Nanny to the Bear (Burning Falls Shifters Book 4)

by Cynthia Wilde

  Nanny to the Bear

  Burning Falls Shifters 4

  Cynthia Wilde

  Copyright ©2019 by Cynthia Wilde. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic of mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Burning Falls Shifters

  Her Keeper Bear

  Her Frenemy Bear

  Her Secret Baby Bear

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Epilogue

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  Chapter One

  Janet sat across the desk, the dusty atmosphere of the agency’s office made her nose itch, and the extremely beige walls did not help to lighten her mood. She had only worked for them for two years exclusively, but had yet to nail down a long-term post, something she desperately needed.

  The woman behind the desk perused the file folder before her, the complete history of Janet’s employment as a nanny with Shift the Future Childcare Agency. The woman’s desk contained a nameplate which read ‘Barbara Haymaker, Director of Operations’. Janet had never met her before today.

  “So,” the woman began as she glanced through the pages. “What prompted you to become a childcare worker with us?”

  Ah, the third degree. Janet took a breath. “Well, I majored in Early Childhood Development at NYC, and one of my teachers gave me a lead on this place. It felt like a good fit at the time. She had a lot of good insights into my qualifications.”

  “Yes.” More shuffling pages. “You do have an excellent list of qualifications… for a human.”

  There it is, Janet thought. Being one of the few humans employed by Shift the Future tended to put a target on her. As a result, her employment usually consisted of some of the more difficult assignments, and they typically did not last longer than six months. Janet knew if she did not get a long-term post soon, she would be on the streets.

  “I am curious,” Mrs. Haymaker continued. “How did you come to discover our world, the existence of shifters? Not many humans are aware of our kind.”

  “Yes,” Janet replied. “I um…” She searched for the words to explain. “I had some colleagues while in school. They opened my eyes to things beyond my understanding. It took some adjustment, but in the end, I realize this is a far richer world in which we live. A world of which I had to be a part.”

  “That is very astute,” Haymaker replied with a wry glance.

  Perhaps, Janet wondered, Ms. Haymaker could read the shorthand. The truth was that Janet had gone camping with some friends one weekend in college, and in an attempt to find the pee tree, she stumbled across one of her professors mid-shift. None of the others had seen it.

  She kept the information to herself on the understanding that she could learn about this unknown world, and the professor also promised her a glowing recommendation letter for her career path going forward. Janet felt as if she fit in better in the shifter community than she ever did with her fellow humans. Now if only the shifters could see that as well.

  “So, I do have a potential assignment for you,” Mr. Haymaker said from behind the desk. “This one is requesting a two-year commitment to the post after a six month trial. Do you think that’s something you could do?”

  “Of course,” Janet replied, her stomach twisting into knots. “Provided I pass the initial interview.”

  “Yes. Provided you do.”

  “Look,” Janet said with firm resolution. “I know it’s a bit of an oddity, having a human looking after shifter children. But I want you to know, I take great pride in caring for my charges. I can’t help the fact that I’m ‘only’ human. If I could somehow will myself into being a shifter myself, I would. I’ve always been a bit of an odd ball too, you know?” Despite her difficulties, she needed the job quite badly. She felt as if she were rambling.

  “Yes, I’m sure.” The woman peered down her nose at Janet. “I need to be honest with you. This assignment needs to work out if you are to continue with our agency. We’ve had several complaints from your past assignments.”

  “I see,” Janet took a breath. She expected as much. Once the parents of her shifter charges found out she was not technically part of the community, they tended to find reasons to remove her. It was still a blow to hear it. “Hopefully I can prove that I am just as qualified to care for shifter children as any of the other nannies here.”

  “Hopefully so,” the woman replied, though she sounded doubtful.

  “So what’s the assignment?” Janet asked trying her best to sound both humble and enthusiastic.

  “A single father with two small children,” Barbara said. “Rather tragic really. Not sure what happened with the mother. But he has requested a female care giver to take over housekeeping and childcare. He’s offering a monthly stipend and offers a carriage house on the property.”

  “A carriage house?”

  “Yes, so you’ll have some privacy at the end of the day. The day’s responsibilities would end at ten, but he does request you be on call in case of emergencies.”

  “Of course.”

  “It’s out of the city quite a way. A little town called Burning Falls.”

  “How far?”

  “About an hour. I’ll email you the link to the directions. He’ll be expecting you tomorrow at three for the initial interview. Here is his dossier for you to familiarize yourself with the family before you arrive.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there.” She took the envelope which contained the bios for the family, one card for each. The father and both of children.

  She arrived back at her friend’s apartment after another hour on the subway to get there. She had perused the bios during the commute which doubled as a way to avoid eye contact with the other commuters. There were two children, Dillon, age five and Bonnie, age seven. The father apparently worked as a day trader, which explained the presence of the carriage house. Apparently, they lived quite comfortably.

  The agency had said there were a few other contenders for the job, but Mrs. Haymaker wanted to send her first as she seemed the best fit. Janet knew this was code for ‘give the human the least desirable post’. Probably wants to get me out of the way, Janet thought. Poor kids have probably had a revolving door of caregivers while Dear Old Dad spends all his time at the office.

  She had seen that more times than she cared. Hopef
ully she could do something to liven up their existence. Shifter children needed lots of activities, something she learned early on. Typically the age of awareness was not until at least sixteen and most shifter parents held to the belief that children did not need to know. The idea being that they could have a ‘normal’ childhood for as long as possible.

  Janet sneered at the idea of normalcy for a shifter child. Perhaps she envied them a bit. Being fully human herself, she often wondered what it would be like to become an animal, to throw off the shackles of social constructs. To be free.

  Janet arrived back at her friend’s apartment and immediately began to pack her belongings. She truly hoped this assignment went well. Lana had been more than patient in letting her stay.

  Her friend arrived home from work, still wearing the thick pale stage make up from her current acting gig, an off-Broadway production of ‘Animals’.

  “How’d it go with the agency today?” she asked peering around the door. She looked nearly comical with the feline markings painted across her cheeks and nose.

  “Pretty good,” Janet replied. “I have a potential assignment, but I won’t know for sure until tomorrow afternoon.”

  “I hope it works out.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Of course if it doesn’t, you can stay here until you get one that does.”

  “Thanks, Lana. I really appreciate it. I’d literally be homeless if it weren’t for you.”

  “I know it’s not much room for the two of us. You know how apartments are in New York, especially for a working actor.”

  Janet laughed. “Yeah. I suppose so. How did rehearsal go?”

  “Oh, we were on fire today. It’s so much fun turning into a cat for several hours every day.”

  “I’ll bet,” Janet said smirking at the irony. Lana did not know she worked at a shifter nanny agency.

  “You should come next time we have open auditions. You’re a natural performer.”

  “Nah,” Janet shook her head. “That’s not my scene.”

  “Oh, come on,” Lana replied. “You’ve got that gorgeous ethnically ambiguous look, with your dark curly hair, and striking green eyes.”

  “Geez, Lana. Are you trying to recruit me or are you hitting on me?”

  Her roommate laughed. “That’s how the talent scouts would describe you at least. They like to use vaguely descriptive buzz words like that. Besides, who cares if it’s your scene? Male New York stage actors are beautiful creatures, stunning, fit, and always on the prowl.”

  “Maybe,” Janet conceded, “but how many of them are straight?”

  “Good point,” Lana giggled. “I’m off to hit the shower. Good luck on your interview tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Lana. I’ll need it.”

  * * * *

  Austin sat in the carpool lane at the Burning Falls elementary school. As he waited for the minivan in front of him to scoot forward once more, he rambled a quick note into his recording app on his phone. He would come back to it later once the kids were in bed. The cars began to move at last. He put the phone down and switched mental gears from businessman to dad.

  “Hi dad,” his seven-year-old tow-headed daughter, chirped as she climbed into the back seat. He noticed the braids he had put in her hair had been taken out. Her little blonde curls framed her cherubic face.

  “Hi, Bonnie,” Austin said. “How was school today?”

  “Good.” Bonnie settled in, stuffing her backpack down by her feet.

  “What happened to your braids, sweetie?” he asked glancing through his rearview mirror. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach.

  She lowered her eyes. “They took my braids out in recess.”

  “Who took your braids out?” He spoke gently, trying to glean out the information, suspecting that he already knew.

  “Clara Masey pulled out my braids. She said they were crooked.”

  Austin spotted the girl, Clara Masey, walking hand in hand with her mother, one half of the Bougie Twins, the society types who like to flaunt their supposed country club status. He imagined in this case, the apple did not fall far from the tree.

  “I’m sorry sweetie,” he said to his daughter. “Did you tell the teacher?”

  “No. I don’t want to be a tattler.”

  “It’s okay to ask for help if someone is bothering you, you know.”

  “I know.”

  Austin could not help but feel responsible for his daughter’s hardships. He had not quite mastered the art of little girl’s braids. Unfortunately, Bonnie was the one who bore the brunt of that fact.

  “Look, here comes Dillon.”

  His five-year-old son climbed into the seat next to Bonnie. He had his mother’s dark hair, making him the oddball next to the rest of his blonde family.

  “How was school, kiddo?”

  “Fine. We did play-dough today.”

  “That sounds like fun. You guys want cheeseburgers and milkshakes for dinner?”

  “Yay!” Both kids bounced excitedly in their seats.

  He wanted to butter them up before he dropped the news about the nanny. He wanted them to be there when she came in for the interview tomorrow, but he still was not quite sure how they would react. Since their mother left, he hated how much time they spent on their own, either sitting in front of the television, video games, or stuck behind a book. He would stand in front of an oncoming train for his children, but he could not master the basics. His daughter’s crooked braids were testament to that.

  “What do you mean, a nanny?” Dillon said as he shoved three more french fries into his mouth. “We don’t need a nanny.”

  “No offense, buddy,” Austin said. “But you’re five. If you had your way, you would eat nothing but ice cream and macaroni.” The boy nodded vigorously with a grin.

  “Is she going to be our new mother?” Bonnie asked quietly, picking at her half-eaten cheeseburger.

  “No, not at all, sweetheart,” Austin said. “I’ve just had a lot of work lately, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. You two need someone to take care of you. And this doesn’t mean that I love you any less. Just think of all the wonderful breakfasts you’ll be having. You’ll be able to go swimming more often. It’s going to be great. I promise.”

  His children offered half-hearted smiles, as they finished their meals. Austin knew once they met her and got into a routine, things would look up. His phone buzzed in his chest pocket, drawing his attention.

  “Yep,” he answered.

  “It’s Chase,” said the voice on the other side. “Will you be joining us this evening?”

  Austin glanced towards his children. His job as a shifter was to take part in the patrols around the edge of town, including the falls. “I can’t do it tonight.”

  “Cub scouts?” Chase asked using their code word for the children.

  “Yep. With tomorrow’s meeting with the potential nanny, I’d better stay in.”

  “No worries,” Chase replied.

  Austin knew that as the alpha, Chase’s responsibility was to make sure the pack members were keeping up their responsibilities of protecting the town. The town had been largely quiet as of late, so Austin did not feel bad calling out on his patrol duties now and then. Besides, the only two he felt fully indebted to were sitting across from him eating cheeseburgers. His pack would be fine without him for one night at least.

  Chapter Two

  Janet stepped off the bus, onto the sidewalk feeling every bit like the stand in for a Julie Andrews movie. She had never been to Burning Falls. For that matter, she had never even heard of it. A quick search online the night before had led her to a website showing a colloquial village filled with cute little houses and smiling townspeople. Apparently, the surrounding land was part of a National Park, protected for its rich natural resources, hiking, and camping.

  Being a childcare worker, she knew every museum, playground, planetarium, and activity center within a one hundred mile radius. How had she never heard of Burning
Falls? She wanted all of her charges to have the experiences she never did. Now that she had arrived, she decided to have a look around and familiarize herself with the town.

  A cluster of surly teenagers pointedly ignored her from across the street, gathered in front of the movie complex. Janet smiled brightly and waved. No response. That’s okay, they’re just at that age.

  A half a block further down, she saw the store front of a grocery store, with the name ‘Briggs’ emblazoned across the front in friendly red letters. An older man with a cheerful face and bright red apron tied around his ample torso, helped load groceries into a trunk. He returned her wave. This gesture reinvigorated her faith in small town friendliness.

  She walked down the street spotting the sign for the Burning Falls library, as good a place as any to get her bearings. She had the address to the Bradford’s place, but she still had about three hours before scheduled to arrive there for her interview.

  “Hi there,” the woman behind the desk greeted her when she entered the glass doors.

  “Hello,” Janet replied with some hesitation. Her stoic black clothes appeared downright dour compared to the stylish librarian. The woman wore fitted jeans and a fringed aquamarine blouse. The cool blue color offset her tan copper skin and dark black hair. Janet admired the topaz necklace resting at her throat.

  “You must be from out of town,” the woman said glancing at Janet’s stowaway bag parked at her feet.

  “Yes,” Janet replied. “Is it that obvious?”

  The librarian laughed as she stepped out from behind the desk. “It’s okay. I’m Lisa,” she said, “welcome to Burning Falls.”

  “Thanks.” Janet returned her handshake, warm and firm. “Is everyone in this town so friendly? Except of course for the teenagers in front of the movie theater.”

  “Ha. Yes, the teenagers. They put on a good scowl, don’t they?”