What have you got in the truck? What's that awful smell?" "A bear. Wanna see?" he asked, smiling. "A bear? Why on earth…?" "He was really pissed," Jack said. "Come and see-he's huge." "Who shot him?" she asked. "Who's taking credit or who actually shot him? Because I think everyone is taking credit." He slipped an arm around her waist and walked her the rest of the way. She began to pick up the voices. "I swear, I heard Preacher scream," someone said. "I didn't scream, jag-off. That was a battle cry." "Sounded like a little girl." "More holes in that bear than in my head." "He didn't like that repellant so much, did he?" "I never saw one go through that stuff before. They usually just rub their little punkin eyes and run back in the woods." "I'm telling you, Preacher screamed. Thought he was gonna cry like a baby." "You wanna eat, jag-off?" There was laughter all around. A carnival-like atmosphere ensued. The serious group that had left town in the morning had come back like soldiers from war, elated, victorious. Except this war turned out to be with a bear. Mel glanced in the back of the truck and jumped back. The bear not only filled the bed, he hung out the end. The claws on his paws were terrifying. He was tied in, tied down, even though he was dead. His eyes were open but sightless and his tongue hung out of his mouth. And he stunk to high heaven. "Who's calling Fish and Game?" "Aw, do we have to call them? You know they're gonna take the frickin' bear. That's my bear!" "It ain't your bear, jag-off. I shot the bear," Preacher insisted loudly. "You screamed like a girl and the rest of us shot the bear." "Who really shot the bear?" Mel asked Jack. "I think Preacher shot the bear when he came at him. Then so did everybody else. And yeah, I think he screamed. I would have. That bear got so damn close." But as he said this, he grinned like a boy who had just made a touchdown. Preacher stomped over to Jack and Mel. He bent down and whispered to Mel, "I did not scream." He turned and stomped off. "Honey,
( Robyn Carr )
[ Virgin River ]
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