Page 43 of Mated to the Mountain Bear

ZARA

We’re barely through the door when Ben turns to me, the determination on his face making me worried.

“You should learn to shoot,” he says, already moving toward a locked cabinet I hadn’t paid attention to before.

“Shoot? As in, a gun?”

Taking a step back, I’m already shaking my head.

“You need to be able to protect yourself. Just in case.” He’s checking the rifle with practiced movements and not quite meeting my eyes. “I won’t always be there.”

Detective Harris told me the same thing, and I didn’t want to hear it then, either. I’ve no experience with weapons. I’d probably be a danger to myself.

“Ben, I don’t think...” Guns make me nervous. I don’t want one in my home. “Don’t we need to go to a range or something? And we told Beau that I’d stay hidden up here.”

See? We can’t do it, even if I wanted to. Problem solved.

“Please.” The word is soft but firm. “For my peace of mind.”

He’s never said please before. Never asked for anything, and it makes my insides twist. I’m physically incapable of saying noto him. So I just nod and watch as he gathers his things and then shoves a box of cartridges into his thigh pocket.

If something happens, I don’t want to be that idiot girl who did nothing to help herself. I guess it makes sense to at least learn.

“I’ve never shot a gun before,” I say as we head back outside, me trailing along behind him reluctantly, hands stuffed deep into my pockets.

“I figured.”

I purse my lips, not sure why I’m annoyed by that. Maybe it feels like he’s underestimating me.

“What if I’m terrible at it?”

“Then you’ll practice until you’re not.”

Ben grabs some more stuff from the shed then leads me deep into the woods. While I admire the scenery where we eventually stop, Ben sets up targets at the edge of the clearing, far from any hiking trails.

The afternoon light slants through the trees, creating strange patterns of light and dark. A breeze stirs the pines, carrying their sharp, clean scent.

Drifting to the edge of the clearing, I run my fingers over some deep gouges in the bark of a tree. When I glance around at the other trees, I spot more, all up at head height.

“Are these from… bears?”

Wide eyed, I stare at Ben. He looks from the long slices in the bark to me, suddenly uncomfortable.

Does he think I’m going to get spooked and demand to go home? Well, even if I were, I’m not going to now.

“Yes.”

Suddenly, this clearing doesn’t feel so tranquil. I stare into the dense forest around me, but I’m determined not to be afraid of everything.

Ben’s with me. He knows what he’s doing. I’m safe.

“Why? What are these marks for?”

Ben approaches slowly and looks over my shoulder before running his hands over the impressive markings. I can’t even imagine how strong this animal must be to do damage like this.

“He’s marking his territory, letting everyone know this mountain, and everything on it, is his.”

“Including me?”