22. Shocked
TWENTY-TWO
Shocked
ASH
As everyone started cleaning up, Knox had called me away from Willow and Ro. I hated to leave them, but the faster we got things done, the quicker Willow and I would be on our way to camping at Rhodes Ridge.
I couldn’t wait to finally have that talk with Willow tonight about us, about the future. How would Ro take the idea of my replacing Scott? I snorted, knowing I could never, but I would do my damndest to be what she needed in Scott’s place.
“What’s going on, Knox?” I met him behind the barn near the grain shed.
He pointed to the ground with his flashlight. “I don’t know how we missed them, but there are bear tracks here, Boss.”
My blood ran cold. “How fresh?”
“I’d guess recent. Early this morning, or maybe since sundown tonight.”
“Shit. I’ll go alert everyone.” Before I could move, a loud crash came from the direction of the main road, like a car accident, and then a commotion started up with the horses.
We sprinted into the barn, and Colt cried out, “Juniper, calm down. Whoa, girl.” Her hooves stomped and her body banged on the stall walls and door along with her grunts.
“She’d been calm all day. What suddenly has her so spooked?”
“Maybe she’s hungry?” Ro appeared at my side and slipped her hand into mine.
“I think you gave her enough peppermint treats all day long.”
“Like Mom said, you need good food, not just treats.”
“True, little miss. And your mother is one smart woman.” We didn’t get any further when Juniper broke through her stall door again, dashing away from Colt and making a beeline down the center of the barn. I grabbed Ro and dove off to the side just in time so we didn’t get plowed over.
“Stay here with Colt, Ro,” I yelled. I ran out and into the nearest ATV, my heart lodging in my throat.
“What the hell’s going on?” Knox jumped onboard as I drove off, taking the seat next to me.
Across the field, we could barely make out Juniper until she jumped the fence. Her back legs hit against the top rail and knocked the entire section down. Then we lost her in the dark forest.
“Fuck, the highway is just beyond the trees,” Knox pointed.
“We can’t let her get that far.” I hated to see her cause an accident or get hurt. It would devastate Willow.
Juniper’s trail ran through the dense greenery and became tougher for the ATV to maneuver over. The greenery engulfed us like a dark tunnel, with a slight light ahead, as if someone pointed their headlights our way.
When we finally broke through, I quickly scanned the area and couldn’t believe the sight before us.
My truck sat upside down in the ditch. The headlights provided enough light to see Juniper charging toward a bear, roaring and squealing.
Raised up on her hind legs, she made herself taller than the grizzly, who had no time to strike out as Juniper beat it down with her front hooves, over and over until it whimpered on the ground and was no longer a threat.
“Juniper,” Willow cried, an agonizing shriek coming not more than ten feet away from this horrific situation. The horse went to her, sniffing and sighing over her in a protective stance. Willow threw her arms around its neck, burying her face in the thick mane.
I skidded the ATV to a halt and couldn’t comprehend everything that had happened. “Willow, thank God. Are you hurt?”
A groan suddenly came from the truck. In slow motion, a bloodied stranger stumbled out and stood up, lifting a handgun and pointing it at us. I shoved Willow behind me on instinct. If a bullet was coming for us, it’d have to go through me first.
Before he could shoot, Knox got to him, and grabbed the gun. He hit him with the butt end of it in the head, knocking him out cold.
Willow collapsed in my arms. We hit the ground, and I brought her tight into me. “I got you, baby. Whatever happened here, I got you.”
“F-f-fugitive,” she whispered on a shaky cry.
“Christ, did you hear that, Knox? Get on the phone with the chief,” I ordered. Of all things… the fugitive who had been on the loose from the state prison all this time landed on my ranch?
Chief Patrick, head of police locally, had become a good friend of ours. We’d need him here as soon as possible to sort this mess out.
“T-told you. Don’t leave k-keys in the truck.” At least Willow had her sense of humor despite whatever had happened.
“Never again, baby. Never. I swear.”
Juniper sighed and hovered above us. The trembling love of my life in my arms had just been through something so horrific, I couldn’t even imagine.
A million questions formed. Only one thing mattered.
“Thank God, you’re alright. If I’d have lost you…
?” I couldn’t finish, swallowing down the lump in my throat.
Willow looked up at me, her eyes swollen from crying, and croaked, “Bear.”
My eyes flicked to the large grizzly nearby, thankful it wasn’t moving. Yet. I’d seen bears get knocked down and get back up again. But Knox had the gun cocked and ready to use if needed.
“Yes, baby. There really was a bear this time.” I brushed her hair back to keep it from matting into the nasty cuts on her forehead.
She tried to speak more, to tell me what happened, but broke down, shaking, probably going into shock.
“It’s okay. I’m here now, and I’m never leaving you.” I wrapped my arms around her. She was so cold. My palms rubbed up and down her back to keep her warm.
Soon, emergency crews arrived. First thing, I demanded they get Willow in the ambulance and care for her wounds. As they treated her, she calmed down enough to tell the chief what had happened, from the hijacking at the cabin to the bear and then to Juniper.
The entire situation made my stomach churn. Christ, just when I had my past guilt managed, a new guilt arrived.
“I shouldn’t have left her side tonight, Knox. I should have been the one to endure all of this, not Willow.”
“Hey, boss. We couldn’t have seen this coming. Don’t beat yourself up,” he commiserated with me.
I knew he was right. I refused to be the weak man I was before, running from things. Thanks to Willow, I’d stay and deal with this and be the strong man she and Ro needed right here, right now.
Eventually, Knox tied Juniper to the ATV and slowly guided her back to the barn. He’d bring some of our guys here tomorrow to tow my truck out of the ditch. The chief’s men took the fugitive into custody in another ambulance, calling all of us heroes for finally capturing him.
Willow deserved the accolades, not me. But I’d help her get through her injuries and back on her feet, no matter what it took. I’d be her hero.
The chief called the rangers at the local park to come take care of the bear.
Finally, the EMTs insisted Willow be taken to the hospital in Lewiston for further observation for a concussion.
It’s a wonder she could walk away from all of this.
She didn’t have broken bones, but she had a bruised shoulder and many scrapes and wounds.
“No. I need to see my baby. Please, Ash, take me to Ro.” The stubborn woman pushed off the gurney in the ambulance.
I made a deal with the EMTs that I’d observe her overnight and bring her to Lewistown first thing in the morning for further evaluation.
Right now, all that mattered was getting Willow to Ro. I bundled her up in blankets the EMTs provided, put her in the chief’s car, and he drove us home.
Home to our cabin. Where I vowed from this day forward until my dying day, I’d let nothing bad happen to Willow or Ro again. I’d love them with my entire heart and soul, and I’d protect them as best I could, one day at a time.
Thanks to Knox, by the time we got back to the cabin, it was lit up, a fire going, and coffee brewing.
He’d spread the word, and our friends and some of my crew gathered there on the porch and waited for us.
He and Colt, and Daisy and her sisters, they all stuck around for a little while, making sure we had everything we needed for the night.
Inside, Willow held Ro, both of them crying as they sat on the couch together. We had talked about it in the Chief’s car on the way here and decided to keep the story simple for Ro, for now, not needing to give her every detail.
Willow would tell her about the bear and about Juniper, but not about the accident or the fugitive.
The accident might have triggered some worries and fears about her mother leaving her given the similarities to Scott’s untimely death.
Maybe someday we’d tell her everything. Most importantly, she needed to know that Willow was here and not going anywhere.
Meanwhile, outside, I quietly relayed the entire ordeal for everyone else to hear. I asked them kindly not to talk about the details when they were around Ro and why. By the end, they were all heartbroken about what had happened.
“Please let us know if Willow and Ro need anything. We’re all here for you , Ash,” Daisy squeezed my shoulder, and all the others nodded, sharing the sentiment .
“Thanks, everyone. I appreciate your support more than you know. But it’s getting late.
I should get these two to bed.” And with that cue, everyone gave hugs all around and promised to stop by tomorrow to check on us.
I asked Knox to take over running the ranch for me for a few days as I didn’t plan to leave Willow’s side yet.
I’d call Chris tomorrow and tell him everything.
I realized how much I relied on these good people.
I’d arrived in Montana knowing no one and keeping my past pain locked up tight, wanting peace and quiet on this mountain.
Now friends and family abounded, my past opened up, being dealt with, and most importantly, a woman and her child filled my heart and soul with love.
No longer was I alone here, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
I watched them all leave, my heart full, then I walked into my cabin and locked the front door.
After I checked all the other windows and doors and ensured they were locked, I finally settled on the couch and brought my arms around both of them, not too tightly, being gentle especially with Willow.
Ro sniffled, nestled into her mother’s side. “I love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too, my sweet little girl.” Willow leaned her head against me .
“I love you both so much.” My arm stretched behind them along the back of the couch, and I squeezed them a little more into me, holding my heart and soul and everything that mattered. I let them drift off to sleep for a little while and stared at the fire in the cabin I’d built.
Little did I know when I built this place that I’d end up filling it with so much love. It was definitely cozy enough for the three of us.For now.