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She focused on his steady gaze and almost smiled. “I’m pretty happy about that myself,” she said, and took another bite of cake.
“Now that we have that settled,” he said, downing the rest of his cake, “want coffee?”
She nodded.
And so they sat talking through the next hour without looking out the window again. The bear’s carcass was a sad reminder of the damage people do.
When the Fish and Wildlife truck finally pulled up into Cameron’s drive, it was hauling a front-end loader on a flatbed trailer. He went out to meet the workers and directed them around to the back of his house.
Rusty watched from the windows as they used the front-end loader to pick up the carcass and move it into the bed of the truck. Then they reloaded their equipment and drove away.
Rusty was sitting on the sofa watching TV when Cameron came back into the house carrying an armful of firewood. He stacked it by the fireplace and stirred the fire that was burning, then sat down beside her and made one call. The phone rang three times before the call was picked up.
“Hello?”
“Uncle John, it’s me, Cameron.”
“Hello, Cam. Good to hear your voice. Everything okay?”
“I just wanted you to know so you can spread the word a bit. I had to put down a wounded black bear that was after Ghost today. It had an arrow in its shoulder that had broken off. It looked like it had been wounded several days ago. I know it’s bear season, but our people know better than to let a wounded animal get away like that.”
“Oh damn. Bears don’t usually go that far down the mountain, which shows how hungry and desperate it must have been. That sounds like something some younger kid would do. I’ll put out the word and make sure the men who bowhunt have a talk with their boys.”
“Thanks, Uncle John. I appreciate that.”
“Sure thing. Say…I heard you were involved in helping out the feds with a murder investigation.”
“Not really involved like you mean. They just keyed in on my military background and asked for a little help. And they’ve got it all under control now, so I’ve stepped back.”
“Good to know,” John said. “Anytime you’re up this way, stop by. Annie will cook us up a steak and some of her fine biscuits.”
“Thanks. I just might take you up on that, but I’ll be sure to let you know first. Take care.”
“You too, son,” John said and disconnected. Ghost walked up between Cameron’s legs and whined.
“Okay, let’s go see what you stir up this time.” Then he slid his hand on Rusty’s knee. “Get a jacket and come outside with me. Dusk on the mountain has its own kind of magic.”
Rusty quickly obliged and then walked out onto the back porch and watched while Cameron went with Ghost all the way out to where the bear died. The big dog circled the spot with his nose to the ground, and once he was satisfied the danger was gone, he meandered a little more to do his business before Cameron walked him back to the porch.
Rusty was sitting on the top step. Cameron sat down beside her as Ghost flattened out on the step beside them and sat with his head up, still sniffing the air.
“Watch the sky,” Cameron said, and as she did, she became aware of all the birds flying in to roost and caught glimpses of night birds taking flight.
A rabbit darted into the underbrush and disappeared, and a few moments later, a fat raccoon waddled out from the other side of the yard.
Ghost whined.
“No. Stay,” Cameron said, and put his arm around the big dog’s neck.
“It’s like watching the shift change. Day workers go home. Evening shift comes on,” Rusty whispered. “And it’s so quiet.”
He nodded.
“Remembering all this kept me sane when all we heard were bombs and gunfire and all I could see was sand.”
Rusty leaned her head against his shoulder and slipped her hand beneath his elbow.
“I’ve never been rooted to a place like you have. We moved all the time and always lived in cities. Nothing meant home to me but my parents, and they’re gone. I’ve been homeless in my heart for a long time.”
