Falke’s Captive by Madison Layle & Anna Leigh Keaton Read Free Book Online

rest of the equipment.
    Fortunately, nothing appeared to be missing, a clear silver lining to potential storm clouds. And those clouds grew darker the more she thought about it—a greater concern weighing on her mind, which was why she shooed away the well-meaning hotel worker who’d accompanied her out to the trailer, and why she declined to call the police.
    There was a cougar on the loose, a pet that wouldn’t have the natural wariness of humans it should. She lifted its collar out of a drawer and thumbed the raised medallion. Not just roaming the woodlands close to a civilian population, the big cat was in town now…because of her. If it got hurt, or worse if it harmed anyone, she’d never forgive herself.
    Adding to the nightmare, Professor Whitmore was scheduled to arrive sometime today.
    She fisted the collar and stuffed it into her back pocket. She had to act fast. She didn’t know how long the big cat had been out, but cougars could cover a lot of ground. Hopefully it had fled to the shelter of the forest, but she had to be sure.
    Grabbing her handheld tracking device and the tranquilizer gun, she left a quick note for Tim, closed up the lab and headed for the Jeep to begin her search for the elusive, troublesome feline.
     
    “What’s with the new earring?” Torsten asked Kelan, earning a scowl which grew darker when Reidar snickered. He couldn’t help it. The story Kelan had shared last night still made him smile, and he wanted so badly to tease his brother about it, but Kelan would suffer enough having to face the rest of the family today. He grinned. It should make for an entertaining day.
    “Did it on a dare,” Kelan grumbled, ignoring Torsten’s snort, “but I kind of like it.”
    Reidar smirked at Torsten as he shook his head and offloaded a few boxes of tents from the dolly on Catamount Outfitters’ back loading dock. A delivery truck had arrived with new camping supplies to stock the shelves, so Reidar and two of his brothers worked to process the merchandise, while Gunnar and Sindre opened for business. Well, Sindre would open up and man the front counter. Gunnar was shifted into catamount form.
    “Provides a little individuality, don’t you think?” Kelan asked.
    “If you say so,” Torsten said with an unconvinced shrug. “But Axel’s not gonna like you ditching the collar.” He hefted a couple of boxes onto his shoulders and headed into the store.
    The moment he was gone, Kelan sighed.
    “You know they’re just getting started,” Reidar said.
    “Yeah.” Kelan set his clipboard down on a nearby workbench.
    “You really gonna keep the new jewelry?” Reidar had accompanied Kelan that morning to a store where he’d purchased a pair of diamond earrings. He eyed the small stud in his brother’s left earlobe and had to admit it was effective in hiding the original piercing. But he wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to pull the look off the way Kelan did, even though they were nearly identical. Kelan had always been more rebellious with his style, such as longer hair and ripped denims after hours when not forced to wear the Catamount Outfitters uniform of polo shirt and slacks.
    Kelan shrugged. “It’d probably look weird having a diamond in my ear as a cougar.”
    “Heidi’s birthday is coming up.”
    “Yeah, she might like diamonds.” He fingered the earring.
    “What girl doesn’t? Even if the gift is from one of her brothers.”
    Kelan chuckled.
    “Tor and Sin will expect something, though. It’s their birthday too.”
    Kelan rolled his eyes. “They can have ice cream with their cake.”
    Reidar laughed, nudged the door open with his hip, and held it for Kelan as they carried the last of the shipment into the store. Depositing his load, he lowered his voice and murmured, “Can’t blame you for wanting to look a little different. Sometimes I feel like we’re still in grade school since we all dress alike here.”
    Kelan grinned and repositioned some merchandise to