Read Online Freedom in the Smokies by Becca Jameson - Free Book Online Page B

California. That crazy woman took me in, but she never let me forget the burden I was. If it hadn’t been for George and the shifters that worked in the stable, I’m not sure I would have survived.”
    “About that… Who’s George?”
    “Well, I’ve secretly always believed he was my father. He runs the stable. Runs the entire farm actually. But I never asked and he never offered.”
    “Wait, you don’t even know who your father is?”
    “Nope. Mom never said. She always told me she would give me details when I was older. But older never happened. The only person who knew who my father was died in that car crash. Unless my father knows about me.” Tears filled her eyes. He knew they were for the mother she lost twelve years ago, not for the dead grandma.
    “I’m so sorry, baby.” He tucked one arm under her head and pulled her tight against him. Her tears wet his chest and he held her while she cried.
    After several minutes, she quieted and sniffed. “Sorry. I don’t even know why I’m crying. It certainly isn’t for dear old Margaret Winston.” She tried to chuckle.
    “Seems perfectly reasonable to me. Has anyone ever shown you a moment’s comfort for your mom?”
    She shook her head against his chest. His heart swelled with pain for a little girl yanked from her home and sent to live across the country with no friends or family that cared to hug her. He swallowed, his own tears in jeopardy of falling.
    She mumbled into his chest. “So, George is coming here. Like now, tonight, on the redeye. I can’t imagine why.”
    “He probably knows more than he said on the phone. And, hell, you said you thought he might be your father. Do you suppose he realizes that?”
    “I don’t know. But I’m finally going to muster up the courage to ask him, that’s for sure.”
    Several minutes went by. Micah ran his fingers over her shoulders and back. He couldn’t read her with clarity. She was sad and confused and her mind was a jumble of thoughts.
    “Micah.” The urgent voice was that of Sergius, not his mate. “Sorry to interrupt you, but we have a problem. We need you…like now.”
    Micah sighed into his mate’s hair. Now? Why the fuck do “emergencies” always happen at the most inopportune moments?
    “Kaitlyn, baby, I have to go.” He eased from beneath her, cringing at the idea of losing her warmth for even a minute.
    “What?” She sat up, her hair all tangled around her face, surprise mirrored in the tone of her voice.
    “My brothers need me.” He scrambled to find his clothes strewn across the floor. Jeans…shirt…shoes… He didn’t take his gaze off hers as he dressed. “We three can communicate also. We’re brothers. Sergius yelled for me, so to speak.”
    “Now? But…” She shook her head.
    A whinny startled him and he ran toward the window. It wasn’t that the horse’s call was loud exactly, but it was way too fucking close to the house.
    He peeled back the curtain and glared out into the night. Shit .
    Kaitlyn ran into the back of him, her naked body against his haphazardly clothed one. “Why are the horses in the yard?”
    “I guess that answers my question.” He turned to his sexy mate, took her face in his hands and kissed her briefly. “I’ll be back. Get back in bed. Keep my side warm,” he teased.
    He hoped he could return quickly, but goose bumps went down his spine at the number of possibilities running through his mind.
    “Are you kidding?” Kaitlyn wiggled free of his grip and scrambled around the room, grabbing her clothes and flinging them on just as quickly as he had. “Horses are my life. I can’t go back to sleep while those gorgeous thoroughbreds wander around in the dark. Are you crazy?”
    Apparently . He smiled at her as she read his thought. So far, he’d yet to purposefully communicate with her, but she was a quick study. She delved into his mind anyway.
    Seconds later, they were both dressed and she grabbed a hairband from her pocket and tugged