Bruins Peak Bears Box Set (Volume II)

by Sarah J. Stone

  She shook her head. “Sweetie, please. You want me to fix your leg. The best way we can do that is to drain these abscesses and then treat them with my mother's salve. It might hurt for a minute or two, but after it's done, it will hurt a lot less.”

  “Is this what you would do to your own leg if this happened to you?”

  She looked him straight in the eye. “Yes, I would. I would do it to myself if I thought I needed it. You can't keep on with your leg like this. You've let it go far too long as it is. If you don't get it cleaned up soon, it could turn your whole body septic and eventually kill you. Is that what you want?”

  He planted a kiss on her lips. “Of course not. I'm going to stick around and make your life miserable for a lot more years before I quit. Besides, I need to be in top shape when I go off to fight Rhys.”

  Her head snapped around. “Fight Rhys?”

  He nodded. “You're right. Austin is right. You're all right. I've been sticking my nose in the ground all these months. I don't want to run from him, and that means I have to be ready to fight.”

  She hooked her hand around his head and kissed him. “Hallelujah! I thought you would never come around. I'm so pleased! We're gonna get you in fighting form in no time.”

  “Don't celebrate yet. He might kill me.”

  “He won't kill you. You'll beat him.”

  Riskin stared down at his leg. Angry bubbles of seething infection boiled under the skin. Even now, they poisoned his blood and sapped his strength.

  Briar touched his shoulder. “Are you in there somewhere?”

  He lifted his eyes to her face. “How do you know I'll beat him? What makes you so sure?”

  “I don't know. I guess it's just a hunch. When I saw you fighting him before, I thought for sure you were stronger than him.”

  “I am.”

  Her eyes popped open.

  He nodded at her reaction. “I always have been. I've known it for years. Maybe that's why I didn't want to fight him. I didn't want to beat him or have to kill him.”

  Briar listened and waited for him to continue in his own time.

  “I can't exactly remember, but I think maybe that's why I didn't go home after I left the Mackenzies'. I didn't want to face him because I knew I would have to dominate him. I might have to discipline him, and I didn't want to have to use my strength against him. The longer I stayed away, the easier it got to just stay away.”

  “Have you ever fought him before?”

  “Not since we were kids. I was always stronger, but I didn't want to shove it in his face. Most of the time I let him win. That must be why he thought he could beat me.”

  “And when he fought you in the forest, he must have realized you were stronger. That's why he came after you with guns and dogs.”

  Riskin nodded. “If I fight him in an open challenge, I'll win. I might have to put him in the ground.”

  “Are you ready for that?”

  His face cracked into a grin. “Not yet, but I will be as soon as you fix up my leg. Get lancing, Doc. I want to be back at work Monday morning.”

  She made him go inside and come back with Aurora's sharpest knife. She draped a towel over her lap, and Riskin selected a stout stick from the woodpile. He clamped it between his jaws and nodded to her.

  Briar couldn't look at him. She bent over his leg and sliced. His breath caught in his throat, and he groaned into his stick, but he didn't flinch. The knife scored deep into the knotted scar tissue. Blood and sticky green ooze gushed out into the towel. Briar milked the abscesses with her thumb until the blood ran clear and bright.

  She dabbed away the excess and smeared the wound with a concentrated mixture of dried chili powder, lavender flowers, and dried comfrey leaves. The chili powder stopped the blood, and Briar held the wound closed until it sealed.

  When it was all over, she turned to Riskin. “Hold this while I wrap it up.”

  He pinched the skin together and spat out his stick. “You're a sadistic dominatrix, aren't you?”

  Briar smiled and wrapped his leg in clean cloth bandages. “You better stay off this until Monday.”

  “Stay off it! Never!”

  Briar's mouth fell open. “Don't tell me you plan to chop more wood today after I just cut you open.”

  “It's not my fault I married a wicked witch. I've got a job to do, and I'm gonna do it.”

  Briar shook her head. “You'll spoil all my good work.”

  “Try to stop me.” He stood up, but he had to sit right back down again. “Holy Jesus!”

  She lay a hand on his shoulder. “I mean it. Take it easy.”

  He puffed out his cheeks and heaved himself up, but he limped much worse than he ever did before. “I'll lick this thing if it's the last thing I do.” He hobbled off to the wood pile.

  Briar blinked in the sunshine and listened to the steady beat of his axe. He groaned a lot more than usual, but he didn't quit. If he survived this, he could certainly face Rhys.

  Chapter 16

  Briar carried an armload of wood into the cabin and dropped it into the basket by the hearth. Aurora looked up from a frying pan set among the coals. “Thanks.”

  Briar grabbed a bucket and headed out to the well. She worked the pump up and down. The strength moving through her arms and legs felt good after lying on her back all these long days. She lugged the water back inside and set it in the corner just as Aurora put the frying pan on the table.

  The door swung open, and Austin came in with Riskin behind him. They left their boots at the door. Riskin kissed Briar and went to wash his hands. Austin sat down at the table. “I got a message from your brother Silas. He called Brody to tell me to tell you Dana had her baby and your ma wants you to come home to help out.”

  Briar compressed her lips. “Thank you for delivering the message.”

  Austin nodded. “I thought you would say something like that. At least send word that you got the message so they don't get mad at me.”

  “All right.”

  Riskin sat down. “You don't have to worry about the MacAllisters getting mad at you. We're leaving in the morning.”

  Briar looked up. “We are?”

  “We've imposed on these good people's hospitality long enough. We've got business to attend to, and the sooner we attend to it, the better.”

  Briar sank into her chair. “I always knew this day would come. Now that it's here, I don't want to leave.”

  “You've been here three weeks,” Aurora pointed out. “Riskin's leg is better, and your injuries don’t slow you down anymore. You don't have to stay here any longer. Don't get me wrong. I love having you around. It gets lonely here all by myself all day long, and now that you're better, you're a big help around the place. You don't have to hide anymore, though. You've got your own lives to live.”

  Briar turned to Riskin. “Are you positive you want to do this?”

  He nodded. He didn't show any signs of being unsure. “I'm ready. I'm not going to get any more ready.”

  Aurora started serving the food. The group fell to their meal, but Briar still sat stunned. So, it happened. Her blessed escape with Riskin into peace and safety came to its natural end. The problems and complications and difficulties of life wouldn't wait any longer.

  She stared across the table at Riskin. Even as she stared, she heard her own thoughts coming out of Austin's mouth. “You've changed. You're not the scared hermit you were when you came. You're bigger, stronger, more sure of yourself. You've matured, and you've done great work on the harvest. I really appreciate it. You saved my bacon more than you can know.”

  Riskin shrugged. “I'm just glad I could do something to repay your hospitality. You've given me a lot more than I've given you. I never could face going back if you hadn't built up my confidence.”

  “You did that all by yourself, son. You worked your tail off, every day from sun-up 'til sundown and beyond. You never shrank from any challenge I gave you. You're man enough to take over your tribe, and I ought to k
now.”

  Riskin glanced over at him. “Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.”

  Austin took a bite of his bread. “It's too bad you're leaving in the morning. I wish you could talk to Brody before you go, but I suppose that can wait until after you talk to Rhys.”

  “Talk to Rhys!” Riskin snorted. “That's a good one.”

  Austin smiled. “As soon as you two come to an understanding, you come and see Brody. I know he'll back you.”

  Riskin muttered down at his food. “I wish I could say the same for Mattox.”

  “Don't underestimate Mattox. He's not the man you think he is.”

  “Oh, I don't underestimate Mattox. I made that mistake once, and I won't make it again.”

  Austin shook his head, but he didn't argue.

  Aurora jumped up. “I want to celebrate. Let's open a bottle of wine.”

  “You don't have to do that,” Briar told her. “You guys have done enough for us already.”

  “I want to.” Aurora hurried to a cabinet near the bed and came back with a bottle. “I'm sorry I don't have any crystal champagne flutes. We'll just have to drink it out of the old clay mugs.”

  She placed a clay cup in front of each person and the burgundy liquid gurgled out. Aurora help up her cup. “Here's to you guys. You should find all the success you want, and let nothing stand in your way.”

  Riskin raised his glass. “Here, here, and here's to you guys. May Austin become the biggest timber tycoon on this mountain.”

  Austin humphed. “Yeah, right.”

  They all clinked their glasses together and sipped their wine in silence.

  Briar set her cup down. “How's the race construction going?”

  Austin bent over his plate. “It's going fine. Mason is as good as Riskin said he would be.”

  Riskin waved his hand. “Don't listen to a word he says. The race is almost complete, and it's the most brilliant design the world has ever seen. It will revolutionize the timber industry. As soon as Austin's fir plantation comes up for harvest, the Farrells will be the richest tribe on this mountain.”

  “Too bad the humans will never find out about your race design,” Briar pointed out.

  “Your beloved mate is blowing smoke out of his rear end,” Austin countered. “The race wouldn't be anywhere near finished if he hadn't taken over the harvest loading. Not only did he free me up to concentrate on the race site, but he even refined the design and corrected some problems I didn't foresee. Even Mason was impressed.”

  Riskin's cheeks glowed, but he wouldn't look up from his wine cup. “I didn't do anything. I just made a few comments. I didn't know I was correcting the design. You're the one who deserves the credit. Brody doesn't know what he's got in you.”

  “Oh, yes, he does,” Austin shot back. “He gets his money out of my hide. I can tell you that.”

  Riskin turned suddenly serious. “I have one last favor to ask you before I leave. It's not much, but it's important to me.”

  “Name it, man. You know I'll help you if I can.”

  “I want you to take Briar home tomorrow morning. I'm going around to Dodd Homestead to…you know… come to an understanding with Rhys, and I don't want her anywhere she might be in danger. I won't rest easy unless I know she's safe.”

  “Sure, man. No problem.”

  Briar slammed down her cup. “Excuse me, but I am NOT going home while you go face Rhys. I'm going with you.”

  Riskin squared his shoulders. “No, you're not. You're going home. I'll come and get you as soon as it's over.”

  She waved her hand. “Oh, that's just great. What am I supposed to do—sit around and wait, and wait, and wait some more for you to show up? And what if you don't show up? Then what am I supposed to do?”

  “If I don't show up, you won't have anything to worry about. Rhys won't bother you if…” he broke off.

  Briar crossed her arms over her chest. “Forget it. This challenge affects me just as much as it affects you, and I'm not sitting on the sidelines waiting to hear the outcome. I'm going with you.”

  “Forget it,” Riskin snapped. “You're not going anywhere near Rhys.”

  Briar turned to Aurora. “Will you talk some sense into this guy? Tell him he can't send me home like a schoolgirl.”

  Aurora threw up her hands. “Leave me out of this. You two work it out.”

  Briar rounded on Riskin. “You can't leave me behind. I'll…I'll…I'll fight you. I'll bite you and scratch you and make you take me with you.”

  Riskin groaned and turned to Austin. “What am I supposed to do with a woman like this?”

  Austin chuckled. “Unfortunately, this is the sad plight of every man married to a Bruin woman. They don't back down once they get their mind set on something like this.”

  “So, what am I supposed to do?”

  “I find in situations like this it's best to let her have her way. If you try to pull rank on her and force her to do something she doesn't want to do, you only make it worse. You don't want to fight the she-bear.”

  Riskin grumbled under his breath. “It's not right. She shouldn't be around a fight like that. What if Rhys tries something?”

  “What would he try? What could he really do? If he tried to win the challenge by hurting her, he would only harm himself. The whole mountain would turn against him.”

  Riskin threw himself back in the chair. “Aw, nuts. I'm trying to protect you, and you have to go and pull something like this.”

  Austin chuckled. “Welcome to the club, son. We're supposed to be bigger and stronger and dominant and all that, but the sad truth is they're in charge. They've all got us by the short and curlies, and they can do whatever they want with us. It's been like this since the dawn of Bruin kind.”

  Riskin hitched up his shoulders. “It shouldn't be allowed. We should all band together to stop it.”

  Austin brayed in his face. “Band together, you say! That'll be the day. Show me the Bruin who would band together with other men against their wives. It will never happen. Get it into your head right now. You exist at her whim. You can't live without her, and she knows it better than you know it yourself.”

  Riskin shook his head and fell into a brooding silence. Aurora bumped her cup into Briar's and laughed. “Here's to us, darling. Here's to the she-bear.”

  Chapter 17

  Briar and Riskin stood in front of the cabin with Austin and Aurora. Aurora gave Briar a hug. “Take care of yourselves. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help you.”

  “Thank you so much for everything. I only wish we could show our gratitude somehow.”

  Austin shook hands with Riskin. “You showed it. Look at all that firewood.”

  Riskin pulled him in and gave him a hug. “Maybe I should come back next year and do it again.”

  “Don't you dare!” Austin shot back. “You split your own firewood from now on.”

  “I'll do that.”

  Austin waved to them. “Come on. I'll give you a ride around to Dodd Homestead.”

  Briar gave Aurora one last hug, and they all waved until they passed into the trees and lost sight of the cabin. They came to the road not far away where they found Austin's truck parked on the verge. Riskin held the door open for Briar, and they all buckled in.

  Austin fired up the motor. “I didn't want to say anything in front of Aurora, but I'm kinda relieved you're going home. I didn't feel right keeping you hidden from Mattox.”

  “I felt the same way,” Riskin murmured. “I'm sorry if we strained relations between you and him.”

  “You didn't. He might never find out you were here, but I'm glad you decided to go back. It's the best thing for everybody.”

  “I know it is. It's been a long time coming.”

  The trio fell silent. The familiar landmarks of Bruins' Peak slipped past the truck on their way around the mountain. Briar's heart sank. The cabin and all the wonderful memories there faded into the past. What lay ahead? What would this day bring? Would i
t end in triumph or disaster?

  Austin pulled his truck onto the shoulder and threw it into Park. He set his foot on the floor and turned to Riskin and Briar. “This is where I split off. You can handle it from here.”

  Riskin stuck out his hand. “You bet we can. Thank you again for everything.”

  The two men shook hands, and Briar gave Austin a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Austin. You’re the best.”

  Austin’s cheeks flamed red. “Shucks, Ma’am. I’m just doing my duty.”

  Riskin slid through the door, and Briar hopped out next to him. Austin gunned the motor, and Riskin and Briar waved until he vanished around the corner. The dust cloud blew away on the breeze, and Riskin took Briar’s hand. “He’s a prince. I never knew him much before. I’m glad I got the chance to get to know him.”

  Briar looked around. The road wound into the hills below Dodd territory. “I guess this is it.”

  Riskin fixed his eyes on the trees ahead. “Yep.”

  They hiked into the woods without a word. Briar didn’t know this country well enough to find her way overland to Dodd Homestead. She let Riskin lead her. He marched straight into the dense undergrowth with silent, single-minded determination. He paid no attention to her. He didn’t even notice when her hand slipped out of his grasp. His whole awareness dwelt on the confrontation ahead.

  Briar left him alone. He didn’t need to think about her right now. Maybe she made a mistake coming with him. Maybe she should let him handle this by himself.

  She shook that thought out of her head. She belonged with him. If he died up there, she better be right there to see it. She better see her life made or destroyed when he confronted Rhys.

  She fell a step behind him, but she couldn’t let him leave her behind. He marched faster, and she worked to keep up. He climbed onto the ridge and followed it. Briar recognized the country now. She crossed this ridge with May when she visited Virginia.

  She almost collided with him when he stopped in his tracks. She stole a peek around him. There was Dodd Homestead lying in the sun, but Briar’s heart plummeted into her shoes.

  Milling around in front of the house, with hundreds of weapons sticking out in every direction, stood Rhys and all his hunting buddies. Trucks and motorbikes parked at odd angles in the yard, and dogs rested in the shade.