Page 7 of Taken Home By the Grizzly

To my huge relief, Jace clambers down from the truck and Todd leaps down from the tree. I swear it’s at least an eight-foot drop, but he lands like it’s nothing and takes off toward the gate.

“Stay close,” I tell the two of them, and I start to follow after Mari’s tiny footprints, which bear right into the forest.

The twins race on ahead of me, and I try to keep an eye on them while following the footprints. I’m so intent on my task that I don’t see the mysterious log cabin until it’s right in front of me.

It’s rustic. But actually notrundownlike my new boss said. There are curtains up at the little square windows, and the window panes aren’t cracked or broken.

“That’s where the scary man lives,” Todd exclaims.

My breath catches. “What scary man?”

“A wild man. He’s all hairy and he doesn’t wear clothes.”

Oh, my God. And Mari’s steps go directly to the porch. Is she in there? I stare at the front door, horror gathering in my insides. Did this crazy naked wild man snatch her?

What if he’s got her? What if he’s hurting her right now?

My heart beats fast. I fumble for my phone. I need to call the police.

With trembling fingers, I dial 911.

The call doesn’t connect. Fuck. The signal here is virtually non-existent. I try again and again, but it’s the same uselessbeep-beep-beep.

“Kids, I want you to run back into the house and shut the door. And do not answer it until you hear my voice shouting you, okay?”

Two pairs of huge brown eyes stare back at me.Good.They’ve dropped their insolent act and they know I’m serious. “Go on.”

They don’t need telling twice, they turn and sprint back the way they came.

I take a deep breath and rap on the door. My heart is hammering like a jackhammer and I wonder if I’m experiencing my last few minutes on earth.

The door swings open on creaking hinges, and I jump. It wasn’t locked.

“Hello?” I call. There’s only silence within. There’s a light showing through a doorway at the back though. Crap.

I step inside and the door bangs shut behind me.

My legs are trembling. But I’ve gotta do this, gotta make sure Mari is not here.

It’s a bare kind of place. Not a whole lot of furniture. Some force stronger than my sense of self-preservation propels me through the cabin, and toward the doorway at the rear.

Holding my breath, I push the door open.

It’s a bedroom. Not much more than a bed in there, but it’s got a comforter on top, and it smells clean. No closets, or cupboards. I crouch down and look under the bed. No small child tied up there. Through another doorway is a bathroom. Also small and basic but clean.

She’s not here.

Relief pours through me. But where the hell is she?

I need to keep looking outside. I sprint through the cabin, out the front door and… almost collide with the huge, half-naked wild man standing right in my path. I skid to a stop.

In his arms is a shivering Mari. She’s soaking wet, drenched, from head to toe.

“She’s safe,” the man says. Only, his voice is more of a growl than human speech. Like an avalanche of boulders tumbling down a hill.

“What happened? Are you okay, honey?” I gasp out.

“You need to take better care of your kids, lady.”

---