Chapter Three – Kim

“How long?” Kim asked, searching Jacob’s face for an answer.

“Kit’s shift ends in an hour. Avery’s going to pick him up from the hospital and drive him up here. Well, as far she can. It’s still a twenty-minute hike. Kit will patch Jay up and then we’ll carry him back down to Avery, who’ll wait in the vehicle.”

Kim nodded. “We keep this between us?”

“And the dragons.” Jacob patted her shoulder, attempting to comfort her. However, until Jay was stitched up and safe, nothing would alleviate her fears. “Kit’s a good doctor. He’ll fix Jay up in no time.”

Kim wiped her hand across her face. “I can’t believe we’ve found him.” She squeezed her eyes shut, keeping her tears at bay.

“Here he is, you can see him and touch him. It’s all going to be okay.” Jacob smiled down at her. “You kept your faith, Kim. And he’s here.”

Kim nodded. “I’m going to sit with him. He’s got to hang on just a little longer.”

“Good idea.” Jacob looked at his watch. “In an hour or two, Jay will be able to see his baby.”

Kim pressed her lips together, not wanting to voice her fears. Would Jay forgive her for keeping Archie a secret?

Surely when he saw his son, his own flesh and blood, Jay would understand her motives. Just as Kim had understood his motive for being out of their lives for a year.

“Hi there.” Kim entered Wyatt’s cabin, where they’d carried Jay after his collapse. He was resting on the single bed, which took up a corner of the open plan rough wood cabin.

“Hi.” Jay lifted his head off his pillow and reached out for her. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you.”

“Me, too.” Kim sat down gently on the side of the bed, worried she might cause Jay pain. “How’s the shoulder?”

“A little better now.”

“Really? Because the tension in your face says otherwise.” Kim stroked the back of her hand across his cheek. “You don’t have to be a hero now. Not for me.”

“Yes, I do.” Jay reached for her hand and took hold of it, pressing his lips to her skin and inhaling her scent. “Damn, you smell good.”

“Hey, I mean it. You need to rest. This is all over. The information you sent Avery brought down those men who…” She looked away. “Hurt all those people.”

“All of them?” Jay asked in disbelief.

“As far as I am aware. The police made a large number of arrests.” Kim forced a smile onto her face. “We’re free to make a fresh start.”

Jay tucked her hand under his chin and sighed. “You and me, together.”

Kim looked away. “Jay, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“Whatever it is…” Jay groaned and tensed.

“Can wait.” Lines of tension crisscrossed his forehead, his skin, pale and clammy. Kim couldn’t add more pain to his already heavy burden.

“Are you sure?” Jay searched her face, trying to read her expression. Being an undercover cop, Jay had honed his skill at reading people. In the short time they were together, Kim learned there was little she could hide from Jay. Unless she really tried. Would he be more shocked that he had a child, or that she’d managed to hide her pregnancy from his trained eye?

“Absolutely.” Kim’s tone was light and reassuring. “Let’s get you off this mountain and then we can catch up.”

Catch up? She made it sound as if he had been on vacation. Not working undercover in a dangerous operation that nearly cost him his life.

“Here, I’ve made some coffee.” Wyatt approached the bed.

“Thank you.” Kim stood up and accepted the two tin mugs from Wyatt. “Thank you. Not just for the coffee, but for helping Jay, too.”

“Anytime.” Wyatt cast a concerned glance Jay’s way.

“Thank you,” Jay said. “I hope I haven’t put you in danger.”

“I want you to know, I can look after myself,” Wyatt said. “But I doubt anyone is going to come to pay me a visit.”

“If you ever need my help…” Jay struggled to sit up in bed.

“Thanks for the offer. But I’m experienced at keeping myself out of harm.” Wyatt looked toward the door. “I doubt anyone would be able to track you here, I covered our trail pretty darn well.”

A shadow across the doorway made Kim’s chest tighten, but it was only Jacob. “Kit’s on his way. We should get ready to move. As soon as he has Jay stabilized, we’ll begin our descent.”

Kim nodded. “I’m going to call Fiona.” She left the cabin, leaving the men behind, and stood alone on the porch for a moment. Reality came crashing in on her. Jay was here. He was safe. The man she’d fallen in love with, the man who’d fathered her child, was alive.

So why wasn’t she euphoric?

Because he was almost a stranger to her. In the year that had passed since they were together, he’d changed. She’d changed. Their worlds had changed.

Taking her phone from her pocket, she tapped the screen and dialed Fiona’s number. “Hi, Fiona.”

“Kim, is everything all right?” Fiona asked with concern, while in the background Archie babbled nonsense.

“Yes.” Kim rubbed her forehead. “I have some news.”

“What news?” Fiona asked, her voice concerned.

“I met Jacob. I walked with him to a cabin, belonging to Wyatt.”

“That old wolf. Yes, I know him.”

“Well…Jay is here.” Silence. “Did you hear me, Fiona?”

“I did.”

“He’s injured,” Kim continued. “Jacob called Kit, who is on his way here. Then we’re bringing him off the mountain.”

“Bring him here,” Fiona said quickly.

“Are you sure? We’ve imposed so much…”

“Until we know what’s happening, he’ll be safe here.” Fiona’s tone was firm and Kim didn’t argue. Partly because Fiona was a force of nature, but also because she had nowhere else to go.

“Will you look after Archie until we get there, please? I don’t know how long it’ll take to get there with Jay. I don’t know if we’re carrying him or whether he’ll be able to walk.” Kim walked around in a small circle, looking at the ground, trying to concentrate on each single blade of grass beneath her feet, so that she didn’t dwell on the pain Jay might endure on the way down.

“Of course, take your time. We’ll be here waiting.” Fiona paused. “Does he know about Archie?”

“Not yet.” Kim looked up at the cabin guiltily. “I tried, but I don’t want to distress him any further. He was in a bad way when Wyatt found him.” Her voice hitched but she swallowed down her tears. “I think he was shot,” she whispered.

“Shot. That would explain why he hasn’t been in contact, he likely kept out of sight as he came across the mountain.” Fiona paused again and Kim was about to speak, when she said, “Does he know who shot him?”

“I haven’t asked.” Dread filled Kim. “I’m worried someone might have followed him.”

“Probably not over the mountain. But until we know for sure that whoever attacked him is now in police custody, we need to be vigilant.”

Kim rubbed her forehead, as if she could rub the fear out of her brain. Since this began a couple of weeks ago, fear had stalked her, like a bird on her shoulder whispering in her ear, telling her they would never be safe. If they hurt Jay once, they could find him again, hurt him again.

“As soon as he’s strong enough, I’ll ask him,” Kim told Fiona.

“No, leave him in peace for now. There’s nothing that won’t keep.” A sharp screech down the line made Kim smile.

“Sounds as if the boys are having fun.” Kim wanted so much to hold her child in her arms and for this to be in their past. The thought that kept her going was that one day, Archie, Jay, and Kim would live somewhere together, and have a good life. She’d dreamed of Jay returning to them and this all being over. But they were not there yet.

And there was no telling when they would be. Would the ghosts of the past continue to haunt them forever?

“They are. Don’t worry about Archie. We’ll protect him like our own, you know that, Kim.”

“I do.” Kim closed her eyes, it pained her to talk about their child needing the protection of dragons.

Dragons, for goodness sake!

A noise in the undergrowth drew her attention. “I have to go, Fiona. Thank you.”

“Is everything all right, Kim?” Fiona’s tone changed from concerned mother figure to a dragon protector. “If you need us, one of us can be there in minutes.”

“I don’t want to risk you being seen.” Kim edged back toward the house, her heart thumping in her chest.

“Better seen than dead.”

The noise came again, closer, Kim’s foot touched the bottom step of the cabin as she backed away. “Jacob,” she hissed.

On the outer edge of the clearing around the cabin, the trees rustled. There was something big approaching. “It’s Kit.” Jacob’s voice behind her made Kim jump. “He’s my brother, I can scent him anywhere.”

Kim watched as Jacob went into the trees, and reemerged with another man with similar features to his own, carrying a backpack. “Hi, Kim, isn’t it?” She nodded. “I’m Kit, I’m a doctor from the hospital in Bear Bluff, I’ve come to treat Jay. Is that okay?”

Kim nodded. “Yes. Please. Thanks for coming all this way.”

Kit grinned. “Any excuse for a walk in the mountains.”

“Is Avery okay?” Jacob asked as they headed into the cabin.

“Yes, she’s resting in the truck. Brad has her on light duties. Too light if her mood is anything to go by,” Kit replied.

“Yep, about the same as yesterday.” Jacob sighed. “I’ll be glad when this baby is born. I don’t remember her being so grouchy the first time around.”

As he walked past Kim, Kit put his arm around her shoulder. “Do you want to wait out here? Sewing someone up is never nice to watch.”

“I can hold Jay’s hand.” She looked up at Kit with big eyes. “I want him to know I’m here for him.”

Kit nodded and cocked his head toward the cabin door. “Let’s get started then. As soon as he’s fixed up, we’ll head down the mountain.”

“Do you have the stretcher?” Jacob asked.

Kit patted the backpack. “Avery gave me the one from the mountain rescue kit.”

They entered the cabin, and Kit got to work, while Kim knelt beside the bed and slipped Jay’s hand into hers. “I’ll be here the whole time.”

Jay ran his fingers through her hair, before pulling her head down searching for her lips. “Together forever.”

“Forever,” Kim agreed.

“The sweetest love is that shared between fated mates,” Kit said as he opened his backpack. “Hi, Jay, I’m Kit, and I’ll be your doctor today.”

“Good to meet you, Kit. Thanks for coming up here to treat me.” Jay grunted as he shifted his weight.

“Lie still, I’m going to give you a local anesthetic, and then we’ll get started. I can also give you a sedative to make you more comfortable,” Kit offered.

“No need, doc. Just do what you’ve got to do.” Jay nodded and then locked eyes with Kim. She would be there with him, every step of the way. Give him her strength if he needed it.

Then they would go down the mountain and Jay would meet his son at last.