This is a series of short stories, detailing the adventures of Chelsea Childling. You can start with her origin story or pick something from the index.
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Chelsea woke alone to the smell of pancakes. Neither Jackson Hawk nor her dog currently warmed her bed. So she wandered out to the kitchen. 

Jackson sat at the ancient wood table, a smirk on his lips. Despite the promise of food, her dog was nowhere to be seen.

Whatever Jack had just said, Ma was roaring with laughter as she flipped the pancakes. They both turned to her, smiling widely.

Ma gestured to a chair with her spatula. “Them cuts is looking better.”

Chelsea resisted the urge to touch the lines on her forehead. “Feeling better too. Glad I didn’t need stitches.”

“Or one of them hedge doctors.” Ma snorted. “A little yerba set you right, like I said.” She grabbed a plate from the counter and filled it with pancakes. “Eat up. That’ll help more than anything.”

Chelsea accepted the plate and settled beside Jackson. 

He beamed at her. “Kristin and Jim took Bentley for a walk.” And with that news relayed he shoved a whole pancake in his mouth.

Ma shook her head, still smiling at Jackson. “Them kids is grateful. They just need some time to believe La Llorona is really dead.”

Chelsea nodded around her own mouthful of pancakes. She didn’t need thank-yous from Jim or Kristin and was glad the siblings were getting some time with her dog. Bentley was good therapy.

Ma leaned over and ruffled Jack’s hair. “I’ll be sorry when you’re gone.”

“Me too, Ma. Me too.” He grabbed one of the old woman’s wrinkled hands and kissed it. “There isn’t a woman for a thousand miles who can compare. But you already knew that.”

Ma chuckled again before heading to the back of the house. She was swallowed by one of the rooms down the long, dark hallway.

Jack took his now empty plate to the sink. “So where are you headed next?”

“Dunno. I’ll have to give Rita a call. See what she has lined up.”

“Must be nice, having a hub like Rita Green.” There was a wistful tone to his voice that Chelsea wouldn’t have believed a year ago.

“Come with me.” She didn’t plan on saying it, but she didn’t want to take it back either.

Jack’s grin grew, lighting up his face. “You really mean it?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

“I thought you wanted me to look for Amber.” 

Chelsea took a big bite and let herself think as she chewed. “Can’t you look for her while you’re with me?”

Jack’s eyebrows dipped in confusion.

Chelsea giggled and placed a hand over one of his. “I do love you. I just love her too.”

His great grin dimmed a little and he shook his head. “It’ll take some time to sink in. That you love me, that is.”

“Really?” She focused on her food while he answered.

“Well, yeah. Lots of people like me, and one or two women made it clear they’d prefer it if I stayed with them.” He shrugged. “But… I dunno. Nobody has been in love with me, like, ever.”

Except Amber. And Andy. 

She didn’t say that, just took another mouthful of pancake. Mostly because she wasn’t sure that Jackson really understood how Amber felt about him, and she knew Andy would kill her if she ever told Jack the truth about their past.

It was Ma who answered from the back of the house. “That’s because you can’t love the wind. You can enjoy the breeze and watch the storm with glee, but wind goes where it will, when it wills.” She appeared out of the dark hallway, her grey braids sharp against the bright embroidery on her blouse. “And most people who want love want to know where love will be when they need it.” Humor drained from Jack’s face, leaving pale panic, and for a moment Chelsea hated the old woman for hurting him.

She pushed past that and rested a hand on his. “I love the wind. Especially on the prairie. I always notice it, where ever I am.”

Jackson’s fingers closed painfully around hers, but he smiled at her, green eyes twinkling again. “Then long live this tornado.”

Ma beamed at the both of them as she placed folded, clean clothes on the table. “These are yours, Hawk. You need more.”

Jackson beamed at the old woman again. “You really didn’t need to.”

Ma rolled her eyes. “Those jeans were standing upright on their own.” Despite her tone, she ruffled his hair once more. “Let me find them kids and your dog, so you can pack up.”

Chelsea stared at the door after Ma left them. “It’s like she knows we were planning to head out today.”

Jackson laughed. “She’s seen more hunters than we know put together. She probably does know we’re leaving.” He leaned out of his chair, hands on her thighs, and lips a breath away. “You really mean it? You want me to come with you?”

She locked on to green eyes bright with tears, but the heat from his hands seared right through her jeans. “I wouldn’t have said it, if I didn’t mean it.”

“You aren’t mad at me anymore?” Quiet and serious were not usually the words she associated with Jackson, but there he was. Standing over her, intense, quiet, and very serious.

She swallowed. “I’ve always had a hard time staying mad at you.”

His voice grew rough and his eyes dropped to her lips. “I’ll remember that.” 

A clearing throat brought a smile to his face and Jackson plopped back into his chair.  He grabbed a pancake off her plate and pushed it whole into his mouth and still, somehow, managed to smile.

Kristin and Jim side-eyed him as they had since he came to help. For some reason, neither one had warmed up to Jack, despite his help hunting La Llorona. They even shifted their suspicion to Ma when the old woman chuckled and slapped Jack on the back as she walked by.

Jackson had apparently had enough of it. He grinned as he swallowed and shoved a last pancake in his mouth. Bu his eyes rolled as he headed back to their room. 

Chelsea watched the ice thaw from Kristin and Jim once he was gone. They slouched a little and shared smiles twitched upwards. Kristin scratched at Bentley’s ears and Jim grabbed a glass of water.

Whatever. They don’t have to like him.

Jim sat beside her. “You heading out?”

She nodded. “I’ll call Rita in a bit, but I know I’m heading west. Maybe I’ll hit up the Grand Canyon while she finds me a job.”

Kristin smiled. “If you want to see it, but avoid people, head to the north side. It’s a bit of drive, but like, nobody goes to the north side.”

Chelsea had to smile. She did like these two. It’s why she stayed and hunted La Llorona. “That actually sounds great. I hate crowds.”

Jim laughed. “Had a feeling. You’re too at home here. Most people can’t take the desert for this long. It’s too open. And they start to feel small.”

She scratched at Bentley’s ears. “I loved the prairie. This is similar, but far too hot. And way too dry. But…” she glanced out the window to dust and sky, only a field of sage to block her view. “I could stay here for a while more. Feeling small never bothered me.”

Kristin stood and held out a hand. Chelsea accept the help to her feet and the hug she was pulled into. Jim wrapped an arm around both of them. They stood like that, quiet and together, until Bentley nosed his way in. As the siblings laughed and cooed over him. Chelsea took the opportunity to head to her room.

Jackson sat on the bed, all their clothes folded in neat piles as he packed his bag.  “You ready for the next monster?”

“Always.”