Page 90 of First Chance

He didn’t elaborate, but maybe he’s right, I’m giving myparents too much power.

I sigh against the door jam of the empty guesthouse because I can’t make myself go in. I wish Lochlan were here, despite how frustrating he is, I wish he was waiting for me on his porch, asking me to sit with him.

My steps take me across the gravel lot towards the bear fences. I’ve never gone this far before, I’ve never dared, but Lochlan isn’t here and I want to see the bears. I have more free will now than I ever have, according to Hayes, and I’m tired of feeling trapped.

The dirt path is worn and flat from years of men working these fences and tending to these animals. The first tall fence I come to is about twice my height and not nearly as sturdy as I presumed it would be.

Now, I understand why they’re working on them so often. Thin chain links connected by aluminum poles, and stabilized by wooden boards, are the only thing keeping me from danger.

I study the patchwork as I move down the path, peering into the darkened trees that are barely lit by the moonlight, determined to accomplish one goal tonight.

My feet are covered with dirt, and my toes are starting to blister against the thin strap of my heeled sandal by the time I make it to the end of the fence where it meets the exterior perimeter. The fence keeping people off the property is sturdier than the one keeping the bears in.

I can hear Lochlan’s voice now.Humans are always scarier than animals.

I walk the path between the two fences until my feet hurt badly enough that I have to take my shoes off. The dirt is soft enough that I can walk barefoot easily.

I should turn around and go back, but for what?

To sit by myself inside? To study for tests that I know I’ll ace?

To wait for Lochlan to come home and ignore me?

Grunting startles me suddenly, and I freeze. It’s somewhere close, but it’s difficult to see without a light. I hold my breath, waiting to hear the direction of the sound when a loud snuff draws my eyes to ten feet down the fencing, just on the other side.

One of the bears is standing right next to the fence, face to the ground, nibbling on the undergrowth. He hasn’t raised his head to look at me, but his ears twitch like he’s alert.

They’re probably used to people being around Lochlan and the parolees, but I’m still not trying to make it mad.

Its indifference urges me forward, tiptoeing until I’m nearly in front of it on the other side of the flimsy chain link fence. I watch in fascination as the moonlight reflects off the giant bear’s shoulder blades as he eats. His dark coat is camouflaged expertly with his surroundings.

I’m not entirely informed on bears, but it does seem odd that it’s not paying me any attention. I take another step forward to test his observation skills when the pad of my foot crunches something beneath it.

The bear grunts but doesn’t stop eating.

It almost feels like dried mulch under my feet, but that can’t be right. When I pull my phone out to shine it on the ground, the bear rears back on his hind legs suddenly, startled by the light. It roars loudly, throwing me back on my ass and I land right on my tailbone.

It takes off into the dense trees, but I stay on the ground, stunned.Thatwas the animal I was expecting.

Despite my thundering pulse and aching butt, I start feeling around on my hands and knees for my shoes and my phone that flew from my hands when I fell. I’m feeling a lot less confident about being out here alone, now.

I find my phone at the same time my palms roam over the crunchy ground, and I use it to investigate the tan pellets littering the path between the fences.

I don’t know what it is, but it looks like it was thrown over the fence, and the bear was eating it. A knot forms in my gut because I know deep down that I just discovered something bad.

I shove the pellets into the pocket of my dress and forget my shoes, running back towards the house. Except, it’s so dark that it’s hard to see where I’m going, and at some point I miss my turn, or take the wrong one. I’m not sure how many paths lead to and from the enclosures.

It’s taking longer than it should to find my way back to the barns, but I’m not worried about it. Not until I hear shouting and multiple engines running like they’ve fired up the four-wheelers.

It’s late, something bad must’ve happened.

Finally, my path ends near the last barn where they keep the strays. The mule that was abandoned at the beginning of the summer is standing in his open stall window, staring at me as he chews on some hay.

I blow out a deep breath, admitting my exhaustion. That was a bit too much adventure for me.

The alleyway between all the outbuildings isn’t as smooth as the one through the woods, and I don’t have my shoes to traverse over all of the gravelly bits.

I still hear people shouting, but I can’t make myself moveto find out what’s going on.

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