You know its your duty to report poaching activity, Skylar.
I know that.
Dont approach the culprit, just get a name or description, location of the trap or snare, and call it in.
I can do that. And I will. If I ever happen upon something like that.
You gotta be careful trekking through these woods.
This is my property.
Is it clearly marked? Fenced?
No. She hooked a hand at her hip and lifted her chin. My father had a good relationship with all the area families. We all respect boundaries and will often allow one another to hunt on our land, with permission. Ive never had a problem
Joe waited as her words seemed to hang. She wasnt saying something, and he really wanted to wrench it out of her, but he didnt want to play hardball and force their relationship into something uncomfortable for her.
Not that they had a relationship. Well, beyond that hed considered her a friend up until a year ago.
What about your uncle? he prompted. He knew Malcolm Daviss land hugged Merlin Davissnow Skylarsland in some manner. It had all originally been owned by their father, Skylars grandfather.
What about him? Skylar now studied the ground intently.
Joe shrugged. I see Davis Trucking driving the highways all the time. In Duluth, too.
They are the third biggest trucking company in northern Minnesota. Im sure they have a loading dock on Superior.
Been around forever, too. You have a good relationship with them?
Davis Trucking? I cant say its good, bad or ugly.
I mean your uncle Malcolm. Didnt I hear something about him and your dad having a feud of some sort? I think you mentioned that to me once.
My dad has been gone for two years, Joe. Leave the past in the past.
Sorry. He shoved his hands into his back pockets.
That had been a cruel means to try to get more about Malcolm Davis out of her. The patriarch of Davis Trucking was on Joes suspect list. But hed yet to get hard evidence on him, save a few random deer pelts and a couple bald eagle talons found in one of his truckers glove compartments.
I have to get to the store, Skylar said, interrupting his thoughts. Its still early, and I have some mowing to do, plus I need to move the chicken house. I like to do that before the hot afternoon sun beats down. You going to move your truck?
I will. But I do have more questions. They can wait until after Ive had a better look at the evidence. Im not going to stand back and let you face alone whatever the hell is going on, Skylar. Just a warning. Im here for you. Like it or not.
She nodded and looked aside. Sure thing, Joe. Thanks, she said on a tight whisper. Talk to you soon.
She turned and strode off toward the cabin. Her long legs moved her swiftly, as did her swinging arms. No-nonsense wrapped in a tease of femininity. Had Cole Pruitt really married her? Last Joe had heard, the date had been set. And that wedding dress. So many questions hed like to have answered.
Shes hiding something, Joe muttered.
And that hurt him almost as much as losing his chance at dating her had. Was she involved with the poachers his investigations were centered around? It was a quick and harsh judgment, but it was something hed have to consider. She was a member of the Davis family, after all.
Dont do this to me, Skylar, he said as he slid back behind the wheel of his truck. I have too much respect for you.
SKYLAR PAID FOR the two bags of groceriespleased the small market offered sundries such as the red yarnthen grabbed the bags and headed out to her truck parked in the grassy lot in front of the store. The old Ford she drove had once been red, but the paint job had faded over the years to a rust-mottled pink. Cole had been good with the small fixes it had needed. That was about the only thing she missed about not having him around.
She set the paper bags on the passenger seat and closed the door to walk around to the back, where she paused and leaned against the tailgate to watch passing cars. She was no longer in an irritated mood caused by thoughts of Joseph Cash and his soulful green eyes. Because, mercy, that man had cornered the market on sexy.
Why had she never hooked up with him?
They almost had that one night. And then
And then. The big rejection from him. That still hurt a little. Even though she could understand where hed been coming fromshe being drunker than a skunk. And he had been toasted, as well. That hed had the mental fortitude to refuse her suggestion of sex was either because he was a strange beast or because he hadnt been as interested in her as shed thought.
Either way, at the time, his refusal had humiliated her. After that, shed thought pushing him away was the smart thing to do. Really, the idea of being happy and in love with any man had only driven her mad after losing her father. Hed been torn apart when her mom had left. Skylar had been twelve that morning shed found a note from her mother placed directly on top of her bowl of shredded wheat. Shed missed the school bus after reading the two sentences: I cant do this anymore. I love you, Skylar. Mom.
And she hadnt seen or heard from her since. No check-in calls. No Christmas cards. Not even a hey, Im still alive, dont worry about me message on the phone. Her teenage years had been depressing. Skylar had once been confident and self-assured in her schoolwork, but middle school had been merely going through the motions. By her sophomore year, Skylar had decided to put her anger into her schoolwork and had graduated a year early. As if that would show her mom.
It hadnt, but it was how shed coped with the situation. If her mom didnt need her, then she certainly didnt need her, either.
But her father had not been the same after his wife left. Hed refused to even date after that, telling Skylar Dorothy had been his soul mate. On his deathbed he had smiled and whispered Dorothys name before drifting away.
The woman had not deserved such reverence. Had she ever appreciated her husbands love for her? That was a question Skylar wanted an answer to, but she knew it would never come. So shed moved forward, and was doing as well as she could now that her dad was gone. Life had felt empty for a while after his death, but her focus on the animals she rehabilitated had worked like a jolt of life infused into her system. She didnt need anyone to make her happy. Nor did she want to risk falling for someone and having them walk out of her life.
Hell fight tooth and nail
To keep her safe.
When shots are fired, wildlife officer Joe Cash responds to the call and finds himself face-to-face with Skylar Davis and her petwolf. Its Joes job to protect all endangered speciesincluding the pretty vets menagerie of rescues. As the threats intensify, Joe realizes Skylar could be the key to busting a ruthless poaching ring. But shes keeping a secret that could cause more harm than either of them can imagine.
MICHELE HAUF is a USA TODAY bestselling author who has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for more than twenty years. France, musketeers, vampires and faeries usually feature in her stories. And if Michele followed the adage write what you know, all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries and creatures she has never seen. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and at michelehauf.com
Also by Michele Hauf
Storm Warning
The Witchs Quest
The Witch and the Werewolf
An American Witch in Paris
The Billionaire Werewolfs Princess
Tempting the Dark
This Strange Witchery
The Darks Mistress
Ghost Wolf
Moonlight and Diamonds
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk
Witness in the Woods
Michele Hauf
www.millsandboon.co.uk
WITNESS IN THE WOODS
© 2019 Michele Hauf
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
About the Author
Booklist
Title Page
Copyright
Note to Readers
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two