Page 192 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

Chapter10

During the entireride to Trevor’s cabin, Carol couldn’t stop thinking about fated mates. Could that actually be true? Over the last few days, she felt a stronger connection to her bear than ever before, maybe because she was finally acknowledging the poor creature. How terrible to go through life being ignored. Carol knew how much that hurt, so she vowed to find a way to make it up toherbear.

She glanced at Hank. Lying in his arms last night, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to wake up to him every morning. Was there a way she could pack up her old life and move to Montana? Before she would even think about doing that, she’d have to know for sure that he wanted hertomove.

When he’d talked about fated mates, she loved how romantic it all sounded. But how would she know if it were true? It seemed like something that would hit her in the gut. Had Hank impacted her so much that they were fated to betogether?

As the cabin came into view, she pushed the thoughts aside. She’d still be in Montana for a few more days. She’d planned on leaving on Christmas Eve, but maybe they could extend herreservation.

“Trevor shouldn’t be here,” Hank said. “But I want to check things out before you get out of thetruck,okay?”

“Okay.”

By now, she knew better than to argue with him about matters of safety. He was super protective, which normally would have sent up a bunch of red flags, but his intent was clear—he wanted to keep her awayfromharm.

She squirmed in the seat as she watched Hank walk up to the front door. Flashes of his hot, sweaty, ripped, naked body flickered across her mind like a silent film. He was so aggressive and yet sensual in bed, a combination she’d never experienced with the few boyfriends she’d had. She could definitely get used to his sexy,dirtytalk.

After climbing the steps, Hank pushed open the front door to the cabin. How odd. Why wasn’t itlocked?

She sat up straighter, waiting for his signal. A vise-like band of fear ensnared her belly. What if Trevor already made bail? What if he’d come back already? What if he’d done something tohermom?

Hank reappeared and waved frantically. She leapt out of the truck and ran up the porch steps. As she entered the house, she gasped. The place looked like it had been hit by a hurricane. Tables lay on their sides. Chairs with shattered legs were heaped up in one corner of the room. And there was blood, lotsofit.

“Mom?” shescreamed.

She scurried after him into the bedroom at the rear of the house. When they burst into the room, Hank cursed. Her mom was draped across the bed. Sticky, coagulated blood seeped out from a huge gash on the back ofherhead.

“Oh God, is she?” Carol placed her hand over her heart in an attempt to calm it. The pounding beat of it against her ribcage was too muchtobear.

Hank hurried over to her mom and placed two fingers onherneck.

“She’s still alive. We need to get her to a hospital right now. She needs medevac,”hesaid.

“But there’s no phone and our cell phones don’tworkhere.”

“We need to carry her to the truck and drive her to West Yellowstone. Wait here, I’m going to see if I can find something to help stabilize her neck.” He rushed out oftheroom.

Her knees knocked together as she approached her mom. At first, she couldn’t even see her breathing, but as she drew closer, Carol spotted a faint rise and fall in her chest. She was alive… but forhowlong?

Hank rushed back into the room carrying a piece of plywood and somecurtainties.

“This is far from ideal, but it’s all we have,” he said. “Help me get her on theboard.”

After carefully positioning her mom, they wrapped ties around her torso to keep her somewhatsecure.

“Normally I would never, ever move someone this injured, but if we don’t move her now…” His voicefaded.

“Iknow.”

“I’ll carry her, you get the door,”hesaid.

Once they’d secured her inside the truck, Carol held her mom’s hand. She tried to convey all the love in her heart and for the first time in a long time, sheprayed.

As soon as they reached West Yellowstone, he turned toward the sheriff’s department. He tore into the parking lot and parked sideways in front of theentrance.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back,”hesaid.

He dashed into the sheriff’s office. A minute later, he returned with Sheriff Tanner and the young woman from thefrontdesk.

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