Page 253 of Mountain Boss

Chapter 194

Courtney

“Lady Bear,”I whisper.

She’s so large.

So ethereal and intimidating as she appears from the woods.

And as she lifts her head to sniff the air, I remember I’m bleeding.

Lady Bear takes another step closer, and the knife leaves my throat.

I try to take a step back, wanting to give her the distance she deserves, but then two hands slam against my back, shoving me toward the bear.

Chapter 195

Sterling

Courtney stumbles awayfrom the Creep.

And that’s all I need.

I take two fast strides forward, halving the distance between us.

Then I squeeze the trigger.

The shot explodes from the end of my weapon and blasts through the man’s knee.

He crumples to the ground.

Chapter 196

Courtney

The loud gunshotpulls a squeak out of my chest as I fall to the ground.

Feet away, Lady Bear rears up to her hind legs, and I freeze.

My heart is beating so fast I think I might be having a heart attack. But I stay still, lying uncomfortably on my side, trying not to move a muscle.

Even with this massive bear looming above me, I feel safer than I did a moment ago, because I’m not alone anymore.

Sterling is here.

He got here just in time.

Seconds pass, and I finally make out the pained sounds coming from the creepy man.

I was busy falling, so I couldn’t see exactly what happened, but I hope that gunshot was Sterling shooting him.

Ben lets out a sound of distress, and I search with just my eyes until I find him. Fisher is holding his collar, keeping him out of harm’s way. And another layer of relief settles across my shoulders.

Then the ground vibrates as Lady Bear drops back down to all fours.

I hold my breath as she looks down at me.

Her nose twitches, then she turns to look at the man who attacked me.

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