“Sure, no problem.”
“Just hurry back,” Eric growled. “I’ve got a bad feeling I can’t shake.”
“What kind of bad feeling?”
“I don’t know. I just feel like something bad is about to go down.”
David paused and looked at his brother. Eric’s feelings were rarely wrong. “I’ll be back as quick as I can.” He turned and walked out the door.
* * * *
Laynee ran her fingers over the cold, smooth surface of the sink faucet and turned on the water. Slowly moving her hand to the right, she found the container of soap. Biting her lip, she held one hand under the spout and compressed the top. A thick, gelatinous glob shot out into her palm. Slowly, she soaped her hands while a floral scent drifted through the room. Where could Father have gone? Could something have happened to him or Jeremy? He’s probably just lost, but how’s he gonna know where I am if he goes looking for me? And what about these guys? They almost seem too good to be true.
Turning off the water, she groped along the wall to her left until she felt terrycloth beneath her fingers. Releasing her breath, she dried her hands and let her fingers slide down the door until they curved around the doorknob. Licking her lips, she slowed her breathing and opened the door. She listened carefully, but didn’t hear anything but the sounds of birds chittering. It sounded like someone had left the door open. “Where’d everybody go?” She turned toward the sound of footsteps.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to take so long. David had to go up to the big house to meet our dad, but I’m still here.” Footsteps came closer, first loud, and then muffled. “The folks have always kept a variety of clothes here in case of emergencies. I checked and found you a robe, a pair of jeans, and a couple of T-shirts that look like they might fit. I thought you might like to take a shower or bath after spending the night in the woods. I promise everything’s clean. There are even some lady’s unmentionables that are brand new, still in the package.”
“Why would they have unopened packages of underwear here?”
“Sometimes business associates get caught here when things don’t go as swiftly as they planned, and once this was used as a refuge for one of the families in the pa…um, on the mountain that lost their home to a fire. My uncle Remus is a very generous, thorough man. He doesn’t like to leave anything to chance.”
Laynee shrugged. “A bath does sound good. Why don’t you give me the unmentionables, the jeans, and a T-shirt and point me to the towels. I’ll just go soak in the tub. It’ll be heaven after lying under that tree before I met up with you guys.”
“No, problem. I’m gonna lay the clothes on the sink, and I’ll put a towel by the tub. Would you like me to start the water?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Better if I do it, so I know where the controls are.” She felt him pass her and turned in the direction of the bathroom. He returned quickly and took her arm.
“I promise, you’re perfectly safe, but if you feel uncomfortable, the door does have a lock on it.”
Laynee snorted. “You could have killed me several times over by now. I guess I feel pretty safe with you and your brother.”
“That’s good. We want you to feel at ease, like our home is your home.” He took a couple of steps and then stopped. “Are you hungry, Laynee? I could make us some sandwiches when you get out.”
She licked her lips. “Sounds great, but don’t get in a big hurry ’cause I’m gonna soak for a while. I don’t get the luxury of a bath often. My room at the school only had a shower.”
Eric laughed. “Then by all means, take your time.”
Laynee moved into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Her fingers hovered over the lock for a moment and then dropped to her side. Better to leave it unlocked in case I have any problems. Wouldn’t want the nice man to have to break down his door. That had happened to her the second year she was in the boarding school. It was a painful, valuable lesson she’d never forgotten.
Reaching out, she found the clothes, and then the towels and a washrag he’d laid by the sink. Turning, she went to her knees and trailed her fingers along the porcelain tub. There was no mat, so she’d have to be extra careful not to slip. Cautiously, she felt for the controls and turned on the left faucet. The water turned hot really fast. Smiling, she turned the knob for the cold until the water was a comfortable temperature. Letting her fingers slide down, she found the drain and closed it. Satisfied, she stood and quickly shed her clothing. Holding onto the side of the tub, she slowly climbed in and sank down into the rising water.
* * * *
The back door of the alpha’s house opened as soon as David knocked. He smiled as his cousin Eloise opened her arms.
“Hello, handsome. Come give me a big, old, bear hug.”
Laughing, he moved into her arms and promptly picked her up off the floor.
Eloise squealed. “And how is my favorite cousin?”
David snorted and dropped her none too gently to her feet. “I’d be flattered if you didn’t say that to each of your other dozen cousins.”
She stuck her lip out in a pretty pout. “Okay, how’s my favorite bear cousin?”
“I’m great, little girl. How are all the little munchkins at the school?” Eloise was Remus and Maddie’s oldest daughter. For the past couple of years she’d been the grade school teacher for the pack
“They’re everywhere! I swear the pack is multiplying like rabbits. How’s the adventure business going?”
David grinned. “Hey, it’s great. We’re heading into warmer months, and it’s our busiest season. People just love getting out to experience a little nature and see a little wildlife.”
She put her hands on her waist and glared up at him. “Please tell me you don’t take those human assholes on hunting trips so they can hang stuffed heads on their den walls and spend years telling about the fearsome battle it took to bring the animal down.”
He brought his hands up in defense. “No, little wolf. The only hunting trips we do are for photographic opportunities. We guide folks who want to take pictures of nature. The only people allowed to carry guns are us, and we carry tranq guns.”
Eloise grinned and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re all right, cousin.”
“David.”
David looked up to see his father standing in the doorway. “Hey, Latan. It’s good to see you.”
Latan walked over and hugged his adopted son. “It’s good to see you, boy.” He stepped back and motioned toward the door. “You’d better come with me. There’s been a development with your situation.”
“What situation?” asked Eloise. “What’d I miss?”
Latan put his hand on her back and pushed her toward the door. “You might as well come along, missy. This could turn out to be everyone’s problem.”
David walked into the living room to find Remus and several members of the pack, clustered around the television. “What’s going on?”
Remus looked up and nodded toward screen. “You’d better listen to this.”
David walked over, stood behind the couch, and listened.
“Repeating this hour’s top story. A massive manhunt has begun in the northeast region of Wyoming for twenty-year-old Laynee Elizabeth Conners. Miss Conners was reported to be camping with her father, Robert Conners, when she disappeared from their campsite right outside of Campbell sometime last night. Our own Elliot West had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Conners a short time ago.”
David moved closer to the television when the image of the man from the gas station came on screen.
“Please,” Robert begged. “Whoever has my daughter, please bring her back. No questions will be asked as long as she’s unharmed.” He sniffed and wiped at his eyes. “I just want her back. She’s all I have left.”
The reporter moved closer. “Mr. Conners, is it not possible that your daughter wandered away from your campsite and got lost?”
“No, absolutely not. My daughter’s blind, and she d
oesn’t even have her cane with her. She would never have attempted to walk away on her own.” He looked down at his hands and then up at the camera, tears trailing down his face. “We were just doing a little father-daughter bonding, just the two of us. She’s been away in a special school most of her life and recently lost her only remaining grandparent. It was supposed to be a time for us to heal.” He ran his hands through his hair. “It’s all my fault. I found us a good place to camp, but we had to hike in. I got Laynee settled and then jogged back to the car to get our gear. When I got back,” he sobbed, “she was gone. I’ve seen several wolves in the area since we’ve been here. I’m terrified that some wild animal has taken her away.”
The cameraman focused on the reporter. “The sheriff’s department and the highway patrol are combining efforts and combing the area north of Campbell. They’re asking the public to keep their eyes open, but to stay out of the woods until the authorities give the all clear.”
The broadcast went back to studio feed. “We’ll keep a close eye on this story as information becomes available. For years there have been reports of wolves all over the northern part of Wyoming. It’s a shame it takes a tragedy like this to make people look at the big picture.”
Remus raised the remote and turned the television off.
Latan growled. “Damn, every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be out trying to bag a vicious wolf now.”
Remus turned and looked at David. “You and Eric are sure this young woman is your mate?”
David nodded and sank into a chair. “Yes, sir. There’s no doubt about my bear claiming her. He went nuts when we got close enough to catch her scent.”
Remus nodded toward a man standing in the corner. “You remember, Tehran, the pack doctor, don’t you?”
David stood and held out his hand. “Sure, how’ve you been, Tehran?”
The gray-haired man grinned and took his hand. “Not bad for an old man. Alpha Remus said you think the girl’s father drugged her and then left her to die. What makes you think that?”
David sighed, combing his fingers through his hair. He told them about first seeing her at the gas station. “When Eric went on his run, he came across her father and another man at their campsite.” He turned to Remus. “Which, by the way, was nowhere near Campbell. He’s got them searching in the wrong direction.”
Shaking his head, he turned back to Tehran. “He overheard them talking. The younger guy was questioning how long it would take before the bears would get her. They mentioned the drugs and that was enough to send Eric racing to find me. He let his wolf search while I took the Jeep north. The guys talked like they’d left her a couple of hours before, and said she was by the stream, so we gauged the distance and began our search.”
He paced back and forth. “Eric found her first. He could smell the drugs when he scented her neck, and there was a can of soda on the ground that also had the drug smell.” David looked up and smiled. “I’ve got the can in the Jeep. We’re hoping you can tell us what they gave her, in case there are any side effects we should watch for.”
Tehran nodded. “No problem there. Is the Jeep unlocked?”
“Yeah, I left it unlocked.”
“Then I’ll grab it on my way out and take it back to the clinic and see what we’re dealing with. Has she been sick at all? Any dizziness, nausea, vomiting?”
“Maybe a little groggy and dizzy. She passed out as soon as we laid her down on a sleeping bag.”
Remus growled softly. “Tehran, see what you can find out and get back to me ASAP.”
“Right, Alpha, on my way.” He let himself out the front door.
Remus turned to David. “This is opening a really nasty can of worms, boy.”
David bristled. “What could we have done different, Alpha? The woman is our mate. We have to protect her, even from her father.”
The alpha placed his hand on David’s shoulder and smiled. “I know, son, and I’m not upset with you. I just want you to understand what’s about to go down. When they don’t find her body, they’ll increase the search parameters and come closer to us. It will be extremely dangerous for anyone in the pack to make a run. I’m going to have to include warnings with our meeting this afternoon.”
Maddie stood up. “I recommend we keep the young woman hidden away for now. If they discover her, she’ll automatically be returned to her father. We need to do some digging and find out why he wants her dead before we do anything else.”
“You have any recommendations on how we go about doing that?” Remus asked.
Maddie grinned. “Ask Koril to assign Alexander, Macon, or Synia to do some digging.” Koril had been the head of security for Wind River Pack for over fifty years. He currently had three of the pack’s young wolves working for him.
Latan stood. “Okay, I’ll see what we can work out.”
Remus put his hand on David’s shoulder. “In the meantime, stick close to your mate, but don’t tell her anything about us until we find out more about her father. If you can avoid it, don’t tell her anything about her father until we get some definite answers.” He started toward the kitchen and then turned back. “Bring her with you this afternoon. I need both of you at the meeting. I’ll make arrangements for her to visit with the pups while the pack meets, and then you can introduce her around at the reception afterward.” He sighed and moved toward the kitchen. “We’re heading for a major clusterfuck.”
* * * *
Laynee pulled up the zipper on her jeans and ran her fingers around the loose waist. “I guess I need to gain a little weight.” Grabbing the T-shirt, she let her fingers trace around the inside of the collar searching for a label. When she found one, she yanked the shirt over her head. Feeling a little better, she folded the towel and laid it on the counter. “Sorry I can’t clean up after myself here, but I don’t know where you keep everything,” she whispered. The men had been awfully nice to her, and they really had sexy voices. She covered her mouth to muffle her laugh. “I wish I could see what they look like. I wonder if I could get Eric to let me feel his face?”
“Laynee, are you okay?” Eric asked.
She took a deep breath and opened the door. “I’m fine, just finishing up. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the clothes. I’d been in my other things way too long.” She walked out of the bathroom, holding her hand out in front of her and started when Eric closed his fingers around her arm. “Have you been able to find out anything about my father?”
“No, not yet. David went to our dad’s house to see what he could find out.” He guided her further into the room. “It’s such a pretty day. I thought you might like to sit out on the back deck. We’ve got a swing and some rocking chairs set up. I took the liberty of taking some lemonade and cookies out that I found in the kitchen.”
“You found food in the kitchen? You said this was a guest house. Are they expecting someone?”
“No, Remus just likes to keep it stocked up so it’s ready on a moment’s notice.” He patted her on the shoulder with his other hand. “Don’t worry. David already called him last night and got permission to bring you here. Knowing my dad, he probably checked the supplies to make sure we’d have anything we’d need.”
“Okay, then I won’t worry anymore. I’d love to sit outside. It’s not something I get to do very often.”
“Then, by all means, let’s go.” Eric took her arm and led her across the room and through another before he pulled open a door. “The swing is to the right. That’s always been my favorite.”
Laynee nodded and stepped out into the fresh air. She breathed in deeply. “Flawless spring days are like an assault on your senses.”
“That’s so true.”
His voice held a note of warmth. She felt his hand slide down her back, linger at her waist, and then depart as he laid her hand on the arm of the swing.
“This swing is big enough for the both of us. It’s held to the roof of the porch awning with screws and hung on chains.”
Laynee
skimmed her hand over the smooth wood and up the cold metal chain links. Turning, she sank down on the cushioned seat. She could feel the warm sun on her face as the gentle breeze brushed through her hair. The birds trilling blended with the sound of the wind rustling the leaves. The smell of pine needles and wildflowers competed with the earthy smell of grass. A mournful howl of an animal had her turning around. “What was that?”
“A wolf. There are a lot of them in this area.”
She leaned against the slatted back and smiled. “Is this like some kind of wildlife refuge?”
Eric laughed. “Not exactly, but the people that live on the mountain all respect nature, and I guess the wildlife learn they’re safe here.” He picked up her hand and pressed a plastic glass into it. “That’s your lemonade.”
Laynee brought the glass to her nose and sniffed. Then she stuck out her tongue to lightly taste the contents of the glass. When the sweet and sour taste exploded across her mouth, she turned up the glass and took a long drink.
“Are you always that cautious when someone gives you something to drink?”
She felt her face heat. “Sorry, force of habit, I guess. I was taught early on to be cautious when away from home.”
“No offense taken. It’s good that you’re careful. How long have you been blind, if you don’t mind me asking?” He leaned closer. “It’s okay to tell me to mind my own business if you don’t want me asking you anything.”
“No, I don’t mind questions, as long as I get to ask some of my own.”
“By all means, feel free to ask me anything.”
She leaned back. “As for your question, all my life. I was a preemie and had to spend some time on oxygen in an incubator. They got the concentration too high, for too long, and it damaged my optic nerves.” She shrugged. “At least that’s the way it was explained to me.”
“Must be tough.”
“What?”
“Knowing that somebody’s mistake in judgment could make such a profound difference in your life.”
Blind Acceptance Page 4