Page 75 of Loud Unspoken Memories

That knowledge doesn’t help much, though, when Marti is standing between him and me and the entire last eight days flash through my mind.

“I don’t think I can move,” she says in a pained whisper, fear hindering her voice.

I hold my hand out and down. “Step forward. Two steps and I’ll have you. Slowly. You can do it.” I avert my eyes from the bear and focus on her. Tears cascade down her cheeks. “You’ve got this, sweetheart. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I promise.”

There’s that word again.Promise. Only this time, I swear on my own life that I mean it. I’m not going to let anything hurt her. I won’t let anything hurt herever.

Her left foot shuffles forward.

“That’s it,” I say. “Just another few steps.”

She shuts her eyes, takes a deep breath, and closes the few feet between us.

I grasp her cold, trembling hand in mine. “Good. Now get behind me.” I turn to the bear. “Hey, bud. There’s nothing to see here,” I say calmly. “We don’t have any food. You might as well be on your way.”

“You’re…talkingto him?”Marti asks from behind.

“Bear Encounters 101,” I tell her. “If you speak to them, they know you’re human and not another animal. And see how he’s standing on his hind legs? That means he’s curious, not threatening.”

“How come that doesn’t make me feel better?”

I laugh quietly, because at this moment I’m shitting my pants too.

I’ve seen bears over the years. Plenty of them. Mostly from afar. They aren’t aggressive like grizzlies, but that doesn’t mean we should be inviting him for dinner.Oh, shit, food. I have a granola bar in my pocket. I always keep a stash there for whenI’m working outside. Can he smell it? I don’t dare give it to him. It would be like feeding a stray cat—he’d never leave.

I run different scenarios in my head. We could slowly back away and go for the cabin. But it’s thirty feet in the other direction. What if he follows us? I should stay here and send Marti by herself. That way I could distract the bear from watching or going after her. But she’d have to walk around the truck, and what if he—

The truck. It’s right behind us. And it’s unlocked.

“Marti, I want you to get into the truck. It’s behind you and to the right. If you back up ten steps, you should be at the front bumper. Don’t waste time going around to the other side. And don’t go to the cabin. The truck is unlocked. Get in and you’ll be safe. Lock the door. Bears know how to open them.”

“If bears know how to open them, why do you leave it unlocked?”

I turn my head and look at her.“That’swhat you want to argue about? Jesus, Marti, just get in the goddamn truck. I need you safe.”

“What about you?”

“I’m bigger than he is up here. He won’t attack.”I think. “Now go.”

Keeping an eye on the bear, I watch her in my periphery as she backs away, reaches the truck and gets inside. The relief that floods through me is palpable.

Okay, now what? Will he come closer if I get off the stump and go toward the truck? Do I just stay here until he leaves? I lift my arms over my head, trying to make myself look even bigger. “There’s nothing here for you, dude.”

A sound startles me.Oh, shit, it’s Bex. He’s seen the bear from inside and is barking his head off.

The bear gets down on all fours.This is not good. He starts slowly walking toward me. Does he thinkI’mmaking the noise? I am directly in between him and the cabin.Shit. Shit. Shit.

My heart thunders in my chest, pounding so hard I fear it will explode.

I hear another noise behind me. The distinct sound of the door to my truck opening.No!

“Get in!” Marti whisper-shouts.

I risk glancing over. She’s got the door wide open. Ten steps. If I jump down and run over, I might be able to get in before the bear registers what’s happening.

When I look back at the bear,he’snow looking at the open door to the truck.

“Oh, no you don’t,” I say, then leap off the stump, covering at least half the distance in the air. When I hit the ground, I sprint the last few steps and dive into the back seat, reaching back to close and lock the door behind me just as the bear’s face appears on the other side of the glass.

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