Page 72 of Play With Me

“But—”

“There are no buts right now, Sophie.” I tightened my voice just enough not to scare her but show her how serious I was. That’s what I’d do if she were my daughter. I felt a tightness in my chest. She lowered her head and came to my side, taking my hand.

She tugged it and looked up meeting my gaze. “I’m sorry.”

As soon as the bear heard her voice it sprinted toward her, cuddling to her side.

“We have to help him find his Momma,” Sophie explained.

I was afraid his Momma would find us before we found her.

“He’s lost and hungry and he needs our help.” She squeezed my hand with more urgency.

“What we’re going to do right now is quietly walk away from the bear and go back to camp. Do you hear me?”

I took a step back, then another, tugging Sophie along.

“Okay, but— ”

“No buts right now, Sophie. Just follow me and don’t talk.”

We hiked back to the camp, and as soon as we passed and sealed off the perimeter, I exhaled. Except I hadn’t figured that Boo would follow us. And why was I calling him Boo?

“What’s going on?” Brook lowered a stack of twigs near the fire.

Anna peeked out of the tent. “You’re an early bird, Sophie.”

I crouched to the ground, gently took Sophie by the side of her arms, and looked at her at eye-level.

“Why is he following us, Sophie?”

“That’s what I was trying to tell you. He can tell we’re smart people and that we won’t harm him. Animals can sense that sort of thing.”

“Who’s he?” Brook asked, and then strode toward the entrance, peering over the tall shrubs. “Why is there a bear cub outside the camp?”

I whirled toward him. “Brook, I think we have a serious problem.”

If the cub didn’t leave, sooner or later his mother would find him – and us.

“Do not tell me that we’ve adopted him.”

“Da… ahh, that’s a great idea, Uncle Brook. Boo needs a family. He’s lost and something’s happened to his mommy.”

“Have you seen his mommy?”

“No.”

Thank God!

“Sophie says he’s been following her around. She was eating berries. We need to lead it away from here before the mother returns.”

The bear grunted again, as if calling out for someone — probably its angry mother.

“I think I might have found a settlement up in the mountains about ten miles from here we need to check out. I was going to wait until nightfall, but we should go sooner. The forecast is not promising.”

“Can we lead the fur ball away from here?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

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