Chapter Sixteen: It's a Small World
The cottage in the northwoods was stale and dusty when they first opened it up. Pretty much everything was as they'd left it over a year ago. K started up a fire to take the chill out of the place while Logan brought in more wood. It had already been a rough winter for sure. There were some massive drifts still dotting the landscape on the way up to the cabin, and it was the time of year when the locals down at the old greasy spoon diners were still bitching about the fairly normal temperatures for 'spring' in the U.P. and recounting the horrors of their childhood winters while picking at their steel cut oatmeal and sipping on the decaf.
As soon as the chill in the room was on its way out with the fire raging in the wood burner, K started cooking. The weather was getting ready to take a turn and she wanted to have plenty they could heat up over the fire if they should lose power, as was common to happen with any halfway decent snow or rain storm, or hell, if she was being honest with herself, if the wind blew the right way and pissed off a squirrel. It wasn't a concern in the warmer months, but with little Abbey demanding real food now, K needed to have a contingency plan in place.
The little family had finished eating not half an hour before the long expected knock on the door happened. Logan tried to put on his closest version of a friendly face as he rose up to let Bill in, finding him beaming when he opened the door, warmly greeting Logan like they'd long been old friends. K had just laid Abbey down to sleep and stepped out from the bedroom as the two men sat down in the living room, chatting about all that had happened since last they'd been at the cottage.
"Well, where is she?" Bill asked, eyes bright.
"Asleep," K said as she made to sit next to Logan, but with a gentle and quick redirect from him, she ending up being pulled down onto his lap instead as Logan's arm slipped around her waist smoothly, urging her to get comfortable.
"Oh, well, I'm sure I'll get a peek before you head back," Bill said with a grin. "Say, who does she take after?" it was abundantly clear that he was simply tickled for the two of them, though Logan still didn't like it one bit.
K shrugged as Logan voiced his opinion. "Definitely her."
"Too early to tell, I think," K said, not convinced of his assessment, even as he gave her a sedate smile.
"Come on, sweetheart. She looks like a little version of you. She's even a little hard ass," Logan growled low as K gave him a sidelong glance.
"And I suppose you're the picture of perfect behavior?" she snarked.
Logan grinned and nodded her way, waggling his eyebrows for emphasis. She laughed out loud, and leaned in to kiss him before she got up to get the dishes put away, leaving the men to chat if they chose. But Bill watched her leave, and Logan watched Bill.
"So," Bill started after a long break in the conversation. "My brother Graham is gonna be needin' a hand in a few months. He's got a herd he's gotta have driven from winter pasture to summer pasture. He had one hand quit on him, and another got himself trampled. When I told him I was talkin' with K again, he said he'd rather she come out than to try and find a new cowboy. You ride at all, Logan?"
"I do alright," Logan replied, deciding on the spot to see where Bill was headed, and why they'd want his woman taking over a position where the last person was trampled.
"I don't imagine you'd want your wife out on the range with a bunch of hotheaded cowpokes without ya. I know I wouldn't trust those fellas if she were mine."
"I trust her. Have ta hunt down any dumb bastard that thought he could screw with her though," Logan said casually, though Bill was keen enough to catch the threat in his tone and he nodded at that.
"Good. I already told Graham that she wouldn't be goin' without ya. He didn't mind one bit, said as long as you can stay in the saddle, you'd be good enough to keep up," Bill told him, clearly, trying to get on Logan's good side.
Logan nodded, but was still having a hard time believing that this was the angle Bill was taking. "She work for this guy before?"
"Oh ya," Bill said as he got more comfortable, falling into conversation with Logan just as easily as if he'd been talking to K. "She broke his best horses for him a while back, they're still the best stock he's got. Next trip she took out that way, she helped with the drive and pissed off every cowboy for three counties when she got riled and signed up for the rodeo." He was smiling at the memory. "Took the buckle and the prize money for bull riding just because they said she was too little to compete."
Logan had to chuckle at that, admitting to himself that it sure sounded like something she'd do.
"So, whatcha say? Can I tell my brother he's got his help?" Bill asked.
But Logan really couldn't answer him. "Her call, but it's not real easy for us to plan too far out."
Bill looked surprised and let out a breath. "Well is it about the little one, or your work? You never did tell me what you did - or … no, maybe I don't wanna know if you're high enough up to have the SHIELD Director at your wedding."
Logan looked amused, but before he could say much, K re-joined them with a six pack in hand. She set it in the middle of the coffee table and again tried to sit next to Logan, this time with beer as a bribe, even though he still managed to pull her onto his lap.
"What're you boys talkin' about now?" she asked as she started on her beer.
"Logan said you two might help out Graham in the spring," Bill said, a smile on his face.
K looked to her husband appraisingly for a second. "Really?" she asked. "Did he tell you our schedule is horrible?"
Bill nodded. "Said somethin' to that effect," he replied as Logan took a draw on his brew.
K watched Bill for a moment as she thought it over. "What else, Billy? You're leaving something out," K said, surprising Logan that she'd call him on it.
The man had been acting differently, even Logan could see it, and though he was clearly comfortable, he wasn't exactly … relaxed.
But then Bill grinned in spite of himself and started to fidget openly. "Well, I didn't say before, but I found myself a lady. We're getting hitched after the drive – she's been a cook for Graham for a couple years, and we hit it off when I visited him last spring," Bill confessed, a blush rising up on his ears.
K's mouth dropped as Bill began to grin openly. "Billy, you old dog." She couldn't help but give him her best grin at that though. "You mean to tell me you had a lady friend all this time and didn't bother to mention her? Why? What's she like?"
"Well, no. It's not like that - not that you got a bit'a room ta talk, missie. Hell I didn't even know you were breathin' before I got that wedding invite." He gave her a stern look that dissolved quickly when K didn't look the least bit sorry for it. "She's worked for him for a while, but I didn't meet her until last spring, and then we spent some time this fall. She's real sweet, but she ain't got many friends. Anyhow …"
Bill tipped back his bottle and took a drink, doing his best to look nonchalant. "I was hopin' you'd witness the papers."
K grinned wider before she and Logan gave each other a sidelong glance. Logan gave her a slight nod and she kissed him before getting up to to offer Bill a beer and a hug. "We'll be there. Can't wait to meet her," K promised as Bill beamed at the both of them.
The rest of their trip was as they'd hoped it would be – Logan made up for lost time in the bedroom with K just about every time that Abbey was asleep. The next time they saw Bill, he very nearly interrupted one of their trysts. He answered the door looking entirely disheveled and his hair out of place.
At first Bill was embarrassed, knowing what he'd nearly walked in on. "Oh, hell, man – I'll call next time -Jeez, you're bleeding! What happened?" Bill said, Logan didn't even look at the bite that he knew he had on his shoulder.
"I'm fine. Whatcha need Bill – Abbey'll be wakin up soon," Logan half growled out. He was being as friendly as he could be, but the gravelly growl conjured up echoes of the wild things running the woods in Bill's mind.
"Was gonna invite you three to dinner, seein' as it's your last couple days here." He said sheepishly.
Logan looked over his shoulder at his wife, finally making her appearance and looking almost perfect. She'd taken a minute to straighten up her hair before appearing, only her shirt looked a little off track. It was a real comparison for how thrown together Logan was.
"I got some bear yet from this fall." He offered as he spotted K, who approached slowly.
"You didn't save the tenderloin, did you?" she asked as Logan slipped his hand around her waist and shook his head to himself.
He nodded. "Seemed a shame to grind it up when I knew someone would want it whole."
"Well then ... Bring it over. We'll toast you and your lady … what's her name, by the way?" K asked.
"Clara. Old fashioned name, but she's special," Bill replied, grinning.
Quite suddenly, Abbey's squealing scream pierced the otherwise quiet cottage and K jumped out of Logan's grip and and rushed off to get her. After a little hushing K brought her out on her hip to say hello. The little one was leaning on her with her hand shoved into K's shirt, and her little baby curls framing her pale little face.
"Wow," Bill said in a breath, finally seeing the little girl for the first time up close. "Yeah, Logan's right. She looks just like you – 'cept, she has her Daddy's eyes of course. Lucky kid. I'd feel sorry for her if she looked like him." Bill looked alarmed at himself, the jibe had slipped from his lips before he realized he was saying it. But before he could apologize, Logan barked out an unexpected laugh.
"Took the words outta my mouth, Bill," Logan grinned as Abbey reached for her father. "How's seven sound, to you?"
Bill was shocked. He didn't expect the serious little canuck to take a joke so well. "See ya then," Bill agreed before he nodded and waved to them, his eyes sparkling as he tried to make friendly with Abbey, who buried her face in Logan's chest before Bill headed out.
The dinner was friendly, amicable. Abbey stayed on Logan's lap, clutching to him, acting shy while the adults joked and chatted, finally falling asleep after she had her fill. Logan put her to bed and the trio quietly finished visiting before parting company, Bill made sure to give Logan the dates and location of his upcoming nuptials before he left the two of them grinning to himself.
"What do you think, big guy?" K said as Logan slipped into the seat next to her. "Should we go?"
"If you wanna see your old buddy get married - probably." He pulled her halfway over him before he stole a long kiss then frowned to himself with a growl.
She looked up at him and then bit her lip. "What's your problem?"
"Scent is starting to shift a little."
"And thus ends a perfectly wonderful get away," K said before she leaned forward and gave him a long and involved kiss. "I'll start packing. You … try to keep your mind out of the gutter."
"She says after giving me a kiss like that," Logan grumbled as she got up and set herself into action.
When they returned to the institute, K made a beeline for Charles' office, only to sit down primly in front of him. "How do you feel about field trips?" she asked, skipping over the friendly greetings.
Charles smiled up at her and nodded. "They are a necessity. They keeps the students from being too bored. What do you have in mind?" he asked.
"A friend of mine is getting married -"
"Bill"
"Yes. And it's out west, it will be after a horse drive. I'd like to take a few of the best riders and let them see what it's like to be a cowboy."
"I'll put up a sign up sheet."
"No. That won't work. Only the best riders can go. I won't lie, a horse drive can be dangerous. I'll offer it to who I know can do it."
"How many?"
"Maybe half a dozen," K replied.
Charles took his time and clearly thought it through as he searched the memories she had nearest the surface of past rides to even see what it involved. He weighed it out, considering all the angles before he finally nodded his head.
"If, and only if, you can find a safer avenue for the rest of your advanced riders that may want to take the opportunity," Charles replied, watching her reaction.
She bit her lip and held her breath. "If we leave a week earlier, there will be a cattle drive too," K said, Charles smiled, practically watching the gears turn in her head. "That would be safe for even beginners, but we'd need more teachers to chaperone, and I'll have to clear it by Graham."
Charles smiled. "Post your sign up sheet for the cattle drive, and we'll determine who else will be going. If you have a large enough response, you may well shut the school down on me," he teased lightly as K bounced to her feet and kissed the top of his head.
"You can use the break too," she told him, getting a warm smile out of him on her way out of the door.
A week later, a respectable even dozen had signed up for the cattle drive. Kitty and Bobby were chosen to join them and K called up Graham, Bill's brother to make the final arrangements. Graham was tickled. He had plenty of horses to use, and not enough hands to use them. All but one of the students that K had asked to do the horse drive agreed, though the last one was nervous when she heard what it would encompass.
Jean offered to tag along to keep watch over Abbey while K and Logan were 'working', and K honestly thought it was the best idea she'd heard since the start of the whole fiasco. It was decided that all the students that went on the trip would be excused from end of year tests for K's class. Seeing as that one trip would effectively act as their final, two months early provided they continued going to class on their return.
When the time came, their arrival at the ranch was with a great deal of welcome. Graham looked like a taller, broader version of Bill which was impressive in and of itself. He sauntered over to them with open arms, dwarfing K when he picked her up bodily in a bear hug, then offered Logan a handshake and a heavy clap on the shoulder as he led them the group to the bunkhouse for the students and cabins for the adults.
"What is with this family?" Bobby asked. "They're all freaking' huge." Kitty giggled at him and bumped him with her shoulder to get him to quiet down as Bill pointed everyone to their respective quarters.
The group as a whole settled themselves in quickly before K introduced the riders to the head cowboy, Liam, explaining that Liam was running the show and that they needed to follow his directions.
"Everyone stash your bags and get your boots on if you don't already. We're gonna set you up with your horse and tack. You are responsible for both until the drive is over. I want to see you all ride, sort, and try your hand at roping. Be in the pen in 15 minutes," Liam said, turning to K. "Can you vouch for your adults?"
"Only this one," she said, nodding to Logan. "The other two can ride, but we haven't covered roping or sorting."
Liam nodded then was sure to tell them they'd need to show too.
It took a few hours, but everyone got adjusted and surprisingly, a fair number of them weren't too bad with a rope. The cattle drive was set to start out the next day and the camp crew would set up at their first campsite and have supper ready by the time they drove the cattle into the holding pen that night. Jean and Abbey would be with them, driving in a truck ahead of the cows where they would play for the better part of the day and then she'd hand Abbey over to her parents.
The ride was long, hot and slow. The cows took their time as the students kept them gathered and pushed them to camp. There were no problems that first day other than boredom from time to time. When they pulled the saddles from the horses, most involved were a little saddle sore.
Abbey attached herself to K when Jean came over with her, worn out herself from simply playing with the little one all day, but she certainly wasn't complaining. "Baby bootcamp is harder than it looks," Jean said, brushing a lock of hair out of her face.
"Yeah, but it's such a good look on you," K said, earning a sad smile from Jean as they did the hand off.
Abbey was trying to walk already, squealing as she held onto a grown up for balance, bouncing in place, her tiny eyebrow cocked up as if she knew she was going to stir up some trouble. But after not seeing her all day, she held tight to her mother, giving her sloppy baby kisses until Logan showed, and then she quickly leaned toward him until he took her. Abbey rubbed his stubble with her little hands, smiling before she leaned in to give him the same wet, sloppy baby kisses K had been treated to.
It was at the first night's camp that they got to meet Bill's fiance. She had handed out food to nearly everyone there. Logan and K had hung back, making sure the students were all taken care of before heading to the tent, and they simply ran into her on the way. She was slight, blonde and soft spoken. And she nearly scrambled over backwards when she saw Logan.
He looked at her hard, sure that the woman was nuts until comprehension finally dawned on his features. "Clara?" he asked, amazement and shock clear on his face. "I thought you were dead."
The two stood staring at each other a moment until Abbey finally slapped him in the face, breaking the ice for everyone involved.
Clara couldn't help but laugh in spite of her shock at seeing him. "You're not still around my brother are you?" she asked quietly, looking around as if he'd materialize out of thin air, which was when K finally saw the scars on her face for the first time.
"Hell no," he replied, and just like that, the fear stench started to lift from her.
"You can't be sure of that, Logan. You know how he is," Clara said, not convinced of the truth.
"I am this time," he replied as K frowned between the two of them, clearly not sure what the hell was going on, and a little tense as Logan put his arm around K's waist and pulled her closer to himself. "Clara -this is my wife. K, this is Clara Creed."
The name washed over K like cold water as she looked at the woman. The slight scent in the air hit her as the breeze shifted, and with the name at the forefront of her mind … it all fell easily into place. She could see the resemblance, Clara's eyes were the same as Victor's, her brows more feminine, but the shape was identical.
Before she could respond with so much as a hello, Clara very clearly read her shock properly. "Oh, no. You know my brother, Victor. I'm so sorry. I have nothing to do with him. He's …"
"A monster," K finished, clearly spooked at seeing a living member of Sabretooth's family.
"Whatever he did to you, I'm sorry, but I swear, I haven't seen or spoken to him in over a century," Clara swore in a clear attempt to prove her distance from him.
But K still looked spooked. Whatever evil Sabretooth had in him could easily be in her as well. In spite of herself, K shook her head suddenly, her eyes tightly shut. "Wait. You're Bill's Clara?" K asked - and just like that, it was Clara's turn to look shocked.
"You know Billy?" she asked, then looked openly shocked herself, lips parted as she took a step back. "Wait. Are you his friend that's supposed to witness?" Clara asked staring between K and Logan, who was watching both women warily. K didn't take her gaze off of her before she simply nodded. "Then you and I have a lot to talk about," Clara decided. "Logan, will you excuse us a moment, please?"
Logan turned toward K and gave her a kiss. "You gonna be alright?" he asked, waiting for her to send him off.
"Just a talk right?" K said before she gave both Logan and Abbey kisses. "I'll be there soon." With that, Abbey waved at both of them over her father's shoulder while the two women found a quiet spot to talk.