#Vacay: A #Hashtag and BearPaw Resort Crossover Novella

by Cambria Hebert

  “Don’t touch her.”

  Drew lifted his hands in surrender.

  “My foot hurts,” she announced, her voice weak.

  All the anger and fear inside me drained away instantaneously. I shouldn’t have yelled at her. Instead of taking the long way, I leapt over the back of the couch to land gracefully in the small space between the table and couch. Slipping my arms under her, I lifted her easily into my arms. When I turned, Trent and Drew were watching us.

  “Liam is supposed to be by in a bit,” I said, gruff.

  Trent nodded. “We’ll let them in.”

  Partway to the stairs, Rimmel tapped me on the chest and gave me a look.

  With a sigh, I turned back to my brothers. “Sorry I was being a dick.”

  Trent laughed under his breath.

  Drew grinned a shit-eating grin. “You don’t have to apologize, Rome. We get it.”

  “Yes, he does!” Rimmel argued.

  I gave them a squinty glare, just daring them to laugh. They didn’t, so I continued up the stairs.

  “What about my crutches?” Rim remembered halfway to our room.

  “You don’t need them.”

  She frowned, and I stopped in the middle of the hall to look down. “If you need to go somewhere, I’ll carry you.” Then with an added thought, I said, “Besides, this way I’ll know where you’re at the rest of the trip.”

  She jerked up, indignant.

  “I’ll run you a bath.” I cajoled.

  “I can’t get my leg wet.” She pouted, lifting the boot like she had to show me.

  “I’ll sit on the edge and hold it for you.”

  Interest sparked in her eyes, and I smiled.

  “Romeo?” Rimmel asked, just inside the bedroom.

  “Hmm?”

  “Are you still very mad at me?”

  “Yes.”

  Her head dipped.

  “But even pissed as hell, I still love you more than anything.”

  Against my neck, she smiled.

  Daniel

  This was ridiculous.

  It was late. Dark. Snowing.

  What was I doing right now?

  Standing here waiting for a veterinarian down in Caribou to make his way up the mountain to check on a wild wolf I’d carried home from the woods. You know, after I found a tiny missing girl who quite possibly had a few screws loose in her head.

  I’d never in my life seen a girl involve herself in a fight between wolves, yell at me for shooting at one, and then refuse to leave the forest without it.

  Roman Anderson either had balls of steel or he too had some screws loose, because that woman was probably a full-time job.

  Yeah, um, no thanks.

  I glanced over toward the fireplace where I’d laid out some blankets and the wolf had made herself at home.

  “Fuck,” I muttered, going to the fridge for a beer. Rimmel Anderson must inspire stupidity in men, because I’d only spent ten minutes with her and look at what she’d conned me into doing!

  The wolf lifted its head and looked to where I stood. I didn’t back down from it, but I didn’t challenge it either. As stupid as I thought this was, I was also intrigued. This wolf wasn’t like any other wolf I’d ever come across. This one didn’t seem afraid of people or as aggressive. Maybe because of the injury.

  Once the vet fixed her up, she’d probably try and take my head off.

  As if on cue, someone knocked on the back door, and I palmed my beer as I went to open it. I didn’t much care if this guy saw me drinking. Hell, I had a wild animal in my house. That entitled me to a drink.

  “Thanks for coming,” I said briskly the second I pulled open the door. “I know this isn’t very typic—” The rest of the words died in my throat when I got a good look at the veterinarian standing on the other side.

  “You’re a woman,” I said, blunt.

  She didn’t miss a beat. “Well, when I put on my panties this morning, I was. Pretty sure that hasn’t changed.”

  I blinked. And stared.

  She cleared her throat. “Mind if I come in?”

  I jolted, realizing I’d just been staring while she stood outside in the snow.

  Coughing quietly, I moved out of the way and gestured for her to come in. “Of course. Sorry.”

  She stepped inside, and I couldn’t help but notice how the white snowflakes contrasted against the onyx of her hair. It was straight and sleek, not a wave or strand out of place. When she turned to look at me, I saw the ends were tucked into her coat.

  Her skin was olive toned and warm. Her eyes were dark and likely missed nothing. If she wasn’t all Native American, a huge part of her lineage was.

  “I… ah…” I began, still studying her. “I was expecting a man.”

  “Because women can’t be veterinarians?” she countered, setting a bag on the table and reaching for the zipper of her coat.

  “Of course not,” I muttered.

  She held her hand out between us. “I’m Dr. Meredith Patel.”

  “Daniel,” I said, slowly reaching out to shake. Her hand was warm and soft, the skin uncalloused and smooth.

  “You sure you’re a doctor?”

  “Would you like to see my credentials?” she quipped.

  I might have just insulted her. Again. So I decided to just let that topic go. “You wanna beer?”

  “I don’t drink when I’m working.”

  “Right.” Stupid. What the hell is wrong with me?

  “Coffee?” I asked, then realized how late it was. “Hot tea?”

  “I wouldn’t mind some tea, but don’t go to any trouble.”

  I hurried to put some water on to boil and grab the container of tea bags, a mug, and some honey. If it wasn’t for my sister and Bellamy, I wouldn’t even have this shit in my cabin. I’d never drunk a cup of hot tea in my life.

  “So I have to say I’ve never received a call like I did from Liam Mattison tonight,” she mused, then glanced around. “Is he here?”

  Irritation smacked me hard. “He’s home. With his wife.”

  Her eyebrows rose partway up her forehead and disappeared beneath her bangs. “So you’re the one who found the wolf?”

  “Sort of.” My tone was gruff. “Did you happen to hear about that a woman who got lost on the mountain today?”

  “The wife of the most famous quarterback in the NFL went missing. It’s national news. I think people on the other side of the country heard about it.”

  I choked on the beer I was drinking. “What?”

  “I saw it on the news.” She frowned. “You didn’t know?”

  I shook my head, then picked up my cell on the counter.

  The tea kettle began to whistle, so I poured some water into the mug, then set everything in front of her.

  “Make yourself at home,” I said, then dialed Liam.

  “Yeah?” He answered on the second ring.

  “You seen the news?”

  Liam paused. “No. Why?”

  “‘Cause apparently the resort went national today. Along with a certain QB’s wife.”

  Liam let out a string of curses. “Someone called the press?”

  “Evidently.”

  “What a clusterfuck. I invited them up here for a good time, not a damn soap opera.”

  “Yeah, I figured. Thought I’d give you a heads-up.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  I started to hang up, but he called my name.

  “Yeah?”

  “How’s the wolf?”

  “Not sure yet. Doc just got here.”

  The vet looked up when I said that.

  “How do ya like her?” Liam asked, humor and suggestion in his tone.

  I hung up on him.

  “It’s Meredith,” she said the second I put the cell on the counter.

  “You make that yet?” I asked, motioning to the mug with a string hanging out of the top.

  She nodded. “Thank you. It’s been a long day.”

  I felt lik
e the world’s largest ass then. She’d just driven up here from Caribou in the snow and cold after working a full day. Now she was going to deal with a wounded animal, and I’d pretty much let insult after insult rip since I opened the door.

  “If I can get you anything else, please let me know.”

  She smiled, and something in my chest broke. I didn’t like it.

  “So tell me about the patient.” She lifted the mug to her lips to blow on the surface of the steaming liquid.

  I must have made it too hot. “Patient?” I echoed.

  “The wolf?” she implored. “Is it outside?”

  Right. The wolf. “It’s lying in front of the fireplace in the living room.”

  Her eyes widened and her lips drew back from the mug. “It’s inside?”

  I shrugged. “What else was I supposed to do with it? It’s cold out, and it’s injured.”

  Fuck. Now I sounded as crazy as Anderson’s wife.

  I felt her eyes acutely as they gazed at me over the rim of the mug against her lips.

  After a few beats of silence, she set the cup aside. “Can I see her now?”

  I went first, her following behind. When we drew close, the wolf lifted her head and lowered her ears.

  Instinctively, I held out my arm, creating a barrier between the doc and the animal.

  “She’s smaller than I imagined,” she murmured.

  “Maybe it’s not full grown.”

  She went to the coffee table to set down the bag she brought along, and the wolf’s eyes followed. I went with her, keeping my body positioned between the them.

  “Do you think you could give me a hand?” she asked, pulling out a syringe and some meds from the bag.

  I gestured for the stuff in her hand.

  She frowned. “I meant by holding her while I do it.”

  “I don’t think you should get that close.” I cautioned. “She might bite you.”

  “Liam called me out here to treat this animal. That requires getting close to it. You didn’t think I’d come all this way and stand across the room and just stare, did you?”

  “Fine,” I quipped. “But if she takes off your hand, it’s on you.”

  She made a face and filled the syringe with liquid from a small glass bottle. As she worked, she muttered to herself. “Well, that’s why I asked you for help. The animal must trust you a little because it let you bring it here.”

  I suppressed a smile.

  Her dark gaze snapped to mine. “Step aside. I have work to do.”

  I hesitated, then moved out of the way. Cautiously, she stepped toward the wolf, who let out a low grumble of warning.

  “Wait,” I said, grabbing her wrist.

  She glanced around at me. “The sooner I get this relaxant into her, the sooner I can see what’s wrong.”

  “One sec,” I said and jogged into the kitchen. I came back and held up a stick of beef jerky.

  The second I ripped the wrapper, the wolf focused on me. I chuckled. “I guess I know the way to your heart,” I told her.

  Her tail beat once against the floor. I walked over to her and crouched near her head. She sniffed at the food in my hand. Breaking a piece off, I held it out to her, and she took it immediately.

  Glancing at the doc, I gestured for her to come closer.

  The wolf looked away from me and toward the doc as she approached her other end.

  “Hey,” I said, firm. “Look here.”

  I broke off another piece of the jerky and offered it. The wolf swallowed it, and I gave her the last piece I had.

  When she was done, I grabbed ahold of her head and held firm. “Do it.”

  The doc worked quickly and efficiently. The wolf barely had time to fuss before the shot was given, and Meredith stood up.

  I let go of the wolf’s head, and she moved toward the vet. Quickly, I lunged between them, pushing the doc back with my body.

  “No,” I said authoritatively.

  “That should start working in a few minutes,” Meredith said. “Then I’ll be able to tend to her back leg.”

  Retrieving my beer and her tea from the kitchen, I gestured to the couch for her to sit and wait. She lowered, cradling the mug in her palms, and I sat in a chair adjacent to the couch.

  “I like your cabin,” she said after a few minutes of silence. Her eyes strayed to the string lights lining the large triangular window behind us.

  “It used to be my brother-in-law’s place. He and my sister moved when they had kids.”

  “Alex is your brother-in-law, right?”

  “You know him?”

  “We’ve met a few times, and of course I know of him. But I can’t really say I know him.”

  “But you know Liam.”

  Her eyes snapped to me when I spoke. “Why do you seem to take offense to that?”

  “I don’t.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I know Liam and Bellamy. They bring Charlie to me.”

  Oh. Right. Of course she would be Charlie’s vet.

  A few minutes later, the wolf was asleep on the floor, and Meredith began pulling some supplies out of her bag. When she got up to go toward the animal, I jumped up, but she held out her hand to stop me.

  “Let me do my job.”

  It made me itchy when she approached the wolf without any kind of barrier to protect her. What the hell was Mattison thinking, calling her out here for this? He couldn’t come up with someone less… fragile?

  “Can you bring the bag?” she asked a few moments later.

  I did, and she went about an exam, cleaning and dressing the wolf’s injured leg.

  “She seems a little undernourished,” the doc said when she finally sat back. “And she’s an adult, so she’s full grown.”

  “Really?”

  She nodded, causing hair to slip over her shoulders and frame her face. “I’m pretty confident in saying she’s only part wolf. I think she must have domestic in her, which would also explain why she seems a little less… wild.”

  That surprised me. “She’s part dog?”

  Meredith nodded. “I think so. But I won’t be able to tell you for sure until I get the lab results from the blood I took.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “I’ll put a rush on it.”

  “What about her leg?” I asked, gazing at the animal. Her fur was light gray and there were dark markings on her ears and around her eyes. I couldn’t really see the “dog” in her, but it would explain a lot as far as behavior and why she allowed both me and Rimmel close.

  “It’s going to need about a week or so to heal. It was starting to get infected. She’ll need to take antibiotics.” Meredith paused. “What do you plan to do with her?”

  “I hadn’t really thought that far ahead,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. “I really just brought her here because Rimmel wouldn’t leave her behind.”

  The doc laughed low. “Rimmel Anderson is known for being a champion of animals.”

  “I guess she’ll need someone to give her the meds and watch her leg.” I assumed. “And didn’t you say she needed to eat better?”

  Meredith nodded. “I don’t really have the space to bring her to my clinic, and I’m not really sure how she would be with all the other animals around… She’s not exactly domesticated. I can’t put my other patients in jeopardy.” Her eyes strayed to the animal, and she began to chew her lower lip.

  When she clasped her hands together and started wringing them, I spoke up. “I’ll keep her here.”

  Her eyes widened. “You will?”

  I nodded. “I live alone, and she somewhat trusts me.”

  “I’ll come by and check on her, make sure her leg heals properly. I can also recommend what kind of diet to feed her.”

  Our gazes collided, and for long moments, we both sat on the floor with the wolf between us and the fire crackling off to the side.

  When I looked into her eyes, everything else kind of faded into the background, and it was sort of
like I was free-falling.

  Meredith cleared her throat and looked away. “I gave her some pain medication, as well as the mild sedative. She should rest comfortably the rest of the night,” she informed me while shoving everything into her bag.

  When she scrambled to her feet, the stethoscope she’d draped around her neck slid off and fell to the floor. The wolf jolted from the sudden smacking sound. Automatically, I laid a palm on her side and spoke quietly.

  The wolf calmed and lay back down. Afterward, I picked up the stethoscope and stood. Meredith stared at it when I held it between us.

  “She trusts you,” she said, gazing down at the wolf.

  I shrugged. “It’s the beef jerky.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Animals are very instinctual. She senses your strength.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. “Here.” I gestured toward the instrument I was still holding.

  She took it, carried it to the coffee table, and stuffed it into her bag with the rest of her things. I watched as she worked. Her movements fascinated me. Something about her made me want to stare.

  There was this air about her… gentle yet also strong.

  Gentle was definitely not something I was accustomed to.

  “You were in the army, right?” she asked, turning to face me.

  Suspicion slapped me. “How’d you know that?”

  Her eyes widened at my reaction, but I didn’t bother to scale it back. I was suspicious of everyone, and I wasn’t going to forget that just because she intrigued me.

  “Caribou is a small town. Not to mention you’re family with the two most famous guys here at BearPaw. People talk.”

  “Right,” I said. Small-town life was sometimes a little lost on me. Just because I wasn’t interested in what anyone else did with their life didn’t mean everyone was like that. And she was right… People probably did talk. Liam was like the king of this entire town, and Alex was a close second.

  Meredith carried her bag into the kitchen and picked up her coat to pull it on over the hoodie she wore.

  The thick hood got caught up with the hood of her coat, and she got into a small tug-of-war while I watched.

  When she started muttering something under her breath, hair falling into her eyes, I chuckled and went forward. “Here,” I said, reaching out to untangle both hoods.

  She froze the second my hands grabbed the coat and worked. I shifted a little closer, leaning in to see and spread the thick, fur-lined hood against her back.