Animal Rescue Bear Read online

  “Kevin.” She put her hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”

  He shook his head. “You know when I moved back here, I had no idea how badly he’d let the house go.” A shuddering breath passed through him. “I had my own life. I talked to him on the phone, but I rarely visited. Not until he got sick.”

  “I’m sorry.” Ronni knew Kevin worked in the city but had no idea he rarely visited Jeremiah who often walked over to the shelter for a cup of coffee and a chat.

  “Don’t be,” Kevin ran his hand over his face. “That’s why I’ve changed my mind about the land. You were there for Dad when I wasn’t. So I’ll sell the house first and if I can raise enough money, I won’t sell the land.”

  “Wait, I have a proposal.” Ronni drained her coffee cup and set it down on the counter. “We’re organizing an auction ourselves. If we can raise enough money, we’d like to buy the land.”

  “Do you think you can raise enough money?” Kevin asked.

  “That depends on how much money you want. Did Mr. Preston give you some kind of an idea?” Ronni’s nerves jangled. Had she made a mistake thinking they could afford to buy the land? She had no real clue how much it was worth, particularly if there was a developer sniffing around.

  “He did.” Kevin held up his hand. “Wait there, I’ll get the letter he wrote.”

  Kevin left the room and Ronni took a moment to look at the old family photos on the wall. There were pictures of Jeremiah and his wife and several of Kevin at different ages. Then there were lots of pictures of animals and Martha Tincture, the animal shelter founder. Ronni had no idea Martha and Jeremiah shared such a special bond.

  Perhaps they were mates, her bear suggested. They may have found each other late in life after Jeremiah had children with another woman.

  Kevin came back into the room and Ronni jumped guiltily. As far as she knew, Kevin wasn’t a shifter, and neither was his dad. But what if he had been Martha’s mate?

  “Your dad and Martha were very close.” Ronni accepted the letter Kevin handed to her. Perhaps she should keep her mouth shut. Kevin might not like talking about his father and Martha.

  “They were. He liked and respected her a great deal. She saved him really. After my mom died, he was lonely. I was young and didn’t truly understand how much he missed my mom. I had big plans of my own.” He smiled wistfully. “I truly believe Martha was the love of his life. But he never said as much and whenever I came to visit Martha would stay in the background, as if neither of them wanted to taint my memories of my mom and dad’s relationship.”

  The letter burned Ronni’s fingertips, but she couldn’t tear her attention away from Kevin and the raw emotion in his voice. “Your dad loved you very much.”

  Kevin pressed his lips together. “He did.” He waved his hand toward the items on the sofa. “I found an old will he’d written out when Martha was still alive. He left the land to her.” He sighed. “Of course she passed on ten years ago and he made a new will leaving everything to me. I never knew about the old will. He never talked about it.”

  “That must have been a shock.” Ronni didn’t know what she should say or do. Kevin was hurting, and she didn’t know how to apply a salve to his emotional wounds.

  “Yes and no.” He straightened up. “But it made me realize he wouldn’t have wanted the shelter sold. He wouldn’t have wanted the animal shelter to be ripped down. It was a part of him.”

  Ronni glanced down at the letter in her hand and skimmed over the details. Keeping her breathing calm, she took in the large amount of money they would need to raise to buy the land. “Listen, Kevin. I truly appreciate what you’ve told me. And I’d like to make a proposal.” She folded the letter and handed it back to him. “If we can raise the money, can we buy the land? It would mean the shelter was secure.”

  Kevin nodded. “I think that would be acceptable.”

  “It would also mean you could keep the house.” Ronni rested her hand on his arm. “Or that you could at least take your time and decide if you want to sell. It’s not a good idea to rush into these decisions.”

  Kevin nodded. “I’ll take my time.” He looked around the house. “But I think the house needs a family. It needs to nurture and be nurtured.”

  “Give it some thought,” Ronni encouraged.

  “I will. Thanks, Ronni.” Kevin hugged her.

  “Thank you, Kevin. It means so much to us all.” She patted him on the back, wishing she could take away some of his pain. It was the same feeling she got when she took in a hurt or neglected animal. But life didn’t work that way.

  Leaving Kevin in the doorway, Ronni hurried out to her car as the first flakes of snow drifted down from soft, pillowy clouds. “Well, this is unexpected.”

  Ronni religiously checked the weather forecast each day so that she and the staff at the shelter were prepared. Of course, she hadn’t checked the forecast this morning. It seemed the weather must have shifted overnight and the snowstorms that were predicted to follow the mountains to the east had strayed to this side of the high peaks.

  At least it was seasonal. Maybe a little snow might make everyone get into the Christmas spirit and help raise the funds they needed.

  She drove back to the animal shelter. The land adjoined Jeremiah’s old house and was a five-minute walked over the fields or a five-minute drive by road. Perhaps if Kevin decided to sell the house, she might be able to buy it with Lucas. It certainly would be easier to renovate the old house than build a new one. But could they afford it?

  Money. It all came down to money. Ronni just hoped that if there really was a developer interested in buying the land that Kevin wouldn’t change his mind and renege on the deal he’d struck with Ronni. Unlikely since he’d been willing to give them more time to come up with the money. She let herself breathe. Kevin had already made up his mind that the animal sanctuary would stay where it was. No businessman with a big checkbook would change his mind, she was certain of that.

  Of course, the developer might instead buy the old house and build on that. But as long as the buildings didn’t encroach on the shelter, and the people who might buy the houses didn’t complain about the dogs barking then they could all cohabit.

  But a part of Ronni longed to see new life and new love breathed into the run-down home.

  “Hey, you’re back quick,” Lucas said after she parked the truck and headed down to the kennels to help with the morning chores.

  “I am.” She’d decided against making a whole show of pretending not to get a deal from Kevin. “I got lucky. Or we got lucky. Kevin had already had second thoughts about selling the land. He was going to give us extra time and sell his house instead.”

  “Wow,” Sian said, coming to join them. “That’s generous of him.”

  “I kind of talked him out of it,” Ronni admitted.

  “You did what?” Sian shook her head. “I should have gone in your place. You are much too soft-hearted.”

  “I like Ronni’s soft heart.” Lucas put his arm around her and pulled her close.

  She placed her hand on his chest and smiled up at him. “Thanks.”

  “So that’s it, we still have to wait for the auction?” Sian could not hide her disappointment.

  “Not exactly. I made a deal with Kevin.” She looked from Lucas to Sian, hoping she hadn’t made a mistake. “I agreed that we would give him the figure Mr. Preston valued the land for. If we can raise the funds, we could buy the land and secure the future of the shelter so we are never in this position again.” She turned around and looked at the kennels. “Martha Tincture founded the sanctuary here and I’d like it to stay here for as long as it’s needed.”

  “I think that’s a brilliant idea,” Sian gushed. “We can do it.”

  “We can if we all work together,” Lucas agreed. “Well done, Ronni.”

  “I didn’t do much. Kevin told me his father cared deeply about the shelter. I think selling it for a fair price gives him a clear conscience and it means he can ha
ng onto his family home. If he wants to.” She couldn’t imagine leaving Bear Creek, but she had a sneaking suspicion that Kevin didn’t feel the same way.

  But that was his decision. It was his life to lead and perhaps the ghosts of the past meant he would never find peace in the house his father had once shared with his mother and then with Martha.

  “A penny for them,” Lucas said.

  “Sorry, I drifted off there for a moment.” She pulled away from Lucas. “Let’s get these chores done. Then we need to organize a meeting, so we can make some final decisions on the auction and see what else needs to be done.”

  “Okay.” Lucas began hosing down the exercise yard then he stopped and called over, “By the way, we’re invited to Chance Heights this evening. They have something they want to tell us.”

  “They do?” Ronni asked.

  “Yes, Nana wouldn’t say what it is. But we have to be there at seven.” Lucas went back to hosing the yard.

  “Seven it is.” Ronni lost herself in work; she needed to work through everything that had happened, and everything that needed to happen if they truly were going to secure the fate of the animal shelter.

  But as she watched Lucas work, she knew her own fate was already safe and very secure with her handsome bear shifter.

  Chapter Sixteen – Lucas

  “You look amazing.” He kissed her cheek as she met him at the front door of her folks’ house. Where she officially lived, even though she spent more time at the sanctuary.

  Ronni smoothed her hand over her hair. “Thanks. I didn’t think I’d ever get a brush through my hair, but I did.” She gave a bright smile and then took hold of his hand and pulled him inside her house. “Do you mind? My mom and dad want to meet you.”

  “I don’t mind at all. I’d like to meet them.” He followed Ronni along the hallway and into the warmth of a kitchen filled with wonderful smells.

  “My mom has cooked her world-famous hot pot.” Ronni inhaled deeply. “She’s trying to make us stay for dinner here.”

  “I am not,” her mom answered, then grinned at her daughter. “You look nice.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Ronni hugged her mom. “Anyway, this is Lucas. Lucas, this is my mom and dad, Tansy and Joe.”

  “Hi there,” Lucas waved a hand at them. “It’s great to meet you. And I want to tell you how much Ronni means to me.”

  “She’s a special woman,” Tansy said. “But we know you are going to take great care of her.”

  “Or else I’ll hunt you down and skin your bear alive,” Joe said easily.

  “Dad.” Ronni shot him a warning look. “Don’t worry, he doesn’t mean it.”

  Lucas took it all in stride. “I promise to take the best care of her and I completely understand how protective you are over your daughter.”

  “Because I’m so weak and feeble I couldn’t look after myself,” Ronni said sarcastically.

  “No, because everyone needs someone to have their back. A mate is there to support you through life.” Her dad gazed adoringly at her mom.

  “And you get to be protective right back,” Tansy told Ronni. “You two are a couple, inseparable, together forever, through thick and thin and the good times and the bad.”

  “Okay, this is descending into... I don’t even know where we’re headed so we’re going to go.” Ronni kissed her mom and her dad.

  “Have fun, honey,” Tansy said.

  “Behave,” Joe added.

  “We’re not high school kids. We’re fully grown adults.” She shook her head at her dad who simply grinned at her. “What?”

  “I never went through this with you before. You kind of missed the whole boys thing.” Her dad fluttered his fingers and Ronni blushed furiously. “I’m making up for it.”

  “Thanks for embarrassing me.”

  “You’re welcome.” Joe winked at Lucas. “When you have kids of your own, you’ll understand.”

  “We’re going.” Ronni grabbed hold of Lucas and pulled him out of the kitchen. “Sorry about that.”

  Lucas laughed. “Your family is pretty normal. Mine is ten times worse. At least my brother is. He’ll try to embarrass me, I’m sure.”

  “Well, sibling rivalry is expected,” Ronni replied as he pulled the passenger door of his truck open and helped her inside.

  “And it’s the duty of a parent to embarrass their child.” He smiled up at her as she clicked her seatbelt in place. “You do look beautiful.”

  “Thanks.” She leaned forward and cupped his face in her hands. “I figured I should look my best for your family.”

  He slid his hand around the nape of her neck and kissed her lips. She smelled of orange blossom and jojoba, and her lips tasted of strawberry lip balm. “They don’t care what you look like. It’s what’s in here that counts.” He placed his hand over her heart.

  “I figured they should see me at least once out of my work clothes.” She sat back in her seat. “But I only have until midnight then I have to slip back into my work clothes and get back to the shelter. Sian and her daughters are looking after the kittens until ten. They’ll be fine on their own for a couple of hours, but I’d rather not leave them much longer.”

  “That is what I call dedication.” He put his hand on the door ready to close it, but she stopped him.

  “I’m dedicated to us, too. You and me and our life together are more important than anything.” She gazed down at him with such open love on her face that he believed her.

  “I know. But I can look after myself and the animals can’t. I understand.” He pecked her lips. “And I understand you. Don’t ever feel guilty about what you do.”

  “I’m the luckiest girl alive.” Ronni kissed him fully on the lips and Lucas wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. He’d never been more tempted to blow his family off and just take off with Ronni to somewhere quiet and secluded where they could get to know each other a whole lot better.

  But his family had been working hard behind the scenes to make it possible for Lucas and Ronni to have a home of their own alongside the animals. He couldn’t disappoint them when they wanted to update Ronni themselves.

  “I’m the luckiest guy.” He grasped her hands in his and raised them to his lips. With one heartfelt kiss, he let her go and then went around to the driver’s side of the truck. “Nana and Sage have been cooking. I think they have a big announcement.”

  “They do?” Ronni asked. “What kind of announcement?”

  “They wouldn’t tell me. But they did promise to ask Will about building a house, remember?” He drove down the trail leading from Ronni’s parents’ house feeling like a teenager on prom night.

  “How could I forget?” Ronni turned her head and looked out of the window as they turned left onto the road toward the mountains and the home he loved. It would be a wrench leaving there, but it was the right thing to do.

  “Are you okay?” Lucas put his foot down on the gas and the truck sped along the lanes.

  “Yes. I’m just thinking of Kevin and what it must be like to leave Bear Creek and the home you grew up in.” She turned to face him. “I can’t ever imagine leaving. But in some ways, I wonder if his idea to sell the house and not the animal shelter was as much about him giving himself permission to leave this part of the world behind him.” She placed her hand on the window. “Can you imagine never seeing the mountain again?”

  He looked up at the mountain peaks that were hidden under a blanket of snow-laden clouds. He couldn’t tell if the snow was going to fall this side of the mountain or pass them right by like the forecasters said. A heavy snowfall might hurt their chances of raising enough money for the shelter. In really bad years the snow could lie on the ground for weeks, blocking the narrow mountain roads, making travel difficult for anyone outside of the area to enter. Which meant none of Sian’s high-powered rich friends would make it.

  And no developers could reach us either, his bear reminded Lucas.

  True. But Kevin has made a promise
to Ronni, and she trusts his word. So I trust his word.

  However, the shelter would never be completely safe unless the land it stood on was theirs.

  “This is my home, it’s been my family’s home for generations. So no, I can’t imagine leaving. However, I can understand why Kevin feels the need. It must have been difficult for him. And that old house must hold a lot of memories he might want to forget.” Lucas swung the truck around a sharp bend and then began the steep climb up to Chance Heights.

  “Don’t you ever wish you could throw your arms around the world and give it a big hug?” Ronni’s eyes shone brightly as she spoke.

  “Yeah, I guess I do. But since we can’t do that, we do the best we can for however many people we can.” He slowed down as he reached the top of the narrow road which ended at Chance Heights. There he parked the truck next to Sage’s truck, which was emblazoned with the words River Wolf Activity Center. “It’s what my family has been doing for years and so have you. It might feel as if it’s not enough, but it is. Each life you touch, each person or animal you help can pay it forward in their own way.”

  “True. What will be, will be.” Ronni opened the door and climbed out of the truck.

  Lucas did the same, breathing in the oh-so familiar scents of the mountain and the surrounding forests. A wave of nostalgia hit him, but it didn’t affect him as it usually did. He was ready to move on. Ready to take hold of his new life with Ronni, wherever that might lead, and embrace it.

  Or wrestle it to the ground and hog-tie it if necessary.

  “Let’s go see what they’ve been up to.” He slipped his hand in Ronni’s and they walked toward the house he’d grown up in. The house where his parents had once lived before their death. He wished he’d known them. He wished he had memories of then, no matter how heartbreakingly painful they might be.

  Perhaps Ronni was right. Kevin should hang onto the house and the memories it contained. Because even those that hurt were better than the nothingness Lucas held in his heart when he thought of his parents. He wished he could reach inside and touch their faces with his mind, but all he had were images from photographs or the painting in the museum.