by Tl Reeve
“Do you think they would?” O cocked a brow.
“Well, they aren’t the smartest fruit on the fucking vine,” Rapier grumbled.
Osirus laughed. “True.”
They pulled into the driveway. No car sat near the house. No toys. Nothing that said the house was lived in or loved. Rapier scowled. Could Keeley have gotten it wrong? He looked at Osirus, who shrugged. He popped open his door and slowly got out, palming the gun at his hip. The still air heightened his tension. He could feel a set of eyes on him. Where, he couldn’t pinpoint, but they weren’t close. Osirus got out next. He cocked the shotgun he brought with him and covered Rapier’s back as he started for the front door.
A squeal came from inside, before the door swung wide and two young girls appeared. His knees went weak. His heart slammed against his ribs. His daughters. One was blonde like the color of Danielle’s hair and the other was the spitting image of her mother. They didn’t come close to him, and he didn’t want them to. Not till they were safely back inside. The screen door opened once more, and there she was.
His kitten.
Jasmine held the door open with her hip. Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “It took you long enough, mate.”
~FREE READ~
Teacher
Apache County Shifters, Book 2.5
Danielle and Keeley are in desperate need of a teacher. Someone who can not only teach all of the children, but specifically one, Utah Blake. As a deaf tiger shifter, neither Keeley or Danielle have the skills needed to help the teen. And, since his father left to help Rapier find his mate, Utah has grown more introverted by the day.
Mark Hill, teacher by day, author Orion Davis by night, knows he's the man for the job. After inviting both Danielle and Keeley to a local book convention, he realizes maybe he should have told them the truth up front. He too is deaf. But, a blast from the past might just change everything for Mark.
Can Mark convince Danielle and Keeley he's the solution to their problem or will his lie of omission force them to reconsider?
Teacher
Apache County Shifters, Book 2.5
Copyright © 2018 by TL Reeve & Michele Ryan
Edited by Kat Lively
First E-book Publication: October 2018
Danielle snuggled against Caden’s chest as she tried to gather her breath. Today marked the second week of their freedom from fear. More specifically, her fear. There was no more Simon, or Hazel. No more Raymond or Marjorie, and Caden had begun to create a bond with his daughter, Sage Abbott. Kalkin and Caden were also getting back on the right track. She’d seen how much it hurt Kalkin to not have his brother close by. Like Keeley and she, they were each other’s teethers. When one unraveled, they both did. In the last few months she’d watched as, thread by thread, Kalkin and Caden reformed their bond, this time stronger and tighter than before.
She’d also spent the last few weeks truly falling in love with her mate, deeper than she thought imaginable. Caden nuzzled her temple and sighed. Moments before, they’d both found their release after she’d woke early, which appeared to be her new normal. Danielle had gotten out of bed so as not to disturb Caden then stood by the window, overlooking the vast desert. The deep blues and purples slowly gave way to pinks and orange along the horizon. Though Window Rock wouldn’t be waking for a few more hours, she still had things to do. She supposed it’d been why she was awake that morning.
Mrs. Martin reminded Danielle and Keeley they would have to spend some time with her in the next few days. The Strawberry Festival plans needed to be sorted and tightened up before the town began setting up for the occasion. It also meant people from all over would be invading their town like they'd done the year before.
But it’d been more, she realized now, laying in Caden’s arms. Two and a half days ago, Rapier and Osirus left Window Rock for Colorado Springs, Colorado. It also left them with a dilemma—a boy named Utah. He was Osirus’ son. O, as Rapier called him, left his boy in Caden and Danielle’s care. The sixteen-year-old kept to himself, but he carried a wealth of cold, harsh secrets.
“I want you to have fun today.” Caden pressed a kiss to her forehead. “The kids, Utah, and I will be just fine.”
“I know,” Danielle whispered. “Just be gentle with him.”
It surprised her when Osirus informed her Utah was deaf. She’d never met another shifter who had a malady such as his. As far as she knew, none of them could have human conditions. However, the boy who slept in Aiden’s room did. He hid himself a lot, too. Didn’t particularly fit in with any of the orphans, nor, Danielle noticed, had he tried. It broke her heart.
“We will. I promise, pumpkin.” He squeezed her hand. “Might as well get up. I’m sure Aiden will be looking for a cookie and Nicolas will want his bottle.”
She nodded. “Yeah.” She kissed his chest.
Caden hadn’t been wrong. By the time she showered and dressed, Nicolas was crying. Aiden was trying to soothe his brother while Caden changed Nicolas’ diaper. Danielle checked on Utah, who continued to sleep, curled up, hugging his pillow. He looked nothing like the teenager he was. While she prepared Aiden’s breakfast, she made Nicolas a bottle. Their routine became a seamless movement between the two of them.
A few minutes later, Utah joined them. He crept into the kitchen, his shoulders were rounded. His gaze stayed on the floor in front of his feet. He reminded her of Nico, only Utah had a good four inches on the boy and about a hundred pounds. The kid was solid, muscular. She figured it had to do with the fact he worked with Rapier and his father.
Good morning, Miss Danielle, may I join you for breakfast.
On the first night he spent with them, she, along with Keeley, formed a connection with him while he slept. She wasn’t sure it would work, or if he’d freak out when she did it. She broke her rules for him. She couldn’t stand to feel the suffering rolling off of him. She couldn’t handle his pain or his rejection. It burned her like it had done so many months ago when she tried to shut down on herself.
It surprised her when it worked. He didn’t use the telepathy link very much. Only when he needed something. Of course. Come have a seat, what would you like?
Anything, he replied. I’m not picky.
She smiled as she set about fixing him some eggs and bacon while she did the same for Caden. A knock on the sliding glass door drew her attention before it opened, and Keeley joined them. Her sister was finally losing the dark-tinged circles under her eyes. Ella and Colin were sleeping through the night, giving her sister a blissful six hours of uninterrupted sleep, as her sister reported a few days ago.
“Morning,” Keeley said. “You almost ready?”
“I am, just finishing everything for Utah and Caden.” She glanced over her shoulder at the boy, who still wouldn’t look at her.
“How’s it going with him?” Keeley wandered over to her. “Making any progress?”
Danielle grinned. “Yes.” We are. It's just taking some time. Right, Utah?
Utah’s gaze darted to Danielle’s. Yes, ma’am.
The boy really did have a big heart. Though he’d been in Window Rock almost a year, he was still adjusting to his new home and life with all of them. Until then, Danielle would give him the space he needed while also being there for him.
“Morning.” Caden placed Nicolas in Utah’s waiting arms. “Breakfast almost ready? I think our boys are getting hungry.”
“Almost.” She pointed to the bottle she’d placed on the counter. “This should be perfect for Nic.”
Caden placed Aiden in his high chair so he could eat, then grabbed the bottle off the counter for Nicolas. “Thanks.” He gave her a quick kiss. “So, how’s the pain in the ass this morning?” He retrieved Nicolas from Utah’s arms.
Danielle also noticed, in the short time Utah had been there, he liked kids. Babies especially. She figured it had to do with the fact kids didn’t see his deafness as a weakness. They communicated in their own way. He and Aiden were slowly learning to convers
e. When Utah didn’t think he was being watched, he showed Aiden different signs. So far, he’d taught Aiden the signs for food, drink, animal, and play.
“If you mean your twin, he’s fine,” Keeley answered. “He said to bring everyone to the house when you were ready.”
Caden grunted. “We’ll be there.”
Danielle drove down their driveway and turned onto the main road. She wasn’t sure why they had to meet Mark, the teacher who was applying for the teaching position, at the small book convention happening at the Window Rock Hotel. Danielle had set out to find someone who could interact with Utah, and hopefully help the others to learn sign language as well. She wasn’t prepared for Mark to answer her ad so quickly, nor agree to a meeting that weekend.
Keeley called her a genius. She’d readily taken the compliment. But Mark’s meeting place confused her. Keeley had never heard of the convention before. Her sister’s writing had taken a backseat to everything else they had going on, between the orphanage and Vigilante Security. However, her sister said these kinds of events were popular with writers and readers. She ended up showing Danielle photos from some of the places where the conventions took place.
It looked...interesting. Maybe fun.
“Do you miss it?” Danielle glanced at Keeley.
“Writing?”
“All of it,” she said.
Keeley shrugged. “Not sure. I mean, it’s different. I can be anyone when I write. I suppose it’s why I enjoyed it so much while we were on the run. It allowed me an escape. I guess one day I might go back to it.”
“I’m sure after being here, you’ll have several books to write,” Danielle teased.
“Don’t you know it.” She laughed. “So, what do you think of this teacher? Do you think he’ll fit in?”
Danielle didn’t know. She hoped he would. Finding someone to teach not only ASL, but also help the kids in the orphanage, wouldn’t be easy. “He’s eager to get going.”
“But you’re not sure.” Leave it to Keeley to understand.
“No. I mean, isn’t it a little weird to want to meet at this book thing? I mean, sure it’s here in town, but why? He could have met us at the diner or done it online, something. It just has me curious, I suppose,” Danielle answered.
“Understandable,” her sister said. “Maybe he was picking up books for some of the kids?”
Could be. Sounded like a plausible explanation. “Sure.” Danielle turned into the parking lot and found a spot. Once she was parked, they got out and headed for the door to the hotel. “Feels like we were just here.”
“What a night, right?”
Danielle nodded. “Totally.”
* * * *
Mark sat at the end of the row. Next to him was his best friend—besides his brother—Sam. He should have told Danielle, the owner of the Window Rock Orphanage, the truth about himself. He didn't want to get an automatic no. When he saw the ad last week online for an ASL teacher who wouldn't mind working with kids with abilities or shifters, he'd jumped at the idea. If they were in need of someone who used American Sign Language, it meant they had deaf kids there. However, he didn't tell her he, too, was deaf.
Sam tapped his hand, and he glanced over at the moderator for the event. She stared back at him with an expectant look. Lost in his thoughts, he missed the question. He looked to his interpreter and signed, Can you repeat the question? While Sam answered out loud.
“Is it true you write all of your female characters after a long-lost love?” This time, he read her lips. The insightful and interesting question caught Mark a little off guard.
The answer, he began while Sam spoke, isn’t an easy one. I think we all have lost loves. But to categorize all of my female protagonists as the same person over and over again is preposterous.
Sam laughed. “He hasn’t had that many.”
Mark cut his gaze to the audience to gauge their reaction. When he saw them laughing, he grinned. He’s just jealous.
Says you, Sam answered.
After another round of questions, the Q&A session came to a close. He had a thirty-minute break before he was supposed to meet everyone in the giant hall to sign books for those who attended today. He made the appointment with Danielle for after the book signing so they’d have more time to sit and talk. Mark snapped his fingers and Molly, his faithful K-9 companion, took her position by his side.
The wolf/husky hybrid had been trained from the time she’d been found on the side of the road, until three years ago when she was assigned to Mark. After a few weeks of her being with him, he went back to the agency, who put him with Molly and requested a clause in their contract. When Molly’s companion time was up, and she retired, she’d live out her days with him no matter what. He couldn’t picture himself with another service dog after her, either. Her sunny, yet sneaky disposition left him guessing as to what she’d do next.
She brightened his days after Jasper disappeared and since then appeared to stick closer to his side. Almost like a dutiful mother, she doted on him to the point she smothered him. From toys to lap cuddles, she’d been right there, soothing his broken heart. On the bad days, she remained stalwart in her obligations. She didn’t allow him to sluff off his duties. If the phone rang, she altered him. Someone at the door, she pulled him to it. Even if he tried to stay depressed—which, in the beginning, he had been—she pulled him out of his funk. She was more than a dog for the hearing impaired. She was truly his friend.
To pay her back for all those nights she spent curled up at his feet, and to acknowledge how much she meant to him, Mark wrote Molly into his Deadwood Shifters series. Since then, people recognized her everywhere they went. Russet and white, Molly stood out in a crowd, not because of her size, though massive in her own right, but because of her beautiful coat and stunning green eyes.
Several pictures of her posing with fans and receiving treats floated around on social media. Today she had a basket full of stuff in their hotel room waiting for her to dig into. He knew by the time the signing was over, she'd have more stuff than she could handle.
A small hand touched his forearm and he looked down. A girl no more than ten or eleven peered up at him then cast a wary glance at Molly.
“Excuse me,” she said. “My mom said I should give this to Molly.” She held up a rawhide bone, wrapped in a green polka-dot ribbon with Molly’s name on it.
Thank you, he signed. Did you pick out the ribbon? He held the bone out to his faithful companion and she greedily snatched it from him.
The little girl’s eyes grew round with excitement as Sam relayed his question to her. She nodded. “Yes, Mom said it was her favorite color.”
It is. She loves it. Mark hugged the little girl then had Molly shake her hand.
The child skipped back to her mother, who waited a few feet away. The little girl then turned and waved before she and her mother disappeared into the crowd exiting the area.
Lunch? Mark asked, standing.
Sam nodded. Starved. Let’s eat.
The hotel had a small eatery inside. The chances of their lunch being interrupted had been great, but he didn't want to leave, just in case they couldn't get back to the hotel in time for the scheduled signings. As they stepped out of the conference room, he glanced up. A woman waved her hand frantically in his direction. He’d been trying to avoid her. Her name was Constance. She messaged him on Facebook last week and happily announced she’d be at this event to see him. Her name fit her disposition to a T. Because she was constantly trying to get his attention.
She wore a black cowboy hat, a trench coat which didn’t fit for the season at all, and an I ♥ Orion T-shirt—handmade, of course—tucked into a pair of painted-on cowboy cut jeans. She reminded him of Annie Wilkes, from Stephen King’s Misery. Sometimes, he half expected her to break out a sledgehammer and duct tape. And, today, he made the mistake of making eye contact with her. Shit.
Is that her? Sam elbowed him. She’s nuts.
He chuckled. Yes.
She’s coming this way.
Yep, Mark answered.
“Oh my God!” Excitement and mirth filled her brown eyes, along with a bit of batshit cray-cray. “Isn't it so weird how we keep meeting like this?”
Somedays, like today, he wished he couldn't read lips. If people only knew how much concentration it took, and how tired it made him afterward …it's why he demanded only the best interpreters. He grinned at her and nodded. Hi, Constance. I’m glad you could make it. This is Sam. My friend.
Interpreter. Sam added.
“Won’t need him,” she said while signing slowly. “I've been practicing.”
Of course, she had.
Great! Well, it’s good seeing you here. Don’t forget to join me for the book signing. He took a step toward the restaurant.
“Wait!” She held up her hands. “I thought we could have lunch together, you know, catch up?”
When pigs fly. He glanced down at Molly who gave him the saddest eyes he’d ever seen. If he thought she’d bail him out of this predicament, he was dead wrong. Well, I’d love to but… His attention was drawn away from Constance in front of him to two women who’d entered the hotel. He recognized Danielle immediately and sent a silent thank you up to whatever divine being existed.
The news about Danielle and Keeley had been plastered everywhere. They were on the run for several years trying to get away from the Psychic Bounty Hunters, a division of the US government used to help study those who might have psychic abilities. According to the information Senator Winters and the judiciary committee were still uncovering, the organization had been torturing and killing psychic humans for years. The two biggest offenders of it were Simon Geithner and his wife, Hazel.
The shorter of the two women, with long curly wheat-blonde hair, stepped in front of him. “Oh wow. You’re Orion Davis. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Keeley and this is my sister, Danielle.”