Page 33 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

Rachel jumpedup as Dr. Landry rushed into the waiting room. “We have a huge problem. I need you to put this on and comewithme.”

After slipping into a blue hospital gown and stuffing her hair into a blue surgical cap, Rachel ran through the OR doors. “Whathappened?”

Dr. Landry yelled over her shoulder. “We’d just finished the bone marrow harvest. He’d almost shifted a few times, but we just kept pushing more sedation. Apparently his metabolism is too high when he shifts because he resisted the last dose. Heshifted.”

The doctor shoved a door open to reveal an operating room. Droplets of blood littered the formerly pristine tile. Instrument trays rested on their sides and scalpels littered the floor. The shrill beep of a flat line rang throughtheroom.

In the corner, an enormous grizzly bear stood with his back to the wall. His brown fur stood on end. Saliva dripped from his wide-open mouth. The second he spotted her, heroared.

When Rachel tried to step closer, Dr. Landry grabbed her upper arm. “Wait. He’s dangerous. When bears shift, they’re completely unpredictable. He mightattackyou.”

“I can handle it. Where’smyson?”

“He’s inORtwo.”

“Is hissurgerydone?”

“No.”

Rachel whirled to face the doctor. “Go. I can handleBrady.”

Dr. Landry hesitated. Two security guards rushed into the room, guns drawn. Rachel jumped in front of them. “Don’tshoot.”

Dr. Landry yelled, “There’s oxygen in here. If you shoot him, we’realldead.”

The guardsstooddown.

One asked, “Tasers?”

“Only if she can’t get him to shift,” Dr. Landry said while pointing atRachel.

The guard’s eyes went wide. “He’s ashifter?”

Rachel watched as he narrowed his gaze. A tremor of fear raced down her spine. In an instant, she knew that if she couldn’t get Brady to shift back, they’d kill him. Guns or not, they’d find a way. The malice in their eyes clamped steel bindings around her heart. She struggled to breathe. The consequences for what she was about to do could bedeadly.

“Get out,” Rachelsnapped.

The guardsglared.

Dr. Landry said, “Please come outside and guard the door. If he escapes the room, then do whatever it takes to capture him. But don’tkillhim.”

Rachel swallowed as the guards lefttheroom.

Dr. Landry said, “I have to get the bone marrow to your son. If I don’t do thetransplantsoon—”

“Go!”

Dr. Landry turned on her heel and raced out oftheroom.

Alone with the bear, Rachel took a tentative step forward. “Brady? Honey,it’sme.”

The bear answered with anotherpowerfulroar.

“I need you to stay calm.” She wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince more, him orherself.

As she inched closer, he pawed at the ground, leaving a trail of deep scratches in the tiled floor. The scraping sound of nails on a chalkboard accompanied each swipe ofhispaw.

“Brady, I know you’re in there. You need to control your bear. The procedure is done. The doctors are gone and they won’t hurt you anymore. But you need to return to yourhumanform.”