Then she got a call from Lacy, which she wasn’t expecting.“Are you sure you don’t want me to come into work tomorrow?”
“I think you would be safer at the ranch.He probably doesn’t know you are staying there, but he could know that you’re working at the coffee shop.”
“Okay.”
“Did you have fun with Rory tonight?”
“I did, but I felt a dark cloud was hanging over me because of Granddad getting hurt and knowing that Timothy is in the area.But I also worry about you.He knew I was staying at your house.What if he returns there, looking for me?Or takes you hostage to get to me?”
“Someone will be with me.I’m sure that someone will be at the shop with us tomorrow also.”
“All right.Well, if you need me to help, let me know.”
“I will, thanks, Lacy.”But Florence really wanted Lacy to stay out at the ranch.She felt Lacy would be safer there, and she suspected Hal would stay as a deputy sheriff to protect her, just in case her ex learned where she was.
Rory feltterrible about Lacy’s grandfather, and if he ever caught sight of the cougar who did it, he would kill him.Cougars like that didn’t go to prison.They were a security risk if they were incarcerated because they could change into their cougar at any given time.
He knew Lacy had been having difficulty concentrating on eating her dinner at the Sizzling Slice.She’d called Mrs.Fitz to make sure she was all right.
"Do you want to go to bed?"Rory asked Lacy, rubbing her arms with tenderness in the entryway to Hal and Tracey's home.
"I still want to go for a cougar run, if you want to do it."
"Yeah, sure."He was thrilled, but he figured she wanted to do it to work out some pent-up frustration over what had happened to her grandfather and the concern that her ex now knew she was in Yuma Town."You…aren't planning on running again, are you?"
He considered she might want to because of her past actions when her ex caught up to her.
"No."She wrapped her arms around Rory, hugged him, and kissed him on the mouth, lightly at first, and then the kiss morphed into a promise to stay with him.
He embraced her tightly, telling her he was there for her and she didn't have to worry about Timothy any longer.
"I have you and all of Yuma Town to back me up this time."She smiled."And I think Granddad and Mrs.Fitz are hitting it off.I wouldn't want to ruin that for them by leaving, knowing my grandfather would just come after me again to try and keep me safe."
"Good.I think so, too, about your grandfather and Mrs.Fitz.I haven’t seen her that giddy since she sat on Santa’s lap at the women’s tea last Christmas.I have a special place I'll take you to then."
She laughed about Mrs.Fitz sitting on Santa’s lap.“I’m looking forward to seeing your special place.”She led him to her guest room, and they both removed their clothes and shifted into cougars, then raced down the stairs as Tracey and Hal were getting their kids ready for bed.All four of them: Tabitha, Denise, Liam, Evan Chase were eight years old, but turning nine on December 29th.They always had a big party for the quadruplets.
The kids made Rory think of having children with Lacy.He smiled, and they headed out the cougar door and into the cold, snow-covered ground.The full moon shone in all its glory as they ran across the snow-covered fields, its light reflecting on the snow.He was taking her to everyone's favorite spot.A waterfall now frozen in an icy sculpture that was just beautiful.
When they reached the river, it was flowing, though the banks were covered in ice.She just stared at the waterfall in all its frozen glory.She licked Rory's nose, telling him he had done right by bringing her here.
He licked her back and nuzzled her muzzle.She reciprocated, then headed closer to the waterfall.Icy rocks were right next to the riverbank like steppingstones to the waterfall.
He knew she was going to navigate the rocks before she even moved in that direction.He wanted to warn her that they were slippery, but she could see that they were.
Then she gingerly climbed onto the first of the boulders.He was right behind her.Not that he could stop her from falling into the river if she slipped off the rocks.Then she went to the next rock, and he waited for her to reach the next boulder.Once she was on it, he moved to the rock behind her and promptly slipped off the rock into the water.
He wanted to laugh.She leapt into the water after him, but he was okay.He appreciated that she worried about him though.He climbed back up on the rocks, and she joined him.Then she continued to the waterfall and licked the ice sculpture.She was cute.
She managed to work her way behind the frozen waterfall, and he joined her.She licked his wet fur, and he licked hers.He'd been behind the waterfall before, but not when it was frozen!It was like looking through a distorted version of the world.
Thankfully, their cougar coats were keeping them warm.They cuddled together, and he enjoyed the warmth they shared.
Then Lacy rubbed against Rory and began to leave the cave behind the waterfall and quickly stopped.Rory ran into her, but looked around her to see what the matter was.A cougar he didn't recognize was standing on the boulders, teeth bared.
Aww, shit.If they were wolves, they could howl for backup.But as cats, their screeches couldn't carry as far as a wolf's howl.He moved past her and tore into the cougar.He smelled his scent then and knew it was the ex.
He was a little heavier than Rory, but Rory was more muscled.And damned determined to kill the cougar before he harmed Lacy.
