a reason to live(50)
“Cowboy?” she questioned. “He has his pick of the females. He stomps the best and no other male can best him in a fight.”
“He stomps?”
“Yeah, wide-legged like a cowboy fresh off a horse. That’s how he got his name because he constantly stomps during mating season. He’s extremely successful with the females because of it.”
“If he’s so successful, then why did Maxine say he needed to settle with a female?”
“Bears don’t settle with one mate. Are you sure you heard her correctly?”
“Yeah, I am. And considering her revelation last night about trying to make Shane jealous, I think I know what she was talking about,” I chuckled.
“Speaking of Cowboy,” she mumbled, putting the binoculars to her eyes again, “he’s in a stomping mood today. Here, take a look for yourself,” she said, handing me the glasses.
She pointed to a large grizzly about one hundred yards away, so I put the glasses to my eyes. He was huge with a dark brown coat that glistened in the sun. He kept putting his nose in the air and sniffing, then he’d lumber his massive legs, stomping them, as Mia put it, into the ground as he walked.
“He’s huge,” I whispered. “Are you sure we’re far enough away? He looks angry.”
“He’s always angry,” she answered. “He has a love-hate relationship with me and my team.”
“You have a team?” I asked, dropping the binoculars and turning toward her.
“Frank and Lucy come up every three months from Seattle. We’ve been on the receiving end of Cowboy’s anger. Shane has too. He cornered us in a truck and Max had to rescue us.”
I looked back at the Jeep and shivered. There was no way it would keep Cowboy out.
“If he charged us today, what would we do?”
Mia pointed up to a tree behind us. There was a wooden platform built around the trunk like a tree house, with a ladder leading up to it. There was a portal to climb through that I hoped closed once you were inside.
“Bears climb trees, don’t they?”
“Black bears do more than grizzlies, but grizzlies can climb them, yes. Max designed the lookout so a bear could climb to it, but not over it. Grizzlies weigh too much to be able to climb horizontally far enough to get over the side.”
I looked back at the intimidating bear and mumbled, “I’d love to see the view from up top.”
Mia smiled, and then jumped off the hood. “Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour.”
When we reached the ladder, Mia looked up then back at me and stepped aside. “You first. I’m better, but not cured. If I fall, I’ll take you with me.”
The climb was event-free, thankfully, and when Mia cleared the opening, she closed it with a sturdy metal door.
“There,” she said, jumping up and down on the door. “No bear is getting through.”
The view from high above was breathtaking. I could see the river and two mountain peaks. However, the silence and peace surrounding me were better than any view.
“Purple mountains majesty,” I mumbled as I stared at the snow-covered peak.
Mia leaned on the railing and scanned the view as well, drinking in a deep breath. “I was a city girl ‘til I came here. Now I can’t see myself any place else.”
“I could wake up to this view every day and be happy,” I agreed.
“Then stay. Shane or not, stay premanently in Trails End. The county seat is an hour away, and I’m sure even kids in the wilds of Alaska need an advocate. That asshole the other night proves it. As for love, there are other great men here in town. You wouldn’t be lonely long with your looks. Not to mention, I’d love to have you here. The Barbie Twins are good people, but a little high-strung for my taste on a daily basis. It would be nice to have a friend here.”
“I don’t think I’ve met the Barbie Twins.”
“Well, that settles what we’re doing tonight. Can you sing?”
“Can I sing?” I replied, thinking about the question. “I won’t win American Idol, but I can carry a tune.”
“Excellent. Nothing better than a few drinks and karaoke to take your mind off your troubles. And considering Shane is there most nights, you’ll have a chance to speak with him in a relaxed setting. No pressure, just a bunch of friends hanging out.”
“Sounds fun.”
“It is. And I think right about now you need some fun,” she stated, smiling as she looked over the side of the roost. “Looks like the bears are heading down the river to fish. It doesn’t look like Max’s logging is bothering them. We might as well head to town and grab some lunch.”