by S. E. Smith
After a week, the glow of the necklace had become so bright and persistent that she feared it would attract attention. What was even stranger was she would swear it also had a faint hum to it, almost like the low pitch of a tuning fork. Unsure of what to do, she had placed it back in the metal box. Her father had made her swear to always keep the gem safe.
“Your mother said it was very special to your kind and must always be protected. You are old enough now, Trescina. I can’t keep it safe the way you can. Keep it in the box. I love you, Trescina. You remind me so much of your mother.”
Trescina could almost feel the soft touch of his hand as he had caressed her cheek. Her eyes burned as she remembered her father’s stern warning. She didn’t know if the glow and the resulting strange hum of the necklace were linked to her and her cat’s feelings or not. She didn’t remember the necklace glowing when her mother had worn it.
Afraid, she had hidden the box behind a loose panel in the back of her bedroom closet. Perhaps it was time for her to look at the necklace again.
Trescina drew in a deep breath and released it before she slid her phone into her pocket. The sound of footsteps behind her was a reminder that she was not alone. Turning on her heel, she forced an apologetic smile to her lips and looked over at Willie.
“I have to go. I’ve had an emergency call come in. Do you think you or Thomas could give me and the tigers a lift to the Dade-Collier Airport? I’ll need to leave my truck and camper with you as well, if that is alright with you and Nora,” she added.
“Can we use it while you’re gone?” Willie asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Trescina wrapped her arm in his and grinned. “As long as you two don’t do any kinky stuff in my bed, you can,” she teased.
“Nothing kinky…?! This coming from a woman who sleeps with two tigers,” Willie muttered with a shake of his head.
“You need to bleach your mind, old man,” Trescina grimaced.
Willie chuckled. “Nora likes my unbleached mind,” he retorted.
“Come on before I change my mind. Nora! I’m kidnapping your husband,” she called out through the screen door.
“Just bring him back when you’re finished. He promised to take me star-gazing this weekend,” Nora replied from behind the counter.
“Wait until she finds out it will be in style,” Trescina teased Willie.
Willie winked at her. “We like to do the kinky stuff out under the stars. The only time you can do it here in Florida is in the winter. There are too many mosquitoes otherwise. They bite my ass, and it itches for weeks,” he replied with a shudder.
“That is way more information than I needed to know, Willie,” she muttered with an amused chuckle.
Trescina turned to Cinnamon and Spice, but the tigers were already following her. She walked over to her truck and opened the back door. The two tigers jumped onto the back seat, each taking a side, so they could stick their heads out of the windows. She opened the driver’s door, slid in, and pulled the visor down until the key dropped into her hand.
“You know that is the first place someone will look for the keys if they want to steal your truck,” Willie grunted as he climbed into the passenger seat.
Trescina inserted the key into the ignition and turned it. She tossed her long curly hair back over her shoulder before she shifted the truck into drive. Then with an evil smile, she winked at Willie.
“The cats would eat them before they had a chance to put the truck into gear,” she retorted with another wink.
She ignored Willie’s wary gaze when he looked at the two cats lying behind him and focused on pulling out of the parking space. She would stop by her camper to grab the pack she always had ready for an emergency departure. She had learned a long time ago that sometimes she didn’t have much time to plan her next move.
Her trip to the United States was supposed to let her start fresh. She had moved through most of Europe, but she had always been forced to look over her shoulder. Trescina had come here hoping to disappear into the vast forests that still dotted the country.
She glanced in the rearview mirror. A smile tugged at her lips. She had discovered the two Siberian tigers two days after her arrival in Miami. The cubs had been a mere three weeks old when she first saw them. She had gone to the local mall to shop when she saw the sign advertising that people could get their photo taken with rare white tiger cubs. Fury had swept through her when she discovered their handler had cared for them so little that they were near death.
That night, she had followed the man back to the motel where he was staying. He had left the cubs locked in a pet crate in his car. She had broken into the car and taken the cubs.
Trescina had also discovered a folder containing photos of a coat made from the pelt of the cub’s mother and the listed price while she was going through the car. Sickened, she had spent months nursing the cubs and following the gruesome trail their handler had left behind. That trail had finally led her to an exclusive Miami boutique storing the horrifying coat that had been made from the pelt of the cubs’ mother. She had stolen the coat that night and driven to what she thought was a remote area. That area turned out to be a spot where Willie and Nora liked to go.
In her grief, she had created a funeral pyre for the mother’s remains. She had stayed in her two-legged form so she could hold and comfort the cubs as she gave their mother back to the earth. It wasn’t until her cat hissed a warning that she realized that she wasn’t alone. A couple out for an evening alone had come across her. Willie was a tribal police officer for the Seminoles who lived on the reservation.
She was thankful that she hadn’t shape-shifted after she realized they were there. She wasn’t sure she could kill a defenseless couple—not even to protect her identity. Consumed by her grief for the dead tigress and the haunting memories of her own mother’s death, she had brokenly confided in Willie and Nora what she had done and why she was there. Nora had wrapped her arms around her as she sobbed out her grief while Willie had comforted the cubs. That night a deep friendship had blossomed in the face of tragedy and sorrow.
She blinked and looked over at Willie when he sighed. He was staring at her with a strange expression. She gave him an amused look before returning her attention to the road.
“What?” she finally asked when he continued his silent scrutiny of her.
“Nora and I are going to miss you. We’ll take good care of your truck and camper for you, though,” he finally responded with twinkling eyes and a wry grin.
Trescina shook her head in confusion. “Sometimes you drive me crazy. Star-gazing, my ass! I’m telling you again, no kinky stuff in my bed while I’m gone,” she retorted with a teasing snort.
Chapter Seven
Grove Ranch, Wyoming
* * *
Early the next morning, Trescina peered out the window of the corporate jet as it landed on a wide runway. It was still dark, but thankfully the sky was clear. She could see where the runway had been cleared of the snow that had fallen overnight.
She yawned and stretched. Lifting her hands, she ran her fingers through her long, dark curls. The good thing about having such curly hair was that it always looked messy.
“Welcome to Wyoming, Ms. Bukov,” Mason Andrews said.
“Thank you. I can’t believe I slept most of the way,” she replied with a smile.
Mason chuckled. “Luckily it was a smooth ride. Chad and my wife, Ann Marie, will be here shortly. Chad explained that you had to leave your vehicle in Florida. Ann Marie is bringing one of the ranch SUVs for you to use. We figured it would work better with the tigers and this weather,” he explained.
Trescina breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded in gratitude. She had forgotten that she would be without transportation while she was here. It wasn’t like there were a lot of towns with rental car companies nearby. Even if there had been, they generally didn’t look kindly on having tigers in the back seat.
She motioned for the two tigers lounging be
tween the seats to follow her. A murmur of exasperation escaped her when Spice pushed past her to stand between her and Mason who was opening the door. The tigers must have felt her cat’s growing anxiety because they were doing some serious posturing at the moment.
When Spice turned to look at her, Trescina knelt down and ran her hands over his large head, then scratched him behind his ears. He rewarded her with a rumbling purr and a sandpaper lick along her wrist.
“You know I’m probably more dangerous than you and Cinnamon put together,” she reminded the large cat.
She giggled softly when Cinnamon pushed her head under Trescina’s arm. She pressed a kiss to the top of the female tiger’s nose before doing the same to Spice. She looked up when she realized that Mason had stopped what he was doing to watch her with a bemused expression.
“I guess this must look pretty strange to you, huh?” she casually asked as she rose back to her feet.
Mason shook his head. “Maybe a few years ago, but you can trust me when I say I’ve seen stranger things than this,” he reassured her with a mysterious smile.
She gave him a puzzled look but he just turned away to finish opening the door to the jet, and she shrugged. A shiver ran through her when a blast of frigid air swept into the warm cabin. Mason exited the jet followed by Spice.
Trescina paused in the doorway. Her gaze swept over a tall man who was talking to Mason. She recognized him as Chad Morrison. She had done a little research after she had talked to him to give herself something to do with her nervous energy.
Nothing that she had learned caused her to feel threatened. If anything, he was a model citizen. Still, the quick and intense look he gave her made her wonder if perhaps there was something missing in all the accolades that had been written about the man. Her fingers dropped to Cinnamon’s head and she caressed the tiger.
“Stay alert,” she cautioned before stepping out of the jet and down the stairs.
“Ms. Bukov,” Chad greeted, stepping closer to grab her hand. “Thank you for coming.”
“My pleasure, Mr. Morrison. I look forward to assessing the injured animal,” she said.
Chad nodded and tensely glanced at Mason. “Please call me Chad. Ann Marie is in the truck. I’ll be there in a moment,” he said, exchanging a meaningful expression with Mason. Mason nodded and shoved his hands into his coat pockets as he ducked his head and hurried over to the truck that was idling nearby.
“You have full use of the Suburban while you’re here. If there is anything that you need—and I mean anything at all—here is my number. Don’t hesitate to call at any time of the day or night. My sister’s old place is isolated, as you know, so if you would feel more comfortable staying closer to the ranch house, there is an apartment above the barn that you can use,” he offered.
Trescina reached out and took the card from Chad’s gloved fingers. She turned it over and skimmed the information before looking up at him. She searched his eyes for anything that might warn her of deception. He returned her scrutiny with a steady expression that held a hint of worry.
“What are you not telling me?” she suddenly demanded.
Chad’s mouth tightened, and he glanced purposefully over at the truck before he looked up at the sky and then over the surrounding landscape. His perusal only took a few seconds, but it was suspicious as hell. His gaze returned to her face, and he nodded toward the Suburban. She lifted an eyebrow, but didn’t resist when he gently cupped her elbow and guided her toward the vehicle.
He opened the back door for the two tigers before he walked around and opened the driver’s door for her. She slid onto the seat. He closed the door, then walked around the vehicle to the passenger side and slid in beside her.
He shut the door before he turned to look at her again. “No sense in freezing,” he casually commented, glancing at the two tigers lying in the back watching him.
“It also provides more privacy,” she observed.
Chad grimaced and nodded. “Yes, it does,” he replied. “Yesterday morning there was an avalanche that startled the animal in question. The animal ran into the road and was struck by a vehicle. Fortunately for it, the truck that hit it belonged to the rescue center. Shortly afterward, though, the cat woke up and Heather deemed the animal too dangerous to treat without being properly restrained. They have locked the cat in one of the observation rooms. I recognized your name when Heather mentioned you, but I wasn’t aware of your special…uh… talent with large cats until yesterday.”
Trescina shifted uneasily in her seat. It was hard to deny that she had a special talent with large felines when two Siberian tigers were listening to their conversation. It wasn’t so much what Chad was saying that raised the hair on the back of her neck as it was the curious tone in his voice.
“I’ve worked with exotic cats all my life,” she calmly responded.
Chad stared out of the window. It was beginning to snow again. She could tell he was trying to decide what to say next. The tension in the vehicle almost made it seem like they were doing a verbal dance, both feeling each other out without admitting anything.
“There are some things in this world that are hard to explain. Your connection to animals like the big cats is one of them, and…,” his voice faded, and he shook his head.
She blinked in surprise when he suddenly opened the door to the Suburban and stepped out. He turned to look at her. His gaze was carefully shielded.
“Remember, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call that number. Mason, Ann Marie, or I will answer it,” he stated before stepping back and closing the door.
Trescina watched Chad walk around the front of the vehicle and stride across the frozen ground to the truck. She shook her head in confusion before pulling on her seatbelt and adjusting the mirrors. She looked at the two tigers lying in the back. The seats had been laid down to provide room for their large bodies.
“I have no idea what that conversation was about. Do either of you?” she asked with wry amusement.
Spice opened his mouth and yawned his response to her question. Cinnamon groaned and rolled to her side. She pressed up against Spice in order to stretch out as much as she could. Both cats were done with being in small confined places for a while.
“Okay, okay. I’ll drop you off at the house. I could use a shower and a change of clothes. If you promise to behave, I’ll leave you there. That means no wandering off! I don’t want you scaring anyone,” she warned.
Spice grumbled and smacked his lips. She chuckled when Cinnamon turned her head and playfully nipped at her brother.
An hour later, she was back on the road. The two tigers were happily guarding the house, and she felt refreshed. Now, if she could only get her cat to settle down.
“What has you in such a tizzy?” she murmured, absently rubbing her stomach.
Something comes, her cat snarled.
Trescina groaned. The cats patrolled the area while I was in the shower. They found nothing out of the ordinary, and there had obviously been no vehicles along this road since we left for vacation, she pointed out.
I tell you, something coming, her cat stubbornly replied.
A smile tugged at Trescina’s lips. The mental image of her cat crossing her front paws and glaring at her was too much for her tired mind. She laughed out loud.
“I believe you,” she murmured with a tired sigh. “All we can do is stay alert and be ready for whatever happens.”
Her cat appeared content with her response. Ever since her mother’s death, she had been on constant alert. Sorrow coursed through her at the thought of her father and Katarina. The last attack on them nearly three years ago proved how dangerous it was for them to stay together. They had split up, keeping in touch once a month. The last time she had seen Katarina was two years ago.
It had been a brief and dangerous visit—at their father’s funeral. His car accident had really been a murder, she and Katarina both knew it. The final police report stated that his brake line had been dama
ged somehow, causing him to lose control of his car and drive over the cliff. The coroner’s report listed abrasions around his wrists, throat, and ankles that were not likely to be caused by a car accident, but they had not been enough to definitively label the death a murder. The investigation had gone nowhere.
Neither she nor her sister could stand the thought of not being able to claim their father’s body and bury him properly. She had insisted on collecting his ashes from the funeral home. They had agreed to meet there one last time, so they could make a pilgrimage to their old home in Siberia. They wanted to spread their father’s ashes among the ruins where their mother had died. That sentimental act had almost cost them their lives.
Trescina lifted a hand and wiped her damp cheek as she remembered that day. They would have both died if Katarina hadn’t parked her car on a side road. A shudder ran through her, and she shook her head.
I miss you, Papa. I miss Katarina, too. One day I will find a place like Katarina did. A place where I can run without fear, she thought with conviction.
She pulled off the wide metal bracelet that she wore to cover her intricate tattoo. It had appeared shortly after her mother’s death, and now it was tingling. Trescina rubbed her thumb over the delicate design before she lifted her wrist to her lips and pressed a kiss against it.
“I miss you, Mama,” she murmured.
Chapter Eight
Forty-five minutes later, Trescina put her blinker on and turned onto the long driveway leading to the Wyoming Rescue Center. The unease she had been feeling the last six months had grown stronger the closer she got to the rescue center. A quick glance at the clock told her that it was still early, but she knew there was someone here twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Heather and her eleven year old son, Zeke, lived in a comfortable ranch-style house behind the main center. There was also a small efficiency apartment in the center itself for students or staff to stay in case of an emergency.