Quentin Cantrell wrote on February 8, 2019

Location: Blackbird Lodge, Lost Lake Ranch

The normal forest sounds had returned by the time Shade, Clara and the children were out of the waterfall pool. He still paused to listen, but it seemed that the monster Grizzly had gone in search of less elusive prey. Now, he just had to figure out where they were relative to the main house. It only took a few moments for him to get his bearings.

"This way," he gestured off to his left. Their headlong race through the forest and away from the bear had brought them out just north of the ranch house. Even with measuring their strides to those of the twins, they should be home within twenty minutes.

Within five minutes, Shade had them back on the trail that led east toward the house. They had only gone a few yards when he thought he heard something. "Clara!" Shade called to her and stepped in front of her and the twins. Levering a round into the chamber of the rifle, he turned it in the direction of the sounds. He thought they were footfalls but was not willing to take any chances. Keeping himself between Clara, the twins, and whatever or whoever was coming, Shade waited tensely.

From up ahead the trail moved over a rise and vanished from view. Slowly a head rose over the edge of the small hill and started to drop back, then it rose again to reveal Quentin's face behind the barrel of a Sharps carbine. He watched Shade swing the barrel of his rifle away as he walked up into view, placing his hat back on his head as he looked around behind the tired, wet group. "Shade? What the hell happened? I heard shooting..."

So it was Shade's friend, Clara relaxed then but only for a moment before stepping out from behind Shade and addressing the other man, blunt as ever despite being a soaking mess.

"We were accosted by a bear. And kindly be mindful of your language, there are children present,"Clara gestured with a nod toward the twins.

Quentin blinked and looked back at the woman from where he had been watching the surrounding woods. His jaw dropped a bit then it closed almost audibly. "You four were attacked by a bear and you're giving me grief about my language?..." He shifted the Sharps to rest in the crook of his left arm as he looked at Shade. "...No wonder you like her so much. She's a pistol..."

Posted on February 10, 2019

Shade grinned, "She is that, isn't she?" Glancing around uneasily, he added, "Maybe we should talk as we head back for the house. I don't fancy meeting that monster with just this rifle and your carbine."

He was confident that Clara would keep pace with the twins. In fact, they had not let go of her hands since being lifted out of the water. Shade wanted to emphasize that they needed to stay with an adult for the near future. At least until the bear was hunted down and killed. If he had wandered this close to the ranch house, he was about as fearless as a Grizzly could be.

"Quentin, I am not exaggerating when I say that bear was a monster. I've seen and even hunted my fair share of Grizzlies and have never seen anything the likes of Old Satan!" Shade shook his head. It was evident from his voice that the encounter had left him shaken which was odd enough. Except when dealing with Harriet Mercer, Shade was fairly fearless himself. He'd lived too much in his short thirty years to be easily brought up short by an animal.

Quentin and Shade fell in behind Clara and the twins so they would be between any threat coming from behind. Quentin took another look behind them as they walked. "Did you manage to hit it? I know yours might not kill it but I was hoping it might at least do some damage..."

"I hit it. Only slowed it down a bit," Shade answered. "If anything, the noise made more of a difference to the thing. Rifle seemed to just make it mad." There was a few moments of silence as both men listened for any sign that the beast was on their trail. The forest was alive with its normal sounds as the woodland creatures went about their daily lives. The only other sound was the wind sighing through the branches of the tall aspens and pines.

Again, Shade's voice indicated how rattled he was although he had tried to hide it from Clara and the twins during their ordeal. "When he stood upright, Old Satan was nearly ten feet tall and, at least, five feet at the shoulder. I'd guess he weighed in at over 1200 pounds. Definitely abnormal size for any Grizzly I've ever encountered."

Quentin's stride checked a step as he listened to Shade. Reflexively he lifted the Sharps and worked the lever just enough to verify there was a round inside. He then snicked the weapon closed and held it ready in both hands. "You look scared enough for two people, and not much shakes you, Shade...I believe you..." Quentin nodded toward Clara and the children. "...when we get back to the ranch they stay inside and we lock everything up tight. We tell all the hands that no one goes about the ranch without at least a rifle and in pairs minimum. Agreed?"

Clara Redmond wrote on February 12, 2019

So this Quentin was a bit surprised by her admonishing him for such language, Clara did not relent.

"I cannot control what a bear does but you, on the other hand, can certainly control the kind of language which comes out of your mouth," Clara sagely pointed out.

Quentin knew better than to argue with a woman under a full head of steam so he gave a nod and touched the front of his hat with a smile and turned to begin walking beside Shade.

She was however rather pleased though with that 'pistol' comment and Shade's quick agreement to it. Yes, being called a pistol was a good thing, she was pretty sure of that. Her folks did not raise a shy person. She had her opinions and was always more than willing to express them. If adults didn't like it, too bad.

Clara had both kids, hand in hand, with her and followed behind the men as they discussed this very dangerous bear. She let them talk. Truth was she knew nothing of hunting bears.

Shade answered Quentin's comment from earlier, "Agreed." Raising his voice slightly, he called out so Clara and the twins could hear him, "Hear that, Clara? Don't want you and the little'uns out and about unless someone is with you and well-armed. I'll check you out on one of our rifles too. Don't take any chances, ya hear?" Shade's tone made it an order, but there was also clear concern in it too.

"My hearing is fine. And I already know how to shoot a rifle, my father has a Sharps carbine," Clara replied, she was not thrilled being lumped in with the twins, she was well capable of taking care of herself.

"Still gonna make sure you know the ins-and-outs of the gun before I hand it over to you, girl," Shade retorted mildly.

"I sincerely hope you are not doubting the truthfulness of my assertions?" Clare frowned.

"I do not doubt that you are proficient with your farther's carbine. However," Shade's voice was firm, "different rifles and carbines handle differently."

Turning to Quentin, he continued, "I should go into town tomorrow and report on this thing to Marshal Cory. We need to let people know what they're up against."

Quentin nodded. "But you can't go alone...hard to get everyone to follow our rules if we don't follow them ourselves. I'll ride with you. We can pick up some more ammunition for the Sharps we have and maybe buy some more before there's a run on bear guns."

Shade nodded his agreement. By now they had reached the courtyard and Laura Hale was coming out to meet them, concern on her face as she saw the four wet and bedraggled group. She smiled warmly at Clara, "Let's find you and the twins some warm, dry clothes. Shade, don't track water all over the house. Mary just cleaned the floors."

"Very well, ma'am. I will remove my shoes so I do not track either," Clare replied, "I can assist with the twins too."

She was being paid for such things after all, she wished to earn the money fairly.