Page 30 of Montana Delta Rescue
They needed to find her before the mountain lion did. By the size of its paws, it was a big one. If the cat was hunting her, she’d likely never know. Ambush hunters, a mountain lion would stalk her silently and she’d never know the big cat was there. Once she was within fifty feet of it, the big cat would attack.
Marilyn feltlike she could not stay in her spot any longer. The men were still on the mountain hunting her and she knew they would kill her if they could.
The mountain lion was nearby as well. She began slowly getting to her feet, afraid the big cat might jump out at her, any minute. Memory of its powerful body leaping over her stuck in her mind, making her more watchful than she’d ever been in her life.
Looking around, she gathered a large branch from the ground, to use as a climbing stick and as a weapon. From now on she would move slower and stay even more watchful.
Her limbs shook as she started to move, but at least she was moving.
I have to find a safe place to hide. Not here. That cat knows where I am. I have to get farther away from them and that cat.
Raindrops started to fall, and the dark sky would make visibility worse. That might help her hide from the men, but it wouldn’t help with the cat. The cat was probably used to rain and to hunting in the rain.
I wish I was safe at Hank and Sadie’s ranch. Please let Hank and his team find me.
Thunder and lightning now crashed, making her nerves even more jumpy. Rain fell down her neck and back as she hunched over, chilled beneath the cold wet drops.
She came to a small cave in the mountain, just big enough for two adults to hide in or for a big cat. But it was empty. She crawled inside, hoping it wasn’t some animals home. Hoping she could stay undetected.
It seemed she had waited there a long time when she heard an animal moving through the bushes, sniffing the ground.
She pulled her feet back, toward where she sat on the ground in a sodden huddle, her arms wrapped around her legs. Chilled, shaking with fear and with cold, she watched the bushes, thinking at any moment this would be her last.
The beast would come and devour her, the men would find her and shoot her.
The bushes parted.
A wet Hercules stuck his nose through, still sniffing as he saw her. He gave a great “woof!”
It was the happiest sound she had heard in her entire life. Like there you are, friend. I am so happy to see you. The way that only a dog could respond to a friend.
Hercules came near and sniffed her even more as if checking her out to make sure she was okay.
Then, suddenly Rock was there, looming over her, his stern face filled with concern, looking more handsome to her than any man had ever looked before.
And in that moment she fell hard, harder than she’d fallen for any man in her life.
“Rock,” she breathed out. “You’re here.”
“Of course,” he said. “Nowhere else I’d be.”
“Oh good,” she closed her eyes briefly, releasing her fear of dying soon, her stress from being hunted, her fear of mountain lions and mafia men and her ex-boyfriend. She opened them again. “I’m so glad you found me.”
“Herc found you,” he said. “Are you hurt?”
“Good ole Herc,” she said, her eyes tearing up, “Good boy.” She reached to scratch his ears and at a signal from Rock, Herc let her.
“Good boy.” She was rapidly becoming emotional, ready to sob with relief.
“Are you hurt?” Rock repeated.
“Hurt?” she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “No, I, I don’t think so.”
“Good,” he said. He crouched down with her and the dog and then said. “Now shh, I need to listen.”
Knowing the men and the mountain lion were still out there sobered her emotions down again and she quieted immediately, nodding to him.
He grasped her hand and squeezed it gently.
