Page 184 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Notsureyet.”

“Well if you do, watch out. He’s one of those government-conspiracy types. Lloyd over at Hunter’s Gun Shop said Trevor’s got enough ammo up there to take down a small army. If Armageddon ever kicks in, I’m heading up to his place. He’ll either let me in or kill me. I’ll either be safe or saved by the Lord.” Gertrudechuckled.

“Thanks,”Hanksaid.

“How’s your crazy brother Logan doing? He still married?” sheasked.

“It’s only been a few days,” he said. “They wouldn’t already bedivorced.”

“You never know with those spur-of-the-momentweddings.”

“I guarantee they’re going to stay married for the rest of their lives. I’ve never seen my brother so happy,”hesaid.

“Good to hear it. So, who’s your lady friend? She’s been standing over there as mute as a donkey,”Gertrudesaid.

“Just a friend. You ladies have agoodday.”

He grabbed Carol’s hand and hustled her back into the kitchen before Gertrude could launch into one of her infamous interrogations. After giving June a quick kiss on the cheek, he led Carol outside. Once they’d made it into the truck, he locked thedoors.

“I’m not sure we should go up to Trevor’s right now,”hesaid.

“Why not? My mom’s probably upthere.”

“I know. I’m worried about how much firepower he might have at the cabin. We might want to get my brothers to come as backup,”hesaid.

“Gertrude was probably exaggerating. Did you see what she was wearing? I think she stole Joseph’s TechnicolorDreamCoat.”

“Maybe.” He smiled. “I guess we can head up there and take a look around. The second we see any sign of danger, we’ll leave and get my brothers… and probably give the sheriff a call too. How does thatsound?”

“Okay. I just hate to leave my mom up with that guy knowing his background. You said he’s been in prison, right?” sheasked.

“Yep. One of Pinewood Correctional’s frequentflyers.”

“In that case, we don’t have any time towaste.”

He nodded in agreement, but the churning in his gut made him question the safety of their plan. A man like Trevor was nothing but trouble. He should probably go round up his brothers, but he didn’t want to waste the hour or more it would take to drive back to his place, gather up the cavalry, and return. His bear insisted that they head directly to the cabin to check on Vicki. After all, if Carol truly was his mate, he’d do whatever it took to protecthermom.

Chapter8

Carol scannedeach side of the narrow logging road, looking for any sign of a cabin. They hadn’t been able to get an exact location out of Gertrude, but apparently no one else lived in this part of the foresteither.

“When we get there,” she said. “I want you to come inwithme.”

“Of course. I wasn’t going to let you walk in there alone,”Hanksaid.

“I’mscared.”

When he reached over and laced their fingers together, she felt safe. He wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her or her mom. She knew it in her soul. Or maybe it was her bear whoknewit.

She continued searching the increasingly dense forest. Sunlight fought through the thick canopy of trees to slice across the gloominess. She’d rolled down the window to get a better look, only to be stunned by the completely still air. It was as if the old pines knew who lived in their midst and chose to stay as lifeless aspossible.

A shiver snaked up her spine. Maybe Hank was right. Maybe they should have gone back to the ranch to get his brothers and thesheriff.

The dirt road gave way to muddy potholes. The occasional snowflake braved the eerie stillness before being smashed against thewindshield.

“A storm’s coming,”Hanksaid.

She rolled up the window and wrapped her arms around her torso. She’d almost given up hope on ever finding the cabin when a gate loomed up ahead. A barbed wire fence stretched out from the gate into the forest before disappearing from sight. Clearly Trevor intended to either keep someone out, or keepsomeonein.

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