Christmas Undercover

Will.

“Wh-wh-what are you...doing here?” she whispered, unable to take her eyes off the bear.

“Listen to me carefully. Do not look into the bear’s eyes. Okay?”

She nodded and redirected her attention to the ground.

“Now back away slowly. Toward the sound of my voice.”

She hesitated.

“It’s okay. Slow movements shouldn’t spook her,” he said.

Sara followed his directions and backed up, but the bear kept coming. Will stepped in front of her.

The bear roared, aggravating her headache.

“What does she want?” she said.

“Probably the same thing you want. To be left alone. Maybe she’s got cubs nearby.”

“I have the gun.”

“That’ll only make her angry. Back up slowly.”

She took a step back, then another.

“That’s it,” he said.

As she and Will tried to distance themselves, the bear slowly followed.

“This isn’t working,” Sara said, panic gripping her chest.

“Easy now. Don’t make eye contact. You’re doing great.”

Sara continued to step back. “What if she charges us?”

“We make ourselves big and threatening. I have a feeling you’ll do great.”

Was he teasing her? As they were both about to be torn apart by a bear?

They kept backing away and Sara was stunned when the bear hesitated.

“That’s right, we’re boring hikers, mama bear,” he said in a hushed voice.

That smooth, sweet voice he’d used on Sara.

They backed away until they were out of sight. Will turned and gripped her arm. “Let’s move.”

“You think she’ll follow us?”

“Doubtful, but we’re safer in the cabin. What were you thinking, taking off with nothing but a blanket?”

“I was... That you were—”

“Enough. I don’t want to hear any more about how I’m going to kill you. The dehydration is messing with your head.” He stopped and looked deeply into her eyes. “If I wanted you dead, I would have let Smokey eat you for dinner, right?”

True. An assassin wouldn’t have risked his own life to save a mark from a bear, only to kill her later. In LaRouche’s and Harrington’s minds, a dead witness was the best witness, yet Will have saved her twice.

Which meant she’d been abusing this innocent man, Good Samaritan.

Single father.

She sighed as they kept walking.

“Thanks,” she said. “For the bear thing.”

“You’re welcome. I don’t suppose that warrants me knowing your name?”

“Sara.”

“Nice to meet you, Sara. I’d rather you not run off again and get eaten by wild animals on my watch.”

“No promises,” she half joked.

“Ah, you like pushing back for the fun of it,” he teased.

But he’d nailed it. Sara was always pushing, although, not necessarily for fun.

“Why do you think someone wants to harm you?” he asked.

“I witnessed a crime.”

They turned a corner and he stopped short.

“What?” She looked around him.

A man was coming out of the cabin.

“Do you recognize him?” she said.

“No.” He motioned to a nearby tree. “Hide back there. I’ll check it out.”

“It could be dangerous.”

“Or simply a hiker lost in the mountains. Kinda like you.” Will smiled and nodded toward the tree. “Go on.”

“Maybe you should take this.” She offered him the gun.