Page 2 of SEAL the Deal

Jenny glared at him as she walked across to the dumpster. Lifting the lid she peered inside. A snarl startled her and she dropped it with a clang. Instinctively her hand moved to the butt of the pistol she wore on her belt.

Ed laughed. “What’s wrong Jenny? You scared of the little bear?”

Harold laughed.

Jenny exhaled and lifted the lid again.

In the bottom of the steel dumpster sat a young black bear. She guessed its weight at a little over eighty pounds, most likely a female. The shredded remains of trash bags surrounded the animal. It had evidently climbed in looking for food and couldn’t grip the smooth sides to get out.

She flipped over the lid triggering aggressive roars from the bear. “Brian, I think it might be the same one as last time.”

“Yeah, I figured as much. Once they work out where the food is they keep coming back.”

Jenny strode to the bed of her truck where there was a large metal cage. She dropped the tailgate and hefted the cage to the ground. Then she grabbed a pole with a cord on the end of it and a long piece of two by four. “I’m going to relocate her to the park.”

Brian took the timber from her. “Good idea. I’d hate to have to destroy her.”

Ed watched from a distance. “Be easier to shoot it. There are plenty of bears in the park and this is a nuisance animal.”

Jenny fixed him with an icy look.

“Hey, if I want to shoot it I can. This is Lane County jurisdiction, not National Forest.”

She gestured for Brian to join her at the bin. “Shoot it, Ed. See what happens if you do.”

“Don’t threaten me, Missy,” growled the deputy.

She turned to him and smiled. “That’s not a threat, it’s a promise. You try and destroy that animal and I’ll push this pole sideways up your ass.” A jiggle of the noose emphasized the point.

Ed scowled and Harold chuckled.

“Shut up idiot,” he snapped.

Jenny turned her attention to the bear. “Brian, drop that log in so she can climb it.”

The rancher followed her instructions and a moment later the head of the bear appeared over the lip. Jenny hooked the noose over its head and pulled the animal to the ground. Then with Brian’s help, she maneuvered it into the transportation cage.

Ed watched from a safe distance, hand resting on the butt of his pistol.

“Don’t just stand there. Help us lift the damn crate onto the truck,” bellowed Brian.

The deputies helped out but didn’t hang around for long. With the bear secure they continued their patrol, leaving Brian and Jenny sharing a Bud Light.

“Useless as all hell. Don’t know why the administration staff called them,” said the former rancher.

Jenny finished her beer and tossed it in the dumpster. “Well, this little lady shouldn’t give you any more trouble.” She checked her watch. “I’ve got enough time to get her back to the station, tagged and out into the park.” She climbed into her truck.

“Till next time,” Brian shot through her open window.

“Keep those bins closed.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

* * *

Jenny unwrapped her legs from the floor to ceiling pole and lowered herself slowly to the ground. “OK ladies, last move,” she shouted over the pumping music.

Around her a dozen women dressed like her, in crop tops and leggings, attempted to replicate the move to varying levels of success. When they had all touched down she killed the music.

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