Bear of Interest

by Unknown

  Bear squeezed his shoulder. “She’s one of us now so it seemed only fitting that a group of shifters should track down the man who shot her. He was hiding out in a place the police would never have found him, but one wolf shifter and one cougar shifter went down into a ravine and pulled him out. I think he probably got the shock of his life.”

  Cole squeezed his eyes closed. He loved his fellow shifters. Always there when things got tough. Always there to bring someone to justice.

  “Can we go get you anything from home?” asked Lucy.

  Cole squeezed her hand. “No, it’s okay.”

  She laid her head down on his shoulder and Liam slapped the back of his hand.

  “She’s going to be just fine. I sense it in my bones. You know we bears have a sixth sense that’s how I knew that night that…”

  Liam didn’t finish his sentence. Cole knew he was going to say that Danny, his brother had been in an accident.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean it…”

  “I know what you meant and thank you for sharing it,” said Cole.

  Cole looked up to see Aiden Renner and a bunch of other shifters in tow, and one in particular surprised him. It was Brady Walsh.

  He put out his hand to Cole. “I came as soon as I heard. Please let’s put our past stupidity behind us and let me be here to comfort you at this horrible time. Come on buddy: up on your feet so I can hug you.”

  Cole knew that Sammy had been right. She’d told him some event would bring the two of them together. He only wished it wasn’t because she was fighting for her life. He stood and Brady threw his arms around him. He heard his once nemesis sobbing in his ear.

  “I’m here for you. Here for both of you. She’s going to be fine and I’ll see to it she gets the best treatment, the best of everything.”

  He knew his once enemy meant it. He hugged him back. If anything happened to Sammy, if she didn’t pull through this, he was going to need all the friends he could get because living was going to be tough.

  ****

  Sam had no idea where she was. Her whole body felt like she’d been beaten over and over again. She tried to focus but couldn’t. She remembered the pain in her back and then nothing. Her throat was parched and she was lightheaded, almost like she was floating.

  “It’s okay honey, you’re finally back with us.”

  She tried to speak but couldn’t.

  “Don’t panic, don’t try and talk because you have a tube in your throat.”

  Sam lashed out and obviously scratched whoever was talking to her.

  “I’m one of the nurses in the ICU. You were shot and had surgery two days ago.”

  Shot, two days, everything was a blur. How could forty-eight hours pass without her knowing it?

  Cole, was he here, did he know? They were going to check out wedding venues two nights ago.

  Her ring, she couldn’t feel her ring.

  “Your fiancé is outside, would you like him to come in with you. He won’t be able to visit for long but seeing him might help you.”

  Sam nodded.

  “Okay, honey, I’ll just go get him.”

  Sam felt a tear run down her cheek.

  She tried to move but couldn’t. Had the bullet paralyzed her? If that was true how was she going to walk down the aisle to meet Cole on their wedding day?

  “Sammy, it’s Cole.”

  He was standing over her and she hadn’t even seen him step into the room. He looked like he hadn’t slept. He had thick stubble on his chin and cheeks, and dark bags under his eyes.

  “I’m so glad you’re finally awake. When you sleep in, you go all out,” he said.

  She tried to laugh but it hurt like hell.

  The nurse walked over to the bed. “The doctor will be with you shortly to remove that tube from your throat. You want your fiancé to be here with you for that?”

  Sam nodded.

  “Okay, won’t be long.”

  Cole sat down and stroked her face. He flicked away a tear from her cheek.

  “It’s going to be okay now, Sammy. You’re going to be fine.”

  A tall dark haired man walked in.

  “Hi Sam, I’m Dr. Roland. You probably don’t feel like getting up and dancing right now but you will in good time.”

  Dancing…did that mean she wasn’t paralyzed?

  “I’m going to pull the tube so I want you to take a deep breath and don’t try and talk yet okay?”

  Sam nodded as Cole took her hand and squeezed it as Dr. Roland pulled out the tube, making her cough and choke and reminding her of when Cole had slipped the ring into her ice cream.

  “There, that’s one hurdle out of the way,” said Dr. Roland.

  Cole squeezed her hand again.

  “I think you should let her get some sleep and we’ll transfer her out of ICU later today,” said Dr. Roland. “Once she’s in a regular room you can spend all the time you want with her.”

  Sam liked the sound of that.

  ****

  Cole would never be able to repay Brady enough. Sam had a private room fit for royalty. Most of the shifters who’d visited had brought flowers and candy and right now the whole place looked more like a gift store than a hospital room.

  He held Sam’s hand as they made one of their twice daily strolls along the hospital corridor. He pulled the stand with the drip so she didn’t have to and he could see she was getting stronger. She’d been lucky. She’d lost lots of blood, but the bullet had passed out clean from her body missing any vital organs. She even had some color back in her cheeks. As a doctor, he knew it was going to be some time before she was one hundred percent again, but she’d get there.

  “You think we should start practicing for our first dance as husband and wife?”

  Sam laughed as he helped her back into bed.

  “Did someone mention dancing?”

  Brady looked into the room.

  “Come in and sit down,” said Cole.

  “Would you like some chocolates?” asked Sam.

  “Oh, no I’m watching my weight to be ready for the wedding next weekend.”

  “I’m sorry I’m going to miss it,” said Sam.

  “No you’re not. You will be there because your fiancé’s going to be my best man.”

  “I am?” asked Cole.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you but I knew you had other things to deal with here with Sam.”

  “Sure, I’d be honored to,” said Cole.

  “Good and if you need dancing lessons I’ll let you into a secret. I’ve been taking ballroom dancing—you know, Dancing with the Stars sort of thing, for over a year now.”

  Cole and Sam looked at one another.

  “You’re joking right?” asked Cole.

  “Never been more serious in all my life. Only Jenna knows, but I thought I might as well tell everyone to prepare them for what they’ll see at the wedding. Anyway, I will leave you to get some rest, dear Sam, and if there’s anything I can do when you get home, you know where to reach me. Oh, and I’m still waiting on those bear paintings.” He waved goodbye and left.

  “You were right about us becoming friends,” said Cole. “And I think you have to help me pick out a suit, and I’m betting you want the prettiest dress in town.”

  “How am I going to attend a wedding when I can hardly walk down a hospital corridor without getting out of breath?”

  “Haven’t you heard of a thing called a wheelchair?”

  ****

  Cole knew he was being a sentimental bear but he teared up at the beautiful words Brady and Jenna had written for one another.

  He glanced into the front row and saw Sammy sitting there holding baby Landon. She looked beautiful in the blue floral dress he’d picked out for her. She looked at him and he winked at her.

  “I now pronounce that Brady and Jenna are husband and wife. Please say hello to the new Mr. and Mrs. Walsh,” said the judge who was conducting the wedding.

  Cole clapped and everyone joined
in as Brady and Jenna kissed. They headed down the aisle waving to everyone and Cole made his way to Sammy and took Landon from her.

  “I think he needs a diaper change,” she said.

  “Maybe it’s time he went back to his parents’ care,” said Cole.

  As if they sensed Landon needed them, Brady and Jenna walked over and took him.

  “It’s feeding and diaper changing time,” said Jenna. “See you at the reception.”

  Cole helped Sammy to her feet.

  “You feeling okay?” Cole asked her

  “Yep, just a little tired.”

  “Once we’ve eaten and I’ve given my speech we’ll head home.”

  They slowly headed toward the tent where the reception was going to be held.

  “Would you mind if I gave up my job as a cop? I don’t think I could go through all this again. Not just getting shot but losing another partner,” asked Sammy.

  “I’d be more than happy if you did. Any idea what you want to do?”

  “I’m going to teach painting, and I’m going to work with Lucy doing sketches for her interior design ideas.”

  “Are so you have it all worked out and didn’t tell me.”

  “We’re going to use the cottage as our offices.”

  “Really, and where are we going to live?”

  “We’ll find some place where a bear and his mate can keep each other warm.”

  Cole pulled out a chair for Sammy and she sat. “Just think: our wedding’s next on the list of social events for the group.”

  “I’ve asked Lucy to be my bridesmaid.”

  “That’s great,” said Cole. “I’d really like Liam to be my best man but I have a feeling Brady’s going to think the war between us is back on if I don’t ask him.”

  “Yeah, you have a point. How about Liam as your groomsman?”

  “Great idea.”

  “Could I have everyone’s attention please? My best man Cole MacDonald has requested that he give his speech early just in case he and his lovely fiancée need to leave.”

  “Here goes,” said Cole, pulling out the sheet of paper from his pocket.

  Cole tapped the microphone.

  “Hi everyone. Most of you know that Brady and I weren’t the best of friends. Bitter enemies I guess you’d call it. But my beautiful bride to be told me that an event would bring us together and it did. Brady, I know you and I are going to be best friends until we each take our final breath and thank you for this honor of being your best man.”

  Brady nodded to him.

  “I know he’s chosen well in his mate so will you join me in wishing them a long and happy marriage.”

  Cole raised his glass of champagne and toasted them.

  ****

  Sam was marrying her own version of Prince Charming. She knew that before today but as he lifted her up and carried her around the dance floor in perfect time to the music, she knew it as a fact. They rubbed noses and bumped into another guest who was swinging a girl in a tight blue dress around and around.

  “Kent, when did you get back in town?” asked Cole.

  “Just a few days ago. And this must be your lovely wife to be.”

  “Sammy, this is Kent who is a cousin of Nick’s.”

  “I’m so pleased to meet you,” he said, pulling up her hand and kissing the back of it.

  “So are you back to stay or what?” asked Cole.

  “I’m not sure at the moment.”

  “Come on Kent, don’t stop dancing,” said the girl.

  “I gotta go but I’m sure we’ll catch up later.”

  Sam watched as the girl dragged him away.

  “So, he’s a…”

  “Wolf shifter, womanizer, entrepreneur, international playboy, you name it.”

  Sammy smiled; being part of the Kalispell Shifters was never going to be boring.

  The End

  www.vanessadevereaux.com

  Other Books by Vanessa Devereaux:

  www.evernightpublishing.com/vanessa-devereaux

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  Evernight Publishing

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