Page 33 of Rise After Fall

I’m having a rather pleasant dream when a terrified scream jolts me awake.

I roll out of bed and sprint to the front door of the cabana and fling it open.

Zoey is backed against the hand railing of the porch in a standoff with a black bear the size of an NFL linebacker.

The bear is on its hind legs and bellowing its warning.

“Morris.” She gasps my name in a panicked plea.

I begin to bang on the wooden siding beside the door of the cabana.

“Over here, big guy!” I shout as the bear turns toward the loud knocking.

Once his attention is diverted from her, I command her to jump the railing. “Go, Zoey!”

She hops over and lands in the bushes, and I keep eye contact with the bear.

“What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be in the woods, hunting for a hollow tree to den for winter?” I ask the bear calmly.

It snorts and drops down to all fours.

I slam my hand against the wall again. “Get on out of here. Go!”

The bear huffs one last time and moseys down the steps, then gallops off behind the cabanas and down the side of the mountain toward the forest.

Zoey races up my steps and leaps into my arms. I catch her and pull her trembling body to mine. I hold her as her heartbeat slows and her breath evens.

“You’re all right,” I whisper into her hair.

Her face tilts up to mine, and she blinks. “I thought it was going to eat me.”

I grin.

That distracts her as her brow furrows.

“I know what you’re thinking, Tuttle.”

“What’s that exactly?” I ask, my lips skimming hers.

Her face flushes, and I chuckle.

“I’m not the one with my mind in the gutter, boss lady.”

I can feel the tension leave her limbs and place her back on her feet as the door two cabanas down slings open.

“What the hell is going on out here?” Scooter’s disheveled head pops out.

“Morris just chased off a huge bear,” Zoey says.

“Cool! Dude, are you naked?” he asks.

Zoey’s eyes slide down my body, and she gasps. Then takes a huge step backward.

Her hand rises and covers her closed eyes.

“Oh my God, why are you naked?” she asks.

“I was sleeping when I heard you screaming for your life. Sorry I didn’t think to stop and put pants on before coming to your rescue.”