Page 1 of Hero Unbound

1

“Now listen, I need you two to hang out here and behave.”

Eva Dempsey looked back at the two expectant faces staring at her from the back seat of her car. Her only two friends in the world and her constant companions for the past three months.

So what if they were dogs? Dogs felt a lot more human than people to Eva these days.

“I took you for a walk. You’ve been fed. It’s plenty cool enough for you to be hanging out in the car.” Eva could almost swear Sugar, her three-year-old mini-Aussiedoodle, and Spice, her eight-year-old yellow lab, could understand everything she was saying. “I know it’s been a rough couple of weeks. But hopefully we can stay here for a few days.”

Here being Oak Creek, Wyoming—a beautiful little town at the foot of the Teton mountains in the western part of the state.

Those eyes just kept staring at her. They didn’t want her to go, but Eva didn’t have any choice. She didn’t have enough money for another night in a hotel—even the sleaziest.

“Okay. I’m going inside, and I’m going to find us a place to stay. I’ll be back soon.”

She wanted to stay in the car and keep talking to the dogs, but she knew she was merely stalling. The dogs were her security blanket. The only security she had.

“Get out of the car, Eva,” she muttered, then forced herself to do exactly that.

The sun had lowered behind the Grand Tetons around her, casting a golden glow over the mountains, but she didn’t stop to enjoy their beauty. She wrapped her sweater tighter around herself, the fall Wyoming air brisk as she moved toward the entrance of the Eagle’s Nest.

She’d only taken a few steps before she clenched her teeth—feeling eyes on her. She glanced around the parking lot in the darkening sky. She didn’t see anyone, but that didn’t mean no one was watching.

Of course, it didn’t mean anyonewaswatching either. She had no idea what the truth was anymore.

She forced herself to take a breath and move forward. She couldn’t let confusion and fear overwhelm her like it did way too often. She had to get inside.

Her plan, such as it was, was dependent on her connecting with people she’d known when she’d come to this town as a child to visit some of her stepdad’s cousins. Eva vaguely remembered playing with kids her age who would now be adults.

Hopefully one of them would offer a couch for her and the pups to crash on for a few days.

She walked up to the entrance of the Eagle’s Nest, shaking off the feeling of eyes on her once again. Nobody was watching her.

Gareth wasn’t here and didn’t know where she was.

She opened the door and stopped, her senses assaulted by the sounds of people laughing and talking and having a good time. It probably wasn’t any louder than any other busy restaurant, but she hadn’t been around people in way too long.

And not just because of the time she’d spent over the past few weeks with only the dogs in the car with her.

A number of people gave her the small-town friendly nods and smiles even though they didn’t know her as she headed toward the bar. Eva forced her own smile on to her face. She could do this. She used to be very personable and outgoing. She just needed to find that in herself once again. Or pretend.

She didn’t recognize the bartender. He was roughly her age and gave her a quick grin as he slid a napkin in front of her.

“What can I get you?” he asked. “Please don’t make it anything too complicated because I’m actually the town mechanic and am only filling in to help out a friend.”

“How about I start with water?”

“Let me look up how to make that real quick and get back to you.” He grinned while filling up a water glass. “We’ve also got a full-service menu if you’re interested.”

“No, I’m not hungry.” Her growling stomach made a liar out of her, but the bartender couldn’t hear it. She took the menu from his hand. It would at least give her something to pretend like she was doing.

“Probably for the best since I don’t know how to enter any orders into the computer anyway. I’m Bear, by the way.”

“Bear?”

“Legally, Thomas Bollinger, but everyone calls me Bear. Long story. Holler in my direction if you need your car fixed or a drink that involves two ingredients or less.” With a salute, he moved on to some other customers.

Bollinger. That name was familiar. Eva could vaguely remember thinking it was funny thatAunt Charliehad a boy’s name even though she was a girl.

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