The Bear Mountain Secret

by Gayle Siebert

  He’s at the gate punching in the code to open it when movement in the bush catches his eye. It’s the bear, and as expected, he’s on his way back to the kill. Something stains the fur on his hip. Blood! He’s injured. I didn’t mean to hit him! That first bullet must’ve ricocheted. No wonder he ran off. He’ll be meaner than ever now. Goddammit!

  Or is that a good thing?

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “YOU SHOULD HAVE seen Kathy face that creep down!” Astrid tells them. “I swear, she grew about six inches, just glared as if to say, ‘go ahead and watch, you creepy bastard’ as she took off her shirt! Thank dog she was wearing a button-up shirt with sleeves. My t-shirt wouldn’t have done the job.”

  “I’m just glad I was wearing a bra. Nearly didn’t put it on this morning!” Kathy says. “On the upside, I was so hot and sweaty it felt kinda good to take my shirt off.”

  “Well, there’s a glass half full comment if I ever heard one! I think using your shirt for a field dressing probably saved Tippy’s life,” Denver opines. “Thank you!”

  “I, er, well, you’re welcome, but I wasn’t really thinking, just reacting. I know that creep saved us, but I was totally pissed! What a mean, arrogant bastard! I guess I was coming down from an adrenalin rush. When I think about it, I could’ve been literally pissed. I think I almost peed my pants when that bear started toward us.” She giggles, then takes another deep drink of her wine before continuing: “I wanted to run but Astrid wouldn’t let me.”

  “She was right about that,” Wilson says.

  “She’s also right when she says you two should’ve beat feet outta there while the bear was busy with the dogs!” Denver opines. “Astrid, what were you thinkin’, callin’ the bear’s attention to you by callin’ the dogs? You know you can never call Buster off and if he had come to you, don’t you think the bear would’ve been right behind?”

  “I know, it was stupid. I guess I wasn’t thinking.”

  “She thought if she could call the dogs off, the bear would go away and the dogs wouldn’t be hurt! That’s what she was thinking!” Kathy declares.

  “My heart, you girls!” Denver exclaims. “You so easily could’ve been that bear’s supper and we’d be sittin’ here wonderin’ where the hell you were and cursin’ you for bein’ late! As miserable as that guy was, I should go up there and kiss him! I owe him a bottle of Chivas.”

  “Yes! We could get Buster, er, Buster’s remains while we’re at it,” Kathy says. “Bring him back to bury him here, where he belongs. Right, Astrid?”

  “Right!” Astrid agrees and nods emphatically. The men exchange uneasy glances.

  “I don’t think he meant it, Runty,” Rick says gently. “We’re not going, but even if we did, no way we’d take you with us.”

  “Doubt there’s still remains to be got by now,” Wilson points out, giving voice to what the other two men were thinking. “That bear would not have gone far. Suppose you was foolhardy enough to go try and fetch Buster, you think you could take a meal away from a bear?”

  “No. I guess not,” Kathy admits.

  Denver gets up and goes to the kitchen, coming back with the box of wine in one hand and three more beers held between his arm and his torso. He puts everything on the coffee table, then passes the beers around before picking up the wine box again. He gives it a jiggle back-and-forth to judge the contents, and says, “We’re gonna have to make a wine run.”

  “You got two boxes yesterday,” Astrid says. “The other’s in the fridge downstairs. You don’t really think we drank that much, do you?”

  “Never know,” Denver says with a wink at Kathy. He sets the nearly empty box on the coffee table.

  “I’ll just leave this where you girls can reach it.” He goes back to his recliner and opens his beer, taking a deep draft. “I was just thinkin’, Rick. You know how two dogs is a pack? Like they’re more than the sum of their parts? I think Astrid and Kathy is a pack.”

  “I think you’re right. Dangerous combination,” Rick says. He nods and opens his beer with a pop!

  “Like Buster and Tippy. Buster was getting senile, but he might’ve had sense enough to run away instead of confronting the bear if he didn’t have Tippy for back-up.” Denver seems deep in thought. “I wonder. Maybe we should call Wildlife Conservation and report that bear. Seems like he’s aggressive. Shouldn’t he have been more likely to just stay away? No way he didn’t know you guys were coming and he should’ve just hid somewhere to watch. It was no accident he came face to face with Buster. You said it was right out in the open. Big dog like that wouldn’t normally trigger a prey response I don’t think. What do you think, Wilson? Any of your buddies at the Fisherman’s ever mentioned it?”

  “A while ago someone talked about seein’ a giant bear with a white face…think it was Carson. He never seen it himself, someone else who told someone else who told him. Can’t believe nuthin’ Carson says, he’s so fulla shit. A white-faced bear? Sounded like a tall tale.”

  “Well, looks like he was right this time,” Astrid says. “Maybe this bear wasn’t a giant but he was definitely big, right Kathy?”

  “Looked like a giant to me! But maybe that’s just the size of a regular grizzly?”

  “You’ll have quite a tale to tell at the next meeting of the Problem Solvers of the World, Fisherman’s Chapter, Wilson,” Astrid says. She’s smiling, but despite the warm evening, she shivers.

  “Now I gotta tell ‘em all Carson was right. Goddammit! That sticks in my craw!”

  “Well, your story sure beats the hell outta anything I’ve heard in a while,” Denver says. “What’s that Arabic or Chinese curse? ‘May you live in interesting times’?”

  “I could live without interesting times.” Kathy sits back and sips wine while everyone seems to be mentally reviewing the bear story. Then she exclaims, “Hey! Where do you keep your Medicare card, Astrid?”

  “Medicare card?”

  Rick says, “Okay, everyone, switch gears. I know Kathy well enough to be sure there’s a lead-in to Medicare cards somehow. What is it, Runty?”

  “Well, I was just thinking how easily that bear lifted Buster, and how Buster weighs more than me. If that guy hadn’t come along, we really could have been hurt as Denver pointed out, and I was just wondering where my Medicare card is. Is it with my things, you know, was it stolen from my hotel room?”

  “I think if that bear got you, you wouldn’t have to worry about going to the hospital. Or anything else,” Rick says.

  “I know, and it’s stupid to waste time thinking of that when I didn’t need it anyway, but you know how your thoughts can swirl around. I remembered since I renewed my driver’s licence last year, it’s included on that,” Kathy explains.

  “Mine too,” Astrid says.

  “Everyone’s is, likely,” Denver says. “Good thing we’ve settled that question.”

  “And most likely Kiersten’s is on her licence, too, and everyone keeps those in their wallets, right?” Kathy looks around the group. Everyone murmurs agreement.

  “So, men usually keep their wallets in their pocket. But women keep them...”

  “In their purse!” Astrid exclaims.

  “So, can we all agree everyone’s care card is in their wallet?” Denver asks. He shrugs and looks at Rick, lifting his hands in a gesture of confusion.

  “Well, remember when we were at the Riverview, when the cops came and the manager, Mr. Passmore, explained why they couldn’t interview Kiersten?’

  “And he said she left without telling anyone!” Astrid sits up straight and nods at Kathy.

  “I still don’t get it,” Rick says.

  “He said she left without her purse! When Mr. Passmore mentioned it, it just went over my head. I guess I thought wow, she must really have left in a hurry. Then this morning she said her boyfriend took her to the hospital,” Kathy says. “Not just to her doctor, or, I don’t know where else, but to the hospital…”

  “Ahhh! So she would’ve needed her
card,” Denver concludes.

  “Now that you mention it, what woman goes anywhere without her purse, anyway?” Rick asks. “If that gal is anything like my wife, she would’ve been sitting with her purse on her lap, likely tapping her toe, waiting for her boyfriend to show up.”

  “Why did she lie?” Kathy wonders. “And that coffee mug—I asked her where her favourite mug was and she said she lost it—I bet the broken mug Sergeant Villeneuve showed us the picture of is hers.”

  “Another lie?” Astrid asks.

  “Yeah, unless someone stole it and then dropped it by the patio door. What are chances of that? I think it’s more likely she took it to my patio and she’s the one who dropped it. But why wouldn’t she say so? It doesn’t make sense.”

  “And why wouldn’t she have picked up the pieces?”

  “It only makes sense if she saw the guy, dropped it, and ran,” Denver suggests.

  “But then she would tell someone,” Kathy says.

  “Maybe that’s what caused her panic attack,” April says.

  “She still would have told someone.”

  “How severe are these panic attacks, anyway?” Rick wonders. “So bad she can’t even tell her boss she’s leaving, or ask her boyfriend to tell him? And forgets to take her purse? Anyone buy that?”

  They’re all quiet, digesting this. Finally Astrid says, “She knows something and she’s not talking.”

  “I think I need to have another chat with Sergeant Villeneuve,” Denver says, getting to his feet and pulling his phone out of his pocket.

  Wilson says, “Meantime, anybody innerested in some grub? Chilli’s ready anytime, and I got cornbread ready to come outta the oven. It’s not vegan, just vegetarian, hope that’s okay. Made a pot of vegan chilli, too.”

  “Aww, Wilson, thank you!” Kathy gushes. “Why didn’t some woman snap you up years ago?”

  “Because he’s so busy arguing with Carson and the rest of his cronies he doesn’t even notice when a lady is giving him the come on,” Denver says. He walks out onto the deck, dials a number and puts his phone to his ear.

  Wilson’s ears turn red but he says nothing, just shrugs and gets to his feet.

  “Well, it sure does smell good,” Astrid says. “I’ll go get the girls.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  THE DARK RIVER airport Departure Lounge is bustling with people waiting to depart, while the full load of passengers deplanes. There are separate doors for departures and arrivals, but no segregation inside.

  Kathy and Rick have checked in and are standing with Astrid and Denver, trying to stay out of the way of the arrivals collecting their luggage, while they wait for their boarding call.

  “I’m glad to be heading home, but sorry to leave all the same,” Kathy tells Astrid.

  “Sorry you didn’t find your family,” Astrid says, “or at least, um, a different family. Not Hazens. You know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, I do, and I haven’t given up. I still have that sliver of hope.”

  “You sure seem too normal to be related to, er, them,” Denver says.

  “Hazens, at least Hank Senior, seemed completely normal too, though,” Astrid says. “Junior was an ass but he could sure turn on the charm, and no one ever saw him act like a crazy person. At least no one who lived to tell.”

  “Don’t forget, there’s no doubt who Runty’s mother was and she was bat shit crazy,” Rick points out. “Difference is, everyone knew she was.”

  “Rick!”

  “Sorry, Runty. Just wanted to make sure everyone knows that you could be related to the Bad Hanks and still be your sweet li’l self.”

  “Anyway, we’ll be back! Even if just to visit you guys,” Kathy says. “I can’t tell you how nice it’s been, getting to know you. We have so much in common, and now we’re even going to have two of your beautiful Paints! I hope you know we’d love to have you guys come to our place for a visit, too.”

  “Denver still judges horse shows, and there’s a big Paint-O-Rama in Swift Current every year. Four judges?” Astrid looks to Denver for confirmation. Seeing his nod, she continues, “four judges. If he’s not judging, we could take horses to that. It’s not too far from Pillerton, is it?”

  “About three hours,” Kathy responds. “We’d definitely meet you there!”

  “Wouldn’t that be cool!”

  “It sure would! Of course, it’ll be a while before I’m ready to actually take Mindy to a show.”

  “Maybe not so long. By next summer you’ll be able to enter a halter class, if nothing else. Nice to get some halter points and start working on her championship."

  “Championship? That doesn’t seem likely. But it might be fun to do the halter thing, and an excuse to see you guys at a show!”

  “I’ll start teachin’ Mindy to stand up before I deliver her, and I can give you a couple of showmanship lessons when I bring the horses,” Denver offers.

  “Oh? She has to be taught to stand? And showmanship?”

  “There’s a lot of prep: grooming, feeding, lunging so she’s fit and so on. There’s a knack to it. Not as simple as just leading your horse in and standing there.”

  “I suppose nothing is ever as easy as it looks.”

  “You got that right!” Astrid says. “And you’ll need to start putting together a nice showmanship outfit. Check it out on the internet! Anyway, we’ll keep in touch.”

  Denver says, “I’ll let you know what Sergeant Villeneuve has to say once he interviews Kiersten again.”

  “That would be great, thanks.”

  “Will you update me once you’ve met with the probate lawyers?” Astrid asks. “I know it’s none of my business…”

  “Well, it is, though, since I wouldn’t have even known about it if not for you.”

  “I admit, I’m intrigued,” Astrid says. “If Kiersten doesn’t tell Sergeant Villeneuve anything, I’m going to cozy up to her. Maybe I will anyway. I’ve already met her, so it wouldn’t be crazy for me to invite her for coffee, for starters. I’m sure she’s hiding something. If she knows who took your pendant…”

  “Oh, Astrid, be careful!”

  “Don’t wowwy, I’ll be vewy vewy caweful,” she says in the funny voice she sometimes speaks to her kids with, bringing a smile to Kathy’s face.

  “I’ll get trucking arranged for your hay, and give you a call when I’ve connected with that horse hauler you were talking about,” Rick tells Denver.

  “Sure,” Denver agrees. “I’ve been thinking, though. Might work out better for me to bring ‘em down in the stock trailer. I could load the trailer with hay for the run back, too.”

  “Well, that sounds like a good idea, if you think you’ll need more than a semi load.”

  “Hell, yeah. Good alfalfa mix hay at the price you’re askin’? I’ll take as much as you’ll sell me. ‘Specially since you agreed to take lumber for your new corrals to cover the shortfall between the price of the horses and the hay.”

  “I think we got a helluva deal on those horses, Denver.”

  “Maybe we could have asked more, but knowing they’re going to a good home is important,” Astrid says.

  “Works for both of us, for sure,” Rick says. “No sense the hay truck comin’ back empty. It does mean I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me, though.”

  “Pfft,” Kathy says, “you’ll have Ryan doing most of it.”

  “What? You know Ryan can’t build corrals by himself! Someone has to sit on the tractor running the auger.”

  “Of course,” Astrid agrees.

  “Isn’t it an awful long time in the trailer for the horses, though?” Kathy asks.

  “Ay-yuh,” Denver says, “but a buddy of mine, a Paint breeder, his place is just outside of Calgary. I can overnight there. If we can deduct the cost of the gas from whatever a stock trailer full of alfalfa costs I’d be happy to do it.”

  “Hey!” Astrid exclaims, “if Den delivers the horses, the girls and I can come along!”

  “That would b
e awesome! Meantime, keep us posted on how Tippy is doing,” Kathy says. “I hope she’ll be okay.”

  “I’m sure the vet wouldn’t be letting us pick her up this afternoon if she was still in danger.”

  Just then Rick glances at the arrivals area. The crowd is thinning as the last few passengers retrieve luggage from the conveyor. His attention is drawn to a group just walking out the door to the parking lot: four men and a woman with blonde hair drawn back in a ponytail.

  “Rick,” Kathy says as she points at their departing backs.

  “Yeah, Runty, I see them. That sure looks like Tina.”

  “I was just going to say that. Kind of looks like Carl, too.”

  “Can’t be sure from the back but it sure did look like them. Wisht I’da noticed them sooner.”

  “Who’s that?” Denver asks, turning to look.

  “A couple of people we know from home,” Kathy explains. “The guy who owns Big Al’s, which is Rick’s favourite hangout, and Rick’s ex-wife.”

  “It doesn’t make sense,” Rick says. “What would they come here for? I don’t mean to dis your town, guys, but before Runty’s letters, I’d never even heard of Dark River. What are chances of what, five? Six? People from a town as small as Pillerton being at the airport here at the same time? It would be a helluva coincidence.”

  “It can’t be them,” Kathy concludes.

  The boarding call comes over the loudspeakers.

  “Guess that’s us,” Rick says.

  The men shake hands as Astrid and Kathy hug each other. Rick picks up the carry-on and they join the queue at the departure gate, with Kathy turning to give a final wave before going out the door.

  ♦ ♦ ♦