“Well, in case you didn’t notice, I cleaned the living room while you were out cutting up the bear! So, I’m not completely useless!” Mallory yelled at him, sitting at the kitchen table with her hand up. She was obviously in pain, but trying to conceal it, tears rimming her eyes.

Brock knelt in front of her, placing his on the top of her legs. “Mallory, I never said you were useless.” He let out a deep breath. “Let me see your hand.”

“No!”

What was he going to do with her? She was difficult, to be sure, but there was something about her that attracted him more than any...