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  “Shall we call anyone else? The more people out there looking, the greater chance we have of finding them,” Frankie suggested.

  “Let’s keep it between us for now. For all we know, they are hiding down the street.” Dean looked around at the three worried faces in front of him. Elizabeth had taken Haley back upstairs to bed.

  “Shall we search the local area on foot?” Michael suggested. “We know they took a left out of here. There’s a footpath a hundred yards away that leads into the fields and down to the creek. They may have gone that way.”

  “The creek!” Ruth couldn’t bear the thought of them falling in and drowning.

  “They’ll be all right,” Michael assured her.

  “You know they will,” Frankie added. “They are smart, they fended for themselves while their dad was off doing his thing. They know how to survive. Just like we knew how to survive. Remember?”

  Ruth nodded. “Time puts some distance between what we were then and what we are now.”

  “Very philosophical.” Frankie took her hand and dragged her to the door. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “You won’t overdo it, will you? If you get tired, you have to come back here. Promise me.” Ruth got her promise, and they all went outside. Dean and Frankie walked along one side of the road, Michael and Ruth, the other.

  When they reached the start of the footpath, Michael stood and sniffed the air. “I can’t tell, not like this.” The next moment the air shimmered.

  Ruth knew what was happening. Michael was shifting into his bear. A shiver of excitement filled her as his human form disappeared, to be replaced by a massive grizzly. She stroked his short snout, and then said, “Go find our kids.”

  He nodded his huge head and then turned away from her, following the footpath with his nose to the ground. Maybe he was a bloodhound after all.

  Chapter Sixteen – Michael

  His bear wanted to stop and say hello to their mate properly, but the urgency of the situation stopped him. The children had to be found. He sniffed the air, he could smell them, but being so close to the road, it was difficult to know if the scent had drifted here on the air. He didn’t want to lose precious time by running in the wrong direction.

  Following the footpath further, Michael’s bear kept his nose to the ground, inhaling deeply, making sure his senses were giving him the correct information. Yes. Now he was sure, this was the way they’d come

  He stopped and made a funny dance that reminded him of the waggle dance a bee made when he’d found honey. Ruth frowned at him for a moment, before saying, “They came this way?”

  He nodded slowly, and then nudged her pocket.

  “You want me to call Dean?” Ruth asked. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed. “Frankie, it’s Ruth. Yes, Michael says they are following the footpath.” She listened for a moment as the news was relayed to Dean. “You’re going to take Dean’s truck and meet us at the other end? Good thinking.”

  She ended the call and put her phone back in her pocket. When she was ready, Michael’s bear turned and followed the trail, knowing their bear cubs were at the end of it. They had to be. He had a family to protect. He couldn’t be a lucky bear if he lost Jason and Jenny.

  Each step took them nearer, and he increased his pace, making certain Ruth could keep up. She was brave, keeping up with him despite the darkness. Whenever she stumbled he was there, his large bear rump the thing stopping her from falling to the ground. They made a great team.

  They would make great parents.

  “What was that?” Ruth looked up into the air.

  Dragons, his bear said, but she could not hear his thoughts.

  “Something just flew over us.” She stopped and looked up into the sky. “I can’t see anything.”

  When her phone rang, they both jumped, and a small cry escaped Ruth’s lips. Michael stopped beside her while she answered the call. As he waited, he listened, hoping to catch the sound of Jenny’s high sweet voice on the air.

  “They left the footpath and are running across a field,” Ruth relayed the information and then listened again. “Okay.” She ended the call. “Dean is going to head across the field from the other side, and we’re going to keep following them in case they turn back.

  Michael nodded his bear head and ran on, picking up the scent. It was fresh, the children were not too far ahead. He broke into a run, only to skid to a halt at a small gap in the fence where the children had scrambled through. He knew where they were going.

  The gap was too small for his bear, so he shifted back into his human form, giving Ruth a quick hug. “They’re heading to my place.”

  Even in the darkness, he could see Ruth frown. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, this is the way. It’s a long way around, but skirts the town.” He got down on all fours and pushed his way through the gap in the hedge. The twigs and branches clutched at his clothes, but he managed to get through, and then held his hand out to Ruth. “Come on, I’ll pull you through.”

  Ruth scrambled through behind him, to land by his side on the grass. “Now I know the real meaning of being pulled through a hedge backward.” She caught her breath, while removing several twigs and leaves from her hair and clothes. “I’m good to go on.”

  Michael pulled her to her feet, kissed her cheek, and then shimmered back into his bear. He took a moment to weave backward and forward across the field, until he picked up their scent, and then he set off at a jog, staring into the distance. They were here, they were close.

  A downdraft hit them, pushing them toward the ground. “Bloody dragons,” Ruth muttered behind him. His bear grinned but pushed on harder. They were close, he could feel it, sense it.

  Then he saw them. Jason and Jenny, trudging along, heads down, tired, but safe. Michael turned and looked at Ruth, his mate, and slowed, nudging her forward, trying to tell her he could see them.

  “Are they close?” Ruth leaned forward, attempting to locate the children. “I can’t see them.” Threading her fingers through his thick fur, she said, “I’ll follow you.”

  Wasn’t it Michael who was supposed to do the following?

  A few minutes more and they closed the gap. Michael could see Jason and Jenny, but the two children had no idea they were about to be found. High above them, Michael could sense the presence of a dragon, but it didn’t come closer, it didn’t land in the field. Neither was there any sign of Dean and Frankie.

  He smiled to himself. They were the ones who were supposed to find the children and take them home. It was like a test. A task the heroes of old had to complete to prove themselves worthy. They could do it, he and his mate were worthy.

  He didn’t shift as they approached. His bear wanted to meet these two cubs himself. It was a good thing his bear couldn’t talk because he had a few choice words to say to Jason and Jenny. You didn’t run from your family. You stayed with those who could protect you.

  Michael reminded his bear that Jason and Jenny didn’t see him as family. Not yet.

  “Hello.” Ruth’s voice, although gentle, startled the children.

  “How did you find…” Jason peered into the darkness, and then moved to put himself between the bear and his sister.

  “We were worried about you,” Ruth said, walking forward slowly, not wanting the children to run. “Why did you leave?”

  “They didn’t want us,” Jenny said.

  “Who? Dean and Elizabeth?” Ruth asked, confused as to why the children would think that.

  “We heard them. Dean said he was glad we were leaving.” Jason’s defenses were up.

  “He didn’t mean it like that,” Michael said as he shifted into his human form.

  “It’s my fault, because I got into trouble,” Jason’s voice was bitter.

  “No, Dean said it because he’s happy you might be coming to live with us. Ruth and I would like to adopt you. But we didn’t tell you because we didn’t know if we could,” Michael reasoned.

  “We didn�
�t want you to feel let down if it didn’t work out.” Ruth reached out her hands. “Come back with us. You won’t be in trouble, I promise.”

  “We were going to see the fairies,” Jenny blurted out.

  “Shut up, Jenny,” Jason said quickly.

  “Dean said they lived in your forest, and we thought…”

  “What did you think?” Ruth asked.

  “If we were going to be sent away, we wanted to see them. Just once.” Jenny walked around Jason and took Ruth’s hand. “Will you show us?”

  “I don’t believe in fairies. I was just going with Jenny so she didn’t get hurt,” Jason insisted.

  “Like any big brother would.” Michael winked at Ruth. “We’ll see them another night. Right now, we have to get you back. Ruth, why don’t you call Dean and tell him we’re on our way home?”

  “It’s not our home,” Jason replied bluntly.

  “Who wants to ride on the back of a bear?” Michael didn’t argue with Jason as to whether it was home or not. Instead, he and his bear made a silent promise that they would make a home for these two cubs and make sure they knew it was their forever home.

  Jason and Jenny crowded around his bear, putting their faces in his thick fur, while Ruth called to say the children had been found. Apparently, Dean already knew, since the dragons were somehow relaying the information. Michael had visions of a dragon with a headset on.

  “Who’s going in front?” Ruth asked.

  “Jenny can. I’ll go behind,” Jason replied.

  Ruth lifted Jenny onto the bear’s back, and then Jason sat behind her, keeping her safe, with his arms wrapped around her, while they both held on to handfuls of his fur. When he was sure they weren’t going to topple off, he started the long walk home, with his mate by his side and his cubs on his back.

  Chapter Seventeen – Ruth

  “Do you really want us to live with you?” Jenny asked Ruth, as they reached the gap in the hedge. Michael shifted back into his human form, and went through first, then Jason, and now Ruth was helping Jenny crawl through.

  “Yes, we do. You may have to be patient. Michael and I have to figure out how we apply. Then we’ll need house visits and interviews.” Ruth knelt beside Jenny on the damp grass.

  “Thank you.” Jenny spontaneously threw her arms around Ruth’s neck, kissed her cheek, and then crawled off into the darkness.

  Ruth followed, her heart lighter knowing the children were safe. Ducking down, she crawled under the bushes and out the other side, where Michael was waiting, hand outstretched to pull her to her feet.

  “A family adventure,” Michael announced as he helped remove debris from Ruth’s hair.

  “Can we go on lots of adventures?” Jenny asked as they walked along the footpath toward the road.

  “I hope so,” Ruth answered. “Are you all right, Jason?” The young boy had been quiet all the way back, not even his sister’s excitement and riding a bear could draw him out of his melancholy mood.

  “Are we in trouble?” he asked, looking at the ground as he walked.

  “I don’t know,” Ruth answered honestly. “You shouldn’t have run away. No matter what the circumstances. Dean and Elizabeth are responsible for you, and when they found you missing, they were frightened for you. Do you understand what I’m saying, Jason?”

  “Yes.” He looked up at Ruth. “If I tell them it was all my fault, will Jenny still be in trouble?”

  Ruth placed a hand on his shoulders. “You don’t have to protect Jenny from everything. You both decided to leave the house.”

  “It was my idea. I came downstairs for a glass of water. I couldn’t sleep. When I heard Dean talking about us leaving, I went and got Jenny. She’d been talking about seeing the stupid fairies in the forest. I thought we’d leave before she got a chance, so I said I’d take her tonight.” Jason’s story sounded plausible.

  “I thought you didn’t believe in fairies?” Ruth asked. They could see the streetlights, soon they would be back on the road, and the children would be home.

  “I don’t,” Jason answered gruffly.

  “If you do, I won’t tell,” Ruth said.

  “Jenny said I have to believe or I won’t see one. Ever.” Jason slipped his small, cold hand into Ruth’s. “I want to believe, but when my mom died and my dad left us for days…”

  “It’s hard. I know. When sad things happen it’s hard to believe there’s any magic in the world. But I believe that love is a magic all of its own. And I know you love Jenny.”

  “I love my mom, too. And my dad. Sort of.”

  “You must be angry with him, too.” Ruth knew that anger, it was as if a knife pierced your heart. She’d fought through the same anger for a couple of years after her mom died. Wiping away a stray tear, she let her own guilt well up and then let it go. “I was angry with my mom when she died, even though it wasn’t her fault. She left us, not by choice, but she still left us. Left me. And I had to become her, take on her role.”

  Jason sighed. “I want to go back to how it was before. I want a mom and dad.” He choked on his tears. “I don’t want to be a grown-up. Not yet.”

  “You don’t have to be.” They reached the road, and Ruth stopped, while Michael, with Jenny on his shoulders, carried on walking. Hunkering down in front of Jason, she said, “Michael and I are going to do all we can to adopt you. I promise. We won’t stop if there is any way we can make that happen. Do you believe me?”

  Jason nodded under the street lights, looking pale and tired. “Yes.”

  “But while we do what we need to do, you and Jenny have to let Dean and Elizabeth look after you. They love you, too, and they are not going to send you away.” Ruth took hold of his hands. “They are grown-ups. You don’t have to be. Sure, you need to behave and not get into fights.” She smiled. “But be a kid, Jason. Believe in fairies and Santa Claus, and all the stuff that makes growing up special.”

  He nodded. “Does it ever stop hurting?”

  Ruth gritted her teeth, trying not to cry. “It does. I promise you it does. You’ll stop thinking about the bad stuff and remember the good.”

  “I thought I must have done something bad for them to leave.” Jason wrapped his arms around Ruth’s neck and hugged her hard.

  “That’s not why they left. You did nothing wrong. You did everything right. You tried to help Jenny. That was a good thing.” Ruth rubbed his back, soothing him as he cried.

  “Mommy made me promise. She told me we had to look after each other. But because I was the oldest…” His body shuddered with grief. There was nothing Ruth could say, and the only thing she could do was be there for him, hold him until his tears stopped.

  “Let’s get you back to bed.” Ruth held Jason’s hand and turned to walk toward the house. There, standing on the road waiting for them, was Michael.

  “I was worried.” He looked down at Jason. “Everything all right?”

  “We needed a moment,” Ruth explained. “But we’re going to be all right, aren’t we, Jason?”

  He nodded. “What do I do?” Jason stared at the house.

  “You go and say sorry, and promise never to run away again.” Ruth walked with him to the front door. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

  Jason shook his head. “I can do it.”

  “Sure?” Michael asked.

  “Yes.” Jason took a deep breath and opened the door. Before he closed it, he turned to them and said, “If I’m allowed, can we come to your house and look for fairies? Or just take Jenny.” He hung his head. “I might be grounded for a long time.”

  “I’ll talk to Dean and Elizabeth tomorrow. See what we can work out.” Michael ruffled Jason’s hair. “Goodnight, Jason.”

  “Night.” He shut the front door, and Ruth felt the loss of his presence. She wanted to barge into the house and scoop both the children up and take them home. But she knew Dean and Elizabeth would deal with Jason and Jenny fairly.

  “Where’s Frankie?” Ruth asked when she’d
composed herself.

  They walked hand in hand down the driveway and out onto the street. Michael slipped his arm around her shoulder. “She went on back to your place once the children were found. Dean dropped her off in his truck, she didn’t want to impose.”

  “As long as she’s all right.” Ruth leaned on Michael’s shoulder. “What a night.”

  “What a night. You have that right. Still, Jenny and Jason know we want to adopt them. And this might not be a bad way for Jason to figure out Dean and Elizabeth are rooting for them, too.”

  “I hope they’re okay,” Ruth said.

  “Dean will figure something out. He’s got a whole lot of experience.” Michael chuckled. “I’m the only one who has no idea what he’s doing. I may have to keep Dean on speed dial.”

  “We just make it up as we go,” Ruth told him. “There’s no right and wrong, no rule book. And no typical family.”

  “We just have to love them, right?” Michael asked as they reached Ruth’s house.

  “That’s right.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Want to come in?”

  Michael pulled her close. “You need to sleep. I need to sleep. It’s past my bedtime.”

  She buried her head in his chest. “Maybe I could come over tomorrow and look for fairies?”

  “After school? I’ll be waiting.” He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her, igniting a fire that would burn until he quenched it.

  Ruth stood and watched him leave, before letting herself into the house. Mr. Scratch met her at the door, twisting his body around her legs. Ruth picked him up and tickled his chin. “At least you are a good boy.”

  “I made cocoa,” Frankie called from the kitchen.

  “Oh, I need some so bad.” Ruth looked down at her clothes, which were mud-stained and dirty from the night’s escapades.

  “I came here expecting to find you bored out of your mind in a small town. But you’re up to your eyes in drama.” Frankie set a hot mug of cocoa down in front of Ruth.