Tuesday Teaser 8/14/18 Gina’s Wolf Part 23

If you’ve been following my trials and tribulations on Facebook (also know as whining and complaining) then you know that I moved home to my mother’s house at the end of February. My mom has dementia. My older brother has been her primary caretaker for years and he needed a break. She’s usually in good spirits, which is good. I belong to a couple of online support groups for caretakers of dementia patients, and some of their loved ones are mean. My mom’s not mean.

My biggest problem is that I have no privacy. Mom comes up to my room most every night, flips the light on and wants to chat. to her midnight is the same as noon, and she honestly doesn’t understand that I have to get up early to go to work. I am tired and stressed. I am used to living alone and doing what I want when I want. Those days are over.

And she can’t remember anything for more than 2 or 3 seconds. Literally. For instance, she is very devoutly catholic so she goes to mass several times a week. This week is the mass of obligation for the assumption of the blessed virgin Mary. My brother and I discussed when we could take her and decided that my brother would take her to the Wednesday mass at 12:35. We told her this. We wrote it in large letters on the calendar. But she asked me if I was taking her to church tonight 18 times in the 10 minutes it took me to get supper in the oven to. Yes, I counted. I counted so I wouldn’t scream.

Tuesday is my writing night and usually my brother is here to keep my mom occupied but he’s out tonight. So I haven’t gone longer than 14 minutes without mom coming up to ask me about church. No, she still doesn’t remember that she is going to mass tomorrow even though I’ve told her that over and over. Writing this book is very slow going. I apologize for that. I am doing the best I can. I may need to talk to my brother about a schedule where I can leave the house to write somewhere else.

Forgive this rambling rant. It will get better. Eventually it will get better. Meanwhile, the story is progressing. It’s slow progress, but it’s in a forward direction.

Major Ellis took a sharp breath. “You cannot possibly believe him.” He gave Stone a sneering once over. “The man is a savage.”

Gina heard nothing from the men behind her, and neither Cole nor his dad changed their impassive expressions. The insult rolled right off them.

“I do believe him, yes.” McGrath kept his smile, and it seemed to Gina to be just a little too pleasant. If a dog could smile just before it attacked, it would look just like that. “And as for savages, I think the actions you took at Bolivar qualify you for that title.”

Gina knew that the town of Bolivar in Missouri had held out against her stepfather and caused him significant trouble a few years ago. No one would tell her exactly what had happened. She’d heard only whispers of his retaliation, which meant it must have been heinous. All three of the Kansas-Missourians were red in the face. Even Lieutenant Booker, who had always struck Gina as unemotional, was visibly grinding his teeth. Ellis leaned forward with both hands planted on the table.

“You will find out just how savage we can be if you don’t comply with the President’s request.”

The threat didn’t appear to disturb the mayor. He stifled a yawn and turned to Cole’s dad. “You heard the man. He wants to take Miss Gina away. What do you say?”

Gina put her hand around Cole’s and squeezed. He squeezed back.

“No.” Taye leaned back in his chair, but his gaze bored into Ellis. “Any man who tries to take my daughter away will die.”

My daughter. An odd warmth touched Gina’s heart. It was stupid, but she loved that he called her that. She didn’t know the Wolfe family well, but everything she knew about them told her they would protect her in ways Gerald Todd never would.

McGrath spread his arms. “Well, there you have it. Miss Gina isn’t under my control and Taye Wolfe declines to allow her to go with you. Pity. You’ll have to go back to your master with the bad news.”

Ellis got control of his emotion. His eyes were cool. “You said Omaha does not want war. The only way to avoid war is to give us Gina Todd.” Gina opened her mouth to snap that her name was Gina Summer, but she managed to swallow the words. McGrath turned to her.

“Miss Gina, are you over eighteen years of age?”

“Yes.” She managed to keep her voice quiet and calm.

“Do you wish to return to President Todd?”

“No!” Maybe that was a little too loud. She cleared her throat. “No, I do not.”

The mayor of Omaha settled back in his seat and looked at Major Ellis. “I have no authority to force a woman to go where she does not wish to go, even to avoid war. Does Kansas-Missouri not respect the wishes of their mothers, sisters, and daughters?”

“Miss Todd belongs with her family.”

“The lady is an adult and can make her own choices.”

Ellis flicked a hand as if brushing away this notion. “Miss Todd is young and confused. Her father knows what is best for her.” He looked across the table at her, suddenly warm and understanding. “Your mother is heartbroken that you were stolen away by an animal masquerading as a man.”

Regret stung Gina. The regret wasn’t so much about hurting her mom as the knowledge that Gina would always come second to her stepfather. She ignored this ham-handed attempt to guilt her into going back and focused on the second part of Ellis’ words. “Cole Wolfe has more humanity as a wolf than you do as a man.”

Ellis oozed the oily charm she hated. “The President has rescinded your engagement to the Allersens and has offered you to me once again.”

Gina laughed disbelievingly. “You can’t honestly think that would entice me to leave Cole.”

Beside her Cole let out a soft breath. Ellis shot him a sneer. “You would choose that over me?”

“Him,” she corrected. “I would choose him over you any day. But that is none of your business.”

Ellis might have said something more, but Mayor McGrath coughed. “I cannot give you what you want. Mr. Wolfe has refused to send Miss Gina with you. Miss Gina herself has declined to return to President Todd. Is there any other way for Omaha to avoid war?”

“No,” snapped Ellis.

Mayor McGrath rose to his feet. “Then there is nothing more to discuss. Captain Peterson, will you escort the representatives from President Todd to the city gates?”

“Yes, sir.” The severely handsome blond man stood and herded the Kansas-Missourians out.

Cole barely waited for the interlopers to leave before he snatched Gina out of her chair and clasped her tightly to his chest. His mate had claimed him in front of witnesses. The joy of it banished the hate that flared in his wolf at the sight of Lieutenant Mott. Cole couldn’t remember ever meeting the man, so he must be part of those blood smeared lost memories from the train.

“Cole,” Gina squeaked in protest.

“Sorry.” He loosened his arms and allowed her feet to touch the floor but kept her in the gentle cage of his embrace. He leaned down to touch her cheek with his, needing to feel her warmth. “Did I hurt you?”

She squirmed to step back. Reluctantly, he dropped his arms. “No, I’m alright.” She turned to his father. “Thank you,” she said fervently.

His dad lifted one brow with a smile. “For what?”

“Not letting them take me back.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “And calling me your daughter.”

The smile faded from his dad’s face. “You don’t need to thank me for that. Whether you ever accept my son’s mate claim or not, you are part of our Clan now. We will never let harm come to our women.”

Cole blinked. “She did accept me. You heard her.”

“Did she?” His dad’s eyebrow went up again. He looked inquiringly at Gina. “Did you accept my son’s mate claim?”

Gina’s face closed. A hint of uncertainty clouded her eyes as she looked from his father to him. What did she see on his face? She was going to deny him. Cole’s heart seized in his chest. The moment stretched until he was sure he would break.

She took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly clear and sharp. “Yes. Yes, I did just accept Cole.”