Page 44 of Bear Creek Thanksgiving (Holiday Mates #3)
Gruff nodded, hurrying back to the truck to stash his clothing and shoes.
Dustin walked alongside, keeping quiet while his mate explored.
Gruff stopped to leave scent markings around the cabin and several other places in the surrounding woods, careful not to go too far or be gone long.
Dustin didn’t have the advantage of a thick fur coat, and his sneakers weren’t designed for walking in deep snow.
Using head movements, Gruff encouraged Dustin to climb onboard for the ride back to the truck—both in a contemplative mood.
Gruff shifted when they reached the vehicle, and Dustin broke the uneasy silence with a question while his mate quickly dressed.
“Are you okay, love? Maybe I shouldn’t have insisted we visit this place.”
Gruff brushed his knuckles over Dustin’s soft cheek.
“I’m glad we did. You were right about my bear being curious, so now I won’t have to wonder. My father had the right idea, and it would have been a nice place to raise a family. For us, that’s Shady Lane.”
Though they were heading in the right direction, they weren’t going home yet.
In two and a half hours, they’d reach Williamsport for a visit with Jay and Esther Cunningham.
Gruff hadn’t seen them in over a year, and they were eager to meet Dustin.
Afterward, they would visit the two elderly hunters who had saved Gruff’s life as a cub.
It promised to be an interesting meeting, especially after all these years, but Dustin believed in tying up loose ends while they still could.
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A wave of nostalgia washed over Gruff as they turned onto the long driveway, making their way to the house he once called home.
For Dustin’s sake, he pointed out the old orchard where he’d spent most of his time, learning the skills which now served him so well.
The old place looked different in the wintertime, but Gruff’s memory filled in the gaps.
As they approached the house, his eye was drawn to an enormous oak tree at the back corner of the yard.
In bear form, he’d spent many a day and night resting in the upper branches, pondering life and his place in the world.
Seeing the property brought back feelings and memories he’d rather forget, yet it was here he’d found love, acceptance, and a family of sorts.
Six years later, home and family also included the Tillmans and now his precious mate.
More than anything or anyone else, Dustin brought happiness and hope that had been missing from Gruff’s confusing and turbulent life.
What might they accomplish together? How would their lives change?
Who could have guessed such a bright future for a lonely, scarred orphan?
Gruff parked the truck and got out to help gather the packages they’d brought with them.
Christmas was coming up, and Dustin had splurged on food and gifts for the couple who’d raised his wonderful mate.
The front door opened as they approached, and the Cunninghams familiar scent stirred up even more of Gruff’s memories. Esther waved them inside.
“Come on in, boys. My word, it’s good to see you!”
Both men were thoroughly scented and hugged before they settled in the living room for a chat.
As the newcomer, Dustin was grilled about his home, family, job at Shady Lane, and his status as Gruff’s mate.
He didn’t mind sharing one bit, snuggled up against Gruff’s side with the man’s beefy arm around his shoulder.
He felt comfortable with Esther and Jay, and they were thrilled that their Gruff had found someone special.
Dustin asked the Cunninghams about their lives then and now, and of course, they threw in a few fun stories about Gruff as a youngster. Later, Jay asked Gruff about the attorney letter they’d received back in August.
“We didn’t say a word, but figured DeeDee would know what to do with it. We heard you agreed to talk to the fella. Did anything good come of it?”
Gruff wasn’t prepared to share every detail, though the couple deserved to hear the basic story.
“It turns out that I inherited some investments and a piece of property from my father, so yeah, it wasn’t a bad thing.
The attorney told us a little about him and my mother, and gave us some pictures, too.
Dustin and I decided to sell the land and use the money to pay off debt, make some improvements at Shady Lane, and donate to a shifter charity one of our friends started.
None of it would have happened if DeeDee hadn’t gotten involved, so Dustin and I are very grateful. ”
Shifter curiosity being what it was, Dustin got up to hand out the non-food gifts first, all gaily wrapped for the season.
His impression was that the Cunninghams had lived a life of frugality and didn’t have the money for a lot of extras.
The couple seemed delighted with the puzzles, matching dancing-bear sweatshirts, apple coffee mugs, and two framed photos—one of him and Gruff, and another of Baxter sleeping on Gruff’s bear.
The second batch of presents had noses sniffing madly as they tore the wrappings off to reveal sweet breads, maple de leches cake, cookies, jars of flavored honey, and lastly, a selection of chocolates and Bear Brownies from Delicious . Esther wiped away a tear and leaned over to kiss her mate.
“My goodness! So many lovely gifts, and we didn’t get you anything.”
Dustin knew exactly how to respond, hopefully setting them at ease.
“No worries. You and Jay spent years raising Gruff, and now I have a fantastic mate. We’re going to spoil you rotten!”
Esther fussed a little more and then moved everyone to the kitchen table.
The Cunninghams were itching to try a bit of everything, and Esther served up hot cocoa to go with the sweets.
She peppered Dustin with questions about what else he was serving at the Red Barn and promised to come for a visit in the spring.
“We haven’t been to Bear Creek for quite a while, and it will be good to see all the changes DeeDee told us about. You even have an outdoor theater and a fancy Italian restaurant now, too!”
They ate, laughed, and talked through mid-afternoon, enjoying old and new stories and making Dustin feel right at home.
He could see and hear how growing up here had influenced Gruff—shared mannerisms, word choices, and an underlying kindness that evidently formed the bedrock of their personalities.
It only enhanced his appreciation for Jay and Esther, and the sacrifices they’d made through the years to raise orphans who needed a home.
An idea came to Dustin as they visited—one he’d have to share privately with Gruff, but was almost certain his mate would approve.
Much of it depended on how stubborn the Cunninghams were, though they could always enlist DeeDee’s help to ensure success.
Gruff suddenly looked at him with a curious expression, but Dustin gave an unobtrusive shake of his head and carried on with the conversation.
As the visit concluded, the couple was invited to supper. Dustin regretfully declined the offer.
“Thank you for the invitation, but we have one more stop to make before heading home. I promise we’ll call and visit more often, though maybe not until after New Year’s.
This is a crazy busy time, and our work days are long.
Anyway, we hope you have a wonderful holiday, and if you want anything from the Barn or Delicious , let us know and we’ll have it shipped to you. ”
More hugs followed, and the couple left with smiles and special memories.
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Uneasy, and clinging to Dustin’s hand, Gruff knocked on the apartment door. He had no memory of the gentlemen they’d come to see, but then neither of them knew what Gruff looked like. The door was opened by a slim, dapper man with a handlebar mustache and twinkling brown eyes.
“Mister Cunningham? I’m Cecil Hall. Come in, please, we’ve been expecting you.”
His roommate met them just inside the door—a big man with thin, wispy hair and wire-rimmed glasses who introduced himself as Danny Buckmaster.
Gruff and Dustin did the same, and they took their seats in the living room.
Cecil got the conversation started, eyes darting from Gruff’s face to Dustin’s and back again.
“Danny and I have wondered for years what happened to you, and when Mister Gorman visited us, we made a request to meet you. We didn’t know if you would feel the same, given the tragic circumstances.”
Before Gruff could respond, Danny interjected his thoughts.
“We honestly didn’t know that the bear who attacked you was a shifter, or your father! They tried to put us in prison, but believe me, we only wanted to save your life.”
Gruff had a solid grip on Dustin’s hand, enabling him to speak without becoming distraught.
“I was told about it when I grew older, but I never blamed either of you. I’m grateful to you for saving my life, but I want you to know that my father wasn’t a bad person.”
Gruff went on to explain shifter mating and his father’s madness after being rejected. With more facts at hand, he presented a fuller picture of who Hugo Kennedy truly was, and that once his mind went, there was no going back to a normal life.
“I didn’t enjoy growing up as an orphan, but it wasn’t your fault. Because of you, I have a good life and a wonderful mate. I don’t blame you, and you shouldn’t blame yourselves for what happened that day.”
Both men wept. Burdened by two and a half decades of guilt, they’d always wondered what else they could have done and never came up with an answer.
Now, they didn’t need to. Gruff and Dustin waited patiently for the men to compose themselves, and then inquired about their lives, careers, and families.
As it turned out, they had been best friends since grade school, Vietnam war vets, and for the last few years, roommates and lovers. Cecil explained.
“Men of our generation weren’t allowed to be together. We kept our feelings hidden and only acted on them after our spouses passed away. Neither of us had children, so we were finally free to love one another fully. Enjoy your life, boys, and don’t waste a single minute!”
Stories poured out after that, and it made for some eye-opening and sad accounts of two people who took what happiness they could find, and let the rest go.
Shifters didn’t care about being gay or straight, so Gruff had more difficulty understanding Cecil and Danny’s accounts of fear, frustration, and denial.
The pain must have been incredible, and he wondered how they’d kept their sanity.
He couldn’t help but compare their situation to his father’s, and suddenly the madness over being denied by his mate made more sense.
It was later than they had planned when Gruff and Dustin got back on the road. The first few miles were filled with quiet contemplation, each man processing the events of the day. Finally, Dustin rested his hand on Gruff’s leg and let out a gusty sigh.
“We have so much to be thankful for. I’m glad we made this trip, even if parts of it were difficult. I hope you know how much I love you.”
Gruff growled his agreement.
“You said it, Mate, and I love you, too.”