Lone Wolf Read online

  “Thanks. And you’re quite the gentleman.” Nicole smiled up at him as she got into the passenger seat.

  “I try.” He shut the door and went around to his own side.

  “So where are we headed?” she asked once they started driving. “Hopefully not a fast food joint, or I think we both might be overdressed.”

  “Not this time.”

  They drove the fifteen minutes it took to get downtown and Thomas found a parking spot near the upscale restaurant he had chosen. He opened Nicole’s door and helped her out, but didn’t let go of her hand once she was out of the car. She didn’t protest. Thomas stole a glance at her profile, and a warm sensation spread from the pit of his stomach out to his limbs. He smiled and squeezed her hand slightly and she returned the pressure with an answering smile of her own. They walked hand in hand into the restaurant.

  Mini-lights twinkled like stars on the ceiling, adding a touch of softness to the cream decor. Thomas stepped up to the hostess’s counter. “I have a reservation for two. Thomas Lone Wolf.”

  The twenty-something girl with bright red hair scanned her list and nodded. “Certainly. Right this way.” She led them to a small circular table tucked into a corner of the room. Thomas pulled out Nicole’s chair and once she was seated he slid into the chair opposite, careful not to catch the white tablecloth as he sat.

  “This is lovely. I’ve never been here before.” Nicole glanced around the room at the understated yet elegant surroundings. She laughed as her eyes shifted back to Thomas. “Then again, I don’t get out much.”

  “Me neither. It’s hard with the kids.”

  “Exactly.”

  They busied themselves with ordering a glass of wine and then perusing the menu until the waitress came to take their order. While they sipped their wine, the conversation bandied between the project at Old Man’s Lake and the crisis in Jackfish Landing. They’d spent so much time talking over the phone that any awkwardness or lack of subject matter was a moot point. Thomas’s only concern was keeping his gaze above Nicole’s neckline as she talked. Although the conversation was interesting, there were other things on his mind right now that were fighting for his attention.

  They lingered over their meal and then a cup of coffee. “I’ll never sleep tonight,” Nicole said with a laugh. “Coffee keeps me awake.”

  “We could take a walk before going home,” Thomas suggested. “Waskana Park is really beautiful at night, especially by the legislative buildings.”

  “I’d love that,” Nicole said. “As long as you’re not anxious to get home. It is quite a drive.”

  “I’m in no hurry.”

  They left the restaurant and drove to the park, which was near Nicole’s home. Waskana Park was known for its miles of scenic walking trails, and there were plenty of places to park the car, which encouraged residents to use the space.

  The grand dome of the legislative buildings, the centerpiece of the park, glowed against the darkness of the sky. Lampposts dotted the area around the grounds and lined the walking trails that branched off in every direction. Thomas took Nicole’s hand and they strolled along in silence for a time, taking in the peace and beauty. They came to a railing that overlooked Waskana Lake and stopped. Lights from the city sparkled on its surface.

  “It’s so pretty down here,” Nicole said. “I don’t know why I don’t come more often.” She put both arms along the top of the railing, leaning against it.

  Thomas did the same, propping one foot on a lower rung. “I know what you mean. When I lived in Regina a few years back, I used to think the same thing. I guess it’s like that. People get busy and don’t take advantage of what’s in their own back yard.”

  She nodded. “Exactly. And of course, it’s much nicer when you’re with someone.”

  Thomas turned to the side and gazed at Nicole. When her glance flickered to his, he smiled, inviting her closer. Slowly, tentatively, their heads came together until their lips touched. He closed his eyes and allowed his mouth to explore her soft lips as she pressed upward toward him. “Hmm, that’s nice,” he said once their lips parted.

  She nodded and captured his mouth again with her own. Thomas’s arms crept around Nicole’s back. The kiss lasted for several minutes until they heard a group of teens approaching.

  “Get a room,” one of the young people called as they passed, and the rest giggled.

  Thomas grinned, pulling away. He didn’t release her from his embrace, however. He looked into her eyes and noticed a shimmer of moisture. “What are you thinking?”

  She shook her head and stepped out of his embrace. “Nothing. Never mind.”

  “Whatever happened to forward and honest?” He cocked a brow.

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to sound premature. Forget it.” She leaned against the railing, looking out over the water.

  Thomas reached for her hand and drew her to him. He held her gaze for a moment and then slowly let his mouth descend on hers once again. A small sigh escaped her lips. “It’s okay. I’d like to know,” he whispered between kisses. She laid her head against his chest and he rubbed her back.

  Finally she lifted her head to gaze into Thomas’s eyes. “I just can’t help thanking God for bringing you into my life.”

  Thomas’s eyebrows raised a notch. “That’s it?”

  She nodded mutely and smiled.

  “Oh. Well, that’s good.” He smiled back. “You had me worried for a minute. I thought maybe you were going to say there was another reason—some big secret that we couldn’t be together.”

  The corner of her mouth tilted. “I was instantly attracted to you when you came to my office, but I’ve been praying for the man God would have for me, not someone I liked based on my flesh. Then we met again and it was so wonderful to find out you were a Christian. I can’t help wondering…”

  “If we’re meant to be together?” Thomas finished for her.

  She nodded. “But I don’t want to run ahead of God. It’s too soon to really know for sure.”

  Thomas touched the side of her face with his finger. When she turned to look at him, he cut off any more words with another kiss.

  Chapter Four

  Thomas scanned the document on his desk, turning to the next page as he cradled the telephone receiver between his ear and shoulder. “Yes, I’m impressed with your resume, Jackson. The board and I would like to meet with you for an interview.” He waited for a second while the person on the other end responded. “That’s great. Sure, next week would be fine. I know Marshdale is a bit of a drive, but we felt the candidates would have a better sense of the project if we conducted the interviews on site.” After another moment, Thomas said good-bye and hung up.

  He continued to scan the resume until he noticed Ryder standing in the doorway. “Hi, son. What’s up?”

  “I need to talk to you about something.” Ryder plopped himself into the spare chair across from his father.

  “Okay, shoot.” Thomas laid the papers on his desk and swiveled to face his son.

  “It’s about grad.”

  “What about grad?”

  “I don’t have an escort.”

  Thomas rubbed his chin. “I see. And everyone else is bringing someone, I take it.”

  Ryder nodded.

  “Hmm…Does this have to be someone you’re…interested in?”

  “No!” Ryder blurted.

  “Just checking.” Thomas grinned. “So what’s the problem? There must be a dozen girls in the school who are dying to go to grad. Are there any girls in youth group that haven’t been asked yet?”

  “Josh is asking his cousin,” Ryder offered.

  “There you go. Just ask some random girl in the tenth grade and you’re set.”

  “I was thinking…” Ryder’s gaze flickered downward.

  “What?” Thomas leaned forward. “What were you thinking?”

  “What if I asked Renee?” Ryder looked up hopefully.

  “Your cousin Renee?”


  “What other Renee is there?”

  “I don’t know.” Thomas rubbed his chin again. “I suppose we could send her a bus ticket. It would probably be good for her to get a break.”

  “I was thinking we should ask the whole family. Renee, Tanzi, Auntie Joan…”

  Thomas took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. “I’m not sure having Auntie Joan around is a good idea.”

  “Dad, she’s your own sister!”

  Thomas swung his chair back to face his desk. “We’ve had this conversation already. I want your graduation to be full of special memories. Happy memories. Not visions of your Auntie Joan embarrassing you at the ceremonies or falling down a flight of stairs.”

  “You mean embarrassing you,” Ryder said.

  “Suit yourself. I’ll call Tanzi tonight to see if she’s willing to bring her mother along. If she is, I’ll pay for their bus tickets. But I’m not taking responsibility for what might happen.”

  Ryder stood up. “Thanks, Dad.”

  ****

  “Well. This is it. What do you think?” Thomas tilted his head up to view the vaulted log ceiling, his voice echoing in the emptiness of the building.

  He and Nicole were standing in the newly built cultural center, still unoccupied but mostly finished except for some of the installations and displays. It was a log structure built near the site of the archaeological excavations, overlooking Old Man’s Lake.

  “It’s amazing. You must be so proud.” Nicole looked up. It was the first time she had visited Marshdale, let alone the site.

  “The board has finally settled on a name. Mamawa, which means ‘meeting place’ in Cree.”

  “Mamawa,” Nicole repeated. “I like it.”

  Thomas pointed to his right. “Over there is where the main exhibits will be housed. And that area is designated as the gift shop.”

  “Of course,” Nicole said with a smile. “You can’t miss out on retail sales.”

  Thomas grinned. “Exactly. Of course, there are meeting rooms, offices, a place for large gatherings, and a place to collect and store more artifacts as they are found. We hope that someday it will be used as an educational facility as well. Archaeological students could come and do a practicum, maybe have some kids’ camps…things like that.”

  “My, you are thinking big.” Nicole spun around to view more of the space.

  “Go big or go home,” Thomas said with a laugh. “It’s going to be so much more than a museum. We envision environmental retreats, pow-wows—even weddings if people want to book the place. Come on.” He took her hand and led her to the large windows facing the lake. Its rippling blue expanse was unbroken to the horizon, with nothing but cattails and marshy grass along its shores. “I know it’s hard to imagine, but this duck pond is one of the biggest lakes in the province. Just not very deep. It’s a haven for water fowl in the fall. A bird watcher’s paradise.”

  “Beautiful,” Nicole breathed.

  “Yes, you are.” Thomas drew her toward him and their lips met in a gentle caress. When they parted, Nicole rested her head on his chest and he smoothed her hair as he embraced her to him. “I can’t thank God enough for bringing you into my life.”

  “I feel the same.” After a few quiet moments, Nicole lifted her head and stepped back. “Did I tell you the latest news from Jackfish Landing?”

  “No. What’s happening?”

  “Well, your friend Sandy found some inconsistencies with the way water samples are taken. It’s probably why there are discrepancies in the toxicology reports. One cites high levels of mercury, thallium and other carcinogens while the other says the levels are within normal parameters. Of course, you can guess which report came from industry. Anyway, Allan is looking into it and plans to launch a suit unless another independent water study is conducted.”

  “That’s good news. I knew Sandy’s sleuthing skills would come in handy, and Allan Spence is always a good guy to have on your team.” Thomas let his eyes roam around the expansive interior of the center once again. “Well, I suppose we better head back to my place. Ryder might be getting tired of entertaining the girls, and my special ribs are probably ready by now. They’ve been slow cooking in the oven for hours.”

  “That’s the sexiest thing you’ve said all day,” Nicole teased. “I love a man who can cook.”

  “You do, do you?” Thomas leaned in for another kiss.

  ****

  “That about wraps up the tour.” Thomas turned to the group of men and women who had been following him in and around the grounds of the new center. “Mamawa is bound to be the centerpiece of a vibrant cultural awareness coming to this province.”

  Among the group were the board of directors, the mayor of Marshdale, and a representative from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Earlier that day he and the board had conducted interviews for the curator’s position and another small tour for the candidates. It had gone well. They had three very qualified and passionate people to choose from—a rather happy conundrum considering the long hours of negotiations in order to keep all interested parties satisfied.

  “Excellent job, Mr. Lone Wolf. You have done an outstanding job of pulling this project together.”

  Thomas turned and shook the minister’s proffered hand. “Thank you, Mr. Holtac. It’s been a long time in the making, but I think the end result has been worth it.”

  Minister Holtac was an average-sized man, probably in his early forties, but he had a sense of confidence that exuded from his pores. “Your work around this province is impressive. If the department were to create a position for a permanent liaison, is that something you would be interested in?”

  Thomas’s eyebrows shot up. “I…I don’t know. I would have to think about it. One of the advantages I have currently is that I’m not a direct government employee. The grassroots aren’t always that trusting if you work for government.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m not ruling it out,” Thomas added quickly. “I’m just trying to be honest.”

  “Which is one of the things we appreciate about your work.” The minister patted Thomas’s shoulder. “I’m trying to think of a way to keep you working with me before some other government agency snaps you up.”

  “Do you know something I don’t?” Thomas asked.

  “Oh, I was talking to a friend of mine out in BC just the other day. Seems they have a ton of projects similar to what you’ve been doing here. Your name came up.”

  “There must be lots of people in BC suited to the job.”

  Holtac nodded. “More than likely. I just thought you should know—in case you get a call out of the blue.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate the heads up.”

  Thomas said his good-byes and circulated to the knot of other people still discussing the merits of the Mamawa project. If he got a call from someone in BC, he didn’t know how he would respond. It would all depend on the length and breadth of the project. He’d done a few out-of-province consultations before, but nothing long-term. Moving would definitely put a damper on his burgeoning relationship.

  Chapter Five

  Thomas drove in contemplative silence along the straight stretch of highway. No radio, no music. Just quiet. He had a lot to think about and he was glad for the time alone.

  He was on his way to pick up his nieces, Renee and Tanzi—his sister Joan’s girls. He was meeting them at the bus depot in Silver Creek, twenty minutes away, since the bus only came to Marshdale once a week. Joan wasn’t coming. Tanzi had texted him earlier in the day to say her mother was “sick” and couldn’t make it. He knew what that meant. “Sick” was code for inebriated. Just as well. He couldn’t handle seeing his sister in that state. He knew God didn’t give up on people, but he wasn’t God.

  The other issue on his mind was a surprise job offer from a consulting firm in British Colombia. It wasn’t such a surprise, actually. Minister Holtac had hinted as much. Still, when the phone call actually came, it had caught him off guard. On the one hand, it
was a great opportunity. A paid staff, his own office in downtown Vancouver, and a per diem to die for. He’d talked about it with Ryder, who didn’t seem to care one way or another since he had plans to stay in Saskatchewan. He hadn’t mentioned it to Whisper yet, though.

  It was a dream job. Stability yet freedom to do what he did best. The excitement of something new was always a draw for him and he’d always wanted to try living on the coast. The change would probably be good for both him and Whisper. Plus, people were a lot more tolerant in BC—at least that was what he’d been led to believe.

  But what about Nicole? Would she be willing to follow him to a new province? Go through the hassle of setting up a new practice and finding new clients? Or was that even an option? That scenario involved some pretty serious commitment on both their parts and quite frankly, he hadn’t really thought that far ahead. Yes, he felt like God had put Nicole and Maggie in his path. And yes, if he stopped to examine his feelings, he loved her. He was sure of it. But marriage—and that was what a move like that would take—seemed a little premature. Things were already moving so quickly between them and he wondered if he should be the voice of reason and slow it down a bit.

  He arrived at the Silver Creek bus depot and pulled into the gravel parking lot. Two large buses were already parked in their respective stalls. He cut the engine and climbed out of the vehicle. Almost immediately, a pretty, young native girl came barreling out of the depot’s glass doors.

  “Uncle Thomas!” Renee flung herself into Thomas’s waiting arms and they squeezed one another tightly.

  “Wow. You grew up,” Thomas said as he held her at arm’s length. Renee had gone from the little girl he remembered to a young lady. She was fourteen now, not ten. Her black hair framed her pretty, round face, and her dark eyes danced with excitement.

  “That’s ’cause you never come to see us.” Renee looked around. “Where’s Ryder?”