How’d it end up in two parts?
He supposed the bear did it, but still. An even bigger question was what she was doing out here, hiking in the wilderness dressed like that. His mind ran through the likely scenarios and settled on one.
She was dumped. Killed somewhere else and dumped in the woods. Then the bear found her and did what he did. Took advantage of finding his next meal. His next several meals.
Tyler’s eyes settled on the woman in front of him. From the way she held herself, it was obvious she was still tense. Of course she was. He was tense. No doubt so were Sue and Robert. Their simple hike in the woods, a way to enjoy a day off, had turned into something else entirely. And it was only going to get worse.
Now they’d be forced to call the cops. Who exactly to call, he didn’t know. Probably 9-1-1, and they’d send whoever had jurisdiction. Would that be the state police?Maybe, but most likely it’d be the Basin County Sheriff’s Department. He frowned at the thought. He knew many of the deputies. And that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
If he was smart, he’d slip away before the call was made. Let Robert, Sue, and the woman handle it. He stifled a sigh. As tempting as it was, he wouldn’t do that. Besides, he rode with Robert and Sue. What was he going to do, walk the fifty-odd miles back to his hometown of Irma, Wyoming?
Not only that, but he also knew he’d never leave. Not until he was certain the woman and his friends were safe.
Reaching the vehicles would eliminate the danger from the grizzly, for the most part. They’d be far enough from the cache, and that would help, though it was common for bears to saunter through parking lots and campgrounds. Especially if there was a chance food might be left out.
The hike back felt longer than it should’ve. Every rustle in the underbrush sparked new concern; every crack of a branch sent him scanning the tree line. Sue and Robert kept up a steady conversation, and he added a word here and there while the woman occasionally chimed in.
She kept pace easily. He couldn’t help but think she was some kind of athlete. She was built like one and moved like one. A runner, maybe. He noticed her arms. She probably did some strength training too.
She’d dressed for the occasion of a long hike. A backpack with paracord, water bottle showing in an outside pocket. This wasn’t her first time in the mountains, though she had made the mistake of coming out alone.
Everyone with a lick of sense knew better than to do that. At the very least, those who enjoyed hiking alone usually brought a dog with them. But this woman, out here fully alone, what was she thinking?
“What’s your name?” he asked as they walked.
She glanced back at him, and for a moment, he thought she might not answer. Then she said, “Brooke.”
“I’m Tyler.”
“I’m Sue.” Sue turned her head briefly to give Brooke a smile. “My husband is Robert.”
“First time I’ve found something like that,” Brooke said, and there was a slight tremor in her voice that she was trying to hide.
“I’d hope so,” Sue said, keeping her attention forward but bobbing her head.
Tyler stayed quiet. It was a first for him, too, but not the first time death had touched his life. Not even close.
They reached the spot where the trail divided into a loop. The path widened, and Tyler felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. The path was clear and well-marked. They weren’t far from the trailhead now.
“Any chance you have service?” he asked Robert.
Robert checked his phone and shook his head. “Still nothing.”
“I told you we should’ve got one of those satellite trackers,” Sue said.
“Yes, dear,” Robert replied.
Tyler sighed. He wasn’t certain there would be reception at the parking lot. They might need to drive up the road and make the call from the little store where they had a landline.
Brooke stumbled slightly on a root, and Tyler’s hand shot out automatically to steady her elbow. She glanced back at him, and their eyes met for a moment. Blue eyes, he noticed again. Clear and intelligent, despite the fear still lingering there.
“Thanks,” she said.
“No problem.”
She pulled away gently and kept moving. Tyler told himself to focus on the trail, on getting everyone to safety. But part of his mind kept circling back to her. The way she’d handled herself, the strength in her despite the terror, the fact that she’d had the presence of mind to mark the location even while panicking.
The parking area came into view, and relief washed over Tyler. They’d made it. No bear encounter, nobody else to worry about. Just the quiet horror of what they’d left behind in the forest.
