Foxy Lady: A Cougar Falls Story

by Marie Harte

  He winked at Gabby and waited for Julia to yell at him.

  To his relief, she did. “You mangy, arrogant, flea-ridden cur. Who the hell do you think you are threatening my family?”

  “Ah, Julia? You’re burning the bacon.”

  “Fuck the bacon, and fuck you too!”

  Gabby and he stared at Julia, shocked. He didn’t think he’d ever heard her say the F-word aloud before. “Nice language. Now, about the bacon?”

  She whirled around and snatched the strips from the pan, putting them on a plate Gabby hurriedly retrieved and brought to the table. When Julia turned to confront him, he asked for coffee.

  Her eyes turned molten gold, and he wanted her all over again. More, he wanted to soothe the hurt he could feel in her soul. “If you think for one minute I’m going to wait on you hand and foot while you order me around, you can go straight to—”

  “Julia! If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like a cup too.” Gabby shrugged and gave her sister a pretty smile.

  When Julia grumbled and turned around again, he and Gabby shared a conspiratorial smile. Keeping Julia off balance put her mind off her worries and on him. Anger he could deal with.

  “I’m still waiting,” Ty said again.

  “Yes, I miss him. He was actually very nice, unlike my mother, who lived in a constant state of depression.”

  He wanted to see her face, but he didn’t want her to stop talking.

  Bitterly, she continued. “He loved her, for all the good it did him. Her family wouldn’t let him stay with us, and Dad didn’t want Mom to suffer because of the clan council. They were even worse back then than they are now.”

  “So Dad just left,” Gabby said.

  “Yeah, one day he just left. He never came back. Then Mom left. She never came back either.” Silence weighed heavily on the room. “Happy now?”

  He didn’t want to think about her tough childhood, but he needed to know. “Is that why you don’t want to mate? Because you’re afraid what happened to your mother will happen to you?”

  Julia turned and watched him with a frown. “I’m not my mother. I want to mate. One day I’d like to have a child. But I’m afraid…”

  “She’s afraid her child might be like me,” Gabby answered in a soft voice.

  “That’s not true,” Julia denied.

  “What does that mean?” Ty asked. Gabby seemed fine to him.

  “That is true. Otherwise you and Ty would admit to the bond between you right now.”

  Ty choked on the piece of bacon he’d been eating. Oh hell. Was that why he couldn’t think of anything besides Julia lately? Had he truly mated her, even accidentally?

  Julia glared at her sister. “We had sex. So what?”

  Obviously the vixen was worried. She’d mentioned sex in front of her sister.

  Gabby shook her head. “If it was just sex, then why do you still smell like him? And he smells like you. Even under all that bacon, I can scent your bond.”

  Ty should have been more worried about the thought of mating, but oddly enough, he wasn’t. A part of him had recognized Julia from the very beginning. He didn’t want to acknowledge the truth, but he couldn’t help himself. His animal spirit longed for her. He only wished she liked him half as much. Waiting for her to deny their connection, he watched her every expression.

  Except Julia didn’t refute her sister. The emotions crossing her face didn’t look like out-and-out rejection. Worry, fear and longing flashed in her eyes before she shuttered her emotions and glanced away.

  “Ty and I aren’t mated. You don’t want a wife, remember?” she said to him.

  He hadn’t thought he’d wanted a wife, but an existence without Julia didn’t bear thinking about.

  “Ty? God, we’re talking about my life here. Could you please pay attention?” she snapped.

  “What was the question?” He liked triggering her temper. An angry Julia cared, and she turned him on like nothing could.

  She threw a spatula at him he easily dodged. “I asked if you wanted a wife!”

  “A wife?”

  “To mate.”

  “Why yes, I think we should. Thank you, Julia. I accept. Gabby, witness?”

  “Witness,” Gabby repeated with a large grin.

  “Tell me again, Ned.” Ned Williams Senior did his best to control his excitement. His son couldn’t possibly have seen what he’d thought. He sat with his boys and his brother, Gil, away from the house around a campfire. The distance was enough to soothe his need for space. He understood why Gil moved out whenever Tilda had guests. Christ, he couldn’t wait until her family left. The damn reunion was giving him an ulcer.

  Ned Junior answered in a gruff voice, trying to convince him of what should have been the impossible. “I’m telling you, Dad, her eyes weren’t right. The pupils grew all weird, like a cat’s. And I’d swear her nose started to grow, like a snout on a dog or something.”

  “Or a fox,” Bob said. “Seen a lot of foxes around here lately. Right, Dave?”

  Dave agreed. “Yeah, and we normally don’t see many of them this early in the spring. Think we should tell Mama?”

  Ned Sr. smacked Dave on the back of the head, hard enough to hurt.

  “Shit.”

  “Tell Mama. Idiot. Tell her what, Dave? That your oldest brother is so lovesick over that piece of ass he’ll make up any story to get her back? That her eyes went all animal-like? What a load of crap. Julia Easton told him no. And big, bad Junior was scared by a fucking girl.” Ned Sr. sneered.

  Junior flushed, looking sorry he’d mentioned anything. Exactly what Ned Sr. wanted.

  “Forget it. I don’t know what the hell I saw. But I don’t like that asshole Roderick. Why was he sniffing around you, Dad? You making friends with out-of-towners, now?”

  Ned Sr. shrugged. “He might be a dick, but he knows who to root for when the game is on.” He went on the attack and changed the subject. “Not like you pussies, too busy hanging on to your momma’s tit, like those dickhead brothers of hers. Hell, you’re good for nothing but the garage and the mill. Why don’t you go back inside and bother your real family, ’cause it sure the hell ain’t me.”

  He turned his back on them, waiting for his sons to leave. The younger two grumbled but left quickly.

  Junior stayed behind. “You know something you ain’t saying.”

  “Get on, boy. Your uncle Gil and I got things to talk about. Manly things.” He insulted Junior where it hurt most, pleased when his son turned red-faced and glared down at him. Still, Junior knew better than to confront the man of the house.

  He turned on his heel and stomped away from the small campfire, back into the house.

  Gil stirred. His brother didn’t say much, but when he did, Ned Sr. listened.

  “She’s one of them Shifters. I sensed it earlier, felt it in the younger girl too, Jason’s gal. Cute, but abnormal. What do you want to do about it?”

  “You know.” Hell, Ned Sr. hadn’t been on a Hunting trip since one of those god-awful Shifters had killed his daddy before he could skin it alive. Those fucking predatory skinwalkers. Demons on four legs. “Time to go Huntin’.”

  Gil nodded. “Thought you’d say that. I’ll do some scouting. Make sure your boys keep quiet. Tilda won’t like it if she thinks we’re Hunting again.”

  “I know.” Ned Sr. loved the woman, but she had the damnedest ideas. Ever since Jason had been born, things just hadn’t set right between them. Tilda belonged to him. Normally, she shut her mouth, made his supper and kept the house the way he liked it. And she still did whatever he wanted in bed whenever he wanted it. The perfect woman, except when she’d get those odd notions in her head, notions her fucking father had put there too many years back.

  An animal lover, of all things. And her brothers were just like her. He couldn’t wait ’til the lot of them left.

  Gil pulled a long blade from his boot. It glittered in the firelight. “Suppose it’s in all of them, then.”

  It t
ook Ned Sr. a moment before he understood. “Yep. Julia, Gabby and Meghan, I expect. Once it’s in the blood, well, there’s no working around that. Not that we have to kill them right away. Maybe some sport to be had first.” Some bed sport. Ned Sr. understood why his sons lusted after those Easton women. Beautiful and wild. He bet they’d fuck like animals.

  Gil drawled, “We could make do with some fun first. Wouldn’t mind that a bit. We’ll need more than knives then. Guns too, a few rifles, some good strong rope.” Gil smiled. “You know, I just might break out my bow again.”

  “Good thinking, brother.” Ned Sr. nodded. “We’ll take the time to plan, then use the youngest to bait the rest. I have an idea that just might work.” He paused. “One thing bothers me though. That Roderick. He’ll have friends. Might need some backup on this one.”

  Gil seemed to consider the idea. “Want me to call in the fellas?”

  “I think so. Never hurts to be careful.”

  Gil ran his knife along his thumb and droplets of blood welled where he’d cut it. “You got that right.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Julia!”

  It just figured Gerald would be the first person they’d run into when they hit town. Ty’s friend wore jeans and a pullover sweater, with that natural windblown look all the women in town seemed to favor. Personally, Ty didn’t see anything remarkable about Gerald except his ability to get under Ty’s skin.

  Julia left the truck and Ty set it in park. Finding new tires for the vehicle had been a hassle, but fortunately a friendly mechanic in Kettle Falls had helped him out. With Meghan and Jason now in Whitefish and Gabby driving to her house ahead of them, Ty had hoped to spend more alone time with Julia before the rest of the world intruded. Apparently, seeking privacy in his own home had been a dumb thing to do.

  Gerald gave her a big hug and froze. He took a careful step back and glanced from her to Ty with a shit-eating grin on his face.

  Ty sighed. “Hell.”

  “Well it’s about time! So you finally did it. I told you she wouldn’t say no.”

  Julia didn’t look so happy to see him anymore.

  “Actually, she asked me,” Ty added with a sly grin.

  Julia groaned. “Ty…”

  “Really?” Gerald asked. Ty could picture his whiskers twitching with curiosity.

  Ty shook his head. “Long story. Gerald, what are you doing here?”

  “Ah, we had some problems while you were gone. One of the raptors spotted you driving home and gave me a call.”

  “I was gone for a few days. What the hell couldn’t my deputies have handled?”

  Gerald exhaled loudly. Not good. “That’s just it. John tried to handle an altercation with the wolves that didn’t go so well. Not after you threw a bunch of them in jail before you left. Anyway, somehow Sophie got involved—”

  “What the hell does she have to do with this? She’s the only wolf I know who doesn’t cause trouble.”

  “The thing is, a few bears were horsing around in the grocery store. So Sophie intervened. She suffered a broken arm—”

  “What?”

  “The bears didn’t mean it. And then Monty got involved. Next thing you know there’s blood and fur all over the place. John showed up to ease tensions and Monty attacked him.”

  “I’m sure Monty only attacked him because he smelled another bear and sensed a threat,” Julia offered.

  Ty glared at her. “Don’t help him.” He turned back to Gerald. “Is everyone okay?”

  “John’s pretty beat up but he’s healing at County. Sophie’s arm’s in a cast. Monty’s locked up and going nuts.”

  Julia frowned. “He doesn’t like to be caged. You need to set him free.”

  “How the hell do you know what he likes?” Ty didn’t like her familiarity with the gray wolf. Monty Grayclaw turned peace into problems whenever he opened his mouth. Time to talk to Burke—again—about the newest member of his pride. Maybe this time he’d cite Monty. Some community service might do the gray wolf some good.

  Gerald smirked. “You’re looking mighty green there, Ty.”

  “Asshole.”

  Julia huffed. “Nice language, Sheriff.”

  “Really. And around a lady.” Gerald had to add his two cents.

  “My foxy lady. Mine. Now how long has he been locked up?” Ty asked through gritted teeth, wishing for once someone else had been elected town sheriff.

  “A day.”

  “Great.” Ty ran a hand through his hair. He had to settle things down. But he also wanted to tend to Julia. If he left her alone, she’d take off, putting more distance between them they didn’t need. “Hold on a minute, Julia.” He pulled his friend aside. “I need to go into town. Don’t let her leave.”

  “You know I can hear you, right?” Julia asked with feigned politeness.

  Ty ignored her. “We have a lot to talk about. See if you can get her to open up to you. For some reason I’ve never been able to figure out, she likes you.”

  “Sure thing.” Gerald glanced at Julia and sighed. “You always were a lucky bastard, Ty.”

  “Yeah, I am. You lay one paw on her, I’ll gut you, best friend or not.”

  “I’m wounded.”

  Ty didn’t find him amusing, even less so when Gerald didn’t bother to hold back a grin.

  “Sure thing, Ty. Me and Mrs. Sheriff will while away the hours talking about your finer points. Feel free to pick up some food before you come back. I ate your last bit of ham, and, uh, the rest of the stuff in your fridge too.”

  Julia snickered.

  Ty’s heart softened hearing his mate laugh. He gave her a solid kiss on the mouth, scowled at Gerald, then drove to the station.

  He found Monty pacing like a demon in a cell all his own between two drunken bears on one side and four beaten-up raptors on the other. Another group of wolves occupied the fourth cell. Wolves in jail—no surprise there. His deputies quickly explained what had occurred in his absence. Laura, a grizzly and the senior officer, vowed to have a talk with Gerald Winters and his big mouth. They’d had everything handled, or so she said.

  The groups behind bars ranted about the department the minute they saw Ty.

  “Save it,” he barked and pulled Monty out. The gray wolf snarled but didn’t attack. Once out of sight of the cell, he visibly shook as Ty led him to his office. “What the hell happened to you?”

  A long time ago, Ty had been close to Monty. The gray wolf had a decent sense of humor, a hard head that had suffered many a blow during childhood stunts, and a savvy poker face. He’d disappeared years ago, leaving his friends and family behind with more questions than answers.

  Since he’d been back, he’d been in one scrape after another. After joining the Catamount Pride, Monty had seemed to be trying to clean up his act. Seemed being the key word.

  “You have shitty timing, Monty,” Ty muttered, concerned about Monty’s condition. “Damn, son, you look like crap.”

  Monty bared his teeth in a semblance of a grin and sat. “Thanks.”

  Ty dug into his desk drawer and found a Snickers. He tossed it to Monty and watched the wolf gobble it down. He handed him a glass of water and watched it disappear as well. “They didn’t feed you?” Anger surged, but before he could yell for Laura, Monty stopped him.

  “I didn’t eat what they brought. I’m a vegetarian now.”

  Ty’s jaw dropped.

  Monty grinned. “Kidding. I just hate being caged. Had some problems with confinement during my lost years. Don’t worry, I’m feeling much better.” With a steady hand, he brushed back black hair threaded with silver.

  “Okay, wolf. Tell me the whole of it.”

  Monty grimaced. “I followed a few wolves talking about taking vengeance on the town sheriff. They had plans for you, Ty. None of it sounded good. Well, I followed them into the grocery store, only to find two bears messing with Sophie. So yeah, I got distracted.”

  Of course he did. Ty had seen the way Monty watched
Sophie. A pretty little wolf and new to the town, she’d been quite the curiosity for a while. Not aggressive like the wolves of her Order, Sophie worked hard and didn’t give anyone trouble. He had a feeling Monty was soft on the woman, especially after hearing about the damage the wolf had done on her behalf.

  Monty continued. “Those bears aren’t cubs anymore. Assholes are huge and old enough to know better. They were tossing her between them like a fucking rag doll. One of them threw her so hard she hit a rack and it fell on her, breaking her arm. I saw red and attacked.”

  Ty sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. So much for the bears and wolves getting along. Stovall, the bears’ leader, would blow a gasket. Normally, the giant of a man with a heart of gold would try to reason out their difficulties. But a wolf attack days after someone had bludgeoned his truck… Shit. “Does Stovall know?”

  “How the hell should I know? I’ve been cooped up in here while your damned deputies have been playing house,” Monty said in a louder voice.

  Low growls from outside the office answered him.

  “You’re just making friends all over the place, aren’t you? I take it you attacked John because you smelled bear?”

  The wolf flushed. “Ah, yeah. I’m really sorry about that. I went into protective overdrive with Sophie. Laura at least let me know Sophie’s okay.”

  “But the oaf wouldn’t see her when she came to visit,” Laura yelled from the other room.

  So much for the privacy of his office. Ty rubbed his eyes tiredly, really wishing he’d spent his first evening at home sequestered with Julia and not his job.

  “But enough about me. What’s that pretty scent all over you?” The interest on the wolf’s face alarmed him. Monty had a way with women. Ty thought of him as Gerald in wolf form, but not as smooth. The wildness around Monty’s eyes clearly reflected the animal inside.

  “Never you mind.”

  His old friend frowned. “It’s more than just her scent. Yours is mingled with it. Damn. Never thought I’d see the day. Who’s the lucky fox?”

  “Julia Easton.” Ty didn’t look away from Monty, sending a signal the only way he knew how without bashing Monty’s brains in. “She’s mine.”