Page 200 of Mountain Men Heroes

Two

Clara

It took me all of two days to figure out how to help my brother’s best friends. After considering their behavior, I decided there was only one way to approach their problem—divide and conquer.

I’d tried to come up with a reason to separate them, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Finally, this morning the perfect opportunity presented itself.

While I spent the morning cleaning cages at the small animal shelter and rehabilitation center I ran on the edge of town, I got a call from an elderly Hardwood resident about a cat. The woman had been feeding the stray for a few weeks, but today the critter showed up injured and looking obviously knocked-up.

My heart twisted at the thought of a scared and injured animal dying alone in the forest. Bad enough on its own, but even more horrible if she was pregnant. I promised the woman I’d check it out. The woman had tried to catch her, but the cat managed to escape into the woods, providing me with an opportunity.

It was only as I was jumping into the battered old pick-up truck I’d inherited after it got passed down the line through each of my brothers that it occurred to me that this was the perfect chance to get one of the guys alone. Together they formed an impermeable shield no one could crack. But I found a simple solution...separate them.

I pointed my truck in the direction of the Kratos offices in Wild Ridge, the next mountain over and home of the security business owned by my brother Sawyer, along with Mac, Dyson and Eeli. I kept my fingers crossed the entire time, hoping I’d find Dyson and Eeli there when I arrived.

Luck was on my side. As soon as I strolled into the office, I found all the guys, plus Trinity, in the reception area. Trinity worked as the office manager, and from the looks of things she had the guys firmly in hand.

I hid my grin as I watched her hand out files and instructions with the precision of a drill sergeant. What made it even better was seeing all four big, tough former Special Forces soldiers nodding and accepting her direction without a word.

When Trinity finished, her eyes found mine over the top of Sawyer’s shoulder. I couldn’t help my smirk, and judging by the way she pressed her lips together, she shared my amusement.

“Hey lady! Lookin’ good! What brings you by?” As soon as my name left Trinity’s lips, all four guys swung around to face me.

I allowed my smirk to grow into a full-blown grin. “You guys must be losing your touch if you let little old me get the drop on you.” I batted my eyelashes at the group, not the least intimidated by the hard looks I got.

Mac cracked first. He grinned and came over and wrapped a thick arm around my neck, his hold more headlock than a hug. “Don’t worry, pumpkin. If a real threat walked in, we’d be more than aware.”

I narrowed my eyes and elbowed him in the ribs. “I could be a real threat. You don’t know what kind of skills I possess.”

“The ability to make a pest of yourself in a single bound?” Mac’s easy smile took the edge off his teasing.

I buffed my nails against the front of the black T-shirt I wore. “It’s truly a gift.”

He laughed and released me, only to pull at the ends of my hair with a playful tug.

“Did you need me, Clara?” Sawyer asked, his brows pulled together in concern.

I resisted the urge to sigh. This is why it was hard to get annoyed when my brothers got so protective. As irritating as their overbearing behavior could be at times, it was always clear it came out of real love and concern for me.

“‘Bout that. I need Dyson, actually.” I turned my attention to the man standing quietly in front of Trinity’s desk, his expression blank. I searched his features for a few beats, hoping to catch a glimpse of the warmth and affection he always showed me.

When not even a glimmer of that appeared, I went on. “I could use your help. I got a call about a cat on the loose that looks injured and pregnant. The woman who called me said she’d had trouble catching her. I’m worried about leaving her alone in the woods too long, and since you’re such an amazing tracker...”

I let the sentence dangle there.

If I hoped the old Dyson would return with a vengeance, jumping in to offer his help immediately, I’d have been disappointed.

“You want me to come help you save a cat?” His tone made it sound like I just asked him to come help me birth her litter.

As he spoke, Eeli, already standing close to Dyson, shifted his weight so he got even closer.

I pulled a slow breath in through my nose. Just that slight movement let me know I needed to handle things with care here. “I know you’re a big, tough military man who probably spends his days saving the world now. But I could use your help. It won’t take long.”

I pulled out the big guns, tossing my dark hair over my shoulder, looking up at him from beneath my lashes and allowing my lower lip to pop out just the tiniest bit. It was the look that allowed me to wrap my brothers and their friends around my little finger since the time we were kids. And it always, always worked.

Until now.

“I don’t know, Clara.” With a flick of his wrist, Dyson gave the files in his hand a little flip. “I’m bogged down right now.”