Page 312 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Well I won’t have it,” Liam hollered. “I won’t have my wife whoring around withanotherman.”

His head rose and he looked directly at her. She screamed and ran as fast as her legs would go. Behind her, footsteps pounded on the frozen earth. As her chest tightened, her pace slowed. She stumbled. When she righted herself and took another step forward, Liam grabbed her sweater and ripped it off. She wriggled out of it and sprinted away. But she only made it another ten feet before he leapt and tackled her intothesnow.

* * *

Drew whistledas he stood on the front porch of the main house. A slow breeze carried through the trees, rustling the leaves. The scent of pine and fresh snow invigorated his senses. He couldn’t wait to share all of the seasons with Cindy. They had a few more months of winter, and then spring would come to heat the earth. Maybe they’d plant a new flower garden this year. Or spread wildflower seeds around the B&B. He’d leave it up to the Grant women. They were all so opinionated that they’d override his suggestionsanyway.

He took another sip of coffee and set the mug on the porch railing. They’d let the horses out into the front pasture to graze for a few hours, but he needed to round them up soon. Afternoons were short in the winter and long rays of sunshine already stretched across the valleyfloor.

The front door opened and Mack stepped onto theporch.

“I’m heading over to the B&B to check on Madison. I don’t like leaving her alone too long,”Macksaid.

“Cindy should be therewithher.”

“True, but I can’t stop holding my kid.” Mack grinned withpride.

“I hear you. When you get up there can you let them know I’ll be up in a few minutes? I want to finish mycoffee.”

“Sure.”

As Mack trekked off around the side of the house, Drew sat in the porch swing. He hated to admit it, but Madison had been right. Finding a mate had added something to his life that he’d been missing. Sure, he had a huge family now, thanks to his brothers, but he felt so much more complete with Cindy byhisside.

He took another swig of coffee. He’d have to thank Madison later for finding Cindy. Maybe it hadn’t been the most ideal way of meeting someone, but it worked. The longer he thought about Cindy, the more he realized that his bear was right. They were meant to betogether.

Told you so,his bearhuffed.

Fine, Bear. I believe you,Drewresponded.

It’sabouttime.

He couldn’tagreemore.

After taking the last sip of coffee, he carried the mug back to the sink. He rinsed it and set it in the dishwasher. Back in the foyer, he checked his reflection in the mirror. He batted down his hair before sliding a Stetson on his head. He couldn’t wait to get back to the B&B to give Cindy a huge kiss. And maybe a little something more if she was inthemood.

But first, he had to secure thehorses.

He headed out to the paddock and rounded up the horses. He brought them back to the barn and secured them in their respective stalls. After tossing them some hay, he washed his hands inthesink.

He turned to find Mack striding through the barn. One look at his face and Drew went onalert.

“What’s wrong?” Drewasked.

“Cindy’smissing.”

“What?”

“Madison said she left the house an hour ago to look for you,” Mack said. “She was headed for the main house. Did you run into heratall?”

“No.” Dread pooled in the pit of his stomach. “Did you see anytracks?”

“I wasn’t really looking. I just wanted to get over here as fast as I could to see if you’d met upwithher.”

“No.”

Drew jogged out of the barn toward the B&B. Half-way there, he spotted a set of tracks that veered off into theforest.

“Those look like drag marks,”Macksaid.

---