Thankful to arrive in Bear Creek so she could eat and take her mind off her brother, she parked her car along the street from a small diner and got out of her vehicle. Breathing in the cool crisp air laced with the smell of fresh French fries and even fresher coffee, she crossed the street to the diner and went inside.
A couple of heads turned to look at her as she went inside, but this wasn’t one of those small-town diners where you felt like an outsider if you hadn’t lived in the town your whole life.
“Hi there, what can I get you?” An older lady with a slight limp came over to the table Hannah had chosen by the window.
“I’d like some coffee, please. And maybe some pancakes, too.” She smiled up at the woman. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” The woman stared at her for a moment. “Are you all right, honey?”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Hannah assured her. “Just tired from a long drive.”
“I’m Betsy.” The older woman nodded as she continued to study Hannah before walking off to fetch a clean cup and the coffee pot.
Hannah leaned back in her seat and looked out across the huge mountain range that loomed over the town. Why couldn’t Karl have chosen to hike in a place like Bear Creek? Why, instead, did he have to go far away, where it would be hard to track him?
O’Malley could do it. She was certain he could. When he shifted, he’d be able to track Karl’s scent, she was certain.
If there was a scent to track. After so many weeks, it might be impossible. She pushed her hands into her hair and leaned forward, staring at the table, and reminding herself to keep breathing. This was going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
And O’Malley had a bar to open.
Hannah lifted her head and inhaled deeply. She should just leave town. Leave O’Malley to open his bar and go to the place where Karl had last been seen by herself. There was no point taking O’Malley on this wild goose chase of hers.
“There you go.” Betsy placed the coffee cup down on the table and filled it while watching Hannah closely. “Now, tell me to mind my own business but you really do look as if you need to talk.”
“I’m okay. Honestly. Thanks.” She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip.
Betsy hovered, not accepting Hannah’s answer that she was okay. “Family trouble.” Betsy smiled when Hannah looked up at her. “In my experience, it’s usually family trouble.”
“I suppose it is, but not in the way you might think.” Hannah regretted opening her mouth when Betsy pulled out the chair across the table and sat down.
“Why don’t you tell me about it?” Betsy lifted her hand and beckoned to the young woman behind the counter, who grabbed another cup and brought it over. “Thanks, honey.”
“No problem, Betsy.” The young woman winked at Hannah before going back to the counter.
Betsy obviously hadn’t singled Hannah out for special treatment. The woman across the table poured herself a cup of coffee and refilled Hannah’s half-empty cup. “Now, you tell me all about it. A problem shared is a problem halved.”
“It’s my brother.” Hannah decided there was no reason not to tell Betsy. There was nothing secretive about Karl’s trip to the Himalayas. No government secrets to expose.
“Oh, what did he do?” Betsy watched Hannah over her coffee cup.
“He went on a trip to see the world and he’s been missing for six weeks.”
“Oh.” Betsy had obviously expected Hannah’s story to be something more personal. A brother and sister who fell out over money. Something simple.
“I came here to ask a friend of my brother’s to help me find him.” Hannah could see Betsy had lost interest, although her expression was filled with sympathy.
“And did this friend say yes?” Betsy asked.
“He did. O’Malley, he owns the new bar in Cougar Ridge.” Hannah’s heart squeezed in her chest at the mention of O’Malley’s name.
“Oh, I’ve met him. He came in here a couple of times.” Betsy’s eyes twinkled. “He’s a good-looking guy.”
“He is.” Hannah wasn’t going to deny it. Not to Betsy and not to herself. Tall, dark, and handsome with a smile that lit up his eyes. She sighed.
“Ah, so you are going off into the wild with a man you like.” Betsy’s interest was piqued once more. “Is there an attraction between the two of you?”
“I don’t think that’s an appropriate question,” Hannah said a little too sharply.
“There is.” Betsy nodded sagely. “When you met him, did you feel as if there was a deep connection between the two of you?”
Hannah’s forehead creased. “I suppose. I… Yes. There did feel as if there was a connection. Because there is. My brother.”
“Oh, don’t try to blow me off with that,” Betsy sounded wounded. “It’s more than that and you know it.”
“I’ve just met the guy. How can it be more than that?” Hannah’s temper flared. “It’s not love at first sight if that’s what you are implying.”
“Does he feel the same?” Betsy asked.
“I don’t know.” Hannah leaned back in her chair and thought about Betsy’s question. Which was a stupid and ridiculous question. O’Malley was helping her because he and Karl had served together. He’d do the same for anyone.
“There’s a story in these parts about shifters.” Betsy scrutinized Hannah’s face as she spoke, but Hannah didn’t let on she knew shifters were more than a story.
“Shifters?” Hannah asked, her expression flawless.
“Yes. The story is that people can turn into animals.” She waved her hand. “Not that ridiculous werewolf stuff when they only change at a full moon and then go out and kill people. This is different, it’s part of who they are.”
“Interesting story,” Hannah looked up, her breakfast was on its way.
“These shifters have a mate. The person they are meant to be with for the rest of their lives. They are bound together by an invisible tether that
