Page 19 of Caught Bear Handed

Shea cocked a brow.“Do you have any experience?”

I nodded.“A little bit.”

He motioned for us to follow him.“I prepared Millie, one of our gentler mares, for you, just in case this was your first time riding.Beau, I’ve got Magnum ready for you.He’s been looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Excellent,” Beau said.“Best horse I’ve ever ridden.”

“And Millie and Magnum are compatible with each other?”I asked.

“You wouldn’t think so, but they’re great friends,” Shea said as he walked.“They both came to us from breeding situations.Used up and thrown away when they were no longer useful.Now they have a chance to be horses, not machines.”

A noise rumbled in my throat that made both men turn to look at me.It was close to the same one I’d made when I’d realized what had happened in that van.I hated that the event of that day insisted on lingering in my body, making me ready to attack.

“Sorry,” I said.“I just get really mad when I hear about animals who don’t have a voice getting treated like crap.”

“Never apologize for being a good shifter,” Beau said.

“Damn straight.That story should piss you off.We’re the lucky ones,” Shea said.“We can speak up.Most of the time.Our pack has seen some dark days, but we were able to turn things around, and now it’s my responsibility to pay it forward.Don’t know how long you’re sticking around Sawtooth Forest, but you’d probably love to meet the ladies who work at the pet rescue division of Forever Home.They’ve got fire in their bellies too.Are you coming to the Fourth of July picnic?I hear Amelia’s in town too, so you’d have one familiar face there.”Shea bumped Beau’s arm.“And this guy will be there with the fire department.”

I looked at Beau, not sure how to answer it.Shea didn’t know why I was in Sawtooth Forest, and probably assumed the NDA was simply because I was a public figure.

But Shea Lowe was all wolf, and he picked up on the weirdness.“Is there something going on with the cookout?”

Beau shook his head.“We’re not sure of Kayla’s schedule yet.”

Shea nodded.“Understandable.I’m sure it’s crazy hectic and changes at a moment’s notice.”

“Sometimes.”This was a terrible idea.Even with the NDA, there would be no way to pretend this conversation never happened.We never should have broken the rules and come here.

Shea’s expression grew inquisitive as he opened the barn gate.“Are you here to research a new role?I know, you probably can’t tell me.”

I looked at Beau.“I want to tell him the truth.”

I expected him to protest, but instead, he gave a nod.

“What would we even call this?”I asked.“It’s not exactly witness protection.”

“Kayla unknowingly got involved in some dangerous business.I’m sure you can understand why I can’t elaborate.”There was no missing the low growl to Beau’s voice that vibrated in parts of me I shouldn’t have been thinking about at this moment.“We’re making sure she’s safe until the suspected parties are caught.”

Shea’s expression hardened.“If there’s anything we can do to help, just say the word.If anyone so much as lays a paw on you, they’ll have to answer to the entire Sawtooth pack.”

“Thank you, but I’m sure that won’t be?—”

“We’ll let you know.”Beau offered Shea his hand, and they did one of those guy handshakes that sealed an unspoken deal.Beau said he was new to the area, but he had an alliance with these wolves.In theory, it made me feel safer.

But I wished Beau didn’t feel the need to solidify a back-up pack plan.And I had to wonder what the rest of the Sawtooth Security crew would think of that alliance…unless this was standard operating procedure.

You don’t have to worry about it,my wolf reminded me.

Inside the cabin, the mountain-ringed snow globe that I’d been whisked away to while I paid someone to fight my battles for me, I could make myself believe I wasn’t in this much trouble.There was a reason I’d made a career as an actress.I was very good at side-stepping reality.

Now, if I wasn’t careful, I’d step right in it.

Shea led Millie out of her stall.She was a brown and white horse—I didn’t know the specifics of what breed that made her, but she was beautiful and that was more than enough.She had kind eyes rimmed with impossibly long lashes.

“Big day for you, Mill.This is Kayla.You need to take good care of her, okay?”Shea turned to me and handed me a pail full of apples.“Millie doesn’t work for free.You’ll want to give her a few of these so she knows she can trust you.”

“I’m fully prepared to pay,” I said with a laugh as I took the pail from him.I wanted Millie to like me, but more than that, I wanted to be accepted by the Sawtooth pack.Not only because I was famous or because I worked with Amelia.I’d only known Shea for a matter of minutes, but I knew these were good wolves.