by Jane Jamison
They’d caught hell from the rest of the clan for letting humans see them in their animal forms. Bears weren’t common running around in pastures among cattle and their stunt could’ve brought unwanted attention to other werebears. Still, it had achieved their goal and given them one hell of a good laugh to see the kids run like the devil himself was chasing them.
“That big one looks like he could kill a calf with one hand tied behind his back.”
Gunner was right. The man was large enough to grab a cow by the neck, yank its head up, and slide a knife along its throat with little effort. But that wasn’t the way the killings had gone down. “That’s the point. A man would only need one stroke to kill a cow. Naw, our animals looked like they’d gone through an oversized deli meat cutter.”
They’d discussed the killings often and had talked to other ranchers in the area. From what they could gather, whoever or whatever was slaughtering the animals was doing it for fun or malice. No meat had been eaten or cut out and taken away. Instead, the multiple slash wounds and the way the animals had been gutted spoke of an attacker that was filled with rage. The killings were deliberate and cruel acts.
“Let’s check this out before it becomes a YouVideo sensation.”
Gunner scoffed. “It’ll never happen. No one wants to watch a cow chewing its cud compared to watching cute kittens or puppies romp and play.”
“Unless there’s something funny or outlandish written on its hide.” Rick tugged his hat into place. “Besides, they’re trespassing.”
“Yeah, they are. Are we going to do this as men or as bears?”
Rick couldn’t help but straighten his back at the question. They hadn’t transformed in several days and his inner bear was aching to get free. But now wasn’t the right time. Besides, he didn’t want the clan to jump down their throats again. “As men. I’d like to get a good look at her before we run her off.”
“At her, huh?”
Shit. He’d fucked up. “I meant at what she wrote.”
“Uh-huh. I’m sure that’s what you meant.”
“Go sit on a stick, little brother.” Rick added the “little” knowing Gunner hated to be called a little anything, including a little brother.
“Damn, man. You’re losing your sense of humor in your old age. Are you sure you don’t have that stick up your ass?”
Rick chuckled, acknowledging Gunner’s dig. Every year around his birthday, his brother would razz him about his age even though he was only four years older. Thirty-three wasn’t old, but as long as he was older than Gunner, he’d get the same “old man” treatment.
He heeled his horse into a gallop before Gunner did. For some unknown reason, he didn’t want him to reach the girl first.
By the time they’d made it to the two trespassers, a buzz of electricity had begun to sizzle up and down his spine. The closer they got to them, to her, the stronger the current. It was as though someone had hooked him up to a power line and flipped the circuit to sear straight through his body.
He glanced at Gunner and saw his confused expression. He’d bet anything that he was picking up the same sensation.
He leaned forward and urged his horse to go faster. Running a horse in a pasture that was torn up with the herd’s hooves wasn’t the safest thing to do, but he couldn’t slow down. The hum took over all of him, giving him no choice but to rush to its source.
The nearer they came to her, the more he studied her. She was far too short to be his type. Hell, she couldn’t have stood high enough to reach low hanging fruit. He liked tall, sinewy blondes. But her body? Yeah, that was pretty damn amazing.
Her long, coppery hair reminded him of the brownish-red color of a bucket sitting in the sunlight. He could see how full and lush it was even though it was pulled into a ponytail. The color was beautiful, eye-catching, especially with the strange pink stripe running down the left side to draw his attention down to her full breasts.
Her face wasn’t the angular shape he usually liked, yet it was intriguing. She could’ve been the cover model for Girl Next Door, but with an enticing underlying allure that had him all too aware of his growing cock. Her face had a sweetness about it that made him wonder what color her eyes were. And her lips? They had him aching for a good, old-fashioned kiss.
He reined his horse to a stop, swung his leg over the saddle, and dismounted. Dropping the reins, he strode toward her, ignoring the giant of a man who stood nearby. Gunner was off his horse, but hadn’t moved.
“Lady, are you two lost?”
To her credit, she stood her ground, pulling her shoulders back as though ready to take him on. The glint of alarm in her big green eyes hadn’t faded, but that only gave him more reason to respect her.
“Not at all. I know exactly where I am and what I’m doing.”
She was a feisty one. At least she had that going for her. Okay, that and the curviness of her body. For such a little thing, she had breasts that would rival the town whore’s paid ones. Not that he knew from touching them and he’d never tell Sugar Honey that. She was more than proud of her new boobs.
The woman’s waist was small. Or was it the wideness of her hips that made her waist seem like he could fit his hands around her and touch fingertips? Either way, the package was a damn good one.
“Is that right? Then you know that you’re on the Triple X Ranch. I’m Rick Northman and that’s my brother, Gunner. This is private property, which means you probably also know you’re trespassing. Have I got it straight?”
“Hey, Rick, check it out.”
Rick twisted around to find that Gunner had rounded up one of the calves. He gritted his teeth, and had to choke back a snarl. “Lady, what the hell do you think you’re doing? Why’d you paint my calf?”
She had the audacity to fist her hands on her hips and act as though he was the one who’d done wrong. “Maybe it is your land and maybe that’s your calf, but that doesn’t mean it deserves to die an awful death.”
What the hell was she talking about? Did she know about the animals that had been killed? He reassessed his earlier opinion. Could she be involved?
Until then, he hadn’t paid much attention to her friend. Was he her man? If so, he didn’t want to tangle with him if he could help it. As a man he’d have to work hard at besting him. As a bear, he’d take him out with one strike of his paw.
“What are you getting at?” Maybe if he let her flap her yap a little longer, she’d spill enough information to make sense.
“Can’t you read?” She tilted her head to the calf Gunner was holding.
Damn, but she was irritating. And yet, even as irritating as she was, he couldn’t dismiss the growing need to have her. He wanted to tear off her clothes and wrap her legs around him. But at the same time, she filled him with a curiosity to know her better. When had any woman ever gotten to him that way? Especially so fast and hard?
“What’s that supposed to mean, anyway? Sentenced to death? Don’t you know that’s why ranchers raise cattle? To sell for public consumption? Or are you telling me that you’ve never eaten a hamburger?”
She opened her mouth, no doubt ready to give him a sassy answer, but he waved her off. “The real question is why you’d write that on one of my cows. Do you think cattle read?”
She hardened her face, then held out her hand for the camera she’d given to her big man as they’d ridden up to them. “Take a look for yourself.”
He had a bad feeling that he’d gotten tricked, but he still had to see. Taking the camera, he held it up and watched the video. Once he was finished, he had the urge to smash it to the ground.
“Don’t bother breaking it. I already sent the video to my e-mail.”
Aw, shit. “And what are you going to do with it? Watch it every night while you curl up on your couch with your thirteen cats?”
She was not the type of woman who’d end up alone with a bunch of cats. But he loved seeing her get even angrier. She’d be fun to razz.
“I’m going to
upload it to YouVideo and let the world know what’s happening to these poor creatures.”
“Poor creatures? Are you serious, lady? These animals live better than some humans I know.” The word lady didn’t do her justice. Maybe princess or queen would. He was surprised that such a small person could command his respect in such a short time.
“Who’s this guy? Is he your husband or your bodyguard?”
The huge man stepped closer to her, then offered his hand. “I’m Mike Shorter, but people call me Kid. This is my friend, Mallory Quinn.”
“Kid, we’re not here to make friends.” She seared Rick with another glower. “Especially not with men who are cruel to animals.”
That did it.
His anger whipped around in a frenzy, rising to the surface with a boil. “Look, lady, I don’t know where you’re getting this shit, but we don’t treat our animals badly. If you don’t like raising cattle for food, then that’s your problem. Until they arrive at the production facility—”
“You mean the slaughterhouse.”
The growl slipped out before he knew it. Her eyes widened, but again, she showed her stuff by not running. Smaller growls had sent grown men scurrying away as fast as they could.
“Whatever. It’s the cycle of life. Everything needs to eat.” As a human, he enjoyed a good steak or burger. His bear, however, tended to eat more fish and vegetables, but he wouldn’t tell her that.
He was astounded and even angrier when she laughed.
“For your information, it’s the circle of life, not the cycle of life. And no. We don’t need to eat other living beings. We’re not savages any longer.” Her haughtiness grew. “At least, most of us aren’t.”
“Not that I owe you an explanation, but listen up. We send our cattle to a quality-run meat packing facility. Our animals are killed in a humane way with a facility that toes a hard line on following all the governmental regulations.” He gritted his teeth so hard he thought he’d crack one.
“You send them to Lawson Industries, right?”
“How’d you know that?” She wasn’t just some liberal, tree hugger. She’d done some research.
“Did you know that Lawson Industries doesn’t make sure that the cattle are unconscious after they drive that pole into their heads and send them along the production line?”
“It’s not a pole, it’s called a bolt gun and it instantaneously kills the brain. There isn’t a more humane way to die. No pain. Nothing, but sudden death, got it? Hell, I couldn’t ask for a quicker, easier way to die.”
“Then why don’t you go and take their place?”
He swallowed back another growl then wanted to pop his brother on the back of the head for chuckling. “Look, lady, I’ve seen their facility firsthand. They keep the cattle safe and calm up until that moment when they use the gun. Keeping the cattle calm and without injury leads to better, more tender meat. Why would Lawson do it any other way? Better meat means better sales.” Why was he bothering to argue with her? He knew the truth.
“Oh, sure. They’re really calm when they herd them into the pens and cram them together.”
“Lady—”
“My name is Mallory.”
He didn’t want to say her name. Calling her lady wasn’t as dangerous. Calling her Mallory made him think of the way she looked and the lyrical sound of her voice. Still, he wouldn’t mind trying her name on the tip of his tongue. He had a feeling that it would feel just right.
“Let me educate you a little. A good packing plant has lots of pens. When the cattle come in, they don’t cram the animals together like you’re saying. They break them into smaller groups with room to move before they drive them into a chute and into the plant. The chute’s high enough that the animals can’t see what’s going on and don’t get afraid.”
Why was he bothering explaining it? And yet, he knew why. She was special. Maybe more special than anyone he’d ever met.
“That’s what I said. They get herded inside to be killed in a brutal, cruel way.”
He almost lost it. His fangs erupted through his gums, and if Gunner hadn’t taken him by the shoulders and hauled him backward, he would’ve shifted in front of her.
“Mallory.” Gunner’s tone was softer. Then again, he was usually able to maintain his cool better than Rick could. “Where are you getting your information?”
“If you must know, from a neighbor of yours. He told me who you’re selling your cattle to. Lawson Industries is the worst of the worst.”
“Aw, fuck.” Rick heeded Gunner’s stern look to stay back. “I’ll bet anything it’s that damn were—” He stopped, all too aware of his near-slip. “That damn Burton Shenton.”
He doubted she would’ve admitted that he’d guessed correctly, but the subtle change in her expression and her quick blink told him that he’d guessed right.
“Not just from the neighbor, but from insider videos, too.”
Gunner laughed, throwing her a curve. “Let me guess. Videos off the Internet, right?”
Her expression gave her away again.
“Because everything you see and read on the Internet is factual and true, right?”
She swallowed, then crossed her arms. A challenge if Rick had ever seen one. “I’ve seen the videos. They aren’t faked.”
“Maybe not, but they are edited to get a certain shock value.”
“I disagree. From what I’ve seen—”
Rick couldn’t stand it any longer. The whatever-it-was he’d felt earlier had grown steadily stronger, adding to his attraction. He felt compelled to touch her, to feel her skin under his hands. She’d taken control of his mind as well as his body, urging him to forget that he’d just met her. Urging him to throw her over his back and take her home with him. Instead, he opted for a more civilized option.
He moved fast and took hold of her arms. The moment he did, he lost any chance of denying the compulsion.
An even more intense jolt of the electric current hammered at every nerve in his body. It wrapped around him, tightening, until he knew he couldn’t break free. Hell, he didn’t want to break free. From her stunned expression, she’d felt it, too.
Her friend moved to step between them, but she held him off. “It’s okay, Kid. I’m okay.”
The big guy eased away from her, but not too far. Rick figured that if the man wanted, he could take hold of Rick and send him flying.
Rick’s hands shook. What the hell was happening between them? Why did he want, hell, need to touch her so much that it ate at his gut?
“Mallory, we could run you off our land and have this done, but I don’t like the idea of you thinking that we treat our animals badly.” Gunner was de-stressing the situation.
Rick heard the strain in his voice. He had to be feeling it, too.
“How about this? Come and stay with us.” Gunner nodded at Kid. “Both of you. See how we run our ranch.”
“I don’t think—”
“Hang on before you say no. Don’t we deserve a fair hearing? If at the end of your stay, you still think we’re cruel, heartless bastards, then I’ll help you send out your video. Hell, I’ll even send one to Lawson.”
“I never called you heartless or bastards.”
He gave her the smile that so many women had found irresistible. “No, I guess you didn’t. So? What do you say? Will you give us a chance to prove you wrong?”
It was obvious that she was still unconvinced. Rick added his own incentive. The turmoil of lust she’d started inside him wouldn’t allow him not to. “I’ll have a friend of mine check into Lawson’s. Not that I think he’ll find anything wrong.”
“If I do, will you agree that I can report what I find? Without interference? Without editing on your part?”
“Yeah. If you can show me that we’re doing a bad job of treating our animals, then I’ll give you the green light myself. So do we have a deal or not?”
She glanced at her friend, then stuck out her hand. “Deal.”
Chapt
er Two
Dirt billowed into the air behind the van as Kid followed the directions that would take them to the home of the Northman brothers. Mallory hadn’t meant to take them up on their offer to stay with them. Why should she? She already had a witness to their brutality as well as photographic proof. She had no doubt that the packing plant the ranch used employed highly objectionable and even illegal means to kill the animals. But once she’d touched Rick’s hand, she hadn’t been able to turn down his offer. If she’d let all her inhibitions run wild, she would’ve jumped on top of him and slammed her mouth to his.
Talk about a shocker, both figuratively and literally.
And Gunner? She hadn’t touched him, but she’d experienced the same reaction of heightened awareness to his presence. It was like she was the lightning rod and they were the lightning.
She stared out the side window, absorbed by her thoughts and the strange, inexplicable sensations wreaking havoc to her nervous system. What was that weird vibration that had ripped into her? Was it sexual attraction? That was part of it. And who could blame her? The Northman brothers were drop-dead, take-me-now sexy.
But when had a handsome face and terrific body, even two of them, ever thrown her for a loop? She’d always been drawn more to geeks and men whose intelligence far outweighed their sexy appearance.
“Okay, I’ll say it. This is crazy. There’s no reason to stay with these men.”
She was about to agree when Kid kept on going.
“Except for the fact that they’re hotter than hell.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
As she’d known he would, Kid broke into one of his trademark booming laughs. “Riiight. I thought you were about to drool when Rick took hold of you.”
“Rick is it? You’re already calling him by his first name?”
Kid glanced down at the directions the men had scribbled on the back of a fast-food receipt Kid had pulled out of his pocket, then made a left turn onto another dirt road.
