Nick and Rebecca climbed into opposite sides of the front seat of Nick's truck, while Steve claimed the back seat for himself.
"Do we all need to go?" Rebecca asked.
"Steve's my Shaku, as well as my personal security. While normally I might go into town without him, I want him with us today, just in case. I'm not risking your safety over my pride."
She ducked her head shyly. "Thank you."
Nick put on finger under her chin, lifting and turning her face until she was looking him in the eye. "No more of that. Hold your head high. That defiance that made you flee your old Chanat? I love it. I don't want you hiding it - ever."
The joy flared in her eyes, followed closely by the relief that washed over her face, a smile breaking through, "Thank goodness for that. I wasn't sure how long I could do the meek, submissive thing before I blew it."
"You don't have to. I expect you to stand up for yourself and others if you're able. Even if you choose not to seal the mating, or even stay with me, you'll have a place in this Chanat."
"Thank you." She lifted her chin off his finger and lifted herself to lean over the console between the seats to place a kiss on his cheek before settling back onto her side of the truck and buckling her seatbelt.
They were soon on the road and Rebecca asked questions about the town and surrounding area during the half hour drive.
* * *
Nick pulled into a small lot and parked his truck in front of a small ladies clothing shop. Sliding out of the truck, he went around to the passenger's side and caught Rebecca before her bare feet could hit the ground.
"Pavement sometimes has broken glass in it. No need to cut your feet up if you don't have to." He carried her over to the sidewalk and sat her down carefully. He curled his arm across the back her shoulders and walked toward the building with her. Steve, not seeing a reason he was needed inside, leaned against the side of the truck, keeping an eye on them through the large display windows and watching the street around him at the same time.
Nick pulled the glass door open, letting Rebecca into the store and following close behind.
"Pick out whatever you'd like," he prompted, letting her wander deeper into the shop. He watched as a sales girl approached her and he signaled for the other girl's attention. As the girl approached he recognized one of the younger members of his Chanat. He’d known it was likely here and he'd chosen this particular shop for that very reason.
"Amy, she's gonna need to wear an outfit out. The rest needs to be bagged and taken out to my truck. Don't give her the prices, I'll cover it all."
She nodded and went to help the other sales girl. He caught up with Rebecca where she was browsing through one of the racks.
"Finding anything you like?" He rubbed one hand across her lower back as he came up behind her.
She turned and smiled up at him before going back to looking through the rack. "Some, I don't need a lot, but I do need a few things."
He watched her closely, anything she seemed to particularly like but put back on the rack he motioned to Amy. She would nod and make a note on the pad of paper she kept in one pocket.
After thirty minutes, Rebecca had chosen only a couple pair of jeans and a few t-shirts. Nick tried to convince her she needed more but she refused. He was glad he'd already made arrangements for her to get the things she'd liked. He turned to the first clerk. "Underthings? She needs it all, from the skin out."
As the clerk lead her toward the lingerie section of the store, he turned back to Amy and handed her a credit card. "Do you carry shoes?"
"A few. Nothing much, sir."
"Hopefully you'll have something she can wear out of here." His mind more on what Rebecca was doing than himself. "Let me know if you need anything else," he said over his shoulder as he went to find Rebecca again.
When they were finished shopping, Rebecca disappeared into one of the changing rooms while Nick took care of the bill and sent the bags out to the truck. Rebecca emerged dressed in one of the pair of jeans she'd chosen. She'd paired them with a snug, well-fitting t-shirt with MEOW stretched taut over her full breasts, and a pair of lightweight tennis shoes protected her feet. She carried a small bag she'd taken with her to put the sweats in. Nick looked at her as she approached him, smiling. He could already see a change in her attitude and the way she carried herself.
"You ready to go get something to eat?"
"Sure, if that's what you and Steve want to do." She smiled back. "Where's the rest?" She looked for the rest of her purchases.
"I already took them out."
"All right then." She turned to the clerk who'd helped her. "Thank you for all your help today, you were a lifesaver." Rebecca smiled at the girl. The girl just nodded, not knowing what to say.
"Come on, kitten. Steve's been standing out there for almost two hours, let's go feed him."
She cringed as she headed for the door. "Two hours? Really?"
Nick just laughed, happy she'd lost track of time while she'd shopped.
* * *
They went to a small family style restaurant for lunch. It was obviously a local hot spot, because even after one o'clock there were only a few empty tables in the entire place. Rebecca trailed after Nick, sliding into one side of the bench seats at the booth he’d led them too. He slid in beside her, leaving Steve to sit alone on the other side.
Before they'd completely settled in, a waitress came by, bringing glasses of water and menus. She was an older woman, probably in her mid-forties, tall with auburn bouffant hair teased within an inch its life. She had a perpetual smile as she greeted them.
"Good afternoon. What can I get you all to drink?" she asked.
"Iced tea please, Liz," Steve smiled at her.
"I'll have tea too," Nick replied, hugging Rebecca to him with one arm. "What do you want?"
"Do you have Coke or Pepsi?" She smiled up at the older woman.
"Pepsi."
"Then a Pepsi please." With another smile Rebecca turned her attention to the menu in front of her. Her anxiety about being found had returned when she saw the crowded restaurant.
* * *
After they finished eating, they stopped at the grocery store to pick up the few things they needed while they were in town, then they climbed back in the truck for the trip home.
"Rebecca," Steve spoke up from the back seat. "It occurred to me in the grocery store you don't have a purse,"
"It was kind of hard to carry one while I was living as a wild cougar," Rebecca said sarcastically.
"Yeah, but that's not really what I meant. I mean, without a purse you won't have the things most women carry in one. Driver's license, identification, that kind of thing."
"So? Is that a problem for you?" She was starting to get annoyed.
"Not for me, but I thought eventually you might want them. When you went into hiding, did you hide them somewhere you could retrieve them later or do we need to contact the state for new copies?"
"Oh." She realized he was trying to be helpful. She twisted in her seat until she was able to look at him as she spoke, "I hid my real ID shortly after I left my Chanat. I figured out real quick that if I used my real name they could find me faster. When I went on the run as a cat, I just left what I had. It was all forged anyway."
"That's good, it was smart. When you're ready, if you'll let us know where you hid your things, we can send someone to retrieve them."
"That would be nice. Thank you." She smiled, but didn't volunteer the information. She knew she'd need something if she was going to stay long term, but didn't want to contact the company she'd left the package containing her things with until she knew she wasn't going to run again.
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