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her head around to look at Chase again, panic in her expression.
    "We're buddies from the war. Special Forces. We’ve known each other forever."
    She again looked warily at the forest.
    "He's a good guy. He's the reason I returned here after my family died. The whole place is cougar shifter run. We all do our own things, but we all watch out for each other also. You're safe here. We might have to take it a little slow on the return trip, though."
    She stared at him now.
    "After you knocked me down, I think I suffered a bit of a concussion. When I shifted so I could talk to you, the pain in my head was so great, I guess I passed out. I kept seeing two of you. I ran into trees, and before that, I missed the last ledge I meant to jump down to get off the mountain. Luckily, the drop was only about fifteen feet or I could have killed myself."
    He really hadn't meant to mention that part, either. It didn't sound macho enough. On the other hand, he really wanted to impress upon her that he wasn't in any shape to chase after her, she wasn't in any shape to run, and they'd all be better off sticking to his plan—going with him to his home.
    So when had he forgotten the part about how Dan was supposed to take her home with him ?
    Maybe because Chase thought the she-cat might be beginning to trust him a little and hadn't run off, and because he did have a separate place for her to stay so she didn't have to feel closed in or smothered. Or that she was a prisoner of sorts, her every move being watched.
    "The places I rent are all empty now with the tourists gone. So it's quiet. The grocery store is already closed for the night, but I can run into town and get you some food for tomorrow. You'll have everything you need, free of charge. Kitchenette, hot showers, and a comfortable bed. What do you say?"
    She heard movement in the trees, and he prayed it was Dan and not someone else who might think the cougar had injured him. Even though she had.
    Then he saw Dan stalking out of the trees. He was carrying Chase's rifle, a backpack, and Chase's coat was tucked over that so that it appeared he'd retrieved all of his things. Chase hadn't relished climbing back up the mountain and back down again, in the event his head was still not quite right.
    “Thank God, you’re here.” Chase turned to tell the woman he was shifting back into his cougar form, but she’d bolted. “Hell and damnation.” He was so cold and stiff that he welcomed the change in his skin and muscles and bones, the warming effect and the fur protecting him from the chilling night breeze. At least he didn't pass out this time. His head still throbbed, but he was seeing clearer now.
    He swayed a little on his feet, but then he went after her.
    “No!” Dan said. “I’ve got all your stuff. Here, change, I’ll run her down.”
    Chase was on it. He didn’t want to run as a human, though he realized he wasn’t quite moving at his usual cat-in-a-rush speed. He heard Dan dump everything and run after him, and even as a human, he caught up to him.
    Then he saw her up ahead, lying on her side, panting, her eyes closed. Was she faking being knocked out? He never would have imagined she could have lasted this long though. Still, as he approached her, he used caution.
    Dan’s footfalls were heavy behind him as he ran to catch up.
    “Is she out for good?” Dan asked, drawing up close to Chase, but waiting for his say so.
    Chase growled a little. He moved up close to her, meant only to nudge her, but licked her cheek instead. She didn’t growl, snap, or react in any other way. She was completely wiped out.
    “Okay, I’ll carry her back. You grab your stuff and we’ll take her into town,” Dan said.
    Chased waited while Dan lifted her into his arms. Then he turned around and loped toward his gear, still feeling a little under the weather, his head pounding, and he hoped he was running in a straight line or else Dan wouldn’t go along with his plan—to let the woman stay at