She hoped the pictures would reveal something useful. But now she had a new problem. She had to get hold of North and make arrangements to meet him somewhere else at a later time. She wouldn’t be able to return to the ski slopes this afternoon.
***
Jake had to be kidding about taking care of Elizabeth. Jake had a mate, whom he adored, so Tom knew his brother wasn’t interested in the she-wolf. It seemed more like a case of him trying to give Tom a hard time. Or maybe Jake was worried that Tom would show interest in the wrong she-wolf. He wondered what video Jake was talking about, particularly since his brother couldn’t hide the hint of a smile that surfaced when he mentioned it.
Now Jake appeared every bit as interested in her camera and the pictures she’d taken, and nothing else mattered.
“I already offered to go with her,” Peter said. “Tom’s not budging. Although I also want to get a look at those pictures if this was foul play instead of an accident. And Cantrell’s video, if anything important is on that.”
“I agree about the pictures, Peter.” Tom gave his brother a sideways glance, wondering about Cantrell’s video. “I’ll take care of your ski rentals, Elizabeth. After I’ll get your stuff from your locker, I’ll meet you down at the hospital.”
“I need to get up the mountain,” Jake said and slapped Tom on the back. “Keep me posted on the little lady.”
Tom squeezed Elizabeth’s hand with assurance. “I’ll see you real soon.”
He caught Jake’s eye, saw the way his brother watched them, and shook his head. Tom loved his family, but he hadn’t realized what it would feel like for him to be under the magnifying glass and not them when it came to interest in a woman.
Cody, Anthony, and Minx quickly took Elizabeth’s ski rentals in hand and offered to turn them in. Thanking them, Tom headed for her ski locker where he could pick up whatever she’d left there. He hoped the man who had run into her had only done so because he was being a jerk, instead of doing so on purpose.
***
When Tom arrived at the hospital, the waiting room was empty, mostly because wolves didn’t get sick often and healed quickly on their own. Humans were the only ones who needed much care, but the town had a sparse human population. The receptionist, a middle-aged widow, smiled at him. Maggie was dressed in her usual black and white kitty-cat scrubs. Everyone teased her about wearing cat scrubs when she was a gray wolf in a pack of mostly gray wolves.
“Hi, Tom. Thought you were on ski patrol today.”
“Just this morning.”
“Did you need to see the doctor?” Maggie rose from the chair.
The news would get all over town when he told her he’d come to check on Elizabeth. “I’m waiting to hear what Dr. Weber has to say about Elizabeth Wildwood.”
“Elizabeth Wildwood.” Maggie’s tone of voice and smile said it all—she figured he had something going with the wolf-coyote. “Do you want to have a seat?”
No, he didn’t. He just wanted to learn about Elizabeth’s condition as soon as possible. “I’ll just walk back.”
Before he reached the hallway to the exam rooms, Maggie said, “She’s pretty. Not from around here. Is she moving to town?”
“No.” He wanted to end the discussion without another word.
“Ah. So… there’s nothing to the video.”
Tom paused. “What video?”
“The one that Cantrell took. Didn’t you know about it? He’s charging ten dollars a view. Everyone who’s gotten word of it is paying for it. Even your brothers, I heard.”
Tom said again, “What video?”
Maggie blushed. “Of you kissing a woman on the slopes. I’d say it was… Elizabeth Wildwood.” She smiled. “Really nice kiss. If the eligible she-wolves weren’t already interested, they’d be pounding on your door. And the bachelor wolves? They’ll take notes.”
Tom let out a disgruntled sound and headed for the exam rooms. “I’ll kill Cantrell.”
If Elizabeth had been one of their wolf pack, Tom could have walked back and learned the status of the patient, no questions asked. He would have informed Darien of her condition right away.
Even with her not being part of the pack, Darien would have to be told about her condition since she’d been injured in their territory. That was a pack’s way of doing business. Patient-client privileges were not relevant here. Especially if they learned that the man who had pushed her was a wolf from their own pack and had done so with malicious intent. It was also important to protect the pack from another that might be angered that she’d been injured here.