The air was cool and crisp. She loved this type of morning. As she scampered along the wind blew through her multicolored fur.
Jewel slowed as she turned the corner. Now she took her time, sniffing at trash cans, playing with small rocks, pushing them with her nose or paw. At one point she found a shady spot and curled into a ball to rest. After what seemed like several hours, a door to the house opened and a small boy ran outside. He hurried to a swing hung from a tree not far from where Jewel lay.
“Look at me, Momma.” A blonde-haired woman glanced at the boy. “Don’t yell, Nathaniel.” She frowned and mumbled, “We don’t need the nosy neighbors looking this way.”
Jewel stretched before heading casually in the boy’s direction. It didn’t take him long to see her. He jumped off the swing and ran toward her.
“A kitty, Momma,” he shrieked.
His mother turned and grabbed him tightly by the shoulder. “Since you can’t shut up, we’ll go inside.”
“But, Momma, can I have the kitty?”
Linda hesitated. She leaned down to stare more closely at Jewel. Jewel had already brought the sheath across her eyes to make them look like a cat’s.
Nathaniel picked her up so she was hanging half off his arm. He rubbed her fur. “She’s pretty, Momma.”
“She’s certainly different.” She glanced around the area again. “I don’t see a momma cat. I expect someone will be advertising for her return. You can keep the kitten until we find the real owner.”
Once inside, Jewel managed to jump from Nathaniel’s arm and hide under the sofa. “Momma,” Nathaniel cried out. “My kitty’s under the couch.”
“That’s what cats do, honey.” She ruffled his hair.
Jewel observed from a spot where she saw them but they didn’t see her. The mother was much more relaxed inside.
Nate came into the room. Nathaniel ran to him.
“Daddy, I have a cat.” He reached under the sofa to get Jewel, but she backed against the wall. His little hand couldn’t reach her.
“Really, that’s great,” his father said. “I’ll help you get the kitten out. He or she is probably scared.” Nate moved the sofa and scooped Jewel into his hands, and then gently placed her in his son’s arms.
“You have to be gentle,” he instructed his son. “Hold her carefully and sit on the chair.” Nathaniel did as told. Jewel tucked her head down and pretended to be asleep but kept her eyes open a tiny slit.
Linda paced around the room. “I took your parents their breakfast. Your mother keeps whining and begging to be released. We should kill them and get it over with.”
“No,” Nate said emphatically. “And watch how you talk around our son.”
She leaned her face right up to Nate. “I give the orders, remember. I can’t understand why I have to redo the spell on you over and over. It should last. Push me too far and when we’ve won this fight I’ll kill you also.”
Linda glanced at the cat. “I’m not so sure about this thing.” She took Jewel out of her son’s hands and stared at her long and hard. Jewel stuck her little tongue out and licked Linda’s hand. Ugh, I’ll probably die of something from touching her, but it worked. Linda brushed her fur and handed her back to Nathaniel. “Take the kitten to your room and keep her there. If I see her out here, I’ll kick her outside.”
Nathaniel grabbed her in a tight grip and ran. Jewel heard Linda say, “She’s such an unusual color. Do you know of any shifters who can become kittens?”
Just as Nathaniel shut his door she heard Nate respond, “Only big cats. I’ve never known of a kitten.”
The door closed, cutting her off from hearing any more of their conversation. Nathaniel placed her on the floor. She moved around smelling things, licking a few. The little boy lay on his bed and watched her.
She wasn’t going to do much good stuck in this room. But she had found out the parents were restrained somewhere in the house and Nate had a spell on him that didn’t last long. She curled into a ball and rested. Patience is what she needed. She’d think about the paintings she wanted to do in the future. Nathaniel had fallen asleep on his bed and the house was quiet.
After a while Jewel heard the front door open and shut. Maybe now would be a good time to try and send a message. She hoped the one going out was Linda. She was smart and might have a way to sense telepathic thoughts.
Jewel decided to chance it. She sent the message and told about the parents, Nate, and her being shut in the boy’s room.
In a few minutes, she heard Mama Aileen’s words. “You’ve found out a lot in a short time. It was the woman who left. She drove off in their car. I wonder if she’ll try to drive off the ranch. I’m sending your message to Garth at the tent. They may put down the net long enough to see where she goes. If you get in trouble, remember all you have to send is one word, help.”
“Thanks,” Jewel messaged back to her. The house was quiet again until Nathaniel’s door opened.
Nate stood in the doorway. He walked inside and picked her up then stared into her cat’s eyes.
“Maybe I’m a fool, but I think you may be a shifter. If so, you need to get out of here before she zaps me again. I can’t control what I tell her then. If you heard about my parents, nod your head.”
Jewel started to nod and stopped. At this point she dared not trust him.
“Well, either you are really a kitten or you don’t trust me. I don’t blame you.” He carried her to the door and set her down on the doorstep. “Go. Whichever you are, it’s better you’re out of this house.”
Jewel heard a car’s engine. She raced around the house and out of sight then sneaked back where she could see and hear Linda.
“They aren’t letting anyone enter or leave. Not even to go to the store.” She pushed past Nate. “What were you doing at the door?” she asked as she disappeared inside. Nate glanced around once and followed Linda inside.
Jewel ran around the backs of houses and across the street to the back of the ranch house. Sara had left one door slightly ajar to the greenhouse. She slid through the small opening and found her clothes behind two good-sized trees. She shifted back to her human persona clothed.
“Jewel.” Sara came from a connecting greenhouse. “I’m glad you’re here safe and sound. I’ll call Phillip and tell him I’m giving you a tour and you must stay for lunch. Phillip will let Tessa know.”
“Thanks.”
Sara punched in numbers on her cell and talked to Phillip. After that, she contacted Mitch and told him Jewel was having lunch with her. When she shut the phone, she winked at Jewel. The others would be told where she was, and they’d come back to the ranch house. But Jewel was worried about Nate and his parents. She wished she could have stayed longer and found out more. Right now it was a letdown that her job had ended so soon.
Chapter Ten
Payton had contacted Mitch immediately when Nate put Jewel out, but they couldn’t see where she went.
After Sara called Mitch, he directed the rest of his men back to the ranch house for lunch. They came in the front as Sara and Jewel walked in from the direction of the back door.
“Here we are,” Sara said. “Guess who I found in my greenhouse.” She smiled at Jewel.
Aleron and Raoul ran to her and both hugged her at once. Aleron ran his hands quickly over her body. “You’re not hurt?”
“I’m fine. Can we go in the meeting room to talk?”
Mitch led the way. They all crowded into the downstairs room.
“I didn’t fool them much. The woman, Linda, suspected me from the start and had me put in Nathaniel’s room. When she left, Nate opened the door and picked me up. He started to ask questions.”
“Did you let him know you were a shape-shifter?” Mitch asked.
“No. He wanted me to shake my head about something. I didn’t.”
“Good. I have an idea we’ll discuss after lunch. Garth, call Rae and Cad and ask them to join us, and, Nick, call Lang and Cassie. When they get here,
we’ll eat. Later, back here, we’ll discuss my new plan.”
It didn’t take long for the others to join them. Tessa and one of the women she’d asked to help her served their lunch. Mitch kept the conversation general.
Aleron and Raoul, sitting beside Jewel, kept constantly touching her, on her arm, or leg, wherever, as though to be sure she was really unharmed and safe.
“I think you guys might have been a little worried about her,” Mitch teased. The others at the table laughed.
“Hell yes, we were.” Raoul lowered his voice. “I’d have rather faced the enemy unarmed then for Jewel to have gone into that hornet’s nest. I’m glad it’s over and it didn’t take long to get valuable information.”
Daren nodded. “We all understand. When our women are in danger there’s nothing more frightening.”
“Thank you, darling.” Sara kissed his cheek. “I was very impressed when you and Mitch rescued me. It was quite exciting.”
Mitch glanced around the table. “If everyone is ready, we’ll head to the conference room.”
It took three trips on the elevator to get everyone downstairs, and then the conference room was packed.
Once they were seated, Mitch asked Jewel, “You said Nate is doing this against his will?”
“Absolutely. I heard her threaten to redo the spell or whatever she does. Apparently, with others it only takes once, but with him she has to keep doing it.”
“That explains a lot. Nate has a strong mind and will. He’s able to fight her.”
“Someone has to get in the house soon. Otherwise, she will kill his parents. She’s evil.”
“She got to the gate before I notified them, and the guard had already stopped her.” Mitch paced across the room. “Next time we’ll let her through and follow. Her other men must have a place outside the ranch where they’re hiding. I want to finish this battle and be rid of her and her accomplices.”
Aleron stood. “Let me off the ranch. I can shift into my eagle and search for them. I have the very best vision from the sky even at higher altitudes. They won’t see me, but I’ll find them.”
“Good idea. We’ll send you out. But I have another idea on how to get her out of the house long enough for us to rescue Nate and his family. Some of you won’t like it,” Mitch warned.
“Then it must involve our wives,” Nick said.
“It does. If Cassie, Rae, and Jewel decided to go to town to visit her shop and eat lunch out, they could invite Linda along. She’d want to go with Rae to lunch.”
Nick stared hard at Mitch. “How could they explain being allowed to go off the ranch?”
“Cassie would explain her concern regarding her shop. She hasn’t been able to visit recently, and the women are feeling isolated and bored. Rae would tell Linda she’d worked on Garth and Mitch to let them have the afternoon. But the men insisted they be accompanied by Nick.”
“Damn right!”
Mitch grinned at Nick’s exclamation. “The rest of us will be ready to charge into the house as soon as they’re off the ranch. We may have to fight Nate if she’s got him under control again. But we’ll try to take him alive if at all possible.” Mitch glanced at Rae. “We definitely want to get his son and parents out of there. Any questions?”
“If Linda tries to harm them, will Nick be enough protection?” Sara asked. “No offense, Nick, but these are extraordinarily strong opponents.”
“No offense taken. Cassie can be open to pick up any unspoken communication, and Jewel can send the others a telepathic communication, if needed.”
“We’ll have a few other men ready to go at a moment’s notice.” Mitch studied his sister’s drawn face and wondered how she felt, knowing now that Nate had not been his normal self when he returned. But Mitch didn’t doubt she loved her husbands. What a mess. He hated sending her and the other women out with a person they knew was the head of their enemies. He brought his thoughts back to the present and realized someone had spoken.
“I’m sorry, my mind is full of plans. I missed that last question.” Mitch glanced around the room.
Averil Stanwic, the tiny woman with the fiery red hair and the ability to shoot as good as Payton, stood up. “You’ll need others closer. This woman is strong. It she gets past Nick, the other women will be dead or prisoners before anyone else can get to them.”
“What do you suggest?” Mitch asked.
“Let Payton and me go ahead of them. We’ll act like a couple and browse the shops, ending at Cassie’s about the time they’re due to arrive. Then, if needed, we’re there.”
“What weapons will you have?” Lang asked.
“We’ll have hidden guns on our persons.” Averil glanced at Payton. “If you agree.”
“I do. With three of us around the women, we can stop an attack. Don’t give her much notice. Say you had to call at the last minute because you just got permission. Maybe she won’t have time to notify her helpers,” Payton said.
“I also want to be there,” Garth said, and Raoul added, “Me, too.”
Mitch frowned then shrugged. “All right, you all follow in a separate car. She’s going to be suspicious, but we’d rather make sure our ladies are safe.”
“When you let the cars through the ranch gate, I’ll shift into my eagle right near the fence and fly off, looking for the hideout. If I find it and we attack, we can make it a one-two punch, get her and her men.”
“We’ll see.” Mitch thought for a moment about his suggestion. “I don’t want us to get cornered and lose a lot of men. We need to take our time and know what we’re doing.”
“Mitch is right,” Lann said. “I have a sense she’s not the only leader. We must know we have them all before we move. Or they’ll go underground and wait, then attack at the most unexpected time.”
“Right.” Mitch turned to face the women. “So even though you ladies just had lunch, we’ll pretend you didn’t. We want to get this done today. Rae, run across the road to your house. Call from there. Set up the outing for two o’clock.”
Garth and Cad went with her, and the rest of them stopped in to see the families that were living downstairs.
Mother Aileen took Jewel and Cassie aside. “Use all your special talents today. Whatever is planned, I see danger and evil.” She took their hands and closed her eyes. “She hates Rae and at some point will try to kill her then the rest of you. Do not let down your guard.”
“We will heed your words. Thank you.” Jewel squeezed her hands.
* * * *
Jewel sat in the backseat of the car with Cassie. Rae drove, and they’d picked Linda up last so she was in the front, where they wanted her. Jewel’s nerves were drawn tight, and her cat moved restlessly inside her. Picking up danger signals from Jewel, her cheetah wanted out. But Jewel pushed the urge down.
Cassie kept up a conversation discussing her jewelry and new designs she’d been working on. She had a case by her side that held her newest pieces.
“Jewel, when we get back can I cut a snippet of your hair? I’m going to try and manipulate some gold and silver and maybe bronze to try and capture a close replica of your hair color. I’m envious.”
“Sure. But I want to see the finished product and have first choice of a piece of jewelry made from it.”
Up front, Rae and Linda were quiet. If they were listening to Jewel and Cassie, they didn’t respond or show any interest. Jewel was glad to see the outskirts of town. She glanced behind their car and saw Raoul, Nick, and Garth following close.
Linda must have noticed Jewel look back. “Your men seem overly concerned about you.”
“Our men are overprotective of their wives. It’s something we knew and accepted before our weddings,” Rae said. She drove down Main Street and parked in front of Cassie’s shop. “Everyone out. I want to see what lovely items Cassie has to tempt me. I told my husbands I was going to spend a lot of money.” She grinned as the others stepped out.
“Maybe that’s why your husband, Garth, insiste
d on coming along,” Linda said. “It’s a good thing you didn’t end up with Nate. He’s a penny pincher.”
Rae stopped in her tracks and faced Linda. “You knew all along about our relationship?”
“Of course. Nate told me a long time ago about you and how you begged him to stay. He said you were too clingy.” She gave Rae a sneering smile and walked into the shop. Rae clenched her hands.
Jewel put her arm around Rae’s waist and whispered in her ear, “Relax or your hero over there will tear Linda limb from limb. We need her alive to help us get the rest.” Rae laughed and, looking past Jewel’s shoulder, she winked at Garth to reassure him. Jewel spotted Payton and Averil standing to the side near the shop.
Cassie had motioned for Linda to go inside. When Jewel and Rae entered, Cassie was in the largest showroom pointing out native paintings and rugs to Linda. Cassie told her assistant, Cindy, to go for a long break while they were there.
Rae and Jewel headed right for the room where Cassie displayed her jewelry. “Cassie, I want to see the new stuff,” Jewel called out.
Linda and Cassie joined them. Cassie went behind the counter and opened her case. Garth and Raoul crowded in behind the women. Nick stood in the doorway watching both rooms.
Raoul stood right behind Jewel and put his arm around her waist. Jewel liked having his warm muscles against her.
I want it to be tonight, and I’ll be safe and sound in the cabin making passionate love to my men.
“Me, too, honey,” Raoul said telepathically. A small grin curved Jewel’s mouth. She’d forgotten about him picking up on her thoughts.
Linda tried on a heavy, ornate necklace with a huge ruby set in the center of a lion’s open mouth. Then she put on the earrings. They were smaller but made the same.
“What influenced you to design these pieces?” Linda asked. She ran her hand across the necklace as she studied her appearance in the mirror.
“My son saw a lion growl on the television. He was fascinated. I thought this set would be perfect for one of our strong women.”
Commando Cowboys Entice Their Beauty [Wyoming Warriors 6] Page 11
