Buster’s laugh resembled a rusty door hinge, and was all the sweeter because of its rarity.
“Nice work, little girl. I guess I can stop worrying about you now I know you can handle yourself.”
“I guess you can, and maybe pass that on to my brother and the others.”
“You know that’s not going to happen, right? Jake and Cubby will never ease up on you. Newman’s got that new-age shit going on, something about equality and BS like that. Ethan’s new, so Annabelle can beat him into submission, but Jake and Cubby will never change, sweet cheeks. It’s just the way of things.”
“I sure wish they’d try,” Katie said, looking at a drawing of the sheriff of Lake Howling. Willow had captured him standing outside the Lair, leaning against one of the stone pillars. He was dressed in his khaki shirt, jeans, and cap, arms crossed, and he looked relaxed, capable, and his usual disturbing self. Before she’d left, Katie would have done just about anything to get her hands on that picture.
“You up to running the Hot Foot, Katie?” Annabelle asked when they sat down.
“I’m not sure I’ll be here.” Katie remembered Cubby’s words. He wanted to kick her ass in the event.
“If you are, will you run it?”
“I’ll see. I haven’t done a lot of training since my injury.”
“Cubby reckons he’s winning this year.”
“He told me he was doing the whole thing,” Katie said.
“Yup. Ethan, Buster, Jake, and Newman are doing two miles each, which is pathetic, but what can you do.”
“It’s not pathetic, Annabelle,” Buster said, slapping a plate of chocolate brownies down before them that had Katie salivating. “Especially considering you can’t even run a hundred yards.”
“True, but then I never said I could run, like you four do.”
It took a lot to insult Annabelle Smith. Katie had never managed it.
“Bitch.”
“Asshole.” Annabelle smiled at her friend, who just rolled his eyes and stomped back to his kitchen.
“So, Katie, now the delinquents have left, can I coax you into sitting for me sometime?” Willow asked.
“Ah… well I’m not sure how long I’m here.”
“I can sketch you quickly, then do the rest from that.”
“Willow has this really soft exterior that fools people, but she’s a tiger underneath,” Annabelle said. “Just give in, girl; it’ll go easier on you.”
“I guess, if you really want to, I can sit for you.”
Willow looked happy.
“I’m having a party for Ethan in a few weeks, so you have to come, Katie,” Annabelle said.
“If I’m still here I will.” Katie bit into the brownie and closed her eyes. No one baked like Buster did.
She listened while Annabelle and Willow gossiped, with Buster chirping in from the kitchen, and it all seemed strange to Katie. She’d not done this in a long time, just sat and talked with nowhere else to be and nothing else to do. It would take her a while to wind down and get used to the slower pace of life here. Not that she’d be here that long.
“I have to head back to Branna’s now,” Katie said when she’d finished her brownie. She should really call in on her parents. Lifting a hand, she acknowledged the good-byes and was just about to head out the door when a man walked in. He gave her an easy smile and shot out his hand.
“Katie McBride, right? You look like your brother. I’m Brady Thomas.”
“Oh right, you’re spending some time here in Howling with Sheriff Hawker.” Katie took the hand.
“It’s a nice change of pace,” Brady said.
