Homecomings

By Donna and Abs

After spending several eventful days in Esperanza, Tom Kirby and Wyoming Davis left to return to Edan, accompanied by Lupe and her family. Wyoming kept looking back as the wagon Tom was driving went down the road. Julius had promised her he would make sure the cougar kittens were reared to maturity, but she still hated to leave them behind.  

Lupe tried to reassure her.  Having brought her young to Julius for his approval, she was sure the kittens would not just mature - they would thrive.  He was exceptionally good with cats - all cats - and she was pleased that he had given his blessing to her own kits. 

Tom had told her much the same thing, but Wy still found it hard to leave them behind. "I have nursed orphans before," she told them as Esperanza vanished in the background. "The hardest and the most fulfilling part was turning them loose in the wild to live as they were meant to."  

"With Julius, they will be raised as wild things," Jonathan explained.  "Although they will be hand - fed, they will still have the environment of wild cougars." 

"Then they will be better off," she said, surrendering to the inevitable. "Its too bad though they wouldn't let me stick around for the full moon. I would have liked to observe the behavior of Jean Claude's wolves. It would have made very interesting research!"  

Lupe seemed offended, and Jonathan put a hand on her arm, while Tom laughed.  "You can hardly say they were acting completely human, Wy.  Even this far from the moon."  The storm had occurred on the new moon. 

"Actually," said Jonathan, "the new moon is as bad, in many ways, as the full." 

"I wonder if the cabin I was living in survived the storm," Wy sighed. "All my research notes are in it. Not that they will do me much good here, but I still hate to think of all that work just blowing away in the wind!"  

"You can continue your research," Tom said, sobering.  "If you want, I mean.  You can always come back to Esperanza and correlate the differences between real wolves and weres." 

"Natural," said Lupe.  When Tom looked back at her in alarm, she repeated, "They are called *natural* wolves, not *real*." 

"I stand corrected," the vet said apologetically. "Anything else we should know?"  

"They might not like being researched," she said, smiling in a way that Tom could not term anything else but "wolfish". 

"That one named Jason volunteered to be a research subject," Wy chuckled. "But I think he was more interested in getting into my pants than furthering scientific research."  

"He was definitely looking to check you out while you were checking *him* out!" Tom laughed.

"First time I had someone with two legs sniff my crotch like that. I resisted the urge to say *Down, boy!*," Wy said, shaking her head. "If I had stayed, I think he and several pack mates of his would have pursued me vigorously." She smiled at Tom and he smiled back, glad that she had chosen to return with him.  

"It's a wonder you didn't stay, then," he joked. 

"As interesting as they were, I think I would much rather pursue our partnership instead," she said, her eyes flashing with merriment. "So, tell me, just what in hell will I be doing here. It better be good, 'cause if I'm bored, I tend to get into a lot of trouble!"  

"Then we're in trouble."  He grinned.  "Most of it is just keeping after the livestock . . . though that would be my side of things, I guess.  I haven't the slightest idea what kind of wildlife Edan has." 

"Then it could be my job to find out!" she laughed. She turned to Lupe and Jonathan, and asked them what type of creatures they had seen.  

"Oh, " said Jonathan, "all manner of things. Same as the other world, I expect.  The strange creatures are all humanoid."  He grinned knowingly. 

The subject changed to the ones living on the other side of the river. Tom made it clear that it was not very safe for her to be living alone because of them. "So, just where am I supposed to live?" she grumbled.  

"You can live with me," he said.  "In town." 

She looked at him and grinned. "Sure, why not?" 

The smile on Tom's face could have lit up the sky. "Then it's decided!" he said happily.  "After we see if you have a home left, we can move all your stuff to my place." 

"Can't wait!" she said as she threw back her head and laughed.    

***

The same day, the stagecoach was making its way from Camelot to Esperanza. The going was slow at times due to the amount of tree limbs that littered the road. But with the four passengers inside the coach, the driver, Con Madigan, had plenty of help to clear the way whenever it was necessary.

Of course, Grayson did not like the heavy work, and would have preferred to stay in the stage with his bride, but that would have made him look bad.  So he pitched in with the rest of them. 

Even Candi helped when she was allowed. Dressed in a long gown and her red velvet cape, she looked every bit the lady. Most of the time Con had her hold the lead horse's head while the men cleared the trail. It was almost dark when they approached the Mountie's Hut, and at that point, they could either stay there, or wait for an *escort* to insure their journey ended safely. Both Mounties were there, because it was a "shift change" so they could have one if they desired. 

After a short rest break, they continued on. No sooner did they cross the bridge, than an escort of various creatures of the night joined them, some of them running along side the coach, others silently making their way through the woods.  

The way was smoother now, with the road cleared of debris, and soon they were coming up to the House of Many Pleasures! As soon as the coach pulled up in front of the door of the elegant looking brownstone building, all the working girls in the lobby squealed, and rushed out to greet Candi. Consone followed in a more dignified manner, of course.  

“Look at you!" they cried, seeing her outfit.  "You look like a real lady!" 

"Oh, I felt like one!" she said happily, hugging them all. "But as neaty cool as that place was, this is home. And all of you are my sisters, my family!"  

"Well, we meessed you," said Carmelita.  "And you too," she added, looking at Grayson. 

"You can say THAT again," said one of the fae. 

A slight frown crossed Grayson's face. He glanced at Consone, who just shrugged. "I missed all of you as well," he said evenly, although there was a fierce fire starting to burn in his eyes. Something had happened, he knew it. "Let us go inside and celebrate. After the customers that are here already are served, we will shut down for the night, and have out own private party." Some of the girls squealed with joy at that announcement.  

The House was always busy, but the "customers" were not left alone while the welcoming party went out to greet the newlyweds, so there was no delay in satisfying them.  "What about all nighters?" asked Odette. 

"They can return at no cost tomorrow. Two nights for the price of one," Grayson told them. There were only two men who were there for the whole night anyway. "Why don't the girls that are free go down to the kitchen and see what you can find there to make this a really special occasion?" He shooed them away, sending Candi to help. Consone tried to leave as well, but Grayson cut him off. "What have you done?" the older immortal asked, a low growl of menace deep in his chest.  

"I have done nothing!  I kept order, when all about me was disorder.  Do you suppose it was easy, during the chaos of the storm?" 

"I'm sure it wasn't," Grayson said. "So, how many girls did you chase off with your methods of keeping *control*."

"I chased off none!" the Spaniard objected.  "One left during the storm, and I made the others stay!" 

Grayson's jaw twitched in anger. Not at the girl for leaving, but at the sheer relief to see him return that he had seen in the ones that had stayed behind. "It is NOT good business to abuse the girls," he said in a no nonsense voice. "That will never happen in our establishment, will it, Consone?"  

"I had a visitor," Consone said firmly.  "One that promised to  . . . supply us with girls as long as they are well treated.  But he wanted us to know these may come and go.  As long as we do not hold them too tightly, he will continue to supply us." 

"Excellent," Grayson said. "Just make sure you remember that."