Table of Contents
Copyright
Free Book Offer
Foreword
Chapter One – Nana
Chapter Two – George
Chapter Three – Nana
Chapter Four – George
Chapter Five – Nana
Chapter Six – George
Chapter Seven – Nana
Chapter Eight – George
Chapter Nine – Nana
Chapter Ten – George
Chapter Eleven – Nana
Chapter Twelve – George
Chapter Thirteen – Nana
Chapter Fourteen – George
Chapter Fifteen – Nana
Chapter Sixteen – George
Chapter Seventeen – Nana
Chapter Eighteen – George
Chapter Nineteen – Nana
Epilogue
Also By Harmony Raines
Get In Touch
Silverback History Bear
Return to Bear Creek
(Book Twenty)
***
All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.
This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.
© 2018 Harmony Raines
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Silverback History Bear
Return to Bear Creek
(Book Twenty)
Nana has a history she walked away from a long time ago. But now it’s caught up with her, threatening to destroy the life she’s built. A good life, with good people she loves.
Many years ago, a young woman walked up the winding road to Chance Heights with all her belongings in a battered suitcase. She never expected the Chance family to take her in and give her a home. She also never expected to become mother to the Chance children when their parents are tragically killed.
But when threats are made, can she find the strength to walk away from the family she loves, in order to protect them?
George never expected to find his mate. A retired history teacher, he misses working with children. To fill the void in his life, George volunteers at Chance Heights Activity Center. What he doesn’t expect, is to meet his true mate.
He soon realizes his mate is in trouble. Can he gain her trust? Will she let this silverback bear help her?
Or will his mating bond be history before it’s even begun?
Chapter One – Nana
Bear Creek, the place she called home. Nana watched the scenery flash by as her adopted daughter, Sage, drove her home from the airport along winding roads that meandered through valleys and under ancient trees.
“So, the trip was good?” Sage asked for the fifth time.
“Yes, it was. The scenery was incredible, and the Great Wall of China is one of the most amazing works of human ingenuity I’ve ever seen,” Nana answered for the fifth time, earning herself a sidelong stare from Sage. “Don’t look at me like that. I’ll tell you more later, right now all I want to do is get home and sleep in my own bed. You know how I never sleep well when I’m away from home.”
Sage pressed her lips together, she wasn’t buying it. Nana sighed, why did she have a daughter so attuned to people’s moods? A small smile spread across Nana’s face. Sage’s empathy was incredible and made her job working with young people and teaching them to respect both the world around them and each other a little easier.
Sage’s empathy also meant Nana must hide her own true feelings deep inside. That wasn’t going to be easy when her emotions were still so raw and her head so confused. But she wasn’t ready to talk just yet. Not until she’d had a chance to put things in perspective and make a plan.
Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away and put her hand to her mouth, forcing down the lump that threatened to erupt into sobs. Turning her head away from Sage, Nana once again focused on the amazing view of the mountains she loved so much. “Summer will turn to fall soon.”
“It will.” Sage cast a glance at Nana but said no more. Such a sensitive young woman, Sage knew when to ask questions, and when to keep her mouth shut.
“Anything happen while I was away?” After recovering her composure, Nana turned her attention back to her daughter.
“Nope, not really. Sol came over and painted the fence and then helped me plant the new apple trees.” Sage indicated to turn right and took the road leading toward the large house they lived in. Chance Heights had been Nana’s home for the last twenty-odd years.
Over half a lifetime. And what a life it had been. Filled with tears, hope, and love. Plenty of each had flowed since Nana came here to work for Sage’s parents. When she met Kyle and Honor Chance and their brood of children, Nana had no idea how disastrously their lives would unravel five years later.
After another mile of good road, Sage swung the truck right and followed the winding trail toward the house itself, which was screened by high trees and bushes. Nana remembered the first time she’d walked up this driveway for a job interview, with all her belongings in a small suitcase and blisters on her feet.
Honor had taken one look at Nana and ushered her inside, fed her cake and tea, while sitting on the soft sofa surrounded by the Chance family. They all knew Nana wasn’t the best candidate for the job, but Kyle and Honor didn’t see the person Nana was when she arrived. Instead, they had a way of seeing the person you could be if given a chance.
Nana soon learned they looked at the world differently. They looked at people differently. It was as if their vocation in life was to figure out how to make the people and the world around them better. Better than they ever dreamed they could be.
And they had a plan. A new business. Chance Heights Activity Center was born from their inspired idea that kids needed to experience fresh air and open spaces to thrive both physically and mentally. At Chance Heights, children had a chance to learn how to help each other through team-building tasks, while other activities were set up so the children also began to understand themselves and grow in confidence.
Nana understood their ethos better than anyone. The Chance family had transformed her into the woman she was today. Anger bubbled up inside her. Her change hadn’t been miraculous, it had been hard fought and hard won. And no one was going to take that from her.
“Nana,” Sage’s soft voice interrupted Nana’s thoughts and she wiped the tears from her cheeks, not realizing they were there. “Did something happen in China?”
“No,” Nana replied quickly. “Nothing happened in China.”
“And you are sure you’re all right?” Sage was right to keep asking, but Nana wasn’t about to admit anything, she didn’t want her adopted children to worry about her.
“I’m absolutely fine.” Nana undid her seatbelt as Sage stopped the car in front of Chance Heights, a large stone-built lodge that had been in the family for generations. “I just need a cup of tea and some sleep.”
“I forgot, something did happen while you were away. We had an odd visit.” Sage got out of the truck and went to the trunk to fetch Nana’s suitcase.
Nana slid out of the truck and rushed to Sage’s side. “
An odd visit?” Her heart beat fast, scared that he had threatened Sage, that Nana’s past had collided with her present.
“Yes. While you were on vacation, two men from the museum came by.”
“The museum?” Nana asked, relieved it was nothing sinister or dangerous. “What did they want?”
Sage pulled up her sleeve. “They were asking about this tattoo.”
Nana clucked her tongue as relief swept over her. “I never did want you or your brothers to have that tattoo, but you all insisted it was a family tradition.”
“I like it. And it is a tradition.” Sage rolled her sleeve down and pressed her lips together to stop herself from saying more.
Nana placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “I know you do, and I know it gave you and your brothers a link to your parents, which is why I didn’t stop you.”
“Even if you disapproved.” Sage looked at Nana out of the corner of her eye. “You look better now that you’re home. I was worried you’d contracted some weird Chinese flu or something.”
“Nothing like that.” Nana faced the large imposing house. Home. Chance Heights was the only real home she’d ever known. It was where she belonged. Perhaps she could put recent events behind her and slide back into her old life here with the Chance family.
Her family, she reminded herself. At the time she adopted the children, Nana decided not to change their last name but to change her own instead. A member of the Chance family had lived here at Chance Heights for hundreds of years and she didn’t want to be the person responsible for ending the tradition. Or perhaps she didn’t want the three beautiful children who had just lost their parents to be tainted by her name. Nana didn’t want that darkness to overshadow them.
Her face flushed pink, and heat crept over her skin. She’d also wanted a new beginning and a new name was one way to hide from her past.
A past Nana thought she’d escaped, but it had caught up with her. Reminding Nana, she was still the same person who walked up the trail in unsuitable shoes with an unsuitable past. She hadn’t changed a bit and was still capable of lying to everyone and herself. Hadn’t she proved that this morning by not telling Sage what was wrong?
“Nana.” Luke ran down the steps from the house and grabbed her suitcase from Sage before kissing Nana’s cheek. “Good vacation?”
“Yes, thanks.” Nana plastered a smile on her face and linked arms with her two children. She didn’t deserve the love and happiness her borrowed children showered on her. She didn’t deserve it one bit. Maybe she should leave and take her troubles with her, they were all grown up and old enough to look after themselves. They didn’t need to hear the truth. She could say she’d decided to live in a warm climate more suitable to her bones than cold mountain winters.
“We’ve missed you,” Luke said. He was the youngest of the Chance children and as sweet as honey. Not that he wasn’t all male and capable of holding his own with his elder brother Marcus, or anyone else who thought he could take a swipe at a member of the Chance family. Fierce and protective, but with a gentle side that made Luke a hit with the kids who came to Chance Heights to experience the outdoors and learn survival skills.
“I missed you, too,” Nana told him truthfully.
“You look tired,” he observed. “Why don’t I take your luggage up to your room while Sage makes you something to eat.” The concern on his face and in his voice made Nana feel even worse.
“Thanks, Luke.” He let her go and bounded up the stairs so full of energy, so full of life. A life filled with potential.
Sage went to the kitchen and filled the kettle, putting it on the stove to boil while she fetched the cups and set them down on the counter. She worked quietly and methodically, Nana could almost hear her brain working, trying to figure out why her mom was so quiet.
“You said Sol came over and helped plant the apple trees?” Nana asked, trying to slip back into the person she was before she left two weeks ago.
Sage leaned back against the counter and faced her with a smile on her face. “Yeah, he said he’ll come back when the apples are all harvested for some of your famous apple pie.”
“My apple pie is famous?” Nana asked, still preoccupied.
“Apparently so.” Sage lifted the kettle as it came to the boil and made three cups of tea. As she set the cups down on the table, Luke entered the kitchen and sat down next to Nana.
“Thanks, sis. I just have time to gulp this down and then I have to meet a new volunteer.” Luke blew on his tea and then reached for a cookie from the plate Sage set down on the table. “You’ve been baking.”
“Don’t say it like it’s a shock,” Sage chastised as she sat across the table and ate a cookie. “Who is the new volunteer? I didn’t know anything about it.”
“Happened while you were at the airport. George Tully, he said he used to teach you history in high school.” Luke went in for another cookie. “Do you remember him?”
Sage frowned. “Yes, I do. He’s also one of the guys from the museum who came up here a week ago asking about the tattoo.”
“The tattoo? This tattoo?” Luke wore a T-shirt which showed off his many tattoos, but he turned his arm over and showed the rough circle with a claw mark through it. “What did he want to know? You never mentioned it.”
“Slipped my mind. It was the day we nearly lost the teepee in the wind. Remember, we had the kids up here from the city school?” Sage ate another cookie, too, her gaze creeping from Luke to Nana.
“Yeah, I remember.” Luke chuckled. “You missed all the fun, Nana.”
“I did,” Nana agreed. “So, who is this George Tully? I don’t remember him.”
“You never met him from what I recall,” Sage told her. “He was a good teacher, methodical and patient. Interested in students.” She shrugged. “He’s a nice guy.”
“A nice guy.” Luke grinned.
“What’s wrong with being a nice guy?” Sage asked. “You get called that all the time.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Which is why I know it’s not a compliment.”
“What’s not a compliment?” Marcus asked, appearing in the doorway. He kissed Nana on the cheek, snatched a cookie off the plate and ate it while he poured himself a cup of coffee. At six foot four, with muscles on top of muscles, Marcus was larger than life.
“Nice. Nice isn’t a compliment.” Luke watched his brother as he sat down next to Sage. “How was Bear Bluff?”
“Nice,” Marcus said with a smirk. Luke made a face at his brother before taking another cookie. He shoved it in his mouth as he pushed his chair back from the table and stood up. “I have to go.”
“Where?” Marcus asked.
“He has to meet George Tully, who is a nice history teacher,” Sage told her brother.
Marcus chuckled and drank his coffee. “How was your vacation, Nana?”
“The scenery was incredible, and the Great Wall of China is one of the most amazing works of human ingenuity Nana has ever seen.” Sage shrugged when Nana raised her eyebrows at her daughter. “What? That’s all you’ve said about your trip. You go to China for two weeks and that’s all we get.”
“Did I miss something?” Marcus asked.
“No, not really,” Sage tried to cover her outburst. “Nana’s tired.”
“You are feeling okay though, aren’t you? You look a little pale,” Marcus said, showing his concern, which he usually hid under layers of rough exterior. As the oldest, he’d taken the death of their parents the hardest. He knew better than anyone just how cruel fate was to take them away.
“I just need some fresh air,” Nana said as she drained her teacup and placed it down on the table. “Jet lag. Give me a couple of days and I’ll be back to normal.”
She got up from the table and, with a forced smile, left the kitchen. With a head full of jumbled thoughts, Nana wandered out to the back door, which looked out over her carefully tended garden. This was where she’d made her own mark on the property she’d been blessed to li
ve in, while she raised three wonderful children.
Stepping out onto the path that meandered through the rose garden and under the archway which was covered by honeysuckle, she said a silent prayer to Honor and Kyle, hoping they would forgive her for needing to move on. She was, after all, doing this for their own good.
After all these years, her past had finally caught up with her. At least it would if she didn’t run from it. And run fast.
Chapter Two – George
“George?” A young man, with a mess of near-black wavy hair that brushed his shoulders, approached with his hand stretched out, and a wide friendly smile on his face.
“Luke Chance?” George asked, grasping the young man’s hand and shaking it. “Firm handshake.”
“I’m Luke, yes. You have a firm grip yourself.” Luke’s smile widened. “I hear you used to teach my sister Sage. The other dude who works here is my older brother Marcus. I’ll introduce you to him later.” Luke ushered George away from his car and toward the rear of the house. “First I’ll give you the guided tour and we can talk.”
“Sounds great.” George assessed the large stone-built house which had been given to a man named Chin Shan several hundred years ago. His descendants, who now went by the last name Chance, had no idea Peregrine Manning had given the house to Chin Shan in return for putting two dragon shifters under the Ancient Slumber spell.
They also didn’t know Chin Shan had given up his own memories in return for a large sum of money which was given to the Stone Claw Clan who lived in the River Run Mountains a couple of hundred miles away. The Stone Claw Clan had used the money to leave the River Run Mountains and return to their home country. The Chance family were the only descendants of the River Run Clan left in the area.
George wished he could tell them the story, but that would mean revealing the secret he’d sworn to keep. That dragon shifters were real and lived among them.
“This is where the kids camp,” Luke began as he showed George a large grassy area to the side of the house. “They are taught to put up their own tents. Or teepees. The teepees are hugely popular with the kids.” He strolled across the grass and stopped beside a big fire pit. “When the kids camp out, they are given a lesson on starting fires and their job is to collect wood, so the fire doesn’t go out.”
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