Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Good.”
“But I don’t like him, either.”
I roll my eyes and dig into the cooler for the little apple tartlets that I included and break one open.
“You know as well as I do,” Rem continues, “that there are players or teams that your dad didn’t get along with. There were rivalries there.”
“It’s a sport,” I reply. “That’s not the same thing as despising your neighbor for the better part of two centuries, Grumpy. That’s just stupid.”
“Ah, well.” He shrugs and grabs his own apple tartlet. “It’s tradition.”
He starts to say something else, but I stop him, listening.
“I think I heard something,” I whisper. We’re both still as we wait and listen, and then Remington stands, pulls me to my feet, and we hurry to the Jeep.
When I’m safely inside, he grabs the gun.
“You’re not going back out there,” I say.
“Hell yes, I am. You stay here, you hear me?”
“I’ll stay. I don’t want to get eaten by a bear or a mama moose.”
“Me either.” His face is grim as he walks to the back of the Jeep so he has a wider vision of our area, and then I see him hightail it to the driver’s side and climb in. “It’s a motherfucking grizzly bear.”
“What?” My voice is a squeak. “Where?”
“It’s still about twenty yards away. I can’t let it eat our lunch.”
“I don’t mind sharing.”
“No, I’ll explain later, but just stay here.”
Before I can protest, Remington jumps out of the Jeep and runs to where we were just sitting, grabs all of our supplies in his arms, and runs back to me, tossing everything unceremoniously into the back and shutting the door. The bear stops on the grass, staring at Rem.
“He looks irritated at you.”
“I’m sure he is. But he’s not allowed to eat human food, or we’d have to have him put down.”
“Oh, my God.” I frown over at Rem before turning my gaze back to the bear. “Holy shit, he’s a she, and she’s a mama.”
Two tiny, little fuzzy cubs come sauntering along behind her, bouncy and playful.
“We have to go,” Rem says and starts the engine. That startles all three bears, and the mama rises up on her hind legs. “Jesus H. Christ, she’s big.”
“Could she get into the Jeep?”
“Easily,” he confirms and starts to back away. “But she can’t catch us. She won’t want to. She just wants us gone.”
“Happy to oblige.”
Rem nods and then turns the wheel and takes off in the direction that we came. I look in the mirror and see that the mama bear isn’t chasing us. She’s standing with her cubs, watching us leave.
“I need to make sure I let the guys know she’s out here,” he says. “We’ll need to keep an eye out. She’ll eat my cattle if we’re not diligent.”
“I didn’t even think of that,” I admit with a sigh.
“They don’t often. They’d rather eat fish and berries or smaller rodents. But if it was a harsh winter, and they’re starving, they’ll eat whatever they can get. I don’t like that she’s on my land. I’ll call Fish and Wildlife and have her tracked.”
“Good idea. Wow, my first bear in the wild. She was gorgeous. And her babies are just so adorable. Makes you want to hug them.”
“Have you heard of the idiots in national parks who try to pet baby bison or pick up bear cubs?”
“Yeah. Even I know that they’re ridiculous to think they can touch wildlife.”
“The thing that breaks my heart is, they have to put the animal down after that happens. If they’ve been touched by humans, their mother will reject them, or even kill them.”
“I didn’t know that. God, that’s awful.”
“I don’t want this mama to be put down; I just don’t want her to try to pick off my cattle.”
“Why don’t you make a couple of calls now?” I suggest.
He nods and comes to a stop, and when I glance around, I realize we’re at the special spot that Millie brought me to that morning. It feels like a lifetime ago.
While he talks, I step out of the Jeep and lean against the door, my arms folded over my chest, enjoying the magical view of the mountains. This is a special place. The whole ranch is, but this particular spot speaks to me. I’m sure it’s the same way for Millie and her family.
A little fawn walks out of the trees and eyes me, his tail swishing.
“Don’t worry, little guy. I’m gonna stay right here.”
His mama steps out right behind him, chewing and cocking her ears. I stay perfectly still, watching them until they both march back into the trees.
“I love seeing all the animals,” I confess to Remington as he joins me, his call obviously finished. “They add another layer of peace to this view.”
“I spoke with Lucky and Fish and Wildlife. It’s going to be taken care of.”