Page 21 of Lion Conquers All
Ava nodded.
“We need to tellVraka.”
“He won’t want us to keep living in town.”
“It won’t be safe for any of us with children. Children are unpredictable. Their beasts can emerge at different times. There’s no hard rules on that.”
“I know.” Ava grabbed his hands and pulled them from her face. She kissed each of his palms and then settled back into the seat. “We need to catch up with Connie and Aarav. They need us.”
“Of course. Right.” Ryder snapped his attention back to the truck. The road. Getting out of town and up toward the mountain.
But he couldn’t help himself, sneaking a glance at Ava’s stomach every few minutes. The overwhelming excitement at her news filled him with so much happiness. He couldn’t wait to share it. To shout it from the rooftops. Liam over at the Watering Hole where he worked. Tor and his mate, Dawn, would be thrilled too. They all would be.
It took nearly thirty minutes to get to Red Tail trailhead. Three cars were already parked there. Connie’s EMT truck was one of them. Aarav’s squad car. The third was unfamiliar and probably one of the parent’s vehicles.
Ryder parked right next to Connie’s and they both jumped out and took a deep breath. Ava walked over to Aarav’s squad car and put her hand down on the hood.
“It’s still warm. They can’t be more than a couple minutes ahead of us.”
“Good. You alright to run a bit?”
His mate made her shut-up-you’re-being-ridiculous chuffing sound. It was a bear thing. Then she took off for the trail entrance. He was a couple paces behind her.
Ten minutes down the trail he could hear voices and smell all three.
“Hey there. We thought we’d come hike it with you and help if we could.” Ava shouted down the trail.
The voices stopped for a moment. Then Connie’s carried out clear as the sky above them. “Ava?”
“Yes. Me and Ryder.” He and his mate turned a corner around some thick underbrush and finally had a line of sight on the three people ahead of them.
“I’m so glad you could help, but how did you know we were here?” Connie’s question came out with the tiniest hint of relief in her tone.
“Aarav let us know.”
“Oh.” Connie’s response was quieter this time. “But you’re here to hike to the blind with us.”
“Yep.” Ryder spoke this time. “Can’t hurt to have more eyes and ears, yeah?”
Connie nodded.
“Thank you for coming,” Aarav said.
“Our pleasure.”
“Mr. Hardisty. These are friends from town. Ryder and his wife Ava. You probably have seen them around.”
“Oh, yes. You work at the Watering Hole, don’t you?” Gaven looked at Ryder. “Your wife is there sometimes too, but you mostly help over at the MCC with Katherine. My daughter enjoys the game night she organizes.”
He and Ava both answered yes at the same time and everyone chuckled and smiled just a little. It was a good way to lighten the tension Connie’s anxiety was creating.
She seemed almost instantly better. Her heart rate was slowing. Her breathing was evening out. Ryder glanced at Ava and his mate gave him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving his side and moving to walk right next to Connie.
Ryder fell into step next to Aarav and Gaven.
“So how far to this blind?” Ryder asked, taking a deep breath of the various scents clinging to the trailhead.
“About five miles,” Gaven answered, waving a slightly crumpled piece of paper.
