Free A Father's Love by Lorhainne Eckhart Page B

father would come looking for them? He hoped it’d be soon; except his stomach sank with the realization that Dad wouldn’t start looking until sundown. Then how far would he get in the dark? It was cold. Neither was prepared for this. How would they survive a night in this old fir tree?

The Tree
    All David could focus on was the twisting agony shooting like nails up his back, shoulders and legs, from sitting balanced for hours on the solid branch. The waiting was endless. Twice David had dropped down a branch and each time Mama Bear charged below. Her wrath escalated—faster, angrier, a little more out of control. Was she truly lying in wait for them? It appeared to be so. This bear was smart, and God help them, they inadvertently had come between her and her cubs.
    Heavy, thick snowflakes landed on the tip of David’s nose. He looked up into a palate of solid white. Heavy clouds had settled in and opened, dumping snowflakes—lots of them. The dim light appeared to give way to twilight. It wouldn’t be long before complete darkness surrounded them. David shivered. He knew if they stayed up here any longer they’d freeze and any hope of finding their way home tonight would be lost. David swallowed. His cracked, dry lips stung from the light wind brushing through the trees. Then, one by one, he lowered himself down a branch. A sharp sting seared his bare hands, even his feet, making each step excruciating.
    “Where are you going?” Rose’s voice shook. Was it from fear or the cold? He didn’t know. When he looked up in the dim light, he could see her vague outline gripping the branch above her.
    “It’s been quite a while since she last charged. I think she might be gone.”
    “Drop another branch first. Please, David. Wait for Daddy. He’ll come looking for us, won’t he?”
    Instead of answering, David broke off another branch and dropped it. He prayed for help and held his breath as he watched the branch fall. Nothing happened—no aftershock or fiery Mama Bear attack. Only a light whistle of wind rustled the brush surrounding the tree. David glanced up; he was sure he saw Rose’s hopeful expression. “Dad should start looking for us now. I’m climbing down to get my gun; you stay here until I call you.”
    “Be careful, she might be waiting.”
    David struggled to hold onto each branch and slide down, each step slow and painful. Beads of sticky sweat dripped from his underarms. Every hair on his head sizzled against his tender scalp as he stared at the darkened bushes below, searching for any sudden movement. This aggressive mother bear was devious and smart, making her dangerous. They’d encroached on her territory, they were trespassers, which she perceived as a threat—a threat, without a doubt, she’d eliminate.
    Hanging from the last branch, David searched the dim light for any movement. He listened hard over the echo of his heart, pounding like drumbeats in his ear, but could hear nothing except the whistle of the northern night wind.
    He wanted to cry; he was scared, but David needed to hold it together for Rose. Where’s Dad? In the light, Dad would find them but with the snow—in the darkness? It’d be darn near impossible.
    The unusually large snowflakes accumulated on the ground, covering the bushes in a blanket of white. David’s breath fogged in front of him. It was getting colder and he knew it would get a lot colder yet.

    David’s hands slipped and he landed hard on both feet, shooting razor sharp pistons up both his legs. He didn’t think; he used the pain to roll on his side and swept the snow away as he searched for the now hidden shotgun. He didn’t know if it w as panic or relief when his finger touched the metal. He snatched up that shotgun and pulled the hammer back. He jumped to his feet, taking aim, turning in a wide circle. He held his breath as he listened, no rustling, no warning growl. David released a shaky breath. His eyes blurred just as his knees weakened. With