Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 131387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
He didn’t share that Canadian lynx were rare and endangered.
He just let them thrill at what a beauty she was, with Emma stating, “She’s got such big, poofy feet!”
They were heading back to their cars, and then onward to Mabel’s for dinner, with Mabel, Abigail and the kids walking ahead of Brett and Hutch in a way he knew either Brett or Abigail had arranged it to be.
In other words, the women and kids were so far ahead, they couldn’t hear Brett and Hutch talking.
“I had no idea this was as big of a setup as it is. It’s impressive,” Brett started it mild.
“Got good employees, good volunteers, and good professionals who give their time, experience and education to offer these animals a chance,” Hutch fell into his game.
“Must cost a pack to keep this place going,” Brett said.
“We get grants. They help. But that’s a never-ending fight.”
“Especially on top of the rescue.”
“Yeah, especially.”
“Probably won’t have to work too hard to get Abigail to agree to our yearly membership,” Brett said.
“Always appreciated,” Hutch muttered.
Bret left it a beat. Two.
And then…
“Mabel hasn’t been around long…”
Here it was.
“…but my wife gets something into her head, it never leaves. And she’s determined to make Mabel an honorary member of the family.”
“It’s good to have people wherever you are,” Hutch replied.
“Man, I think you’re getting me,” Brett said low.
Hutch looked to him.
Brett kept walking even as he held up his hands in a “don’t shoot” gesture.
“I was given a job. I didn’t want that job. But there’s shit in a marriage you don’t fight, and this is that shit. Those women talk.”
In other words, Abigail was aware of his and Mabel’s friends-with-benefits deal, and she wasn’t at one with it.
Because she wasn’t in it.
Therefore, she saw it as it was, without personal history and sexual chemistry and emotion wound up in it.
Onward from that, she knew Mabel was deeper than she’d let on, maybe even to herself.
And she wanted to know if Hutch was in that deep.
Hutch matched his tone when he replied, “I’d gnaw off my own arm before I’d hurt her.”
“Yeah. I told her you were that man. She said, ‘Twenty consecutive swooshes does not make a guy a decent guy.’”
“She’s right.”
Brett eyed him. “So am I.”
“Thanks, man,” Hutch murmured. “And just to say, I’m glad Mabel has someone to look out for her.”
“So I guess you can guess that my next topic is those religious folk who live next to Mabel.”
Hutch stopped, so Brett did too.
He saw Brett’s unease.
He felt it too and had been feeling it for a couple of weeks.
“I got a message from their leader that she won’t have any more problems,” he told the man.
“You believe it?”
Hutch nodded.
“You think there’s a catch?” Brett asked, proving further he was not stupid.
“I think I don’t know enough about that kind of outfit, nor do I know anything about their outfit, so I’m not resting easy.”
Brett nodded. “I hear you. Vigilance.”
“Precisely.”
“Mabel know about this message?”
She absolutely did.
It was the first thing he told her when he went to pick her up, because he might not be resting easy, but he wanted her to be.
He was careful to communicate it in a way she would continue to look out for herself, especially when Hutch wasn’t around to do it for her.
But he wanted her no longer to live under the constant threat of something else happening.
“She does. She also knows to continue to look out for herself,” Hutch answered.
Brett started them walking again, muttering, “Get the sense our Mabel has learned that lesson already.”
He didn’t mean the recent note.
And he wasn’t wrong.
Hutch didn’t confirm.
They’d made the parking lot.
And the gift shop.
Mabel instantly slid into what she’d warned him was going to be her Rich Auntie vibe, so Liam got a Stony Bluff sweatshirt and ballcap, Emma got a T-shirt and a stuffed owl, she bought herself and Abigail each a tee, and Brett a hoodie.
Brett faced this with resignation, clearly having been previously briefed as to how he’d handle it.
Abigail and the kids faced it with glee.
They loaded up with both the kids complaining about how it was easy to move their car seats to Hutch’s truck so they could ride with Hutch and Mabel. They lost that fight, and the gang headed to Mabel’s.
“I’m coming back to put in a volunteer application,” Mabel declared before he’d even pulled out of the parking lot.
Now, how did he guess that would happen?
“Not the rescue, I can’t hack the rescue,” she said. “But I bet I’d be hell on wheels bottle feeding a baby moose.”
He’d bet on that too.
And he hoped like fuck, after this became whatever it became, they could retain something so he could handle her involved with the sanctuary, because even after his term as president was over, he’d still be active on the board and with their work.