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The Bearpaw Springs Resort, located about forty-five minutes south of town, had recently begun recommending Bearly Able to Sing for special occasions. They’d been getting steady gigs since then.
Last week, Rob had excitedly mentioned the possibility of being able to leave his job as a cook at the Wildcat Spring Texas BBQ and perform full-time with his band.
Dad shook his head, a humorless smile pulling his mouth into a thin line. “Son, bear shifters heal fast, but not that fast. You’re going to be out of commission for at least a week, maybe two.”
Rob groaned. “Those fucking guys! I’m gonna nail their hides to my wall.”
“No, Rob, you’re not going to do anything of the sort,” Mom said in a quelling tone. “You’re not a trained police officer like your sister. You’re going to stay here and heal up properly while law enforcement does its job.”
Rob made a face.
“Don’t worry, I’ll track them down,” Malia assured him. She was itching to get started on the investigation.
“Yeah, great,” he said in a grumpy tone.
“Actually, Malia,” said Mom. “I think Annika and Kenny should handle this. They’re senior officers and—”
“But they’re going to that conference,” Malia interrupted.
Mom frowned. “Shoot, I forgot about that! I could tell them not to go.”
“Don’t. I can handle it.” Malia straightened up. She looked her mom in the eyes, challenging her. “I passed probation. I’m a full-fledged officer now. So, treat me like one.”
Chapter 2
Boise, Idaho
Saturday, August 7
“But I’m not hungry, Daddy,” Taylor complained. She stomped her foot and flung the glittery pink barrette she was holding. It bounced off the nearest wall. “I want to go to the park. I wanna be a cat again!”
“Dinner first, then the park,” Lucas Concolor told his four-year-old daughter firmly. “But only if you finish your vegetables.”
“No!” Taylor’s cute face screwed up. “I wanna go to the parknow!”
Then she shuddered and dropped down onto the rug.
“Taylor, no! Not now!” Lucas snapped. Too late.
The little girl was already writhing as the shift rolled over her.
A moment later, a fluffy, spotted cougar cub rose and wriggled out of her human clothing. Her big golden eyes met Lucas’s. She meowed defiantly at him.
Lucas sighed and folded his arms. “Taylor Anne Concolor, I don’t care if you’re a girl or a kitten, you’re still going to sit at the table with your big sister and me and eat your dinner.”
She snarled at him with the most adorably tiny set of fangs and pounced, paws outstretched and translucent claws unsheathed.
His hand shot out and grabbed her mid-leap. As his fingers closed on her scruff, she went limp. Though not without hissing at him.
He sighed and sank to sit cross-legged on the living floor before gathering the Taylor-cub onto his lap. She sheathed her claws and began to purr as he stroked her soothingly. At this age, she never stayed in her cat shape very long.
She’s going to be even more of a handful when she becomes a teenager, he thought, tenderly rubbing her ears. Being a single parent was challenging enough now.How am I going to cope when they get older?
One day at a time, he told himself.Maybe they’ll turn out to be quiet, well-behaved teen girls.
He snorted softly at his wishful thinking.
“Daddy, why can’t Mommy or Uncle Nathan turn into a cat like us?” asked his older daughter Savannah as she bent to pick up the fallen barrette.
