Chapter 16: Forty Short

I called the depot back myself.

"I can't release it, miss. There's a note on the waybill. Hold for the Beta, by order."

"It's my wool. I paid for it."

"I know you did. I've got your check right here." He lowered his voice. "I've also got to live in this town."

I hung up.

I called the mill in Duluth.

They had charcoal wool on the shelf. They didn't have a truck north until Monday.

The Rite was Saturday.

"Lake-effect warning from Ashland to the Soo tonight," the woman at the mill added. "Nobody's driving Highway 2 for fun."

I put the phone down on the long table.

Fourteen women had stopped sewing to listen.

"Forty short," Kitto said quietly. "That's the shop. That's your mother's machines."

"I know what it is."

The side door opened.

Cador came in with the cold on him, stamping snow off his boots, holding a box of doughnuts from the gas station.

He looked at the room and put the box down.

"What happened?"

I told him.

He picked his keys back up off the table.

"Call the mill," he said. "Tell them a truck's coming tonight and somebody needs to stay late."

"Cador, it's five hours each way in good weather."

"Then I'd better go before it's bad weather."

I stood up.

"This isn't a rescue," I said. "I'm not having the pack say..."

"It's a delivery." He was already zipping his jacket. "You're paying for the gas. I'm keeping the receipts. Kitto can bill you."

"I'll absolutely bill her," Kitto said.

"I'm coming with you."

"And who cuts the last forty hoods when I get back?" He looked at me. "Nobody touches a hood but you. You said."

I hated it when he listened.

He went out the side door at nine in the morning.

The snow started at noon.

Keep reading free with an account. Start They Thought My Mate Chose Her from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.