Page 57 of The Cowboy Takes A Bride

“What’s happening?” Meredith whispered.

“Leo is the physician’s assistant. He used to be an EMT. They’re going up to Beasley’s place to do what they can until the ambulance gets there. Jace and Tuck are going to provide cover in case the bear is hanging around. If it was a grizzly, they like to come back for their kill.”

Meredith shuddered and gripped Willow’s hand. “The others? Surely, they aren’t going to hunt for the bear in the dark?”

Willow shook her head. “No, but they’ll go up and do a look around the property. Other’s will go home and get sleep so the search can start early tomorrow.”

A million questions needed to be asked.

“Let’s start packing up food.” Willow tugged her toward the tables where people were making quick work of cleaning up.

Unable to focus on anything but Jace, Meredith found herself drawn to the front of the barn. Jace was getting into his pickup, a shotgun over his shoulder. He glanced her way, gave a brief nod, then climbed in the truck and was gone.

Later that night, she laid in bed, alone, waiting for Jace to return, fading into sleep, only to jerk awake as she repeated the nightmare of a giant bear attacking Jace. Sometime in the deep night, exhaustion finally claimed her. It had provided a fitful rest that was later interrupted with the rooster’s crow. His side of the bed was empty, the sheets tucked under his pillow and the spot cold.

24

After breakfast was made and the kitchen cleaned, Meredith sat on the porch next to Pops, who was rocking slowly in his chair, a shotgun resting against the wall beside him.

Meredith picked at her fingernails, occasionally biting one. The day was beautiful, cool with a crystal clear sky, but it was quiet. More so than Meredith liked. Maybe the ranch had always been this way during work hours, she couldn’t say, but it seemed as if even the chickens weren't up to their normal clucking. All she knew was that it felt different. Unsettling, like hidden within the wind was a badness blowing across the land.

Marjory was sweeping the porch of the cabin, Willow feeding the horses in the barn. Meredith was losing her mind on the porch. She had no experience with bears. Her brief Internet search after breakfast had shown pages of information about attacks and how difficult it was to kill a grizzly. She’d walked away from the computer unable to get the images washed from her mind.

Pops sighed, slapped his hand on the arm of the chair, then let out a expletive heavy with bitterness.

“Pops?”

“I should be out there,” he mumbled.

“I don’t understand how they think they can find him, or if they find a bear how they’ll know it’s him.”

Pops gave a wane smile. “They try and track the bear, but mostly wait and see if he comes back. Jace said we’ve been having problems with a bear, and my guess it’s the same one.”

“Do they hunt people?” The pages of bear attacks she’d seen flashed before her.

“Ah, grizzlies are different. Hard to say. My guess is last night old man Beasley surprised the bear, and that’s why it happened.”

“Have you heard if he’s going to be okay?” Meredith held her breath.

“He was airlifted to the city hospital. Still waiting to hear.” Pop stared out toward the road and then leaned forward. “Looks like Jace is coming home.”

Meredith squinted and saw the dark fleck, Jace’s truck she supposed, coming toward them. She wanted to jump from her chair, so when Pops stood, so did she, twisting her hands in anticipation as they waited for him to draw closer. He parked near the house, and when he got out, Meredith gasped. His shirt was covered in blood.

“It’s old man Beasley’s.” He pulled the shotgun from the truck before walking slowly to the porch.

“Did it come back?” Pops stepped toward Jace and put out his hand, taking the shotgun.

“Nah, not that we saw. Lost the trail in the woods, but looks like he was headed toward the herd. Ours or Beasley’s. Hard to say.”

He looked exhausted, and Meredith wanted to…needed to do something more than be idle. “Are you hungry? Did you sleep?”

“I slept some in the truck. I could eat, though.” When he smiled at her, she sighed with relief. He was okay. He was okay. She had to keep telling herself that. He was okay, and he was home.

“I’m going back out. I want to move the herd closer, but I'd like to shower and get fresh clothes.” He stretched, his arms lifting over his head, and yawned.

Her knees wobbled. Going back out?

“Maybe you should get some sleep first.” Her hope was that the bear would be found while Jace was napping. It became her prayer. She felt it was a reasonable request.

---