Page 54 of Hers to Call
Simon breathed out in relief and sat down to breakfast. Cali came downstairs thirty minutes later in jeans and a simple vee neck, her hair back in its customary bun.
She leaned down and kissed him. “See you later?”
“I’ll be here when you get back.” He gave her a lingering kiss and waved as she and Zeke headed to the garage.
A few moments later there was a knock on his back door. He stood and allowed entrance for one of the elder males in the clan.
“Elder Bishop, good morning. Would you like some coffee?” Becca reached to pull down a mug.
“No, thank you. Alpha, if I could have a moment of your time.”
“Of course,kamassa’. We can go into the office.” Simon led the elder into his downstairs office.
It was neat as a pin seeing as how he rarely used it. He had an office in the barn the other ranch hands used as a lounge. Curiosity had him watching the elder as he walked around to his desk. Thekamassa’, or elders, in their clan were the older bears that had once held high ranking enforcer positions. He had the utmost respect for them all. He gestured for Bishop to sit, waiting until the male was seated before he took his own chair. His bear knew that despite age, the male was still strong.
“What can I help you with, Bishop?”
“There’s something going on in this clan,” Bishop spoke after a moment.
“Something I’m unaware of?” Simon asked, sitting up in his chair and bracing his elbows on the desk.
“Your mate has been in how many accidents?”
Simon growled as frustration filled him. He knew what the Bishop was insinuating. The longer he let the attacks on Calita happen without resolution, the more it undermined his position.
“You’ve led this clan with firm and fair leadership. We’ve thrived under you, Simon, so understand that I don’t come to you with admonishments, but concerns. There is someone spreading that you are unable to keep your mate safe.”
His growl bounced off the walls of his office, his bear battering against his skull.
The elder held up his hand. “The rumors are being dismissed as soon as the lie is brought forward, but it doesn’t negate that someone is making a concentrated effort to keep the rumor moving. You know how this town is. While the bears are taking care to squash the talk, the humans have no concept of the trouble they’re spreading.”
He sighed and wiped a hand across his face. If word that the alpha was having issues protecting his mate left the confines of this town, there was no telling what type of trouble would show up just to see if it was true. He had no desire to have challenges working through his clan.
“Anything else?”
The elder shook his head.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Of that I have no doubt, Alpha.”
***
Calita guided Zeke into one of the parking spots behind the diner, wanting to slip in without any of the customers seeing. The last thing she wanted to do was answer questions. She’d answered a lot last night at the clan gathering, and she was done feeding gossip. She opened the door and the sounds that greeted her immediately relaxed her shoulders. The sizzling of the grills, the low hum of the machines and ribald conversation flowing were all music to her ears.
The smells were the next thing to hit her. Cooking meats, baked bread and the fresh, bright scent of chopped vegetables greeted her. She smiled. She’d missed being in the kitchen. Selena pushed through the swinging door from the dining room and pointed her finger at Calita.
“You’re not supposed to be in here for another few days.”
Cali waved away her friend’s concern. “You know I can’t sit around.”
“You’re supposed to be resting, Calita. Not to mention with everything else going on. Won’t you feel better at Simon’s, under—”
“Under what?” Calita raised her eyebrow.
Selena cleared her throat. “Simon can protect you better at the ranch.”
“I was almost shot with an arrow at the ranch, you sure about that?”
