Read Online Fox Afield (Madison Wolves) by Robin Roseau - Free Book Online
Authors: Robin Roseau
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lake then turned to the boathouse with the kayaks.
I didn't know the protocol, but I really wanted to head out onto the lake. I ran up to the lodge and found a female wolf I didn't know. She was puttering around the outside of the lodge but stood up as I approached.
"You must be Michaela," she said, holding out her hand. "I am Simone. Welcome to Colorado."
"It's beautiful here," I said.
"Were you looking for breakfast?"
"No, I was looking for you," I told her. "I wanted to know if the kayaks were available to take out onto the water."
"Of course," she said. "I'll go down and show you where everything is."
We walked back down together. She asked me about the wedding, and I gave her the highlights. We arrived at the boathouse before I was done, so I hurried the telling.
"We don't lock anything," she said. "This is always open." We stepped into the small boathouse. "Paddles, life jackets, the rest of the gear. Have you been kayaking before?"
"Yes, on Lake Superior."
"Do you need a safety course?"
"I teach them."
She laughed. "All right. Then everything should be familiar to you, but there is a river leading away from the lake at the northwest corner. I do not recommend you get too close."
"I saw that stream. I don't have much whitewater experience, and those rapids are well above anything I would normally do."
"We have fishing gear, but you'll need an out-of-state license. I can sell you one, if you want."
"I'd like that, next time," I said.
"Just stop up at the lodge, we can do it whenever you like. There are rainbow trout in the lake. We stock it. Our hooks are barbless, and we ask you to be gentle on the smaller fish."
"We will."
"The lake is deep in most places, with a very rocky bottom. But that also means if you tip over in the shallow places, you can hit your head. Helmets are mandatory."
I nodded. "Wet suits?"
She smiled and shook her head. "Sorry. Everyone who comes here is a wolf and would be offended at the suggestion."
"I'll make sure I don't tip over," I said, returning her smile. They wouldn't have had my size, anyway.
We collected the gear I would need. I pulled on a helmet and a life jacket. She had to help me find sizes that would fit. Then we stepped outside, and Simone helped me with one of the kayaks. We brought it down to the water and lowered it next to the dock. I slipped in and grabbed my paddle.
"Thank you," I said. "I almost went nuts when I saw these last night."
"Enjoy your ride," Simone said. "Are you sure you're okay alone?"
"Yes," I said. "I will avoid the stream and I promise not to tip over."
She laughed.
I paddled easily, the kayak cutting through the glassy water smoothly. It felt good to loosen my shoulders, and I loved the peace and quiet. The water was smooth and clear, and when I dipped a hand in, cold. I was used to clear, cold water in Bayfield, but Lake Superior was rarely this glassy smooth. I decided I liked that.
It was phenomenally beautiful and peaceful.
I did a slow, easy circle of the lake, and as I drew closer to the lodge, I saw Lara and Elisabeth standing on the dock, both with their hands on their hips, glaring at me. I drew closer, but stayed offshore.
"What?" I said. "Like you didn't know where I would be."
"That's not the point," Lara said.
"Michaela," Elisabeth added. "We are in another pack's territory. We have no particular reason to distrust Brooke or Daniel, but Glenn is another matter. Do I need to say more?"
I sighed. "What do you want?"
"Lara or I with you 100 percent of the time," Elisabeth said. "She and I will decide from there."
I felt like a little kid who had been caught sneaking out of the house. "All right," I said. "Are you making me come in?"
"We weren't sure if you were done," Lara said. "How are you feeling?"
"My leg is fine. Hip is a little stiff, but it's fine. Shoulders are loose. I would really like you guys to join me for another trip around the lake, but if you're hungry or I am interfering with plans, I can come
I didn't know the protocol, but I really wanted to head out onto the lake. I ran up to the lodge and found a female wolf I didn't know. She was puttering around the outside of the lodge but stood up as I approached.
"You must be Michaela," she said, holding out her hand. "I am Simone. Welcome to Colorado."
"It's beautiful here," I said.
"Were you looking for breakfast?"
"No, I was looking for you," I told her. "I wanted to know if the kayaks were available to take out onto the water."
"Of course," she said. "I'll go down and show you where everything is."
We walked back down together. She asked me about the wedding, and I gave her the highlights. We arrived at the boathouse before I was done, so I hurried the telling.
"We don't lock anything," she said. "This is always open." We stepped into the small boathouse. "Paddles, life jackets, the rest of the gear. Have you been kayaking before?"
"Yes, on Lake Superior."
"Do you need a safety course?"
"I teach them."
She laughed. "All right. Then everything should be familiar to you, but there is a river leading away from the lake at the northwest corner. I do not recommend you get too close."
"I saw that stream. I don't have much whitewater experience, and those rapids are well above anything I would normally do."
"We have fishing gear, but you'll need an out-of-state license. I can sell you one, if you want."
"I'd like that, next time," I said.
"Just stop up at the lodge, we can do it whenever you like. There are rainbow trout in the lake. We stock it. Our hooks are barbless, and we ask you to be gentle on the smaller fish."
"We will."
"The lake is deep in most places, with a very rocky bottom. But that also means if you tip over in the shallow places, you can hit your head. Helmets are mandatory."
I nodded. "Wet suits?"
She smiled and shook her head. "Sorry. Everyone who comes here is a wolf and would be offended at the suggestion."
"I'll make sure I don't tip over," I said, returning her smile. They wouldn't have had my size, anyway.
We collected the gear I would need. I pulled on a helmet and a life jacket. She had to help me find sizes that would fit. Then we stepped outside, and Simone helped me with one of the kayaks. We brought it down to the water and lowered it next to the dock. I slipped in and grabbed my paddle.
"Thank you," I said. "I almost went nuts when I saw these last night."
"Enjoy your ride," Simone said. "Are you sure you're okay alone?"
"Yes," I said. "I will avoid the stream and I promise not to tip over."
She laughed.
I paddled easily, the kayak cutting through the glassy water smoothly. It felt good to loosen my shoulders, and I loved the peace and quiet. The water was smooth and clear, and when I dipped a hand in, cold. I was used to clear, cold water in Bayfield, but Lake Superior was rarely this glassy smooth. I decided I liked that.
It was phenomenally beautiful and peaceful.
I did a slow, easy circle of the lake, and as I drew closer to the lodge, I saw Lara and Elisabeth standing on the dock, both with their hands on their hips, glaring at me. I drew closer, but stayed offshore.
"What?" I said. "Like you didn't know where I would be."
"That's not the point," Lara said.
"Michaela," Elisabeth added. "We are in another pack's territory. We have no particular reason to distrust Brooke or Daniel, but Glenn is another matter. Do I need to say more?"
I sighed. "What do you want?"
"Lara or I with you 100 percent of the time," Elisabeth said. "She and I will decide from there."
I felt like a little kid who had been caught sneaking out of the house. "All right," I said. "Are you making me come in?"
"We weren't sure if you were done," Lara said. "How are you feeling?"
"My leg is fine. Hip is a little stiff, but it's fine. Shoulders are loose. I would really like you guys to join me for another trip around the lake, but if you're hungry or I am interfering with plans, I can come
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