Bearly Saved My Heart
Madison Range Shifters #1
Quake Lake Bears
By
Margery Ellen
I would like to thank my husband
for giving me the inspiration to write
and
Tom Walpole
for his advice
This book is a work of Fiction. Names, characters,
places and events are fictitious. Any references to actual persons,
places or things are strictly coincidental.
Cover design
by
August Scarlett
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 1
Charles McCormick was a huge man. He stood six foot nine inches tall, but he was perfectly proportioned to his height. Broad shoulders, massive chest and slim waist. He towered over everyone he knew, even his two younger brothers. Charles and his brother Robert moved to Montana and became forest rangers after their parents died. They became forest rangers, specializing in search and rescue. Not only were they forest rangers; they were bear shifters. Their youngest brother Mack, stayed on at the family home in the Sierra Nevada mountains, near Yosemite. It had been the family home for over one hundred years
Charles and Robert had travelled to California to attend their youngest brother’s wedding. The bride had asked Charles to walk her down the aisle, since she had no family to speak of and Charles was honored to do so. They were on their way home and stopped at a small-town truck stop to fill the gas tank, and take a break.
There was a small rest stop and picnic area for travelers to park overnight next to the gas station. Charles sat on a picnic table, resting his feet on the bench. He watched the trucks come and go. There was one semi-truck parked at the far end of the parking lot, away from the rest. As he watched, it looked like the driver was yelling at his passenger. Charles’ sensitive hearing picked up someone crying.
Something bothered him about what he was seeing and hearing. He watched as the driver locked the truck door and headed inside the truck stop. That was odd, why would he lock the door if there was someone still inside?
Charles decided to take a stroll and he just happened to go in the direction of that semi. He walked around to the far side of the truck cab and looked around. “Hello, anyone in there? Hello?” He knocked on the passenger door. “Hello?”
“Go away.” Charles heard a strained voice through the door. “If he sees anyone near the truck, there will be trouble.”
“What kind of trouble? I saw your friend. He doesn’t look very threatening to me.” Charles was watching for the man to come back.
“He’s not my friend, please go away before he sees you.”
If Charles didn’t know better, he’d think the person behind the door was extremely afraid of the driver.
“Are you his girlfriend?” He inquired.
“No. Please go away.”
“Well, if he isn’t your friend or you’re not his girlfriend, are you his daughter?” Something just wasn’t right about this situation he was about to involve himself in. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll go away if you tell me your name and why you’re so afraid. Can you roll down the window or open the door so I can see you?”
The person behind the door started to cry. “I can’t. The doors and windows are locked. Please go away.”
“Tell me your name first and why you’re so scared. My name is Charles.” He wasn’t going anywhere. He had a strange feeling about this frightened young woman and he was concerned; she was obviously being held against her will.
“My name is Jackie. Now please go away before he comes back.”
Charles laughed. “That was only half an answer. Why are you so afraid?”
“He’s coming, please don’t let him see you,” she said in a panic.
Sure enough, Charles looked over and the trucker was on his way back to the truck. He ducked down so he wouldn’t be seen. The driver unlocked his door and started talking to Jackie. He told her to get back in the sleeper.
“I have to go to the bathroom, please let me use the restroom.” She begged.
“I told you to use the tin can.” He yelled at her.
“I have to do more than pee. Please. I promise I won’t run away.” She told him.
“Damn right you won’t run away; I’ll go with you. Can’t have my investment running off. I plan to make a lot of money for your fat ass.”
Charles instantly took note of what she said, but he was furious when he heard the driver. He paid for her? Charles moved away from the truck and waited to see if the driver would let her out to use the restroom. He worked his way around the trailer so he could see the girl, but stayed out of sight.
The driver jumped to the ground so the young woman could climb down out of the truck cab. As soon as her feet touched the ground, he grabbed her arm and practically dragged her across the parking lot to the restroom.
“You can’t come in there with me. If you think I’m going to sneak out the back, go and check it out, then leave me to do my business in private.” The girl told the man.
The driver pushed her through the door and looked around. There was a small window at the back of the stall, but she would never fit through it. “Alright, I’ll be waiting outside. Be quick about it. I have a schedule to keep”
Charles had made his way around the parking lot and was behind the small building where the restroom was located. He found his brother Robert on the way and told him what was going on. Charles tried to get the girl’s attention through the little window.
“Hey, Jackie. Tell me what’s going on. Jackie, can you hear me?” he said quietly.
“Yes, go away, he’ll kill me if he hears you.”
“Just tell me one thing,” he asked. “Do you want to go with him or do you want to get away from him?”
“He bought me, I’m his property.” She started to cry.
“Jackie. Listen to me. People can’t be bought and sold, it’s against the law.”
“Where I come from, they don’t care about laws”
Just then the door opened. “Hurry up, girl. What’s taking you so long? Do your business or you’ll have to just hold it.”
“I’ll be out when I’m done. You’re not helping by interrupting me.” He went back outside.
“Jackie, my brother and I are going to help you. We’ll take you anywhere you want to go. Anywhere you think you’ll be safe. Okay?”
“Why? You don’t know me? Why would you help me?”
“Because that is the kind of person I am.” He told her. “Stay there, I’ll tell you when you can come out.”
Charles walked around to the side of the small building to where the trucker was waiting, but stayed out of sight. Robert walked up to the man waiting outside the restroom door.
“Hey buddy. You the creep that stole my lit
tle sister?” Robert asked.
“I ain’t got nobody’s sister. That piece of ass in there is my property. Bought and paid for.” The trucker spit tobacco on the ground through rotting teeth.
Robert yelled out. “Hey sis, you in there? Charlie and I are here to take you home. You ready?”
Jackie slowly opened the door. The trucker jumped to grab her, but Charles was quicker. He grabbed the trucker by the neck in one of his huge hands. He could put his hand completely around the man’s scrawny neck.
“Come on out, Jackie. Go with Robert, I’ll be with you after I take out the trash.” Charles slowly walked backwards pulling the trucker with him. When his brother and the girl were far enough away that they wouldn’t hear him, he talked to the truck driver.
“You said you paid for that girl? How much?”
“I paid a thousand dollars for the bitch and she’s been nothing but trouble.” Charles knew he was lying, but at this point he didn’t care. He just wanted to get Jackie away from this creep.
“I’ll pay you that, plus a hundred to forget you ever saw her.”
“Two hundred and it’s a deal. You can take her, but I want my money up front.” The trucker told him. Charles would have paid a lot more if the truck driver had asked for it.
Charles let go of the man. “Go to your truck and I’ll bring you your money.”
“How do I know you won’t take off and leave me here with no woman and no money.”
“I made the offer to pay you and I will. Go to your truck and I’ll be there in five minutes.” He gave the man a shove in the direction of his truck.
Chapter 2
Charles found Robert and Jackie by his Hummer. He looked at the girl. She was dirty, her hair was a greasy and matted, he couldn’t even tell what color it was. Her clothes looked like she had worn them for weeks, and she smelled.
“Are you okay? That trucker won’t bother you anymore.” Charles walked around to the back of their vehicle to get his backpack. He got his wallet and counted out the money for the trucker. “I’ll be right back.” He took the money to the trucker and told him to get the hell out of there and back on the road.
When he returned, Jackie and Robert were still standing there.
“Is everything alright?” Robert asked him.
“It is now.” He told him. “Let’s get going. I think there is a bigger truck stop up the road a few miles. We can get Jackie a change of clothes and a shower and something to eat.” He looked at Jackie. “How’s that sound?”
“Did you pay that man for me? Am I your property now?” she asked apprehensively. The man standing in front of her was humongous and drop dead gorgeous. He had broad shoulders, a slim waist and a sexy ass. If he did buy her, she wasn’t all that sure she minded.
“Nope, I paid him to forget he ever saw you. You are free to go or you can come with us. My name is Charles McCormick, that is my brother Robert. We are forest rangers from Montana, SAR/Search and Rescue division. We’re on our way home from my baby brother’s wedding in California.” He gave her a look and waited for an answer. “You’re safe with us. I promise. We can help you get to where ever you want to go. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” He opened the back door so she could get in.
Jackie got in. “Wow, this thing is huge inside. It’s like one of those army trucks, isn’t it?”
“Yup.” Charles answered. “It’s the only thing big enough, I don’t fit comfortably in any of those regular size vehicles.” He watched the trucker pull out and head down the road in the opposite direction they were going. “I hope you didn’t have any belongings in that semi-truck?”
“No. What you see is all I have. When I got sold, all I had was what I was wearing.” She said it very quietly.
“How long ago?” Robert asked.
“I think it was the first of August. My uncle needed rent and booze money.”
Charles was ready to explode. “Are you telling us that your uncle sold you to buy liquor and pay rent?”
“Yes” That was all she could say. They could both hear her trying not to sniffle, she was on the verge of tears. Robert reached back and handed her a box of Kleenex. “Thank you,” she squeaked.
They drove about a hundred miles before they came to the next truck stop. Charles told Robert and Jackie to stay in the Hummer and he would see what was available. He asked Jackie what size clothes she wore. He came back about fifteen minutes later carrying a bag, he had bought her a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He opened the door for Jackie so she could get out of the back seat.
“Here is something to put on after you shower. I think you’ll find everything you need. There is some shampoo, rinse, soap, a tooth brush and toothpaste in a small traveler’s emergency kit. The truck stop supplies the towels.” He handed her the bag. “Come on, they have private showers, I reserved one for you. After you get cleaned up, we’ll get something to eat. How’s that sound?”
“I don’t have any money. I can’t pay you back for all this stuff.” She sniffled. “I don’t even know how much you paid that truck driver.”
“Consider it a loan.” He was going to say gift, but something stopped him. There was something about this young woman that had his curiosity up. “When you get your life squared away, you can pay me back. There’s no hurry.”
“Thank you. I’ll pay back every cent.” They went inside the truck stop just as they called his name for the shower.
“You go ahead and get cleaned up, we’ll wait for you in the restaurant.” He waited until she went into the shower room and locked the door.
This truck stop had everything. A restaurant, showers, a small clothing and camping store, and a mini-mart. Charles and Robert headed for the restaurant, got a table where they could watch for Jackie and ordered coffee. Charles told the waitress they would wait until their friend joined them before they ordered their food.
“So, what was that all about back there?” Robert asked.
“You heard what she said. Apparently, her ignorant ass of an uncle sold her. I can’t believe shit like that still happens. You’d think we were living in the dark ages.”
“So, why get involved? She could be trouble.”
Charles shook his head. “I don’t think so, plus that asshole of a truck driver was treating her like some kind of slave. Keeping her locked up in that truck, making her pee in a tin can. That poor girl hasn’t had a bath or a change of clothes in almost four weeks. You heard what she said. I’d be surprised if he even fed her. He definitely hadn’t planned to feed her at that last stop.”
Robert thought about what he said and was filled with disgust. “He made her pee in a tin can? That’s gross. So, what are we going to do with her?”
“We’ll think about that when we get home. Maybe she has family somewhere, or someplace she’d like to go.”
Just then a beautiful tall young woman walked into the restaurant. Stunning wavy auburn hair just past her shoulders, curvy in all the right places. Shapely hips, voluptuous breasts and the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen. She was wearing the clothes he just bought and had a bag in her hand. Charles caught her eye and she smiled at him and headed his way. Charles jaw dropped.
“Jackie?” He couldn’t believe it was her.
She smiled at him and gave him a nod. Her smile lit up her face. Charles stood and held a chair out for her and waited for her to sit down. What a difference a bath and a change of clothes made.
“Sorry I took so long. I can’t start to tell you how good this feels. I didn’t think I’d ever get that stink off of me. Thank you so much.”
“Wow. You look great, I mean much better.” He stammered. “We didn’t order, we wanted to wait for you.” She sat down and he sat next to her. He handed her a menu.
Robert just stared. He couldn’t believe it was the same person. They gave her a few minutes to decide what she wanted. Charles signaled the waitress they were ready to order.
Charles put his hand on her arm. “Jackie, don’t worry abo
ut the money, order whatever you want, I can afford it. It’s okay.” Jackie was embarrassed. She had no money and she hated taking charity, but she liked the warmth she felt on her arm.
Charles and Robert ordered dinner. They ordered steak, baked potatoes and a salad. Jackie didn’t know what to order. “She’ll have the same,” Charles finally told the waitress.
“I can’t eat that much.”
“Don’t worry about it, nothing will go to waste.” Robert told her.
While they waited for their food, they talked.
“I feel like you’re a whole different person. Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Charles McCormick and that is my brother Robert. And you are?”
“Jackalynn Todd, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I feel like a whole different person, thank you.” She shook Robert’s hand and then took Charles hand and just stopped. Something passed between them. She slowly let go of his hand. Just then the waitress brought their salads.
They ate and talked. Charles wanted to talk to her more about her situation, but decided to let it go for now. He wasn’t sure what just happened when he held her hand.
“I mentioned earlier, we’re on our way home. If you have no place to go, you’re more than welcome to come with us. We have a couple of guest rooms; you can use one for as long as you like.” Charles told her.
“Thank you. I really have no place to go. My uncle was the only family I had and, well, you know how that turned out.”
“You don’t have any other family or friends?”
“No.” She answered. “Mom and dad passed away when I was young and I was raised by my aunt and uncle. My aunt passed away from cancer last year. My uncle was totally lost. He was a good man, but he just lost it when she passed. She was the love of his life. He didn’t know what to do with himself and started to go downhill pretty quick. He spent all the money she had saved on liquor and drank all the time. He probably doesn’t even know he sold me. He’ll think I ran off.” A tear slowly made its way down her cheek. “I’m sorry.”
Bearly Saved My Heart: Quake Lake Bears (Madison Range Shifters Book 1) Page 1