Page 4 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
She led them around to the back garden and pointed toward a large rhododendron bush.
“There he is,” Stanley murmured, spotting a blur of white just beneath the leaves.
He crouched low, and Oli dropped beside him, matching his posture with care.
“Think you can coax him out?” Stanley asked.
Oli nodded gravely. “I saw a video once about rabbits. You have to pretend you’re not interested.”
Stanley grinned. “Perfect technique.”
Oli extended a slow hand, palm open. The rabbit twitched its nose, inching forward with curious caution.
Behind them, June hovered close, her arms no longer crossed. She was watching them both with interest.
Just as the rabbit took another hop forward, Mrs. Abernathy called out, “Need a hand?”
Stanley glanced back. “We’ve got it. Just about.”
“You’ve got expert help,” Mrs. Abernathy said. “And a steady hand. You Thornberg boys always had patience and an affinity with living things.”
Now, that’s a compliment,Stanley’s bear said.
With Oli’s unwavering patience and Stanley’s calm voice, the rabbit crept fully into view. A moment later, with gentle precision, Stanley scooped it up and eased it into the crate.
Click.
“Well done,” he said, offering Oli a fist bump. The boy blinked, then returned it with a shy grin.
June stepped forward and placed a hand on Oli’s shoulder. “Thanks for letting Oli help.”
“June, isn’t it?” Mrs. Abernathy asked, turning her attention to Stanley’s mate.
She nodded. “June Draper. And this is my son, Oli. We’ve just moved in with my aunt.”
“So I heard. Welcome to Bear Creek.” The old woman gave them both an approving look. “I know your Aunt Barb. She’s murder at bingo night. Stole a whole meat hamper out from under me last winter.”
“Did she?” June asked, her tone lighter now.
Stanley smiled as he noted the lack of tension in her shoulders and the way her lips curved into a smile. Lips he would so love to kiss.
Mrs. Abernathy leaned slightly closer to Stanley, lowering her voice just enough for only him to hear. “Wrong address, huh?”
He met her gaze. It was sharp, knowing, and a little amused.
“I guess you could call it fate,” he replied.
“I believe you could,” Mrs. Abernathy said.
Chapter Two – June
The rabbit sat still in the crate, its sides rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Oli kneeled beside it on the grass, his small fingers reaching carefully through the wire door to stroke the fur along its side. He murmured as he touched it. Facts about rabbit diets, how fast their hearts could beat, and how they couldn’t sweat. As he spoke, he kept his voice steady and unusually calm, especially considering he was in the presence of two strangers.
Not that Stanley felt like a stranger. No. In fact, the opposite was true. June felt as if she had known him all her life. As if he were her destiny.
How crazy was that?
Very.
