"All set?"
She guiltily fell out of her daydream. "Yes. Sure." She felt like a complete idiot once more.
He started the engine, and they pulled out onto the main road. If you could call it that. None of the roads through Bear Creek carried much traffic, even in the height of the summer season. Bear Creek didn't exactly seem to advertise itself as a tourist destination. It never got busy, considering what a beautiful place it was.
Before Kayleigh had chanced upon it, she had never heard of the place. She was thankful for the day she got on the wrong bus, and ended up at the foot of the majestic mountains. It had felt like coming home. Or what she imagined coming home would feel like. She sighed contentedly, leaning against the door of the truck, with the window half down. The fresh air streamed in, and she breathed it in.
"I see you enjoy our air."
"Yes. I've never been anywhere where the air is so sweet, so fresh."
"I blame the mountains; they keep all the bad stuff out."
"Does that include bad people too? I don't think I've ever heard of a crime being committed."
"Sometimes there's drunken disorderlies. And sometimes we get poachers. Guns are not exactly tolerated in Bear Creek."
"Isn't that unusual for a place like this? I would have thought there would be plenty of hunters in the forests, after deer and the bears."
He swerved a little, and she looked to see if he was OK. He looked upset, but he answered casually, "Our bears are kind of protected. No one comes here to shoot bears, and if they do, they are quickly asked to leave."
"Is that unusual?"
"Not in these parts. There are too many people using the mountain, farmers, hikers, waitresses." He turned and smiled at her. "What if someone got shot by mistake? No. We don't encourage hunting at all."
"That's good to know. This waitress would not like to be hung on someone's wall as a trophy."
"I would agree. Here we are. We take this track up along the lower slopes for a couple of miles, and the farm's at the end."
"Wow, a long way out of town."
"Yes. I think Sam likes the peace and quiet almost as much as me."
They bumped along the track. Daryl eased the truck down to a slow speed, allowing her to enjoy the views. Wide sweeping meadows, with a tumbling stream coming down to meet a wider river. They crossed over it via a narrow stone bridge. Which looked too unstable to take the weight of their truck. As they drove further up, they also forded a stream, the water splashing up around the wheels.
"This place is amazing," Kayleigh said. “Where do you live? Or do you live on the farm?”
“No. I live in a house off this track we’ll be passing soon. There.” He pointed out of his window. Another track wound its way along the bottom of the mountain.
“So close to the farm.”
“Close enough. When Sam took over the farm, we built two cottages. One for my parents and one for me. I have a couple of acres, not that I farm. But it’s nice to have something to call my own. For my kids to run around and enjoy, when I have them of course.” he added hastily.
She sat in silence, looking out of the window. That might be a deal breaker. Kids obviously featured in his future, and they didn’t in hers. She had absolutely no intention of bringing a child into this world. Trusting another person to be her partner in life, forever, was not something she felt capable of. Without that trust, she would never contemplate kids.
He looked at her sideways, she could feel his eyes on her, but didn’t turn to respond. She didn’t want to have that conversation with him; she didn’t want to spoil the day. Or was she over reacting? He hadn’t even asked her out on a date. Come to think about it, he hadn’t even been the one to invite her to the farm. It had been Sam.
Trying to relax, and release her tension, she asked, “Do you parents still live here?”
“Yes. My dad likes to keep his hand in one the farm, and my mom likes to garden. It suits us all. We’re on hand for each other. This land has been in our family since before anyone can remember. We’re not planning on going anywhere.”
“Does Sam have a girlfriend?”
“No. Not met the right one yet. He will. I’m sure.”
“So the farm can get passed down to the next generation.”
“Yes. Eventually. But there’s no danger of that happening for a long time. We Cartwrights live for a long time. It’s in our blood,” he said cryptically.
“Is that the farm?” she asked, leaning forward and pointing to where a low building appeared as the track curved around. It was situated on the lee side of a small hill that rose up at the bottom of the mountain. Completely hidden until you rounded the gentle slope, nestled there with small copses of trees around it. “It’s so pretty.”
Daryl laughed. “It is pretty. Such a contrast to the rugged mountains. A hidden gem.”
“I like that. The thought that amongst all the rough edges, something so perfect can be found.” It made her think of herself. All rough inside, with edges that she had no idea how to file down and make smooth. Sometimes if she allowed herself to look inside herself, all she could see was broken glass with jagged edges. She knew that no one would ever want the real her, she was too spiky.
He pulled around in front of the house. It was painted a cream colour, making it look mellow and light. Switching off the engine, he came around and helped her out. Not that she needed it, but she liked the way he behaved, a gentleman.
As she slid down, her feet touched the ground, and his hands touched her chin, tilting it upwards. For a moment shock coursed through her, and then warmth spread through her from the point where his skin touched hers.
“We all have rough edges, Kayleigh. Each and every one of us. Some of us hide them well. Some of us struggle to fit in and be normal. But it doesn’t make us any less capable of love. Or being loved.”
“Hi. You made it.” Sam appeared, grinning. He looked from Kayleigh’s face, to Daryl’s; trying to read what was going on between them.
Kayleigh looked into Daryl’s eyes. She saw the depth of feeling there that, for once, he hadn’t hidden from her. Then his hand dropped to his side, he turned around and said, “As if I couldn’t make it up here blindfolded.”
Kayleigh simply stood, her eyes seeing for the first time the man Daryl was. The man he was desperately trying to be. But also, in his eyes, she had seen the reflection of the woman he thought she was. A woman she could not be. No matter how much he wanted it.
He had overstepped the mark once more with her. How did he keep doing that? He knew it was due to him talking about his house. It always led to him thinking about having a family. His biological clock seemed to be speeding up. Making him desperate to have young cubs of his own. He couldn’t exactly tell Kayleigh it was her arrival in Bear Creek that had kicked it into overdrive
If Sam sensed the awkward atmosphere, he didn’t comment. Instead ushering Kayleigh into the farmhouse. Daryl held back for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts, and then followed. He didn’t want to come over as a moody jerk, although that was how he felt at the moment. Well moody, anyway. He was out of his depth when it came to women. He had always assumed that when he met his true mate, they would understand each other, beyond the need for words. Now he simply felt like a romantic fool.
He needed a dose of reality. Relationships were such hard work. His parents had obviously made it look too easy, or they had been lucky. They always got on well together, and pulled in the same direction. However, they had been together for so long. That did not necessarily mean they had always been like that.
When he got a chance, he would talk to his mom. That bothered him too. He was a couple of hundred years old, and still needed his parents’ advice. He felt like a kid again. How could he expect to have kids of his own? He couldn’t even work out something as natural as attracting his true mate, without help and advice from his mom.
Because women are a different species, especially ones that didn’t share the shifter gene. It would be a whole lot easier if she just knew all about him. Breaking the news to her that he was a bear was going to be the hardest thing he had ever done.
He laughed at himself. “Yeah, she’s not even your girlfriend yet. You really need to get yourself together. Or she never will be.”
“Come on, Daryl. Get moving. I have coffee on, and then we can give Kayleigh a tour of the farm.”
Daryl hurried to catch up, and by the time he did, they were already in the farmhouse. Sam was pouring coffee, and offering Kayleigh cake. The picture of domestic bliss. His bear bristled inside. The big beast wanted to come out and claim her. He really needed to get a grip.
“I’m surprised you have time to come into the diner for breakfast each morning. You have this much work,” she said to Sam, amazed that he got everything done on the farm. There seemed so much to do. Feeding, mucking out, and checking the animals to see that they were in good health.
“Daryl twists my arm; he’s too scared to come in every morning without me.” Sam grinned, and Daryl flashed him a look of pure exasperation. “I’m joking of course.”
Daryl continued to snarl at Sam. Kayleigh felt the urge to diffuse the situation. She could begin to understand what it must have been like when these two were growing up. Any minute now, she expected them to grab one another and roll around on the grass fighting.
“I’ll miss seeing you every morning. You two don’t go to Will’s hangout do you?”
“No. Well at least, not yet. I figure I might just as well get a leather jacket for Daryl’s next birthday.”
“That’s it.” Daryl launched himself at Sam, who was laughing so much she thought he would hurt himself. It made her laugh too. Sam really was the biggest wind up merchant ever. He knew exactly which buttons to press, but Daryl was in full flow now, fists clenched.
“Hello, kids.” The two boys froze. “I hope you’re not fighting?”
Kayleigh turned to look back towards the farmhouse. A woman stood there, her hands on her hips. “Who’s that?”
“We’re in trouble.” Sam lifted his hand, and waved. “Hi, Mom.”
Daryl let his anger go and waved too. “Kayleigh, that is my mom. And I have forgotten the amount of times she's had to get between us and split us up. I swear she has a sixth sense when it comes to timing. She always knows when we are about to start.”
“We?” Sam said to Daryl. “You were the one who was going to throw the first punch. And I have Kayleigh here to back me up.” He winked at Kayleigh, who hid a smile.
She liked the way Daryl showed his emotions. Not exactly, the way he was going to launch himself at Sam. More the fact that he was capable of such deep reactions. He usually kept himself so under control.
Sam began to walk down the hill towards his mom, while Kayleigh stood rooted to the spot. She ought to make her excuses and leave. She could probably find her way back to town. It would be long walk, but much better than feeling like an outsider to this family. Daryl, however, had other ideas, and she realised his mom had not turned up by chance.
“My mom insisted on coming up to meet you.”
“Why?” she asked bluntly. This was already moving too fast, she felt like a bystander to her life. Everyone else here seemed to know what was going on. Everyone but her. It reminded her of her past, when she would suddenly be told that she had to move on. The sad times when they would pack all their belongings into their suitcases. Then they would be taken to somewhere new. Somewhere strange.
This also felt like strange. Things were going on that she had no idea about. Had Daryl told his mom they were going out? Surely, Sam knew the truth. He would set everyone straight. Not if he was in on it too.
Daryl stood nervously by the side of her. “She won’t bite.”
“Daryl, I’m not really good around families. I have no experience in how proper families behave. I don’t want to make a fool of myself.”
“You won’t. My mom and dad are great, they are just so happy to finally meet...” He stopped and looked at her. Then carried on, “A girl I like.”
“Don’t the introductions to parent usually happen a couple of months down the line? We aren’t even going out.” There, she’s said it, because this whole thing was weird.
“I know.” He dragged his hand through his hair. “I want us to go out, Kayleigh. I’m just not very good at asking.”
His face looked so contorted in self doubt, and her heart ached for him. He mirrored her in so many ways. She relaxed, just a little, and said, “So does that mean you're asking me out?”
His face broke into that beautiful dimpled smile. “Yes. Yes it does, Kayleigh, will you go on a date with me?”
“Yes, I thought you would never ask.”
They began walking down the hill towards the farm. “What do you want to do? Dinner, the movies?”
“How about that picnic you promised me.”
“Deal. Tomorrow?”
“Eager. I guess that’s a good sign.”
“It is. I’m such an idiot for not asking you sooner.”
“Yes, you are. But then I might not have said yes. I’ve never been on a date before.”
“Never?” He sounded shocked, but somehow relieved.
“No.” She needed to be honest with him. “It wasn't important to me. I have never wanted a family, Daryl. It’s not something that appeals to me. I don’t ever want to put my kid through what I went through.”
He stopped dead, and looked at her, his face awash with emotions. “Kayleigh. When it’s time for us to have kids, I swear I would never leave you.”
She shook her head adamantly. “There’s nothing you can say that would make me change my mind. My sister and I both swore we would never have kids. It was a pact we made during the lowest part of our lives. Do you know what it feels like to feel abandoned?”
He shook his head. “No. But Kayleigh, I wish I could explain to you that it would be impossible for me to leave you. I mean, we were destined to be together, for ever.”
“Do you know how creepy that sounds?”
His nervousness returned. “I’m sorry. I guess I have to get you to learn to trust me. It feels so right to me, that I forget you don’t feel it too.”