Page 8 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Sorta like seeing aghost.”

“Exactly.”

Mack grunted. “I saw her in town a fewhoursago.”

“Really?”

“She had a kid with her, three or fouryearsold.”

Brady snorted. “She didn’t waste any time. Funny, she neglected to mention him to me. Hell, she must have jumped into bed with the next cowboy she met the second my planetookoff.”

“You sure it’s not yours?” Mackjoked.

“Nah, she would have told me if she’d been pregnant. We’ve had our differences, but she isn’t the type of woman who keepssecrets.”

“That would be a hell of a thing if he was yours. But you’re right, she wouldn’t have done something sounforgivable.”

“Nope. She called me all kinds of names and said some really awful things, but she’s not a badperson.”

Mack eyed him. “Will she be coming aroundagain?”

“She doesn’t have areasonto.”

“You sureaboutthat?”

Brady’s hands fisted at his sides. “Whatever you’re trying to say, just spititout.”

“I’ve seen that look in your eyes before. Watch out for her. She hurt you before and she’ll do it again if she has thechance.”

Brady stepped forward. He didn’t know why he felt the need to defend her, but he did. “I’m more than capable of dealing with her if she comes aroundagain.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t. I’m just giving you some brotherly advice. Be cautious about a woman who pops back into your life after so much time has passed. They usually wantsomething.”

“I have nothing togiveher.”

Mack shrugged. “She wants something. Anyway, supper’s ready. Wash up and meet usinside.”

Brady followed his brother halfway to the house before stopping. “Hey, could you just set some food aside for me? I need to make a tripintotown.”

“You’re running off to find heraren’tyou?”

“No.”

He quickly strode past his brother. When he reached the porch, he sat down to put his boots on. The extra heat his bear emanated helped warm him up. He hadn’t even felt the colduntilnow.

Mack joined him on the porch. “Becareful.”

“You don’t have to worryaboutme.”

“You’re my little brother. Of course I have to worryaboutyou.”

Brady smirked. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care ofmyself.”

After his brother entered the house and closed the door, Brady jogged through the snow to his truck. Last summer, the ranch had been packed, leaving them with a hefty surplus of money. He’d been able to buy a brand new Ford F-150. He loved the truck and took it in to town every chancehegot.

With the turn of a key, the rugged black truck roared to life. He quickly maneuvered it through the woods and onto the highway. He drove into West Yellowstone. The tiny town only had a few bars, but he onlyneededone.

He parked at the Little Bear Bar and Grill. After pushing through the saloon-style wooden doors, he made his way through a group of dancing tourists and strolled toward the bar. His friend Steve Holliday owned the place and, true to form, Brady spotted him leaning across the hundred-year-old bar listening intently to a drunkcollegegirl.

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