Chapter Ten – Kit

Kit had plenty to think about while he made breakfast. Not least of all his mate, who was an incredible woman. They might be bonded for life, but he didn’t need a lifetime to learn that facet of her personality.

“Here.” Kit placed a bacon and egg sandwich down in front of Ollie. “Eat that, and have some more coffee, it will keep you going.”

“I think it will take more than that to get me through today,” Ollie said.

“You’ll be surprised.” Kit sat down opposite Ollie at the table. “Where do you work, Ollie?”

“Over at Bear Creek Honey Beer, the brewery.” Despite his words, Ollie was devouring his food.

“That must be an awesome job.” Kit looked up as Suzie entered the kitchen, with Storm in her arms.

“I believe I have successfully changed a diaper,” Suzie announced. “Took some doing, but we got the hang of it, didn’t we, Storm?”

“Here, I’ll take her while you eat.” Kit stood up and retrieved the sandwich he’d set aside for Suzie. “It’s still warm.”

“Thanks,” Suzie said, exchanging Storm for her breakfast. “So, what is the plan?”

“The snow isn’t going anywhere today,” Kit replied, rocking Storm in his arms. “And neither are you and Storm.”

Suzie looked up at him, her mouth working on her breakfast, while her brain worked over what Kit had said. He hadn’t meant for it to come across as an order, but he wasn’t accepting any arguments. The roads would be treacherous, and he couldn’t bear to think of Suzie, or Storm, getting injured, or worse.

“Are you telling me what to do?” Suzie asked.

“It’s a strong suggestion,” Kit told her. “The roads are bad. I can go with Ollie on foot.”

“On paws, you mean,” Suzie said, glancing at Ollie with concern. “How far do you have to go, Ollie?”

“About five miles, I live in town.” Ollie looked at Kit, and then back to Suzie. “You two are mates?”

“We are, just met,” Kit answered, while Suzie took another bite of her sandwich.

“And you are a shifter, and you aren’t?” Ollie pointed from one to the other.

“Yes. Hey, I’m sorry, Ollie, I never introduced myself, my name is Suzie McLeish. I work for Social Services.”

Ollie’s face dropped, and a haunted expression crossed his face. “Social Services. So you are here to take Storm away?”

“No, I went to the hospital to fill in the paperwork so that Kit could bring her home.”

“I’m a registered foster parent,” Kit explained.

“And a doctor.” Ollie still looked suspicious.

“And a doctor, a pediatrician. Kids are my life.”

“How do you have time for it all?” Ollie asked. “I remember growing up, my mom told me being a mom was a full-time job.”

“He’s like Superman, only for kids,” Suzie said, earning herself a smile from Ollie. “You know how men always think they are better at everything.”

“Yeah.” Ollie finished his breakfast and then wiped his hands on his jeans. “Ready when you are, Doc.”

“Super Doc,” Suzie corrected.

“And I’m all yours,” Kit countered. The mood in the kitchen was lighter, and he liked it. Since he met Suzie, they had been swept away in the serious business of an abandoned baby.

“You two should get a room,” Ollie said, his voice good-humored.

“Later. Come on, Ollie, we should get going,” Kit said, getting up and passing Storm back to Suzie. “Can I leave you to make up some fresh bottles of formula?”

“Sure.” Suzie took Storm in her arms and pulled the blanket she was wrapped in away from her face. “Hear that, little one, you might be seeing your mommy again soon.”

Kit leaned down and murmured in Suzie’s ear, “Thank you. When I get back, I promise we will have some alone time. I want to get to know you.”

Suzie’s cheeks flamed red and she hid her face, not wanting him to see the reaction he drew from her. “I’ll be here waiting,” she promised.

“I’ll let you know how we get on. If Louise agrees to meet me.” Kit brushed his fingertips across the back of her neck, making her tremble. He longed to stay here with her, but he was a doctor, sworn to help those in need, and Louise was in need. Whether she took Storm back or not, Louise needed to be examined.

In the wild she would simply manage, his bear told him as they exited the house.

True, Kit answered. But I’m more concerned with her mental well-being.

His bear sighed. What must she be thinking to give up a child like that?

We should soon find out, Kit replied, as he shifted into his bear.

Ollie ran ahead of him, leading the way down into Bear Creek along trails he knew so well. However, the snow made everything look different: it hid ditches and hedges, made tall trees look stunted and small. At the same time, the world looked fresh and new, as if it was about to be reborn.

The pace was slow. Deep drifts made the way difficult, while patches of ice made some of the trails treacherous. It took an hour to reach the outskirts of Bear Creek, a journey that would normally take him half that time. Once on the fringes of the town, they had a decision to make. Usually, Kit would shift back into his human form and walk the rest of the way, but two legs were going to find it much harder to trek along the streets than four.

Ollie had anticipated this and led Kit along back lanes and through alleys. Every so often the cougar would stop and listen, checking that the path was clear before they moved on. Kit found himself impressed by the young man. Maybe Ollie would be able to talk sense into Louise.

The cougar stopped, turned around and looked at Kit, and then shifted back into his human form. Kit did the same, feeling more comfortable in town wearing skin, not fur. “It’s about a five-minute walk,” Ollie said. “When we get there, I’ll go in and speak to Louise, and you wait outside. Right?”

Kit got the impression that if he didn’t agree, Ollie would shift back into his cougar and make a run for it. “Whatever you say, Ollie. You know Louise better than me.”

With a nod, Ollie walked through the knee-high snow. It was still early morning, but the town of Bear Creek was coming alive as people began to go about their daily business. The snow wasn’t enough to keep the townsfolk here indoors. There were shouts of hello, and offers of help flying around, as Kit and Ollie reached the main street.

Crossing over, Ollie led Kit down a side street before they reached a newly built apartment building. This is where Ollie stopped. “I’m on the third floor.”

Kit looked up. The third floor was the top floor. The building had not risen above the others in town. One thing he loved about Bear Creek was how the people living here fought to keep it like it always was. It gave the families who had lived here for generations the ability to always feel at home. And any newcomers seemed to like the old-fashioned values the occupants of Bear Creek expressed.

You are sounding like an advertisement for tourism, his bear told him bluntly.

Thanks, I can’t help it, I love this place, Kit told his bear.

As do I, his bear replied with more than a hint of nostalgia.

Kit grinned. Two peas in a pod.

“I’ll wait here, come let me know when I can come up.” Kit wasn’t going to say it. One way or another, Louise really needed to be seen by a healthcare professional. If she wouldn’t see Kit, he was going to enlist the help of Nurse Beth. A friendly female face might just be the answer to getting Louise the help she needed.

“I will.” Ollie gave Kit a searching look.

Kit held up his hands and then pointed to the ground. “Staying right here.”

“Thanks,” Ollie murmured, uncertainty on his face.

“I give you my word, I am not going to barge in.” Kit gave Ollie his best smile of encouragement, saved for kids who needed strength to get through an ordeal.

Ollie nodded and turned away, entering the building through the main entrance, leaving Kit alone with his thoughts. Thoughts that quickly turned to Suzie. What the hell must she think of him? After knowing her for less than twenty-four hours, he had left her holding the baby while he took off into the snow.

Taking out his phone, he decided to message her, just to check in. Yet before he had a chance to send the message, the door of the building was flung open and an ashen-faced Ollie stood before him.

“She’s gone.” Ollie ran his hand through his hair, messing up his man bun.

“What do you mean, she’s gone?” Kit asked.

“Louise is no longer in my apartment,” Ollie replied.

Kit didn’t question if Ollie was telling him the truth. It was obvious from his worried expression and the way his eyes darted along the street, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of Storm’s mom.

“Is there anywhere you can think of that she might have gone? Kit asked.

“She doesn’t know anyone else in Bear Creek,” Ollie answered. “Why would she have left?”

“That is what we need to figure out,” Kit answered. He looked up at the sky; there were more snow clouds gathering. They had to act fast, or Louise would be in more danger. The weather was unforgiving, and from what Ollie had said, Louise was unprepared.

He was not going to lose Storm’s mom. But if she truly didn’t want to be found, this might be one promise he wasn’t going to be able to keep.