(Un)bidden (Judgement of the Six #4)

“Bully,” I mumbled as I dragged my feet toward the pump.

Mary grinned and shook her head. When I got close enough, she started pumping. I stuck my right hand into the cold water. There were four red dots on the back and one large one on the knuckle. I let her pump until my hand grew numb. Mary didn’t seem to grow tired or mind.

“It’s done,” Thomas said.

I turned and found the men lined up behind him. They all had plates. Thomas had a plate, too, already piled with eggs and sausage. He moved to the table and set the plate down as I tried to hide my disappointment and guilt. I wasn’t the only one starved for something more than oatmeal, which was what I’d served for breakfast the past week.

I’d almost passed the table to stand at the back of the line when Thomas snagged my hand. He tugged me to the bench beside him and offered me a fork. I smiled as I understood he meant to share and quickly sat. The first bite of sausage made me want to groan. As I chewed, savoring the salty meat, the men sat at the tables near the main door. They dug in with enthusiasm. As usual, Thomas had yet to take a bite. He sat beside me and watched me.

I finished my sausage and quickly skewered a second. That one I waved in front of his face.

“If you don’t start eating, there won’t be anything left.” It was a bluff. Though my eyes wanted me to eat everything on the plate, my stomach would eventually rebel if I tried.

He smiled and chomped the sausage right off the fork before I could yank it out of the way. I blinked at my empty tines. Maybe I was the one who needed to eat faster.

He picked up his fork and started to eat. He ate slow, sticking to his side of the plate while I vacuumed the food in until my stomach ached. I set down my fork with a groan. I’d eaten a bit more than my share. He pulled the plate in front of him and finished the rest in a few moments.

Then he did something that made me stare. He licked my fork. I sat there stupidly as he stood and carried the dishes to the sink. I was glad for the space. The rest of the men stood and followed Thomas’ example. Then, they all made for the door, leaving Winifred, Mary, Ann, and me.

Winifred had collected Ann’s new daughter as soon as she’d arrived. The two women were still speaking quietly. Mary and I went to the pump and began washing dishes.

While I dried, I kept looking at the bags of supplies. There were so many. I couldn’t wait to dig into them even though I already knew what they contained.

We just finished with the dishes when Winifred said, “Mary, Gregory is waiting for you outside.”

Ann left the room with her daughter, and I watched Mary nod and walk to the door. Winifred closed the door behind her.

“Ready to bake?”

“We can bake,” I said. “But I’d feel more comfortable doing it if you would tell me why another bribe is needed.”

Winifred sighed.

“It’s not a bribe, dear. But I did intend it to be a relaxing activity while we discussed what happened after I left.”

I cringed remembering the fight, my insistence to watch, and my general interference.

“I’m sorry,” I said, sincerely.

“For what?”

“For interfering. But if I’m going to live here, shouldn’t I act like I’m part of your community, too? If I don’t, I can’t see ever being accepted.”

Winifred came close and gave me a brief hug.

“You did well interfering. I’m proud of how you handled yourself and the situation. I think sending the malcontent away was the best move given the circumstance.” She stepped away, picked up a bag, and set it on top of the cleared table.

“However,” she said, “there is something else I’d like to understand.”

She began to unpack, and with trepidation, I moved to help.

“That was the second time you knocked a few men back without lifting a finger. How is that possible?”

It felt as if my heart stopped and dropped into my stomach like a rock. I didn’t let panic control me, though. After a calming breath, I answered.

“How is it possible that werewolves exist, or that you can control them with a thought or command? Some things are just possible. The reasons behind the possibilities aren’t for us to understand or explain; we’re just meant to accept them.” I continued to unpack bags as I spoke. “I’ve accepted that I’m different and can do things others can’t. Now that you know what I can do, can you accept me?”

Winifred turned from placing the large bag of rice in the cabinet and studied me.

“I accept you for what you are, and hope that you will explain what, exactly, it is you can do.”

With the terrible moment of truth before me, I slowly sank to a chair. Did she, like Thomas, think I only moved things with my mind? Once I told her the truth, would she then want me to leave? I folded my hands together and met Winifred’s gaze.