A Mate's Wish(15)
Damn her fair skin and round cheeks. They made the perfect dumping ground for a fierce blush.
Beth looked away but when she did, her eyes clashed with Renner’s furious ones. He stood in the doorway of the restaurant looking murderous. His gaze snapped to Eagan, and Beth braced herself for a confrontation.
Magic suddenly appeared in her vision.
“We have a problem,” he told Eagan.
Beth chewed her lip. Yeah, and his name started with an R.
“What is it?”
Magic glanced at her quickly and then bent lower to the table. “Hunters. In our woods. The same ones who gave me shit yesterday. Mason spotted them. They wanted permission to go after deer. I get the feeling they’re ignoring my ‘fuck no.’”
“Shit,” Eagan spat.
Beth jumped from his curse. She’d never heard him talk any other way than sugar coated.
“Yeah, you get Renner and meet me out back in ten.”
Eagan nodded, already rising from the table.
Beth opened her mouth to tell them Renner was there, but they both took off so fast she didn’t have a chance. When she looked back at the door, Renner was long gone.
Chapter Six
Bethany figured it didn’t count as standing Renner up since he was obviously busy dealing with the hunters. If she went to her room instead of the nativity, and crashed, it wouldn’t be ducking out. But for once, she didn’t feel like being cooped up in her room. She’d been keeping to herself for most of her time at the lodge in hopes of avoiding him. But now, the secret was out and she just wanted to roam.
The lodge was expansive, with a number of small trails that led to the different facilities. There were three pool areas, each made to look like it could have naturally appeared in nature. They were closed but the hot springs were open. Everything was built to feel like you were right in the middle of nowhere, even though you were surrounded by others. People came here to get away, but not too far away. It was a perfect compromise.
Beth ended up in front of the nativity without really meaning to. It wasn’t complete yet, but the framework for the stable was done and the manger sat small and lonely in the center. It was quiet, and that’s why the gunshot was so loud. It cracked through the silent night like a judge’s gavel declaring a death sentence. Followed by another. And another.
She jumped, her heart fluttering at the surprise. Adrenaline made her fingers and toes numb, and her gut cramp.
The hunters.
Beth drew in several lungfuls of air before her mind caught up with the fact that the shot was just someone looking for fresh meat. She laughed out loud. Like, she’d never shot a rifle before. Ryan had taught her how before she’d left for college.
Sinking down to the cold, damp ground, she let her head fall to her gloved hands. She needed a break. Maybe a spa day of her own. Have someone work out all the stress kinks. She imagined her troubles with Josie, her run-in with Renner, her job situation, all of it, just slipping away under someone’s skillful hands. Christina or Mason would surely fit her in.
There was a flurry of activity at the edge of the woods just past the circle of light from the lodge lamps. Someone she didn’t recognized yelled, “Get Doc Davis!”
Who the hell was Doc Davis?
Beth stood to her feet, looking for anyone who could help. “What’s happened?”
“We need Doc now,” the stranger growled. “Find her. Send her to cabin 12. Hurry.”
Shit.
Beth ran down the path back to the lodge. Bursting through the main door, she gave a good scare to a few visitors sipping hot cocoa in front of the grand fireplace. She skidded to a stop at the front desk and tried to catch her breath.
“Doc Davis,” she blurted.
The girl manning the desk—she was new—shook her head in confusion.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Layna’s voice snapped from behind Beth.
“I don’t know. I-I heard a shot. Hunters. Someone said to get Doc Davis, send her to cabin 12.”
Layna’s face paled. Like winter falling over autumn. She dug in her pocket, retrieving a cell phone and handing it to Beth. “Speed dial 2. Tell her what you just told me.”
She was out the door before Beth could ask her where cabin 12 was.
Quickly, she dialed the doctor and relayed the information. Then she stepped behind the counter and shuffled through a stack of maps. But there was no cabin 12 listed.
“Damn it.”
Minutes later Christina ran through the lobby with a large pack on her back. Doc Davis?
Beth hurried to catch up to her, but she was fast. She was already jumping on a four-wheeler as Beth came down the stairs. She ran across the yard and into the dirt road, causing gravel to spit as the vehicle came to a stop.