Page 6 of Once Upon A Bear

Besides, if anyone came to her cottage in need of healing, she needed to be able to hear them knocking from the other side of the hill.

She reached the end of her row quickly. She didn’t have the time or patience to make large blankets. Instead, she preferred to make small squares and then stitch them together to make whatever she needed, whether it was a blanket or a scarf or a washcloth.

It gave her more satisfaction this way, when she was always only an hour at most away from finishing a project. And since she had no idea how long she would be here, she was glad she had her crocheting.

This was not the first time she’d sat here and waited. Gideon was proving to be elusive prey, which made sense, given that he was a bear and not actually prey at all. Perhaps he was approaching from the other side and sensing her before she could even see him.

But she didn’t think that was it. Perhaps he didn’t come as often as she’d thought. Or perhaps this was another bear’s den entirely. She glanced apprehensively at the opening of the cave. She had tracked the paw prints here, and it seemed very unlikely that there was another bear with paws that large so close to civilization. She couldn’t imagine any other bears would want to be this near to humans.

It made sense for Gideon, though. He wouldn’t want to be far from home when he did turn back into a human.

She set her crocheting down and stretched her arms as she neared the end of her square. She had already made four squares in the time she had spent sitting here waiting for him, but she didn’t have any better plan for finding him. Gideon was far too cautious, and ever since she’d spoken to him, he had completely avoided her—and the town. He’d sent the honey to town with someone else.

Short of going to Lord Rendon’s estate and demanding to speak with him—which she didn’t think would go over well—she wasn’t sure what else she could try, which was the reason she was here again.

She sighed and picked up her crocheting again to tie it off, pulling a small knife from her bag to cut the yarn at the end and weave it through. At least she could get another square done while she waited.

Her stomach growled, and she sighed and put it all back in the bag. She would have to come again later.

But just as she began to get to her feet, she sensed movement in the distance. Her heart stopped beating for a moment as she watched, her eyes narrowing through the trees, and there he was—a large brown bear.

His fur was the same dark brown shade as his human hair.

Guinevere watched as he slowly made his way toward the den with labored steps. Was he hurt? Perhaps he was just very tired. Whatever the problem, he was moving more slowly than she’d expected from him.

She was torn. Should she show herself now, in case he was hurt?

The bear paused, sniffing the air, and she grimaced. He was already on to her—but then again, that was what she wanted, right?

She stood, letting herself make noise, and Gideon stood up on his hind legs in a threatening manner as she did so. But when he noticed it was her, he let himself drop back down to all four legs, glaring at her as much as a bear could with those big brown eyes.

“Hello,” Guinevere said cheerfully as she made her way toward him. “Sorry to barge in on you like this, but you left me no choice. If you had simply talked to me, I wouldn’t be standing here outside your den. I know you didn’t want to talk to me,” she added when the bear turned away, as if that would make her leave. “But I can help.”

“Why does she keep saying that?” the bear growled to himself.

“Because I can,” Guinevere said cheerfully. She couldn’t help feeling a slightly giddy sense of satisfaction at the way he whipped around to stare at her, his eyes wide.

“You can understand me?” he demanded.

“I can,” she said with a smile, “which is why I know I can help you.”

He eyed her suspiciously as she walked closer. “And how do I know you want to help me?” he asked.

Now that she’d had a moment of conversation with him in human form, it was more obvious that his voice was the same, even with the wild grumble of the bear language currently dominating.

“You think I enjoy hearing an animal in pain?” she asked as she walked closer. Even though he still seemed calm, she wasn’t sure that would last, and she didn’t need to spook a bear. “I’m here to help, whether you want to believe me or not.”

Gideon only grunted suspiciously, and Guinevere tried not to smile. He was such a bear.

“I know you don’t believe me,” she said, “but I want you to know that you can trust me. I’m not here to hurt you.”

“And how do I know that you’re not just trying to trade in on my secret?” he asked.

Guinevere stiffened. Was she not the first person to discover his secret? Had Gideon been caught before by someone who had less pure intentions than she did?

“I promise,” she said quietly, “I’m here to help, and if it will ease your mind, I’ll give you my secret as well. Then we’ll be on equal footing.”

He was going to find out anyway.