Page 7 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

He held up a hand. “Just stop. I don’t care what you need. I stopped caring a long time ago, so I suggest you get back in your car and get off my property. You’re notwelcomehere.”

Her bottom lip quivered as she fought back tears. The real reason she’d come to see him sat on the tip of her tongue, but how could she ask him to help her now? He hated her. The horrible things she’d said that night would cost her more than just his love. They would cost her sonhislife.

She couldn’t risk asking Brady to help her now. If he became even more enraged, his bear would come out and she didn’t stand a chance against it. Not only that, but she’d lose the only chance she had of saving Jimmy’s life. Somehow, she’d have to find another way to get Brady tohelpher.

She stepped back. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have come here. This was amistake.”

He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “One I hope you don’t makeagain.”

After hurrying through the snow to the car, she glanced back to where he stood. Dark shadows hung around him like a shroud. Glowing Christmas lights flashed across the sparkling snow as if warning her to becautious.

As she turned the car around, she took one last look at where Brady stood on the porch. A vise closed around her heart. Once, she’d loved him more than anything in the world. Why didn’t she tell him about the baby that night? Why couldn’t she summon the courage to be honestwithhim?

She’d pondered these questions for years and could only come up with the lame excuse that she’d been afraid of his reaction. Would he have dropped his plan of joining the Marines and stayed with her? Would they be a happyfamilynow?

A tear rolled down her cheek. She’d been eighteen at the time and meek. She couldn’t make that mistake again. Once Brady cooled down, she’d have to find another way to approach him. She hadn’t given up on her son in four years and she wasn’t about tostartnow.

As she pulled off of the small road onto the highway, she forced her shoulders back. She wouldn’t accept defeat. Not yet. Not until she’d confronted Brady with the truth. Once he knew he had a son, he’d have tohelphim.

But when she flashed back to the anger in Brady’s eyes, her conviction wavered. What if he’d changed? Maybe he wasn’t the same man she’d loved all thoseyearsago.

* * *

Brady watchedthe red taillights on her car fade into the blackness of the woods. His gut churned with tumultuous guilt. She’d clearly come to ask him for something, but his rage had overwhelmed hiscuriosity.

He shook his shoulders and stomped his feet to release the pent-up anger. The last thing he needed right now was to unleash his bear. He’d barely been able to keep him in check the first time the wind had carried her scent to him. She still smelled like fresh rain andpassion.

Over the years, he’d tried to satiate his bear with other women, but none could inflame him the way Rachel could. He’d searched for his mate, but never found anyone who could hold his interest for more than a nightortwo.

He ran his hand over his face as he reviewed their conversation. She’d been right about one thing: he’d made a huge mistake going to Afghanistan. The things he’d seen haunted him every day. And one horrific night in Kabul would be seared into his heart and mindforever.

Even now, he could still hear the gunfire and smell the smoke. The screams of women and children echoed like ghosts in the moonlight. And blood… so much blood. Rivers of it flowing through thestreets.

He stumbled down the steps and ran toward the forest. When he reached the first tree, he bent at the waist and dry-heaved before dropping to his knees. Snow soaked into his jeans. Within minutes, the frigid air seeped into every pore as if hell-bent on freezing hisbones.

“Brady?”

He recognized Mack’s voice and quickly stood. He scooped a handful of snow up and used it to wipe his face. The inky night would camouflage the pain in his eyes. “Overhere.”

Mack’s boots crunched in the snow. “What are you doing out here? I thought I heard voices on the porch, but when I came out, youweregone.”

Brady leaned against a towering pine and tried to relax. He debated whether or not to tell his brother about Rachel’svisit.

Mack said, “Who was the woman you weretalkingto?”

Of course he’d heard. “Rachel.”

“RachelStevenson?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know you two were still intouch.”

“We’renot.”

Mack cocked his head to one side. “Then why was she out here talkingtoyou?”

“I honestly don’t know. I was taking my boots off when she walked up. Shocked the hell outofme.”

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