Within the Candle's Glow (12 page)

Deer kept pace with her. His pink tongue hung from his mouth as he panted and stared up at her. Blinking his brown-and-gold eyes, he sat and voiced his feelings in tiny whimpers. Ella figured he needed a drink, and the stream was below them. They had passed it while hiking. She could hear the faint sound of it tumbling over rocks and gurgling around boulders.

Even though she hadn’t decided how to act around Samuel, she tentatively ventured toward him.

“Deer needs a drink.”

He avoided her eyes and nodded. “My basket’s full.”

“Mine, too. See?” She held it high and hoped he’d look her way.

Deer acted as if he thought it was a container of water. He stood on his hind legs, with his eyes on the basket, and pawed at her dirty skirt.

“Ella Dessa, I—”

A muted woofing sound drew their instantaneous attention. Ella’s stomach knotted in terror. She swung toward the noise, recognizing
it, but not quite comprehending the significance. She still dangled the basket out in front of her.

“Ella,
freeze!
” Samuel spoke from behind her, and his left hand gripped her waist. He hissed two words through clenched teeth. “Don’t—move.”

She reached back, and her fingers closed upon the hand tightening on her waistline.

A medium-size black bear rested on its sturdy haunches no more than sixty feet away. It sniffed the air, lifted its nose, and turned its head from side to side.

Deer whined.

The bear froze in position, its small eyes trained on them.

“Oh, God, save us,” Samuel prayed through stiff lips. He drew her against him, so she felt his chest move with each rapid intake of breath. “
Shut up
, Fuzzy Mutt!”

Ella clenched her teeth to stop any noise she might accidently make. Her right arm ached from holding the basket in one position. Under the greenery, Deer gave a short yip.

The bear made a grunting woof noise and dropped to all fours. Its head swung back and forth. The movement rustled the undergrowth and added urgency to the situation.

Samuel squatted on his boot heels, jerked Ella down with him, and abandoned his basket to the forest floor.

She collapsed on the rough ground and fell back against his knees.

“
Shh!
Quiet.” His fingers covered her mouth, stifling any noise.

She nodded, searching his face for an answer to their plight.

Samuel removed his hand from her lips. He snatched up Deer, raised his stained muslin shirt, and stuffed the protesting animal under it—against his bare white chest and flat stomach.

“I’m—shakin’.” She couldn’t control the quaking of her limbs. Her hand felt sweaty where it gripped the handle of her basket. “What’s it doin’?”

He jammed a finger against his pale lips. “
Shh.
”

She nodded, eyes glued to his messy face. She waited for him to tell her what to do, but her body yearned to leap and run.

There was a racket and a crashing movement in the underbrush to the right.

“He’s moving!” With his free hand, Samuel seized her right arm and pulled her closer to his side and knees.

She willingly sought refuge against him. “We gotta run!”

Samuel’s other hand supported the squirmy puppy, hidden in his shirt. He brushed her hair away from her ear and leaned in.

“When we stand up, walk
backwards
real slow to that huge boulder—near the trail.” His lips and breath tickled her ear. He spoke through clenched teeth. “Don’t run, don’t talk, face it, and don’t stop for me. When you reach the down side of the boulder—
turn and run
.”

“But—” she whimpered.

His fingers squeezed her arm. “Listen!” He pressed his warm lips against her ear. “It’s an immature bear. I’m counting on it being somewhat fearful of us and praying it’s only hungry for berries, not humans or dogs. It’s not attacking right now. But it might.”

She inhaled and stared at him.
It’ll chase me
, she mouthed.

He cupped her chin. “Look at me. Ella Dessa, it might
pretend
to rush you.
If it does
, raise your arms, stomp your feet, and yell or scream. Make it fearful of you.
Understand?
”

“But you—what if—” She clamped her fingers on his forearm.

“No
ifs
.” His rapid hot breaths fanned against her face. “I got the mutt. Just don’t look back. I’ll follow.” He poked her side. “Stand together—count of three.”

With one motion, they rose from the undergrowth. Her fingers snatched at Samuel’s shirt. She could feel his ribs expand with each breath. The shoulders of the bear showed over the leafy greenery as it munched and tore at the berries covering the bushes—all the while ignoring them. Samuel shoved and waved her behind him. His ashen lips formed the word—
go.

A stab of instant anger at the bear’s intrusion challenged her fears of an awful mauling and the agony of death. Not willing to leave the picked berries behind for the bear, she bent and gripped both baskets.

Samuel’s left hand punched her right shoulder. His face went pale, because of her actions. She obediently stepped backward, twisting around to see if the way was clear. The shrubbery rattled and cracked.

The bear stood on its hind legs, a massive image of muscle and rippling fur.

An unbidden moan escaped her lips and dry throat. She wanted to scream Samuel’s name and run to him. But she clamped her tongue between her teeth and continued to move in a jerky fashion.

Samuel remained shock still, both of his arms wrapped around his midsection, cradling the dog. Suddenly, Deer whimpered and squirmed
against the arms confining him. His protests escalated to muffled yelps. The young bear gave a loud
woof
, crashed through some of the plants, and faked a charge at Samuel—in a pretend show of aggression. Its shiny black fur undulated along its back.

Ella moaned in fear.

Samuel never budged. The bear reared to full height. Its beady eyes focused on the human figure in front of him. Samuel hissed his order.

“Go!”

She crept backward, expecting the bear to charge. When her hips touched the boulder, she ducked around its gray side. She spun in a half circle and ran. The baskets bounced against her thighs, pumping blueberries into the air. The rocky trail blurred before her.

She stumbled. Her feet slid on the descent of the trail, unable to continue the reckless pace. With a sob of defeat, she lunged sideways and crouched in a hollow under a massive rock. She dropped the baskets, crammed her fists against her lips, and let silent sobs jar her whole body.

T
he sound of a rock rolling near her hiding place caused Ella to cringe, bite into her cheeks, and block a scream. Then Samuel jogged past with Deer clutched under his right arm.

“Samuel!” She scooted from under the balanced rocks and dragged the two baskets with her.

He tripped over an exposed root, landing on his knees and left hand. He scrambled to his feet and whirled with a blank stare. His breath came in rapid shudders as he pressed his free hand to the side of his head and groaned.

“You—you’re sup—posed to be
running
.” His voice cracked.

“You’re not dead.” Relief washed over her.

He pounded his free hand on his chest and gasped for breath. “No! But Deer might be. I had to clamp my hand over his nose.” He glanced up the trail. “Hope the bear stayed there—otherwise, we’re
dead
.” He lifted the limp puppy in front of him and blew in its face.

Deer responded by whimpering and licking Samuel’s nose.

Laughter bubbled from Ella’s throat. She leaned against Samuel’s shoulder and welcomed his tight one-armed hug.

“You crazy girl!”

She felt his lips press against the top of her head. The baskets
dropped to their feet, and she clung to Samuel with both arms tangled around his neck. Their tight embrace squished Deer.

“Ah, Ella Dessa, I figured we were bear bait,” he muttered near her ear. His lips brushed her cheek in feathery kisses. “I almost tossed your dog at it. Stupid Fuzzy Mutt wouldn’t shut up. I made up my mind I’d snap his neck and use him to save you—us.”

“Poor Deer.”

“You calling me ‘dear,’ now? I like
that
.” He hugged her waist with one arm, his fingers pressing her closer, while the little dog licked her face.

“No, I wasn’t callin’
you
‘dear.’” She reluctantly moved from his embrace. A bubble of laughter came from her throat. “You ought to see your face!”

“
My
face? Yours is filthy!” He snickered, stepping out of arm’s reach.

“Oh?” She cocked her head and studied his stained face. “Ah, we look alike. Thanks, Samuel. Berry pickin’ has been an adventure.” She grabbed the handles of the half-empty baskets and fought the urge to slip back into his arms.

Samuel chuckled and set the wiggling puppy on the path. “Yes, we’ve had
enough danger
for one day. I’m glad our bear was starved for blueberries. He found them sweeter than you.” He grinned at her and reached for his basket. “Now, me—I swear he made a beeline for me. But I outran him.”

“Not sweet e’nuff, heh?” She pretended to pout. Deep down she felt grateful their relationship had returned to a portion of normalcy. They could still joke, but she sensed things had changed. Ella tried to assimilate the flood of unexplored feelings washing over her. “You’re funny … when you’ve nearly been kilt by a bear.”

“It’s better to laugh than blubber like a baby.”

“You? Blubber?” She wrinkled her nose at him. “You’re tough.”

“Thanks, but I was scared facing that bear.” His expression grew serious. “I forgot our plans for the day. Are you still wantin’ to see your mother’s grave before going home?”

“Yes, if we can. My legs stopped shakin’.”

“Let’s go.” He held out a stained hand.

Without any hesitation, she squeezed his fingers.

Samuel led the way down the shaded trail. Deer bolted on ahead, fully recovered from his rough treatment. His floppy ears bounced at the sides of his head.

As they neared the gurgling stream, Ella tugged on Samuel’s hand. “Deer needs a drink.”

“Whoa, stand still,” he whispered. “Someone’s coming.”

A figure appeared—hiking at a furious pace below them.

“Miles,” she whispered.

“What’s his hurry?”

The shadows of the trees flitted across Miles Kilbride’s sturdy form. He had a flat leather pack strapped on his back and wielded a homemade walking stick. He spotted them on the steepest portion of the trail.

“Samuel!” Miles scrambled around a large boulder and waved his hat. “Need to talk to you.”

Samuel pulled his hand from Ella’s, lowered his basket to the ground, and hurried to meet him.

“Not who I wanted to see,” Ella whispered to the stillness around her, hesitating beside Samuel’s basket of berries. The man’s clear words could be heard.

“Your mother sent me … said you came up here with Ella Dessa.”

“Somethin’ wrong?” Samuel’s voice held an apprehensive note as Deer ran straight to Miles and barked.

“Yes.”

“Hush!” Samuel nudged the puppy with his booted foot. “
Shh.
”

With a thirsty yelp, Deer ran down a slope to the stream.

“Your father collapsed near the barn. Jim and Duncan carried him inside, but he’s in extreme pain.”

Ella saw Samuel’s shoulders tense. He stared up at her with a stricken look. She snatched his basket and hurried down. “Samuel, you should go!”

Miles nodded as he set his narrow-brimmed, leather hat back on his head. It covered his dark curls, and his curious eyes flickered over their messy faces and clothes. “Ephraim can’t put any weight on his leg. It’s swelling. I had walked up near your place to do some sketching on the east rim.”

Samuel’s face was pale under the blueberry stains. “It must be bad if Mother sent you to find me.” He wiped one shaky hand over his face. “Ella Dessa, I’m sorry ‘bout our plans. Guess you’ll have to come with me. I’ll take you home later.”