Perhaps, she’d given up on her own bucket list.
“What do you intend to do now?” Betsy asked.
“Get a new job and start over.” Kassia was treating her trip to Bear Creek like a reset button. When she returned home, she planned on moving from her apartment and finding a new job.
“Why don’t you start over here?” Betsy’s question took Kassia by surprise and she opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish.
“I don’t know.” She shook her head, unable to answer. Visiting Bear Creek for a vacation was one thing. Living here was another. She had no idea if she could find a job and even though she loved her aunt, she couldn’t see herself working at the diner. Her mom always told her family and business didn’t always mix well.
“Think about it. I’d love to have you around. If you need a job while you get yourself on your feet, you could work at the diner. And you could live here.” Betsy’s offer was genuine and Kassia would be a fool not to consider it. “Don’t feel obligated. I just want you to be happy. But Bear Creek is a wonderful place to live. And maybe Beck is the man for you, and you might raise a family here.”
“Thanks. I’ll think about it.” She nodded. “And speaking of Beck, I’d better start on dinner. I thought I could ask him to carry the small table from the living room up here and we could bring a couple of chairs and sit around the bed.”
“Or, you could just sit downstairs with him. Just the two of you,” Betsy suggested.
Kassia shook her head in horror. “No, the only reason I invited him was because you’d be there.”
“You are more than capable of looking after yourself,” Betsy assured her.
“I’d just appreciate your judgment,” Kassia hung her head. “I don’t completely trust my own. Not yet. I’m scared that I’m so desperate for someone to love me that I’ll see Beck through rose-colored glasses.”
“I don’t think you will. I do think you need to trust yourself,” Betsy told her firmly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Travis was the one to blame. He made you believe in him. From what you told me, there was no indication he was lying to you.”
“The problem is…” Kassia hadn’t shared this with anyone else. “I think he targeted me because I was a woman in her forties who desperately wanted a family.”
“Wanted?” Betsy’s expression hardened. “I hope he didn’t put you off wanting a husband, or partner or whatever they call a significant other these days. And you have always wanted children. Which you are great with, by the way. A natural.”
“I don’t know.” Kassia brushed her hair back from her face. “Sometimes it feels as if I don’t know anything anymore.”
“Well, I do.” Betsy leaned over the side of the bed and reached for Kassia. “I know that you would make a wonderful wife and mother and I want you to promise me that you won’t give up on your dreams because of the nightmare that man brought into your life.”
Kassia nodded. “As long as you promise not to push me into a relationship with Beck, even if you do think he is one of a kind and the man I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with. I need to take things slow.”
“I thought you wanted my honest opinion?” Betsy said in mock offense.
“I do. An honest opinion.” Kassia threw up her hands. “We might both be reading more into this than there actually is.”
“Or maybe we’re not. I’ve seen it so many times.” Betsy wagged her finger at Kassia. “Just you wait and see.”
“I will wait and see,” Kassia promised. “But right now, if there is nothing else I can do for you, I am going to go down and make dinner.”
“Then put on a pretty dress and brush your hair,” Betsy ordered.
“I thought I might mess my hair up and put on a potato sack to see if Beck still likes me.” Kassia giggled, suddenly feeling lighter as if she knew deep down, she had nothing to fear from Beck.
“Something tells me he will,” Betsy said as if she had a crystal ball.
“We’ll see.” Kassia left the room, her heart lighter and her head clearer. Coming to Bear Creek had been the right thing to do, she was convinced of it.
Chapter Five – Beck
“You found her?” Mac’s shock was evident. “You came back to town for like a day and you found your mate?” Was his older brother jealous?
“Yes. It just happened. She’s the niece of Betsy. You know, diner Betsy.” Beck grabbed the tools from the back of the truck and was about to walk past Mac when his brother stepped in front of him.
“I’m happy for you, Beck. I really am.” Mac locked eyes with his brother and Beck let go of the tension that had built in his shoulders. “I only ever wanted you all to be happy.”
“Well, I think we can safely say Beck is happy,” Joey said as he leaned into the back of the truck and took out his chainsaw. “He was practically drooling over her in the street.”
“Now, that I would like to have seen.” Hex jumped down off the porch and crossed the yard to join his brothers.
“Did Martha tell you?” Beck asked.
“Martha knew?” Mac asked. “No, she kept your secret.”
“She just told me now,” Hex replied. “But only because I could tell something was on her mind and wouldn’t let it go. She’s been itching to tell me all day but didn’t want to spoil it for Beck.”
“I need to thank her,” Beck told Hex. “I think Kassia was thinking of bolting, but Martha talked her into giving me a chance.”
“I’m a lucky man,” Hex admitted. “Martha just wants us all to be happy, too. She’s also excited that she won’t be so outnumbered when Mom and Hilda go on their cruise.”
“Mom is going on a cruise?” Beck whirled around to face Hex. “Since when?”
“Since she decided it was time to stop pining away here and go out and enjoy her life. When Hilda and Martha were snowed in here, they came up with the idea of a cruise.” Hex shrugged. “We think it’s a great idea.”
His words came with a warning. Did they think Beck might object? “It is a good idea.” However, Beck did have his reservations. Leaving the sawmill and going off to explore the world hadn’t exactly been everything Beck had hoped it would be. He didn’t want his mom and Martha’s mom to be left feeling the same way.
“Maybe you could tell them about your trip abroad and give them some ideas of where they could go visit,” Mac suggested.
“Yeah, do you have any photos?” Hex asked as he helped Joey and Beck unload the rest of the gear from the truck.
“I have some.” Beck nodded. “But right now, I have to put these tools away and go shower. I’m having dinner with Kassia and Betsy.”
“You go and get ready,” Mac offered. “We can finish up here.”
“No, I have time,” Beck insisted. He needed to prove himself to his brother. He needed Mac to see he was taking his job at the sawmill seriously. Which he was. He had a mate to provide for now and he didn’t want to be searching for a new job when he liked the one he had walked away from just fine.
“I gave Hex time off when he met his mate,” Mac told him. “I’d like to do the same for you.”
“The difference is, Hex had been working for months. I only just got back. I can’t expect you to give me time off already.” Beck tightened his hand around the chainsaw he was carrying.
“Fine.” Mac took a step back. “But if things change, let me know.”
“I will.” Beck headed to the secure storeroom where all the gear was stored. “Thanks for the offer, though,” he called over his shoulder.
“No problem,” Mac replied. “I have work to do; if anyone needs me, I’ll be in my office.” He hurried away.
Nothing has changed there, his bear remarked. Mac is still a workaholic.
Perhaps when he finds his mate, things will change. He might learn to actually start enjoying what he’s built here. Beck ducked his head and headed toward the storeroom.
“I hope when I find my mate, you’ll give me time off,” Joey said as
he followed Beck across the yard.
“I thought you were all cozy with Polly?” Hex asked.
“I am. We are. But we’re not mates. Both of us realize that the other could find their mate at any moment.” He sighed. “I just hope things don’t get messy if that happens.”
“Love is messy,” Beck replied.
“Joey made it messier, though,” Hex said. “Dating a shifter when she’s not your mate. That might just be a recipe for disaster.”
“And there again, it might not,” Joey said hotly.
“I can understand why you’d do it.” Beck carefully returned his chainsaw to the rack on the wall before he put the rest of the tools away. Nothing about his work had changed since he’d been gone. Everything was just the same and he was grateful for that. It gave him a sense of security.
“We’re lonely,” Joey admitted. “Didn’t you two ever get lonely?”
“Yeah,” Hex admitted. “But it just never felt right to go out with someone else long-term.”
“Polly and I both have our eyes open. We are under no illusions that the other will get dumped like a hot coal if the other finds their mate. But right now, I’m enjoying taking a pretty woman to dinner. We have a lot in common. We talk, we laugh, and we just enjoy being a couple.” Joey swallowed a lump in his throat. “I know it sounds lame, but it feels like I’m actually living instead of just waiting around for a mate who I might never meet.”
“I hope the two of you are happy together,” Beck told his friend. “Happiness in this world can be hard to come by.”
Hex paused and turned to look at his brother. “Is that what you think?”
“It’s what I’ve seen.” Beck let his mask slip for a moment, giving his brother a glimpse of the pain beneath his calm exterior before he quickly looked away.
“Well, I am clinging on to my slice of happiness and Polly and I don’t care what anyone else says.” Joey finished putting his gear away before he put his hands on his hips. “She’s had a hard time in Cougar Ridge. She likes that I come from Bear Creek and we have separate lives. It makes it easier.”
“If it makes you happy,” Hex said a little begrudgingly as he placed the sharp axes on the rack to the right of the chainsaws.
“It does.” Joey looked at the two brothers. “You don’t know how lucky you are to have finally found your mate. I hope you both know that.”
“We do,” Beck replied. It was the only area of his life he’d ever experienced any kind of luck.
It isn’t luck, it’s fate, his bear reminded him.
“Okay, Beck is not the only one with a hot date, so if we’re done here, I need to go shower and change. We are going to dinner at some fancy restaurant in Wolf Valley. A place where no one knows either of us, so we won’t get judged.” Joey bowed and then turned on his heel and left.
“He sure does look happy,” Hex conceded as he took a couple of steps toward Beck.
“He does.” Beck glanced sideways at his brother. “So do you. Finding a mate certainly has lifted you. Your wrinkles don’t look so deep.”
“Oh, don’t start. I’m the youngest, I never had as many wrinkles as you.” Hex laughed but the humor didn’t reach his eyes.
“Just ask.” Beck turned to face his brother.
“What happened to you?” Hex chewed the inside of his cheek. “And don’t say nothing. You’re different.”
“I met my mate. Of course, I’m different.” Beck’s attempt to shrug his brother off was met with an arched eyebrow. “Things didn’t always go great while I was away.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Hex asked. “I’m here for you if you do. But if you don’t, there’s no pressure.”
Beck’s shoulders slumped forward as if a great weight sat on them. “Not now.” He ran a hand through his hair as he took a ragged breath. “Honestly, I just don’t think I could find the words.”
“When you’re ready to talk, I’m ready to listen.” Hex placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder and Beck turned to him.
“Thanks, that means a lot.” He slipped his arms around his brother and they hugged just as they had hugged a hundred times or more.
“The same goes for Mac, you know. He worried about you.” Hex pulled back and looked at his brother. “We both did. We figured we must have done something wrong for you to leave like that.”
“No, nothing wrong.” Beck ran his hand over his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. “I just felt claustrophobic here. It was as if I’d lived under Mac’s shadow my whole life and I just needed to get out. I suppose you’d call it a midlife crisis.”
“And least you had the courage to come back.” Hex gazed at his brother. “We’re all glad you did.”
“Me, too, or else I would not have met my mate.” He backed away toward the door. “And as much as I love this family reunion, I have a mate to go see.”
“Me, too,” Hex reminded him as they walked out of the storeroom together. “I just sure hope that Mac finds his mate, too.”
“Do you feel bad? You know, that he doesn’t have a mate and you do?” Beck cast a glance toward the large barn where he could sense his brother seated at his desk, working hard. Just as he’d worked hard all his adult life to support his family.
We shouldn’t feel bad that we had to leave, his bear told him.
I know, but I do feel as if we let him down by leaving. There had always been friction between Beck and Mac, even when they were younger, and their father was still alive. If they weren’t fighting for their father’s attention, or for the attention of a girl, then they were arguing over which of them was the strongest, the fastest… The list went on.
Even their bears had a degree of unhealthy competition that had caused them to fight. Often with teeth and claws.
“He wants the best for us and always has,” Hex’s answer pulled Beck out of his visit to the past. “I think, knowing Mac, he’s probably happy that we got our mates first. He’s always wanted us to be happy.”
“Doesn’t it ever bother you that he behaves like he’s some kind of saint?” Beck asked abruptly.
Hex let out a low laugh. “A saint? Mac?” His forehead creased. “I’ve never seen him like that. He’s a good man and he’s worked hard for us all, but he’s made mistakes, he’d be the first to admit that.”
“Perhaps I look at things differently.” Beck and Hex reached the house. Their mom was inside the kitchen making dinner.
“You look at him as competition,” Hex said quietly. “You always have. I think they call it the middle child syndrome. Mac will always be older than you and you’re threatened by that. I think because of our shifter side that threat is compounded. It’s as if you’re worried you won’t be a good enough provider for your mate.”
“That’s not true,” Beck scoffed.
“Isn’t it?” Hex asked. “Because that’s exactly how it looks to me.”
“That’s really what you think?” Beck asked incredulously.
“Yes. Mac has always felt the need to protect us, especially since Dad died, and you have this chip on your shoulder because you felt like a big baby when Mac stepped up and made a success of things here.” Hex put his hand up to his eye and curled it into a ball. “Wah, wah, wah, I’m Beck, I need my big brother to look after me.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Beck exclaimed.
“Is it?” Hex looked Beck squarely in the eye.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Beck opened the kitchen door and went inside.
“Who doesn’t know what they’re talking about?” his mom asked.
“I was just telling Beck that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about if he thinks he can go on a date with his mate for the first time and not buy her flowers,” Hex said quickly.
“You aren’t going to buy Kassia flowers?” his mother asked.
“I see someone told you I had a mate.” Beck went on the defensive.
“I was in town with Martha. When we met up, I could tell someth
ing had happened and I was worried, so she told me what had happened.” His mom shrugged. “Of course, most sons would have called their mother right away and told her himself.”
Beck gave a low grumble. “I am going to let this go and take a shower. I know when I’m beaten.”
“So, you should,” his mom said as he kissed her on the cheek.
“I love you, Mom. And I’m sorry I didn’t call you first to tell you.” Beck seemed capable of screwing up even the simplest of things.
“Not so fast.” She grabbed hold of him and pulled him into her arms. “I thought I was blessed when Hex met his mate. Then you came back to us and I thought I was doubly blessed. But you finding your mate, too? I think I’m the happiest mother in the world.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He hugged her tightly, remembering all the times she’d held him before. Some of his earliest memories were of his mom comforting him. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. And I love you.” She kissed his cheek. “Now, go take a shower and get changed. Then you go and buy some flowers for your mate. Maybe you should buy some for Betsy, too. Make a good impression.”
“I will.” Beck left the kitchen, where Hex was pouring a cup of coffee, his shoulders shaking as he laughed at Beck.
Brothers, his bear exclaimed. But we wouldn’t be without them.
No, we wouldn’t, Beck agreed. Even if they make our lives hell.
He ran upstairs, grabbed some clean clothes and headed to the shower. Ten minutes later, he was dressed, staring at himself in the mirror just as he had earlier that morning, wondering how things had changed so fast.
Fate, his bear replied. We just have to trust fate got it right for us.
It has. I can sense it. Kassia is the one for us. It’s more than just a physical thing I think we both have stuff from our past that we need to deal with. I want to be there for her. He turned his head from side to side and ran his hand over his jaw. Maybe I should shave.
Or maybe you should go for the rugged look, his bear suggested.
Beck glanced at the time. The rugged look it is, or else I’ll be late. He straightened up and smoothed his hair back before he left the bathroom and went downstairs to the kitchen.
Beck (Winter - Shifter Seasons Book 2) Page 4
