by Jane Jamison
A shout rang out, interrupting him. Marrick turned with Craig and stared at the crowd of people hurrying into the street. A woman and two children slowly walked down the center of the road. They were shuffling more than walking as though the next footstep was an impossible feat. The children’s heads hung low while the woman glanced around her.
“What the hell?” Marrick strode down the sidewalk and then onto the road. The closer he came to the trio, the more certain he was that he recognized the children. “Are those my sister’s kids?” He picked up the pace, fear surging into adrenaline.
Pushing through the crowd around the woman and the children, Marrick found himself face to face with a beautiful brunette with shoulder-length hair. Her blue eyes were clouded with exhaustion and her clothes were dirty. Even though she had dirt smudged on her cheeks and her hair was tangled, she still tugged at his abdomen. She looked regal as she protectively wrapped her arms around his nephew and niece. The children were as haggard as the woman with grime covering their clothes. His friends and neighbors recognized the children, too, and eased away, giving him more room.
“Teag? Kitty? What’s going on?” Strangely, the kids didn’t run to him as they usually did. Instead, they pushed closer to the woman, clinging to her arms and legs.
He tilted his head at her. “Who are you? What are you doing with my sister’s children?”
She blinked, once then twice. “Your sister’s?”
“Yeah. Donna Bask. She’s married to John Bask. These are her twins.” Emotions warred inside him. He was attracted to the woman more than he’d ever been to anyone. The electricity, the burning urge to have her, the absolute need to know her spun wildly through him. Nothing short of the connection could account for how he felt. Elation filled him, yet, at the same time, dread pushed ahead of his rising desire. There was only one reason for Donna’s kids to be with someone he didn’t know.
“What’s your name?” Craig came to stand beside him.
Was exhaustion keeping her from answering? Or was it more? Was she mentally capable of it? Silently, he urged her to speak.
“I’m Lisa Ridgeway.”
“Okay, Ms. Ridgeway—”
“Lisa.”
For some strange reason, he was glad she wanted him to use her first name. “I’m Marrick Kinsale, their uncle. And this is Craig Westbrook. Okay, Lisa, start talking. Tell me what’s going on.”
Her body slumped as though she could finally relax. “I was driving, trying to find the highway, and got lost. Then I got a flat tire.”
He ground his teeth. “That’s not telling me anything about the kids.” Why were they still clinging to her? Didn’t they know him?
“Take it easy, man. Give her time.” Craig shot him a stern look. “Go ahead, Lisa.”
“I got a flat tire so I started walking.” She glanced down at her feet. “In heels.”
Was she purposely trying to irritate him? Who the fuck cared what kind of shoes she was wearing? “Yeah. And? Tell me about the kids.”
She blinked again then frowned. “I found them in a ditch. Not a very deep one, but it was still a ditch.”
Something was really off. “And their mother? Where was she? Were they alone?”
“Give her time to answer, man,” warned Craig.
Lisa nodded in a sad way that made his stomach do a sickening flip-flop. “She was there. At least”—she lowered her voice to a whisper—“her body was.”
Pulling out a piranha’s teeth would’ve been easier than getting her to talk. “Go on. Just spit it out.”
Her expression hardened. “I found the kids and I brought them here.” She said all of it with a “go fuck yourself” edge to her tone.
“Mommy’s hiding.”
Marrick’s focus dropped to Teag. If Lisa wasn’t going to tell him much, maybe the kids would. “Where’s your mommy hiding?” He stepped closer, kneeling before his nephew.
“Daddy got mad.”
He swiveled toward Kitty, fear turning into a slow rage. “He did? Did he yell at your mommy?”
“Uh-huh.” Kitty’s eyes swam with tears. “Mommy got scared. She told us to hide in the closet. Then she ran away.”
The crowd around him broke their silence. Gasps and murmurs highlighted their talk.
Marrick pushed those sounds away and concentrated on the kids. “Then what happened, Kitty?” Of the two, his niece would be more specific in her answers. Although the children were both weretigers, she’d always been the more assertive of the two.
“I was afraid.” Kitty’s tears streamed down her cheeks.
He took her hands and gave them a squeeze. “I know. It’s scary when grownups yell. But it’s okay now. You’re safe. But you have to tell me. What happened after your mommy ran away?”
“Daddy chased her.”
Shit. He’d been afraid of hearing exactly that. “How do you know your daddy chased her?”
Kitty looked at the ground and wiped her nose. Her not looking at him any longer was a sign that she’d done something wrong.
“It’s okay, honey. You’re not in trouble. Go on. Tell me.”
Slowly she brought her gaze to meet his. “We chased them.”
Teag, who had remained silent, started crying. “Daddy hit Mommy and she fell. He hit her real hard.”
Marrick had to choke back his anger. If he didn’t, he’d shift in the middle of town and in broad daylight, going against the pride’s rule. “Where is your mommy, kids? Tell me so I can go help her.”
Guilt hit him as hard as a sledgehammer to the stomach. He’d never liked his sister’s mate. John Bask was a lowlife who was too quick to use his fists. Before the twins were born, Donna had already left him a couple of times. As her brother, he’d tried to get her to leave the bastard for good, but she always went back. He hadn’t understood then and he didn’t understand now. How could a woman love a man who made holes in the walls with his fists and treated her like hell?
He’d done what he could, going against Donna’s wishes. Threatening John had helped. For several months, John had kept his temper in check. As far as Marrick knew, his sister was finally happy.
At least, he’d thought so. His gut told him now that she’d been lying. That she’d pretended all was peaceful in their home. If John had put his hands on Donna, if he’d killed his sister, Marrick would make sure John would rot in hell.
Craig touched his shoulder and signaled him to stand up. “Maybe we should get the rest from Lisa. This might not be something they should hear. Lena, can you take the kids and get them cleaned up?”
Marrick nodded, agreeing. And yet he was sure hearing wouldn’t be half as bad as what they’d seen.
Lena Fortran, owner of The Rocking Porch Bed and Breakfast, and a close friend, reached her hands out to the kids. “Come on, guys. Let’s go back to my place and get some breakfast. I’ll make you my super-duper blueberry pancakes.”
For a moment, he thought Kitty and Teag wouldn’t move from Lisa’s side. Lisa, however, bent low and whispered something in their ears. The kids nodded then took Lena’s hands.
“Thanks, Lena. I’ll be over to get them as soon as I can.” First he had to find out about Donna and John.
“Sure thing. I’ll fill up their bellies and get them cleaned up. Take as long as you need.”
He waited until Lena had the kids through to the other side of the crowd then turned to face Lisa again. “Tell me everything you know.”
She swallowed. “I don’t know anything about their father. I didn’t see him.”
Her blue eyes brightened a second before the world around him took on an amber hue.
“Keep it under control, man,” warned Craig.
Marrick’s inner white tiger snarled, unwilling to be kept down. It scratched at him, tearing him apart from the inside out. A low growl escaped his mouth. Fighting as hard as he could, he forced the beast back into submission, clenching and unclenching his hands in his struggle to dominate the animal.
; “Go on with your story.” Story wasn’t the correct word, but he wanted her to tell him everything she’d seen and done.
“Like I said, my car had a flat tire so I started walking. I didn’t know where I was going, but then I heard the kids crying.”
Shit. Still, as hard as he knew it was going to be, he had to hear. “And?”
“So I started looking for them.” She bit her lower lip and clasped her hands, fidgeting. “It didn’t take long to find them. They were in a ditch.”
“What about their mom? Did you see her?”
“Not at first. After I jumped into the hole to get the kids, I…” She shook her head and looked away. “This is horrible. Those poor kids.”
“Is their mother alive?”
Slowly, as though she couldn’t stand to do so, she lifted her gaze to his. “I don’t think so.”
“You don’t know for sure?”
“No. I mean, I didn’t pull all the branches off the body, but I’m pretty sure the woman was dead. Her eyes were open and… She had to be dead. I’m so sorry.”
He felt Craig take his arm to steady him. His sister was dead. And yet, a spark of hope wouldn’t let him believe. Maybe it was someone else. Maybe his sister had turned the kids over to a friend. Maybe he could believe in a miracle for a little while longer.
“Damn, Marrick. I’m sorry.”
“We’ve been walking all night.” She’d looked tired before, but suddenly, her body started to tremble. “We had to stop and rest a lot, but they’re really strong. I don’t know how the kids made it, but they did.”
He ignored Craig’s softly spoken words of warning to keep his beast contained. “Where is she? The woman you saw. Where is she?” he asked.
She turned and pointed in the direction she’d come from. “On the right side of the road about five yards into a pasture. There was a red barn on the other side of the road.” Pity showed on her face. “I’m so very sorry. My phone wasn’t getting any reception or I would’ve called. There was nothing I could do for her, so I took the kids with me.”
“Lisa!”
Marrick whirled around to find the crowd parting to let Teag and Kitty get through. They raced past him and straight into the welcoming arms of Lisa. Lena was hot on their heels, but once they’d made it to Lisa, she gave up the chase.
“I couldn’t get them to go any farther with me.” The older African-American weretiger shrugged. “Looks like they want to stay with her. Considering what they’ve gone through, maybe they should.”
“We don’t want to go with Lena,” moaned Kitty. Teag clung to his sister with one hand and to Lisa’s leg with the other.
“Damn, Lena, I’m sorry. You know they love you.”
“Sure, I do. Don’t worry about me. You just do what’s best for them.” Lena pressed a kiss to Marrick’s cheek. “And do what’s best for yourself, too. You be sure to let me know if there’s anything else I can do.” She stepped back, melting into the crowd.
Marrick was too confused and too miserable to think straight. Why did they want to stay with a stranger? The kids knew and loved Lena. It didn’t make any sense unless…
He drew in a long, slow breath and fought past the grief taking hold. The amazing sensation he’d felt earlier was still there, singing through his body. Could it be? He turned to Craig and saw the answer in his friend’s face.
Craig loved his sister as much as he did. He had to be suffering her loss, too. And yet, a small smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
Craig nodded. “Yeah. You feel it, right? She’s the one.”
The world must’ve gone crazy to have given him their intended mate and taken away his sister at the same time. He’d never felt the connection before, but he didn’t have to. He’d heard enough about it to know what he was feeling was the real thing. When a weretiger found his intended mate, the bond between them was immediate and everlasting.
“And the kids?” He kept his voice low.
“They’re connected to her somehow. I’ve never heard of it happening, but why not? You’re a part of her and they’re a part of you.” Craig jerked his chin toward Lisa. “Looks to me like they want to stay with her.”
Lisa was studying them intently, but unless she had the sensitive hearing of a shape-shifter, she couldn’t have heard them. As far as Marrick could tell, she was all human.
He wanted nothing more than to take her home and make love to her before claiming her as their mate. But first, he had to find his sister’s body. “Lisa, I need your help.”
Chapter Three
Lisa couldn’t keep her attention off Marrick and Craig. After what she’d gone through, it seemed odd for her to notice them, but she couldn’t help but think they were amazing. She’d sworn off men right after talking to Richard, not to mention suffering through a long, hard night of walking in heels with two kids who’d lost their mother. The last thing she should’ve found interesting were too long, lean cowboys. And yet, they suddenly consumed her thoughts.
Marrick’s long black hair framed a cleft chin. His black eyes were filled with pain, but he held his head high and his shoulders back. High cheekbones spoke of a possible Native American ancestry and, if not for the small scar above his right eye, his face might’ve seemed too symmetrical to be real.
Both men had tans that came from long hours in the sun. Their strong forearms, exposed by their rolled up sleeves, hinted at the muscles underneath their clothes. Each wore faded jeans and worn boots, but neither one of them wore a belt, much less a big buckle.
Craig was the day to Marrick’s night. His blond hair was cut in an average length while his gray eyes, although filled with sadness, still held a sparkle she didn’t understand. While Marrick talked, he’d gazed at her longingly, as though she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.
Which, of course, had to be a bunch of bullshit. Especially after the night she’d had. She could imagine how horrible she looked, and worse, how she smelled. What would they want with her? On a good day, she was okay in the looks department, but men like them were sure to have gorgeous women fawning all over them.
“Lisa?”
“Huh?” She jolted then realized she’d been daydreaming. Guilt washed through her. How could she think about how hot they were when she’d just told them about finding a dead woman? A dead woman who’d turned out to be Marrick’s sister.
“I’m sorry. What’d you say?” Heat spread through her cheeks. They had to think of her as either an idiot or an uncaring bitch.
“I said I need your help.”
She put her hands on the children’s heads and pulled them against her legs. Strangely, she still felt protective of them even though she’d found their uncle.
“I don’t understand.” She lowered her voice. “Do you want me to help you find…you know?” She stopped, unwilling to refer to “the body” again in front of Teag and Kitty.
“Yes. But even more, I need you to help me with them.” Marrick’s gaze dropped to the children then came back to hers.
“I don’t think I can.”
Hadn’t she already done enough? All she wanted was to get clean, eat, and then get the hell back home. She glanced down at Teag clutching her dress. Yet how could she leave when they needed her so much? How could she leave without knowing they were truly safe? Even then, she couldn’t help but think it would be hard to turn them loose. In a short time, they’d managed to take her heart and hold it in their small hands.
“Teag and Kitty need you.”
She frowned, taking in first Marrick’s intense gaze before Craig’s. She didn’t doubt what Craig had said, but she wasn’t sure what he meant. Wouldn’t staying only make it harder on the kids when she finally did leave? “No. I’m sorry. I need to get home.”
Teag tugged on her dress. “Nooo. I don’t want you to go.”
Damn. If there was anything that could change her mind, it was his big sorrowful eyes.
Craig took a step forward and offered her his hand. “Thes
e are Marrick’s niece and nephew, Teag and Kitty Bask. Their mom’s name is—” He stopped and corrected himself. “Their mom’s name was Donna Bask.”
No mention of their father and she wasn’t about to ask.
She took his hand and, in that instant, felt a sudden rush of something wild surge from his hand into hers. Inhaling, she looked down, half expecting to see smoke drifting into the air. The sensation rippled up her arm then raced through the rest of her. She didn’t want to turn his hand loose for anything. The feelings running amuck inside her frightened and exhilarated her all at the same time. Heat burst between her legs and her pussy throbbed, calling for her lie down in the middle of the street and beg him to take her.
She looked into his eyes and searched for an answer. He knows what I’m feeling.
She almost wept when he let go of her hand. “I’m Lisa Ridgeway.” Had she already told them?
“Yeah, we know. Lisa, it looks like the kids have taken a strong liking to you.” Craig brushed a hand over Kitty’s hair. “Because of what’s happened, it would help them if you stuck around. Will you? For their sakes?”
She was too tired and hungry to help anyone else. Couldn’t they see that? And still she answered, “What do you want me to do?”
Marrick was quick to answer. “Come to our ranch with us. Stay with the kids. They’re going to need someone they trust while we take care of…things.”
Stay with them? Her first reaction straight from her gut said yes. Then her mind got in the way. “They’ve got to have others around them. You two.” She scanned the crowd, waiting for someone else to speak up, but no one did. “Or maybe one of your wives?”
Marrick shook his head. “Neither one of us is married and we don’t have girlfriends.”
“Then maybe their grandparents?” They had to have more family than his deceased sister.
“They’ve passed on.” Marrick dragged in a shaky breath. “Besides, look at them. You’re the one they want. Don’t do it for us. Do it for them.”
“We promise you’ll be safe on our ranch. You have our word,” added Craig.