Page 7 of Hero Unbound

She smiled. This smile was so genuine it made him realize just how fake her other smiles had been.

And damned if he didn’t want to see a real smile from her more.

“We have a community event out here every other weekend where parents can bring their kids to see and pet the animals. We also have ongoing weekly gatherings with the local 4-H club. They come out and help with feeding, grooming, and repairs. Credit and experience for them, help for us.”

“I didn’t realize how much Linear Tactical had branched into animal therapy.”

“It was a change, but one for the better, I think. We tailored it after some friends who run a place called the Resting Warrior Ranch in Montana. They train animals to help people with PTSD.”

“Becky mentioned you guys had a friend with PTSD you were hoping to help.”

“Still hoping. If we can just get him to come home.” They reached the barn, and he slid open the door. “This is the largest of our three barns on the property. We currently have eight horses.”

She was already walking inside, her dogs quietly at her feet.

“Three different barns?” She reached over to a horse in one of the stalls and scratched him between his ears, smiling when he nudged her hand. She gestured for her dogs to sit then opened the stall door. “Hi, buddy.”

“Two of them are traditional. The last is the Mad Zoo—all the little animals.”

“A petting zoo.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

She smiled at that and continued walking around the horse, speaking to him in a low, cooing voice. Theo leaned back against the barn wall and watched her. She looked totally different than she had a few minutes ago—no longer hesitant and withdrawn. Evaluating the horse was obviously safe and comfortable for her.

It was a good look.

He watched as she walked around more, looking over each horse, murmuring to them. She didn’t talk to Theo. Hell, it was almost as if she’d completely forgotten he was there. The pups remained where she’d told them, although their eyes stayed glued on her.

But as he watched her, he realized she was favoring her left arm. Holding it close to her chest, almost protective-like. When she reached to move a feed bucket out of the way, he saw her wince.

“Can I get that for you? Looks like you’re a little injured.” He took a guess based on past experience. “Dislocated shoulder?”

She spun toward him, eyes wide. “Yes. I…fell a few months ago. It’s still a little tender occasionally.”

There was way more to that story than she was letting on. But Theo just nodded and moved the bucket where she needed it. He heard a vehicle pulling up outside and knew Becky was arriving.

That was for the best. Eva Dempsey and her secrets weren’t something he should get in the middle of. No matter how much those big eyes drew him in.

3

Eva felt her throat tighten, making breathing difficult. Theo Lindstrom was staring at her from across the stall like he knew she was lying about her injury.

But how could he know she was lying about her injury whenshedidn’t even know if she was lying. She…didn’t know a lot of things. Trying to explain that would be damned near impossible.

Especially to this man—much more warrior-like and rugged up close than he had been across the bar last night. So far, he’d been nothing but polite and had even allowed her to bring the dogs around with her, but still, he seemed to notice too damned much.

She’d already been shaky when she’d arrived, after having turned her phone on and finding a dozen new messages and texts from Gareth. She left it off as often as possible but thought Becky might try to get in touch with her.

And now Theo Lindstrom with his old-soul brown eyes was studying her like he could root out all her secrets.

She was running through possible scenarios—everything from fabricating details about her injury to distract him to grabbing the dogs and getting the hell out of this town before Theo Lindstrom figured her out—when Becky walked into the barn, smile on her pretty face and coffee cups in hand.

“Good morning!” Becky called. “I only have two coffees, so you two will have to battle to the death for it since I’m not giving up mine.”

Theo’s way-too-discerning eyes finally turned away from Eva, and her throat loosened, enabling her to breathe normally again. Crisis averted.

“Let Eva have it. I’ve already had mine and need to get up to the office. I’ll leave you two to your work.” With a nod to both of them, and a moment longer studying Eva, he turned and left.

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