Secret Baby Bear Read online

  Knowing he would die if he stayed there, he’d dragged himself out of the cabin. He needed to get to Bear Creek, hoping Kim was there, waiting for him. Jay hadn’t gotten too far when the guy returned, with more food and a homemade stretcher. No amount of insistence from Jay would persuade Wyatt to let him walk. Too tired to argue, he’d lain down on the stretcher. Wyatt took the strain and dragged him along the trail, saving Jay’s life.

  Jay’s consciousness had slipped from him and the next time he opened his eyes, he was here, with a hot flash of pain in his shoulder as his wound was washed out with alcohol and the bullet removed.

  “Thing is, your life is mine. I rescued you. You don’t get to say what I do with you now.” Wyatt grinned at him.

  Jay gave a short laugh. “You gonna sell me to the circus?”

  “No, I’m going to get your stubborn ass the help it needs.” Wyatt got up. “We leave in an hour.”

  “No,” Jay insisted. “I’ll go alone.”

  “You can’t stop me from walking down this mountain by your side,” Wyatt said and left the cabin.

  “Dammit!” Jay rammed his fist into the mattress. “And he says I’m stubborn.”

  Jay ate the rest of his soup, tearing at the hunk of not-so-fresh bread and dunking it in the thick liquid. What he wouldn’t give for a steak, or a nice juicy burger. Cheeseburger, with everything on it. His mouth watered at the thought. Wiping his bowl clean with the bread, he imagined eating golden fries, or maybe pizza. Oh, pizza, smothered in cheese and pepperoni.

  After torturing himself, Jay pushed himself up with his good arm and took the bowl to the sink. Washing the dishes was the least he could do, although it took more than twice as long as it should. The sling stopped his arm from hurting, but nothing was easy when you only had the use of one arm.

  The old guy was right. He was asking for trouble if he tackled the mountain alone.

  Drying the dishes as best he could, Jay stacked the clean bowls on the countertop, and turned to survey the cabin. Cluttered was his first thought. Jay took a step forward, looking around, noting the fishing tackle leaning against the door, the stack of firewood and kindling next to the hearth. There was a lot of stuff in the cabin, but everything his eyes rested on seemed to have a use. This guy was self-sufficient. An outcast, perhaps?

  So why insist on coming into town? An outcast looking for a way back into society. Did his savior want some kind of recognition? Not an option. Jay wanted to slip into town unnoticed. He wasn’t about to walk into town with any kind of fanfare.

  He didn’t want to die.

  He couldn’t die.

  Not until he’d seen Kim’s face one more time, and held her in his arms.

  A wave of exhaustion hit Jay, his knees threatened to buckle under him, but he wouldn’t allow himself. He had to keep upright, he had to get down off this mountain and find her.

  She’s close, his bear whispered inside his head. His bear who had dragged himself over rocks and through gushing mountain streams to get to Bear Creek, to get to Kim.

  Yes, if she’s in Bear Creek, she is close, Jay replied.

  No, she’s close to us now. His bear stirred and lifted his weary head. She’s here.

  Jay’s head shot up. How could she be here? Why would she be here?

  His stomach flipped over. Fear consumed him. Had they found him? Were they using Kim as leverage?

  Clutching the back of the worn sofa, Jay propelled himself forward, reaching out for the door, pulling it open, ready to fight until he had no strength in his body, or breath in his lungs.

  “A female face. I don’t see those often. Not unless Avery or Beverly come up and see me.” Wyatt was outside the cabin—speaking to Kim.

  Kim. Jay wanted to rub his eyes with his fists, to see if she was real. But his grip on the doorframe was the only thing keeping him upright. He remembered the first time he’d seen her. The first time he’d known who she was, what she was.

  Mate. The word swept through his brain, like a whisper on the wind.

  “Kim.” His hoarse voice was barely audible. He tried again, he had to make her hear. “Kim.”

  She looked up, past Wyatt, her eyes searching for him. “Jay.”

  Jay took a step forward, and then another, reaching for the handrail, his fingers curling around it, needing the solid feel of it, the grain brushing against his palm. Was this real? Or was he in a fever-induced dream?

  “Kim.”

  The two men turned to face the cabin, they watched as Kim ran toward Jay. She mounted the porch two steps at a time, holding out her arms for him. Then she stopped. Staring at him, a thousand questions went through her head that all resolved to—“How? Why?”

  “Wyatt found me on the mountain.” Found him, saved him…the specter of what might have been, if not for Wyatt, raised its head. Like a snake with fangs, it threatened to poison his thoughts with the reality of how close to death he’d been.

  “I thought I’d never see you again. I thought you were…” She couldn’t say the word. And he didn’t want her to.

  “Nothing could stop me from finding you again.” He swallowed down the swell of emotion in his throat. He couldn’t show weakness. Even if the presence of Kim made him weak.

  “You’re hurt.” Kim took the last two steps toward him, tentatively reaching out to touch his shoulder. Her touch electrified him, giving him strength. She didn’t make him weak, she made him strong. Strong enough to go without her for over a year, no matter what the cost, so she could be safe. So that the men who destroyed his parents could never destroy them.

  “Do you forgive me?” Jay’s voice broke as he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.

  “There’s nothing to forgive.” Tears glittered in her eyes as she wrapped her hand around his wrist. “We’re together now, that’s all that matters. Just promise me you’ll never go away again.”

  “Never.” It wasn’t an easy promise. If her life depended on it, would he stay with her, or leave her somewhere safe?

  “He needs a doctor.” Wyatt’s voice came from somewhere far away.

  “Jay.” Kim tugged at his wrist.

  “Hmm.” His eyes refused to focus on her beautiful face.

  “Jay…Jacob.” Kim turned away from him in slow motion, and a man, a man Jay didn’t know, ran forward. Was he a threat? Jay’s limbs wouldn’t respond, and the world spun in a circle around his head.

  “Easy.” Strong arms supported him as he crashed down onto the wooden porch.

  “He’d lost a lot of blood by the time I found him.” Wyatt was by his side, putting pressure on his shoulder. “I stemmed the bleeding, but he needs stitches, and medicine or this is going to get infected.”

  “I’ll call the mountain rescue team,” Jacob said, pulling out his cell phone.

  Jay’s eyes rolled in his head as he fought to focus. “No.” He put his hand out, reaching for Jacob’s phone. “Not safe.”

  “Jay might be right.” Jay hated the fear lacing Kim’s voice as she spoke.

  “Safe or not, he needs a doctor.” The urgency in Wyatt’s voice propelled Jacob into action.

  “We can stretcher him down off the mountain.” Jacob swung around to look at Kim. “Or fly him down.”

  “You mean…” Kim stood up, her hand covering her mouth. “I can’t ask any more of them.”

  “It’s the safest way down. No one will see Jay. And it’s the quickest. Even if we have to wait until nightfall.” He looked down at Jay. “Unless…”

  “Unless what?” Kim asked in hope.

  “I have an idea.” Jacob got up and walked away, talking to someone on the phone.

  Jay lay there, on the wooden porch, with the rustling of leaves all around him and an eagle calling somewhere off in the distance. Sleep tried to drag him under as the pain in his shoulder intensified.

  He reached for Kim’s hand, the shock of recognition like a defibrillator, making his heart beat steady and strong. With her close, he could hold onto consciousness, because Jay was afraid if he slipped under, he would never come back to the world.

  Or worse, if he did, Kim would be gone once more. And he couldn’t live without her. Not again.

  Chapter Three – Kim

  “How long?” Kim asked, searching Jacob’s face for an answer.

  “Kit’s shift ends in an hour. Avery’s going to pick him up from the hospital and drive him up here. Well, as far she can. It’s still a twenty-minute hike. Kit will patch Jay up and then we’ll carry him back down to Avery, who’ll wait in the vehicle.”

  Kim nodded. “We keep this between us?”

  “And the dragons.” Jacob patted her shoulder, attempting to comfort her. However, until Jay was stitched up and safe, nothing would alleviate her fears. “Kit’s a good doctor. He’ll fix Jay up in no time.”

  Kim wiped her hand across her face. “I can’t believe we’ve found him.” She squeezed her eyes shut, keeping her tears at bay.

  “Here he is, you can see him and touch him. It’s all going to be okay.” Jacob smiled down at her. “You kept your faith, Kim. And he’s here.”

  Kim nodded. “I’m going to sit with him. He’s got to hang on just a little longer.”

  “Good idea.” Jacob looked at his watch. “In an hour or two, Jay will be able to see his baby.”

  Kim pressed her lips together, not wanting to voice her fears. Would Jay forgive her for keeping Archie a secret?

  Surely when he saw his son, his own flesh and blood, Jay would understand her motives. Just as Kim had understood his motive for being out of their lives for a year.

  “Hi there.” Kim entered Wyatt’s cabin, where they’d carried Jay after his collapse. He was resting on the single bed, which took up a corner of the open plan rough wood cabin.
r />   “Hi.” Jay lifted his head off his pillow and reached out for her. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you.”

  “Me, too.” Kim sat down gently on the side of the bed, worried she might cause Jay pain. “How’s the shoulder?”

  “A little better now.”

  “Really? Because the tension in your face says otherwise.” Kim stroked the back of her hand across his cheek. “You don’t have to be a hero now. Not for me.”

  “Yes, I do.” Jay reached for her hand and took hold of it, pressing his lips to her skin and inhaling her scent. “Damn, you smell good.”

  “Hey, I mean it. You need to rest. This is all over. The information you sent Avery brought down those men who…” She looked away. “Hurt all those people.”

  “All of them?” Jay asked in disbelief.

  “As far as I am aware. The police made a large number of arrests.” Kim forced a smile onto her face. “We’re free to make a fresh start.”

  Jay tucked her hand under his chin and sighed. “You and me, together.”

  Kim looked away. “Jay, there’s something I have to tell you.”

  “Whatever it is…” Jay groaned and tensed.

  “Can wait.” Lines of tension crisscrossed his forehead, his skin, pale and clammy. Kim couldn’t add more pain to his already heavy burden.

  “Are you sure?” Jay searched her face, trying to read her expression. Being an undercover cop, Jay had honed his skill at reading people. In the short time they were together, Kim learned there was little she could hide from Jay. Unless she really tried. Would he be more shocked that he had a child, or that she’d managed to hide her pregnancy from his trained eye?

  “Absolutely.” Kim’s tone was light and reassuring. “Let’s get you off this mountain and then we can catch up.”

  Catch up? She made it sound as if he had been on vacation. Not working undercover in a dangerous operation that nearly cost him his life.

  “Here, I’ve made some coffee.” Wyatt approached the bed.

  “Thank you.” Kim stood up and accepted the two tin mugs from Wyatt. “Thank you. Not just for the coffee, but for helping Jay, too.”

  “Anytime.” Wyatt cast a concerned glance Jay’s way.

  “Thank you,” Jay said. “I hope I haven’t put you in danger.”

  “I want you to know, I can look after myself,” Wyatt said. “But I doubt anyone is going to come to pay me a visit.”

  “If you ever need my help…” Jay struggled to sit up in bed.

  “Thanks for the offer. But I’m experienced at keeping myself out of harm.” Wyatt looked toward the door. “I doubt anyone would be able to track you here, I covered our trail pretty darn well.”

  A shadow across the doorway made Kim’s chest tighten, but it was only Jacob. “Kit’s on his way. We should get ready to move. As soon as he has Jay stabilized, we’ll begin our descent.”

  Kim nodded. “I’m going to call Fiona.” She left the cabin, leaving the men behind, and stood alone on the porch for a moment. Reality came crashing in on her. Jay was here. He was safe. The man she’d fallen in love with, the man who’d fathered her child, was alive.

  So why wasn’t she euphoric?

  Because he was almost a stranger to her. In the year that had passed since they were together, he’d changed. She’d changed. Their worlds had changed.

  Taking her phone from her pocket, she tapped the screen and dialed Fiona’s number. “Hi, Fiona.”

  “Kim, is everything all right?” Fiona asked with concern, while in the background Archie babbled nonsense.

  “Yes.” Kim rubbed her forehead. “I have some news.”

  “What news?” Fiona asked, her voice concerned.

  “I met Jacob. I walked with him to a cabin, belonging to Wyatt.”

  “That old wolf. Yes, I know him.”

  “Well…Jay is here.” Silence. “Did you hear me, Fiona?”

  “I did.”

  “He’s injured,” Kim continued. “Jacob called Kit, who is on his way here. Then we’re bringing him off the mountain.”

  “Bring him here,” Fiona said quickly.

  “Are you sure? We’ve imposed so much…”

  “Until we know what’s happening, he’ll be safe here.” Fiona’s tone was firm and Kim didn’t argue. Partly because Fiona was a force of nature, but also because she had nowhere else to go.

  “Will you look after Archie until we get there, please? I don’t know how long it’ll take to get there with Jay. I don’t know if we’re carrying him or whether he’ll be able to walk.” Kim walked around in a small circle, looking at the ground, trying to concentrate on each single blade of grass beneath her feet, so that she didn’t dwell on the pain Jay might endure on the way down.

  “Of course, take your time. We’ll be here waiting.” Fiona paused. “Does he know about Archie?”

  “Not yet.” Kim looked up at the cabin guiltily. “I tried, but I don’t want to distress him any further. He was in a bad way when Wyatt found him.” Her voice hitched but she swallowed down her tears. “I think he was shot,” she whispered.

  “Shot. That would explain why he hasn’t been in contact, he likely kept out of sight as he came across the mountain.” Fiona paused again and Kim was about to speak, when she said, “Does he know who shot him?”

  “I haven’t asked.” Dread filled Kim. “I’m worried someone might have followed him.”

  “Probably not over the mountain. But until we know for sure that whoever attacked him is now in police custody, we need to be vigilant.”

  Kim rubbed her forehead, as if she could rub the fear out of her brain. Since this began a couple of weeks ago, fear had stalked her, like a bird on her shoulder whispering in her ear, telling her they would never be safe. If they hurt Jay once, they could find him again, hurt him again.

  “As soon as he’s strong enough, I’ll ask him,” Kim told Fiona.

  “No, leave him in peace for now. There’s nothing that won’t keep.” A sharp screech down the line made Kim smile.

  “Sounds as if the boys are having fun.” Kim wanted so much to hold her child in her arms and for this to be in their past. The thought that kept her going was that one day, Archie, Jay, and Kim would live somewhere together, and have a good life. She’d dreamed of Jay returning to them and this all being over. But they were not there yet.

  And there was no telling when they would be. Would the ghosts of the past continue to haunt them forever?

  “They are. Don’t worry about Archie. We’ll protect him like our own, you know that, Kim.”

  “I do.” Kim closed her eyes, it pained her to talk about their child needing the protection of dragons.

  Dragons, for goodness sake!

  A noise in the undergrowth drew her attention. “I have to go, Fiona. Thank you.”

  “Is everything all right, Kim?” Fiona’s tone changed from concerned mother figure to a dragon protector. “If you need us, one of us can be there in minutes.”

  “I don’t want to risk you being seen.” Kim edged back toward the house, her heart thumping in her chest.

  “Better seen than dead.”

  The noise came again, closer, Kim’s foot touched the bottom step of the cabin as she backed away. “Jacob,” she hissed.

  On the outer edge of the clearing around the cabin, the trees rustled. There was something big approaching. “It’s Kit.” Jacob’s voice behind her made Kim jump. “He’s my brother, I can scent him anywhere.”

  Kim watched as Jacob went into the trees, and reemerged with another man with similar features to his own, carrying a backpack. “Hi, Kim, isn’t it?” She nodded. “I’m Kit, I’m a doctor from the hospital in Bear Bluff, I’ve come to treat Jay. Is that okay?”

  Kim nodded. “Yes. Please. Thanks for coming all this way.”

  Kit grinned. “Any excuse for a walk in the mountains.”

  “Is Avery okay?” Jacob asked as they headed into the cabin.

  “Yes, she’s resting in the truck. Brad has her on light duties. Too light if her mood is anything to go by,” Kit replied.

  “Yep, about the same as yesterday.” Jacob sighed. “I’ll be glad when this baby is born. I don’t remember her being so grouchy the first time around.”