Winter Wolf, (C)1998
Anne Fraser and Sara Weber
___________________________________________________________

Lady Jeanne Dark looked up in puzzlement as the garishly 
bright blue envelope landed on her open ledger.  Beth stood 
before her, smiling tiredly, still balancing a sack of 
groceries on her hip. 

"You've completely forgotten, haven't you?" the vampire's 
mortal friend asked.  "I rather suspected you would, so I 
took the liberty of getting at least a card for you to send. 
It's the best I could find at Glen's." With that, Beth 
wandered back towards the kitchen. 

Lady J turned over the card stuck in the envelope and 
groaned.  She had indeed forgotten, completely forgotten.  
Thank the powers that be for Beth!, she thought. She might 
not be particularly _close_ friends with Baron Gideon and 
Josh, but that was still no excuse for forgetting a birthday 
and an anniversary... 

"Thanks Beth!" she yelled to the other room.  "Would you do 
me another favor and find Chessie and SaraJoan so they can 
sign it? I think they're back on the sledding hill.  I'll 
have to special deliver this if it's going to get there 
anywhere close to in time, at this point." There was no 
answer from the kitchen, but Lady J heard the back door 
close as Beth went looking for the rest of the household. 

Returning her attention to the card, Lady J read the words 
written on the outside, "Only true love can last 
forever...", written in a flowing script over a watercolor 
of a coastal cliff scene.  Opening it, she saw, "And you two 
have made such a wonderful start! Congratulations and Happy 
Anniversary!" Other than the envelope's color, it was really 
a rather nice card. 

The kitchen door slammed, and her charge came running into 
the room.   she thought, before being almost 
knocked out of her chair by a no longer small child climbing 
into her lap.

"Why did I have to come in?" demanded Chessie.  "I wasn't 
cold yet! And it's so _pretty_ out there in the snow, and we 
were making a snowgirl soldier by the tree fort, she was 
going to be our guard so no one sneaks up into the fort, and 
I had only been down the hill a few times, and..." 

"THANK you!" whispered SaraJoan as she moved past Lady J 
towards a chair near the fireplace.  The young were-kitten 
continued to prattle on about her outdoor adventures.  Both 
sets of cheeks were windburned, and SaraJoan's eyes showed 
just how tired keeping up with youngest member of the family 
had made her.  She slouched into her chair and waited for 
the little girl to finally wind down.  

"Ahem." Lady J interrupted Chessie a few minutes later, when 
it became clear that she was not likely to stop soon on her 
own.  "I called you, and Aunt Sarjin, in so we can all sign 
this card before I send it.  It's for Baron Gideon and 
Joshua," she continued on quickly, as Chessie opened her 
mouth to ask another question or six.  "Their anniversary is 
this Monday, and the Baron's birthday is today." 

Chessie frowned thoughtfully for a minute, and then smiled.  
"They're the ones whose wedding you took me to, on the 
island! I had fun there, with Ash and the other kitten, 
Smoke.  I like the Baron and Joshua.  When will we get to 
see them again? When?" 

"Soon, I hope," Lady J replied, looking up at the two other 
adults.  "If it's okay with you two, I'm going to invite 
Baron Gideon and Joshua to come stay with us sometime in 
January, after things calm down from winter holidays." 

Both SaraJoan and Beth nodded, and then Beth added, 
grinning, "Better warn them about the I-500, so they don't 
wait till February, though!" They all laughed, and Chessie 
started to make vroom-vroom noises and run an imaginary 
snowmobile in circles of the rug.  Settling down soon after, 
they each signed the card, allowing Chessie to go first.  
(Although her handwriting was improving daily, she still 
managed to take up a LOT of space in signing a card.  It was 
best to work around her.)

Lady J signed last, and added a note on the back:

     Dear Baron Gideon and Joshua,

     I hope this finds you both doing well.  I apologize for 
     not writing sooner, but life has been hectic.  It does 
     not seem possible that two whole years have passed 
     since your wedding! I hope you find this anniversary as 
     wonderful as the day itself was, and each one 
     successively more joyous.

     Baron Gideon, do not think I have forgotten the other 
     event to be celebrated: Happy Birthday! I wish you 
     many, many more happy returns of the day, and may this 
     day be the beginning to a wonderful year for you.

     I would like to extend, on behalf of all of us here at 
     Birch Fields Farm, an invitation to you both to come 
     and stay with us early in the new year.  I would 
     suggest a trip in mid-January or mid to late February, 
     for that is when our winter is at its most beautiful.  
     By March, though, everything begins to be covered in 
     mud.  Ah, U.P. springs!

     Be warned, however, that you might not wish to come on 
     the _first_ weekend in February, that's when the I-500 
     is held.  It is a local tradition, a snowmobile race in 
     which the contestants see who can be the quickest to 
     ride their machine 500 times about the one mile track.  
     You can hear them for miles about, though thankfully 
     not here at the farm.  Still, it wouldn't make the town 
     much fun.

     Oops, I'm out of space! I'll try to write a _real_ 
     letter soon -- promise!  Lady J

Inserting the card in its envelope, Lady J took it outside 
and set it on the stone half-wall of the porch.  Closing her 
eyes and doing her best to concentrate (as her "sire", 
Michael, had taught her so many years ago), she imagined the 
envelope in the mail box she had seen on the Baron and 
Joshua's property when she had gone to the Latchgate party.  
When she opened her eyes, the envelope was gone.

"Well, that's that." She smiled, pleased to know she hadn't 
lost the knack yet.  But my how it drained her! She glanced 
back through the window into the kitchen, and saw Beth 
giving Chessie a cup of hot cocoa.  The little girl hadn't 
stopped talking yet, and wouldn't begin to wind down for at 
least another hour.  Just enough time to head into town for 
a quick bite and be back to read Chessie her bedtime story...
_____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Joshua, lying prone on the cot in his office, managed to 
read the card out loud to his husband while the latter 
applied some of the balms and oils that Pandora had left for 
Josh's treatment.  

"What do you think?" asked the antiques expert as Gideon 
rubbed his thighs, perhaps straying a bit farther up than 
absolutely necessary.

"They _are_ nice," the vampire murmured.  "Hm? Oh, the 
invitation.  Are you up to it?"

"I think so.  Pandora says I'm doing really well, and if she 
says so, then I must be." Josh grinned, though Gideon 
couldn't see it.  "Oh, that feels good, don't stop.  We 
don't know them that well, but it was nice of them to invite 
us.  I'd like to go, if you would."

"There's nothing pressing business-wise," Gideon replied, 
continuing to knead.  "Are you sure you won't find it too 
cold?"

"Colder than here?" 

He had a point, Gideon thought.  "It does sound rather nice, 
although it might be a bit wearing to have a small child 
around."

"Piffle.  It would be good for you."

"Then we'll accept.  It does say to bring as many of our 
household as want to come, shall we take a survey?"

"Later," Josh said.  "Much, much later."

     *  *  *  *  *  *

"I'd love to go," Mitch said.  "I don't get much chance to 
be around other weres, and even a kid's better than nothing. 
Besides, Chessie's cute."

"Are you sure it's _Chessie_ who you think is cute?" Evan 
asked pointedly.  "It's a house full of young women.  Of 
course you want to go."

"Look who's talking, Mr.  High Cycle himself."

"I'm in mid," Evan said with dignity.  "And someone has to 
stay here to look after whatever animals don't go.  I 
volunteer.  Gideon, would it be all right if I brought Darcy 
and MaryAnne here for a change?"

"Certainly," Gideon replied.  "Although the place is 
scarcely child-proofed."

"That's okay, we'll manage."

"Warg had better stay behind," Mitch said, looking sadly at 
his old wolf.  

 Smoke asked, showing off her new maturity by not 
bouncing up and down, and by phrasing the question politely. 


"Yes, of course, I think the invitation is meant for you, as 
well, Smoke," Gideon assured the panther, a cub no longer.

"Pumpkin better come, too," Mitch said, "or she'll be jealous."

"Calvin stays here," said Joshua, as if it needed saying.  
"Although if he _wants_ to come, I don't see how we can stop 
him."

So Gideon sat down at his desk later that night, and 
composed a reply to Lady Jeanne.  On the finest bond, with 
the Redoak coat of arms embossed on the top, it read:

     "My dear Lady Jeanne:

     Thank you for the card, and the anniversary and 
     birthday wishes.  Both were truly happy occasions.  It 
     does seem difficult to realize that two whole years 
     have passed since our wedding, but you know that all 
     the clichés about time are true.

     Thank you also for your kind invitation to Birch 
     Fields.  I have talked it over with my household, and 
     three of us plus two of the animals would be delighted 
     to accept, if it is not too much of an imposition on 
     you.  Joshua, Mitch, myself, Smoke and Pumpkin would 
     very much like to visit; it is very kind of you to ask.

     The last weekend in January would be optimum, if this 
     is at all convenient.  If not, we will gladly come 
     whenever it suits your schedule, simply let any of us 
     know.

     With gratitude, and the hope that this finds you all 
     quite well,
          Baron Gideon Redoak"

"Mom, you got a wedding invitation!"

Chessie came to a skidding halt in front of the desk and 
held out the stack of mail she carried.  Lady Jeanne looked 
up from her work and frowned in confusion.  

"A wedding?" She thought for a minute, trying to figure out 
who they knew that might be getting married.  After waiting 
patiently for a full two minutes, Chessie started prattling 
again.  

"Well, it _looks_ like a wedding invitation," she said, 
somewhat defensively.  "It's really pretty paper, anyway, 
just like a wedding invitation." 

Jeanne smiled reassuringly at the young werecat, and opened 
the envelope.  Seeing who the letter was from she had to 
smile.  "It's not a wedding invitation, Chess," she said.  
"But it's something just as good.  

"Oh, and what's that?" Beth walked into the room just then 
and flopped down in the chair at the sewing table.  "And by 
the way, you need to talk to your daughter about waiting 
until the car has _stopped_ before she gets out of it.  When 
we got back from getting the mail she jumped from the Jeep 
while it was still moving." 

"Aunt Beth!!" Chessie glared a moment before looking and 
down at her feet, instantly contrite.  Jeanne put one finger 
under the little girl's chin and raised it till their eyes 
met.  

"Is what Beth says true?" she asked sternly.

"Yessss..." Chessie admitted quietly, and then quickly 
added.  "But we were _almost_ stopped! And I wanted to know 
who was getting married." She looked pleadingly up at her 
"mom".  

It is _so_ hard to discipline her, thought Jeanne, but she's 
going to seriously hurt herself one of these days if I 
don't.  She looked across at Beth, who just raised an 
eyebrow and kept quiet.  

"No riding to get the mail for rest of the week," Jeanne 
said slowly, adding over Chessie's protests, "and if you 
fuss about it, I'll make it two weeks." 

Chessie hushed, but started to look sulky.  However, when 
she looked up and saw the letter, she forgot to be upset and 
asked urgently, "WHO is the letter from?? You said it was 
better than a wedding..." The last was said rather 
doubtfully, for what could be better than pretty dresses and 
dancing? 

"Oh, the letter!" Lady Jeanne looked down at the paper she 
was still holding.  "Baron Gideon and Joshua have accepted 
our invitation to come visit.  And Mitch, Smoke and Pumpkin 
are coming with them." 

Chessie jumped up and down, clapping her hands.  And then, 
suddenly, there was a medium sized kitten there instead, 
bouncing on all four paws.  She stopped, looked up at Lady 
Jeanne and mewed.  The look on her face caused Beth to laugh.  

Lady J bent over and scooped the kitten into her lap, 
stroking her head soothingly.  She looked across at Beth and 
shook her head.  Beth stopped laughing.  

"Maybe Mitch can help Chessie learn more control over her 
shifting," Beth suggested, knowing how both her friend and 
the little werecat worried about this a lot.  "He sounds 
like a nice guy, from what you've told me.  And Chessie will 
enjoy playing with Smoke, I know." She thought a moment, and 
added, "When did you say they were coming?" 

"I didn't say," Jeanne said, looking at the letter again.  
"It says here the last weekend in January, if that's ok with 
us." 

"Hmmm, and Pumpkin is a dog, eh? Well, Sarjin's going to be 
back at school by then.  We can let Mitch stay in my room -- 
I'll sleep in the studio in the attic -- and the Baron and 
Josh can have the guest room." 

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Lady Jeanne set Chessie down on 
the floor and continued, "Why don't you two go tell Aunt 
Sarjin while I write back to them?" 

After the other two had left, Jeanne looked at the mess on 
her desk and sighed.  Selling the northern-most 160 acres of 
the property was the right decision she was sure, but why 
did it have to be such a hassle? Finally she found a clean 
sheet of paper that was only _slightly_ wrinkled and started 
writing.  

     "Dear Baron Gideon and Joshua,

     We are so _very_ glad that you've decided to accept our 
     maintains that our two barn cats (Mason and Nymph 
     Chaser) are "very nice but not nearly as _interesting_ 
     as Smoke is!"

     The weekend of January 31 and February 1 will be fine, 
     if that's best for you.  SaraJoan will be gone, back at 
     school, so it will just be Chessie, Beth and myself at 
     the Farm.  Oh, and the various animals, of course.

     How do you plan on traveling, and when will you arrive? 
     You are welcome to come on Friday, or earlier, if you 
     like.  In fact why not make it a really long weekend, 
     to be worth the trip?  I assure you it's no imposition 
     if you arrived, say, Thursday and didn't leave until 
     Tuesday.  Do you need directions?

     You had better bring some warm clothes, it's quite cold 
     this time of year.  If you like, we can plan a sleigh 
     ride about the property.  In any case, Chessie will 
     drag anyone she can plead into it to the sledding hill 
     at some point, I'm sure.

     I can't say how pleased we are that you will be coming 
     to visit us.  I vaguely remember Mitch from one or two 
     of the parties, I think.  In any case, we will do our 
     best to make all you feel at home here at our home.

     Sincerely,
          Lady Jeanne Dark"

Lady J chewed on her pen thoughtfully for a moment, and then 
added her e-mail address and phone number in a postscript 
before sealing the letter in its envelope.  Well, that's 
done, she thought, staring with distaste at the paperwork 
that awaited her.  Perhaps she'd find Chessie and take her 
into town to mail the letter instead...  

     *  *  *  *  *  *

Gideon, armed with Lady Jeanne's e-mail address, sat down at 
his keyboard.  Really, this new method of communication 
lacked elegance and charm, but it could not be topped for 
swiftness.  He cautiously typed in the address and sat 
staring at the blank computer screen.

 Smoke inquired, brushing against his 
legs.

"Trying to think of a reply to Lady Jeanne," he sighed.  "I 
would be much happier with pen and paper."

 purred the panther.  

The vampire nodded, then smiled suddenly and stroked the 
gray cat's fur.  "That's it," he said.  "Thank you, Smoke." 
He began to type.

     "Dear Lady Jeanne:

     Again, thank you for your most gracious invitation, 
     especially your not minding that we bring along the 
     animals, and thrust ourselves as almost relative 
     strangers into your household.  Joshua is anxious to do 
     as much traveling and visiting as his health currently 
     permits.  Smoke is quite excited about seeing Chessie 
     again, and inspired me to reply to you as soon as 
     possible.

     We will be arriving by private chartered plane.  If it 
     is inconvenient for you to come and pick us up at the 
     airfield, we can arrange to rent a car if you'll be 
     kind enough to send directions to Birch Fields.

     I think, though, that at least Joshua and I will have 
     to regretfully pass on the sleigh ride.  It sounds like 
     fun, but Joshua cannot take the risk of prolonged 
     exposure to the cold.   I am certain, however, that 
     Mitch will easily be persuaded to go sledding with 
     young Chessie.  And plenty of warm clothing will be 
     packed, never fear.

     Thursday evening would suit as an arrival time--around 
     7 or 8 pm? Are you certain you want us for such a long 
     visit? Whatever suits your convenience.  The plane is 
     already booked, and the pilot is flexible.  Mitch 
     regrets not having yet earned his wings to fly us 
     himself, but he is getting very close to that goal.

     Just let me know what is convenient for you, our own 
     arrangements can be worked around your schedule.

     Yours sincerely,
          Gideon"

     *  *  *  *  *  *

*Beep!*

Lady Jeanne looked down at the bottom of the screen and saw 
that the latest incoming message came from Oakwoods.  She 
quickly read it and sent back a reply assuring the Baron 
that 7 pm was fine, she would pick them up herself.  
Grabbing the phone book she leafed through to the Kinross 
airport's phone number and address, added the information to 
her note and sent it out into the ether.

That done, she logged off and shut down the computer.  
Looking about her office she grimaced.  It wasn't _too_ bad, 
but the house was certainly in need of cleaning before she 
would consider it ready for company.  

Oh well, Lady J thought as she scooped up a stack of 
month-old newspapers, no time like the present to start.
___________________________________________________________

    Source: geocities.com/g_redoak