Lisa blinked. The inky blackness had returned.
She yawned.
Before she knew it, she was asleep.
Lisa tried opening her eyes, but the lights were too bright. She tried moving her left arm, but it was too heavy. She tried moving her right hand.
“Don’t do that. You’ll pull out the IV line and then you’ll have all the nurses fussing at you.” David put his hand on Lisa’s.
Lisa tried speaking but her throat was dry and it hurt.
“I’ll get you some ice chips. Your throat’s going to be sore. You had a tube down it to help you breathe. The doctor just took it out a day ago.” David gently caressed her right cheek.
Lisa tried opening her eyes again, but the light blinded her, causing her to whimper. She shut her eyes again.
“I’m going to move away from you for a few seconds and turn the light down low so it won’t hurt your eyes.”
Lisa heard him moving in the room. Strange beeps filled the room. Didn’t David say something about an IV line? Lisa gave her brain a mental shake. She had to be in a hospital. There was no other possibility.
“I’ve dimmed the lights. You should be able to open your eyes without it hurting,” said David.
Lisa tried opening her eyes one more time. Carefully she opened her eyelids just enough so she could peek out. The room was still light, but it wasn’t as bright as it had been. She opened her eyes a little wider.
“I’m so glad you’re awake. I was worried about you.”
Lisa looked up at David. “How long?” she managed to croak out.
“A week, baby, you’ve been here a very long week,” said David.
Lisa closed her eyes and groaned.
“Don’t do anything like that again. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you.” David leaned down and carefully kissed her lips. He sniffed. There was something different about her rose scent. She smelled like there were a couple of scents layered under hers, but he couldn’t quite smell them.
“Good morning, Mrs. Anderson. It’s good to see you finally awake.” One of the nurses entered the room. She checked the various monitors and then took Lisa’s vitals. Doctor Anderson will be here in a little bit. Is there anything we can get you?”
“Some ice chips,” said David.
“Are you thirsty?” asked the nurse.
Lisa nodded her head.
The nurse left and a few minutes later returned with a cupful of ice chips. David took the chips and slowly fed them to Lisa, letting the ice melt against her lips.
She closed her eyes and sighed. The water seeped down her dry, achy throat making it feel better and it was easier to swallow. She looked at David. “Mrs. Anderson?” She tried to raise an eyebrow, but the muscles in her face just hurt too much.
“You are my mate.”
“We’re not married.” Her voice cracked.
“As soon as you’re better, we’ll have any kind of wedding you want.” He gently moved her hair out of her face.
“Think you should ask me first.”
“It’s kind of hard to ask you, when you decide to take a week long nap.” The corners of David’s lips turned up.
“I’m awake now.”
“Will you marry me?”
Lisa stared at David. She smiled at him. “I let you know after I get a painkiller and a nap.”
David kissed her forehead. “As long as your answer is yes.”
“We’ll see.”
CHAPTER 7
“I am going home to my house.” Lisa put her good arm over the bright pink cast.
“You are going to my house. You are my mate.” David folded his arms across his chest. “Someone ran you off the road, and they’re still out there. You will be safer at my house.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “I may be your mate but I haven’t ever once said I was moving in with you. I haven’t even agreed to marry you yet.”
“You are moving in, and you are marrying me.”
“I’m not moving in and maybe I’ll marry you. I have to think about it.” Lisa shook her head. “Like you said, whoever it was who ran me off the road is still out there.”
“And that’s another reason you’re moving in,” said David.
“Are you always this bullheaded?” asked Lisa.
“When it comes to your safety, yes, I’ll be stubborn.”
“If I’m at your house, the person won’t try to hurt me again. If I’m at my home and they think no one but me is there, then they will try again.”
“You aren’t putting yourself in danger.”
“And I can’t live knowing someone is out there waiting for another chance to hurt me when I least expect it.” Lisa looked at her clothes, wondering how she was going to wash her hair with the bulky cast on her arm. “What if they hurt an innocent bystander like Ben?”
“Todd can do his job as sheriff and catch the person.”
“And he will, with the help of the deputy he puts just outside the house.” Lisa sounded more confident than she felt. She pulled at the collar of her sweater. Her clothes suddenly felt too hot and too confining.
“What’s wrong? Do you need the nurse?” Concern filled David’s voice.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just feel a little too hot. No, I don’t need a nurse.”
“You’ve only been awake for three days. You don’t need to be pushing yourself.”
“I’m not pushing myself. I’m tired of lying in this bed. It’s not comfortable. I hate hospitals. They smell funny.” Lisa wrinkled her nose. Since she woke up, she had noticed the smells around her were stronger, more intense. It was just totally weird, and then there were the fragments of the strange dream haunting her. Was it real or just a fantasy her injured brain had conjured up as a coping mechanism?
David wrapped his arms around Lisa, pulling her against his chest, but careful of her broken arm and bruised face. It angered him that someone had the nerve to hurt his mate, and now Lisa wanted to put herself in more danger to catch the person.
Take mate home. Keep mate safe.
That’s what I’m trying to do.
Mate stubborn.
You got that right.
Lisa rubbed her right cheek against David’s chest. She inhaled deeply.
He smells good.
Lisa’s eyes jerked open.
“What’s wrong?” David felt her jerk then stiffen in his arms.
“It’s just my arm. A sharp pain just went through it.” Lisa didn’t like lying, but she was scared. The voice she heard wasn’t hers, but it had been in her head.
David sniffed. Something was different about Lisa’s scent but the hospital scents were messing with his nose. “All the more reason for you to come home with me.”
Lisa sighed and shook her head. “I can’t spend the rest of my life worried about who tried to kill me.”
“I understand that but—”
“I also have my things to worry about and take care of. I know I can hire people to pack for me, but I don’t want strangers going through my stuff.”
“Fine, but I’m staying with you.”
“So it’s settled. You’re taking me to my home.” Lisa smiled up at David. “Don’t forget to pack a bag.”
David rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I’m really going to have to watch what I say around you, aren’t I?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Lisa pulled out of his arms and sat down on the bed. “I wish the nurse would hurry up with my release papers. I’m so ready to get out of here. The smells of death, sickness and cleaners are so strong I can almost taste them.” A shudder went through her body.
“You should have my nose. Hospitals are the worse. There are just too many scents over-lapping. It’s hard to tell which ones belong to who or what. I don’t know how Aunt Sally works here without the smells driving her crazy.” David was disappointed she pulled out of his arms, but realized how tired she was
when she sat down on the bed.
Lisa tugged at the collar of her sweater again. “Could you go see what’s taking them so long with my release papers?”
David frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m just a little tired and a lot ready to get out of here.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Lisa watched him leave the room. “Okay, I’m not crazy. At least, I don’t think I’m crazy.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know I heard a voice in my head and it wasn’t mine.” She looked around making sure no one was watching her. Hello? Are you there?
Where else would I be?
Lisa almost fell off the bed. How? Who are you?
I am your bear.
My bear? But I don’t have a bear. I’m human, not a shifter.
You have a bear. You have me.
The room felt like it was tilting just a little bit. Lisa took several deep breathes. The dream wasn’t a dream?
You are real. I am real. Dream was real. You are child of Great Mother Bear.
Lisa’s hands flew to her stomach. I’m pregnant.
We are pregnant.
How can you be pregnant? You just got here.
We share the body. We carry our cub.
David hasn’t said anything about the baby or your presence. Shouldn’t he have smelled a change in my scent?
Hospital has lots of bad strong smells, and Mother Bear is masking our scent so bad persons won’t know.
Should we tell David?
Why? No fun in that. More fun to see look on his face.
Yeah, that would be funny.
Our mate is handsome. I want to see his bear. I think he will be handsome too.
I haven’t seen his bear, so I don’t know what it looks like. Lisa rubbed her forehead. She had a slight headache starting. He’s not going to be happy with us.
Better sex when you and him say sorry.
Lisa chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” asked David as he walked back into the room.
“I was just picturing your underwear next to mine.”
“My white briefs sitting next to that little pink number could be interesting.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“You went through my underwear?”
“Who do you think picked up clothes for you?”
Lisa turned several shades of red.
“I can’t wait to see you in the black teddy.” David gave her a wolf whistle.
“You just didn’t do that?” Lisa raised an eyebrow.
“Be nice. I’ve got your release papers.”
“I can go? But I thought I had to see the doctor first.”
“Aunt Sally signed everything and she left you care instructions as well as a prescription for some painkillers. She’s already called it into the pharmacy. I’ll pick them up after I’ve got you settled at your home.”
“You don’t have to get them, I can—”
“You’re not to do any driving for a few days per doctor’s orders. Besides we’ve got to get you another vehicle. I’m thinking a truck or SUV.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Why would I want something so big?”
“For your safety. The way the car was crushed, you’re lucky you weren’t killed.” Images of Lisa’s wrecked car flashed in his head causing his bear to growl.
His bear sounds sexy, growled her bear.
Hush! I can’t think with you talking.
You will get used to me.
Lisa sighed. Her thoughts turned to the child she was carrying. Maybe a truck or SUV wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Let’s get you home.” David picked up Lisa’s purse but didn’t hand it to her.
She slid off the bed. “I’m ready,” she said as a nurse walked in pushing a wheelchair.
“You’re ride’s here,” said David with a grin.
Lisa looked at the wheelchair. “You’re joking?”
The nurse smiled. “Sorry. It’s hospital policy.”
“Fine, as long as I can get out of here, I’ll ride in that contraption.” Lisa sat down in the wheelchair, feeling a little silly about being pushed out of the hospital when she could walk, but at least she was getting out of there.
The ride home was uneventful until they reached the curve where Lisa was forced off the road. The closer they got the more anxious Lisa got.
“I need you to stop,” said Lisa when they reached the curve.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?’ asked David. The scent of Lisa’s anxiety and fear had his bear on the edge, but there was still something different about her normal honey rose scent. He couldn’t figure out what it was and it worried him.
“I have to face this now. If I don’t, it will be much harder to deal with later.” Lisa took a deep breath. “I have to do this.”
David pulled off the road just past the damaged guardrails where Lisa’s car went down the ravine. He turned off the engine and turned to his mate. “I understand why you have to do this. I just want to keep you safe and protect you.”
“I know.”
“Are you ready to do this?” he asked.
Lisa couldn’t speak. She just nodded.
“Let me come around and get the door.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded again.
Our mate is worried about us, said her bear after David got out of the truck.
I know, but I have to do this. I have to work through the fear so that I’m strong enough to fight.
Mate is here. He will fight. He will keep us safe.
I know he will, but we have someone who wants us dead.
Us?
We are in this together, right? If one of us dies, we all die, right?
Yes.
Then it is us. We have our cub to protect.
I protect, growled her bear.
Lisa’s door opened. “Are you ready?” asked David.
“Yes.” Lisa saw his jaw muscles twitch. She put her hand on his check. “I’m a little battered and bruised, but I’m not broken. I’m stronger than that. I learned a long time ago to be strong. Look at me.”
David put his hand over hers and pulled it to his lips. Her simple touch calmed his bear.
“I don’t have the body of a normal woman, and I’ve always have people who are more than willing to let me know I’m not normal because of it. I’ve learned I’m not the one with the problem; they are because they can’t accept me for who I am. They can’t see beyond this body.”
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Lisa smiled. It was a start. Maybe one day he would say he loved her the way she already loved him. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I mean it,” he said as he nuzzled her hand. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.”
“I will have to drive again. I have to face this; just like I have to face the fact someone tried to kill me. He or she purposely rear-ended me and then hit me broadside, sending me over the ravine.”
“The car’s not down there anymore.”
“I don’t care if I ever see the wreckage, but I have to come to terms with this. No one can do it for me. I have to do this. I have to see the site.”
David nodded and helped her out of the truck. “We can’t get to close, especially where the guardrail is still missing.”
“When will the county have this fixed?”
“Sometime next week. A request for a stronger one was made.”
Lisa knew who made the request. “Good. It’s bad enough that some of the high school students try drifting around this corner. If one of them wrecks, hopefully the barrier will prevent their car from going over the edge.” She walked to a section of the guardrail that wasn’t damaged and looked over.
There was no mistaking the path her car took as it rolled down the embankment. Broken limbs and small trees littered the area. Chunks of the earth were ripped out and flung in various directions.
She d
idn’t need anyone telling her she shouldn’t have survived. Questions raced through her mind. She remembered the black truck with the cattle guard, but she didn’t remember seeing the driver. She thought about the kids she had taught over the years. As far as she could remember, she didn’t make any of them or their parents made at her. Why did I live?
You lived because mate and cub need you, said her bear.
But why would anyone do this?
She wants our mate.
“The bitch!” There was only one person Lisa could think of who wanted to take David from her.
I think I will rip her apart when we meet, growled Lisa’s bear.
Get in line sister.
The bear laughed. Sister. I like.
Why did this happen? I mean the ‘you and me’ together thing.
Our mate did not explain?
Explain what?
The bear shook her head. Bad mate. He should have explained.
Well, he didn’t, so I guess it’s up to you to fill me in.
Great Mother Bear knew her bears needed mates. Many found have found their mates among the humans. If it is a true mating, Mother Bear gifts the human with a bear spirit. Our mate’s bear knew you were mate, but his bear can’t mate with human.
So even though we exist together, in ways we are separate? And you and David’s bear are mates?
Yes, we are separate, but one. Our cubs will be both human and bear, able to shift from one to the other.
I didn’t do a very good job of protecting our cub.
Not your fault. I’m with you now. We protect cub and mate.
“That we will,” Lisa whispered aloud.
“What did you say?” asked David.
Lisa turned and looked at him. “I was just thinking about what I went through.” She glanced back at the ravine. “Can you take me home? I’m feeling really tired, and my arm is starting to ache.”
David nodded and helped her back into the truck.
CHAPTER 8
“No, I can meet with you and go over the changes. When do you want to do it?”
Lisa was only half listening to the conversation David was having with a client. The past three days, he seemed to be constantly on the phone with someone.
“In ten minutes? Would thirty be okay? I’m not at my office and it’ll take that long for me to gather everything and get there.”
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