if we're going to let anything happen to Gabby either way, so it's not a big deal. She's pack."
I waved him down. "That's the thing, Seth. She's not pack. She's Ashley's friend."
"She should be pack," he grumbled. "Human or not, they're ours."
In other words, he agreed. He might not have a clue how to say it, but Seth really was on board with this, and that was all I needed to know. Then again, if he wasn't, I'd probably run him out of Wolf's Run myself. If Lane had to have her, then that should mean that we all did as well. That was how I was running things. One for all, and all for one.
And right now, that "one" was Elena.
CHAPTER 26
Friday morning dawned dark and wet. The predicted thunderstorm had moved in overnight with a vengeance, and I wasn't sure an umbrella would be enough to get me across the street in one piece. Gabby had elected to go with an adorable pair of waterproof boots with faux-fur around the top so she'd survive the puddles. Still, I found her waiting at the door as if judging whether or not this was worth it.
"I was going to head over early," I told her, "and open the office so you kids can wait inside."
She gave me a disgusted look. "We're not kids, Mom."
"You are to me." I tilted my head at the door. "You want to wait for me to unlock everything first, or make the run with me?"
She didn't get the chance to answer. Trent's red truck backed down his drive, angled over a bit, then pulled into mine while she was debating her choices. A toot of the horn proved it was intentional. Evidently, our chariot awaited.
"Passenger side or back seat?" I asked as I reached for my coat.
Gabby grabbed her bag. "Passenger side. That way I'll be closer to the door. Race ya, Mom."
And with that, we were off. The rain was coming down hard, and I wasn't ashamed to say I squealed a bit at the cold temperature. Still, when the pair of us dove into Trent's truck, one on each side, he was laughing.
"So when I worried that my girls might melt, it seems I was right," he teased.
Gabby smacked his arm. "Just my mascara!"
"Well..." He gave her a conspiratorial look. "Promise not to tell, and I'll get us as close as possible. Ian's making the rounds to pick up the rest so no one has to suffer through school soaked."
I honestly hadn't expected that. For these guys to go out of their way to pick up the school-aged kids and drive them to the bus stop? That was nothing short of amazing. Most of their parents had already headed off to work, and some of them would have to walk a few blocks in this monsoon otherwise. To me, it was just a little more proof that this community was everything I'd dreamed of.
And then Trent reached the office parking lot - but he didn't stop there. Slowly, he eased his truck up and over the curb, right onto the sidewalk so that I only had a few feet to run to the door. Well, if that was what he meant about as close as possible, I sure wasn't about to complain.
"Let me open it first," I told Gabby.
She nodded emphatically. "Oh yeah. Definitely."
So I jumped out and hurried. My heels splashed in the water running down the concrete, but I didn't care. There was a small overhang to shelter the door, but the wind was blowing hard enough that rain was still getting under it. Fumbling with the keys, I managed to unlock both deadbolts and then hurried inside, holding the door for the teenager I knew would be right on my heels, and Gabby didn't disappoint. The moment she was inside, Trent backed his truck off the sidewalk, lifted a hand, and drove away.
"He said he's going to pick up everyone on Timber Street," she told me. "Ian went the other way."
So I pointed to the Keurig in the corner. "Check and make sure we have cocoa and coffee, would you? I figure you can all take a cup on the bus."
"And this is why I love this place," Gabby said as she did just that.
Me too, I thought, claiming the chair behind my desk so I could turn on my computer. I was just about to get up and raise the temperature when Ashley scurried through the door, smoothing down