Finding Her Bear (Bear Creek Clan 2) (5 page)

"No. I got in at three, and now have to be in college for ten. I need to catch up on some study. My finals are in a couple of months, and I can't afford to mess this up. Working and studying is too much, especially with the added hours at the hospital. I want to do well so I can drop my part time job. That brings me around to the awkward question of, have you found anything. I'm sorry to ask..."

"No. Don't be silly. It's all sorted, or at least I hope it is. Will offered me a job at the bikers place, you know?"

"Did he?" All of a sudden, Tia was all ears; she perched on the edge of her chair and looked at Kayleigh sharply. "He is the hunkiest guy I've ever met. I mean if he was free, I'd be there in a flash."

"Free? I didn't know he was dating anyone. He's always with his mates, never a woman."

"He's not actually with her, but he's spoken for."

"I don't understand." Kayleigh wondered if the lack of sleep really had made Tia a little crazy.

"You know, he was meant to marry the daughter of the McCormac clan's leader."

"No. I don't know who they are."

"The McCormac clan run Bear Bluff the town higher up the mountains. It was perfect. Then he backed out. But as far as I know he's been nursing a broken heart ever since. Won't even look at another woman. She was the one." Tia leaned back in her chair. "That's what I heard anyway. It all happened about a year before I moved here. Apparently both families are very rich."

"Well, whatever the gossip is, it doesn't matter to me. I need a job, not a man." Kayleigh took a bite of her toast, and watched Tia sip her tea.

She liked her flatmate. But she got the feeling Tia would drop everything if the right man walked into her life. Tia often asked Kayleigh if there were any eligible bachelors taking a vacation in Bear Creek. The diner attracted most of the seasonal trade. It was only when Tia asked her, that she realised something funny. Kayleigh didn't actually know what an eligible bachelor was.

"What plans do you have today?" Tia asked. "Only I'm hoping to be back around six, and I would really like to get some sleep. So if you do came in, can you keep the noise down?"

"Sure," Kayleigh answered.

"Great. Well, I'm going for a shower."

"I'll see you later." Kayleigh finished her breakfast, and then washed up all the dishes. Even the ones Tia had dumped in the sink. After wiping the surfaces, she fetched her purse, and then headed for the diner.

It was another beautiful morning. The hint of a chill in the air signified summer was nearly over. She looked up at the distant mountains and pictured them covered in snow. If she were going to stay here, she would definitely have to save up some money for some warmer clothes. Snow boots too. The thought of it excited her. Perhaps they would be cut off. Maybe she should ask Tia if they needed to stock up on anything, just in case.

"Hi there." His voice made her jump, his body made her ache with desire. An unexpected feeling at this time in the morning. Memories of those arousing dreams came back to her.

"Hello, Daryl. Sam."

"Morning, Kayleigh.”

Daryl fell into step with her, but struggled to make any further conversation. The silence began to feel a little awkward. Her brain emptied itself of any thought when she tried to grasp at a subject. Luckily, Sam, who seemed to be the total opposite of Daryl, stepped in.

"How's the job hunting going?" he asked

Daryl flashed him a look, which she only just caught. Unsure of what it meant, she answered, "I think I have something worked out. Will offered me a job. Not quite sure what, but I'll take anything."

"That's good of him. I'm glad you're going to be hanging around for a while, Daryl said you like it here."

She glanced at Daryl, and smiled. So he had been talking about her, she liked that. At least he hadn't forgotten all about her once they'd parted. "I do. It's the first time I've ever felt settled in one place. I usually move on every couple of months."

"Perhaps you'd like to come over and see the farm?"

"I'd like that. Daryl said it's been in your family for years."

"Centuries. From when Bear Creek was first settled."

"I bet it's got some stories to tell. If houses could talk."

"I certainly would agree with you there."

They reached the diner, and Daryl opened the door for her. "Thank you," she said. "I'll be a moment if you're going to sit at one of my tables. Or Alice will take your order."

"We'll wait," Daryl said quickly.

Sam simply grinned, and thumped him lightly on the shoulder. As she disappeared out into the back to hang up her coat, she thought how the two brothers reminded her of herself and Antonia. One open and brave, the other a closed book, almost afraid to reach out into the world. Afraid of other people.

But she found she wasn't afraid of Daryl. If she said the wrong thing, he would understand, because he could relate to her. He was quiet, and introverted. Kayleigh wanted them to find a way through their fears. Together.

"So what can I get you?" Kayleigh had hurriedly put on her uniform, and now stood with the Cartwright brothers.

"I think I'll have a full breakfast," said Sam. "As usual."

She wrote it down and nearly wrote coffee. Which was Daryl's usual order, when he said, "Make that two."

"You're going to actually eat?" That was Sam's surprised voice, mimicking the one in her head.

Daryl glared at him. "Yes. Don't say it as if it's that shocking."

She covered a smile when Sam replied, "Well it is."

"I'll get your order, and coffee," she said.

Walking to the kitchen, she heard the two men behind her launch into a whispered argument. She couldn't catch what it was about, but she guessed it was about Sam making fun of Daryl.

"Morning, Johnny," she said to her boss.

"Morning honey, how are you doing today?"

"Great thanks. I might have another job."

"That's great. Fantastic news. I'll give you a glowing reference. Remember if you need extra work next summer, you'll always be welcome back."

She was struck by how sweet Johnny was to her. "Thanks, Johnny. That might work. I could save some money up all summer to tide me over."

"That's how a lot of us work when we depend on the seasons. Of course, we do get some people passing through in the winter. But these slopes aren't much good for skiing, so they continue up the valley."

"Do you get a lot of snow?" she asked, passing the time, while keeping an eye on her tables. Sam and Daryl still seemed to be bickering back and forth. She smiled and wondered what they must have been like growing up. A handful, she would like to bet. Had Sam looked out for his younger brother like Antonia had watched out for her? Maybe Daryl hadn't always been shy, if not she wanted to know what happened to him. Come to think of it, she wanted to know everything about him.

"We get a fair share. The main road in gets blocked sometimes, but there's enough machinery in town that it is cleared quickly. The mountains though, they become completely cut off. There's people living up there that don't come into town for a couple of months at a time. Here we go."

He put the two breakfasts on the counter. She took them over, and then remembered their coffee. She should have done it first. "Here we go." She put the hot plates down. "I'll just grab your coffees."

"Thanks, Kayleigh," Daryl said, flashing his dimples at her. She was beginning to read his genuine smiles. So had her heart, which always thumped a little quicker when he flashed one at her.

Sam smiled, and then winked at her, and she found herself smiling back. They were both good men.

Going back to the kitchen, she found the coffee pot empty, and had to put some more on. It took a few minutes, and by the time she reappeared, Will and two of his men were in the diner. Talking to Daryl. She hesitated, not wanting to listen in on a private discussion. But desperately wanting to know if it involved her. And the job. Had Daryl put Will up to it? Offering her a job to make her stay.

She had to find out.

"And have you come up with any solutions, Daryl?"

Daryl looked up at Will, and couldn't help scowling. "Not yet."

"Ahh, Kayleigh. Four breakfasts please. We'll be seated over there."

"OK, sure, Will. I just have to serve Daryl and Sam."

"No hurry." Will walked away, and Daryl found his appetite had disappeared. Still he picked up his knife and fork and began to cut up a sausage.

"It's already dead, Daryl."

Daryl looked up at Sam, and then down at his plate where he had viciously cut up his sausage. "Sorry."

"Here we go, sorry for the delay." Kayleigh poured their coffees, glancing at Daryl with some interest. She must have heard them talking.

Sam spoke first. "No, problem Kayleigh. Why don't you come over to the farm this afternoon? Daryl could pick you up after work."

Daryl looked sharply at Sam. He was trying too hard to be matchmaker; surely, Kayleigh would see that. Instead, she said, "I wouldn't want to impose."

"Don't be silly. If you're going to stay around here, you should get to know some of us a bit better. Isn't that right, Daryl?"

Daryl nearly choked in the mangled bit of sausage he had stuffed into his mouth. "Hmm," he murmured.

"What time do you get off work, Kayleigh?"

"Not until four today."

"Perfect. Daryl's usually packed up for the day by then. I swear he wouldn't know what a hard day’s work really was."

OK. He was going to kill his brother. Yet he had to appear calm, and agreeable. He swilled his mouthful of food down with coffee that was too hot. Only just managing to stop himself from spluttering and coughing before replying. "I'll be outside at four."

"OK. I'll see you then." She smiled, but he could tell she wasn't sure if he really wanted this or not. He cleared his throat, and said, a little more warmly. "I would love to show you where I grew up."

"Great," she said nodding. "Now I have to get some work done. Or I'll need that new job sooner than I thought."

She walked away and Daryl kicked Sam under the table. "What?" asked Sam innocently.

"You know what. Stop interfering."

"If I don't, she'll think you're not interested. You blow so hot and cold. Yesterday you came back full of how excited you were to finally speak to her. Now today you can't string a sentence together in front of her."

Daryl buried his face in his hands. "I know. I might as well give up now."

"Oh, no. I am not going to have to live with you moping around for the rest of your life. I'm telling you, I am going to get you two together if it's the last thing I do."

"That's it," said Daryl, sitting bolt upright. "You're a genius."

"I am?"

"Yes. Yes, you are. You're going to hire her?"

This time Sam almost choked on his breakfast. "I'm going to what?"

"Hire her, give her a job. Surely, there's some work around the farm. Or a housekeeper. You're always complaining about housework."

"Daryl. No. That is not a good idea."

"Help me here, Sam. Please."

Sam looked at him. "You're mad. This will end badly."

"So you'll do it?"

"One condition. You come and do my roof."

"Sure. Tomorrow. I'll put off everything else."

Sam shook his head disapprovingly. "I'm not promising. But I'll think about it."

Daryl grinned, and began tucking into his breakfast, always keeping one eye on Kayleigh. She was the centre of his life now, and he would not let her get away. He had never thought a mate and bear cubs were for him.

Now, he had begun to fantasise about those very things. He had even caught himself picturing his house full of children. He had a few acres he had never really known what to do with. Lately he had been making plans to turn it into an adventure land for his offspring. He was totally and utterly lost to the need for her to be his mate. As fate intended.

Something was going on with those two. She was intrigued to find out what it was. Circumstances like this normally left her running to avoid getting to know people. If she did, she might have to let them in. Somehow, she had to get over her insecurities. Either that or she would end up running back to Antonia, her safety blanket.

"Not happening," she said.

"What's not happening? The work around here."

Johnny was joking, but he had a point. Her orders were piling up. "Sorry. Not quite with it today, Johnny."

"I guessed that. Man trouble?"

"No," she said quickly. "Why would you think that?"

"I see the way that Cartwright boy looks at you. You could do a lot worse."

She wanted to protest, tell him it was none of his business. But if she wanted to stay in Bear Creek, and be part of this community, she had to get to know people, and let them get to know her. One step at a time. Perhaps that one step was going to be the Cartwright brothers. The trip to the farm this afternoon might be the start of her new future.

In the pit of her stomach, she felt her nerves, as a small ball of excitement. She was excited, a new and enjoyable experience. She smiled, she could get used to this.

***

By the time four o'clock came, the excitement had turned to dread. What did she know about farms? She would make a complete fool of herself and probably end up face down in some wet smelly cowpat. Always the pessimist, she still stood dutifully and waited for Daryl to pick her up.

"Hi, I was worried you might run out on me." Daryl jumped out of the truck, and came around to open the door for her.

"No. I said I'd come, it was nice of Sam to invite me." She was pleased he was back to being the lighthearted man he had been yesterday on the mountain.

She slipped into his truck, and did her seatbelt up while he went back around to the driver’s side. The truck was wide, so it wasn't as if they were sitting on top of each other. However, as soon as he got in, the space seemed to shrink. It was hot too. The very nearness of him made her want to slide closer, to rest her thigh against his.