“It’s sweet,” Belle said.“Well, in the fall it’s sweet.I think you’ll like it.”
“It tastes different in other seasons?”
“It does!The meat tastes gamier in the spring and sweeter in the fall.It’s all those berries they eat that transition the flavor so much.”
“Am I right that they’re getting ready to hibernate?”
“They are.It’s that time of year.”Belle looked down at the bullets Lula was offering her.“Why don’t I get those at the end of the day?I don’t want to carry anything more than I have to.Especially if there’s a possibility of getting a bear.We’ll have to field-dress it.I brought two oil cloth bags to carry it back with, but it’s going to be a lot of hard work if we actually can get one.I have Ella listening for gunshots.I showed her the area on the map this morning.She doesn’t say much, but she pays attention.She’ll come when she hears us.Bears are a lot of work, but they’re worth it.”
Lula put the bullets back in her bag.“All right.Let’s go shoot a bear!”
Belle laughed.“I hunt because I know how, and we need meat.You do it for the sheer pleasure of it, don’t you?”
“Of course!”
“It’s nice to work with someone who is so enthusiastic about what we’re doing.”
As they walked away from Lula’s cabin and into the forest north of town, they both watched the ground for bear tracks.Belle was the first to spot some.“There.We need to follow those.”
“They’re huge!”Lula exclaimed.
“Brown bears areverybig.That’s why we must shoot to kill.”
Lula took a deep breath.“I’m ready.”
They walked slowly through the forest, trying not to make a sound, and following the bear’s path exactly.
It was two hours of walking in silence before they saw the bear.Belle slowly lifted her rifle and nodded at Lula to do the same.It makes sense for both of us to shoot at the same time.Better chance to kill the beast.
Belle waited until Lula raised her rifle and then nodded.They both shot, and the bear charged toward them.Lula shot again, and the bear fell.Lula walked slowly toward the bear, needing to ascertain if another shot would be necessary to kill the animal.She knew if it was just wounded, it could come after her at any time.
As she approached the bear, she felt Belle’s presence beside her.Belle put the barrel of her rifle to the bear’s head and shot once.She looked at Lula with a grin.“We did it.”
Lula dropped to her knees and thanked the bear for its sacrifice.“I’ve neverseena creature this big!”
“I’ve shot one other brown bear, and this one is bigger.I can’t believe we got it on our first try!Last time it took me three days to track one and kill it.You must be my lucky charm.”Belle pulled a large knife out of the bag on her shoulder.“Now the real work starts.”
As they worked, Lula worried about what Sebastian would think when she was late for supper, and she wished she’d left him a note letting him know they were hunting for bear.Hopefully, he wouldn’t mind.
They were still cutting the meat into portions when Lula heard a shout.“Lula?”
“I’m here!”she called back.
Sebastian came into the copse of trees where they had killed the bear.He carried a large oilcloth sack.“I noticed your rifle was gone, which told me you were hunting for bear.I thought I’d see if I could find you so I could help tote the bear back.”
Belle smiled at Sebastian.“I think you’re my new favorite man in town.Other than Everett, of course.”
“Of course,” Sebastian said, trying not to laugh.“It looks like you ladies are mostly done.”
“We need to pack up the meat yet,” Lula said.“But that’s the last part.”
There was another shout from the trees.“Belle?Lula?”
“We’re here,” Belle called back.
Ella stepped into the clearing with another oilcloth sack in hand, her eyes going immediately to the bear and then to Lula—checking both before allowing herself to speak.“How should we divide it up to carry it back?”she asked.
“Are we going to keep the hide?”Lula asked.
