“Who are you?” she asked.
“Same question,” Bear answered. “You first.”
“I’m Walter Sanders’ niece. This is his house.” She looked around. “Did his daughter sell it already?”
Bear tilted his head. “You’re Walter’s niece?”
“I am.” She nodded. “My family is estranged, so I didn’t know he’d passed away, otherwise I would have come to the funeral.” She paused and asked, “I’m sorry, did you know my uncle?”
She was a naïve little thing, telling him all that.Ifit was true. But there it was again, that feeling that he knew her already.It was a long time ago…
“Didn’t know him well. Sorry for your loss. But you’re trespassing.”
She swallowed and took a step back, which made him immediately regret his tone. He wasn’t used to talking to such a beautiful woman, let alone caring about how he came across. His regret took him by surprise. He wanted her to like him.
But right now, she looked more distressed than anything.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know I was trespassing, and the road is blocked off, so I took a little path I knew—”
She stopped abruptly and looked toward the house as they heard tires crunching on gravel—a big vehicle coming in hot—followed by car doors opening and slamming shut, and voices raised in anger.
“Sounds like you’re in trouble now,” Bear said.
Poor thing looked terrified. Her reddened face paled and she looked around wildly, then down at the bike guiltily.
Yup, it was like Bear suspected—she’d stolen it. His heart dropped. He didn’t want to think badly of her. He wondered if she’d come to town like so many others, hoping to live rough in the beautiful state with great weather—at least until winter—and legal drugs. The backpack and sleeping bag, her old clothes, they all spoke to that.
“Come on. It’ll go easier if you don’t run. Lemme help you.” He reached out as if he were trying to tame a nervous fox, which he’d done when he was younger. Foxes, racoons, even a coyote once. Like Shane always said, Bear had a way with strays and wild things, and right now, this woman looked like a little of both. She froze and studied his hand like she couldn’t quite trust it, like someone who’d been hit, and his heart opened to her.
“Not gonna hurt you, I promise. Gonna help you, but you gotta trust me. They’re good men you’re hearing—friends of mine—but they’re low on trust and patience right now.”
She looked up at him through her long, dark lashes. “Not the police?”
Bear sighed. “No.” He didn’t want to add that the police might be a better deal for her, all things considered.
He watched her weigh her options as she looked into his eyes, and he realized he ached for her to make the right decision and trust him. The voices were coming closer and the men would soon be around the house. Kyle and Shane.
Kyle shouted Bear’s name and he turned his head to face them when he felt her hand in his like she’d just laid a live wire across his palm. He turned back to see her gazing up at him—fearful but trusting. His heart skipped a couple of beats.
Bear folded his fingers over her hand, swallowing it up in his. He gave her a smile.
“Come on,” Bear said as gently as he could. “I’ve got you.”
