As I approached, he stood tall, chattering as though to defend his motives. I shook my head at him but left him to his perusing. Fumbling with the bag’s straps, my hands were shaking from the adrenaline of the last fifteen minutes. Finally getting it open, I searched for the first-aid kit.
Larry wasted no time sticking his nose into the bag alongside me.
Finding the kit, I slid it out and set it on the seat of the snowmobile. Inside, I found a canister of saline spray.
“Yes, perfect,” I whispered, snapping the kit shut and shoving it back into the bag.
I refastened the flap, much to Larry’s dismay, then jogged back to the mouth of the overhang. Larry didn’t follow, too busy trying to get the flap open again.
I hurried to Gray’s side as he slumped forward in the snow. I gave Tallulah a wary glance; she too had slumped onto the ground, her snout tucked under her paw, fast asleep.
Icy snow crunched as I knelt before Gray.
He sat up again at the sound, and I took his stubbled chin in my hand once more.
“It’ll sting, but open your eyes for me, alright? I’ve got saline spray.” I tilted his head back.
“Okay, I’ll try my best.” He opened his eyes, blinking furiously as tears fell down his cheeks.
I shook the can and sprayed each of his eyes, wincing and biting my lip as though feeling his pain. With my thumb, I wiped away as much residual saline as I could; his lashes glittering in the sunlight that had just reached us over the mountains.
“What’s in bear spray, anyway?” I asked, trying to distract him while I continued to flush the orange substance from his eyes and face.
His voice was raspy and broken.“Mostly capsaicin. It’s basically pepper spray.”
I giggled.“So I just pepper-sprayed you?”
He nodded.
I tilted my head from side to side.“Yeah… but bear spray sounds cooler. I think I’ll stick to that when I tell people the story.”
He chuckled this time. It felt good to hear him laugh.
I kept stroking a thumb along his cheek and scruffy beard. I couldn’t help it. He was so beautiful up close. His skin appeared rugged and weathered, telling a tale of winters spent on the cold tundra. He was unique, like a restored artifact, full of stories.
His eyes opened, and he peered at me despite the haze of moisture covering his eyes, searching my face in return. A feeling passed between us, one I’d buried the last few weeks—I had to look away.
Hand falling from his face, my gaze found Tallulah again. She was snoring sweetly.“I should have guessed you’d have a pet bear. You’re like a Canadian Tarzan out here.”
He chuckled again, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. They seemed to give him less trouble now; he could keep them open for longer periods.
“I think she saved my life,” I continued.“I was freezing. If it weren’t for her, I’d be a Betty popsicle right now.” I leaned back, pulling my knees to my chest.“I can’t believe she just sidled up to me and fell asleep like that.”
Gray grunted.“She’s a mother. She’s raised a lot of cubs over the years. I could see how she’d have that instinct to keep you warm and safe.”
I nodded.“Mothers are fierce protectors,” I said.
There was silence for a long while.
Gray finally sighed, tension returning.“What the hell were you doing out here?” he asked again, leaning back and crossing his legs. Tears still streamed down his cheeks.
I wrung my hands and bit my lip. If I were going to demand his truth, then I’d have to give him mine, at least some of it.“I found my cell phone in my purse and…” I began.
His scrutinizing gaze and blood-shot eyes made me halt. His glare hurt, looking as if he knew what I’d say next, like I were some predictable, petulant child.
“I… I thought if I got high enough up that cliff, maybe I’d get a signal, and…” I looked up the cliffside where my severed rope still hung from the overhang.
“You fucking climbed that?” he bit out, sniffling.
