Chapter 8: Please have snow and mistletoe

Charlie allowed his GPS to lead him down the hidden path. It was off the road and not easy to find but maybe that was the point. It seemed Bella didn't want to be found.

Just as he was going down the road, he stopped because there was a gate. A huge metal gate, and to his surprise sitting in front of it was Billy's black sedan.

The snow had gotten thicker on their drive and it was coming down heavy. Billy looked stuck.

At the moment it seemed as if Paul and Jacob were trying to pull the sedan out of the ditch.

"Hey! It's Jake and Paul! Dad, can we go out and help them?" Collin asked,

"Yeah, I'm coming with you," Charlie told them.

"I'm going to get out and talk to Sarah. I wonder what they are doing out here?" Jade questioned.

"I don't know but let's figure it out."

…..

Paul and Jacob grunted as they attempted to pull the truck from the ditch. His father had come around the corner a little too fast.

They pulled and while his father put the sedan in reverse it was no use. Jacob didn't understand he and Paul were supernaturally strong, why couldn't they lift a simple car from a ditch?

"Hey! Need some help?" a familiar voice called.

The two men turned and to their surprise, the swan family was jogging towards them.

"Charlie? What are you all doing out here?" Jacob asked.

" I could ask you the same thing but first, let's get you this sedan back on the road."

Twenty minutes later, the sedan was unstuck and ready to go.

Charlie went out the driver's window smiling at his friend.

"Well, old man, it seems like you were driving pretty fast. I may have to issue you a ticket."

Billy burst out in laughter.

"well old man, we are in Canada and out of your jurisdiction. What do you have to say to that?"

Before Charlie could say anything, the sound of another car had them look up.

Coming down the road was a yellow cab.

It stopped next to Billy's sedan, and the window rolled down.

"Charlie?"

Charlie's eyes widened as he came face to face with his ex-wife. He hasn't physically seen her since Bella was 16.

"Renee?"

And yet again before anyone could get any answers or explanations, the gate swung open and a thirteen-year-old boy on a horse appeared before them. He was dark-skinned with long black hair.

"y'all look a little cold. Y'all can follow me."

Billy and Charlie gave each other questioning looks but delegated their families back into their cars before they followed the boy.

…

Jade gasped as they were led deeper into the path. The trees seemed to curve over them creating somewhat of an archway.

"wow! I wonder how the trees stay in that shape?" Collin asked.

However, the trees didn't keep their attention for long. because just past the trees was the most beautiful house they had ever seen. and it was fully decorated for Christmas.

"oh my gosh! This house is beautiful!" his wife exclaimed.

"yes, it is. I wonder how Bells can afford it," he mumbled.

"Are you alright?" Jade asked

"I just didn't expect to see Renee here. Its akward. Not to mention Billy's family too. I still don't understand why they're here. Do you think Bella invited them too?"

"it would make sense. Maybe she wanted everyone close to her, to join her for Christmas."

Charlie didn't respond as the boy on the horse was quick to direct them where to park and then motioned them to get out of their cars.

Charlie got out of the car and subtly watched his ex-wife. She was grabbing her suitcases, of course, her husband Phil was with her.

To his surprise though, a little boy no older than 7 was by her side. The other passenger door opened to reveal Tiffany's call.

He had once or twice.

"Tiffany? You rode with Renee?" Billy questioned from afar.

"We met each other at the airport," Tiffany said coldly as she glared at Billy and Sarah.

" Y'all can leave your suitcases out here on the bottom step. Someone will be there to get them. Why don't y'all follow me? I'll give y'all the outside tour." The boy said as he dismounted his horse.

As soon as everyone put their suitcases down, the group followed him. The path had been cleared of snow and ice and was perfectly safe to walk or roll on in Billy's case. The path had been lit with blue and red lights.

"so welcome to Call Ranch and Veterinary Clinic. My name is Kele Charles William Call. At the moment, we serve the Nerby farms with their sick animals. Plus we raise a few horses, buffalo, wolves, chickens, and goats."

"wait, did you say your last is name Call?" Tiffany asked from the back of the group.

"yes, mam. Embry Call is my father. which would make you my grandma. It's nice to meet you." Kele said somewhat stoically.

"your name is Kele, is that Navajo?" Jade asked.

"yes, mam. I'm originally from the Navajo tribe, and then I moved on to Texas for a while. And then a few years later, here I am in Canada. "

"you said something about wolves?" Paul questioned. "how is it legal for your family to keep them captive here?"

The young boy chuckled at Paul's question.

"We don't keep them captive here at all. They are free to roam. It started when we found an injured pregnant wolf on our territory. Her mate had been hurt by a trap someone left out in the woods. My family took them in and helped heal them. Once they were healed, we let them go. But, they stayed. We have a whole packn ow. They kinda help guard our borders from foxes and we protect them from poachers. They mostly stay on the ranch at night and roam around during the day. We have a few wolves that were brought to us because people kept them as pets. Would y'all like to meet them?"

"yes!" Collin cheered excitedly.

Kele led them past the other animals and onto a path that made a y shape.

In between the paths were crops.

"you all have a nice garden going on." Renee complimented.

" thank you, mam, their winter veggies. My momma planted them. Carrots, broccoli, cabbage and leeks. Their winter veggies."

It was then kele stopped, just at the edge of the forest. He cupped his hands around his mouth and howled.

Just a minute later ten giant wo;ves walked out into the treeline. However only one approached kele. Kele kneeled down on one knee as the wolf approached him.

"Hello, Angus. We have guests on the farm for Christmas. So be nice please."

The wolf made a low growl and shuffled into the boy's neck. He stared at the guest with curious eyes and ran back to the tree line.

"that's Angus. He's the alpha of the pack. they might come up to you if you are outside just don't run away. Wolves like to chase"

Before anyone could say anything, a beeping sound went off. Kele pulled out his phone and smiled.

"Finally! Y'all ready to eat I am starving. I'm sure Mama cooked up something good."

As they walked back to the house, Charlie finally opened his mouth to speak. He had kept his questions to himself but now he wanted answers.

"Young man, you say your middle name is Charles William? Who's your mother?"

"I don't know sir. Never met her. oh man, I smell lamb." The boy practically drooled as he walked up the stairs.

He then turned to Billy.

"on your left is a wheelchair ramp. Sir."

"but wait, you were just talking about your mother ten minutes ago."

The boy opened his mouth to speak but didn't get the chance to because the front door opened.

Standing before them, with bulging muscles, a tight black sweater, and tan pants was Embry Call. His hair was loose and down his back.

"Well, it's about time. Welcome everybody. Come on in."