“What about Ivy?”Kade asked.
She was safe in the house with the others.“I’m good.She’s good.Let’s get going before we lose her.”
“Okay.”Kade took off running, as did Travis.Beau fell behind, thanks to his injuries.He kept the others in his line of sight as he smacked bushes in case the mountain lion had fallen over.She would react if she were conscious.If she wasn’t, she might be lying in a bush.Either way, he had a better chance of getting a glimpse of her this way.
The trees were alive with cicadas and other insects.Night creatures bolted as far away from them as they could get as the trio made noise so they wouldn’t catch another animal off guard.Most animals, predators included, took off at the sound of noises.Even wild hogs usually ran from loud sounds.
Beau’s mind shifted to Ivy.She was safe in the house.He reminded himself of this fact several times because every cell in his body wanted to turn around and ensure she was safe.Not being with her for even a few minutes shot his blood pressure up.How he’d become so attached to her in such a short time was beyond him.He chalked it up to the danger they’d been in and their situation, rather than real feelings.How could he fall so hard for someone he barely knew?
Logically, he knew real love was built over time.His heart argued it knew when he’d found someone special.Someone worth going the distance with.
He shook a bush and caught a glimpse of gold.A lethal paw swatted at him.Fortunately for Beau, the animal was heavily sedated.
“Guys, over here.”
Travis and Kade immediately circled back, jogging over.
“There she is,” Kade said, keeping a decent distance.“Don’t worry, girl.We’re not here to hurt you.”
The mountain lion disagreed.She tried to raise her head as she opened her mouth to bite.A few seconds later, the drug’s full effect kicked in, and she acquiesced, laying her head down.Her eyes closed, mouth still open.
Kade moved closer and took a knee around her hindquarters.He tapped her.“She’s out.Rest easy, old girl.We’re going to take good care of you.”
Travis was already on his cell phone, calling Marcus.
The phone call didn’t take long.Marcus said he was on his way.
“We’ll wait right here until you arrive,” Travis said.He studied her.“She’s probably a hundred pounds of dead weight.”
The worddeadsat hard on Beau’s chest after fearing his mother was gone.
“Marcus will bring a secure crate, and we can help him carry it out of here,” Travis said after ending the call and rejoining Beau and Kade.
Part of him wanted to head back to the house now that the animal was safe.He couldn’t leave these two in case they needed his help.Besides, after all that movement, his body was screaming to sit down and take a break.He wouldn’t be any help to anyone otherwise.
“I’ll let the others know we’re safe and waiting for Marcus,” Travis said.He kept rubbing his hands together and pacing; all signs that he was nervous.Now that Beau knew about Chloe’s pregnancy, he understood the reason Travis would be on edge.Was he concerned the pregnancy wouldn’t make it to term?He wasn’t supposed to be able to have children, so that was the most logical reason he would be tense and constantly checking in.Beau wished there was something he could say to reassure Travis.Life had taught him not to expect miracles.And yet, Chloe being pregnant with Travis’s child was an undeniable one.
Good for them.
“Chloe isn’t picking up,” Travis said.
Kade glanced at his brother-in-law.There was something in the look that said Kade had caught on.His wife, Bree, was pregnant with their second child, so maybe he’d picked up on the signs from Chloe.“I thought she said something about her battery being low.You might try one of the twins or Hudson.”
There were other explanations, like maybe she’d stepped away from her phone to go to the bathroom.
Travis nodded.He tapped the screen and made a second call.“Archer, is Chloe around?”He paused a beat.“What do you mean she left to be with Ivy?”His gaze shot to the ground, and he started pacing again.“That makes no sense given her…condition.”He paused a beat.“Yes, I’m aware of how dedicated she is and how stubborn she can be.”
The last question had Beau standing up.It took effort.Tracking the animal had depleted his energy.This news, however, gave him a hit of adrenaline.It wouldn’t last, so he needed to take advantage of it.
“Where did they go?”Beau asked.
Travis shifted his gaze; panic in his eyes.He asked the question while maintaining eye contact.“Why didn’t you stop them?”he asked the person on the other end of the call.He paused a few beats, then moved his mouth from the phone.“Chloe is driving Ivy to her apartment in Austin.”
“And the guys just let them leave?”Beau asked.
“It’s Chloe, they said.She pleaded with them not to tell us.When they refused, she threatened them within an inch of their lives.”Travis issued a sharp sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand.“I’ve been hovering and driving her crazy.This is my fault.And my wife can be very convincing when she needs to be.”
“Stubborn as hell, too,” Kade interjected.
