Love Me, Still(8)

“Is she badly hurt?” Riyu asked anxiously.

“She was,” Cael said grimly. “It looks as though the trapper cared for her. He probably saved her life.” He stole a sideways glance at Niko who stood to the side, anger and concern creasing his features.

A click alerted them to the doorway. Cael whirled, ready to shift and attack in an instant. An older man dressed in furs stood in the doorway pointing a rifle at them.

“I’ll thank you to get away from that little girl,” he said gruffly. “And don’t be trying to shift on me, because I’m thinking your hide would look good next to my fireplace.”

Cael blinked. Had Heather told him about the pack? Not that she owed them any loyalty after they’d deserted her.

“She didn’t tell me if that’s what you’re thinking,” the man said as he moved closer. “Are you Magnus’ boy?”

Cael nodded. “I’m one of them,” he said calmly. He turned and gestured at Riyu. “This is my brother. Did you know our father?”

The man nodded. “Knew him a lot of years. I was sorry to hear of his passing. Now what the hell are you doing here, and why are you hanging over the girl?”

“She’s our mate,” Riyu spoke up.

The old man raised one brow. “Well, now, then where the hell were you when she needed you? When she was lying in the snow praying to die quickly? When she was in so much pain, and was dying on the inside of shame?” His eyes glittered menacingly, and he gripped the rifle tighter. “I’ve a good mind to fill both your hides full of lead.”

Cael flinched at the description of Heather lying so close to death. Desperately needing her mates. He lowered his head, no longer able to look the older man in the eyes.

“Just tell me one thing. Why are you here now?” the man demanded.

Cael looked back up, steely determination gripping him. “We’re here because she’s our mate, and we want desperately to right the wrongs of the past.”

The man relaxed his grip on the rifle before finally lowering it. “Well, now, why didn’t you just say so?” He put his hand out to Cael. “Name’s John Quincy Ledbetter. You can call me John Quincy. Most folks do.” His gaze fell to where Heather lay. “Is she out? When I left this morning, she felt like she was taking a fever.”

Cael took John Quincy’s hand and shook it in return. “We found her outside,” he replied. “She collapsed and we carried her in. She’s burning up with fever.”

John Quincy shook his head and scrubbed a hand over his beard. “I was afraid the mite had taken sick. It’s been such a struggle for her these past weeks.”

“You have our gratitude for helping her,” Riyu said as he stepped forward to offer his hand.

“Well, someone had to, didn’t they?” He looked pointedly at them, and shame crawled over Cael once more. Then his eyes flickered back over Heather, and Cael could see the concern simmering in the old man’s stare.

John Quincy gestured for them to follow him outside. “There are things that need saying, but I don’t want the girl to overhear us if she wakes.”

Cael and Riyu walked to the door, but Niko stayed behind, his ambivalent glare following them.

“She’s had a hard time, that girl,” John Quincy said as he rounded on the brothers. He shook his finger at them. “You’ve got a long road ahead of you if she’s going to recover properly. Not a night goes by she doesn’t cry out with nightmares. And I can’t get her to eat worth a damn. She’s dying on the inside.”

Cael closed his eyes and wondered how many more tears he’d shed before it was over with.

“There’s something else you should know,” the old man said quietly. “She lost a babe not long after I carried her to my cabin.”

“Oh God!” Riyu cried out.

Cael lost the battle to keep the tears at bay.

“Now, now, I didn’t tell you that to make you feel any worse,” John Quincy chided. “And she doesn’t even know. I don’t think she realized she was carrying. I haven’t told her. I only told you because she’s been ailing ever since. I think that’s why she’s got the fever. I don’t know nothing about women’s troubles. I’ve done all I can to help her. If she’s going to get better, you’re going to have to take her somewhere she can get help.”

“Home,” Cael said softly. “We need to take her home to the pack. Our shaman could heal her.”

“If she’ll go,” John Quincy pointed out.

“I won’t give her a choice,” Cael said simply. “If she’s not well, as her mate, I can only do what is necessary to ensure her well being. Leaving her here is not an option.”

John Quincy nodded in satisfaction. “I was hoping you’d say that. Fact is, that little girl needs someone to take care of her. She’s seen far too much pain in her young lifetime.”

“She’ll never be without us again,” Riyu vowed. “She’ll never be without our protection. Even for a minute.”

“Let’s go back in before we freeze,” John Quincy said. “I’ll see about getting some grub on, and I’ll make the girl some broth. She needs to eat.”

Chapter Four

Cael stepped inside the door and froze when he saw a tawny colored wolf nuzzling Heather’s cheek. Niko had shifted, and now focused his attention on Cael and Riyu’s mate.