Gideon didn’t stop sulking until Savannah pulled into a burger place and fed him. It wasn’t one of the places that he’d tried yet, and when he took a big bite of one of the burgers dripping juice, he decided that it was close enough to heaven for him and thus now one of his favorites.
Savannah took a long pull off her of her chocolate milk shake. “Okay, one more grocery store and then we can start unloading,” she said.
He chewed, swallowed and eyed her. “We’ve been to two.”
“Sales,” she replied and pulled out three fliers from her kutte. “They all have different sales and why should the club pay three dollars more on ham at one store when it is that much cheaper at the other for the exact same thing.” And since she was buying close to half a dozen of them, the dollars did start to add up.
“Because it saves time,” Gideon said.
“Oh, like we have anything else to do today.” Savannah shook out the flier for the one store they hadn’t gone to and skimmed it again hoping she hadn’t missed anything. She idly picked up a spicy curly fry and munched on it.
There was the Clarks roof that needed finishing. Gideon thought about pointing that out. Sure, he was happy enough to help out. It did look like the Clarks needed the help and needed it badly. He didn’t want to rush the work.
He’d like to be able to do something that was a bit more permanent and stable. Something so Beda would allow him to pay his rent and his utilities. Not that he was any closer in what he thought he could do for a living. He was a farm boy and a soldier. He felt uneasy deep down in his gut. He needed a distraction.
He pulled the other fliers over to his side of the table. They were marked up with circles and things were crossed out. He wondered if Savannah ever thought how about seriously she took this. He compared them and realized Savannah was right, some sales on items were better at one store than at the other. He still wasn’t sure it justified taking the time to go to three stores. But what really did he know? He’d never bought groceries on a budget. In fact, he barely ever bought groceries at all.
Thinking of budget. “Do you have a budget?”
“Nope,” Savannah said and picked up her burger.
He didn’t remove his eyes from the flyers. Then why was she bothering?
Savannah jiggled her foot up and down and watched him as she ate. Was he going to push this issue? She was the VP here and he was the prospect. Brand gave her full leeway to accomplish the errands the way she wanted. And if she wanted to go to three grocery stores and find the best sales, then it was her prerogative.
Everyone who helped whined and complained about their feet hurting and the torture. She didn’t dare always feed them candy to shut them up. Bored and whiny on a sugar high that eventually crashed make them cranky on top of whiny.
Her foot stopped bouncing. “We should stop by Lollytarts or the bakery,” she said. She tapped her computer. “Someone has to have a birthday coming up,” she muttered and her foot started bouncing again.
Gideon perked up a little and quickly schooled his face to blandness. Lollytarts was the candy store. He liked Lollytarts. It had racks and racks of different colored candies and the store smelled like sugar. He wouldn’t mind stopping there. He decided to prod Savannah a little bit. “You can get baked goods at the grocery store,” Gideon pointed out. “Candy too.”
“The other stores have more variety and it tastes better,” and she was going to make him wait in the van if he kept it up.
Gideon grinned, figuring out that Savannah took things a little too seriously. This could be fun. “If you think we have time.”
“There is always time for candy,” Savannah said. Really, was he done with his arguing and what was that last passive aggressive comment about anyways? He was stuck unless he was desirous of walking. She had the keys to the van. Actually, if he kept whining, he wasn’t driving next week.
Gideon’s lips twitched and he kept looking downwards, not daring to look up or else he’d start laughing.
Savannah looked up and stared at him. He was smiling. “You, you,” She stared at him. “You are baiting me,” she said. She glared at him.
He shook his head, but his shoulders shook too. Savannah growled and went back to her food.
---
Savannah parked in front of one of the downtown bakeries. One that Gideon hadn’t entered yet. He got out of the van and shut the door. “Gold Rush Cupcakes?” he asked. It seemed a little touristy to him. The carved sign was in the shape of a cupcake with a large ‘sheriff’ star at an angle to hold the entire business name.
Savannah jumped up onto the sidewalk and looked at him. He’d see. She pushed the door open.
Gideon followed her warily. Was she sure this was the bakery she wanted?
“Flossie?” Savannah shouted as she entered.
Gideon looked around. The western theme continued on the inside of the shop. There were rough wooden tables set with wild flowers in blue fleck enamel metal ware. Blue gingham curtains on the windows and under the front display, that at least looked familiar enough as it was filled with cupcakes, brownies and other pastries. A sign behind the counter declared in bold letters that this was a Heaven’s Heathens friendly business.
Flossie turned around a corner. “Savannah!” she squealed, bounced around the counter, and hugged her. Flossie let Savannah go, tugged her ruffled star flecked apron straight, and patted her brown hair that was done up in dreadlocks, tied back into a ‘bun’ and held in place with a maroon bandana. She beamed at Savannah.
Gideon kept his hands in his pockets. He stiffened a little. Flossie was a werewolf.
Flossie turned to him and her head tilted. “Is this the puppy?”
“Yes, Handsome,” Savannah said.
Flossie grinned. “Hello, Handsome,” she said. She went back around the counter. “Let me see, let me see,” she murmured looking among her cupcakes. “Ah hah!” She pulled one out.
Gideon scowled at Savannah. His name wasn’t Handsome. He paused. She thought he was handsome? He flushed.
Flossie came back around the counter. “On the house,” she said with a wink. “I have a knack for guessing favorites.” she added. She spun back to Savannah. “What brings you here?”
Gideon raised an eyebrow. Ohkay. Free cupcake. He didn’t mind a free cupcake. What type of cupcake was it?
“I have a list,” Savannah said and tapped her computer in her ear. “Graduation party.”
“Ordered.”
“Already?”
Gideon eyed the cupcake. It had white frosting with chocolate drizzled on it and one red cinnamon candy. He went over to the display to see what he was getting into before taking a bite. The sign in front of the ones that looked similar read, ‘Lovers Spice: Chocolate and pink pepper mountain cupcake, baked cream cheese filling with whipped cream frosting, chocolate drizzle, and cinnamon candy garnish.’
Gideon raised an eyebrow. Chocolate, he could handle chocolate. He unwrapped it and took a bite. He chewed slowly and swallowed. He eyed the cupcakes again in the display. That was actually really good. The chocolate had a bit of a spicy kick to it from the pepper and the cream cheese was a little bit like having cheesecake in the middle of the cupcake.
In the background Savannah and Flossie went through a list of names to which Flossie replied with things like “Ordered. Done. Through my competition,” and so on.
Savannah took a step to the side and snitched a bit of Gideon’s cupcake.
“Hey!” he said.
She stuck into her mouth before he could stop her. “That’s my favorite,” she said and wrinkled her nose at him. “Mmm.” She rolled her eyes and turned back to Flossie.
Flossie sighed, went back around the counter, and got another cupcake. She handed it to Savannah. Savannah smiled at her and unwrapped it.
“I think we’ve got this month covered.”
Savannah frowned and chewed. She swallowed. “Wait, we’re doing a welcome dinner for Handsome here on Saturday.”
“That’s news to me!” Flossie turned around. She reached for her calendar. “Saturday, Saturday. Lessee, two weddings, a funeral, and now a welcome party.” She picked up a stylus and penciled it in. She tapped her lips with the end.
Savannah went over to the counter and leaned against it. “It’s breakfast for dinner.”
Flossie sighed. “That makes it harder.”
Savannah nodded. “I don’t think maple walnut or anything bacon would work for dessert.”
Gideon stopped chewing and swallowed. “Who puts bacon on cupcakes?”
Flossie waved a hand at him. “Oh, it’s great if you use it as a garnish. You crush it up and sprinkle a little on it for the salty flavor. It’s like sea salt and chocolate.” Flossie frowned. “Those aren’t popular anyways,” she muttered. “What do you like, Handsome?”
“Cake,” Gideon said.
“It is your welcoming dinner.” Flossie tapped the counter. “Could you be more specific?”
“Oh, a theme.” Savannah brightened. “What type of theme?”
“It’s not a birthday party,” Gideon growled.
“Yes it is, in a way, sorta, kinda, but not really.” Savannah tapped her sandals. “Hmm.”
Gideon squirmed and looked at the exit. It was bad enough that they were holding this welcoming dinner to begin with, did it have to have a theme too?
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Flossie brightened. “We could do Jasper? You know, little trees and little wolves and full moons?”
Savannah tilted her head, nibbled on her cupcake and shifted her weight to her other hip. “How many times have we done that now?” she asked.
“It always fits,” Flossie said. She pulled over a sketchpad and began to doodle.
“How about match with marzipan ‘eggs’ and ‘bacon’ and ‘pancakes?’”
“Why are we doing breakfast for dinner?” Flossie asked.
“Houston wanted to do a welcoming festival and have breakfast and dinner. This is Esme’s way of appeasing him.”
“Mmm,” Flossie said. “Handsome, you aren’t contributing.”
“I have nothing to contribute?” Gideon made it a question and eased towards the door. He was a boring person outside of the military. And he didn’t want to be reminded of his previous life right now. He winced and wanted to smack himself. He’d answered to Handsome. Twice.
“Prospect, plant your feet,” Savannah said.
Gideon frowned at her back. How had she known he was moving?
Savannah tilted her head. “He has a nice auto.”
“Oh, autos! And motorcycles. I’ve got cookie cutters.”
Gideon scowled at Savannah’s back. She’d barely seen his auto. How did she know it was nice? And autos, really? “Am I four years old?” he asked.
“There might be four year olds there and they appreciate well decorated cupcakes.” Savannah sniffed.
“We must please the spawnlings,” Flossie said. “Autos and motorcycles,” she said. “I can pipe them with details. Colors?”
“Since he’s joining the Club, better stick to Club colors.”
“Flavors?” Flossie asked.
They both looked at Gideon. Gideon took a step backwards. “I’m not fussy,” he said.
Flossie sighed. “If there was enough time, we could do a tasting.”
“Clarks roof comes first,” Savannah said.
Flossie wrinkled her nose. “Don’t I know it, poor dearies.” Her eyes narrowed. “Did you like the cupcake?” she asked Gideon.
“Delicious,” Gideon said promptly.
Flossie beamed at him. Her round face glowed in satisfaction. Gideon wondered if she ever stopped smiling.
Savannah kicked at the floor. “He was helping Beda find lemons earlier.”
“Oh, I have a great lemon cupcake, meringue frosting, vanilla wafer garnish.”
“Ooooh, yum.”
Gideon reached for a chair, grabbed, pulled it towards him, and sat. It looked like he was going to get cupcakes whether he liked them or not.
---
Once back in the van, Gideon turned to Savannah. “Is Flossie related to Dakota?” he asked. They looked similar. They had a similar body type and face shape. Gideon wanted to get a handle on who was related to whom around here. Especially among the werewolves, he didn’t think there could be that many families.
Savannah put the keys in the ignition. Her brow furrowed. “Oh probably,” she said.
“Probably?” Gideon asked. That didn’t sound definitive.
“I’d have to check the chart,” Savannah said. “They could be cousins several times removed or I don’t remember. Almost everyone around here is either related through blood or marriage.”
Gideon felt uneasy. It settled into his gut and clenched down on the cupcake he was digesting. That didn’t help at all.
Savannah checked her mirrors and backed out of the space. “It’s why we’ve really exploded in the last one hundred years. Of course, once we settle someplace else we start mixing all our blood there too. I mean, I’ve got family up in Regina, I think I’ve got a cousin once removed in Sturgis. Uncle Branson is in California. Half the time I’m not sure who I’m related to and whom I’m not.” She shrugged. “It’s pretty tangled.” She looked over and grinned at him. “That’s why we call each other brother and sister a lot or kissing cousins.” She winked at him and returned her eyes to the road.
Gideon slumped into his seat. “There’s a chart?” That could be helpful if he could find out where it was.
“Yeah. When you’re a full member we’ll have to add you to it,” Savannah said. “New blood is pretty prized around here.” She didn’t know why he was worried. Being unrelated was a great perk. Most of her relatives in Jasper were pretty distant. She didn’t have to worry about it overmuch.
Gideon sighed. Damn it. That did not bode well.
Savannah laughed. “It’ll wear off once they get to know you,” she said.
He scowled at her. He knew what she meant. He felt like teasing her. She’d subjected him to Flossie and the nickname of Handsome. “Is that supposed to be an insult?”
As he suspected she would, Savannah took it seriously. She blinked. “Um. No.” She reached up and ran her hand through her hair. “Worded that wrong,” she muttered. “I mean, once everyone meets you and the novelty of your existence wears off, there will be less attention paid to you and you can go about your business without tons of gossip.”
“Because that sounded like I was a bad person to know,” Gideon mock glowered at her.
She pouted. “You think the worst of me,” she said.
Gideon wanted to sigh. Apparently trying to tease her was pointless when she was focused on the road and not looking at his expressions. He gave up, mostly. “And here I was thinking you thought the worst of me.”
“You’re my prospect and we’re stuck together,” she said. “I get to see the unvarnished you and have an admittedly biased opinion. Present yourself to the others however you want, I’ll know the real you one way or the other.”
“That goes both ways,” he said.
“But I’m such a wonderful person to know!” Savannah said lightly and grinned. She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel.
Gideon looked at her out the corner of his eyes. “We’ll see,” he said, echoing Brand from the night before.
She mouthed the words. ‘We’ll see,’ and rocked her head from side to side, rolling her eyes. She glanced over at him.
He smirked at her.
She growled, reached into her kutte, and threw a lollipop at him. He reached out and caught it, laughing.
Savannah pulled in front of another bakery and parked.
He eyed the sign and eyed her. “Weren’t we at a bakery?” he asked.
She glared at him in utter exasperation, twisted the keys out of the ignition, and got out without a word. He opened his door and followed her, still not understanding.
---
Brand gestured to the chairs set up across from his desk. “Please, have a seat gentleman,” he said.
Mr. Smith nodded and took a chair, having to do undo a button on his suit as he did. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with us.”
“It wasn’t a problem,” Brand said and nodded at Ted who was already seated on the same side of the desk he was. “This is Ted, our company treasurer.”
Ted smiled. It wasn’t a reassuring smile.
Mr. Smith smiled back.
Brand leaned back in his seat and watched the three. Mr. White had looked around, taking in all the Club memorabilia on the walls. Brand didn’t let him know he’d seen him case the room. “I trust everything is in order,” he said and it was a polite inquiry.
“Dr. Brown is alive,” Mr. Smith said.
“And out of Africa, which I believe is what you requested,” Brand said.
“For which we are relieved.”
Brand narrowed his eyes. But not relieved enough to bring one member of Dr. Brown’s family with them. “I am glad to hear it,” he said in a smooth voice. “Dr. Brown’s family should be relieved.”
“They are,” Mr. Smith assured.
Brand waved a hand. Then where were they? “I’m sure he’d be happier to see them, as Dr. Hope requested.”
“They are extremely busy and are trusting us in this instance.”
Brand smiled. “They must rely on you. Jasper is an extremely safe area. It would be our pleasure to host Dr. Brown’s family through his recovery.”
“That won’t be necessary. He’ll be returning with us as soon as possible.”
“I understand this must be distressing for them, having their family member caught on a humanitarian mission in Africa,” Ted said and leaned forward. “If it were me, I would want to see him face to face to be assured of his well-being.”
Brand was beginning to wonder if the family knew Dr. Brown was missing. Surely he had a family. Brand smiled at them. “He was on a humanitarian mission, was he not?”
Mr. Smith smiled back. “But of course.”
“Then, I see no problem with the family coming to Jasper. We’ll extend the invitation at once,” Brand said.
“They’ll see him once he is transferred to another facility,” Mr. Smith said.
Brand looked down his nose. “Dr. Hope has given no such orders for transferal to my knowledge.”
Mr. Smith shifted in his seat. “She is being most stubborn.”
Ted wanted to snort. These three men had no idea how stubborn Hope could be when she put her mind to it. This dance was amusing but wearing old.
“She is his doctor,” Brand said lightly.
“Perhaps you could talk with her.”
Brand shook his head. “No. Hope is the final authority on this matter, gentleman.”
Mr. Smith looked at Mr. White.
Ted leaned forward. “There is the small matter of our compensation,” he said.
Mr. Smith jerked his attention back to Ted. Ted smiled again. It wasn’t any friendlier than the first time. Brand leaned back and raised his eyebrow at Mr. White. Mr. White nodded to him. They both knew that Brand had won.
---
Savannah pulled in and parked in front of a large squat white building that Gideon recognized from him own trip last week as the hospital. She got out of the van and went around to the back. Gideon got out slowly and followed her. She opened the back doors, grabbed the double stacked tray of tarts from the second bakery, and passed it to him.
He frowned as she shut the door and walked through the sliding glass doors to the Tranquility Wing. He followed and decided that questions could wait.
Savannah paused by the receptionist desk. “Dr. Brown?”
“All of his visitors have left,” Susan replied and smacked a file down on the counter with a scowl.
Savannah blinked and stopped completely. “His family came?” she asked. That was fast. She hadn’t known that they’d sent news to his family that he was safe. They’d sent news to the company that had hired them, but that wasn’t the same thing as telling his family.
“No,” the receptionist said. “Those men. Wanted to take him out of our care.”
Savannah pressed her lips together and tried to quell her feelings of uneasiness. Susan wasn’t using names and slapping things around. Hope must be unhappy.
Susan sorted her files. “Brand came down.”
Savannah pursed her lips. She nodded. “Thanks, Susan,” she said and walked down the hall. Oh, that did not sound like good news. She crossed her toes. She hoped they were going to get paid.
She rapped lightly on Dr. Brown’s door. “Dr. Brown? It’s Savannah, from Heaven Has Mercy.”
“Door’s open,” Dr. Brown replied.
Savannah pushed it open and smiled at him. “Good Afternoon,” she said.
“It’s a better afternoon than this morning,” Dr. Brown replied. He adjusted his bed. He sat up with a faint whir of machinery.
Savannah’s eyes widened. Oh dear. She walked into the room. “We come bearing gifts,” she said.
Dr. Brown narrowed his eyes at her. “I seem to be collecting them. Cracker?” he asked. “I don’t have any peanut butter, but there is jelly.”
“We had cupcakes,” Savannah said with a smile.
Dr. Brown looked past her at Gideon and raised an eyebrow. He recognized the chin and Gideon’s eyes. He tilted his head. “You were the young man behind her in Africa.”
“Yes, sir,” Gideon replied.
“But I thought cupcakes might be too sugary for a man who is trying to regain his strength, and I picked out a wonderful selection of tarts.” Savannah took the tray from Gideon turned around, hooked the chair with her foot and sat down next to Dr. Brown. “Berry tarts, fruit tarts, nut tarts cheese tarts, there might be a chocolate tart in here too, and a custard.” She took the top off the tray.
Dr. Brown looked into it and pushed them around. “Those really do look lovely,” he said. “Blueberry?” He took one.
“And if there are any in here that you don’t like, go right ahead and give them to any nasty visitors you want to get rid of,” Savannah said with a scowl.
Dr. Brown took a bite and his eyes rolled upwards. The blueberries were tart with enough sugar to keep his mouth from puckering, and the pastry flaky and light.
“And you don’t have to share with anyone unless you want to. When you run out and have favorites, you tell Hope or I right away and I’ll get you more,” Savannah said. She set the tray down on the bed and picked up the hosta. She checked it and shook her head. “I’ll go water this and we’ll leave you to your rest,” she said and marched into the adjacent bathroom. The water turned on.
Gideon looked after her. “Let me guess, she left you the plant.”
“I think so,” Dr. Brown said. “There are hazy times there.” He looked through the tray. “I don’t remember much.”
Gideon looked back at him and half smiled. “Don’t worry about it, sir. You should focus on getting better.” Gideon looked at the tray. “Do you want that anyplace in particular?” he asked.
“I suppose we should put it on the chair for now and get it out of the reach of temptation,” Dr. Brown replied. “Dr. Hope will know what to do with it.”
Gideon picked it up and balanced it on the arms of the chair. “I’m not good about staying away from temptation, sir. Especially when it comes to food.”
Dr. Brown chuckled.
Savannah returned with the plant and put it back. “There,” she said. She looked at Dr. Brown. “If you need anything, you tell someone and we’ll make sure you get it.”
“I keep being told, over and over,” Dr. Brown said.
Savannah reached down and took his hand. “We mean it,” she said softly. “We want you to get better.”
“And yet, you’re all strangers,” Dr. Brown said and his throat closed. He didn’t understand it.
Savannah’s face softened. “Even as you help the least of these, you help me,” she quoted. “Or something like that. This is what we do, Dr. Brown. Stranger or not.”
“You were hired to rescue me,” Dr. Brown said. “This is above and beyond.”
“It does no good for us to rescue you, if you aren’t going to live past the rescuing!” Savannah’s voice turned tart. “People don’t die on my watch. Someone needs to help you and by golly, we’re going to do it. I can’t tell you to stop worrying and fussing, but I can ask you to try. We want to help you and bring you good things to eat and books to read and keep you company. Our responsibility to you doesn’t have to end once our transport sets down on Colorado soil. Neither does other people’s.”
Dr. Brown patted her hand. “You’re lucky I’m a good person.”
“Those tarts should be able to convert anyone into being a good person.” Savannah sniffed. She squeezed his hand and let him go. “Now, I’m sure Brand will be by with Esme and dinner.”
“Can’t miss that,” Dr. Brown smiled.
“Padre has evening service tonight.”
“He came by this morning.”
“And if you ask, Hope can tell you the radio channel. You can listen in if you like.” Savannah nodded. “I’ve got a van full of groceries and a lot of places to be going,” she said. “And one other pair of arms to help.” She leaned down and kissed Dr. Brown’s cheek. She let him go and marched towards the door. “Come on, Prospect,” she said. “Daylight is wasting.”
Gideon rolled his eyes, mock saluted Dr. Brown, and followed her.