“Are you sure that’s not too much trouble?” Cynthia asked.
“No, it’ll be good for them to get to know each other. Jake and Marion are good kids, they just struggle trusting people. Which is understandable after what they went through.” Jenna’s eyes flashed with anger. “Damn, I wish I could get my hands on the bad men behind the child trafficking. Sometimes I think jail is too good for them.”
“And that’s coming from an ex-police officer,” Cynthia went to Jenna and hugged her. “But I know exactly what you mean. I’ve helped bring a lot of people to justice, too, but sometimes I wonder what justice there is for the victims and their families whose lives are left ruined by the actions of bad people.”
“We have to believe in the system,” Guy said, although he didn’t sound convinced. “But if we come across any of them in the forest, I can’t be held responsible for what my bear might do, especially if they run.”
“If they get in the way or try to prevent us from helping the children, I don’t think any of us would hold you back.” Cynthia rolled her shoulders, trying to free the tension building there. “Okay, we should go, my children will grow two heads and scream like banshees if they don’t get fed soon.”
“We can stop off at the local diner and get something to eat,” Hunter offered.
“That sounds great. My treat,” Cynthia insisted. “If we’re staying with you tonight, it seems only fair.”
“I’m not about to argue with you,” Hunter told her. Then his face broke into a smile and he ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t intend to ever argue with you.”
“Wow, that gives me way too much power.” Cynthia sighed and shook her head. “Yesterday was a normal day. Today is about as abnormal as it gets.”
“But it’s good to be out of the house?” Jenna asked with a raised eyebrow.
Cynthia nodded. “Yes. I’m a doer. And this has shown me that I was trying to be something I’m not. I have the greatest respect for the wonderful moms who stay at home and look after their families. But that’s not me. Although, I wish it was.” She glanced at her children, a wave of sadness sweeping over her. Why couldn’t it be enough? She loved them more than anything else in the world. She should relish the time she spent with them. Yet there was a part of her, a small, niggling part of her, that wanted to go out there and change the world.
It had all stemmed from a promise she’d made to the father of her children when she found out he’d been murdered. She vowed to carry on the work he’d begun. That work ended with the arrest of Cracol Lemnisci. But she’d changed. She was no longer the woman Connor had met. Dealing with his death and bringing up the children alone had changed her. She’d worked hard to end Cracol’s reign of terror, and she was scared there was no going back to a normal life. Even if she wanted to.
But she’d promised the children. And she could not break that promise. After this trip to the forest to find Horatio, she was done with putting her family in danger.
“Shall we go?” Hunter’s touch made her jump.
“Yes.” She went to Flint’s desk, grabbed her purse and beckoned to the children. “Time to go and get something to eat.”
“Pop-Tarts?” Thomas asked excitedly as he and Laurel left the computer and followed their mom to the door.
“We’ll see.” Cynthia opened the door and they exited the office.
The four of them walked along the corridor to the front door, where Hunter buzzed them out. Cynthia took a breath of fresh mountain air. She felt alive, as if she’d woken from a dormant state. Excitement threaded through her veins. Tomorrow, she would be on the hunt again. Tomorrow, she would be out there making a difference to the lives of other people. Tomorrow, she might hopefully take the first step toward bringing Horatio home to his mother.
She didn’t dwell on the other outcome. The one where she would have to tell Michaela that her son was gone forever. She couldn’t contemplate that, not when Laurel and Thomas were by her side.
“The diner is just down the street.” Hunter led them along the sidewalk, and they followed, the children looking in the store windows as they passed by. Cynthia loved listening to their chatter. It reminded her of the reason she fought so hard to make a difference. To protect the innocence of her children.
“I can smell fries.” Thomas inhaled deeply, his small chest expanding as he filled his lungs with air.
Laurel lifted her head and breathed in, too. “I can smell pie.”
“Yum, pie.” Thomas’s eyes widened. “I’m starving.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather we just go to the store and get Pop-Tarts?” Cynthia asked.
“Nope.” Thomas shook his head. “Fries and cherry pie.”
“At the same time?” Hunter asked.
“Yuck, no,” Thomas said, appalled. “Fries first and then cherry pie. With ice cream.”
“I hope you bear shifters don’t have any weird food choices like eating fries and cherry pie at the same time,” Cynthia told Hunter. Her spirits were lifting, she felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. The children would be safe here with Jenna and Flint and while she was away, she could give some serious thought as to who the letter was from.
“Here we go.” Hunter pushed open the door of the diner and they went inside.
“Hello there.” A woman with a bright, friendly smile and inquisitive eyes came over to meet them.
“Hi, Betsy. We’ve come to sample your fries and cherry pie,” Hunter said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Well, you are in for a treat.” Betsy escorted them to a table by the window with a view up to the mountains. “This is my best table. Are you new in town?”
“We are, yes,” Cynthia said. She gave Betsy a friendly smile. “I’m Cynthia, these are my children, Thomas and Laurel. We’ve heard good things about the food you serve.”
Betsy’s smile intensified along with her curiosity. “Are you staying at the hotel, or are you staying with friends?” She looked pointedly at Hunter.
“We’re staying with Flint and Jenna for a couple of days,” Cynthia replied. It was a half-truth.
“Cynthia...” Betsy tapped her pencil on her bottom lip then her eyes widened. “Cynthia Callaghan?”
“Busted.” Cynthia forced a smile on her face, hoping Betsy wasn’t too much of a gossip.
“You were here before. Just after news broke about Cracol Lemnisci. He was chasing your children.” Betsy glanced at Thomas and Laurel. “I’m so pleased to meet you all.”
“Cynthia is trying to keep her presence here quiet,” Hunter told Betsy. “I told her the food was good, but your discretion was better.”
“Oh, yes.” Betsy pretended to zip her lips shut. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thanks, Betsy.” Cynthia picked up a menu. “Now, what shall we have?” Betsy made herself busy and fetched them drinks while they decided on their meals. Then she took their order and left them to gaze out at the mountain while watching everyone who came through the door of the diner with renewed interest, as if she were guarding them.
“She means well,” Hunter said quietly.
“I know,” Cynthia answered. “She’s the eyes and ears of the town, I would guess. In my job, Betsy is the kind of person I would ask to keep a watch out for certain people. Or people with certain behavior.”
Hunter sipped his coffee and watched her closely, while Thomas and Laurel discussed how high the peaks of the mountains were. “You enjoy your job a lot.”
“I do. I enjoy meeting people and helping people. I also like taking down the people who are trying to hurt others.” She glanced at the children. “I never thought I’d do this kind of thing. But a man once told me you have to stand up and make a difference, you can’t always leave it to someone else.”
“Wise words. From someone who meant a lot to you.” Had Hunter guessed who had said those words?
“He did mean a lot. And he was a wise man.” Cynthia swallowed down the knot of emotion that
always formed in her throat whenever she thought of the man she once loved, who had given her two beautiful children. He was a dim and distant memory, one shrouded in pain and loss.
“Was?” Hunter’s eyes narrowed.
“Was.” She tore her gaze from his and looked out of the window. Each time she revealed a little more about herself, it was as if she were tearing off a layer of protection and exposing herself, her soul to the light. “Have you climbed the mountains?”
Hunter chuckled. “Not every peak. I haven’t lived in Bear Creek for that long.”
“Oh, I figured you were born and bred here.”
“I was. At least I was born here, but my parents moved away when I was a five. My dad was military, and so we moved around a lot. But he always made sure to take me out into the mountains and teach me survival. He taught me to track and fend for myself.” Hunter looked up as Betsy approached with their order. “Thanks.”
“You are welcome. Enjoy.” She placed the plates down in front of them. “And if there is anything else you need, just let me know.”
“Thank you.” Cynthia’s mouth watered as she inhaled the aroma of chicken and fries. “This smells wonderful.”
“Well, if ever you write an article on Bear Creek, remember to mention the diner.” Betsy winked and left them to eat in peace.
“Why did you move back here?” Cynthia asked as she cut up her chicken.
“It was always home to me. We’d vacation here when my dad was on leave. Which always made my heart happy. I was looking for a change of vocation and so I moved here when Bear Creek Protectors was set up.” He grinned. “Although I still spend most of my time elsewhere.”
“You also enjoy your work.” Cynthia wondered how his life would change now that he’d found his mate. Now that he’d found her.
“I do.” He forked a mouthful of steak, fries, and peas into his mouth.
“Have you protected anyone famous?” Laurel asked. “A pop star, or a movie star?”
“A few, yes.” Hunter engaged Laurel in conversation about all the people he’d worked for. As they talked, Cynthia took a moment to reflect on her decisions. She needed to be sure she was doing the right thing.
But as she ate her food and looked out across the mountains, the face of Connor swam before her eyes. Yes. He would have approved. He would have approved of her decision to go and look for the children, and of how she was raising their children.
If only he could tell her who had sent the letter and what threat it contained. But he couldn’t help her. In the same way, she couldn’t help him when he lost his life.
Chapter Eight – Hunter
They left the diner, with Betsy escorting them to the door and watching them cross the street to the grocery store. Cynthia’s mood had shifted since she’d spoken about the man who had inspired her to become an investigative journalist. The conversation had dredged up parts of her past she’d long buried. The same was true for Hunter.
He took a last look at the mountain range before they entered the grocery store. The mountains, with their high peaks, were the reason he returned to Bear Creek. It was where he’d been his happiest. Moving around as a child had left him unsettled and he’d come back here to set down roots. He wanted a mate and a family, and he wanted his own children to know the stability he had missed.
School had been tough. He’d always been the new kid. He’d always been the odd one.
Hunter blamed it on his shifter genes. He could never be just a normal kid, particularly when puberty hit him, and he had to cope with trying to control shifting and his teenage hormones. It made for a mixed-up kid who never found his place in the world.
He grabbed a shopping cart and they dashed around the store, grabbing food for a couple of days, including a couple of boxes of Pop-Tarts. “Shall we take a dessert to Jenna and Flint’s?” he asked Cynthia. It was as if they were already an old married couple. Perhaps the presence of the children made him feel as if they had been together forever, rather than a couple of hours.
“Yes. Or maybe two.” She looked in the cooler and picked out a couple of desserts. “One chocolate, one not.”
“Why not two chocolate?” Thomas asked.
“Not everyone likes chocolate,” Laurel reminded him.
“Who doesn’t like chocolate?” Thomas asked incredulously.
“Lots of people.” His sister rolled her eyes.
“Name one.” Thomas was not about to let this discussion go.
“Laurel’s right, there are plenty of people who don’t like chocolate,” Cynthia told him. “So we’ll take one of each.” She raised an eyebrow at Hunter who nodded in agreement of her choices.
“Maybe we should choose a small gift for Jenna and Flint’s children,” Hunter suggested.
“We could, although I don’t know anything about them.” Cynthia looked around the store. “Maybe some candy for the children?”
“Sure. Do you want to choose something for Jake and Marion?” Hunter asked Laurel and Thomas.
“Sure.” The two children headed for the candy aisle while Hunter and Cynthia finished picking the rest of the groceries.
“I’ll take a selection of food the kids like with us when we drop them off tomorrow,” Cynthia said. “Their favorite cereals and cookies.”
“Chocolate?” Hunter asked with a grin.
“My son does have a sweet tooth.” She smiled, but it was forced.
“Does he get his sweet tooth from his father?” Hunter asked gently.
“He does. Along with his cheeky charm.” Cynthia swung her head around to watch her children. “Their dad was a good man.”
“He’s the reason you do what you do.” Hunter put a package of chocolate chip cookies in the shopping cart.
“He is. He was killed by Cracol. I made a promise to him that I would rid the world of men like Cracol. And Cracol himself. When I ended the trafficking ring, I thought that was it for me. I’d fulfilled my promise.”
“But you can’t just switch it off.”
“No. I thought I could. But that’s who I am now.”
“It doesn’t mean you aren’t an amazing mother, too.” Hunter paused and she stopped and turned to face him. “You don’t have to choose.”
“I thought I did.” A frown creased her brow. “You heard what happened when Cracol’s men tried to kidnap the children? I put them in danger and I can’t do that again.”
“I did. But you got through it.” He placed his hand on hers. “Do you know one thing I’ve learned?”
“That if you eat Pop-Tarts for two weeks straight, you might never eat them again?” she asked with a wry smile.
“That...and also there are many ways to live your dreams and fulfill promises. You can seek out other ways of helping people.” He lifted his hand and stroked her cheek. “Tomorrow we are going to track down Michaela’s child. That’s an amazing thing to do. And I expect Horatio is not the only child who is missing in the world. You could set up a database for lost kids and try to reunite them with their parents.”
Cynthia tilted her head to one side and a smile spread across her face. “You know, you might just be worth keeping around.”
He ducked his head and brushed his lips against hers. “I am most definitely worth keeping around.”
Color flushed her cheeks pink. “I’m not used to PDAs. Wait, I’m not used to any displays of affection, public or otherwise, unless it’s my kids.”
“Get used to it, woman. I am going to shower you with affection.” The children came back with a handful of candy and put them in the shopping cart. “You got a selection.”
“We weren’t sure what candy they liked, so we got a few different ones,” Laurel sounded so like her mom. “Is that okay?”
“Sure.” Cynthia put her arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “I’ll leave you in charge of the candy.”
“What about me?” Thomas asked.
“You’re in charge of making sure everyone gets what they like. Laurel is in char
ge of making sure you don’t eat so much candy it makes you sick.” Cynthia pulled Thomas into her arms and hugged both her children. “I’m going to miss you. So look after each other.”
“We will.” Laurel hugged her mom. “Are we ready to go? I want to see Hunter’s house.”
“We’re done,” Hunter confirmed and headed to the checkout. Ten minutes later they were in his car with their groceries stowed in the back and his new family seated next to him.
“Wow, you live practically in the mountains,” Thomas’s eyes were wide as he stared at the trees towering above their heads. In between the gaps in the trees you could just glimpse the high peaks, with their snowy caps.
“In the foothills. The mountain is way higher than my house.” Hunter loved the young boy’s enthusiasm.
“We’ve been high up in the mountains,” Thomas told him. “We had to hide in a cave.”
“And we rode on Flint’s back,” Laurel added.
“You rode the old bear?” Hunter asked. “Flint didn’t include that piece of information.”
“We both rode him,” Thomas said. “Twice.”
“Flint carried the children through the pass from Wolf Valley and then he carried them back down into Bear Creek the next day. We’re incredibly grateful to him.” Cynthia’s voice hitched in her throat.
“That must have been quite an adventure.” Hunter guided the car along the trail leading to his house.
“It was a very cold adventure,” Laurel said with a shiver and she hugged herself.
“The winters can get pretty cold up here.” Hunter drove into the clearing where his house stood, bathed in the early afternoon sunlight. “But I have a good stove and a warm fire. Want to come see?”
“Yessss.” Thomas spilled out of the car and ran around the clearing, his arms out wide, the sun on his face. “I love it here.”
“Me, too,” Hunter admitted, his eyes fixed on Cynthia who was grabbing their stuff out of the trunk of the car.
“Come on, Thomas, you can carry something inside.” She held out a small suitcase and Thomas ran back to her and grabbed hold of it.
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