“I’m not the type of woman who falls into relationships quickly,” I explained. “I have trust issues because my stepfather was abusive.”
Mia’s mouth dropped open when she heard this, and she asked, “He didn’t, you know—”
“No! But he was verbally and physically abusive.”
“Bastard,” she mumbled, her eyes sparking with fire at the news.
“Yeah, very much so. And because of him, I don’t trust men easily. Emma and I learned early how to spot an abusive man; it’s one of the reasons I’m successful with the kids I counsel.”
“Because you were one of those kids?” she asked.
“Exactly. And because of the abuse. I was twenty-seven before I trusted a man enough to have a relationship, and even then I chose poorly. He never laid a hand on me, but then I knew he wouldn’t. He was weak, not dangerous.” I explained. “But I thought I needed a man who was easily controlled to avoid a man who might abuse me.” I shrugged, then shook my head and snickered at how foolish I’d been. “I won’t soon make that mistake again.”
“So where does Shane fall on your radar?”
“Shane?” I tilted my head and thought about the list I’d made all those years ago. “You know, I made a list of qualities I wanted in a man when I was a teenager. For obvious reasons the list was specific, and the shoes impossible to fill. But even though I knew such a man didn’t exist, I still prayed he’d find me someday.”
“How does Shane hold up against that list?”
“He fits them all.”
I hadn’t realized Shane matched the list until that moment, but it was true. He fit my dream man to a T.
“Holy cow . . . So does that mean you’d be willing to live in a place like Trails End for a man like Shane?”
I looked around at the carnival, across the crystal water to the mountains beyond, and then thought about the people I’d met in the three days since I’d arrived. “I could think of worse places to live,” I stated, smiling.
“It is kind of Pleasantville-ish, isn’t it?”
“In a Mayberry, USA, kind of way,” I agreed.
“So what are your thoughts on Shane? Do you think he can overcome this guilt he’s carrying around?”
“Sure. I’m just not sure if he can ever look at me without seeing my sister. He’s dealing with PTSD, though Max thinks it’s not his biggest problem. He may be right since PSTD isn’t my area of expertise. If I were at home, I would consult with professionals who have experience dealing with combat soldiers returning from war. Though, I do know conventional therapy with ex-military seems to fail.”
“Does anything work?”
“I read animal therapy seems to help.”
“Like training dogs?”
“Dogs, horses, wolves. Animals seem to have an innate sense when a person is hurting. They bond with the veterans and give unconditional love. Something about that appears to help them readjust to civilian life.”
“What about bears?” she mumbled, her brows pulled together in thought.
“No idea. I suppose if a bear were tame enough, it could happen.”
A smile pulled across her beautiful face.
“Oh, he’s tame,” she grinned.
“Are you thinking of having Shane take care of one of your bears?”
“He already does. He and Booboo are thick as thieves.”
“Maybe that’s why he’s not as lost to the PTSD as others. He’s been getting therapy all along and he didn’t even know it.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
“Then encourage him to continue working with the bear.”
“I definitely will. Shane is Max’s closest friend, and since they’re technically related I—”
“Wait, Shane and Max are related?”
“Distantly. So distantly, they don’t bring it up. I only found out myself when I addressed the wedding invitations. Shane’s grandmother and Max’s grandfather were cousins on his father’s side. They share the same great-great-great-great grandparents. Though, I think everyone in this town is related by degrees since they don’t tend to move away. But enough Hunter blood runs through Shane’s veins that he and Max seem cut from the same cloth. They’re more like brothers than fourth cousins. And because of that bond, I want to see him happy. Since he came home, he hasn’t been living, more like existing. He jumps from job to job and helps anyone who asks, refusing to be paid most of the time. If it weren’t for the fact he saved every penny he could while he was enlisted, I don’t know how he would survive.”