Chapter 13 - Now Get Up!
Gracey spent every day in her suite. She told everyone she was just tired. But the truth was Gracey was frightened. There had been two kidnapping attempts, and she had been shot. Okay, the shooting was an accident, but mentally and emotionally too much had happened in a short span of time. On top of the physical threats, Gracey discovered the man she thought was her daddy was not her father. Her father was a wolf. Gracey had gotten engaged, and she discovered her fiancée was her cousin. And she was a wolf too. A wolf if she decided to change before her twenty-fifth birthday.
A normal person would have already found a tall bridge and a deep river to end it all. Stone tried to empathize with Gracey as his family had kept secrets from him, as well. He had gotten engaged and discovered his fiancé was his cousin. And he was a wolf; if he decided to change before his thirtieth birthday. But Stone had not been shot, and no one had tried to kidnap him.
Stone delivered Gracey her breakfast every morning; toast and coffee. He tried to get Gracey to eat lunch but failed. Ms. Maple was victorious in getting Gracey to eat at least half of her dinner. While Gracey allowed visitors into her suite, she barely talked staring at the wall almost catatonic. The staff ensured her bath was drawn, and Ms. Maple coaxed Gracey into the bath and clean pajamas each day.
Charles stopped by daily, nearly in tears, full of remorse. “I am so sorry, Gracey,” he told her again and again.
“I do not blame you, Charles. It wasn’t your fault,” Gracey would reassure Charles and go back into her trance.
Stone spent most of each day with Gracey in her suite. Each night he would lie beside her, but Gracey remained stiff in his arms. Stone could feel Gracey pull further and further away.
After the third day, Stone called Dr. Robertson, distraught. “Gracey barely eats, she barely talks, and she just lies in bed and stares at the wall. I am really worried, Dr. Robertson. Gracey is so despondent.”
“Is the wound healing? Is Gracey in pain?” Dr. Robertson asked.
“The dressing has been changed as directed, and there does not appear to be any infection. The pain seems minimal. Gracey doesn’t flinch when the bandages are changed,” Stone answered.
“I will stop by this afternoon and see what I can do to help,” Dr. Robertson advised.
“If Molly is working with Rafer and I was the one feeding her information, how are we going to prove it and find out why?” Elmer asked Jim and Rudy.
Then Rudy remembered Stone and Gracey’s story about their last visit to Molly’s and a box of documents, photos, and the Henrikson Family Tree. He told Jim and Elmer about the box. “Maybe there are some clues in the box. But how do we get it?” Rudy asked.
“Well, if Molly is the one passing on information to Rafer, she probably thinks I am clueless. I can dupe Molly into leaving the house and then Jim can go in and get the box,” Elmer suggested.
“It is almost too simple,” Rudy stated, with a mischievous grin.
“Molly called me last week about fixing a window screen. I will go over, and after I fix the screen, I will offer to treat her to lunch at the diner. It should give Jim enough time to search the house, find the box and bring it here,” Elmer suggested.
“Set it up,” Jim told Elmer.
Elmer called his cousin Molly and let her know he was back in town and would be over to fix the screen soon. Jim and Elmer left in separate vehicles. Jim drove past the driveway of Molly’s house and waited for Elmer to fix the screen and then leave, taking Molly to lunch.
A few minutes later Jim was entering the window Elmer had conveniently left unlocked for him. Stone had provided the general location of the box, and after searching a few closets, Jim found the box in the closet of the guest room. Jim wondered if Molly kept a journal. He checked her room; first the nightstand and then the blanket chest at the end of her bed. The chest was locked, but luckily Jim had kept a key from his deceased mother’s blanket chest on his key ring as a memento. Jim tried the key and smiled when it fit. Under several antique quilts, he found what he was searching for; several leather-bound journals. Jim glanced at the dates in a few of them and discovered they went back over twenty years.
Jim locked the chest and left the house with a cardboard box and the journals. He closed the window and locked it. He left by the front door and drove back to Emerald Knoll. Jim texted Elmer to let Elmer know he was home. The text contained only a smiley face.
While Elmer and Jim were executing their ruse, Dr. Robertson arrived at Emerald Knoll to check on Gracey. Stone accompanied him to the suite. On the way up Dr. Robertson advised Stone, he may see or hear some things he might not like, but to remain quiet and trust him.
“I'm back Just as I as promised Gracey. I want to see how your wound is healing,” Dr. Robertson told Gracey, entering the suite.
Dr. Robertson removed the bandages and examined the wound. “This looks good, Gracey. You are healing well. How is the pain?”
“Not much pain Dr. Robertson,” Gracey replied flatly.
“Are you still taking the antibiotics and the pain pills?”
“Yes, sir.”
Dr. Robertson was concerned about Gracey's lack of tone and inflection. Is this mental or drug induced? Dr. Robertson wondered. “Keep the wound clean and covered with a light layer of petroleum jelly. Let’s continue on the antibiotics but stop taking the hydrocodone. If you feel any discomfort, a couple of aspirin or some Ibuprofen should take care of it.” He then asked, “Have you been moving around much?”
“No,” Gracey answered.
“Movement helps circulation, and you would be surprised how much a walk in the sun can help with healing. So I am prescribing walks in the garden twice a day for a week,” Dr. Robertson declared. “I am going to send someone in to help you get dressed and arrange for your walks through the garden. Do you have any questions?”
“What if I don’t want to go for a walk?” Gracey snapped, with indignation.
Dr. Robertson did not reply. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked into Gracey’s closet. His jaw still tight, he grabbed a pair of jeans and a blouse. He walked back and threw them onto the bed. “Get up and put these on,” Dr. Robertson demanded. Gracey glared at Dr. Robertson shocked he was talking to her in this manner. “I watched your mother lay in her bed, a prisoner in her own home for almost eighteen years. I will be damned if I watch you do the same. Now get up and get dressed!”
No one had ever talked to Gracey like this ever. But the words Dr. Robertson shouted resonated in Gracey's mind; a prisoner in her own home. Gracey climbed out of bed, picked up the clothes and entered the bathroom. She returned after a few minutes dressed. “I am ready for my walk,” she announced with a deflated sigh, and she walked out of the room.
Stone whispered, “Thank you,” to Dr. Robertson and followed Gracey down to the great room.
Dr. Robertson sank into a chair and exhaled. It worked.
Gracey looked out the doors of the great room and into the garden. Just three days before two men had busted in and tried to kidnap her. She felt herself freeze, holding her breath.
“It’s a beautiful day Gracey, not too hot,” Stone told her softly and opened the doors. The fragrance from the garden was soothing and sweet. Gracey closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Stone took her by the hand and waited for Gracey to take the first step into the garden. And she did.
Gracey looked up towards the sky and closed her eyes. The sun on her face was warming and relaxing. Slowly she walked further into the garden. She found the smell of the soil therapeutic and the flowers seemed more aromatic than normal. She was happy to be outside.
Stone looked towards the driveway and noticed Jim returning. Afraid Gracey would recognize the items Jim had liberated from Molly’s house; Stone pulled Gracey into an embrace. “I have been thinking about enlarging the garden next year,” he told her, “I will order some catalogs, and we can plan one together. I think i
t will be fun.”
Stone and Gracey spent the next hour strolling through the garden talking and making plans for next year. Stone was happy Charles was hidden from sight. He was watching over them covertly, ready to protect them if needed.
Rudy and Abby met with Elmer and Jim. They had Molly’s box and her journals. They started examining the items in the box first. Abby was curious about the Henrikson Family Tree Gracey had seen. Abby quickly found the paper and examined it. The tree showed her line, along with Stone back to Abby’s great-great grandfather Alrid Henrikson. The tree also showed Rafer with nothing below it, but Gracey’s name circled with a large question mark next to it.
“It looks as if Molly suspected a connection,” Abby proclaimed, staring at the family tree.
Elmer was reading the various newspaper articles and obituaries. Molly had articles going as far back as Mayra attack. He recognized the articles about the Newsomes, but there were other articles and names he did not know. “Jim, are any of these familiar to you?”
“No,” Jim replied. Stone had already removed the newspaper articles about the men found in the woods dead after Mayra’s attack during the first visit to Molly.
The box contained other keepsakes, locks of hair, baby teeth, and a few birthday cards. Everything else looked innocuous. “Looks like we a lot of reading to do,” Rudy announced looking at Abby and the stack of journals. “I will take these things upstairs, Abby. We have some bedtime reading for a few nights.”
It took Rudy and Abby a couple of nights skimming through Molly’s journals. When Rudy had found Molly after Mayra was attacked, Molly was a young widow. Her husband had died suddenly, and she needed a job. Rudy had made an arrangement with Molly to apply for the housekeeper position with the Newsomes. Molly was to ask for a meager wage and Rudy would supplement it.
The journals revealed many surprises. Molly had murdered her husband for the insurance money. Unable to conceive children on her own, she eagerly accepted Rudy’s offer to help take care of Mayra and later her child. Molly had always taken care of Gracey as if she was her own. But after several years of caring for Mayra, Molly wanted Gracey for her own. And she had fallen in love with John Newsome.
Molly tried unsuccessfully to sabotage Dr. Robertson’s treatment of Mayra; shorting doses of medication and even substituting the medication with placebos. But Molly did not know the monthly shots to keep Mayra from turning wolf were counteracting her attempt to shorten Mayra’s life.
After eighteen years of caring for Mayra, Molly found her way to remove Mayra from the equation. She had discovered Gracey was not John’s daughter, and Gracey’s biological father, Rafer, wanted her. While she loved Gracey, Molly loved John more, and if Gracey had to be collateral damage, so be it. So Molly made a deal with Rafer. Rafer would have Mayra killed, and Molly would help Rafer claim Gracey.
But Molly’s plan backfired on her. Just before Gracey’s eighteenth birthday, John was set up for murder by Rafer’s men. Then Rudy took over Gracey’s protection, and Rafer’s plans were put on hold. When Gracey and Stone went to visit Molly, asking for a photo, Molly became angry and jealous. She felt she had lost everything, her job, and the man she loved. Why did Gracey have the right to have a happy ending when Molly had nothing? Molly contacted the devil twins and set the kidnapping plan in motion. When the first attempt failed, Molly contacted them again when she learned Elmer, and Jim would be out of town for a few days.
Abby and Rudy were stunned. For twenty-five years, Molly had duped everyone and in the end betrayed Gracey. “How are we going to tell everyone?” Abby asked Rudy.
“I am not even going to think about it tonight,” Rudy replied. He had other things on his mind. “When do you think the antidote is going to start taking effect?” Rudy asked Abby remembering her eating the lavender colored rose petals and changing the subject.
“I am not sure, but my senses are more heightened,” Abby answered. “My hearing is better as is my sense of smell and taste. It has been a long time since I have been able to see in the dark,” Abby added. “The boys will be showing Charles how they change Saturday night. I might go and watch. Maybe their turning will make a connection with my wolf and help the process. I doubt I will be able to turn, but I need to become attuned with my inner wolf again. I need to be ready and able to turn on the full moon. If I can turn before then, it will be easier. Otherwise, the turn on the full moon will be more painful.”
“Painful?” Rudy blurted out. “Turning is painful?”
“The first time, when you are learning how to relax and release yourself to the wolf, it can be. But after the turn, there is no pain. And then subsequent turns will be easy. Most humans and wolves are just afraid to change the first time, so they do not relax. It is all about relaxing and letting it happen. And right now, I am not exactly at ease about turning again,” Abby explained.
Rudy wanted to ask more questions, but he did not want to reveal to Abby his plan to turn. He would wait until the last minute, but he had a plan he knew would work. Rudy wanted to spend another sixty years with the love of his life.
“Gracey, I know we promised no more secrets and no more lies,” Abby told her during breakfast. “But Rudy and I have learned who has been helping the pack to claim you. It is up to you whether we disclose who it was. Stone the same offer is available to you.”
Gracey and Stone looked at each other. “I am not sure I want to know. I am not sure I want to know who has betrayed me especially if it is someone I know. Is it someone in the family or in the household?” Gracey asked.
“No,” Rudy replied.
“Then I don’t want to know. This house and its occupants are my family and friends. As long as I can trust them; I do not want to know,” Gracey told Rudy.
“I wish I felt the same way as Gracey. I need to know. But if me knowing, leads Gracey to believe I am keeping a secret, then I will not ask who it is,” Stone answered even though he already suspected it was Molly.
“If you want to know, I will not consider it a secret. I am sorry, but I don’t want to know,” Gracey told Stone. "It will hurt too much."
“I will let you know who it was later when we brief Jim and Elmer,” Rudy advised Stone.
After breakfast, Gracey retired to her suite with a few magazines Billy had picked up with the grocery order. Gracey had decided to start early with Stone’s idea to plan next year’s garden. Gracey was marking pages and making a few sketches. She found some colorful perennials she wanted to add to the garden. She even tossed around the thought of a vegetable garden behind the house near the stable. She adored a salad made with fresh vegetables. Gracey marked some arbors and benches she liked.
The rest of the family was in the study discussing the collaborator. When Rudy confirmed to Elmer, it was Molly, Elmer was the one feeling betrayed. Then he was angry. “She’s my kin," Elmer yelled. "I cannot believe she did this!”
As Rudy told everyone what he and Abby had read in Molly’s journal, the shock continued. “She killed Corey?!? Omigod!” Elmer called out. “I bet she poisoned him too.”
“I suggest you minimize your contact with Molly,” Jim cautioned Elmer. “And be careful what you say when she does call. I wouldn’t reveal any plans the family makes.”
Afraid Gracey would ask him who the spy was and equally uncomfortable knowing something she did not want to know Stone avoided Gracey until lunch time. Gracey was so distracted with the gardening magazines she did not realize how much time she had spent on her garden project until Ms. McFarlin announced lunch.
Gracey entered the room, and everyone tried not to look her direct, eye to eye. “Okay, let’s shoo the giant elephant out of the room. If you feel like you keeping a secret, you are not. I just do not want to know who it was. As long as I don’t have to see this person, I don’t care!” Everyone nodded, and lunch was served.
Later that night, after the family had ret
ired, Abby sought out Jim and Elmer. “I feel the antidote starting to work. Maybe, if I can relax and my wolf can connect with your wolves; it will help me to change. Can we try?” Abby asked a bit apprehensive and hopeful.
Jim and Elmer turned. In their wolf forms, their awareness of Abby’s nervousness was more evident. Maybe, if we concentrate on speaking to her wolf, Elmer suggested to Jim telepathically.
Jim and Elmer sat quietly, making eye contact with Abby, sending telepathic messages. Just relax. We are here for you. You have done this before. They repeated the messages over and over.
Suddenly Abby jerked, wide-eyed. Had she heard something or did she just feel it? Did she hear Jim and Elmer’s thoughts, or were they just her own? Abby looked at Jim and then at Elmer. Jim in his wolf form was gray with ultraviolet eyes. Elmer was almost jet black with two white paws on his forelegs.
It had been almost twenty-four years since the last time Abby had turned. She started taking the shots a year after Dr. Robertson had started giving the shots to Mayra.
Abby tried to remember what she looked like in wolf form. Most wolves resembled their human form, in either skin tone or hair color. In human form, she had yellow blonde hair, much like Gracey and the same emerald green eyes. They were both female Henriksons. Abby thought about the light apricot fur of her youth. She remembered how it felt to feel the wind bristle through her fur when she ran; how exciting it felt to run full speed; how liberated she felt running as a wolf. She remembered how strong she was.
Abby saw a flash; a spark; a connection to Jim and Elmer. Their wolves had connected. Once the connection was made, their wolves were able to take over and control the messages; the conversation.
Do you want to run? Do you want to hunt? Do you want to protect your family?
The last question rang true to Abby’s human heart and soul and to her wolf’s instinct to protect and survive. Yes! Abby’s wolf called back. Then turn! Jim and Elmer demanded.
Abby felt the turn start and knew to relax. But it had been too long since her last turn. It felt like her first time. Abby inhaled to scream and exhaled a howl.
You did it! Jim and Elmer growled. Abby looked down at herself and with her perfect night vision saw her beautiful apricot fur. Through her wolf teeth, Abby growled in contentment.
Ready to run? Jim asked Abby.
Abby had forgotten how good it felt to be in her wolf form. Her body shuddered in satisfaction and took off running. I will stay here, Elmer told Jim as Jim ran to catch up with Abby.
Running towards the woods, Jim asked Abby. Did you want to hunt tonight?
I think I will wait. Tonight I just want to run! And Abby ran faster, stretching her legs as hard as she possibly could. She ran through the creek, exhilarated by the feeling of the wind and water on her fur and laughed telepathically. Jim laughed with Abby and took off ahead of her towards the meadow. After a few laps around the meadow, they head back to the house.
Elmer was waiting for them in human form. Since Abby had turned while still dressed, her clothes were lying on the ground shredded. Elmer had found a pair of pajamas in the laundry room and had them ready for her. The men turned their backs while Abby returned to her human form and dressed.
“Thank you, both,” Abby told them with a gigantic smile and returned to her suite. After a quick shower and a change of clothing, she crawled into bed beside Rudy.
Rudy pretended to be asleep. He had watched Abby turn into a wolf from the window. He admired her beauty and gracefulness as a wolf, and her eyes, her intoxicating emerald green eyes. He did not realize until that night just how much he had admired Abby and missed her, as a strong wolf.
Jim and Elmer had planned an exhibition for Charles for Saturday night. They thought Charles seeing them turn wolf would be beneficial for his training and help to put him at ease. The rest of the family would be there, as well.
Walking to the stables, Jim and Elmer explained they normally undressed first so they wouldn’t ruin their clothes. Both had brought backpacks with extra clothing as they did want to embarrass Abby and Gracey by undressing in front of them.
Jim and Elmer continued explaining that Charles would need to relax and let the wolf take control. The full moon would call to his inner wolf and pull it to the surface letting the turn happen. The first turn was always on the first night of the full moon when its pull was strongest. Both Jim and Elmer would be there for him in wolf form, and they would help call to the wolf. All Charles had to do was relax.
“Relax? But doesn’t it hurt?” Charles asked, almost whimpering like a new born puppy.
“Just the first time,” Elmer told Charles, laughing.
“But once you turn the pain will go away, and you will feel better than you ever have,” Jim added.
“How can that be?” Charles wanted to know.
Jim looked at Charles for a moment and asked, “Remember when you were injured playing football? How the needle going in would hurt, but once the painkillers took over there was no pain?”
Charles thought about it for a moment and nodded, “Makes sense, so my wolf is my anodyne.”
Elmer and Jim shook their heads at the comment and chuckled.
Jim turned to Elmer. “Ready?”
Elmer nodded and counted backward “Three, two, one,” and they changed; Jim into his gray wolf form and Elmer was black; Jim with ultraviolet eyes and Elmer with glowing yellow eyes.
Charles, Stone, and Gracey were amazed and astounded how quickly it happened.
“Dammit, no one screamed or fainted,” Elmer said a bit disappointed.
“You owe me $20,” Jim growled.
Then without notice, Abby stepped forward and announced, “Watch this!” And she turned.
Rudy stood proudly and smiling ear to ear.
“Omigod,” Gracey gasped.
“What the…?” Stone called out. Watching Jim and Elmer turn and seeing them in wolf form was one thing; completely supernatural. But seeing his mother turn into a wolf was overwhelming. Once Stone recovered from the initial shock, he reveled in her beauty.
Abby walked over to Rudy and licked his hand. Rudy laughed. Not getting the reaction Abby had expected, she jumped up putting her paws on his shoulders and licked Rudy on the cheek and then nuzzled his neck. “I love you too,” Rudy told Abby.
Landing back on the ground, Abby looked at the other two wolves. Let’s hunt boys! And the three ran towards the meadow.
The rest of the family stood silently for a few moments with Charles, Stone, and Gracey amazed. Rudy chuckled again. “A game of chess, anyone?” Rudy suggested and turned towards the house. Gracey and Stone joined him while Charles took perimeter patrol.
The wolves headed through the woods, across the creek, and towards the meadow. LeRoy Kincaid would not be there until the weekend before the full moon to deliver cattle. They would actually need to hunt. Salt licks were strategically placed, throughout the years, to attract deer to the meadow and a stream running through it.
The three slowed down as they neared the meadow; with their noses to the sky, they sniffed hoping to smell the scent of a deer or two. Moving slowly, they listened for any sound which would indicate nearby prey. Jim sensed a small harem of doe not far away. Moving in closer, the three saw five does and their young near the stream.
Three, two, one, Jim called out, and the three raced towards the harem. Elmer took down the biggest doe like a pro. Jim held back to help Abby if needed.
Abby hesitated for a split second, but her wolf took over, and after a quick chase, Abby's jaws and teeth were soon deep in the neck of another doe. The steam from the hot flesh and blood was incredible. It had been twenty-four years since Abby's last hunt. She had forgotten how delicious fresh venison tasted. Abby ate like it was her first meal in days.
After the hunt, the three rinsed their fur in the stream and headed back to the house. Abby had left a set of clothes in the stab
les unbeknownst to anyone. The stables were not used and empty. She mentally planned for a renovation, changing rooms and showers. This would be a good place to turn in private, she thought.