“Joey will find them. If anyone can, Joey can,” Breeze told her.
“You’re so sure.” Lisa placed her coffee cup down on the kitchen table and paced the room.
“I am. Joey loves Tristan.” Breeze managed to stop herself from saying, like a father. Or perhaps, more than his father. That would not help anyone.
“Is that what you two have been doing?” Lisa asked. “Playing house?”
“No, Lisa, we haven’t.” Breeze refused to rise to Lisa’s insinuation that they had been playing at being a family with her child. “Joey is a family man, it’s as simple as that. He looks after one of his friend’s children, Jane, regularly, too. She adores him. He’s fun.”
“Unlike Uri.” Lisa’s bottom lip trembled. “I don’t know what to do.”
“And I can’t help you with that,” Breeze told her. “I’m here for you, you know that, but I can’t make these decisions for you. You are the only one who knows how you feel and what’s best for Tristan.”
“And I thought you would be full of advice telling me to ditch Uri and live a normal life. Like you.” Lisa walked around the kitchen table and went to Breeze with her arms open wide. “I wish you would tell me what to do but I’m grateful that you aren’t.”
“Take your time. Tell Uri you need more time. Maybe stay in town for a couple of weeks. Perhaps the mountain air and wide-open spaces will give you some clarity.”
Lisa sighed and rested her head on Breeze’s shoulder. “I wish I was more like you. Less rash, less…”
“You are perfect just the way you are,” Breeze told her, her voice ragged with emotion. “Don’t ever change.”
“Are you sure about that?” Lisa asked with a short laugh.
“I know that you have an incredible child, he’s amazing, Lisa. I just think maybe the three of you need to figure out, together, what you all want.” Breeze rubbed her sister’s back. “And if that doesn’t work then do what is best for you and Tristan.”
“Not Uri?” Lisa asked. “I thought I’d made up my mind. But now that he’s missing, it’s made me realize that I don’t want to lose him. I don’t want to lose either of them.”
“That’s up to Uri and whether he is going to compromise, too.” Breeze shrugged. “Maybe he’ll surprise you.”
“Or maybe he won’t.” Lisa jumped and took a couple of steps back, her hands to her face as Breeze’s phone rang. “Oh, is this them?” Her face paled and she covered her mouth with her hand as if she were trying not to be sick.
“Hello?” Breeze’s heart hammered in her chest as she waited for a reply. The number that flashed up on her phone was the number of the satellite phone Joey had texted her earlier.
“Breeze, it’s me.” Joey sounded breathless.
“Joey, have you found them?” Breeze asked quickly. “Are they okay?” she added without giving him a chance to answer.
“Yes, we found them.” He paused and she could hear a voice in the background.
“Are they okay?” she repeated.
“Tristan is fine. Tired and cold but fine. Uri has a broken leg, we’re carrying him back down the mountain now. Can you meet us at the hospital?”
“Of course,” Breeze said. “They’re going to be okay?”
“They’re going to be fine,” he assured her. “And you know I can’t lie.”
“Except to spare my feelings.”
“Not this time, I promise. Everything is just fine. At least it will be when Uri’s had his leg X-rayed. But Shawn has looked at it and he said it’s a clean break, no complications.” He paused and a muffled voice said something she couldn’t hear. “I have to go. I love you. See you at the hospital.”
The call ended and she turned to face Lisa. “They’re okay. Uri has broken his leg, but they are okay.”
“His leg?” She wiped her hand over her eyes. “And Tristan?”
“He’s fine. Tired and cold but fine.” She breathed a long, deep, thankful breath. As she hugged Lisa, she said, “Maybe this will give you the time to reconnect.”
“Because Uri can’t go off doing his own thing?” Lisa asked. “You might be right, but I would’ve preferred not to have that chance with Uri in plaster. He’s going to be a nightmare to live with.”
“He might just learn how much he depends on you. And on Tristan.” Breeze put her hands on Lisa’s shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “This gives you some breathing space, time to think what your next step is. Use it wisely.”
“I will.” She nodded and pulled away from Breeze. “Okay, let’s go. As much as I cannot wait to hug them both, I also want to figure out how this happened and maybe tear a strip or two off Uri. He is the adult and he should have been more careful.”
Breeze smiled to herself as the two women grabbed their purses and headed to the door. Perhaps Lisa might finally see Uri for who he was. And perhaps Uri might finally realize that it would be worth compromising to keep the wife he adored and the son who needed a father who was there for him. For too long Uri had made decisions that suited himself without thinking of his family.
Breeze drove them to the hospital and checked with the receptionist whether Uri and Tristan had arrived yet. The answer was no and so the two sisters headed outside to wait.
“This is the worst,” Lisa complained.
“They did have to drive down from the mountains,” Breeze reminded her.
“I know but waiting has never been my thing.” She looked up, standing on tiptoes as three vehicles pulled off the road and drove across the parking lot. “Is this them?”
“It is.” One of the vehicles belonged to the mountain rescue team. Disappointment filled Breeze when she didn’t see Joey’s truck. She wanted to see him, to hold him, and to thank him for everything.
However, when the three vehicles stopped close to the hospital entrance, Joey was the first person out of the truck. Breeze lifted her hand and waved, feeling ridiculous as Joey simply nodded at her and then turned his back on her. Then her heart leaped with relief as he lifted Tristan out of the truck and strode toward her and Lisa.
“There’s your mom and Aunt Breeze.” Joey held Tristan, who was wrapped in a blanket, against his chest, as if sharing his body heat. Tristan looked small and pale next to the tall, muscular bear shifter. However, a smile soon brightened his face as he saw his mom and aunt.
“I lit a fire to keep Dad warm,” Tristan said proudly.
“You lit a fire?” Lisa asked in shock. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Joey taught me, he said it was okay as long as there was an adult with me. Dad is an adult,” Tristan pointed out.
“Supposedly,” Lisa said sourly as she went to Tristan and hugged him.
Joey relinquished his hold on the boy and went to Breeze, folding his arms around her and kissing her lips softly as the breath shuddered through his body. “Uri was lucky the fall wasn’t worse. I’ll be giving him some lessons on walking safely in the mountains when he’s better.”
“Thank you so much,” Lisa said, then her attention was drawn to her husband who was being wheeled into the hospital on a gurney. “I’m going to go.” She pointed at Uri.
“I’ll be in soon,” Breeze told her. As her sister walked away, she rested her head on Joey’s shoulder and held him close, breathing in the scent of damp mud and pine. “Have you been rolling around in the mud?”
“I had to climb down the steep valley where Uri had fallen. It wasn’t the easiest of climbs.” He sighed and inhaled her scent. “You smell good.”
“Thanks.” She tilted her head back and looked up at him. “You really are my hero.”
“Keep talking.” He smothered a smile and she wanted to kiss it right off his lips.
“You and the others. You risked your life for Tristan and Uri.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Joey replied. “It would have been a lot worse if Kelos hadn’t flown down and carried Uri and Tristan out of there.”
“He flew his plane into the valley? That must hav
e been incredibly dangerous.”
“Kelos doesn’t have a plane,” Joey told her.
“Then how does he fly?” she asked in confusion. “How did he pick up Miles and fly him home to be there for the birth of his baby?”
“He’s a dragon shifter.” Joey looked down at her as her mouth fell open. “I can’t lie, remember.”
“You expect me to believe…” She looked over Joey’s shoulder where a group of men who had been part of the rescue party stood talking quietly together. As she stared, one of the men turned and looked directly at her as if he could sense her watching him. With a faint smile, his eyes glowed a deep amber and she swore smoke came out of his ears.
“Kelos.” Joey lifted his hand and waved. The dragon shifter spoke quietly to the other men and then came toward them.
“Oh, boy,” Breeze said.
“So, this is the woman who has captured the heart of my friend.” Kelos inclined his head and nodded at her. There was something otherworldly about him, or maybe old-world.
“This is Breeze. Breeze, this is Kelos.” Joey made the introductions with a protective arm around his mate’s shoulders.
“Good to meet you, Kelos.” She smiled brightly, unsure as to how you were supposed to say hello to a dragon shifter. Breeze glanced at Joey for reassurance.
“I just told Breeze about your secret,” Joey explained when Kelos also shot a questioning look his way.
“Ahh, does that mean I can now give you the gift I have picked out for you?” Kelos’s eyes were bright with excitement as he dug his hand into the pocket of his worn denim jeans and pulled out a small leather pouch. “If you don’t like it, I have plenty of others. You can come and choose your own.”
“Kelos.” Joey’s eyebrows furrowed as he opened the pouch and tipped it up. A ring set with rubies surrounding a large diamond fell into his palm.
Breeze gasped. “You don’t have to.” She wasn’t sure who she was aiming that statement at.
“I want to. As long as you are not offended by my actions.” Kelos grinned as he stared at the jewels. “I feel like an addict slowly weaning myself off a drug.”
Joey laughed. “Kelos is rather attached to his treasure, he can sense it, it calls to him.”
Breeze got the feeling Joey was only half-joking, but this meant the gift held greater importance. Kelos had chosen to give this beautiful ring to his friend so that his friend could…
Joey dropped down on one knee and took hold of her hand. “Breeze, I know we have only just met, and I am not going to rush you into anything. But I love you more than anything in the world and I would be honored if you would be my wife.”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “A million times, yes.”
Joey slipped the ring onto her finger and she pulled him to his feet. More than the ring, even though it looked gorgeous on her finger, she wanted her mate to hold her in his arms and never let her go.
Whatever her sister decided to do with her life, Breeze would be there for her and Tristan. And even Uri, if he ever admitted to needing help.
Joey had taught her that there was room in her heart for enough love for everyone. She would never have to pick and choose, it wasn’t about stealing a piece of love meant for one person to give to another.
Joey, the bear with the big heart, had proved to her love was limitless and without boundaries and she planned to spend each and every day with him living in that limitless love.
Epilogue
“Are you sure?” Lisa asked as the sound of Tristan laughing filled the hallway where Breeze stood with the last box filled with her belongings in her arms.
“Absolutely.” Breeze glanced toward the living room where Uri and Tristan were playing a board game. “I’m happy that you decided to stay in Bear Creek while Uri recuperates.”
“But you could stay, too,” Lisa insisted. “I feel bad that you are leaving your home so that we have somewhere to live.”
“Don’t.” Her eyes widened and a smile covered her lips. “I’m looking forward to moving in with Joey. I really am.”
“It’s good to see you so happy.” Lisa stepped to the side and hugged Breeze around the box.
“It’s good to see you all so happy, too.” Breeze studied her sister’s face. “I know it hasn’t been easy.”
Lisa sighed. “Uri is the worst patient in the world. But he’s beginning to appreciate me more. Especially when he can’t carry a cup of coffee from one room to the next without spilling it.”
“And he has Tristan to keep him entertained. They are growing closer day by day.” It warmed Breeze’s heart to see father and son getting to really know each other.
“Uri has no place to go. While his leg heals, he has to stay put. His wanderlust has disappeared and he’s already talking about Tristan starting school here and them exploring the mountains together.”
“After they have both had some survival training,” Breeze added.
“Uri knows he was stupid going off like that.” Lisa stared down at the floor.
“What?”
“He told me why he took Tristan into the mountains.”
“He did.” Fear gripped Breeze, had there been an ulterior motive for Uri’s reckless actions?
“He was jealous of Joey.” Lisa raised her eyes to Breeze’s and nodded.
“Why?”
“Because Tristan kept telling us about what he’d done with Joey and how much fun he’d had in the mountains. Uri decided to prove he was as good as Joey. Although, all he proved was he wasn’t.” Lisa smiled mischievously. “I think the whole experience gave Uri a bit of a shock.”
“I’m glad things are working out for you all.” Breeze looked down at the box. “I should go before my arms drop off.”
“Tristan, Aunt Breeze is going now.” Lisa looked toward the living room.
Tristan came running and threw his arms around Breeze. “Bye, Aunt Breeze. Can I come and visit you soon?”
“Sure you can. Your Mom said you can come and sleepover on Saturday night. Is that okay with you?” Breeze asked. “Joey said he would cook you some nice mountain vegetable soup.”
“I’d like to come and stay but I don’t want vegetable soup.” Tristan wrinkled his nose.
“Joey says you will like it. Because you are going to go and forage for some of the ingredients in the mountains. I bet you’d like that.” Breeze arched a questioning eyebrow. “He also said you could look for bugs since we didn’t have time when we went for our picnic.”
“I guess I could try the soup. I’m not sure about the bugs.” Tristan gave her another hug, and then ran back to the living room. “I love you,” he called out before he disappeared.
“I love you, too,” Breeze called back.
“Thanks for everything.” Lisa’s eyes misted with tears. “I know I acted foolishly and let Tristan down.”
“It’s okay. We all make mistakes. We do what’s best for those we love. That is all we can do. He’s happy, and you and Uri seem happy. So, we got there in the end and that is all that matters.”
“And if we hadn’t forced you to leave, you would never have met the man of your dreams,” Lisa teased.
“You didn’t exactly force me to leave,” Breeze insisted.
“Hey.” Lisa put up her hand. “Let me take some of the credit, please.”
Breeze laughed and her sister opened the front door. As she stepped outside, it was as if she were taking the first step toward the rest of her life.
Going to her car, she wedged the last box onto the crowded back seat and shut the door. Then she gave one last wave to Lisa before driving to the cabin where her mate was waiting for her. He’d arranged for Breeze to meet Martha, who was a non-shifter mate to a shifter, but the last few days had proved to Breeze that she no longer needed reassurances.
“Something smells good,” she said as she opened the front door and went inside.
“Jane baked us some carrot cake and I have made fresh coffee.” Joey came to meet her i
n the hallway and they both went outside to carry in the last of Breeze’s boxes.
“I think I’m going to like living here.” Breeze inhaled the scent of fresh mountain air that blew through the trees carrying the smell of sun-warmed pine resin.
“I know I’m going to love you living here,” Joey told her.
“I also can’t wait to raise a couple of kids here. With you.” She leaned over and kissed him. “You are my perfect ending.”
“This is just the beginning,” he reminded her.
“I know, but when the beginning and the middle are done, you will still be there for me and I will still be there for you.” Two hearts that beat as one, filled with enough love to last a lifetime and beyond.
“Always.” He kissed her once more and then they carried her boxes into the house which was now their home.
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READING ORDER FOR
Bear Creek Clan and Bear Bluff Clan
Complete Box Set
Or available individually
suggested reading order
(each can be read as a standalone
but why not start at the beginning and get to know all of the characters?)
Joey: Spring (Shifter Seasons Book 6) Page 20