Page 58 of The Cowboy Takes A Bride

Marjory came to the porch. “Give me those clothes. I’ll try and get the blood out of them. Go on inside and get cleaned up. We’ll get you some food while you shower.”

“Wait,” Pops said. “You going back out with Tuck?”

Jace shook his head. “He split off with Beasley’s foreman to start checking the herd up in the foothills. I’m gonna cover the lower pasture and work my way toward Beasley’s. I'll push them all down this way.”

Pops shook his head. “Not alone.”

Jace put one foot on the stairs and his hand on his hips. “It’s not ideal, I’ll admit, but it’s going to have to be on horse, Pops, and—”

“I’m not saying to take me. I know that would cause more stress than help. Take Meredith or Willow. Someone to watch your back.”

When Jace glanced at her, she tried to school her face, hoping the sudden escalation of fear she felt wasn’t showing. The thought of going out there with a bear terrified her, but the thought of Jace going out alone scared her more. Would she really be a help or a hindrance? Like with the cattle, would she make a mistake that could have terrible consequences? She hadn’t been afraid of the herd coming in, just being caught in it.This was different. This was a bear. A bear! What were the odds of surviving an attack?

Jace shook his head. “I dunno—”

“Come on, let’s get you fed and cleaned up.” Marjory gave him a push up the stairs.

After Marjory and Jace went into the house, Meredith collapsed in the chair and swallowed hard.

“You can do it,” Pops said sitting beside her. “Chances of seeing a bear are slim. He needs someone to keep an eye on the area around him. He’s tired—”

“We’re all tired. Which is why no one should go out.” She shook her head. Didn’t they see this was foolish?

“Meredith, this bear is close. He’s hungry, probably sick because he's hunting the herd and knows it's easy. He’s trying to fatten up before hibernation. Jace needs to drive as much of the herd as he can closer to home.”

“But what if we see a bear? My instincts aren’t what they should be for a place like this. When the herd came in, my instincts were all wrong. I did all the wrong things. I might be more harmful than—”

“That’s fear talking. To live out here means life isn’t always cushy. Now go get changed.” Turning away, Pops dismissed her with a flick of his hand.

There was no way she’d be able to cope if Jace went out alone. No way. Sitting on the porch worrying was far less helpful than actually watching his back. Meredith rose and went into the house.

Two hours later she was on Coco, a twelve-gauge shotgun in a saddle holster at her knee, and Jace beside her, clearly not happy she was going by the grumbling he was doing. He adjusted the pistol on his side then resituated the rope hanging from the lariat holder. Willow had saddled up as well and rode halfway with them, splitting off when they’d met up withanother party who needed an extra person. Most of the town was out helping their neighbor to bring herds in and look out for the bear.

Word was old man Beasley was in critical condition, but the prognosis was optimistic.

They rode in silence along the wood line until they came to the first herd.

“Is this his or ours?” She looked at the cattle; it was a small herd with no calves.

“Ours, the tags in the ear are yellow. That’s us. Beasley is green.” Jace rode up next to her, took her reins, and pulled her to a stop.

“What’s going on?” She looked in every direction, even rising in her seat to scan for something awful like a giant bear.

“Meredith, you need to breathe, babe. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’d feel better if you were safely at home but—”

“So would I. I’d love it if you were safe at home, too. I want everyone out here to be safe at home.” She swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall.

Jace brushed her cheek. “Fair enough. But this bear won’t stop. Even if he goes into hibernation, he’ll be back in the spring.”

“Pops thinks he's sick.”

Jace pressed his lips together, nodded, and then answered, “That's my guess too. Not typical behavior for a bear.”

Did that make the bear more dangerous? “What if we see him?” she whispered, her fingers brushing the shotgun.

“You let me handle it. Grizzlies like nice, calm talking. Don’t run off. If you get knocked off the horse, play dead. That gun at your side has a slug meant to stop big-ass animals, especially if it’s a grizzly, but packs serious power. It's hard to handle, and your shot has to be a precise headshot. Don't even try—go forthe bear spray.” He tapped the can hanging from a D-ring by her lariat holder.

Meredith nodded and bent forward, scanning the area again, silently praying this day would end soon and uneventfully. “I feel helpless. Like food, like prey. I don’t like it.”

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