The Cowbear's Christmas Bride (Curvy Bear Ranch 4) Read online

  After Hank set the bag on the counter, Carol started unloading its contents. “I wasn’t sure what you like to eat, so I bought a little of everything. Chili, macaroni and cheese, and frozen pizza.”

  “Oven don’t work.”

  “I’ll take that home,” Hank said as he put the pizza box back in the bag.

  “What can I make you?” Carol asked.

  “Chili mac,” her mom said without hesitation.

  Finally, they were getting somewhere.

  Carol pulled a pot off the wall and found a matching lid. She filled it with water and set it to boil. She grabbed a second pot, then opened one of the drawers.

  “What do you need?” her mom asked.

  “A can opener.” And love, and compassion, and information about being part bear.

  “Here.”

  Her mom yanked open a drawer and pulled out a rusty can opener. Thankful that she was up to date on her tetanus shots, Carol took it and proceeded to open the chili.

  “What do you do back in New York?” her mom asked.

  The question came out of nowhere and shocked her for a moment. “I’m a salesperson at a department store.”

  “That pay pretty good?”

  “I’m on commission, but I make enough to pay the bills,” Carol said.

  “I used to work. Don’t think I laid around here feelin’ sorry for myself. I worked.”

  “What did you do?” Hank asked.

  “Use to work in town at the hardware store. Cleaned the guns, kept the stock up. I was doing okay until I got pregnant.”

  The air in the room stilled as if everyone was afraid to breathe. Carol stirred the chili vigorously and checked on the water. It wasn’t quite at a rolling boil yet, but it was close enough. She tore open the box of macaroni and dumped it into the water.

  “I loved your daddy,” her mom said.

  “You did?” Carol asked as she dropped the spoon into the chili pot.

  “Let me get that,” Hank said. As he passed her, he placed his palm on the small of her back.

  “A little advice,” her mom said. “Don’t be like me. Keep your legs closed until you’re married. Get knocked up too soon and it’ll ruin your life.”

  Carol’s heart wilted. Her mother had just told her that she’d ruined her life. What could she say to that?

  “Getting pregnant didn’t ruin your life.” A tiny vein popped up on Hank’s forehead. “You ruined your own life.”

  “Hank!” Carol exclaimed.

  “What? She can’t blame you for her failures in life. She abandoned you. Whatever harm your birth could have caused her ended when she dropped you off at that orphanage,” Hank snapped.

  Her mom’s eyes narrowed. “I see the way you’re lookin’ at my daughter. You’re just like all the rest, ready to sweet talk her into bed and then leave her in the lurch.”

  Carol stepped between them. “I thought you said you loved my dad.”

  “You can still love a mean sonofabitch. I wasn’t ever good at pickin’ men. Always chose the ones with the silver tongues. If you don’t learn a thing from meetin’ me, learn this—never trust anyone to take care of you but yourself.”

  Before Carol could respond, a car pulled up next to Hank’s truck.

  “Shit.” Her mom grabbed Carol’s wrist and dragged her toward the door. “He wasn’t supposed to be back for another couple of hours. Don’t tell him who you are, and don’t come back. Get whatever fairy tale you got in your head out of it. We’re not family and never will be.”

  Hank followed them out onto the front porch where her mother’s demeanor shifted completely. A hulk of a man dressed in a black leather jacket and thick work boots stepped out of the car.

  “It was nice having you for a visit. Tell Reverend Tom I’ll be up at church again this Sunday,” her mom said in an excessively loud voice. Her back was to the man walking up the steps. A hint of fear registered in her eyes but quickly vanished as she turned to wrap her hands around his waist. “Hi, Big Daddy.”

  “Who are they?” he demanded.

  “They’re from church. You know the reverend gets his panties in a bunch when we don’t get up to church every Sunday.”

  “Don’t he know Sunday’s sin day?” The man chortled.

  Her mom laughed nervously. Carol looked from her to him but before she could say anything, Hank grabbed her arm.

  “We’ll see you at church,” Hank said.

  Carol wanted to stay, but Hank half-dragged her to the truck. After they’d climbed in and Hank slammed the driver’s side door, she turned to him.

  “What was that about?”

  “That was Trevor Sawyer. You don’t want to mess with that guy.” Hank hooked an arm over the back of the seat and looked over his shoulder as he backed onto the road.

  “Why?”

  “Two-time felon. He’s been up state in Pinebrook a few times.”

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “Federal prison.”

  “For what?”

  “Gang activity. I don’t remember the specific charges, but he’s a dangerous guy.”

  “But we left him with my mom,” she said.

  “It seemed like she was expecting him.”

  “We should go back.”

  He pulled off into a marked turnout and twisted to face her. “Not tonight.”

  “We should call the cops and send them to check in on her.”

  “On what grounds?” he asked.

  She bit the edge of her lip.

  “I know you want to help your mom. Trust me, I understand the need to help people. But maybe your mom really doesn’t want your help,” he said.

  Her hands started to tremble, so she shoved them under her thighs. Afraid that her voice would crack when she spoke, she turned away and stared into the darkness.

  “Give it a few days. We’ll go back and check on her. We have no reason to believe she’s in any danger, okay?” he asked.

  “All right.” The first fat tear rolled down her cheek. She swiped at it while another fell and then another. Soon, quiet sobs racked her body.

  “Hey, it’s going to be okay. She might just need a little time. Can you imagine how shocking it was for her to see you on her doorstep?”

  When she didn’t answer, Hank leaned over and unbuckled her seat belt. He pulled her into his arms. His large hands splayed across her waist, drawing her closer. She couldn’t hold back any longer.

  “It’s okay, honey,” Hank whispered as she let the tears flow.

  She curled up in his arms, taking comfort in his quiet strength. When she tilted her head back to thank him, moonlight caught the specs of gold in his brown eyes. His hands slid from her waist to cup her face.

  “I wish I knew how to take away your pain,” he whispered.

  Her gaze dropped to his lips and she conveyed her need with a soft sigh. He dipped to brush a feathery kiss across her lips. When she moaned, he returned to deepen the kiss. And when she shivered in his arms, he parted her lips with his tongue and awakened a part of her she’d ignored for far too long.

  Chapter 5

  Hank paced around the kitchen while he waited for Carol to appear for breakfast. He couldn’t stop thinking about the way she’d felt in his arms last night. After kissing her until his lips were half-numb, he’d driven her back to the ranch and gave her one last kiss before sending her to her room.

  He’d quickly left the B & B before his last thread of willpower snapped. He clung to that little filament of self-control until he’d made it to the banks of Hebgen Lake. Had it been up to his bear, he would have run back to the B & B and claimed Carol that night. As he dove into the lake, the freezing water sucked the heat from his body, effectively putting his bear on ice.

  As much as he’d wanted to return and take everything she wanted to give him, he couldn’t. She didn’t care about him; she only flew into his arms because she had nowhere else to go. He wasn’t an idiot. He recognized the reality of the situation, but that did
n’t mean he didn’t want to see her again.

  He turned and stalked a path to the other side of the kitchen. Where was she?

  “You keep pacing like that and we’re going to have to replace the floors by spring,” Madison said.

  “Sorry. Nervous energy.”

  “What are you so nervous about?” she asked.

  “Nothing.”

  There was no way he’d tell Madison the truth. She’d flay him alive if she found out that he’d been lip-locked with one of the guests. Although, if she did say something, it would be like the pot calling the kettle black considering she’d met Mack when she’d started working at the B & B, then ended up engaged to him after a week.

  He turned and trudged another ten paces before a scent sweeter than honey drifted into the room. His bear stood at attention as he sniffed. She was here. Downstairs.

  As he hurried toward the dining room, Madison gave him a teasing wink. Ugh. Nothing got past that woman.

  When he entered the dining room, he spotted Carol in a seat at the far end of the table. Why she always chose to sit so far away from his family was beyond him. But maybe she didn’t see herself as anything other than a guest, which she was. It wasn’t like she was part of the family. She couldn’t be. She’d be leaving at the end of the week, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t spend more time with her between now and then.

  “Good morning.” He slid into the seat next to hers.

  “Hi.” She met his eyes for a moment before dropping her gaze to the table. A flush of color stained her cheeks.

  Surprised, he sat back against the chair. He’d been right. The kiss didn’t mean anything. Although maybe she was just embarrassed by her behavior the previous night. Not only had she ended up in his lap in the truck, but she’d also tried to coax him into her room when they’d arrived at the B & B.

  Crap. He’d never meant to make her uncomfortable. That was the last thing he’d wanted to do. But she’d been so soft and had smelled so damn good. Besides, it wasn’t really his fault that she’d tried to use him to take away her pain. He’d only been trying to give her a hug.

  “Whatever Madison is cooking smells great,” she said.

  “I think it’s a sausage and spinach quiche. It was one of my mother’s recipes.”

  “Was your mom a good cook?” she asked.

  “The best. She used to make a killer huckleberry pie. Madison found mom’s old recipe book in the attic and she’s been working her way through it.”

  “I don’t know if my mom’s a good cook or not. Isn’t it funny that I don’t know something as simple as that?” Her tone held a hint of sadness. He instantly wanted to reach over and comfort her. It was all he could do to keep his hands in his lap.

  “She just needs time,” he said.

  “You really think after a day or two she’ll want to see me?”

  “It’s possible.”

  “I guess I’ll just wait here a few days and try again. I saw the library in the living room. You have some really great books here,” she said.

  “So you’re a reader?”

  “Yep. When I was at the orphanage, most of the other kids didn’t stay long enough for me to make friends, so books became my friends. I love getting lost in a good historical romance, but I also like to read books about science and astronomy.”

  “I love astronomy too. I can name every constellation in the sky,” he said.

  “Really? I’ll have to test you on that sometime.” She flashed a smile warm enough to melt his heart.

  “What are your plans for today?” he asked.

  “I was going to take a few books up to my room and just hang out there.”

  “Have you ever been to Yellowstone Park?”

  “No. I’ve seen pictures though. I’ve always wanted to visit Old Faithful. I’ve stared at its static image on the postcard long enough that it makes me want to see it in person,” she said.

  “Have you ever been on a snowmobile?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “If you want to see Old Faithful, we can hop on my snowmobile and drive out there. It’s about thirty miles from here. It’s going to be a cold ride, but I have built-in seat warmers.”

  “Really? Is it like riding a motorcycle?” she asked.

  “No. It’s much more stable. You have to really try to tip one over.”

  “I don’t want to impose on your day.”

  “You wouldn’t be. I was planning on heading out there sometime this week anyway. I love going into the park during the winter. Even though I’ve lived here all of my life, I still can’t get over how beautiful it is. President Grant was a smart man when he signed The Act of Dedication Law to preserve the land,” he said.

  “Okay. I’ll go with you”

  The second she agreed to the trip, a rush of energy burst through every cell in his body. He couldn’t wait to feel her arms around his waist, or the wind in his hair, as they drove through the open meadows.

  ***

  Carol wrapped her arms around Hank’s waist and clung to him. She’d put on a brave face when he’d described the snowmobile, but to actually sit on one out in the open with nothing to protect her sent quivers of trepidation through her belly. She had to trust that he knew how to drive the thing.

  “Go ahead and put your visor down,” he said. “Don’t open it until we stop. I know several great places along the way, so we’ll stop from time to time to look at them. How does that sound?

  “Sounds good.”

  She closed the visor and returned her hands to his waist. Leaning against the big, strong man while straddling the vibrating machine was enough to awaken an avalanche of lust. All of the stress of seeing her mother for the first time was getting to her. The sudden rush of desire had nothing to do with him. She’d just enjoy the day for what it was—a distraction.

  The snowmobile rumbled as Hank drove onto the road. When they passed under the Curvy Bear Ranch sign, instead of turning right to continue on the road, he turned left and cut a path through the pristine wilderness. She looked over his shoulder as trees whizzed past. Through the branches, sunlight cast a glow across sporadic patches of sparkling snow.

  It didn’t take long to reach town. They flew past a few brave shoppers who hurried from store to store in the below-freezing temperatures. Weighted down with shopping bags, they smiled and waved as the snowmobile passed. That would never happen in New York. Making eye contact on the street was either considered weird or an invitation to fight. It was refreshing to be around people who weren’t constantly riding the edge of insanity.

  When they reached the grand entrance to the park, Carol’s eyes began to water. Something about being out in nature always touched her soul. Maybe it was the peacefulness, or the silence. She felt so much closer to her true self when she was outside. In the past, she’d considered moving to upstate New York. She could definitely get closer to nature there. But she’d been too afraid to leave the city in which she’d spent her entire life.

  Hank flashed a badge at the park ranger, who waved him through. As they cleared the entrance, they passed a sign which read Road Closures: Canyon to Norris. She barely had enough time to read it before the snowmobile rushed forward faster than ever. She squeezed Hank until he reached down and patted her hand. She was probably smothering the poor guy, but she’d never felt so physically exposed before.

  To the left, a huge river rushed past them. She blinked as light flashed across the rolling water. Momentarily blinded, she snapped her eyelids closed. When she opened them, she gazed across the river to the snow-laden prairie. A few trees dotted the landscape on the far side of the river, but they weren’t nearly as dense as the trees to her right.

  She tried to take in the beauty of the forest, but they were going too fast. He’d said he’d stop at some point, so she’d wait. It wasn’t like they were suddenly going to run out of trees.

  After a few more minutes, Hank pulled into a turnout on the river side of the road. He turned the engine o
ff then flipped up his visor. She did the same.

  “We’ll stop here for a minute,” he said. “I’ve always loved this spot in the river. If you’re really quiet, you can hear the water rushing over the rocks.”

  He climbed off the snowmobile and held out his hand. She took it and joined him. As they walked toward the river, she realized that there wasn’t anyone else around. Back at the ranger station, she’d seen a sign that cars weren’t allowed into the park during the winter. When she took off her helmet, the babbling, rolling sound of water greeted her. Other than Hank’s soft breaths, it was the only sound for miles.

  She inhaled the chilly air. When she exhaled, she felt as if she’d expelled all of the toxic city air from her lungs. She’d never smelled air so fresh and clean. It was a refreshing change from practically having to chew the air where she lived.

  In the distance, an eagle cried.

  “There’s a nest up the road a little bit,” Hank said. “We can’t pull over because we don’t want to disturb the birds, but it’s on the right side of the road. I’ll point when we get close. You can’t miss it.”

  “I can’t imagine living so close to a place like this. I think I’d go into the park every day.”

  “I drive through here a few times a week. Even though there’s a lot of work to do at the ranch, we try to give each other some time off. Don’t get me wrong, I love my brothers. But if I had to spend time with them 24/7, I’d probably lose my mind.”

  “I guess I can see how that would happen.” She chuckled. “I never had any brothers or sisters, just the other kids at the orphanage. I used to wonder what it would be like to have a big family.”

  “It’s awesome. I wouldn’t change it for the world,” he said. “Ready to head out?”

  “Sure.”

  “Before we get going, although I like having your hands wrapped around me, my ribs need a little room so I can breathe.” He grinned.

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I know the first time on a snowmobile can be nerve-racking. I’ve been driving them since I was a teenager. I promise I won’t tip us over.”

  “I trust you,” she said.