Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
We’re getting closer to the house, and I glance around frantically, wanting to be certain there’s no danger waiting for me. I have a niggle of doubt about trusting this guy, but what other choice do I have? I can’t outrun him. But why is he here?
“What are you going to tell them?” he asks. He shrugs as though the idea of telling them anything is pointless.
“You don’t understand. The bears killed him. I heard screaming. Such terrible screaming.” I fold my arms around myself as the memory of the horror of that sound pierces my ears all over again.
“There was no one here, Goldie. Just some bears looking for food.”
I frown because that isn’t true. The screams I heard were filled with pain. Could a person scream like that and run before Evan arrived?
But why would he lie? I glance at him, and his face is impassive, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. As though everything I’ve panicked over was a figment of my imagination.
“There were bears!” I feel like I need to tell him that again so that he grasps the seriousness of the situation.
Evan smiles. “Bears have a bad reputation,” he says. “They’re not really interested in humans. They come looking for the food humans leave around.”
Is he serious about this? I’m sure I’ve seen stats about human deaths from bear maulings. They’re carnivores, aren’t they? And humans are flesh.
We’re almost at the house, and I scan in every direction, almost certain that we’re going to hear the crunching of paws on leaves and need to run again. My car is in sight. I could make it if they’re there, I suppose. But instead of bears, all I see is Robert and Hunter, leaning against what I can only assume is their vehicle. It’s a huge black truck, as looming and dark as their home and as filled with raw power. Robert’s face is grave with concern, and he strides over, putting his hands on my upper arms and scanning me from head to foot. “Are you okay?”
I nod, the lump in my throat burning from his concern. It’s been such a long time since anyone worried about me, and I just can’t seem to take it.
“Well, that’s good.”
I glance over Robert’s shoulder and find Evan talking to Hunter in a low tone. Hunter’s eyes are on his brother, but then they flick to mine, and I’m nailed by the intensity in them. He seems to get bigger before my eyes as he stands taller, bringing his shoulders back, head held high, and I can’t look away.
Hunter stares at me intensely. His eyes seem darker, hungrier. Evan gets between us, as Hunter’s fists ball at his sides like he’s barely holding himself back. In fact, the way he’s standing and almost growling reminds me of a bear standing on its hind legs.
I take a step back from Robert, who glances over his shoulder and then turns his back, putting himself between his brothers and me. “You should go,” Robert says. “Get in your car and drive.” His voice is urgent. Has he seen a bear?
I run to my car, diving inside, grabbing my bag and fumbling for my keys as I lock the doors. Fuck. Fuck. My hands shake so much that it’s hard to get the key into the ignition, and I have to hold on to the steering wheel for stability. I speed out of there before it enters my head to look around.
When I glance into the rear-view mirror, I don’t see bears.
I don’t see the Bjorn brothers leaping into their trucks.
What I see is Robert and Evan holding Hunter back as he stares after my car, his eyes flashing golden again.
6
GOLDIE
On the journey to town, I go from trembling and crying to a strange sense of euphoria since I got away from all the dangers.
That man didn’t harm me.
The bears didn’t harm me.
The Bjorn brothers didn’t harm me.
I’m safe.
I pull over in front of my store and rest my face in my hands, taking deep, steadying breaths to calm my racing heart and panting lungs. My body feels sore from running so fast and hard. There are leaves stuck to my pants, and dirt all over my sneakers, but I’m okay.
I’m really okay.
I glance around before opening the door, needing to ensure there’s nothing dangerous around me. What am I expecting to see? More bears in the center of town? That’s hardly likely. The brown-toothed man coming back to threaten me? It’s a possibility. He called me, so he knew the address of my store, and he didn’t get what he wanted. If he escapes from the bears, there’s a chance he’ll come here. A chance that feels too real for my liking.
Shit.
I can’t live like this. I need to work to put food on my table. Maybe I should report this whole thing to the police, but what would I say? The local sheriff once told a woman who was the victim of domestic violence that maybe she needed to learn how to cook better. That isn’t a man who inspires confidence at the best of times. He’s not someone I want to run to with a bad-man and bear tale that sounds more like a story than reality.