brother some whiskey."

"Fuck that, just tell me!" Tanner shouted. "Do you know who took Frankie? Do you know where she is? Her boots are missing." He showed them the empty box. "She told me the story about her folks in the woods and those boots." He turned to Jonas. "Was she trying to tell us something?"

He started out toward the door. "Maybe they were going to take her to the woods, or the bluffs."

Jonas pulled him back. "Sam, grab a chair that isn't broken." When Sam complied, Jonas pushed Tanner into it. "I wanted Frankie to tell you this. But in order to get her back, we're going to have to let you in on the secret."

"What secret? We're wasting time!"

He started to get up, but Noah pushed him back down. "Sam, maybe you could explain it better."

Sam stood next to his brother. "Tanner, you know how as kids we always wished that the Piasa bird legend was real? That it was our friend? Or that we could talk to animals, that the animals knew what we were thinking?"

"Sam, what the hell are you talking about? We have to find Frankie." He started to get up again, but Noah shoved him down.

"We don't have time for this," Noah stated. "We're just gonna show him."

Jonas nodded and looked at Tanner. "Keep an open mind," he stressed, then he began to disrobe.

"What the hell are they doing?" Tanner whispered to Sam.

"Just, well, watch. It's kinda cool." Sam patted his shoulder.

Within moments, both Noah and Jonas were stark naked. But that wasn't shocked Tanner the most. They twisted around, and their bones began to crack, fingers grew into paws and hair sprouted on their hands and chest. Then with a fluid-like motion, Jonas became a wolf.

And Noah – Good God! Noah was a bear!

Tanner couldn't believe his eyes. Noah was on all fours, had claws instead of hands, a furry body where skin had been a moment ago. Tanner was amazed at how large he was, the paws almost as big as dinner plates. He walked up silently looking at Noah, the bear, how he couldn't stand up on his two legs because he was well over 8 feet tall. The dense black fur seemed rather oily. He reached out to touch it, then quickly withdrew.

"Sam?" Tanner said.

"Don't worry. Jonas and Noah are still in there. If not, we'd be dead by now."

The wolf chuffed, sounding like a human chuckle, but it reminded Tanner that there was more than one dangerous animal here.

Noah walked over to Tanner. He held up a mighty paw. Tanner reached out uneasily and placed his hand on it.

Sam laughed. "He wants you to give him a handshake."

"Oh." Tanner looks confused, then slapped the paw. The bear shook his giant head and walked away.

Jonas' eyes glowed silver, as he approached the younger man. Tanner could hardly take in the change in him as well. His face, elongated nose, sharp teeth, and his fur - Deep black with silver slashes across his cheeks, with streaks of white on his belly and back. This was the largest wolf he had ever seen.

Jonas nudged Tanner's hand and he petted the large head. With a growl of contentment, Jonas took off for the door, looking back at the group and showing his teeth. He was ready to get down to business.

"OK, Tanner and I will follow in the Jeep. Give us a minute to grab some weapons and we will be on our way." Sam trailed behind Tanner as he headed for the closet to see if they had destroyed his rifle and shotgun.

He pulled back a hidden door in the closet and handed the weapons to Sam. "Looks like they didn't bother to search thoroughly."

Sam loaded the gun and grabbed more ammunition from the shelf. "You ready?

Tanner nodded. "Let's go hunting."
Chapter Eight

Frankie slowly came awake, the blurriness in her eyes beginning to clear. She felt so weak, like she'd taken too much cold medicine. She wanted to sleep. She closed them and her head lolled, then banged against metal. Wincing in pain, she opened one eye. She was sitting next to a pole. She tried to move her arms, to relieve the pain in her shoulders, but she was held by something. Her hands hit the pole once, then again as she realized she was tied to it. That thought terrified her but galvanized her into action.

She took stock of her body first, trying to think how she got here, wherever 'here' was. "Calm down, Frankie," she whispered to herself. "You can figure a way out of this, if you just think logically." She was tied to a pole, obviously had been drugged, but appeared to be unhurt. She moved her legs a bit, as they were tied as well. Pins and needles shot through her calves. She cried out at the pain. How long had she been here?

"Help! Is anyone there?" she shouted. Her voice was hoarse, her throat was dry and scratchy. She coughed in an effort to clear it. Whether it was the effects of the drug they gave her, or because she went down screaming, she couldn't remember, but it hurt.

Giving up on getting free for the moment, she scanned her surroundings. A pale light streamed from a filthy window close to the ceiling. It was daylight at least. She must be on the lower story, most likely a basement. It looked to be an old house maybe, but where? There were still so many condemned buildings in the area because of the flood. She scanned the room again. "Looks like it could have been used for a kitchen or servant area. But now it just seems to be a giant storage room." Her whisper echoed off the walls. She was alone for the moment. She prayed whoever had captured her, hadn't gotten to Tanner, too.

She continued to search the room and found crates in a darkened corner and on the other side, she discovered skeletons and fabric debris. She shuddered. It looked to be used as a giant torture chamber now. Even with the window, the lighting was quite poor, but she noted chains and manacles hanging from the rafters. Next to the bones, there looked to be cabinets containing dozens of drawers. She could only imagine what those contained. Well, she wouldn't bother to see if she was right. She just needed to get the hell out of here.

"Good afternoon, Frankie," Talon said from the entrance to the room.

Frankie froze at the undercurrent of menace in his voice. "What on earth do you think you are doing?" She tried for a firm tone.

Talon smiled. "I'm very interested in you, Frankie."

A trickle of dread raced down Frankie spine. "I don't understand what you're doing. You know this is an act of treason. You will be killed."

"You don't get it?" Well, you soon will." He started toward her. The dim light from the window slashed across his blonde hair, but his face was still in shadow.

Frankie instinctively scooted back as far as she could. She was suddenly very afraid. "You know they're looking for me. Just let me go, and I will forget this happened. We are family, Talon. I will make an exception for you."

Talon squatted down beside her. "Not just yet, Frankie. Did I mention I saw the Jonas today? No?" He nodded as grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him. His fingers elongated, and his nails curved. She gasped in fear. Talon's handsome visage was twisted with madness, his eyes glowing gold. It was apparent he could no longer control the animal within.

"We had a rather unpleasant chat. He told me to stay away from you." Talon's eyes sharpened with fury. He flashed back and forth from human to owl. Frankie tried not to scream in terror. "But I am attracted to you." He let go of her face, touched a curl of her hair.

"Are you insane? We are cousins." Frankie shrank from his touch.

"That's true, but that's a human taboo. We are immune to their silly rules. Besides, you are an integral part of my plan."

"What plan?" she didn't want to know, but the more information she had, the better.

"I'm simply going to keep you here. Plant my seed in your body. And then give you to a slave market after you give birth. That way, you have a chance at life, I'm not completely without compassion, and I have a true bloodline heir."

Frankie stared at him in horror. "You're insane."

"Don't you understand, or haven't you been listening? I am the true heir to the leadership position of the Wisdom Council, not you."

Frankie shook her head. "I would never submit to such a thing!"

Talon nodded. "A bit of force will be necessary, then. Excellent. I prefer that way, you know. I like a woman who is willing to struggle."

"How dare you! You're mad," Frankie whispered.

"No, dear. I have been planning this opportunity for several years. I knew the moment was right when you and your human lover parted ways." He chuckled. "Now it's my turn to rule."

"I will scream!" Frankie hugged the pole, positioning her body as far away from him as possible.

"No one will hear you. The walls are made of stone and very thick. And no one will be coming down the stairs. Nobody knows you're here."

Frankie rubbed her wrists against the bindings. She had to get untied and get out of here. She would think of something, but in the meantime, she had to stall Talon. "Why are you so determined to do this? I will make you leader if you let me go! I'll sign a new law!" She hated the way her voice wobbled in fear.

"Why?" Fury flashed across his face. "You have everything. You always did. I had nothing. My family was second best for years. When I was growing up, I had to watch you being groomed to take over the Wisdom Council and it should have been me. I am the true heir."

He kicked a nearby crate. "Do you know what that's like to see every shifter come to visit you, every shifter fawn over you and your family? I had to be grateful if I got whatever attention was left over."

He began to pace. Frankie took the opportunity to move her legs closer to her hands. "My parents were treated as second best and they were happy to be there, but I would never grovel at the feet of your father or that human whore he called a wife."

Frankie have heard enough, and her anger came to the fore. "My father was the leader of the Council by birth! He was the first born! There was nothing you could do about it; you were born to the second son. Get over it!"

Talon slapped her across the face, his nails digging into her flesh, drawing blood. "You got everything! You get to be head of the council and you can't even shift! I get nothing! It's not fair."

Frankie peered into his eyes. "You really think you're superior to me, don't you? You tell yourself so much, you believe it's true. You do realize that if you are a decent person, people would treat you differently. You wouldn't have to resort to this. Good shifters will never follow you."

If you say so; I could care less what humans think of me. They are a step above cattle as far as I'm concerned." He walked over and began rummaging through the cabinet. "As far as the shifters go, the bad ones will follow me and I'm sure we can keep those 'good' ones, as you call them, in line. They are weaker after all."

Frankie tried another tact. "What will hurting me prove?" She could feel the blood dripping from her wrists as she rubbed against the leather. She was running out of time and she knew it.

He shook his head. "You haven't been listening. I am the true heir. My mother had sex with your father and I was born of that union. She told me on her deathbed, because she wanted to ensure that our bloodline endured and was not tainted by human blood."

Frankie gasped. "That's not true! My father would never have cheated on my mother. And how is this going to help you get the leadership position? If I die, your father is next in line."

"Oh, I don't plan on killing you right away. You will be by my side with our child until such a time as I decide it's time for your unfortunate mental breakdown, and I have you shipped to an asylum. Of course, that's only partly true. I believe you will have a mental breakdown after being sold on the black market to some shifter."

"I would never allow that, Talon. I'd find a way to escape and take my child with me!" she argued.

"You will agree if you don't want any harm to come to your precious Tanner or the humans you care about."

"Tanner won't believe you. Tanner loves me."

"He believes you played him for a fool. He said so in front of witnesses at his brother's bar."

"Everyone knows how you hate me. You will be the first suspect."

He flew across the room to get in her face once more. "No, dear sister, I will be properly enamored of you. My anger was that I didn't think you would forego your human taboos to choose me for a mate. See? For once you don't get what you want."

He reached for her. She was hopelessly tied. He smashed his mouth against her lips. She bit him, and he drew back. "Bitch!" He slapped her hard across the face. His body was aroused, and as he couldn't control the shifting phases, his feathers were beginning to surface, slashing across her other cheek with enough force to break the skin, as well, and bouncing her head against the pole. She saw stars, her eyes having trouble focusing for a moment.

He stood up, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief. "We will see how aggressive you are after a night here." Talon walked out the door and she heard the key turn into the lock.

This may be the only chance, she thought. She glanced down, as the ache in her legs was becoming more pronounced, plus the throbbing on her cheek added to the pain. She tasted blood on her lips. She tried to stretch to relieve the ache. Looking down, she noticed the boots and she smiled. Her mother had given her the boots. The ones that had a hidden knife on the inside, if only she could reach it. "Thank you, Mama," She murmured.

Stretching back as far as she could against the pole, she pushed her legs closer and leaned over, ignoring the pain in her side, and in her inner thighs as she stretched. Her fingertips were touching the hilt, but not quite able to grasp it. Her head struck the pole again. She started to fall over and quickly righted herself, ignoring the painful twinge in her thighs. "I can do this. I am the daughter of the Chosen One. I may not be able to shift, but I'll be damned if I don't' go down fighting."

She closed her eyes and begin to think of the beautiful rituals of her father and the Wisdom Council. She quietly chanted the prayer to call on her spirit animal. "I need you, Father, come to me. It is with your spirit I am home. Help me in my time of need. I feel your warmth surrounding me. I feel your heart beating with mine. I hear your words of wisdom. Be with me."

She continued to chant as the air grew colder and began to blow, circling the dust in the chamber. She closed her eyes tighter as the force of the wind increased, pushing her further against the pole. With an forceful push, she was propelled onto her knees. Fingers flicking against the boots, trying to reach inside the boot for the knife. She was bent backwards, the bindings stretched to dig into her skin. Finally, she grasped it to her finger and she breathed a sigh of relief.

She started sliding it up from the sheath. She carefully pulled one finger against her skin until it was visible, and she could grasp the hilt with her thumb and forefinger. The wind continued to force her backwards as she gingerly pulled the knife along her calf, cutting her leg, but not caring, as blood trickled down. The knife combined with the blood, made it slippery work. She almost lost it twice, but she finally managed to pull it free. The wind ceased, and she collapsed against the pole. "Thank you, Father," she whispered.

Frankie used her other fingers to grasp the small knife firmly and began sawing at the leather bindings. She nicked her wrist and fingers a few times causing more blood to flow. At last, with one last flick against the leather, she was free. She pulled her arms around, wincing at the pain in her shoulders and rubbing her wrists.

She glanced at the window, noting how quickly the sun was setting, and began to saw the bindings at her feet. In another moment, she was completely free. She gingerly got to her feet, moaning as the blood began to flow back into her calves. Eventually, she as able to limp over to the window above her. She didn't have much time left before Talon returned, she guessed, but the window was at least five feet above her.

She turned to the crates in the corner and began moving them across the chamber underneath the window, desperately trying to keep quiet in case someone came to investigate. When she had assembled them, she took a moment to catch her breath. It made a rickety staircase, true, but she had little choice. She started to climb, smiling as she noted the stamp on the crates, Coalson Family Orchards. Tanner was helping her to escape. She took that as a good sign.

With a little jump, she pushed open the window and scrambled onto the grass. She looked around for guards but saw nothing but a lone horned owl set in a tree next to the house. Nothing else was there to give her an indication of where she was except in the woods. She fell flat against the grass, fearing it was Talon, then recognized the white markings on the breast that had once belonged to her father. She got to her feet as the owl took to the sky and followed wherever it would lead because she knew her father, her new spirit guide, would lead her to safety.

She jogged along, watching the owl's flight toward the setting sun. She was northeast of Grafton, but how far? She continued on, hungry, thirsty, but determined to get home. Once, she thought she heard voices, but it was just the wind playing tricks on her mind. The sun set, and her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath, hands on knees. The golden eyes of the owl stared back at her, from a fat branch of a birch tree, waiting.

"I know, I know. I'm out of shape. It's been a trying year, Father. I missed you terribly. Mother moved to San Antonio. I guess you knew that." Tears filled her eyes. "They want me to take over your job. I don't want it. I can't do what you did. I'm not strong enough or wise enough. "

The owl continued to stare at her. "Nothing to say?" Frankie countered. She straightened and waved. "Let's go, then. I want nothing more than to get back to Tanner."

The owl straightened, spun his head around and dived toward her, causing her to fall to her knees next to a large fallen tree. It took off before her eyes and she scrambled to get up, angry at it's antics. In the next second, she was flattening herself to the ground once again. Her excellent night sight, a gift from her father's genes, showed her several animal eyes heading her way. They must be Talon's crew _._ Frankie searched the sky, but the owl was nowhere to be found now, nothing but a full moon and sparkling stars, making her easy to spot unless she stayed hidden in the woods. Of course, the woods were full of animals after her at Talon's command, so that wasn't exactly ideal either.

She looked around, listening for their sound, wishing she could pick up their scent. She couldn't just stay her and be grabbed. She had to make a break for it, but where? Scanning once more, she noticed a darkened area to her right, the denseness of the foliage making it almost impossible for the moonlight to penetrate. In the next second she was on her feet and running toward the darkness of the copse as the yelps and howls of the animals grew louder. Dammit, they had picked up her scent.

She ran faster as the growls grew louder, taking a chance to look behind her to see what was chasing her and that was her downfall, literally. She tripped on a fat root and fell, twisting her ankle. With a cry, she tried to hide as the animals were nearly upon her. She made it to her feet, but her ankle gave out once more. She flipped over onto her back and scrambled backwards into the foliage.

The land on the other side of the undergrowth was a washed-out incline, tree roots sticking out from the damp brown earth. If she could just pull herself up by the roots, she might have a fighting chance. She grabbed the nearest root and tugged, testing her weight. It came apart in her hands. In desperation, she grabbed another, but it, too, could not hold her weight. It was no use. She knew they would find her in a second. She could see their eyes in the darkness. Time for Plan B. She frantically searched for something to defend herself with. She grabbed a thick fallen branch and her knife and prepared to meet the beasts.

One by one they came into her line of vision. A panther, a coyote, a bobcat, and a honey badger. A rustle in the trees next to her, and there was Talon, in his owl form. Whether he intended to kill her or force her back, she didn't know, but she wouldn't make it easy for them.

"You can try, you bastards, but I'll take one of you out to be sure!" she shouted. "C'mon, Talon, I'm one human. You need these beasts to take me?" she taunted him. Bring it, cousin and I'll carve you like a Christmas turkey!"

The animals tensed, prepared to strike and Frankie sent a fervent prayer to her Maker, her spirit guide, and any other deity that might be listening. Not for her protection, but for her mother and Tanner. "Please let him know I loved him. Please." She crouched on one foot, near the earth, ready to pounce and meet her fate.

With a low growl, the bobcat leaped. She rolled to the side, slashing into the air, catching the animal along the belly, the knife ripping through vital organs. The shifter's blood fell on her head and face as it dropped to the ground to become human, a rough looking man she didn't recognize, taking his last breath.

In the next instance, a great growl was heard above her as bear, wolf, and men leaped over her head to defend her. Her owl guide screeched from the skies, sending Talon in flight. Frankie watched in grim satisfaction as her rescuers made short work of chasing her captors away while Tanner held her tight.

"You're safe now, baby. It's okay," he repeated over and over as he wiped the grime and blood from her face. His tremors and rapid heartbeat told her of his fear and relief at finding her unharmed. She snuggled in closer, looking to the skies and murmured a prayer of thanks to the gods, and her Father, who was always watching over her.
Chapter Nine

Tanner stood at the large window overlooking the Mississippi River from the bluffs. Jonas' mansion was enormous, and right now Tanner was thankful for the privacy. He wanted Frankie to know exactly how he felt about tonight's activity, and he intended to do it without an audience.

"I'm going to take a shower now, Tanner," Frankie whispered. He simply nodded. He knew she needed reassurance, but he had to prepare for what he wanted to say and how their relationship was going to go forward.

She started for the bathroom. Tanner turned around, "Frankie, you said you wanted to explain."

She looked up and nodded. "Yes."

"We will talk when you get out."

She nodded and headed toward the bathroom. Tanner waited until he heard the water running before he joined the rest of the man in the living room. Sam passed him a beer and slapped him on the back. "Welcome to the world of secrets," he said.

Tanner took a long draw on the beer hoping it would help him clear his mind.

Jonas smiled slightly. "I suppose you have some questions."

Tanner simply looked at him.

Noah smiled. "Ask away!" He got comfortable in an enormous leather chair.

Tanner thought he seemed rather jolly considering he had watched him tear a man to shreds. _Correction, a panther. He'd only become a man when he had died._

"Perhaps you should sit down, Tanner," Jonas motioned to one of the comfortable looking couches around the large area surrounding a fireplace. "You look a little pale." Tanner ignored the comment on his health but sat down on the nearest sofa.

"Well, I guess it's best to start at the beginning," said Sam. "You now know there is another society, for lack of a better word, that lives and breathes among us. Human but with a genetic mutation of sorts."

"Are there many of you? Tanner asked Noah.

"Yes, quite a few actually. We have lived with human for thousands of years."

"How did you find out, Sam?"

"Although Noah and Jax did their best to hide, well, it's pretty hard to miss in the desert of Afghanistan if a large brown bear or a dragon comes into view in my sniper lens."

"Wait! Are you trying to tell me that Jackson is a dragon?" He rocked back onto the pillows of the sofa, "I don't believe it!"

Jonas leaned forward, his forearms on his knees and stared at Tanner. "Sometimes it's hard to believe what's right before our eyes, but now that you know, you'll begin to understand. If you keep an open mind, all the stories, the tales, the legends that have passed down through the years, they all have a basis of truth."

"So, you just expect me to believe that all this is happening, a world within our world, and has been happening for centuries?"

"Can you think of any other explanation for what you saw tonight?" Jonas offered with a small smile.

Tanner sighed. "Noah's a bear, you're a wolf, and Jackson's a dragon. So, what does that make me, the Lucky Charms Leprechaun?" He still was uncomfortable with this new knowledge.

"It makes you the keeper of the secret, Tanner," Sam said. "It's not to be taken lightly."

Noah got up to fetch another beer. "Oh, and by the way, Jackson's not just any dragon. He's the last of his kind. He came here to help Sam and found his ancestry. Jackson comes from the Piasa birds."

"What?" Frankie yelped from the doorway. "That's why Jax has been absent! No one has seen him for months."

"He found his forefathers," Jonas sighed, "but it doesn't do much good at this point. He truly is the last dragon on earth."

Frankie hurried into the room. "Does Talon know?"

"Hell no!" Noah growled. "You and I both know that bastard would use Jax's blood to make himself immortal."

Frankie sat down and snuggled against Tanner. He pulled her close. "Immortal?"

"Dragon's blood, like unicorn blood and vampire blood, has magical properties. In his case, it can make a shifter almost impossible to kill."

Tanner's eyes widened with the knowledge of even more paranormal species living amongst them. Sam thought his brother had had enough education for one evening. This was best taken in small doses. "Well, now that we've got you back safe and sound, what's next?"

"For the time being, until we can find Talon, we let the bastards go," Jonas said quietly. "If we do anything, that would only raise the fractions against Frankie." He turned to her. "I found something that will work for everyone, I believe. You need to call an emergency meeting of the Council. Set it for tomorrow night. That should give Talon's faction enough time to find him and relay the news that you will be sworn in tomorrow night."

Tanner immediately stiffened. Frankie sighed and turned to him. "Please understand, Tanner. I don't want to do this, but I have no choice; it's passed down the bloodline. If I refuse, I will be killed. If I marry a human according to the new law passed by Talon, I will be sterilized, and my shifter blood will be drawn and replaced with human blood, so I will not pass on the shifter gene."

"You're an owl, right? I saw the owl knock you down as we approached. Noah told me your father was the leader of the Wisdom Council. That he was your spirit guide."

Frankie shook her head. "No, love, although my father was a shifter, our particular gene skips a generation, so I have shifter blood, but cannot shift. My children, however, will have that ability and one is expected to take my place when I pass."

Tanner put both arms around her. "We will deal with that when it comes," he said.

Frankie pulled away. "I will not have children. I will not pass this on. My bloodline dies with me."

Noah cocked his head. "That could have happened tonight, so why did you run? Why didn't you just let them kill you? Problem solved, and you could be with your Father."

Tanner was up and in Noah's face in the space in a second. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"Settle down." Noah gave him a little shove that sent him bouncing back onto the sofa. "I simply mean if she didn't have any hope why bother leaving?" He grinned in pride at the group. "But, look at her! She's still fighting. She's got her father's spirit."

Jonas smiled. "Yes, she is, but our little warrior is quite exhausted. Her eyes are drooping."

"No, I'm fine," Frankie said, then ruined it by yawning loudly.

"Tanner you do understand what this means, don't you?"

Tanner helped Frankie to her feet. "Yes." He looked at Jonas. "It means I'm keeping a secret to protect the woman I love and the people I care about."

Jonas nodded. "Good enough for now. Get some sleep."

Tanner scooped Frankie up in his arms amid her protests and headed back to their bedroom. Whatever the guys talked about now, he could find out later. At this very minute, he simply needed to be sure his woman understood - No more secrets; no more lies; whatever came next, they were in it together.

Tanner set Frankie on her feet, then enclosed her in his arms, kissing her wildly. He couldn't get over the fact that she could have died tonight. He needed to feel her warmth. He needed to be inside her. She must feel the same, he thought. She matched his passion, kissing his collarbone, reaching wherever she could to feel his skin.

Tanner pulled away and looked at her swollen lips, sparkling eyes, and the red hair that flowed wild and free down the back of Jonas' shirt. Tanner suddenly wanted to rip it off her in jealousy. He clenched his fists to keep from doing just that. "Take off the shirt, Frankie. You belong to me."

She smiled. "Yes, sir." She began to slowly unbutton the shirt, revealing skin inch by devilish inch.

With each button set free, Tanner's cock grew harder. She never looked up at him, she simply followed his command. She dropped the shirt to the floor and suddenly she was naked – tempting, primitive and wild. He took in every inch of her lovely body. She was petite but curved in all the right places. Her breasts were small, but naturally perky. He knew what they tasted like, how they felt in his hands.

"Look at me," he said. Her chin came up and her lovely face was open and honest. The big green eyes reflected her wish to please and the slight curl of her lips showed her desire as well. She was fire and passion wrapped in so many surprises, but maybe he had a surprise or two as well. "I'm going to take a shower," he said.

Her face fell. "Thank you for everything," she whispered. "I'll just go to bed."

He grinned at her disgruntled expression. Did she really think he could walk away from her? He could barely walk, true, because he was so hard. He was tired of thinking about tomorrow and what it was going to bring. He only wanted to think about Frankie. "Do you trust me, Frankie?"

She nodded emphatically. "Then follow me. I've been talking to Nick." He heard Frankie gasp and smiled. "Do you know what BDSM is, Frances?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "Of course. I'm almost forty and I read a lot of romances, Tanner."

He stripped out of his grimy clothes. "Then, baby, after what you put me through tonight, I think a little discipline is in order."

"Yes sir," she smiled. Tomorrow, in the light of day, he might realize that her world was too much for him, but tonight, he was okay with it and so was she.

He kissed her quickly. He couldn't help it. She looked so happy and eager to please, like a weight had been lifted. Or a secret finally told.

He groaned and pulled her by the hair, smacking her bottom as he growled, "Shower!" She practically skipped to the bath. She turned on the water and the shower immediately began to spray hot streams. When the steam was thick, and the water was just right, they stepped in, and she grabbed the soap and cloth, waiting.

Tanner bent to kiss her, the water sloshing down their bodies, adding heat to their cool skin. Frankie shivered, and Tanner cupped her head, bringing her fully under the water, devouring her with his tongue. When she could draw a breath, Tanner's cock told her how much he wanted her. It bumped against her stomach seeking entrance.

Frankie shyly stepped back. "I want to wash your arms," she said, placing a small kiss on his bicep, "your chest," she licked his nipples, "your fingers," she sucked them one by one, her eyes never Tanner's face.

"You're so giving, love. I want you so badly."

"Turn around, Sir, so I can wash your back." Tanner felt the firmness of the loofah, then the softness of her fingers as she kneaded the flesh. He groaned in pleasure.

"That's it, love, let me take away the stress," she murmured, then slowly worked her way down to his buttocks giving them a soft squeeze and a tender nip.

"You were the one in danger, baby." The thought made him tense once again, but she was there to soothe it away.

Frankie finished by washing his legs and feet, planting a kiss on each instep.

Tanner looked down and saw the rapture on her face as she looked at his hard cock, the precum dripping along his head. God, she was his! His beautiful soon-to-be -wife. He would see to that tomorrow as well. Grabbing a license and getting a cake from Piper Sweet at Sweetie Pies, would be pretty easy. They could be married by the weekend.

He groaned as her tiny hands firmly stroked him up and down, lightly cupping his balls, then, taking the cloth, she rinsed him clean and offered a kiss to his head.

Tanner needed to calm a bit or he'd explode. He pulled her up and handed her the soap. "Wash yourself," he commanded, and she gave a wicked grin. He watched as she lathered her hands and began with a slow glide along her throat, across her collarbone, and around her breasts, circling closer and closer to her nipples. Tanner couldn't contain himself and began to stroke himself to the rhythm of her hands, around and around, tighter and tighter. When Frankie reached her nipples and gave them a soapy squeeze, Tanner groaned.

"Lower," he growled, and Frankie slid her hands down across her stomach and thighs. She slowly glided back up and opened herself to his gaze. Tanner lost control when she blew him a kiss and presented her bottom to his gaze.

She lathered once again, circling and cupping her cheeks. "You make me moan with need when I feel your hot gaze, Tanner. My pussy weeps with need." She gave him a wicked grin and wiggled her hips.

"Taunting me, sweetheart? That will get you a spanking." He glided a soapy finger down between her cheeks. The water sloshed down around them, as he placed a tender kiss on each cheek before he slapped them playfully.

Frankie leaned against the tiles and braced a foot on the rim, opening herself fully to his gaze, watching his eyes darken, his face tightening. This is the moment of primal need that all animals feel. She shivered, trying to hold still as he stared at her. His hand reached out to run a finger through her slick folds and bring the sweet juices to his mouth.

Tanner went down on his knees, his hungry mouth devouring her folds, licking, pulling, stabbing at her core with his tongue. He heard her gasp as the sensations rocked her body- the wet of the water pounding, his tongue and lips invading, retreating.

"Please," Frankie cried.

Tanner stopped and looked at her, heard her whimper at the absence of his tongue. "Now!" he growled as he pinched her clit, showing no mercy, but continuing to lick and tease her. Frankie climaxed into his mouth with a growl, and he lost all control, twisting her around, his cock slamming into her.

"Yes! Yes, please," she cried, "take me. Take what you need, baby."

_Ahh, yes! Take what you need, baby!_ Tanner heard her words, felt her heat, how she surrounded him, as he caged her within his arms. He continued to pound into her, faster, harder...ahh! He felt her walls squeezing his cock, heard her sobs as the waves of emotions rocked her.

Tanner loved the way her pussy was pulsing, grabbing at him as he plunged in and out. "Yes, baby. You try to hold me" he grunted, grinding his hips into her softness, pulling Frankie back and forth like a ragdoll.

"Yes, Tanner! God how I love it when you take me!" she screamed.

Her words triggered Tanner's climax and he pushes into her with a hard groan, filling her with his seed. At last, he pulls out and kisses her tenderly. "Good girl. I'm so relaxed now, dry me off and we will continue your discipline."

With a wicked grin, Frankie dried him off with a towel, then Tanner grabbed her and marched into the bedroom. He sat down on the bed. "Over my lap, Frankie." She looked at in in shock. "I won't ask again. Right now, it's only a count of ten, but I can add to it." Her gorgeous ass was in his lap immediately, her stomach pressed against his cock. She wiggled, and he steadied her with his left hand.

"Tanner, I think we should talk about this," she said. "I don't want you thinking you can spank me for the hell of it if I do something you don't agree with."

"Oh honey, I'm not spanking you for discipline. Well, not entirely. I'm gonna spank you because you will like it." He brought his hand down in a short slap the way Nick had instructed, the sound cracking to the silence of the room. Her pale skin pinkened and her breath came out in the squeal. He came down on the opposite cheek next, then he planted a little slap the center of her ass.

Tanner felt his cock pulsing against her flash, watching her back rise and fall with jerking breaths. She was trying to follow orders, but it went against her feisty nature. He slid two fingers into her. She was so slippery, he couldn't wait to have her again. He smacked her ass again two times as he was almost to the point of no return, but he had to make something perfectly clear. "You will not keep secrets from me again."

Frankie began to cry, her tears pouring down onto his feet. "Don't you understand? I had to protect you. You're so young. You didn't know you were up against."

Tanner put one strong hand under her chin and used the other to pull her hair, forcing her to look at him. "Well, I do now, and I can handle it. And if you say you're too old for me, I promise I will spank you until that pretty pink ass is red as a tomato, and you will not come for a week. Do you understand me?" Tanner rubbed her ass taking the sting away, leaning over to kiss her cheeks gently.

She nodded in acceptance and slid down between his legs and lifted her face, her cheeks flushed as she waited in obedience. "Open for me," he said. She didn't need a second order, she opened her mouth wide, allowing him to thrust his cock between her lips. Her tongue came out to swirl around his head, making him groan. Her beautiful mouth on his erection, disappearing between her lips, was enough to make Tanner lose control again. When he tried to pull out, her cheeks hollowed in and she sucked him back in. He felt his balls draw up and he quickly withdrew. He wasn't coming down her throat. He wanted to be buried balls deep in her again.

"Get on the bed," He barked, his voice harsh because he could barely speak for wanting of her. She scrambled up on all fours and presented her beautiful ass in seconds. "I should spank you more for tonight; for thinking but I couldn't handle this, that I was too young, and the other silly notions you have in your head that we were not meant to be together. But right now, all I want to do is claim you."

"Please, Tanner, I need you so."

He crawled over to her, pushing her legs even further apart. She was completely open to him. Tanner couldn't resist the temptation. He was in her tight warmth, but he forced himself to stop for a moment. "Turn your head and look at me." When she complied, he said. "No more hiding from me."

"I love you, Tanner."

"I love you Frankie."

For just a moment they savored the connection.

"Frankie, love, I'm not going to last. You make me crazy, woman." Later there would be time to make her come over and over again, years of my time but for now...

He caressed her back and pulled her hips back to him. He pounded into her but, she didn't mind if her moans were any indication. The shivers at the base of his spine told him he was about to come. He ran his thumb over her sensitive flesh and gently pinched her clit.

She screamed his name, beautiful in her passion. When she sighed he knew that she had been taken care of and now it was his turn to thrust in again and again. His body came in a great wave and when he was finally finished, he collapsed on top of her, loving the softness of her skin rubbing against his chest, His arms wound around her, and he buried his face in the crack of her neck as his hands found those perfect breasts. Tanner was perfectly content to spend the rest of his life with this woman.

"I can say it because now I know it's true- my mother told me when I found my mate, my true love, our connection would grow stronger and stronger."

Tanner jerked as the words floated in his head. "Frankie, I thought I heard... in my head...did you just..."

"Yes, love. Try it. Our connection is strong." Her voice drifted in once more.

Tanner concentrated. "I love you, Frankie. It's never been anyone but you."

Frankie sighed in his arms. "I love you, Tanner. We are going to have our happy ever after."

"Yes, we will, love," His voice came out loud and clear in her mind. "I'll see to it."
Chapter Ten

Frankie came awake, aware of the warm body next to hers. She snuggled in contentment, bringing Tanner's hand from her stomach, to her breast and turning on her side as his erection pressed into her from behind. She wiggled against him, feeling it twitch. She stifled a giggle and did it again, but still he slept on. She gave up and kissed his forearm.

"Third time's a charm, sweetheart," he murmured in her ear. She laughed and wiggled again. This time, he lifted her leg and slid his cock into her warm readiness. She moaned in passion and let him lead the way to heaven once again.

It was almost noon when they emerged from the guest bedroom at the far end of the mansion. A servant awaited them, showing them to Jonas' study. They opened the door and he waved them in, although he was on the phone. "Yes, that's right. I want everyone that can make it to be at the Ouatoga campground. The glade behind the main dining hall should be sufficient covering. Zoe can cast a protection spell for our needs." He motioned for them to take a seat on the sofa as he concluded the call. "I want it to seem as neutral ground, so no lumberyard. We want them to think we are calling a truce. Thanks, Jax."

He hung up and regarded Tanner and Frankie in silence for a moment. Then his eyes lit with merriment and he gave in to laughter. The couple looked at each other and then looked at him. "Let us in on the joke, Jonas," Tanner commented.

He leaned back in his leather chair and steepled his fingers under his chin. "I heard you, Tanner."

Frankie turned beet red and stammered, "We are so sorry, Jonas. We may have gotten a bit carried away there toward the end. We had no idea you were that close."

"Or we were that loud," Tanner grinned. Frankie punched him in the arm.

"What?" a bemused Jonas frowned at them, then once again he gave a bark of laughter. "No! No, not your lust. I heard YOU, Tanner. In my mind."

Now it was Tanner's turn to be confused. "I don't understand." He looked to Frankie, but she simply shrugged.

"When you were coming down the hall. You were worried about Frankie, your family, and whether or not you could protect her when she took the leadership."

"I didn't say that."

"No, you _thought_ it. And I heard it in my head," Jonas explained. "When a shifter finds its mate, and they declare their intent to mate, they begin to enrich each other's lives. In other words, the two become one as the years pass."

"My mother said that even though she was human, she was still an animal. Therefore, she was able to communicate with my father telepathically." Frankie stated then offered a small smile to Tanner. "We did that last night, Tanner."

He kissed the hand he was holding. "Yes, we did, love." He looked to Jonas. "Sorry, but I don't swing that way, bro. You must have gotten a mixed signal."

Frankie's hand flew to her mouth to stifle her shocked gasp. Jonas growled, "You're not my mate, Tanner. Just listen, will you?"

He continued after throwing Tanner an annoyed glance. "Well, Frankie, what your mother may not have told you was that if a leader is attuned to his region, then he or she," he nodded at Frankie, "will pick up on the vibrations, sentiments, and even the thoughts of those he or she leads." He pinned Frankie with a look. "It's a little secret the leaders keep to themselves. It helps us keep abreast of what's happening without causing undue stress on the tribe."

Frankie sat on the edge the sofa as the implications of Jonas' statement hit her. "I've never heard anyone but Tanner in my head." She grinned at Tanner, who still looked perplexed.

"But I have." Jonas smiled as Frankie threw herself in Tanner's arms. He caught her, snuggling her close. "Mind letting me in on the reason this means anything?"

"I'm free! I can't be a leader if I can't hear them. It's part of the ritual. I would fail." She hugged him again.

Tanner looked to Jonas. "But if it's in her bloodline and she fails, what then?"

"That's up to the new chosen leader," Jonas continued. "In other words, as the leader of the tribal region in and around Las Vegas, I could hear my tribemates, note their emotions, etc. Usually, it is only the chosen leader."

"You gave up your leadership to come here?" Tanner asked.

Jonas shook his head. "No, I brought them with me. We relocated around the area. Our council laws don't depend on bloodline like the European line does."

"So, if you're a leader without a region, and Frankie's a leader who can't lead, then..." Tanner grinned and squeezed Frankie tight.

"That's right." Jonas pulled out a folder. "These are the lineage lines of your family, Frankie. You know your line took over after the black plague wiped out most of the preceding line. But you didn't know how your father's line was chosen, did you?"

"I thought it was voted on or his line was the next oldest. I didn't give it much thought," she shrugged.

"Well, you should have. It would have saved you a lot of worry and stress." Jonas opened the folder and took out a delicate piece of parchment. Tanner thought it looked like chicken scratch. "This is the original document of lineage transference. It shows exactly how your bloodline was appointed."

He sat back once again as Frankie and Tanner peered at the ancient script on his desk. "Want to guess how it happened?"

Frankie glanced up at her old friend. "My ancestor was the only telepathic one."

"Precisely."

"Then you are the true, new leader of our region!"

Jonas gave a small nod. "I humbly accept the position."

Tanner found one small flaw in the plan. "You know you won't be unopposed, right? Talon is going to contest it."

Frankie's good mood deflated. "And if I'm declared unfit, I'm either sterilized and go through the transfusion into all human, or I'm killed."

"Not if my first command as leader is to do away with that ridiculous law."

"But you'd have to win against Talon. He's got the bloodline, at least partially, and now a bunch of followers," Tanner argued.

"And I've got the telepathy and even more followers. Don't forget, the humans are animals. Their votes count as well; telepathically, of course."

"What?" Tanner asked.

"It's a simple process. The Council presides over all animals in the area. We simply plant a thought as to who a human prefers, me or Talon as the wisest and the subconscious answers."

"Not sure how I feel about that," Tanner grumbled. "Picking our brains without our consent."

"It's only happens in a contested role," Jonas assured him. "The last one was back in the Ming Dynasty, I believe."

"Until now," Frankie murmured. She looked to Tanner.

"If you win, we're golden; but if you lose, what happens?" Tanner tightened his arms around Frankie. Just the thought made him crazy.

"I don't plan to lose, Tanner. Trust me."

"I'm trusting you, Jonas. Not only with Frankie's life, but with my family and my community. That's what you're asking me to do isn't it?" Tanner confirmed.

Jonas stared into Tanner's eyes. "Yes, son. That's exactly what I'm asking you to do."

Tanner nodded. "Then you tell me what needs to be done on the human end, and my brothers and I will see that it's done."

Jonas relaxed. "Heard you boys are pretty good hunters. It will come in handy."

Tanner smiled. "We know this area like our own backyard. Hell, it is our backyard."

"Well, then, if things go south, we'll play a good old-fashioned game of hide and seek." Jonas commented.

_I say win or lose we play,_ Tanner thought _._

_Exactly._ Jonas' voice floated through Tanner's brain.

"You do know the two of you are grinning like idiots, don't you?" Frankie groused, removing herself from Tanner's lap. "What are you thinking?"

The two men laughed harder. Frankie flounced out of the room, mumbling about alpha males and stupid telepathy.

The afternoon was spent in quiet preparation. Tanner went to the orchard to round up the family and simply explained that Jonas needed their help. That was all that was necessary for his father and brothers to make the necessary arrangements for the safety of their families. Zoe Kincaid also stayed with the women and children, after providing a protection spell on the meeting area so humans were discouraged from coming within a one a mile radius of the place.

Lester Cavanaugh was waiting near the glade when Frankie, Jonas and the others arrived. He sat on a tree stump, wringing his hands, "Talon's not well. I don't know what it is," he looked to Jonas, "but I've never seen him so agitated. You know I didn't have anything to do with this mess, I was grieving too, and it was just easier to let Talon take over."

"What makes you think Talon will win, old man?" Jonas growled.

Lester hastened to reassure him. "I know you will help in every way, Jonas. But Frankie," he turned to her, "you were such a sweet and giving child. You still are. You will play by the rules. I'm afraid Talon will not. His greed overcomes his sensibilities at times." He hung his head in despair.

"If he challenges this, we will fight." Jonas boomed.

Lester nodded. "I have no right to ask, but could he be spared?" He looked askance at Frankie, but Jonas answered. "That is for the true leader to decide, Lester."

His shoulders slumped as his head drooped. "I understand." He shuffled back to the stump and sat, his head in his hands.

Frankie immediately started forward to offer him compassion, but Jonas forestalled her with a hand on her arm. "He enabled Talon for years. He has to live with the consequences."

Tanner hugged her. "It will be over soon, Frankie."

They walked into the middle of the glade with Noah, and all of Jonas' tribe. Jax glided above, keeping watch. Tanner saw nothing of his friend in the incredible scaled beast. Frankie heard his thoughts as she squeezed his hand. "It's really him. No worries."

Frankie noted that Jonas' tribe comprised of at least twenty-five men and women. Tanner stiffened a bit as he recognized some of his neighbors and a few business people among the group. Frankie kissed his cheek and he smiled down at her. A moment later, Talon and his faction came through the woods into the glade from every direction, but Jonas' forces were ready to protect. They fanned out, one by one, until each was paired with an opponent.

Frankie glanced over at the stump where Lester sat, tears streaming down his face. Her poor uncle was torn between loyalty to the bloodline and loyalty to his son. It was apparent that Talon hadn't bothered to reveal who his biological father was to the old man. She turned away from Lester. She had a job to do. She raised her hand for silence.

"Thank you for coming this evening. I have important news that I wish to impart upon the Wisdom Council as well as the shifter community." She stepped away from Tanner and Noah immediately took her place. Her lover and his family would be protected, no matter the outcome. She had seen to that.

"While it is true that the rulers of this Council have been from my bloodline for centuries, that is not the only qualification for the position as head of the Council." She heard the murmurs of the crowd, saw some of Talon's faction nodding in concurrence. Talon, himself, stiffened at this new development, but she continued. "It is a little-known fact that in order to truly lead a Council, it is necessary to not only have a blood bond, but also a telepathic bond, to better understand the meanings behind requests as well as to protect its members. I'm sure many of you heard my father's words of guidance in your subconscious from time to time."

She watched some of the member nod, while others, including Talon, stiffen, his eyes boring into hers. "Over the past few days, it has become apparent that I do not possess this particular requirement, and I officially withdraw from leadership of the Council." She stepped back. The murmurs of the crowd became a roar of discontent and confusion, but Talon's faction cheered, foreseeing their leader as the head of the Council.

Ian, the local grocer, shouted above the din. "Do you realize what this means, Frankie? If you abdicate, you commit treason." He nodded to the folks around him. "Please reconsider, child. The laws must be obeyed."

Talon tried to step up, but hot flame rained down in front of him. Jax made his presence known to all. Talon snarled at the dragon but stepped back.

Jonas motioned for the crowd to calm down. "That only applies if the new leader requests it." He took out the aged parchment and began to read. "Page three, paragraph six, of the original European contract for the Wisdom Council leadership tribe of which the Cavanaugh bloodline is descended states that every law within this Council may be set in motion for review and amendment as necessary for the continued peace of the tribe as a whole by the head of the Council whenever he or she deems it is required."

Talon smiled evilly, crossing his arms as he stared at Frankie, but Jonas wasn't finished. "In reviewing this contract, I became aware of the history of the tribe as well as the actual conversion from the old bloodline to the Cavanaugh line."

"We know how it came about – the Black Plague," Talon shouted as his followers yelled.

Jonas' tribe growled and took a defensive stance as he once again raised his hands for silence. "That is the reason for the change, not the actual process of the change. If I may continue?"

The crowd eventually fell silent. "The Cavanaugh line was chosen due to the purity of the line, the wisdom of the legacy of the line," Jonas paused and looked directly at Talon, "and the telepathic abilities of the line. That is why the leader is called the Chosen One."

Frankie watched as Talon's face mottled with rage. His anger vibrated throughout the crowd. His followers went into fighting stance as the impact of Jonas' words permeated the brains of the gathering. Talon could not speak to everyone telepathically.

_Stand down. Now!_ Jonas never uttered the words, but all members immediately relaxed, bowing at once to their new leader's command. Even Talon was forced to his knees by the telepathic order.

It was clear to one and all that Jonas, not Talon, would be the new leader of the tribe. "However," Jonas continued, and heads popped up, "it also states that if anyone wishes to contest the chosen leader and can eliminate the chosen one by use of cunning, and skill, then that winner will be accepted." Jonas smiled wide, looking at Talon, who said nothing, but shook with rage. He knew he was no match for the Wolf. Frankie was mostly human; Jonas was pure shifter and more.

"No?" Jonas nodded. "Then I formally accept the leadership of the Wisdom Council and will be sworn in immediately by the interim leader." He looked to Lester, still sitting on the stump, weeping, his head in his hands. "Or his appointed proxy."

Talon rose and stepped up immediately. "Allow me," he threw a disgusted glance at his father, "to continue, one last time, as proxy leader for my father, Lester Cavanaugh, to perform the swearing in ceremony."

Jonas nodded regally as Frankie produced the tribal ring from her pocket as well as the ceremonial brooch given to her by her father. It would be broken as part of the symbolic ritual of release from the bloodline. Talon took the ring, but Jonas stopped him when he reached for the brooch. "Leave it as an heirloom to the wisdom, courage, and compassion of our former leader. We will have it framed to reside in a place of honor at Council Hall." He glanced at Talon. "I will take yours, Talon. As punishment for your actions over the past year." He held out his hand.

The crowd held its breath as Talon hesitated, the rage of his disgrace causing his claws to appear. With a deep breath, he calmed and revealed his ceremonial brooch, handing it to Jonas, who promptly broke it in half and threw it to the ground. Then he offered his right hand to Talon. "Proceed."

Frankie stood next to Talon and repeated the ceremonial induction written on the ancient script. She placed the ring on Jonas' finger, symbolizing her relinquishment of the position and his acceptance of the role as leader of the Wisdom Council. Talon finished with the prayer for peace throughout their world and the human world, living together as one.

Frankie watched as Talon shook hands with their new leader amidst the cheers of the crowd. His smile was a sincere as Jonas'. She knew there would eventually be trouble between them, but she was now out of the line of fire. Talon's plot to subvert the Council into a position of superiority over humans had been thwarted, and he had backed down. She was positive Jonas could keep her cousin in line.

Jonas requested silence a moment. "First order of business within this Council is that human and shifter alike are welcome within the walls of Council Hall as long as the secret is maintained." Cheers erupted once again, but not as loudly as before. It was apparent some members weren't too happy with this announcement.

"Secondly, the ancient rule of sterilization and transfusion for those who wish to leave the Council in good grace, shall immediately be terminated. Only those proven unstable or with ill intent shall be forced to renege all ties to the Council. In either case, help will be provided to the intended and their families to cope with the after effects of the procedure and secure their quality of life."

The loud cheers returned at this pronouncement. Jonas was, in effect, telling those that were loyal to Talon, forgiveness would be granted to them and their families unless they continued to prove unfaithful to the Council.

Frankie hugged Jonas as Tanner walked up to congratulate him. Arms came around her and she was lifted amid more cheers as Tanner staked his claim with a passionate kiss. She thought no more about the Council, or Jonas, or Talon as she relaxed in the arms of her lover, her lips opening to allow him entrance.

"Can we go now?" Tanner asked. "I want to give the all clear to the family and then take you home."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Frankie hugged him. And then all hell broke loose.

A loud screech was heard, and Talon's followers began to shift. Jonas' tribe swiftly followed suit. Frankie and Tanner heard the clash of bodies against each other. She was pushed to the ground by Tanner as a spray of blood hit her in the face. He covered her completely and looked in all directions, trying to figure out the best way to survive this.

He pulled Frankie along as they crawled across the glade. There were growls, screaming and movement around them, but they were just a few feet from the safety and protection of the forest. Abruptly, Tanner was airborne and thrown back into the fray. Frankie jumped to her feet, frantically searching for where he landed. A large black panther came out of nowhere, backed into her and she went down. She rolled, making it to the edge of the clearing, trying to figure out the safest way to circle around to look for Tanner.

Fighting continued in the area, but Frankie didn't know what had precipitated it. Somehow Talon's factions seemed to be getting the upper hand. Jonas and Noah were in the middle of the fray with Jax breathing fire down as accurately as he could. The council had all separated into various components, some joining in the combat and others trying to flee. Tanner was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, Frankie was knocked flat onto the forest floor. Losing her breath, she struck out only to have her hand captured. "I've got you," Lester whispered. "Come with me. I'll protect you," he nodded franticly. "Come on; Hurry, I got Tanner to safety." Hearing that, she set off across the woods with Lester. His grip on her hand was fierce, and she almost tripped several times. She was a bit fearful that they might run into a tree as they were running so fast, until she remembered Uncle Lester was a shifter as well and his night vision was even more accurate than hers.

Finally, they came up on the old Nike rocket base, surrounded by a high fence and barbed wire. In the 1950s, the U. S. government had ordered silos built to house rockets in secret places throughout the country in the event of a strike. Pere Marquette Park was one such place. "We will be safe. No one will think to look for us here." Frankie thought she heard something strange in his voice but figured it must be the excitement of the chase. He was an animal after all.

"Um, how do I get in here? You could shift," she said, "but I can't do that."

"You could climb it like Tanner did." He shifted into his owl form, then flew to the top of the chain link fence and immediately began pecking, pulling at the barbed wire, snapping at and pushing it back to enlarging the opening at the top of the wall.

Frankie grabbed a link and began to climb. She finally managed to pull herself to the top of the wall and then she looked down. It seemed a very long way to the ground. She looked to Lester, flying above her. She heard rustling in the brush and that was all the incentive she needed. She lowered over the wall, letting herself down as far as she could reach. Then with the prayer, Frankie let go and fell, lying there stunned for just a moment and registering the pain radiating throughout her body. _Okay, no broken bones, just wind knocked out of me._

The owl settled next to her, cocking his head as if asking over her welfare. 'I'm fine, Uncle Lester. Give me a minute." With a deep breath, she pushed herself back to her feet. The owl took flight, hooting. She jogged along the brush-covered path to the rocket silo. The owl dived into a hole in the side, barely big enough to fit a human, and Frankie hesitated. Something wasn't right. "Uncle Lester?" she whispered. "Tanner? Where are you?"

"Hurry, Frankie! I think Tanner's been hurt," Her uncle's voice echoed back to her.

If Tanner was hurt because of her... she scrambled through and followed on hands and knees, hoping her uncle was telling her the truth. She straightened once she could stand upright, trying to distinguish the forms along the wall. It was pitch black in here and even her heightened sight was having trouble.

As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she noted the chair in the center of the room, the straps attached to the arms and legs. A fearful dread came over her. She turned to run, but it was then, she noticed the eyes. At least four pairs were surrounding her. A bright light appeared, blinding her. Her Uncle Lester's laughter crackled in the silence. "So, trusting, so naïve. You should know by now that not everything is as it seems in the shifter world, my dear." He came into view along with three men Frankie had never met. He captured her arm, leading her to the chair.

"You and Talon," She spat out. "Both of you are crazy if you think Jonas will stand for this. Why do this? What will it gain now?"

He slapped her across the face. "It will gain power, idiot girl. That's been the goal from the beginning."

The men grabbed her, shoved her into the chair and began to cuff her. "Take off the damn boots. Who knows what other tricks the little bitch has hidden in them?" Lester's normally slight voice rang with maniacal strength.

Frankie fought them, kicking and pulling at whatever she could grasp, but there were simply too many of them. Lester gave her hair a painful yank, bringing tears to her eyes. "Enough!"

"Uncle Lester, please," she cried. "There are things you don't know; you wouldn't be helping Talon if you knew."

He gave a sharp laugh. "Helping Talon? You really don't know the truth yet, do you?"

"I know Talon is not your son!" Frankie twisted against the bindings, her bare feet recoiling as insects crawled along the floor and over her feet.

"Of course, he's my son, you idiot. His mother and I concocted that story long ago when it became apparent that my brother was going through with his plans to marry an inferior human." He dismissed the goons with a wave. They filed out of the large room through a hidden door. "Sylvia and I knew once a child was produced, the bloodline would be tainted, but Leonard was too enamored of his Paige and too smart to allow Sylvia to spell him, although she tried on several occasions. The bastard had a sorcerer create a protection spell against any such attack after he sensed her intention."

He leaned in closer and Frankie could see the madness in his eyes. "But he didn't protect his people, namely my son. Sylvia was already pregnant when Leonard married, so when Talon was old enough, she cast a spell to make him susceptible to our commands."

"We were friends as children, but when puberty hit, he turned into a different person. You cursed your own son!" Frankie was horrified.

"Well, not so much cursed, as enhanced his perspective of the situation." He patted her hand and Frankie's skin crawled. "Sylvia and I knew we would have to endure the demise of Leonard and any offspring he produced in order to come to power. So, we simply helped it along a bit."

He kissed her forehead. "Such a beautiful child. It's a shame you'll have to die. You were always so sweet to me." He danced away. "Your mother will grieve, of course, but she's human, so it's of no consequence." He whirled around to her. "By the way, your father's disease wasn't entirely what did him in. Once the old sorcerer was dead, the barrier he constructed to ward off evil attacks went down. It was rather simple for Sylvia to accelerate the disease with a spell. Unfortunately, her own brain cancer prevented her from completely driving him into madness, so his death was a bit more painful than I would have liked. He was a good brother, after all."

Frankie leaped to her feet, despite being belted to the chair and raced head first toward her uncle. He grabbed her head and flung her across the room. Frankie fell with a thud, dazed and in pain. "I was going to make your death painless, but you are trying my PATIENCE!"

He straightened her chair, then backed away, oblivious to the blood trickling from her head and knee. "So, where was I? Oh yes," he turned around, "with Leonard gone, and unfortunately Sylvia as well, I thought my plan would fail, but I found another to help me with my plans." He chuckled. "It really is a small world. You will find that out soon enough. She mixed up a lovely concoction with my blood and Talon's that ensures he does as I say until my death. She's quite talented. Much more so than my Sylvia." He looked thoughtful. "Perhaps she would like to be my queen."

"You're queen?" Frankie tried to feign interest in his plans while her mind searched for Jonas. She didn't want Tanner walking into this mess. _Keep Tanner away. There are at least four of them. It's Lester, not Talon. Nike base silo._

"Yes, dear. I don't plan to be the leader of this backwater Council. I have plans to be King of the paranormal realm!" He shouted, the words echoing in the silent chamber.

Frankie shook her head. Her uncle was truly mad. Several loud thumps in the outer chamber caused him to step across the room, but before he reached the door, it was thrown open and Tanner stepped inside. Her uncle swiftly changed into his owl and flew at Tanner, his talons sharp and ready.

Frankie screamed as Tanner ducked and rolled to the ground, but the owl was upon him once again. Tanner threw up his arm to protect his eyes and Lester's claws scraped across his skin, immediately drawing blood. Tanner gasped and grabbed his injured hand, opening his eyes to attack. The owl dove at them, intent on his prey. Tanner reached behind him, pulled out a small gun and shot the bird between the eyes. It fell with a heavy thud onto the concrete floor. "Not as dramatic as tearing him apart feather by feather, but it gets the job done."

"Tanner! Thank God you're okay!" Frankie cried as he ran up to her. Kissing her quickly, he knelt down and made short work of the bindings, producing a bloodied knife from his boot and cutting the leather.

He smiled up at her. "I took a page from your mother's book and came prepared for anything tonight."

She laughed then threw herself into his arms as soon as she was free, tumbling both of them to the floor. "I love you, Tanner Coalson."

"I know you do, Frances Cavanaugh. I know your thoughts, your dreams, your worries. That's how I knew where you were. I heard you. I'm your mate and I love you, too. We are destined by the spirits." He held her tight. "Don't ever try to keep me away if you're in danger, woman. It's my right and duty to protect you."

He produced a clean handkerchief, dabbed at her head and her knee. "Nothing too serious. Maybe a scar right there." He touched the center of her forehead.

Frankie looked at the old man, naked and bleeding on the floor. "We will have to tell Jonas everything. Talon wasn't bad, Tanner. Uncle Lester cursed him."

I know, Frankie. Talon collapsed as soon as Lester died. Zoe is with him now, making sure nothing is physically wrong with him.

"Thank you, Jonas, for your mercy with him." Frankie said aloud.

"Um, Frankie? If I understand this telepathic thing, it works both ways. You don't have to talk for Jonas to hear you." Tanner tugged on a red curl.

"I know." She flipped on top of him. "I just like to talk."

Tanner laughed and hugged her close. He'd have to get used to her chatter, in and out of his head.
Epilogue

Tanner knew he was in for quite a time when he announced to his family that he and Frankie were getting married. He had ribbed his brothers about their need to please their wives, but now he understood what it was like to be completely in love, and have that love returned in measure. But that also meant it was open season on the brotherly teasing.

The Christmas cabin was bedecked with bows and flowers, alongside the shelves of merchandise. He had chuckled when Frankie told him she wanted to get married there, but when she gave the reason that it was their first of many projects together, and she had patted her stomach, he would have given her the world if she had asked.

She had been afraid to have a child, knowing that the mutant gene would show up in her offspring, even going to far as to ask Jonas about sterilization or a blood transfusion. He had firmly and angrily said no, then promptly relayed to Tanner what his soon to be wife had suggested. Tanner had made sure she knew that was never going to happen and had punished her with orgasm withdrawal for one month for even thinking such a thing. He had hated to do it but knew if he was doing to be her Dominant, and her husband, he had to lay down the law once in a while.

It was Zoe who had convinced her to take the chance on having a baby. She had simply pointed out that even though her shifter child wouldn't have shifter parents, he or she would have plenty of aunts and uncles to rely on, not to mention the fifth largest tribe in North America. It hadn't taken much convincing for the rebels that had followed Talon to leave. Their leader was still suffering with amnesia, the leader's father was dead, and each of them felt they had the right to be their new leader, so chaos was king. Jonas and the others had simply offered to allow them to relocate without harm or be killed. Everyone chose to relocate.

_Come to me, husband,_ Tanner smiled at her silent plea. He looked over to find Frankie cornered by Miss Maisy and Miss Leila, offering advice on how to be a good wife and mother. He rolled his eyes and entered the conversation.

"Ladies, I assure you, my lovely Frankie needs no advice on how to please me or how to be the perfect wife and mother. She knows exactly what I require," he said, his eyes never leaving his new bride's face.

"Well, we don't want her to worry about the age thing, you know. I'm sure a woman her age can still have children. I believe there are some drugs she can take," Leila commented.

Maisy whacked her with her purse. "Leila Lee, you are the most nitwitted woman! It's none of our business and besides, those Coalson boys are all virile men. I'm sure she'll have no trouble." She nodded in confirmation to the young couple.

"Well, thank you, Miss Maisy. I'll sure give it my best shot."

The old lady cackled at Frankie's blush. "Well, they say practice makes perfect!" With that, she grabbed Leila by the arm and hobbled off to the cake table.

"Thank you. They saw me coming from the restroom and cornered me." She gave him a hug, then pulled back. "You know that's why women go to the restroom in pairs, right? In case we are ambushed!"

"I'll always rescue you, love." Tanner kissed her passionately.

"My hero," she whispered when she could catch her breath.

"Your husband," he corrected, picking her up amid the shouts and cheers of the folks celebrating their wedding.

"I like the sound of that," she smiled up at him.

"You better, love. You're stuck with me forever."

Across the river, in a penthouse in St. Louis, Missouri, Marcus Davis opened the letter just delivered by the doorman. He was in no mood for a summons from another shifter. His plans to take down Jonas Blackshire had not come to fruition, and he had no idea if he had been implicated in the chaos that had ensued. It was time to get out of town until he could figure out another way to bring that bastard to ruin.

Hello, Marcus,

I'm sure you have heard that the nefarious plans you and Lester Cavanaugh hatched for the kidnapping and sale of the heir to the Wisdom Council leadership have come to naught – Lester is dead, Talon has amnesia and their forces have scattered. It appears that you are very much alone. Which is a precarious position for a human with your track record. You have many enemies.

However, I may have use of your particular talents in the near future. I believe my son has become the leader of a rather large tribe of paranormal playmates. He is also a bachelor. This being the case, I will, of course, be acting as his hostess. I plan to provide our visiting dignitaries and other leaders with the amenities to which they have become accustomed, whether my son wishes it to be so or not. He doesn't fully understand the power at his disposal. I plan to make sure he uses it to my best advantage.

So, you are safe for the moment, my new friend. My son does not know you are in the area or what you had planned. As long as we can work together, he never will.

What say you, Marcus? Care to get into bed with me? Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Sabine Blackshire

Jonas and Zoe were laughing with Noah near the cake table. He was trying to catch Piper Sweet's eye, but she was busy serving the delicious she had made for the occasion. "So, you sold the lumberyard for one dollar, just like Angel's mom did for your dad?" Noah shook his head in amusement.

"Actually, it was an exchange and the dollar to make it legal." Jonas took a sip of the excellent champagne. The Coalson Vineyard was coming along nicely in its first year and he couldn't be prouder of Tanner and Frankie. They were turning the family farm into something spectacular.

"What did you exchange?"

"I gave them my house on the bluff and they gave me the lumberyard."

"You sold your house? You just had it built!" Noah exclaimed.

"As the new leader of the Wisdom Council, I soon realized the lumberyard was fine for meetings and such, but too close to town for any problems shifters may have. Cletus has the animal reserve, but I wanted a backup plan."

He lifted his head, looking off into the distance slightly sniffing the air, then frowned. "I bought Serenity Dell."

"The old mansion that has the Underground Railroad running beneath it?" Zoe enquired. "It's falling down. It will take a fortune to make it habitable."

"Yes, that's the one." Jonas took a step forward, then recoiled as his excellent hearing made out the murmurings at the edge of the party. "We've got trouble coming."

Noah immediately assumed a fighting stance when Zoe looked up in horror. The reception crowd parted as a beautiful, dark-haired woman in a long, red, form fitting dress appeared in the vineyard garden. Bedecked in jewels, with an arrogant smirk upon her face, she reeked of sophistication. Murmurs from the crowd grew as to who she was, but she paid no heed, her focus solely on Jonas and Zoe.

As she came closer to the small group, Jonas growled deep in his throat, stiffening in attack stance, and Zoe began whispering a protection spell for the crowd, widening the circle between them and the humans at the party. The woman reached them, her red lips pouting in mock sorrow. "Now, children, is that any way to greet your mother?"

Don't miss the next novel in the Legends Series, Legends: Kermode, coming January 2019!
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places and events are entirely coincidental.

Legends: Catori

First edition. June 1, 2018

Copyright 2018 ~ Maggie Adams

All rights Reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher or author constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author's intellectual property. If you would like to use material from this book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at maggieadamsbooks@gmail.com. Thank you for your support of the author's rights.

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Cover Design by Nemo's Designs
Author's Notes

In my research into Native American rituals and the symbolism of animals within most tribes, I became fascinated with the general as well as the individual aspects of Spirit Guides to the tribes, particularly those of the Plains Indians. Spirit guides, or power animals are strongly associated with the belief in Animism that is based on the spiritual idea that the universe, and all-natural objects within the universe, have souls or spirits. Power animals are believed to be a supernatural power that embodies, attaches, or conveys influence, empowering a person with the powerful traits and characteristics of a particular animal. The doctrine of this belief is that everything is alive, and possesses an inherent virtue, power and wisdom. They represent a person's connection to all life, their qualities of character, and their power. They are regarded as guides who appear in dreams or vision quests in the form of an animal. Power animals, or spirit guides, walk through different stages of life with a person, teaching and guiding them, and in some instances protecting them. Each of the animals has special meanings, characteristics and significance. Shamans believe visions and dreams come from the spirit guides, and they, in turn, can interpret signs and dreams.

Power animals are sometimes referred to as tutelary spirits, meaning a deity or spirit who is a guardian, patron or protector of a particular culture, place, person, lineage or nation. According to the beliefs of Shamanism, all people have power animals, or spirit guides, that empower and protect them from harm, like guardian spirits or angels.

The spirit animals of a tribe usually live in the area inhabited by the tribe, and are known for their have great medicine power. These tribal guides were important in the life of the early tribes, as guides to sources of food and other essential items or as guides to the changing seasons.

Power animals are the spiritual energy of the animal on earth. The spirit guides are greater than the actual animals because they embody the spirit and essence of the animal. In Legends: Catori, the name 'Catori' means spirit, in particular, the spirit of the Owl, which lends the wisdom of its kind. An owl spirit will give an individual wisdom and lend him or her some of the attributes of owl. Power animals will often appear to the medicine man, or shaman, as a vision during a Vision Quest and these power animals are adopted as a guardian spirit and teacher. These animals form part of the belief in Shamanism but can also appear in the dreams of individuals.

Spirit guides often reveal themselves through the subconscious during sleep but are most strongly associated and identified through Vision Quests. They are identified in dreams and vision quests if a particular animal is seen four times during a Vision Quest. A person can possess up to two of the more powerful animal Guardian Spirits, but many of the less powerful also have spirit helpers. Power animals that appear in Vision quests and dreams all have various meanings.

In Legends: Catori, the Owl symbolizes wisdom; it is silent & swift; has the ability to see things in proper perspective when others cannot, and it is often a creature of the night.

Dreaming of an owl symbolizes wisdom, insight and virtue. The owl is also synonymous with death and darkness. Death in this sense might also represent a symbolic death, as in an important transition in life.

For more information, may I suggest the following online articles:

<https://whatismyspiritanimal.com/spirit-totem-power-animal-meanings/birds/owl-symbolism-meaning/>

<https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-culture/animism.htm>

<https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-culture/>

<https://www.pantheism.net/paul/history/native-americans.htm>

Maggie Adams is a Best-Selling romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin' Dixie, debuted in the Top 100 for Women's Fiction, humor, on November 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the best-sellers list with her Tempered Steel Series. Her series has launched the tiny town of Grafton, Illinois, into international recognition with sales in Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the UK. She is the recipient of the Dayreader Reviews Best of 2015, the Readers Favorite Award in 2016, the Indie Romance Convention Romantic Comedy Award 2017 and the 2017 New Apple Awards nomination – Romantic Suspense.

She also writes erotica, paranormal romance, young adult romance and women's fiction. Maggie's books can be found on eBook and paperback on her website and all book sites.

When she's not writing, she can be found dancing, singing and cooking (usually all at the same time), and spending time with her husband, Ned, her children, Katie (Kyle), Ross (Valerie) and her grandchildren Lorelei, baby Lucy (due in June 2018) and baby Boogs (due in October 2018)

<http://www.maggieadamsbooks.com> \- website

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<https://www.facebook.com/groups/maggiesminxes> -reader group page

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<https://www.pinterest.com/maggiesminxes/-> Pinterest

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Other books by Maggie Adams:

The Tempered Steel Series, romance

Whistlin' Dixie

Leather and Lace

Something's Gotta Give

Getting Lucky, a Vegas novella

Love, Marriage & Mayhem

Forged in Fire

Cold as Ice

The Coalson Family Cookbook of Memories

Lustful Trilogy, women's erotica

Lustful Letters

Lustful Lies

Lustful Longings

Lustful Legacy Bundle

Charitable Anthologies:

Pieces of the Heart

Dress Blues: A Memorial Day Anthology

Tempting Fate

A Small World Anthology, coming fall, 2019!

Havenwood Falls World Anthology, paranormal

Sin and Silk Collection:

Coming January 2019!

Minx, romantic fiction

Coming fall, 2018!
TEMPERED STEEL SERIES OVERVIEW:

Meet the Coalsons –

A few years ago, the tiny village of Grafton, Illinois, nestled along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, was almost destroyed by flood. Rather than pull up stakes and move elsewhere, many of the residents vowed to rebuild their hometown, making it bigger and better than ever. One of these residents was Mac Coalson, the eldest son of Hank and Ginny Coalson, Mac, together with his parents and his six brothers, set about the arduous task of clearing, cleaning, and repairing what could be saved.

But not everyone was happy to be rebuilding the town. When vandals strike the new construction, it's up to Mac and his brothers to catch the culprit before anyone is hurt. While laying a trap, Mac thought he had captured the criminal. Instead, he finds sassy spitfire, Dixie Harris, has stolen his heart. When the vandal turns to arson, Mac finds it may be too late to save his brothers.

When Sam Coalson, ex-Navy SEAL, heard about the troubles in his hometown, he decides to head back to Grafton, despite being run off fifteen years ago by the father of his high school sweetheart. He can't forgive Angel Devereaux for her part in his humiliation, but he can and will find out who is behind the destruction of the new buildings. What he finds leads the Coalsons into a sinister plot to run drugs through their tiny town, and it's up to Angel to save him from certain death.

Charming Chance Coalson helps his brother run their construction business with a ready smile and a strong back. Considered the "Casanova of the County", his love for women is legendary. But he's recently realized that his heart belongs to shy volunteer firefighter, Georgia Haines. Now, he must prove to her that this "bad boy" has become a one-woman man, and he must do it before she becomes a target for a killer.

With only a small clue to the whereabouts of the arsonist, Lawrence "Lucky" Coalson heads to Las Vegas. While posing as a bouncer, Lucky finds himself ensnared by the lovely bartender, Claudia. But, like Lucky, she's not what she appears to be and what happens in Vegas follows Lucky back home with unimaginable consequences.

When Lucky comes home, nothing goes according to plan, and the brothers must fight Mother Nature, a murderer, and a psychopath bent on revenge. Not to mention that the new secretary, Anna Meeks, is definitely hiding something, and Brandon is determined to uncover her secrets, and the luscious body she's trying to hide under those ridiculously conservative clothes.

Lucky Coalson's luck has run out. He's been accused of murder and it's up to the Coalsons and the Morgan sisters, Renee and Rebecca, to find the real killer. Lucky cringes to know that the very woman who threw him in the river is going to be the one to save him from a prison cell. And feisty P. I. Renee Morgan isn't too happy herself about it because every time she's near him, her body responds in a very unprofessional manner.

Although Nick Coalson is attracted to the fiery redhead, Rebecca Morgan, her dangerous job makes her off limits, especially as she is almost killed during their investigation. But her sweet curves and sexy smile are melting his resolve and his heart. When she is kidnapped by a human trafficker, Nick will need the help of an outside source who wants Rebecca for himself.
The Lustful Trilogy of Women's Erotica

A Lustful Legacy Bundle

When the picture-perfect wife of a prominent local businessman decides to let loose of her inhibitions, she begins a journey into the darker art of romance and sexual gratification. She yearns to explore, and yet, fears the loss of her vanilla world, for once seen, it can never be unseen.

But not every kinkster is a good soul, and she learns the hard way that trust can be misplaced, the mind can be twisted, and those that seek the darker passions may have their own psychotic agendas.

She finally finds the man of her sexual dreams, appropriately named, Morpheus. His wisdom and experience in the matters of love, lust and BDSM comfort her fears. She begins to trust again. Safe within his protection, she explores whatever desires have been locked away in her vanilla world.

But just as destiny has brought them together, cruel fate attempts to rip them apart.

Excerpt from Tempting Fate Analogy

Proceeds benefit the Career Research Institute

The Trouble with Angels...Maggie Adams

Chapter One

"You are not what I expected. You remind me of a fat robin. I was looking for more of a quiet wren."

Christine looked up from her pasta. It was apparent this blind date was a disaster, but she was determined to salvage the evening, if only for the meal. "I'm sorry. Did you just compare me to a bird?"

She looked at her companion, a one Harold T. Pottence, as he wiped his thin moustache in a rather delicate manner. His eyes, hidden behind large glasses, were nowhere near the vivid blue of the picture on the dating site. His complexion was rather pale compared to the tanned man in that picture as well. His hair was plastered to his head like a nineteen seventies car salesman. As a matter of fact, he barely looked like the picture on the website. Talk about not what was expected!

"Well, I am an amateur ornithologist. It was simply a statement."

"You never mentioned in your profile that your hobby was birds." Christine tried once more to elicit interest in her dining partner. Tasty pasta or not, the evening was deteriorating rapidly.

"My brother suggested that I omit that on my profile." He sniffed. "I don't know why. The study of birds is quite a fascinating hobby. I've been published, you know."

"Was that your brother in the profile picture?"

He squirmed for the first time. "Yes, I don't take a good picture, but we are very similar in looks. You recognized me right away."

She had recognized him because he said he would be carrying a red rose. At the time she thought it was a romantic gesture, but when she took it, she realized it was plastic.

She should have walked out then.

She frowned at him as the waiter came up to take her plate. He continued to speak in his defense. "Well, as I said, you're not what I expected either. You described yourself as fit. You're not fit, you're a bit fat. I was hoping for a slim physique. Your large breasts and hips are not appealing to me. I really see no reason to take this further."

Christine's mouth dropped open. _Fat?!_ Surely, he didn't just say that?

"I am quite fit, thank you. I have an hourglass figure. I do not need medication of any type, and I, unlike you, have proper manners, social skills, plus dignity and decorum." She slammed down her napkin. "Excuse me. I am going to freshen up."

Christine marched toward the ladies' room, yanked open the door, and turned on the cold water, shoving both wrists under it, to calm herself. She was shaking with anger and humiliation. _That pompous little weasel had hit on my most vulnerable insecurity._ She checked her makeup in the mirror. Light blue eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, round cheeks and full lips told her she wasn't unattractive. She glanced down where her blouse stretched across her bosom, the buttons strained a bit and fabric gaping.

"Okay, maybe I need to lose a few pounds, but I'm not fat. I'm just curvy." Shaking her head in the affirmative, she reapplied her lipstick, smoothed her skirt and prepared to tell Mr. Pompous Ass to stick his comments where the sun doesn't shine.

Making her way back to the table, she noticed it was empty. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. The waiter stood patiently with the guest check holder in his hand. Christine looked up at him. "Don't tell me. He left without paying."

The waiter gave her a somewhat embarrassed nod. She sighed, digging into her purse for her wallet. She extracted the required amount plus a good tip. After all, it wasn't the waiter's fault the douche bag had skipped out. He even politely helped her with her coat. She made her way out the door and into the parking lot, vowing to never again visit that damn dating site. She was getting her money back, too.

She reached her car, the old VW Beetle she'd had in high school. A gust of wind whipped her hair in front of her face as she tried to unlock her door, blinding her momentarily. She didn't see the man until he grabbed her arm. Even then, it took a second for the realization to filter into her brain that she was being mugged.

"Your purse, bitch, and the keys." The rotten breath assailed her nostrils. She instinctively turned to look at him, but he shoved her against the car door. "Now!" He yanked at the purse and she let go, her fingers aching from the wrenching of the straps.

"Keys!" He grabbed her hair, pulling her back. "Open the door and get in."

She could tell he was nervous and high on something, desperation making his voice sharp. He kept glancing around as she tried to fit the key in the lock. She was in full blown panic, knowing if she got in this car with him, she might die, yet unable to think clearly. He slammed her head with force against the doorframe. She saw stars.

"Hurry the fuck up!" He panted.

As the blood dripped from the cut on her forehead, she tried once more to think of a way to escape. Her fingers brushed against the key fob and with a quick breath, she hit the panic button. The car horn blared repeatedly.

"Fuuuuck!" Her assailant shoved her to the side and she fell to the ground. He kicked her twice in the stomach. "Bitch! Bitch!"

She heard footsteps, and someone shouted, "Hey there!" Her assailant took off through the parking lot as several people came out of the restaurant to help her. She struggled up against the tire and wondered if this night was ever going to end.

Two hours later, she had cleaned herself up as best as she could in the owner's private bathroom after refusing to go to the hospital. She'd spoken to the police, had been given a certificate for a free meal at the restaurant, and was now sitting in her car, ready to head for home. She waved to the kind police officers and took off, glad for the sudden silence.

_God what a night!_ She reflected, turning onto the interstate. "Well, at least I got some decent pasta out of it, right Pinkie?" she tapped the dashboard of her ancient VW Beetle. The once bright pink paint had faded into a light blush. She had often thought the back of her car looked like her spanked bottom.

Well, what she thought it would look like. She'd never been spanked. Her ex had barely touched her ass when they were together, only engaging in the missionary position, and refused to consider trying anything different like what her more adventurous mind could conjure up. But it was on her bucket list – get spanked by a real Dom – along with another wish – visit a real dungeon. All those romance books she had read to relieve the boredom of a stale marriage had given her lots of ideas.

And she wanted to experience every one of them.

The sputtering of her car engine pulled her out of her fantasizing. Looking down, she noticed the gas gauge was showing empty and winced. "Dammit! I forgot the first rule after the date." _Well, she could be forgiven after what had happened this evening._

Her friend, Shannon, had drilled it into her the importance of never heading straight home from a date, in case the guy was a creeper and followed her. She should always stop at a gas station or grocery store. Christine had figured to kill two birds with one stone and get the damn gas on her way home.

The car died, but she managed to steer it over to the shoulder of the deserted interstate. She got out, cursing her unbelievably bad luck this evening. She had a cell phone, but it was in the bag that damn mugger had taken off with. She scanned the road in either direction for signs of a car. Nothing appeared. She searched her surroundings in the darkness, hoping for a light on somewhere, and breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted a lighted exterior lamp near an old building.

Unfortunately, the building was at the end of a dead-end street and several feet below her, separated by the guardrail and a rather steep embankment of scrub brush and litter.

"Well, at least my tennis shoes are still in the car," she mumbled as she reached for them. "One day you'll laugh about this, Christine. One day you will consider this a grand adventure, not the worst night of your life." Tying her shoes, she slammed the car door with more force than necessary. "And that's for you, Pinkie. Leaving me stranded in the middle of nowhere. You could have at least tried to make it to the next exit."

With more than a little trepidation, she climbed over the guardrail and stepped onto the rocky hill. "You can do this. It's a brand-new-you, remember?" She peered down at the rocks and garbage littering the hillside. "You overcame your lack of confidence when you filed for divorce from that manipulative bastard you were married to." She breathed out in a huff. "Nothing was worse than his psychological abuse. He would tell you that this was all your fault and you deserved this; leave you on the highway to find your way home." Christine lifted one hand off the railing. "So, this is no different, except you don't have to put up with his insults once you get home. You get to have a nice long bubble bath and watch whatever the hell you want on TV."

With that little pep talk, she gingerly slid her foot along the small ridge, holding onto the guardrail with one hand, as she tried to find a solid foothold to make her way down to the next crop of rocks jutting out from the mound. She got a toehold onto a solid rock and lowered herself to it, letting go of the railing as she put her weight fully on the rock.

She grabbed a vine, giving it a little tug, bouncing lightly on the rock. Unfortunately, it wasn't light enough and it began to crumble beneath her feet. Scrambling to secure the vine, she watched in horror as it broke in her hands. She began to slide quickly down the steep mound of dirt and rock, brambles scratching her legs and tearing at her coat. Christine could only cover her head and hope for the best as she toppled head over heels, finally ending her flight down as she banged roughly against the guardrail at the bottom.

Tentatively, she moved her limbs, wincing as she became aware of the various pains. She took her time, making sure nothing was broken before slowly getting to her feet. She noticed at some point she had lost a tennis shoe, but the keys to Pinkie were still firmly in her hand. "Well, that's something at least."

She limped toward the light, feeling the isolation of the place in the air. _What if no one was there?_ The thought brought tears to her eyes. There had to be someone. She looked around in case she had missed another place. No, nothing but this building and a big parking lot. It was well lit, but still no help to her.

She reached the door and raised her hand to knock. Music drifted through the air and she breathed a sigh of relief. Pounding on the door, she endeavored to make herself known. The pain reverberated through her fist and up her arm, causing her to cry out in pain. Perhaps she had broken something in her wrist. She switched arms and pounded lightly then with more force as the pain was minimal.

She couldn't gauge how long she stood there, but she was beginning to shake in the aftermath of the evening. "Please," she yelled, "Please. I need help."

The door was flung open so suddenly, she lost her balance and fell onto the floor. 
Excerpt from Dress Blues: A Memorial Anthology

Proceeds benefit Wounded Warriors of America

Crazy Daisy by Maggie Adams

Chapter One

"I'm telling you, Verlynne, the man was as big as these here mountains, and shaggy to boot!" Mabel Hastings commented. She adjusted the floral scarf that covered her purple-tinted gray hair, tying it tighter under her chin.

"You don't say? I heard he moved into the old McElroy cabin," Verlynne said. "Rumor has it he's all messed up in the head and the face. Brought a dog with him that looks more like a wolf than not. I haven't seen him, though. Mr. Willikey opens the store up special for him at night." She shook her head. "Like he was a vampire or something. I guess so he doesn't have to be around us normal folk."

Daisy Jones rolled her blue eyes as she waited in line at the local Piggy Wiggly. These damn old biddy gossips were running somebody through the mud again and were going to make her late to open up the clinic. She cleared her throat rather loudly to get their attention as she put her items on the conveyor belt.

"Why Daisy, I didn't see you back there!" Mabel exclaimed. "You were friends with him as a child. Has he contacted you? Or maybe brought that dog thing in for shots?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are talking about." She said as she tried for a smile. "I really must get..."

"Oh, you haven't heard?" Verlynne leaned across the groceries, the nametag on her uniform pinned to her sagging boobs and knocking over the box of cereal. She fixed her with a hawk-like stare. "The old General's grandson has come back to claim the place."

"Gideon?" Daisy's head came up, whipping her blonde ponytail around and into the gum rack. She disentangled it, as her heart skipped a beat. Gideon McElroy had been her childhood crush. Ten years older, and to her young mind back then, a thousand times more sophisticated, she had often dreamed that he would come back from serving his country to sweep her off her feet, and then they would live happily ever after. She sighed. Those dreams were replaced with the harsh realities of life as a single parent now.

"Yes! And he's like a recluse now. Never comes into town during the day. Very mysterious, if you ask me," Mabel sniffed. "I know he's full of scars, but folks here don't pay that no mind. After the initial shock of seeing them, we would do our Christian duty and welcome him back to the community."

Leave it to Mabel and her cronies to be insulted by a wounded soldier who doesn't care to socialize with the Ladies' Solidarity of the Watertown Welcome Committee from the Baptist church.

Daisy held her temper and pushed her items closer to Verlynne, hoping she'd get the hint and check her out as she replied, "I'm sure once he gets situated, he'll come around more often. It takes a while for those who have served to get back into the flow of small town life."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mabel's eyes narrow. Verlynne finally concerned herself with ringing up the groceries, casting covert glances at her friend as Mabel leaned closer. "And some don't ever recover from it." She grabbed Daisy's hand, patting it in false comfort. "I hope you're not still dwelling on your poor husband's death. It had nothing to do with you and your girl. He just wasn't right in the head when he got back from serving. Probably got it into his head that the child wasn't his. She does look just like you. He couldn't help but take his own life. Don't go blaming yourself for not being able to stop him."

"I don't. Please excuse me." Daisy felt her eyes fill. It had been two years. She had recovered from it; well, unless some old biddy brought it up as fodder for the gossip mill. She threw some money at Verlynne, pushed past Mabel, snatched up her purchases and started to walk away. The tears fell as she hit the automatic door and heard Mabel yell after her.

"Don't take it into your head to try and fix this one, honey. He's even worse than your husband was. You got your daughter to think of. How can she get along at school with folks calling her mom, Crazy Daisy 'cause she takes on the government for strangers?"

Daisy loaded the groceries into her Explorer, vowing that from now she would get her supplies over in Lebanon. Maybe that wasn't even far enough. Maybe it was time for her to think about leaving Tennessee. She turned the car toward the veterinary clinic, her mind on possible places to start over.

On her way home that evening, Daisy pondered the possibility of leaving Watertown for good. She had weighed the pros and cons all day. She had been born here, spent her entire life here, but that didn't mean she had to stay. She'd stayed for her grandpa, then her husband, but really, there wasn't anything keeping her here except her memories, but they were a lot of good memories. Playing checkers with Gramps, baking cookies for General McElroy when he and Gramps got together for their weekly chess games. Running the fields, hunting fairies in the forest, things she had hoped her own daughter would do some day.

She stared out the window at the mountains in the distance, the setting sun bringing them to colorful life this October evening. She would definitely miss the scenery. She glanced in her rearview mirror, deciding to stop for a moment to take in the beauty.

She pulled into a small driveway and got out. The evening breeze was crisp and whipped her blonde hair in her eyes. When she could see again, she realized she was looking down into the eyes of a very large, very angry dog. The alert status of his body and the low growl stopped her in her tracks. She slowly looked up to confirm her position and sure enough, she'd stopped at the old McElroy place. Her memories of her childhood with her gramps had taken her here once more.

"Hello, boy. I'm not a threat. Simply taking in the night air," she whispered, lowering her eyes and backing away slowly. The dog continued to growl.

"I'm leaving now. No need to get angry." She judged the distance between the dog and her closed car door. She didn't think she'd make it, but she'd have to try. She turned slightly to run.

"Hold!" A deep voice yelled from the porch of the cabin. Daisy didn't know if he meant her or the dog, so she froze.

"Samson, release!" The dog immediately relaxed and trotted back to its owner, who was shrouded in shadow. Daisy let the breath out that she had been holding out with a whoosh and looked up to the cabin with a smile.

"Thanks! I wasn't sure what I was going to do," she started forward with a smile.

"Leave!"

She immediately stopped, the smile replaced with a frown.

"I'm Daisy. It's been awhile Gideon, but surely you remember me?"

"I don't. Get out."

"Oh, well, let me re-introduce myself. My Gramps and yours used to play chess..."

"I said leave and I meant it."

"Gideon! We were friends. Why won't you let me at least welcome you back?"

"I don't need friends. I need to be left alone. Now go before I let Samson loose on you."

He looked like he meant every word so Daisy scrambled back to the car, started the engine and hit the reverse, spinning around in the yard and throwing gravel all over.

Damn man! All she had wanted to do was let him know he still had a friend in these parts. Well, if that's how he felt about it, she'd just let him stay lonely. She wasn't a busybody like Mabel or Verlynne and she had better things to do than play Welcome Wendy to a crabby ex-soldier and his snarling wolfdog.
And Here's a recipe from the Coalson Family Cookbook of Memories, the companion cookbook to the popular Tempered Steel Series!

Fried Pickles

This is another of Montana Max's favorites. The boys laugh that he fries everything, so he doesn't have to worry about poisoning anyone!

Ingredients

  * 1 jar of sliced dill pickles |   * 2 eggs, beaten

---|---

  * 1/2 cup buttermilk* |   * 1 cup flour

  * 1 teaspoon salt |   * 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

  * 1 teaspoon garlic powder |   * 1/2 teaspoon paprika

  * 1 pinch cayenne |   * vegetable or canola oil for frying

Directions

Drain the pickle slices in a colander. Add flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika and cayenne to a bowl and mix.

Add the eggs to the buttermilk in a separate bowl and whisk to combine. * I make buttermilk by adding a teaspoon of vinegar to ½ cup regular milk and letting it sit for about ten minutes.

Add the pickles to the dry ingredients and coat. Remove from the dry ingredients.

Add the pickle chips to the milk mixture one at a time and dredge back through the dry ingredients a second time. Coat all the pickle chips before you begin frying. Heat your oil to 350 degrees. Fry the pickles in small batches to avoid crowding, for two minutes or until golden brown. Remove and drain onto a brown paper bag. If you drain the oil onto paper towels the pickles will soften from the steam it creates. Serves 6.
Acknowledgements

It's hard for me to imagine what it would be like to grow up without family. Like the main character in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", my family is large, loud, sometimes tactless, but entirely devoted to the notion of family and to each other. Growing up in the Grafton area, I was able to be a part of another "family", the community of Grafton. Like many small towns, it has a variety of quirky characters, some of which were actually my real family! But growing up there, the values I accepted, the memories I made, and the joy I found in nature, I feel has made up the very best parts of me.

I hope through my Tempered Steel Series, and now the Legends Series, I can continue to show you how integral small-town traditions, and values are to the health and welfare of our country. My stories will continue to show that no matter our cultural differences, (or species lol) what brings all of us together is hope for a better future, and love for our world and each other.

So, thanks to my family, my friends, and the places I called home, especially Grafton, IL, for making me the person I am today and giving me the tools to make my dream a reality.
