Page 330 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

Mid-stride, his bear burst free. He tripped and fell face first into the ground as the muscles along his back tore. His bones snapped and grew to form a thick, rigid spine. His nose elongated into a snout. Sharp teeth pushed against his gums and equally lethal claws jutted out from his fingers. Fur sprouted from his skin as his hands and feet morphedintopaws.

When the shift completed, he stood on all fours and roared loud enough to scare a flock of mountain bluebirds. The vibrant birds flapped furiously as they whooshed up through the trees. He scampered after the stragglers but they escaped into flight just before he couldreachthem.

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned to find a curious chipmunk with overstuffed cheeks watching him. He stalked toward it. The frustration of seeing Daisy so totally naked and knowing that she was completely off-limits bore a hole through his chest. He didn’t make chasing small animals a habit, but it worked to quell some of his feralinstinct.

He bounded after the chipmunk, which bolted across a log and scrambled up the closest tree. It raced up to a branch well out of his reach, then turned to watch him with wide eyes. He brushed his body against the base of the tree in annoyance. He wasn’t going to eat the dammed thing. He just wanted to play with it. Apparently the chipmunk knewbetter.

As he lumbered through the forest, he tried all of his usual techniques for dispelling his bear’s energy. Nothing worked. An hour later, he was just as worked up as he’d been when he’d spotted Daisy inthelake.

Chapter3

Daisy frownedas the guy with the shotgun turned and raced off into the woods. Whatever, if he didn’t want to join them, it washisloss.

“You coming back in?” Meadowcalled.

“Yeah.”

Daisy splashed back into the chilly water and paddled over to her friend. Andy and River roughhoused farther away from the shore. Good thing Andy hadn’t seen the way the guy stood in the shadows drooling over her body. He would have kicked his ass. She didn’t mind. It had been a while since she’d met someone as hot as the rippedfarmboy.

“Aren’t you glad we stayed now?” Meadow asked. “Too bad Mr. Hunky didn’t comejoinus.”

“Are you kidding? Andy would have a cow if he saw the look in thatguy’seyes.”

“We should go check out his farm,”Meadowsaid.

“No way,” Daisy said. “We’re supposed to be leaving today. For all we know, he went back to gethisdad.”

“I guarantee he’s not running off to get his dad. He’s probably jacking off in the woods,”Meadowsaid.

“Who’s jacking off in the woods?” Andyasked.

“No one,” Daisy said while glaring at Meadow. Her friend’s big mouth almost busted them. Not that she’d done anything wrong. But her brother could be overprotectiveaboutguys.

“We should stay another night,” River said as he swamtowardthem.

“No way,” Daisy said. “If that guy comes back with his dad,we’redead.”

“He won’t come back. He was just bluffing,”Riversaid.

“But the guy intownsaid—”

“The guy in town was totally gassed,” River said. “He probably madeitup.”

“The farmer guy did show up with a shotgun,”Andysaid.

“Yeah, I think we should leave,”Daisysaid.

“The sun’s already behind the mountain,” River said. “It’s going to set soon and I don’t want to be out driving around inthedark.”

“Chicken,” Meadowteased.

“No. There’s buffalo and wolves and stuff in Yellowstone. If we hit one, it’s going to mess up the bus. I don’t want to take that chance,”Riversaid.

“He’s right.” Andy glanced at the mountain. “I didn’t realize how late it was getting. Let’s camp out one more night. We can leave in the morning. Let’s gather some firewood before the sun sets and we can build acampfire.”

“Sounds good,” Meadow said. She grabbed Daisy’s arm and bounded out of thewater.

“Slow down,” Daisyyelped.

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