Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 20927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“Peachy.” This is almost as disappointing as the day my vibrator stopped holding a charge during the steamiest spanking scene I’d ever read.
I pocket my phone and leave the car. I’ll call the rental service in the morning and tell them to send someone to get it.
Grabbing my bag and rolling suitcase with the old, loose latch, I start walking up the mountain in the direction the GPS told me to before my phone died. The entire time I’m puffing my way up the incline, I’m muttering under my breath, “Go on vacation, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.”
I’ve been walking twenty minutes when a twig snaps. I clutch my bag tighter and glance around. Peering into the densely wooded area, I can’t see anything. But the worst call I’ve had to take suddenly runs through my mind. The woman that called begging and pleading for someone to save her. I couldn’t get help to her in time and the familiar well of tears threatens to spring up.
I swallow them down and remind myself that it’s probably just a bunny or another forest animal. It’s not like I’m unfamiliar with the woods. There’s plenty of outdoor fun to be had in South Tahoe. Except that I’m usually inside reading.
The sounds start again, louder this time. Something is definitely in those woods. Just as I’m debating whether to seek the safety of the car, a large black bear lumbers out from the trees and onto the dirt road. It’s less than twenty feet away from me and making deep grunting noises.
My mouth goes dry as the bear stands on its hind legs and begins sniffing the air. Please don’t let me smell like your next meal.
2
GRAY
“What have we got here, Mundungus?” I ask as I slow my stroll. It’s a tiny red car. Looks more like something a kid would play with than an adult would drive. Except that my sister loves her little car just like this. Fortunately, it’s not her car, and the realization sends relief through me.
Today is a rare day off and I’ve been savoring it as I hike through the mountains of Sweetheart, North Carolina. I grew up here and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. These mountains aren’t just in my blood. They’re in my soul.
I put my hand on the hood. “Still warm. Might be a stranded tourist nearby.”
Mundungus meows softly as if agreeing. He’s a stray that I adopted a couple of years ago. When he first came to me, he was all big eyes and paws with his ribs showing. Now he’s at a healthy weight with a beautiful gray coat and a penchant for getting into mischief.
He sits in the pack on my back, my little adventuring buddy. Not everyone realizes cats can be great hiking companions.
I pause. I can hear something on the breeze. It’s the sound of someone talking. A feminine voice, carrying on the wind, “So the thing about it is that people like me really don’t taste too good. Besides, fatty foods will kill you really fast.”
I have to see what the hell is going on. I take a few steps forward around the bend and my heart about stops in my chest when I see the woman talking to the black bear. It’s on its hind legs, sniffing the air as she continues to babble on about the importance of eating healthy. I’m pretty sure she just started promising Jesus that she’ll give up her cheese Danish obsession if he gets her through this.
“Stay quiet,” I tell Mundungus and hope he listens. The noise of a small animal is the last thing this bear needs.
I step forward slowly until I’m shoulder to shoulder with the woman. Well, shoulder to chest. She’s a small slip of a thing. All curves and dark ringlets pulled back in a messy ponytail. She smells fuckin’ amazing too and it’s a hell of a time to be realizing that.
In my deepest, most authoritative voice say, “Get gone. This ain’t your home.”
“Believe me, I want to go home!” She cries out as if I were talking to her.
I raise my arms and wave them slowly. “Do this.”
Black bears are gentle creatures that don’t like to attack people. The only time you’re truly at risk of an attack is if you’re dealing with a malnourished bear or you’ve stumbled upon a mother and her cubs. All of this information is in the pamphlets the county hands out. It’s on our website too.
This bear is not only a healthy weight but he’s on his hind legs and sniffing the air. At this point, he’s more curious than anything. As long as it’s clear to him we’re not prey, there’s a good chance he’ll move along.
“I was going to opt for the fetal position,” she whispers as she starts copying my motions.