Bear With Me by Moxie North Read Free Book Online Page B

markedly absent.
    Mackenzie insisted on heading out to the base camp with Dax. They both scoured the area, trying to pick up the scent of Tony. They got nothing. Wyatt offered to take them up to the current cut site and Dax agreed that they were getting nowhere at the current location.
    The drive up the mountain was helpful. Mackenzie rolled down the window and let the fresh pine-scented breeze wash over her.
    “Wyatt, where is a good place to run? My cat sure could use a break,” she asked.
    “Anywhere around our cabins is good. We have two hundred acres that butts up against government land. There is no hunting out here, but I’d be careful just the same. It’s not unheard of for someone to poach out here,” Wyatt warned.
    “We’ll go together, huh sis,” Dax said looking back at her.
    “Sure, that’d be nice.” Heading off for a hard run with Dax did sound nice. It was something to look forward to later.
    “It’s nice here, smells good,” she remarked.
    “I’m sure California is nice too,” Wyatt offered.
    “Oh it’s nice all right. But sometimes it all feels a little too….” She searched for the right word.
    “Tame?” Dax offered with a knowing smile.
    “Yes brother, tame,” she said with a small chuckle.
    “Oh, I see, so you’re the wild one in the family?” Wyatt teased.
    “Hmm, not so much wild as unwilling to be squashed into a mold not of my making,” Mackenzie offered.
    “Ahh, very diplomatic response. Mother would be proud,” Dax snarked.
    “Speaking of mother, oh great and mighty Alpha, have you called her?” Mackenzie decided to poke the lion so to speak.
    “No, and I’m not going to. I decided that until you two were settled, there was no reason to involve her,” he said formally.
    “Chicken shit,” she muttered.
    Wyatt thought that was pretty funny, he broke out into a barking laugh.
    “Oh great and mighty Alpha, I’m going to have to remember that for Cage,” he quipped.
    “So when is Cage going to take over? I’m sure his uncle would be happy to retire,” Dax asked.
    “Well, Uncle John said whenever Cage was ready, they would have the formal ceremony. I think he’s waiting until we have this mess figured out. And waiting until he has Sophie tied to him in every way. The life of an alpha’s mate can be daunting. I mean bears are pretty easygoing, unlike you high drama cats. There are the usual disputes to mediate among family, nothing too serious. But still it’s a lot of work and added stress,” Wyatt said.
    “Can’t really deny that, although I should kick your ass for saying it out loud,” Dax warned.
    “Hmph, go ahead and try it,” Wyatt egged him on.
    “For pete’s sake,” Mackenzie moaned in the back seat.
    The bantering continued as they made their way up the mountain. Pulling up to a number of trucks parked along the road, the three shifters got out and started towards the semi-trucks lined up waiting their turn to be loaded.
    “Yo, Jake!” Wyatt called out to their foreman.
    Seeing them, the foreman spoke to someone close by him and then turned to walk towards them. As he got closer, he stopped when he didn’t recognize Dax or Mackenzie.
    “Don’t worry, Jake, they aren’t from any government agency,” Wyatt laughed.
    “Whew, sorry about that folks. I don’t do well when the pencil pushers show up. Coming up here aggravatin’ me.”
    “I understand, I’m Dax and this is my sister Mackenzie. We are family friends of the Rochons,” Dax explained.
    “Well then, nice to meet you both,” Jake said, offering a hand for them to shake.
    “I thought I’d show them around a bit. They’ve never seen an operation like this. Don’t mind us, we’ll stay out of your way,” Wyatt promised.
    “Sounds good, we’re busy today. Trees are coming fast and clean, just the way I like it,” he said, tipping his hat to them before turning back the direction he’d come.
    Wyatt gave them both a nod and they all started walking around the cars and