The Hero I Need

“Hidden? For how long?”

I shrug. “As long as it takes.”

“As long as what takes?”

“Helping your sweet tiger-saving ass out,” I growl, nodding to the door. “And helping Bruce.”

She gives me what looks like a real smile for the first time.

At least these words of mine still do something.

“I—it’s okay. We just need a ride to Wyoming. To the sanctuary there.” She tucks her arms around her shoulders. “No need to go through more trouble.”

“Yeah? How do you know you’ll be safe in Wyoming?” I ask, casting her a fierce glance.

She leans her head against the wall and closes her pretty blue eyes.

“Honestly, I don’t. It was the only emergency plan I could think of on the fly.”

Holding my breath, I will myself to keep my distance.

A hug isn’t gonna make her feel better, or me.

“We’ll know more after the vet has a look,” I say. “In the meantime, let’s go have some breakfast.”

She agrees and lets me help her up by the hand. We head back to the house where I fry up an old-fashioned pile of scrambled eggs and bacon with toast.

After we eat, I spend more time on the phone, following up with Weston, who has her truck securely hidden now. My backup manager at the Bobcat also gets a call, letting him know I won’t be in today.

He’s just as surprised as I am at the fact that I’m taking a full day off.

Seems like even when I do it for the girls, I usually manage to swing by there at least once.

After that, it’s outside for chores around my place, and sweet distance from Willow.

If only I had a hundred miles more.

Shit, I know I’m getting in too deep already. Can’t have her or Bruce here when the girls get home.

I consider calling Ridge, but his barn would never hold Bruce, and asking him to take on a fucking tiger after the trouble he’s had just seems wrong. Plus, he’s got a little one with Grace, not to mention his pumpkin-loving father-in-law, Nelson, always roaming around and looking for trouble.

Faulk’s place is off limits too when Tory has a baby on the way. Drake’s is full of horses, kids, and has a direct line to the tiny Dallas PD since he’s a cop.

There’s nowhere for Bruce but my concrete barn, dammit.

I’m still outside when a familiar truck rolls up the driveway.

It’s Ridge’s, but he’s not the one driving it.

Assuming it has to be the vet, I walk over as the vehicle rolls to a stop. The guy looks middle-aged with short black hair and he’s wearing aviator shades.

“Grady McKnight?”

I nod.

“Pleasure’s mine. I’m Mark Walton.” He opens the truck door. “I came straight here after flying into Dickinson.” Shaking my hand, he continues. “I’ve known Ridge for years, and he filled me in on everything he knew, but I might have a few questions after examining our patient.”

“Of course.” I point to the barn. “He’s in there.”

Willow steps out of the house and I gesture for her to join us.

Good timing.

“Ask her anything. She knows the cat far better than I do,” I say.

The two of them introduce themselves and we walk to the barn. The vet questions her on Bruce’s temperament before we reach the door.

Of course, all of her answers make Bruce sound like a harmless kitten. The way the vet looks at her over his dark glasses tells me he’s taking it with a boulder-sized grain of salt.

Once we’re in the barn with the door securely shut, the vet follows Willow as she enters the center pen and walks up to the side of the trailer. Bruce is inside, and from where I’m standing, I can hear a dull rumble rattling off the metal walls.

It takes me a few seconds to realize it’s the beast purring.

Guess that’s how he greets her.

The two of them talk quietly. I’d have to step closer to hear, but considering that means entering a tiger’s lair?

Nope.

I don’t need to know what they’re saying that bad.

As I watch from a distance, she whispers and croons softly to the tiger through the slats on the trailer while the doctor sets his case on the cement block railing and opens it.

I don’t know much about doctoring animals, but nobody could miss that needle he pulls out.

Willow climbs up on the side of the trailer and reaches through the window. She strokes the top of the cat’s wide head the second Bruce sits up in the trailer.

The vet moves next to her, and though I can’t tell for sure, I’m fairly certain he just numbed up our furry friend.

A few moments later, the two of them climb down and walk back over to where I’m standing.

While Doc Walton says they’re waiting for the shot to work, Willow pulls her cell out of a pocket on her leggings and starts scrolling through pictures.