Iron Will (Grizzly Encounters Book 1) Page 8

  Cullen reloaded his gun, firing enough to keep the outlaws from getting too close, before focusing on Lucas. He balled up some cloth, pressing it on the wound as he nodded at the men behind them. “Shit. This is worse than I thought it’d be. We’ll run out of ammunition if we stay here. Not to mention you’re nearly out of time. I’ll make a distraction, then you see if you can make it to the trees. We’ll just have to hope I draw all those men away and no one sees you change. That you aren’t challenged the second you shift.”

  Lucas glanced at the tree line. “While it kills me to say this…I’m not sure I can make it that far.”

  Cullen’s gaze dropped to his shoulder. Lucas didn’t need to see the cloth to know it was already drenched with his blood. A desperate snort sounded in his head, followed by another violent tremor.

  Cullen lowered his head. “Damn it. Fine, we’ll go together. I’ll cover us. Just…don’t you dare fucking die on me, you hear?”

  “I’ll do my best not to.” Lucas wrapped his arm around Cullen’s shoulders when shots rang out from the other direction. He inhaled sharply as he glanced at Cullen. “Please tell me I’m imagining that.”

  Cullen grunted. “You mean the part where Hollis just showed up and is positioned beside the locomotive, firing that rifle at Buford’s gang? The woman’s downright crazy. She’s going to get her fool head shot off.”

  Men charged toward her from up the line, the thunder of horses making the ground shake. Lucas tried to draw his gun, but his fingers couldn’t seem to grip the handle. Hollis never flinched as she aimed her rifle then fired again, hitting the closest bandit off his horse. She reloaded, spinning to catch another as the man raced past where the crew was gathered. The man’s foot caught in the saddle as he toppled to the side, and his horse raced off, dragging him behind.

  Cullen muttered continuously under his breath, trying to gently shuffle Lucas off him, when Hollis picked up two bags then darted over to the men, immediately working her way through the casualties. She caught their gazes, her eyes widening as her focus dropped to Lucas’ shirt. The color drained from her face, and she pushed through the last of the uninjured men then stopped in front of them.

  Cullen glared at her. “Do you have a death wish? What the Hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “Trying to prevent a massacre.” She stared at Lucas then opened her bag. “You’re hurt. Take off your shirt and let me have a look.”

  Lucas pushed off Cullen, praying he didn’t fall on his face as he did his best to draw himself up. “It’s only a graze. You’d best tend to the others while I go have a quick scout around.”

  “Graze? You’ve bled through that cloth. That’s more than a graze.”

  She reached for him, but Cullen stepped in front.

  “There are men hurt far worse than Lucas. Trust me, he’ll be okay.”

  “I realize that. But it’s my job to assess all the crew so I can prioritize my time. I’ve already looked at everyone else—got some of the men helping me deal with the worst injuries as we speak. I need to see how bad Lucas’ wound is so I know how long he can wait.”

  “He’s fine.” Cullen held up his hand. “Please, Hollis. Tend to the other men. We’ll be back before you know it.”

  “Back? He’s in no shape to go anywhere. Cullen…”

  Her voice faded as Cullen snagged Lucas’ arm, making it look as if he was leading Lucas over to the trees, all the while supporting half his weight. They managed to trip their way to a thicker part of the woods before Cullen turned and helped Lucas undress. Then, he backed away, checking the area one more time before nodding.

  Lucas let his shoulders droop as he released his hold on his bear. The animal growled in response, surging forward. There was a moment of disconnectedness before his grizzly took control, and Lucas fell forward onto all fours. The feel of the ground beneath him changed, the thick padding of his bear’s paws softening the rough bite of dirt and rocks. Odors and images sharpened, the din of distant voices making his ears twitch.

  A hand landed on his back, and he turned, staring into Cullen’s hazel eyes. A soft green aura hung around him like a mist, the wispy essence a visual extension of his mate’s scent. Lucas took a lumbering step forward, knocking Cullen with his head as he tried to rub against him, imprint on him as best as he could until he could leave a permanent mark on Cullen’s skin.

  Cullen chuckled, giving Lucas a playful shove. “You already know I’m yours. You don’t have to dump me on my ass to prove it.” A smile spread across his face. “Damn, I’d forgotten how impressive your bear is. Makes me think we’ve neglected this side of ourselves for too long. Can’t remember the last time we ran together as our other halves.”

  Lucas snorted, twisting to glance back the way they’d come. He sniffed, shifting through the various odors until he honed in on Hollis’ sweet essence. A light blue trail wove through the trees, disappearing into the clearing beyond. Lucas managed to shuffle sideways before Cullen stepped in front.

  His mate barred his way, moving with Lucas when he attempted to limp around him. “I know what you’re thinkin’, what your bear wants, but you can’t go after Hollis. Not like this.”

  He snarled, knocking at Cullen, again.

  Cullen growled in response. “Don’t take that attitude with me. You’re not the only one who’s unhappy about the situation. But if you go charging over there dressed in fur and fangs, the girl will probably shoot you. At best, you’ll destroy any chance we have of gaining her love. We’ll figure it out. But right now, you need to heal.”

  Cullen gave Lucas another shove. “Come on. I’ll see you safely to the river just over that rise, then I’ll go and make sure Hollis is okay.” He cocked his head to the side when Lucas simply stood there, staring in Hollis’ direction. “You need to trust me to protect her until you’re well enough to shift back. Now, let’s go before Buford’s men return. As good a shot as she is, I’d rather she not scare another ten years off of my life.”

  Lucas inhaled again, looking at the trail one more time before lowering his head and slowly turning around. Cullen’s hand landed on his shoulder as he limped toward the river. His mate was right about one thing. She’d scared more than a few years off Lucas’ life, too—a fact they’d definitely be discussing once his bear had healed the worst of the damage.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Cullen leaned against the side of the sheriff’s office, watching the oil lamps flicker in the clinic just down the street. His stomach clenched every time Hollis passed in front of the window, her lithe form darting off toward the back of the building, only to reappear, again, a few moments later. She hadn’t stopped working since she’d returned, despite the fact it was well after midnight.

  A mixture of anger and frustration burned beneath his skin. While he respected her dedication to her profession, if she didn’t start taking better care of herself, she’d be her next patient. That, or she’d get herself killed.

  His bear growled this time, scratching at Cullen’s control, as if it wasn’t already frayed. Between Lucas getting injured and Hollis showing up amidst a blaze of gunfire, both sides of Cullen were strung tight. One more incident, and Devil’s Gate would have more than just the Buford gang to deal with. They’d have his and Lucas’ bears trotting down the main road with every intention of claiming their mate.

  Cullen raked a hand through his hair, tugging on some of the strands in an effort to calm his other half. If he’d learned anything about Hollis over the past month, it was that they needed to tread carefully. He’d witnessed more than a few casual conversations end up with her drawing her weapons when one of the men tried to strong arm her, and just because Cullen and Lucas were her mates didn’t mean she wouldn’t take the same stance with them. She didn’t have the luxury of an inner animal telling her she was destined to be with them. And God knew they hadn’t had many chances to show her, themselves.

  Of course, if he wasn’t currently avoiding her, he could have gone inside the cli
nic—offered to help. But until Lucas shifted back, Cullen couldn’t risk venturing too close to her. Not when he knew Hollis would corner him, again, regarding Lucas’ condition. He’d managed to avoid answering any of her questions thus far, and as much as he disliked staying distant, they needed the time apart to account for the fact Lucas’ shoulder would be healed. That he wouldn’t have more than a faint line where the spike had impaled his flesh. It hadn’t taken Cullen’s increased senses as Hollis’ mate to know she hadn’t believed them when they’d told her Lucas’ injury had been nothing more than a graze.

  The thought had Cullen digging his nails into his palms to stay in control. He’d spent the day shuttling back and forth between his mates. After he’d left Lucas at the river, he’d circled the crew, checking for more bandits before helping her load the injured onto wagons. Unfortunately, the one platform car they’d brought along had still been loaded with rail ties and other supplies, and Hollis hadn’t wanted to waste the time it would have taken to unload them all. Something about how much blood some of the men were losing.

  Cullen had ridden alongside the convoy until the camp had wavered into view in the distance before turning around and heading back to his other mate. While he had no doubt Lucas could fend for himself, they couldn’t afford to draw attention to themselves. Not to mention the fact Lucas’ other half wasn’t really fit to go up against a gang of outlaws.

  They’d waited until the sun had set, nothing but a blanket of stars in the sky, before returning to the camp. Cullen had ensured the street was deserted before marshaling Lucas’ bear into his office, then on to his quarters in the back. His mate’s grizzly had been more than a bit antsy being this close to Hollis, but Cullen had eventually been able to settle the animal. Now, all he could do was wait.

  The door to the office creaked open, the soft press of boots on the wooden planks drawing his attention. He glanced over, grinning as Lucas emerged from the building, his shadow stretching out toward Cullen as the moon rose higher in the sky behind his mate. Lucas’s gaze swung to his, a flash of red noticeable even in the darkness.

  Cullen straightened, ready to move in front of the other man if he made a dash for the clinic. Instead, the sheriff marched over to him, grabbing Cullen by the shoulders and shoving him against the wall, their bodies blending into the black pockets lining the walkway. His mate didn’t talk, just trapped Cullen with his arms, inhaling as he leaned in close.

  A low growl vibrated between them, followed the firm scrape of Lucas’ teeth across Cullen’s shoulder. Even through the fabric, he felt the sharp scratch of canines—a clear sign his partner was teetering on the edge.

  Lucas grazed a path to Cullen’s neck, his breath hot against Cullen’s skin. “Mine.”

  Cullen fisted Lucas’ shirt, holding him close as he nipped at the man’s earlobe. “I know how raw you feel right now, especially after shifting. It increases all those urges boiling your blood. As I see it, we have two choices. Claim each other, first, or keep fightin’ it until we can have a serious chat with Hollis. But know this… Once I get you naked, I won’t be able to stop. Hell, I would have taken you in the damn forest today if you hadn’t been on the verge of dyin’.”

  Lucas closed his eyes, the muscle in his jaw clenching. “If we’re going to talk, first, we need to do it soon. I never expected it to be this hard to push aside. The need… God, it’s like a fire inside my veins I can’t put out.”

  “You and me both, partner. Let’s just allow her to get through this emergency. I’m sure everything will settle by tomorrow. Then, once she’s rested, we’ll ask her to go survey the bridge with us. Thinkin’ it’d be best if she couldn’t simply dart into the street and start screamin’ that we’re shifters.”

  Lucas chuckled. “We both know she wouldn’t run. She’d just shoot us, herself.”

  “I’ll make a note to wait until after she’s unclipped her holsters before we spring the news on her. Just to be safe.”

  Lucas nodded, still pinning Cullen to the wall when a wedge of light appeared up the street. They both glanced at the glow, frowning when two silhouettes exited the clinic, pausing on the walkway. The glare from the room dissolved them into nothing more than dark shadows, but he knew one was Hollis by the shape of her body. The way she tilted her head. The pair stopped near the short set of steps leading up to the building, standing far too close for Cullen’s liking. The low din of voices carried to them as Hollis nodded at the guy, his hand lifting to rest on her shoulder. A menacing growl echoed in Cullen’s head as Lucas tensed, releasing Cullen then heading down the street.

  Cullen cursed, darting after his mate in an effort to calm the man down. With Lucas’ senses heightened from the shift, just seeing Hollis with another man—regardless of the circumstances—might be enough to push his mate over the edge. Have his animal go rogue once Lucas got close enough to catch the foreign scent on her clothes.

  Cullen snagged Lucas’ elbow, pulling him to a halt before rounding in front of him. “Easy, mate. I know what your bear’s thinkin’, but…if you jump to conclusions and shift on me, we’ll never win her over.”

  Lucas snarled, his gaze focused on the man standing off to Hollis’ side, his head bent slightly in conversation. “Don’t care why he’s touching her. She’s ours.”

  “Yes, she is. And it’s not as if it’s the first time one of the crew has touched her. She’s a doctor. It happens. I’m sure it means nothing.”

  Red flashed, again, in Lucas’ eyes. “It was a mistake not to tear those other cowboys to shreds. One I won’t make, again.”

  Cullen tightened his hold, growling at Lucas in challenge. “Do you really want to go a few rounds with me? Pull back.”

  His mate’s jaw clenched, the obvious strain creasing his brow. Cullen hedged his bet by dragging Lucas closer, doing his best to obscure everything else from view. Lucas finally managed to focus on Cullen, but there was no mistaking how close the man was to holding true to his threat, regardless of the consequences.

  Cullen nodded. “Perhaps you should go back to your quarters. Let that hammerin’ inside your head lessen. I’ll figure out what’s going on.”

  “Cullen?”

  Cullen froze as Hollis’ voice washed over him, the soft tone igniting every nerve. God, all it took was a single word, a passing glance, and he fell a bit harder. Needed her a bit more. And all without her knowing the effect she had on him. On them.

  She jogged down the steps, heading toward him. He gave Lucas a hard glare then released him, turning to face their mate, doing his best to block Lucas from view. She stopped a few feet away, her gaze darting to where Lucas stood behind Cullen. The fine lines around her eyes looked deeper, from lack of sleep, no doubt. She’d piled her hair into bun on top of her head, a few errant strands curling around her jaw as they fluttered in the light breeze. Blood stained the apron she’d slipped over her other clothes, though her regular garments were still covered from tending the men on site.

  She scrunched her nose, creasing the skin between her eyebrows. “So, that is Lucas with you. I’ve been more than a bit worried not knowing what happened to him. You two should have stopped by the clinic as soon as you got back.”

  Cullen cringed. This conversation was definitely going in the wrong direction. “Hollis—”

  She focused on Lucas, her expression guarded. “I need to see your shoulder.”

  Cullen moved with her when she stepped to her left. “It’s late. I’m actually surprised you haven’t turned in, yet.”

  Hollis narrowed her eyes, grunting when he blocked her next attempt. “I’ll sleep when I’m done.” She glared at how he kept her at arm’s length. “What’s wrong with you? I need…” She paused when the man behind her wished her a goodnight, disappearing into the darkness. She acknowledged him with a small wave then turned back to them. “I’m not going anywhere until I take a look at Lucas’ wound.”

  A growl lit the air, the menacing sound loud in the stillness.

 
Hollis frowned, staring at them as if they’d lost their minds. “Did one of you just growl?”

  Lucas sidestepped, revealing half of his body from behind Cullen. “Was that the reverend?”

  Cullen groaned inwardly at the accusing tone of Lucas’ voice, knowing there was no hope that Hollis had missed it for what it was. A challenge. She took a step back, glancing at the empty street before focusing on them, again.

  “Yes. I needed some help treating the more serious injuries. It gets hard to hold a man down and stitch him up at the same time. Reverend Miller said he’d assisted that kind of work before, so he offered to stand in. But that’s hardly what’s important right now.”

  Lucas pushed against Cullen’s back. “So, why was he touching you? Standin’ so close?”

  “Touching me?”

  Cullen twisted to look at Lucas, mentally telling his mate to back off. Lucas glanced at him, another flash of red in his eyes his only answer. Cullen answered in kind then faced Hollis, again.

  He nodded at the clinic. “What Lucas meant was it’s late. And you look exhausted. Thinkin’ you should turn in, now that you’re done.”

  Hollis furrowed her brow, obviously confused by the distinct change in subject. “Not until I check Lucas’ shoulder.”

  Lucas tensed, his muscles flexing against Cullen. “That’s not necessary.”

  Hollis huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you going to play me for the fool, again?”

  “Of course not. But…as you can see by the fact I’m standing here, I’m fine.”

  “So, all that blood I saw on your shirt? On that cloth Cullen used to stem the bleedin? I’ve been doing this long enough to know when something is much more than a ‘graze’. I was too busy to push the subject before, but now that I’ve tended to everyone else, there’s no reason to avoid examinin’ your wound.”