Page 33 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Bear

“I collect trophies.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “I’m a hunter, Melissa. That’s what I do. I enjoy the hunt. And so does Leto. Like I told you, she’s just like family to me.”

Melissa stared at the dog in horror. She’d suspected the animal responsible for all the carcasses scattered around Paradise Woods must be a wolf. Not once had it occurred to her that the killer might be the dog she’d spent her mornings walking and feeding.

Or her owner.

“So that’s what you do?” She swallowed, shuddering with a mixture of panic and rage. “Just move around different towns and kill animals for sport?”

“Not exactly.” He took a step closer to her, and her breathing faltered for a moment. “Like I said, Leto enjoys the hunt. Can hardly get her to open her eyes once they’re closed around a deer’s neck.” He chuckled at that, and Melissa felt her stomach churn. “But what I’m really after isn’t some deer or goat. I want a bigger trophy.”

“A bear,” she guessed, recalling the space she’d seen on the wall in that room. “You want to hunt down a bear.”

Cal.

The thought immediately flashed through her mind, and she felt a flare of panic unrelated to her own predicament.

“You’re right on the money. I told you about my accident. All of that was true, of course. The bear did kill my friend and scar me.”

He raised a hand to touch the scar on his face, closing his eyes for a moment.

“But I’ve been hunting bears ever since. Became a hunter a year after my scar healed. And two years after that, I killed my first bear.” He grinned, and his scar crinkled. “It was a black bear, but a bear regardless. Didn’t start hunting grizzlies until three years ago.”

He grinned at that, looking proud of himself. Melissa stared at him in disgust. To think she’d even been concerned about him earlier!

“I haven’t come across any bears around these parts, unfortunately,” he went on. “But I’m hoping there’s one lurking somewhere. I’ll just have to find another way to kill it: Set the woods on fire. I won’t be able to keep its head, but a dead bear is a dead bear.”

She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to try to kick him. “So that’s how you plan to kill me. It’s why you brought me all the way out here.”

“Of course. Can’t have any witnesses. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to kill you, but I need to do what needs to be done.”

She tried to no avail to suppress the wave of panic that swept through her. She swallowed again. “And after that? What happens after you burn the woods and kill me? What next?”

Dale gave a casual shrug. “Move to another town, of course. I’m sure I’ll have more success in Minos and Everland.” He sighed. “But all this talking is wasting time, so I think I’m going to kill you now and set this place on fire. Fingers crossed there’s some grizzly in here.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. She wished she could close her eyes and wake up in bed, that this was all a nightmare. But it was real. Dale was going to kill her and start a forest fire, all because he was carrying a ten-year grudge against grizzly bears. She looked around, wondering if she should try screaming again. What were the odds that someone else was in the woods with them right now, or that they’d be able to help her?

He stepped closer, and in a flash, a blade appeared in his hand, gleaming as he held it up to her chin. Melissa’s breathing grew rapid, her pulse thundering in her ears.

“Any last words?” Dale sneered.

She opened her mouth, prepared to beg for her life, but just then she heard the sound of leaves rustling. To her left, a few twigs snapped.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” growled a voice.

Dale scowled. The blade was slowly lowered. He and Melissa glanced in the direction of the voice, just in time to see Cal step into the clearing. His clothes were damp, sweat matting his hair to his forehead like he’d been running. He drew closer, glancing from Melissa to her captor, and a thunderous look crossed his face.

“Drop the knife,” he ordered, balling his hands into fists. “You’d be wise to step away from the doctor. If you hurt a single hair on her head, I’ll rip your lungs right out of your chest.”

Chapter Fifteen

“I’m Sorry I Scared You”

“Take another step closer,” Dale warned, “and the doctor here’s gonna be breathin’ her last.”

He pressed his blade against Melissa’s neck as he spoke, forcing a whimper from her lips. At the same time, the large dog rose onto all fours, taking a menacing step toward Cal.

The dog growled. Cal shot her a glare.

“As you can see, you’re outnumbered,” Dale remarked. “You’re one of those animal rescuers, aren’t you? You really shouldn’t have come here. Now I’ll have to kill you, as well. It’s a shame. All I ever really wanted was to hunt a grizzly bear for myself. I never thought I’d have to take out people, too.”