Page 20 of Taken Home By the Grizzly

“But you’d prefer something else?”

“Is there any meat?” Mari asks.

“Yeah, I think so.” I open the fridge, remembering I saw some sausages yesterday. There’s some bacon, too. And eggs. Now I’ve gotten their attention. They’re gathered around the fridge, practically salivating.

I take out all the rashers of bacon and put them in the skillet. The three of them get real active, hurtling around the kitchen.

“Guys, no running in the kitchen, it’s not safe.” I glance at them over my shoulder. They’re like three lively puppies who need to burn off some energy.

I peer through the window. The gate is still chained shut, just like Lock left it last night when he vaulted over the gate in a maneuver worthy of a superhero.

“On second thoughts,” I say. “Maybe you could go play in the yard for a while?”

“Yeah!” they chorus.

I spin around, give all three of them are serious look. “I want you to play sensibly and stay out of danger. You understand?”

They nod solemnly. I wrestle them into their winter coats and hats, and unbolt the front door. The second they’re released, they sprint across the fresh snow, yelling joyously. I swear they are the liveliest kids I’ve ever seen in my life, times ten.

I’ve got a good view of them through the kitchen window as I prepare the breakfast. I set a bunch of timers—because multitasking has never been my strong suit—and start cooking. They’re playing tag, apparently. Chasing each other through the deep snow, while snarling and growling like a trio of tiny beasts. I can’t help smiling. I’m glad to see them happy after all they’ve been through.

I’m just taking the sausages off the grill, when the three of them scamper toward the front-left corner of the yard. I dump the sausages on a plate and crane my neck to see what they’re looking at.

They are yelling something that sounds a lot like “Lock”. Is he there?Crap.My stupid heart is beating faster. I lean forward and press my face against the window to see better.

Holy shit.That’s not Lock—it’s a huge brown bear!

It’s a couple of yards away from the fence, and somehow, that’s not terrifying but exciting to these three kids.

My heart quits fluttering and jumps into my throat. I hammer on the window. “Kids, come back here!”

If they hear me, they don’t give any sign.

Then Mari starts climbing the fence. What the hell? I take one desperate look to make sure nothing is about to catch fire, andrun.

There’s not a single sensible thought in my head as I fly across the snowy yard. The only thing screaming in my brain is,get the kids back!

Oh my God,all three of them have scaled the fence and are scrambling down the other side.

“Todd, Jace, Mari, get back here!” I scream.

But they pay me no attention at all. They’re absolutely fixated on the bear. They think he’s a cuddly cartoon character or something. They seem to have no idea that it’s a full-grown grizzly with massive fangs. “He’s dangerous! He could eat you alive!” I holler, my throat raw.

As if in slow motion, Mari drops down to the ground and scampers towards the bear.

There’s no way I’m going to get over the fence. I dash for the front gate instead. I fumble the padlock open and burst through, then look around in a panic. I need some kind of weapon. I spot a fallen branch. I snatch it up, then I run at the bear, brandishing it threateningly and screaming my lungs out the whole time.

Then I stop dead.

There are the kids, each still in one piece. There’s no sign of the bear. But there’s Lock—standing in the snow, buck naked.

“Come inside, there’s a bear!” I scream.

Lock raises a hand. “It’s okay,” he calls.

“What? It’s most definitely not okay. There’s a huge, grizzly running around out here, and for some reason, these kids want to be eaten alive.”

“Zoe, I promise you there’s nothing to worry about.” His voice is disconcertingly calm.

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