Page 65 of Summer Ever After

His pulse kicked up hard as he ran, scanning the path ahead. The Eagles Nest Cabin sat at the far edge of grounds, at the top of a slight hill near the tree line, prime territory for curious wildlife. By the time he rounded the bend, a couple of guests and a staffer were already being guided back towards the main trail, their nervous voices carrying. He rushed past them and there it was.

A black bear lumbered near the supply shed behind the cabin, nose buried in an overturned trash bin. Its massive shoulders rolled with each movement, claws scraping against metal as it rooted for scraps.

Aaron slowed, keeping his movements measured, calm. He lifted a hand to the staffer, who was herding the last guest away. “Good work. Keep them clear,” he whispered.

He radioed back. “Got eyes on it. Looks like a juvenile, food motivated. Get animal control on the line, but I’ll keep it away from the cabins until they arrive,” he said softly, so as not to draw attention to himself until he was ready.

It wasn’t the first bear he’d encountered, but every one demanded respect. A twig snapped under his foot and he watched in horror as the bear’s head jerked up, muzzle slick with trash. It huffed, snorting loudly, then turned directly towards him. For a tense heartbeat, Aaron thought it might charge, but then the bear hesitated, swinging back towards the trashcan.

By the time animal control arrived with a tranquilizer gun, the bear had circled to the back of the shed, stubborn in its search for an easy meal. They managed to dart it without incident, the big creature staggering before collapsing in the grass. Aaron stood back, muscles taut, until they had it loaded on the truck for relocation.

Only then did he allow himself to breathe.

The guests were safe, the staff shaken but fine. The camp’s peace had been restored, at least for now.

As the adrenaline faded, his first thought was Beth. He knew that all the staff were on lockdown until they got word that things were clear.

As he strode back towards the main lodge, he was eager to share the photos of the animal with her. He needed to see her, reassure himself that she was okay after the tense morning. Maybe bring her an iced coffee like she liked, coax another real smile from her instead of the shadowed ones she’d been giving him all day.

Aaron pushed open the doors to the main building, the familiar hum of conversation and the faint scent of brewed coffee drifting in from the lobby. But the one thing he expected, the sight of Beth sitting behind the desk, head bent as she sorted schedules, wasn’t there. Her chair sat empty, still slightly turned as if she’d just risen from it.

Jules glanced up from the stack of registration forms in her lap. “She said she was just stepping outside for some air.”

Aaron froze. “Where?”

Jules waved vaguely towards the glass doors. “I thought maybe she was meeting you now that the bear was dealt with. You must have passed her on your way in.”

A cold weight dropped into his stomach. He shook his head. “No. I didn’t see her.”

He turned sharply, heading back through the doors. “Beth?” His voice carried across the courtyard. Silence answered. He circled the front steps, scanning the shaded walkways, the stretch of manicured lawn, the trailhead that wound towards the cabins. Nothing.

He cut towards the employee break area tucked behind the building, where picnic tables and Adirondack chairs sat under string lights. Empty. The faint rustle of wind in the trees mocked him.

Aaron’s chest tightened. He doubled his pace to the cafeteria, shoving through the doors. The smell of fries and fresh bread hit him, but no Beth. A few staff looked up from their meals.

“You guys see Beth?” he asked, moving from table to table. Heads shook. Murmured nos.

He strode to the kitchen pass-through, caught the cook’s attention. “Did Beth come through here?”

The man frowned, thought for a beat, then shook his head. “Haven’t seen her since breakfast.”

Aaron muttered a curse under his breath. He pulled his radio from his belt. “Brett, copy?”

Static crackled before Brett’s calm voice came through. “Go ahead.”

“Beth’s not at the desk. Jules said she stepped out, but I’ve checked the front, the break area, and the cafeteria. Nobody’s seen her.”

“On my way,” Brett answered instantly, no questions asked.

Aaron’s pulse hammered. He shoved the radio back and scanned the lobby again, half-expecting she’d reappear with a sheepish smile. But the chair was still empty.

No matter where he looked, Beth wasn’t there.

And that hollow weight in his gut grew heavier with every step.

Beth was just… gone.