Meghan had been the most excited about moving to a location where wolves ran the town, and she’d already made several comments about setting down roots here. The problem was that Ellie was in total agreement with her. Laurel wasn’t used to that. Usually, her sisters agreed to whatever she said.
CJ wasn’t wearing his uniform, just jeans, a pale blue wool sweater, and cowboy boots. Laurel had to admit that he looked warm and accessible. In his uniform, he seemed friendly but more…official.
As if reminding Meghan why they were here, Laurel said, “So about the mine collapse or other things like that—”
“Ghost-related, you mean?”
“Yes. Do you have newspaper clippings about that?”
“Unless another town reported on it, probably not. We didn’t have a newspaper here until recently.”
“Why not?” Meghan sounded skeptical.
“I guess no one was interested in running one. I don’t know. Sure, there were some rags printed in the early years, but none of them survived.”
“Would there have been police reports? Surely some kind of documentation exists.” Laurel stepped back to consider what they had done. It looked really nice, perfect for the time period of the hotel.
“We have a cemetery full of headstones giving the names, dates of birth, and dates of death, in addition to a note that the miners had lost their lives in the silver mine. Also, we did census reports like any other law-abiding citizens, but we had to change some of the particulars to hide our true ages.”
That still wouldn’t help her and her sisters learn the truth about their aunt or the hotel.
“Brett’s getting together all the information that he can and bringing it over to see if you’d like to look at it and add any comments for the article—”
“Now?” Meghan looked way too eager.
“Tomorrow. He hadn’t finished gathering it when I last saw him, and for now, he’s dropping everything to help string lights along the roof of the hotel.”
Now Laurel wished they hadn’t sidetracked Brett. But they couldn’t tell CJ to call his brother back and say that the history of the hotel was more important than decorating the place for the grand opening.
Once they’d finished hanging the garland on the picket fence, they moved to the railing around the front porch.
Within twenty minutes, a man drove up and parked. Brett Silver got out of his car, dressed casually in a royal-blue-and-tan-striped sweater and jeans. His hair was a lighter brown, and his smile infectious.
“You remember Brett?” CJ asked.
“Yes,” Laurel said. Between Eric telling them what to do, and Brett taking pictures for posterity’s sake before they could remodel, the men had been a hindrance. “CJ was telling us you’re doing a story on the hotel. We’d love to learn all there is about it.”
“Yeah, sure. I’m getting a bunch of stuff together for you, old photos and the like, that I can bring over tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” both Meghan and Laurel said at the same time.
“We have the job of putting up the lights along the roofline and around the windows,” CJ told his brother.
Brett smiled at him, since CJ wasn’t letting go of the garland as Meghan secured the last bow to hang it on the porch railing. It really was nice having the men’s help. Although she and her sisters had meant to keep their distance from all of the pack members, Laurel decided they needed to have the brothers over for dinner to thank them.
“Darien said that ghost-buster crew made reservations at your place for tomorrow,” Brett said.
Laurel heard the annoyance in his voice right away. As far as she was concerned, the ghost busters were most likely frauds. Ghosts did not make scheduled appearances for TV shows. They appeared when they appeared.
Then again, it was too bad that she and her sisters couldn’t have contracted them to paint, since they most likely wouldn’t have been spooked by any ghostly happenings like the others were.
“Darien’s worried about them being here.” Brett set up the ladder to begin hanging the lights.
Laurel held the first wreath up to the window while CJ secured it for her.
“Darien figures these guys might witness something more paranormal than ghosts.”
“Can you usually run safely as wolves around here?” Meghan asked.
“Sure we can. In the forests. After the ski resort is closed for the night, we often also run through that area. Snow graders plow in the morning, grooming the trails but also hiding the evidence of the wolf tracks in the more heavily used areas. If you and your sisters would like to run with us any time, let me know. We’ll show you the sights,” CJ offered.
“Tonight? Before the hotel opens? It’ll be the last time we can all run together. Someone will always have to be on duty at the hotel otherwise,” Laurel said before she could stop herself. Meghan’s mouth gaped as she stared at Laurel.
Laurel figured they needed a fun break before the hotel opened. She and her sisters deserved it. What harm could there be in that?
“Tonight would be great,” CJ said.
“I’m game,” Brett said. “Because of the fresh snowfall, a lot of wolves will be out there tonight. We’ll have a great time.”
“We’re glad you decided to open up the place.” CJ hooked up the last of the lights on the windows. “It’s a beautiful hotel and has been neglected for far too long.”
Laurel and Meghan exchanged looks. This was the hardest part to deal with—that everyone was genuinely happy to have them here. But only until they learned why they were truly here.
Before long, Laurel and Meghan were hanging garlands on all the upstairs balconies while CJ and his brother strung the lights along the edge of the roof. Meghan’s cheeks and nose were red, and Laurel imagined hers were just as rosy.
“Jake said he’d take some professional photos, free of charge, of the hotel in all of its Christmas finery to add to his photography website. And he’ll give a copy to the newspaper to run a free, full-page ad,” Meghan said.
Now, Laurel felt guilty that she hadn’t jumped at the chance to hang some of Jake’s photography over the letter C in their main room.
She spoke softly for Meghan’s ears only. “I can’t believe how everyone’s going all out to make us feel welcome.”
“Yeah, they’re glad we’re improving the look of the place and bringing in more income. And it probably doesn’t hurt that we’re single females.”
“Did you want to go in and tell Ellie we’re going to take a wolf run tonight?”
“With pack members? She’ll be shocked and thrilled.” Meghan headed into the hotel to give Ellie the news.
Laurel hoped the plan wouldn’t backfire.
Chapter 3
By the time they’d finished decorating the roofline with white lights, the ski resort was closed for the night. CJ drove the ladies to the base ski lodge. Though he’d asked if anyone wanted to ride in Brett’s truck, everyone had wanted to ride with him. He thought it was because they were shy about getting to know any of the other bachelors.
The resort had a restaurant, restrooms with changing areas, and rentals for skis, poles, snowboards, and ski boots. But skiing wasn’t on the schedule. About twenty adults were there, ranging in age from twenty to eighty-five in human years. Some were already wearing their wolf coats and waiting outside for the rest of their friends or family to join them. Others were still disrobing at lockers and shifting.
A group of three teens were also there watching them. Cody, Minx, and Anthony now worked at the resort. Minx’s twin sister, Caitlin, was with her twin toddler boys and her mate, Trevor, the other deputy sheriff standing nearby.
Cody smiled at Laurel and her sisters, his jester hat moving and jingling as he talked. “We’re working here at the ski resort, so if you need any help, just let us know.” He motioned with his thumb to the other teens, and they all smiled at the sisters.