Force of the Falcon. Rita Herron

what if it was diseased? Was it possible that his beloved creatures had contracted some kind of strange illness that caused them to attack humans?

      Finally, a siren squealed outside, and the paramedics punched the gargoyle doorbell, causing a resounding lion’s roar to moan throughout the house. Katie jerked her head up, startled.

      He forced a small smile. “I’ve got a crazy doorbell, don’t I?”

      She nodded, a tiny smile lifting the corner of her mouth as if they shared a secret. Then she dropped her head back down against her mother’s.

      He hurried to let the rescue workers in and quickly explained what had happened. The woman’s name was Sonya Silverstein. Apparently she worked with them as a paramedic. She and Katie had just moved into the old farmhouse just a mile away from Falcon Ridge. He could see the rambling wooden structure from the top of the ridge.

      Katie climbed into his lap while the paramedics checked Sonya’s vitals and started an IV, placed a temporary dressing on her wounds, moved her to a gurney and transported her to the ambulance.

      “Check the little girl, too,” Brack said. Although she appeared to be okay, he didn’t know how long she’d been out in the snow or how weak her health was. “And Sonya said to call Miss Margaret.”

      A big barrel-chested guy who introduced himself as Van Richards nodded, then reached for Katie. “We’ll call her on the way. Come on, peewee, you can ride in the truck with your mama.”

      “But whats about Snowball?” Katie asked.

      “Snowball will be happier staying at my house where it’s warm tonight,” Brack said in a low voice. “We can take him back to your house in the morning.”

      She scrunched her mouth in thought, but seemed to accept his offer.

      Van nudged her arm. “We need to go, Katie.”

      Katie glanced up at Brack with those mesmerizing eyes, eyes full of terror. “Will you comes with us, Mister?”

      “Brack,” he said softly.

      Van shot him a skeptical look that bordered on distrust, as if he suspected that Brack might have attacked Sonya. “There’s not room.”

      Katie wrinkled up her nose. “I can squish over.”

      Brack silently cursed. All his life, he and his brothers had endured those condemning looks. They’d been dubbed murderer’s sons. And then there was their strange affinity for the wild.

      It was the very reason he hated this town. He still wasn’t sure he’d stay.

      To hell with these guys. He didn’t have to prove himself to them or anyone else in this godforsaken place. He’d done all he could tonight. He’d saved the woman and kid. Now he could walk away.

      Katie tugged at his hand, her chin quivering. “Pwease, Mr. Bwack,” Katie pleaded.

      Really, how could he refuse the poor little girl? He wanted to know more about the creature that had attacked the woman, anyway.

      The younger guy, Joey Bates, climbed in the driver’s seat while Van settled Katie into the back.

      “I’ll drive my SUV to the hospital and meet you there, sweetie, okay?”

      She nodded, then pasted on a brave smile and huddled into the blanket beside her mother. Sonya was breathing steadily, but anxiety still tugged at Brack. He waved to Katie as the door shut behind them, then crawled into his Land Rover and cranked the engine. The wind beat at the windows, fresh snow swirling in a fog. More questions hammered through his head as he maneuvered the vehicle down the mountain toward town.

      Didn’t Sonya have any family to call? Where was her husband?

      If he was alive, if they were divorced, did he ever see Katie?

      If so, why wouldn’t she have wanted him to call the man now? She’d need help with Katie while she healed.

      They’re not your problem, he silently reminded himself. Don’t get involved.

      But he had to find out exactly what had attacked Sonya. Was it one of his birds of prey or was it another kind of creature—a human one who not only killed animals but now had attacked an innocent woman?

      BRACK PACED the hospital waiting room, sipping the stale, cold coffee from the vending machine as he waited on the doctors to check Katie and Sonya. A half hour later, one of the nurses finally appeared; he almost accosted her with questions, but at the last moment held himself in check.

      “Sir, were you the man who found the Silverstein woman and child?”

      He glanced at her name tag. Amy. She was youngish, maybe early thirties, blond hair, a kind smile. “Yes. Brack Falcon. How are they?”

      “They’re both going to be fine. They treated Sonya’s injuries and have settled her into a room now. Her little girl is in there with her.” She paused, studying him, her eyes narrowed. “We’ve called the babysitter, Margaret Mallady,” she continued. “She said she’d be here as soon as possible to pick up Katie.”

      “Good.” He could breathe now. Go home.

      “Did you see the attack on Ms. Silverstein, Mr. Falcon?”

      He shook his head. “No, I heard her screaming and found her on the ground.”

      A frown creased her forehead. “What were they doing outside in the blizzard?”

      “The little girl snuck out looking for her kitten.”

      “That sounds like Katie.” The woman’s round cheeks ballooned out as she shook her head. “Poor Sonya. She’s had her hands full. She didn’t need this.”

      He frowned, wanting to ask what she meant but warning himself not to.

      Don’t get involved, and you won’t get hurt.

      He was a loner. A man who needed no one. A man who didn’t want anyone needing him.

      “Doctor Waverman called the sheriff,” Amy said. “To report the attacks.”

      Sheriff Cohen. Dammit. He was the last person in town Brack wanted to see. He hated the man for railroading his father into jail twenty years ago. And he’d tried to run Rex out of town when he’d first arrived, and he’d interfered with their investigation.

      “Oh, there he is now.” She rushed forward to greet the sheriff, then gestured toward Brack. Sheriff Cohen’s jowls shook as he gave Brack a once-over. His look said it all. Why had the Falcon boys returned to Falcon Ridge—to cause trouble?

      Cohen shifted, then jerked his pants up with his stubby thumbs and stalked toward Brack. “So, you’re the other Falcon?”

      Brack nodded. “Sheriff.”

      “You found the Silverstein woman?”

      “Yes.”

      His bushy eyebrows climbed his forehead. “Mind telling me what you were doing out in the woods?”

      “You know my family rescues injured birds. Lately there have been several attacks on the animals. I heard a loud screeching sound, and was out checking on them.”

      “You were searching for wounded birds?” Suspicion laced the sheriff’s gruff voice.

      “Yes. Then I heard a scream and found the woman on the ground. She’d been attacked. But she told me to look for her little girl.” He forced a steely calm to his voice although the memory of having to leave the woman alone haunted him. “I found Katie hiding in a cave, then carried them both to my house and phoned the paramedics.” He finished matter-of-factly, glaring at the sheriff, willing him to defy his statement.

      “You know what attacked the woman?” Cohen asked.

      Brack shook his head. “I didn’t see the actual attack.”

      A doctor appeared