“I’ve always wanted to open a wildlife rehabilitation center.” The weariness that had pulled his face low lifted as he looked at her. “I watched a documentary when I was younger about this man who saved eagles here in Alaska, fixed them, then sent them back into the wild to live. It fascinated me, and from that moment on, I wanted to do the same, only by taking in all kinds of animals, not just eagles. But after I graduated from vet school with a mountain of debt, I realized just how hard it’d be to open a facility like I wanted. I was working at a kangaroo rehabilitation center when Nature came in to shoot a piece, and next thing I know, I’ve got a nice contract and I’m jetting to my first location.”
His story pushed at her core, making her break out into a sweat all over again. What if the series had the opposite effect she hoped for? She didn’t want to become mired in the success of it if it changed what they’d always planned as their vision. Staring at Rowdy as he bounded to Bjørn, she shook her head. She’d just have to make sure that didn’t happen. They’d stay true to their vision or cut the network loose. The resolve eased the nerves and doubt.
“Would your center be in Alaska or back in Australia?” She bit her bottom lip to keep her smile contained.
“Alaska.” Drew’s quick answer had her smile break free. Had it always been Alaska, or was a certain redheaded cousin of hers to blame for the location? “Actually, I think I’ve found a place just outside of Seward that is going to work perfectly.”
Sadie snorted out a laugh, quickly covering it with a cough.
“What?” Drew flipped his palms up and shrugged.
“Nothing.” Sadie couldn’t wait to see how this all played out. “I’m glad you’re going to be around more.”
Sadie whistled to Rowdy as she pulled his leash out of her pocket. Drew’s story seemed to flip off the switch to the nerves that had jolted her all night long. With him helping them, he wouldn’t let her and her family spiral from their goal like he had. She’d just relax and enjoy this training and her new friends, like the cameras weren’t even there.
“You should’ve seen how amazing Rowdy did.” Sadie brushed out Rowdy’s coat as she told Denali about the training session. “Bjørn brought a tennis ball with him—had it in his pocket—and Rowdy melted in the guy’s hand.”
“How did the filming go?” Denali crossed her arms, her teeth worrying her upper lip.
“At first, it was weird having a camera constantly pointing at me.” She stood, pulled the bits of grass, seeds, and hair from the brush, and tossed the clump in the trash. “But, honestly, after a while, I completely forgot they were even there. Drew was great at keeping me focused, so I didn’t really have time to think about the cameras.”
“Yeah, he’s smooth like that.” Denali huffed and flopped on the grass with her Belgian Malinois, Hank.
“He’s a nice guy.” Sadie toed her cousin’s foot. “You should give him a break. He’s going to be around for a while.”
“Two months.” Denali threw one arm over her face, hiding her eyes in the crook of her elbow, and laid the other hand on Hank’s head. “Two months of filming and then he’ll be out of our hair, unless the network wants more, then we’ll have to put up with him again.”
“Actually…” Sadie tossed the brush in the air, drawing out her response to drive Denali crazy with suspense. “He said he might stick around. Guess he likes it here.” She smiled as her cousin’s mouth dropped open. “Isn’t that exciting?”
A mosquito flew into Denali’s gaping mouth as Sadie walked away. She chuckled as Denali sputtered and spat behind her. It’d do Denali good to shake up her world a little. Drew seemed a good bet to be someone who could shake just hard enough to get Denali out of the protective bubble she’d put around her, but not hard enough to pop it before she was ready.
“Hey, wait,” she called out to Sadie.
“Can’t talk now.” Sadie waved without looking. “I’m meeting with Bjørn to plan our next training.”
“But… but—”
Sadie shouldn’t get so much enjoyment from seeing Denali spin, but that Drew had her twirling in the first place encouraged Sadie. Years had passed since Denali had put so much on herself. Sadie was more than ready to have her cousin back, even if getting her to take a second chance at love took some annoying from a certain hot Australian TV star.
Sadie swung her pack filled with maps over her shoulder and skipped down the front porch steps toward her Land Cruiser, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time. She had known that the stress of getting the kennel up and running had weighed on her, but she hadn’t realized just how much until that morning. She never imagined they’d be able to change their trajectory so quickly. Some would say it was crazy, putting themselves out there. Crazy was her jam. She loved the excitement and seeing their dreams expand. She just hoped her willingness to go for the wild didn’t end up crashing around them all.
She slowed as her dad pulled in next to her vehicle. His thick eyebrows scrunched over his eyes as he looked at her. Great. What did she do wrong now?
“Good. You’re here.” Dad stood from the car and leaned against the roof.
“I was just heading out to meet Bjørn to figure out our next training session.” Sadie twirled her keys on her finger, trying not to let her impatience show.
“That’s why I’ve come.” His forehead furrowed even deeper. “I just got off the phone with John, and I don’t think you should train with Bjørn anymore.”
“What?” Sadie’s keys slipped off her finger and dropped to the asphalt. “You’ve got to be joking.”
“Now, listen.” Dad held up both palms on the roof to stop her. “John said there were questions swirling around one of Bjørn’s last missions. He’s going to dig into it, but he said to proceed with caution with Rebel.”
“Dad, just the other day you were proclaiming him a superhero.” Sadie stepped up to her dad’s car.
“I never said that.” He scoffed.
“Now you’re telling me to stay clear?” Sadie waved her hands around. “What, are you not going to accept his help if a SAR call comes in?”