Ialways had thesneaking suspicion that nature would kill me. I just expected it to be something like me falling from a cliff, being carried away in a tornado, or being murdered by a wasp like a normal person. I did not think I'd be eaten alive by a giant murder cat.
And yet…here we are.
I knew giant cats existed. I've been to the zoo. I've also lived in Texas for years.Of courseI know they're out there. I've just never seen one unless it was safely in an enclosure.
There's no glass between me and the one making these terrifying, guttural growls while staring me down. It's just me, him, and no way out.
"I promise cow tastes better than me," I whisper, inching closer to the fence I have precisely zero hopes of climbing over. It's chest high. I still have to wiggle to get onto my bed. "Horse probably tastes better, too. I wouldn't know because I've never had it, but I'm sure you'll find it more appetizing than sweaty human."
I feel bad about trying to entice it to eat a cow or a horse. Tanner probably won't be very happy about that. But if it runs off in search of one of them, I can run for help. Since my phone is still on the kitchen counter, my mouth is the only weapon I've got.
"Please, don't eat me."
The bobcat makes another of those terrifying sounds, padding closer.
I gulp, trying not to cry. My eyes fall closed, and I can't manage to force them open again. Apparently, I'd rather die oblivious than see it coming. Who knew?
I hold my breath, waiting for the inevitable pain.
I wait.
And wait.
"Ahh!" I nearly jump out of my skin when there's a loud, pissed-off roar. It's not the cat. It's…Walker?
I crack my eyes open, a shocked cry falling from my lips when I see him charging toward the bobcat, swinging a branch and cursing. The bobcat slaps at him and growls again.
"Get out of there!" he roars at me.
It takes a second for my mind to process the command, and two more for my legs to work. I stumble away from the fence, rushing wide to avoid the cat slapping at Walker and his branch.
He clips the cat in the side, earning a howl of fury.
The cat turns, leaping the fence exactly where I was standing not even ten seconds ago.
Within seconds, it's gone.
My legs give out.
I plummet to the grass like a falling star, only far less gracefully.
"Letty!" Walker roars, tossing his branch aside. He stumbles toward me, landing on his knees beside me before yanking me into his arms. "Are you hurt, baby? Christ, tell me that you aren't hurt."
"I…I…I thought it was going to eat me."
"They don't eat humans. If they feel threatened, they'll rough you up, but they won't eat you."
"That's not helping!" I cry, shaking like a damn leaf as he runs his hands all over me, checking for injuries. "He was big and pissed off and…how did you find me?"
"Came lookin' for you," he growls, tipping my head back by cupping my cheeks in his hands. "Christ, you shaved ten years clean off my life, Sunshine. How'd you end up trapped by a bobcat?"
"I don't know! I was just going to the pond, and I saw the well, so I stopped for a minute to see if it still had water."
"It doesn't. Been dry for years."
"I know that now," I huff. Who is telling this story, me or him? "Next thing I know, the cat is right there, growling at me like it wants to eat me."
"It may have kittens on the other side of the fence," he mutters, his rough fingers stroking my cheeks. "You must have gotten in between her and them."
