Nadine took a seat. Burke took another while O’Sullivan grabbed a chair from another table.

“I offered the other side of my duplex for your use.” Burke looked at Twyla. “But I’ve been told that, under the current circumstances, it would be wiser if you stayed here. It will be cramped, especially since Simon Wolfgard has offered sanctuary to a few police families when this coming storm hits Lakeside. However, this is the one place where you should be protected—and there will be people here who can help you.” Now he looked at Nadine. “You have a room here. What about Chris?”

“He’s bunking in one of the rooms above the social center. He comes up to my room for a shower.”

“Impress upon him that he needs to stay here until this storm passes.”

Nadine smiled bitterly. “He has a broken hand, Captain, and he’s been branded a Wolf lover. He’s too vulnerable right now to go out among the humans.”

Monty winced at the way she said “humans,” but he couldn’t blame her for feeling that way. The HFL had burned down her shop and home and would have killed her and Chris. No matter what Simon thought about getting more tangled up in human concerns, the Wolf had stepped up and offered Nadine and Chris shelter and protection.

Twyla studied the men, her eyes lingering on Monty. “This storm is part of the trouble that had you asking me to get to Lakeside as quick as I could?”

“Yes, Mama.”

Now Twyla looked at Burke. “How bad is the bad going to be?”

Burke studied Twyla in turn. “Here in Lakeside? I don’t know. When it comes time for the reckoning, I hope our efforts to work with the terra indigene will count for something. Across Thaisia? We just hope for the best now.”

A kitchen timer dinged. Nadine jumped up. “I have to get those cookies out of the oven.”

“Miss Nadine?” Twyla said with quiet courtesy, stopping the other woman. “You run this shop?”

“Working here. Tess runs it. I don’t know where she is right now.”

“I think the three of us should talk soon.”

Nadine nodded and rushed into the back.

“And I’m thinking that Mr. Simon and I should talk soon too,” Twyla continued.

Monty laid his hand over hers. “Mama?”

“Whatever provisions they have here for humans living or even staying overnight isn’t going to fit the number of people they’re going to take in and shelter. Doesn’t matter how you wiggle things; they’re going to need help. I’ve got two good hands and I know how to work. So does Sierra. And the children can do what they’re able. You asked me to come and help you with Lizzy, and I will. But right now there’s a lot to do and not much time to be doing, so I’m not going to sit by, Crispin. That’s not my way.”

“I know, Mama, but—”

“What can you do?” Simon asked, walking over to their table.

Monty wondered how long the Wolf had been standing in the archway listening.

“You tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll tell you if I can do it,” Twyla replied. “One thing I know right off. You’re going to be feeding more people than you’re used to, and that might not be easy in this coffee shop.”

“We have Meat-n-Greens in the Market Square.”

“I’d like to take a look at it, offer an idea or two after I speak with Miss Nadine and Miss Tess.”

Those amber Wolf eyes studied Twyla with too much interest.

“If the human pups misbehave, we’ll bite them,” Simon said.

“If I had your teeth instead of these dentures, I’d be inclined to do the same.”

Simon cocked his head. “What are dentures?”

“Perhaps a discussion for another time?” Burke suggested.

“Now,” Twyla said, looking at Monty, then at Burke and O’Sullivan, and finally at Simon. “We’re here and we’re fine. Sierra and I are grown women who are capable of sorting out who is staying where. You men have your own work to do, and you don’t need to be fussing about us.”

“Ruthie, Merri Lee, and Eve Denby are the females in the pack who already have dens here,” Simon said. “They can help with this sorting.” He went back to Howling Good Reads.

“You sure you’ll be all right?” Monty asked. He addressed the question to his mother, but they both knew it had more to do with Sierra and the girls than Twyla.

“We’ll be fine, Crispin.” Twyla patted his hand. “You go about your business.”

Burke and O’Sullivan stood and said the appropriate things. Monty kissed Twyla’s cheek and whispered, “I’m glad you’re here.” Then the three men went out the back way.

“We’ll walk over to the consulate with you,” Burke said.

“What should I tell the governor?” O’Sullivan asked.

Monty glanced at the back of the Liaison’s Office. He caught the faint sound of music coming from the open windows, but Meg wasn’t playing it loud enough for him to determine if it was earth native music or popular music. He needed to talk to his mother and sister before they met Meg Corbyn and saw the scars that were now visible since she’d begun wearing summer clothes.

“You ever watch nature programs?” Burke said. “You ever see one of those anteaters with the big claws breaking open the ant hills in order to get at the ants?”

“I vaguely recall seeing something like that,” O’Sullivan replied.