Along Came a Wolf (The Yellow Hoods #1)

Coming Through - Chapter 1, Part 2

Tee woke up to the familiar sound of the kettle whistling and the table being set. She sat up and yawned, unaware of the adventure that lay ahead.

Her first attempt to join the family for breakfast was rebuffed. As usual, her mother informed her that she needed to brush her shoulder-length dark brown hair before sitting at the table. After huffing about it for a minute, Tee went to brush her hair.

To her mother's surprise, Tee had even dressed herself before returning. Looking ready for the day, Tee complained, "Why do you always make me brush my hair before breakfast?"

Her mother got the scrambled eggs out of the cast-iron skillet, sat herself down, and turned to her daughter. "You know why. But, you won't need to brush your hair anymore if—"

"Really?" Tee interrupted.

Pushing back her own dark curly hair, Jennifer continued, "if you find a magical way to make it unknot itself."

"Mo-omm! There's no such thing as magic." Tee plunked herself into a chair and looked at her dad, expecting him to say something.

Jennifer turned to her husband and smirked. "Am I being unreasonable, Will?"

William looked at his wife, and then his daughter, each awaiting his involvement. Having learned his lesson from this type of situation before, he quickly put a piece of toast in his mouth and looked elsewhere. The conversation eventually moved on without his input.

With the dishes collected and all signs of breakfast gone, Tee leapt for her yellow hooded cloak and backpack, both hanging by the door, when her dad stepped in the way.

"Tee, before you vanish for the day, I need you to do something for me. I have something that needs to be delivered to Grandpapa. If you could help your mother while I ..." William deliberately paused, anticipating Tee's interruption.

Tee jumped at the opportunity. Unleashing her huge brown eyes—her best weapons of influence—she asked, "Can I take it to him?"

She loved visiting her mom's father. Apart from being kind and patient, he was a marvelous inventor and loved explaining things to her. He also made the best cookies, and always seemed to have some ready as she walked in. When asked how he knew she was coming, he'd always smile and change the subject.

William pretended to think over his daughter's proposal. "Well... I was going to take it to his house while you helped your mother weed the garden and clean the house, but if you insist—"

"I insist!" she yelled so loudly that she startled herself. She looked around for a package to deliver.

William smiled. He loved his daughter dearly. For all the trouble she got into, there was never anything but good intentions.

"Actually, it's in the shed. There's a set of plant pots. One is turned upside down—"

"I know the one! It was turned over yesterday morning. I thought that was odd." Tee raced off.

"It's a little red box!" yelled William, shaking his head. He was surprised she knew what he was talking about. It seemed impossible to hide anything from her.

He snapped his fingers, having almost forgotten he was Tee's father. "Remember," he shouted, "to stay on the roads—and don't talk to strangers!"

"I will," shouted a little voice from the distance.

William looked at his wife as she came in carrying an armload of firewood. "I just passed a little yellow whirlwind. What was that about?" she asked.

"The package that arrived yesterday for your father—Tee's going to deliver it."

"Couldn't he have picked it up this evening when he comes for dinner?" asked Jennifer.

William looked out the front window. "No. I figure if there's any trouble to come of it, it'll come to us today. Best that she's not here," he answered.

Jennifer frowned for a moment. "Do you think that's safe?"

William turned as if he saw something in the forest. "I just—I have a bad feeling. Hopefully this will keep her out of trouble."

Jennifer's eyes took on a steely glint. She straightened up, her posture revealing a hint of the hidden warrior within. "Do you know what's in that red box?"

"No," he replied, "but I have a good idea."