Kayleigh simply stood there, her eyes seeing for the first time the man Daryl was. The man he was desperately trying to be. But also, in his eyes, she had seen the reflection of the woman he thought she was. A woman she could not be. No matter how much he wanted it.
Chapter Thirteen - Daryl
He had overstepped the mark once more with her. How did he keep doing that? He knew it was due to him talking about his house. It always led to him thinking about having a family. His biological clock seemed to be speeding up, making him desperate to have young cubs of his own. He couldn’t exactly tell Kayleigh it was her arrival in Bear Creek that had kicked it into overdrive
If Sam sensed the awkward atmosphere, he didn’t comment. Instead, he ushered Kayleigh into the farmhouse. Daryl held back for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts, and then followed. He didn’t want to come over as a moody jerk, although that was how he felt at the moment. Well, moody, anyway. He was out of his depth when it came to women. He had always assumed that when he met his true mate, they would understand each other, beyond the need for words. Now he simply felt like a romantic fool.
He needed a dose of reality. Relationships were such hard work. His parents had obviously made it look too easy, or they had been lucky. They always got on well together, and pulled in the same direction. However, they had been together for so long. That did not necessarily mean they had always been like that.
When he got a chance, he would talk to his mom. That bothered him too. He was a couple of hundred years old and still needed his parents’ advice. He felt like a kid again. How could he expect to have kids of his own? He couldn’t even work out something as natural as attracting his true mate, without help and advice from his mom.
Because women are a different species, especially ones that didn’t share the shifter gene. It would be a whole lot easier if she just knew all about him. Breaking the news to her that he was a bear was going to be the hardest thing he had ever done.
He laughed at himself. “Yeah, she’s not even your girlfriend yet. You really need to get yourself together. Or she never will be.”
“Come on, Daryl. Get moving. I have coffee on, and then we can give Kayleigh a tour of the farm.”
Daryl hurried to catch up, and by the time he did, they were already in the farmhouse. Sam was pouring coffee and offering Kayleigh cake. The picture of domestic bliss. His bear bristled inside. The big beast wanted to come out and claim her. He really needed to get a grip.
Chapter Fourteen - Kayleigh
“I’m surprised you have time to come into the diner for breakfast each morning. You have so much work,” she said to Sam, amazed that he got everything done on the farm. There seemed so much to do, what with feeding, mucking out, and checking the animals to see that they were in good health.
“Daryl twists my arm; he’s too scared to come in every morning without me,” Sam grinned, and Daryl flashed him a look of pure exasperation. “I’m joking, of course.”
Daryl continued to snarl at Sam. Kayleigh felt the urge to diffuse the situation. She could begin to understand what it must have been like when these two were growing up. Any minute now, she expected them to grab one another and roll around on the grass, fighting.
“I’ll miss seeing you every morning. You two don’t go to Will’s hangout do you?”
“No. Well at least, not yet. I figure I might just as well get a leather jacket for Daryl’s next birthday.”
“That’s it.” Daryl launched himself at Sam, who was laughing so much she thought he would hurt himself. It made her laugh too. Sam really was the biggest wind-up merchant ever. He knew exactly which buttons to press, but Daryl was in full flow now, fists clenched.
“Hello, kids.” The two boys froze. “I hope you’re not fighting?”
Kayleigh turned to look back towards the farmhouse. A woman stood there, her hands on her hips. “Who’s that?”
“We’re in trouble.” Sam lifted his hand, and waved. “Hi, Mom.”
Daryl let his anger go and waved too. “Kayleigh, that is my mom. And I have forgotten the amount of times she's had to get between us and split us up. I swear she has a sixth sense when it comes to timing. She always knows when we are about to start.”
“We?” Sam said to Daryl. “You were the one who was going to throw the first punch. And I have Kayleigh here to back me up.” He winked at Kayleigh, who hid a smile.
She liked the way Daryl showed his emotions. Not exactly the way he was going to launch himself at Sam, more the fact that he was capable of such deep reactions. He usually kept himself so under control.
Sam began to walk down the hill towards his mom, while Kayleigh stood rooted to the spot. She ought to make her excuses and leave. She could probably find her way back to town. It would be a long walk, but much better than feeling like an outsider to this family. Daryl, however, had other ideas, and she realised his mom had not turned up by chance.
“My mom insisted on coming up to meet you.”
“Why?” she asked bluntly. This was already moving too fast; she felt like a bystander to her life. Everyone else here seemed to know what was going on. Everyone but her. It reminded her of her past, when she would suddenly be told that she had to move on. The sad times when they would pack all their belongings into their suitcases. Then they would be taken to somewhere new. Somewhere strange.
This also felt like strange. Things were going on that she had no idea about. Had Daryl told his mom they were going out? Surely Sam knew the truth. He would set everyone straight. Not if he was in on it, too.
Daryl stood nervously beside Kayleigh. “She won’t bite.”
“Daryl, I’m not really good around families. I have no experience in how proper families behave. I don’t want to make a fool of myself.”
“You won’t. My mom and dad are great, they are just so happy to finally meet...” He stopped and looked at her. Then carried on, “a girl I like.”
“Don’t the introductions to parents usually happen a couple of months down the line? We aren’t even going out.” There, she’d said it, because this whole thing was weird.
“I know.” He dragged his hand through his hair. “I want us to go out, Kayleigh. I’m just not very good at asking.”
His face looked so contorted in self-doubt, and her heart ached for him. He mirrored her in so many ways. She relaxed, just a little, and said, “So, does that mean you're asking me out?”
His face broke into that beautiful, dimpled smile. “Yes. Yes, it does. Kayleigh, will you go on a date with me?”
“Yes. I thought you would never ask.”
They began walking down the hill towards the farm. “What do you want to do? Dinner, the movies?”
“How about that picnic you promised me?”
“Deal. Tomorrow?”
“Eager. I guess that’s a good sign.”
“It is. I’m such an idiot for not asking you sooner.”
“Yes, you are. But then I might not have said yes. I’ve never been on a date before.”
“Never?” He sounded shocked but somehow relieved.
“No.” She needed to be honest with him. “It wasn't important to me. I have never wanted a family, Daryl. It’s not something that appeals to me. I don’t ever want to put my kid through what I went through.”
He stopped dead, and looked at her, his face awash with emotions. “Kayleigh. When it’s time for us to have kids, I swear I would never leave you.”
She shook her head adamantly. “There’s nothing you can say that would make me change my mind. My sister and I both swore we would never have kids. It was a pact we made during the lowest part of our lives. Do you know what it feels like to feel abandoned?”
He shook his head. “No. But Kayleigh, I wish I could explain to you that it would be impossible for me to leave you. I mean, we were destined to be together, forever.”
“Do you know how creepy that sounds?”
His nervousness returned. “I’m sorry. I guess I have to get
you to learn to trust me. It feels so right to me that I forget you don’t feel it too.”
“Listen, Daryl. I think it would be better if I went home. This is just too much for me. I want to give it some thought first.”
“I’m sorry, I’m an idiot, I frightened you off before our first date. Now you know why I put off asking you; I’m not good at this either. Listen, come in and say hello to my parents, and then I’ll take you home.”
“No. You stay, I’ll walk.”
“Its miles, and the light will be fading in an hour. I’ll take you home, I promise.” He held out his hand to her. “Please. Just say hello, and have a cup of tea with my mom, or else she’ll think it’s something she’s done. This is the first time I’ve ever introduced anyone to them. Women aren’t usually my thing; I find them so confusing.”
“I don’t know.”
“One cup of tea. Maybe a cookie?” He tilted his head and smiled. “I promise not to pressure you to stay for longer than you want to.”
When he slipped his hand into hers, she found it hard to deny him anything. Was it really possible that this was what he meant? Every time he touched her or came nearer, she could forget everything apart from him in the world. Was this what her mom felt each time she was with a man? Who then left her holding the baby. Alone.
Kayleigh had always wondered if she was destined to live her life tainted by her mom’s decisions. It had left her too scared to make commitments. It was the reason she travelled, and the reason she had never sought relationships.
Bear Creek had turned everything on its head. Maybe destiny had pulled her here. She was starting to sound as crackpot as Daryl. He was brainwashing her into buying into this stupid idea that it was all going to work out. When she knew that didn’t happen. She had to hold onto her senses. But when he squeezed her hand and smiled, she was lost again.
Chapter Fifteen - Daryl
Floundering. That was how she made him feel. He wanted to be honest with her. However, the words, "By the way, I’m a bear, and bears mate for life around here" wouldn't come out. They simply sounded like he was one sandwich short of that picnic he had promised her.
He needed advice on how he was supposed to approach this subject. Because he thought if he told her the truth just like that, she would run, and keep running forever.
They walked into the kitchen, and three expectant faces looked at them and smiled. Oh Lord, how did this not look creepy in any way?
“Mom, this is Kayleigh,” Daryl said. He almost felt obliged to protect Kayleigh from his mom’s exuberant smile.
“Nice to finally meet you, Kayleigh. Daryl has told us all about you.”
“Mom,” he warned.
“What? You’ve told us everything we need to know.”
“Mom, you’ll scare Kayleigh off.”
His mom smiled. “Impossible.”
“You can tell she spends too much time with me and the boys,” Daryl’s dad said, offering Kayleigh his hand.
She took it, her eyes wide. He sighed, noting her confusion. The other thing that was hard for strangers to take in sometimes was his mom and dad's appearance. They just looked too young to be parents to him and Sam. Let’s just say bears aged well. They almost stopped ageing at all once they hit their twenties. His mom and dad could possibly pass for mid-thirties, but not much more.
“Hello. Nice to meet you,” Kayleigh eventually managed.
“Tea,” said his mom, noticing the worried look on Daryl's face.
“Yes, please.” They all busied themselves, getting cups out and setting cookies and cakes down on the table. Guilty looks passed between them. The kind that would make anyone think they were a family of mass murderers about to lure their next victim down to the cellar. He was doomed. Destined to never be with his true mate.
Chapter Sixteen - Kayleigh
If Daryl had seemed weird, his family gave her a glimpse of where that originated. His mom couldn’t help staring at her, and his dad didn’t look old enough to have teenagers, let alone two hunky men like Daryl and Sam. Weird. That was the word reverberating around her head.
Still, she sat down at the table, because she figured it was safer to have tea with them. First chance she had, she would get out of there fast, and never come back. In fact moving on, leaving Bear Creek, was beginning to look like the best thing to do. Get out of there, far away. No forwarding address.
“So you like Bear Creek?” Daryl’s mom asked.
“Yes, very much," she said. It was the truth. Only this bizarre family was beginning to put her off.
“I’m glad you’ve settled here. I don’t think there is a better place in the world.”
“I love the mountains. Before I came here, I’d never seen any. Not in real life.” She tried to make conversation and sound normal.
“In the summer, we can climb to the top of Mount Ursa,” Daryl said.
“I’d like that,” Kayleigh said, smiling at him. Really, she was thinking that she would be long gone by then. Although it had been on her list of things she would most like to do. And to do it with Daryl, That would be special. His hand brushed hers and she felt that wonderful warm sensation spreading through her again. Perhaps they had drugged her tea.
“Cake?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“You’ll have to come over to our house. I’d like to get to know you, Kayleigh. Daryl says you haven’t had a very good upbringing.”
“Mom!” Daryl protested.
“What? I’m only saying that it would be nice for Kayleigh to feel part of the family. And I’ve always wanted a daughter. I’m sure Sam will let you have some time off to visit during the day.”
“Excuse me?” Kayleigh once more thought there was this whole other conversation going on around her, one that she had no idea about.
“When you come and work for Sam.”
Silence. Then Sam said, “Mom, I haven’t asked her yet.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I thought you already had. Daryl was so upset when he heard you were going to work for Will.”
“Mom,” Daryl said again, looking at Kayleigh.
Sam stepped in. “I’m sorry, Kayleigh. I was going to ask you once I’d shown you around today. I thought you would like it here, and want to work on the farm.”
She would. She really would. It was outdoors, no people, except for Sam, and Daryl. But she didn’t like Daryl’s reasons. It came back to her feeling as though Daryl was trying to hijack her life. After all she had been through, the last thing she wanted was for someone else to tell her where to go and what to do. Part of the reason she had enjoyed being a free spirit was the way she could decide for herself exactly what she wanted to do, and when.
“I would have to know a bit more about what you’re offering, Sam. And I have said I’d work for Will. I don’t want to let him down.”
“He wouldn’t mind,” Daryl said.
“Of course he wouldn’t,” said Daryl's mom. “That boy can always find someone else to work in his bar.”
“Well, if you tell me your offer, I will compare them and see what I think would suit me best. It is, after all, my decision,” said Kayleigh pointedly. The faces around her dropped just a little.
“Of course it is, Kayleigh,” their dad said, giving the others a warning look. “I think sometimes we try to look after family a bit too much.”
“That’s sweet of you, but you are not my family.” Kayleigh looked around at the three other faces. At least two of them had an expression that said not yet. She was more than a little freaked out.
Sipping her tea, she looked around the kitchen and decided she needed an exit. Once she was out of the farmhouse, she would head down into the valley and out into the trees. This whole thing was wrong. They were too familiar with her. As if it was already a foregone conclusion that she would marry Daryl. One step on from that was settling down and having kids. No way. She was going to do what she did best, get out of there.
“May I use the bathroom?” she asked
Sam.
“Sure. It’s down the hall and to the left. Do you want me to show you?”
“No. It’s fine; I’ll find it. Excuse me.” She got up out of her chair and went out of the kitchen, carefully closing the door behind her. Quickly, she headed down the hallway. Behind her, she could hear the sound of voices as a heated exchange ensued. They were all crazy!
Hoping they would be occupied for some while, she went past the bathroom and carried on to the front door. Unlocking it, she carefully went out and shut it quietly behind her, looking for an escape route that gave her the best chance of staying unseen while she ran back down the mountain. She put her head down and started out across the open grass that lay in front of the farmhouse.
By the time she judged she was out of sight, her breath was coming in sharp gasps and her breathing was laboured. That was the farthest she had run for years. But then she had never had such a big reason to run before. There was something so odd about that Cartwright family.
While she caught her breath, she listened. As far as she could tell there was no one following her. She gave herself a couple of minutes to regain her breath. Then she ducked down under the lower branches of the trees. Skirting the grass slope, she then struck off in the general direction of the town.
Two things struck her immediately. One, it was a lot darker under the trees than she had thought it would be. Second, she soon lost all sense of direction. The twisting and turning trees made her circle back on herself.
Once she had struggled over a couple of logs, she had completely lost her way. All she could do was carry on. At least she hoped that was where she was heading. Going back to the farm wasn’t an option. Although right now, she had no idea which way was back, and which way was forward.
A feeling of deep foreboding covered her, and her skin crawled. She felt as if she was being hunted, but there was no one around. Surely, even if they had moved fast enough to catch up with her they would never have found her trail. This thought no longer comforted her. Right now, she wished they would find her. All she really wanted was to be in Daryl’s arms. His nice, safe arms. She had overreacted badly, and she might end up paying the ultimate price.
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