Page 9 of Stout Bear

Upgrades must have been expensive, and now there was a threat to all that work if the spring was contaminated. The way his jaw tightened as he turned the key suggested he was preparing himself for potentially bad news.

Laney entered the pumphouse, setting her pack on a dry spot before pulling out vials and test strips. Max flicked on the overhead light. Water pipes ran from a sealed intake area, passed through basic filtration, then went underground en route to the brewery.

“I want to grab a sample here,” Laney said, kneeling by the filter access. “If the contamination is in the line, it should show up.”

“Fingers crossed it’s not as bad as we think,” Max replied.

She examined the mesh filter, designed to catch physical debris. Laney dipped a chemical test strip into the sample, then held it up to compare color changes against a reference chart. A faint shift in hue on the test strip indicated the presence of the same compound found in the brewery’s holding tank samples. She clenched her jaw and jotted down a note in her field book. The results confirmed what she had feared.

Max stood a few steps behind her, arms crossed, waiting for her verdict. His silence conveyed both patience and concern. Her mind churned through possible sources.

“It’s the same compound we found in our samples from the brewery,” Laney said quietly. “It’s already here at the pumphouse. That means it could be coming from the spring.”

“Okay,” Max said, running his hand through his hair, voice tight. “Let’s go.”

Laney tucked the test kit away, and they left the pumphouse. She adjusted the straps on her backpack, mentally preparing for a hard climb to the spring. The air was crisp, carrying a faint chill despite the strengthening sun.

They started up the steep trail, Max occasionally offering Laney a hand over protruding roots and loose rocks. Each time their hands connected, that same electric spark from their first meeting coursed through her. Her fox stirred, recognizing its mate even as her human side tried to deny it. The forest thickened around them. Sunbeams sliced through the canopy, illuminating patches of mossy ground. A bird call echoed in the distance.

“Are you okay?” Max asked, looking back. “We can take a break if you need a minute.”

“I’m fine, just... not used to hiking straight up a mountainside,” Laney replied, managing a small smile.

Finally, they crested the hill and came to a small clearing where water bubbled from beneath a mossy rock overhang. The site was undeniably beautiful. The outflow trickled into a tiny pool before heading downhill, presumably toward the pumphouse. Morning sun filtered through the surrounding trees, casting dappled light on the water’s surface. The scene looked like something from a nature documentary. Laney crouched by the spring, carefully filling her sample vials.

“This looks so pristine... yet I can already pick up a faint chemical odor,” Laney said, scrutinizing the sample.

“How could a chemical contaminant get up here?” Max asked, kneeling beside her.

She lifted her head and found Max only inches away. Her heart thudded faster, torn between professional urgency and the undeniable spark between them. His proximity made it difficult to focus on the test strip.

“I’m not sure yet,” she said, checking her test strip. “But I’m getting the same readings as in the pumphouse.”

Max leaned closer, and their arms brushed. A sharp thrill coursed through Laney, making her pulse race. The contact was brief but potent, sending her fox into a frenzy of recognition.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

Her fox’s insistent chant echoed in her mind, drowning out every other thought. The sunlight suddenly felt too warm on Laney’s cheeks. Time stretched as they briefly locked eyes, neither speaking.

She stood, tucking away the vials. Her inner fox clamored for closeness, but she couldn’t let her feelings derail her investigation. She turned her attention to her topographical map, noting the ridge and the faint lines indicating another water source higher up. A narrow service road was marked on her map, curling around the mountainside.

“Look at this,” she said, pointing to the map. “If the creek and this spring share the same aquifer, that might be our contamination source. “We should check it out.” The ridge abovethem was partially visible from where she stood, and she could just make out the distant sound of running water.

“We can’t get up there from here,” Max replied. “Driving around to that service road might be our only option.”

Chapter

Eleven

The evidenceof contamination weighed on Max’s mind as he led the way down the narrow path. The morning sun had climbed higher, filtering through the canopy. Patches of moss on the boulders glistened underfoot, and Max felt the humidity rising as they descended.

“Watch your step here. The rocks are slippery,” Max said, turning to check on Laney.

“Thanks. I’ve got it,” Laney replied, steadying herself.

He couldn’t help noticing Laney’s dedication. It impressed him, even though worry churned in his gut. He loved spending time with her. His inner grizzly was desperate to be near her. The animal part of him recognized her as his mate, no matter how his human side tried to give her space.

They reached the pumphouse, stowed their gear in Max’s truck, and climbed inside. Max started the engine, letting it rumble before pulling onto the narrow dirt road. The truck’s tires bumped over potholes, kicking up small clouds of dust.

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