Lone Wolf (4 page)

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.

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?”

“I left him at home with Whisper.”

Thomas's other niece, Tanzi, stepped up for a quick hug of her own. “Good to see you, Uncle.”

Tanzi Lone Wolf was the true beauty of the two sisters. She was tall and slim, with flowing black hair from which sprouted one out-of-place streak of reddish-brown, right in the front. It had irritated her as a child, but she seemed to have grown accustomed to it. She had an elegance and grace not unlike her maternal grandmother, Thomas's own mother. Their kookum had been stoic, philosophical, and proud.

During the drive home, Renee hummed along to a song playing on her phone, her earbuds firmly in place and her singing slightly off-key. Thomas glanced at her reflection in the rear-view mirror and smiled. Inwardly, he felt some guilt for not playing a larger role in the young girl's life. He could have—perhaps should have—taken her to live with him. But he'd had his own grief to contend with, plus moving around a lot. He knew Tanzi had taken over the role of caregiver, even though she was only twenty-two. Neither one mentioned their mother's condition or the difficulties that living with an alcoholic entailed. It was almost as if ignoring it would make it go away. He knew that wasn't the case, but he certainly wasn't going to bring it up and spoil their weekend together.

Thomas looked over at Tanzi's profile. She was staring straight ahead at the road in front of them, not smiling, but not frowning either. “How are classes going?”

“I'm done for the summer,” she replied, still not looking his way.

“Right. I knew that.” He laughed at his own mistake. University students usually didn't go to school in June, unless they were in summer school. “But you're still in…” He frowned, digging for the answer he knew was right there at the back of his brain.

“Engineering,” Tanzi supplied. “I have one year left.”

Thomas nodded. “Right, right.” He chastised himself for not investing more time in his sister's children's lives. Maybe if he had, Manny, Tanzi's older brother, wouldn't be in jail. There was nothing he could do about that now, but Tanzi and Renee were still reachable, as far as he could tell. “And then?”

Tanzi shrugged. “Get a job, I guess.”

“Always a good plan.”

“Thanks for paying for our bus tickets.” Tanzi gestured backward with her head. “It meant a lot to Renee to get asked.”

“I'm…” Thomas hesitated, not sure how to word what he wanted to say next. “I'm sorry that I haven't been around for you that much. Since Auntie Rhea died…”

“It's okay. We all have our own problems to deal with. I understand.”

Tanzi's philosophical attitude did little to appease the guilt Thomas was feeling at the moment. Or the confusion.

****

Thomas shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. The folding chair was slightly off-balance and it creaked every time he moved. The high school gymnasium was decked out with balloons and tulle and a big banner at the front which read, “Congratulations, Grads!”

Whisper leaned closer to her father. “When is it Ryder's turn?”

Thomas placed a finger over his mouth to signal that she needed to keep her voice down. Then he glanced at the program in his hands. “He should be coming up right after the next person,” he whispered.

Whisper nodded and swung her legs under the chair. She was sitting beside him to his left, with Tanzi on her other side at the end of the row. Nicole was on Thomas's right and Maggie was next to her. They thought it best to separate the girls for the ceremony to keep them from giggling and talking, which had become their habit. Thomas couldn't have asked for a better relationship between his daughter and Nicole's. They already acted like sisters, best friends one minute and arguing the next. He noticed a growing fondness for the other little girl entangling itself with the love and pride he felt for his own children. To a casual onlooker, they were already a family unit.

“Ryder Lone Wolf” was announced over the speakers and Thomas's heart swelled as he saw his handsome son, tall and straight-backed, pause under the arch, Renee at his side. They paused briefly before walking down the aisle toward the stage where he would take his seat with the other graduates. Thomas stood and snapped a few pictures before joining in with the applause. Rhea would be proud.

The thought of his former wife made his stomach squeeze with a hollow emptiness that wanted to rise and choke him, and Thomas had to purposely tamp it down. He had loved Ryder's mother fully, passionately. Nothing would change that. But she was gone now and God had finally given him release to move forward with someone new. He glanced over at Nicole's profile. Make that with Nicole—as long as he didn't blow it.

After the ceremony, they joined the graduates in the lobby for some cake and coffee. Later that night there would be a banquet and a dance for invited guests, but this was a chance for the community at large to mingle with the graduates and offer their congratulations.

“Way to go, cuz.” Renee punched Ryder in the arm. “Now that's two Lone Wolfs who graduated high school.”

“Two?” Tanzi raised her brows.

“Yeah. You and now Ryder,” Renee explained.

Thomas pointed his thumbs at his chest. “Excuse me? What am I? Chopped liver?”

Renee giggled. “You don't count. You're too old.”

“Thanks a lot, young lady,” Thomas replied in mock offense.

“Never mind,” Tanzi said, her face sober. “You'll be graduating soon enough and then it'll be four.”

Renee shrugged. “Maybe. Or I might run away and join the circus.” She giggled again.

Thomas rolled his eyes and smiled. “Fourteen-year-old girls. I suppose I better get used to it. Whisper and Maggie will be going there soon enough.” He stopped and blinked, realizing he'd just assumed he'd be part of Maggie's life when she reached that stage.

“You should introduce me to some of your friends,” Renee said, tugging on Ryder's arm.

As if on cue, another young man called over to Ryder. “Lone Wolf. Get over here for a group photo.”

“Don't worry,” Ryder directed at Tanzi. “They're all nice guys. I'll look out for her.” He gestured for Renee to follow and they moved into a circle of other graduates and their escorts.

“So, Tanzi,” Nicole said. “Thomas tells me you're studying to be an engineer at the U of S.”

Tanzi nodded. “That's right.”

“I enjoyed my time there. Of course, dentistry wasn't quite the same as engineering. No rivalries with any other colleges like the engineers and the agriculture students have going.” She stopped and smiled. “They were fun times, though. Saskatoon is a nice city.”

“My, but you're sounding old,” Thomas teased. He put on a falsetto voice. “I remember the good old days…”

Nicole gave him a playful nudge. “Stop that.” She turned back to Tanzi. “What are you doing for the summer?”

“I'm a flagger for the department of highways.”

Thomas nodded along with Nicole. Even he hadn't known that. “They pay pretty well, I imagine.”

“And you get a great tan.” Tanzi smiled for the first time, and her face lit up.

“So do you have plans for after you graduate?” Nicole asked.

Tanzi quickly sobered. “I'll probably look for something out of Saskatoon and then move Renee in with me.”

Thomas hadn't realized the kind of pressure his young niece was under. “Good idea.” An understanding look passed between them. “I'll keep my eye out.”

“Mommy, I'm thirsty.” Maggie tugged at her mother's skirt.

“How about if I get you and Whisper some punch?” Nicole's suggestion was met with hoorays from both Maggie and Whisper. She took each little girl by the hand and led them through the crowd toward the refreshment table. Thomas watched them, a slight curve forming at the corners of his mouth.

“She's really nice.” Tanzi's voice cut into Thomas's momentary reverie. “I'm happy for you.”

He blinked back to his niece. “Yes, she is. And thanks.”

The moment was broken when Thomas's old friend Con McKinley came up to Thomas and slapped him on the back. “Congrats.”

Thomas turned with a wide smile and the two men shook hands vigorously. “Con. Good to see you. Thanks, although it's the kids who really deserve the congratulations.”

Con laughed. “I don't know about that. I'd say the parents have had the tougher job. I know my brother Ivor is glad to get one more out of the house, although Tyson was a pretty easy one to raise. Ivor lost most of what hair he had left when Bonita graduated.”

Just then Con's wife, Rachel, joined them, their eight month old son, Kohl, on her hip. “Hi.” She smiled but her eyes flickered downward after the briefest connection.

Thomas nodded his greeting. “Hello.” He felt absolutely neutral toward this woman, and the thought made him glad. At one point when he'd first moved to Marshdale, he'd initiated a relationship with her…or was it the other way around? In any case, it almost ruined his friendship with Con. Fortunately, things hadn't worked out. He was happy that Con and Rachel had gotten together. He now knew that God had someone else in mind for him. “By the way, this is my niece, Tanzi.” Thomas pointed to the group of young people where Ryder, Renee, and Con's nephew Tyson, had congregated. “And that's her sister, Renee. They came down from Saskatoon.”

“Nice to meet you.” Con and Rachel took turns shaking Tanzi's hand.

Nicole returned with the girls in tow. “Don't spill,” she ordered, gesturing at the orange liquid hovering close to the rim of each little girl's glass. She looked up and caught Con's nod of acknowledgment and smiled tentatively as she passed Thomas a clear plastic glass of punch.

Thomas put his hand on the small of Nicole's back in a possessive manner and drew her closer. “I'd like to introduce you to some friends of mine. This is Con McKinley and his wife, Rachel. This is my friend Nicole Ducharme.”

“Hello.” Nicole reached out with her free hand and touched hands briefly with both Con and Rachel. Then she focused on Kohl. “And who is this handsome boy?”

The boy turned his face away and buried it in his mother's shoulder. “His name is Kohl. He's kind of shy,” Rachel apologized.

Ryder, Renee, and Con's nephew Tyson McKinley bounced up to the group.

“Congrats, Tyson.” Thomas pumped the young man's hand.

“Thanks.” Tyson, always a shy and somewhat gangly individual, looked down at his toes.

“So I hear you're going off to university in the fall?” Con directed at Ryder.

“That's the plan,” Ryder said.

“Where are you headed?” Con asked.

“Dad thinks I should go to Regina,” Ryder said, “but I'm leaning more toward Saskatoon.” He looked his father straight in the eye.

“What?” Renee squealed. “Sweet!”

“I went to Saskatoon,” Con said. “Their agriculture program is top notch—the best in the world.” He turned to his nephew. “Tyson is going there, too. Right, Tyson?”

Thomas nodded his understanding. “Oh. So that explains Ryder's preference for Saskatoon over Regina.”

“It makes sense. We could get an apartment together. Be roomies,” Ryder said.

“I thought we agreed you were living in the dorms for the first year,” Thomas said.

“Well, yeah…but after that.”

Con smiled and shook his head. “I'd say these two have it all figured. You're fighting a losing battle, my friend.” He clapped Thomas on the shoulder.

“So it would seem.”

“So what are your plans after the center opens?” Con turned to Thomas.

Thomas took a sip of his punch before answering. “Well, now that Ryder's done with school, we'll be moving on somewhere. Can't stay in Marshdale without a job.”

“Any prospects?” Con asked.

“Um, not really.” Thomas patted Whisper on top of the head.

Ryder laughed and turned to Con. “He got an offer in BC, but I think he's afraid to go too far away. He wants to keep tabs on me.”

Nicole's eyebrows rose and she turned her gaze to Thomas. “BC?”

Thomas shook his head. “Nothing official. Just an offer.” He tried to smile but he could see that Nicole was distressed. He gestured toward Whisper with his head and lowered his voice. “We haven't exactly talked it through as a family, so…” The two little girls were giggling about something and hadn't paid any attention to what the grownups were saying.

“Mum's the word,” Con said.

“Thanks. So…how are the crops looking?” Thomas changed the subject.

“Excellent. Looks like a bumper year ahead.”

As Thomas listened to Con's description of his agricultural prospects, he could also see Nicole trying to make small talk with Rachel. He could tell by the tightness around her lips that she was angry with him, though. They would obviously need to have a talk later.

He wasn't sure why he hadn't mentioned the job offer to her before, and it had certainly not been his intention to have it slip out unexpectedly without telling her first. Not that he was taking it. At least he didn't think so…