The cub looks up at me and tilts his head, sniffing the air while I stand frozen to the spot. You don’t have to be an Alaskan to know that where there’s a baby, the mama isn’t too far behind.
Think, Harper, think! Or you’re going to get attacked by a mama bear in about a minute.
I try listening for the sound of branches breaking but my heart is pounding so hard, I can hear it in my ear drums.
Oh, God. What did Digger tell us about bear encounters?My brain freezes. If I scream, will I draw the mother to me faster, or will it chase both the cub and his mother away?
Whatever I do could mean life or death for the boys, who are sleeping in the tent not far from where I’m standing. Panic sets in while I gasp for air.
Forcing my breathing to slow, I back up into the outhouse again and stay as still as possible as my mind spins out of control.
Did I shut the door on the cabin tightly enough or could it be pushed open? What if Lily wakes up and decides to come look for me? Please stay asleep, Lily. Please.
I hear rustling noises outside the outhouse, so I know I’m not alone. Then a horrible thought occurs to me. How many bears are out there?
I suddenly hear Digger’s lecture in my head. Never shout or yell when confronted by a bear—use soothing and low tones.I can hear myself now,“Hello, fuzzy friend. Please don’t maul me.”Never make eye contact or they’ll think you’re challenging them. Never run because not only are they faster than you, but if you try to get away, they’ll assume you’re prey. They can, in fact, run downhill, whereas I could only drop and roll while praying for a speedy demise.
Before I can decide how best to proceed, a sharp jolt knocks into the side of the outhouse. One guess as to what that something is. Grasping onto the toilet seat for dear life, I start an inward prayer,Dear God, if I’m going to die, please don’t let it be gruesome. Please don’t let it hurt. Please don’t let it be today.
In the distance, I hear Liam call out, “Mom! Where are you?”
Nononononononono!!! If he comes this way, we’re going to have a mama bear face-off and there’s no wondering who the winner will be. The outhouse bangs again but from in the opposite direction. Sweet baby Jesus, I’m going to die on the toilet in the wilds of Alaska!I briefly wonder who will play me in the movie because you know that’s a script that will get greenlightedfast.
Sharp knocks start to hit the side of the outhouse. What’s happening? Before I can conjure a scenario on my own, all sound and movement suddenly stops. Then there’s a soft knocking. “Harper, are you in there?”
Bears can’t talk.
It’s Digger.
I open the door and fly into his arms. “Oh, my god, I thought I was a goner! What happened?”
He puts his arm around me and lets me lean against him. “Sometimes cubs have minds of their own, and don’t know enough to stay away. Adult bears have never messed with us up here.”
“What did you do to get them to leave?” I look around wildly like I’m expecting to be attacked at any time.
“I threw a couple of rocks.”
“So they’re still around?!?”Of course, they’re still around, Harper. It’s not like the Enterprise beamed them up.
“They’re here somewhere. I think we should pack up the kids and get back to the lodge before eating breakfast. That way the smell of food won’t tempt them to linger.”
I have no words. I disengage from Digger’s side and move so quickly back toward the cabin, he practically has to run to keep up with me. Liam bursts out of the cabin and throws himself into my arms.
“Are you okay? Digger woke us up and said there was a bear nearby! Then he made us wait in the cabin while he looked for you.” He’s trying to be brave, but he’s choking back tears.
I hold my son tight. “I’m fine. It was only a baby bear. Everything is just fine.” He eyes me like he doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t say anything. I tell him, “I’m just going to pack up and get Lily.”
While I’m throwing all of our belongings into a bag, Digger walks through the front door with the tent and other equipment they keep in the cabin. “Don’t wake Lily. I’ll carry her down, that way we don’t have to scare her.”
“Good idea. But what happens if we run into the bears on our way to the plane?”
He opens a bag and hands me a canister. “Bear spray. Here, boys, one for each of you.”
The boys all clamor to get one, their eyes wild with excitement. My heart is in my throat. How could this magical place that I’ve come to love be so dangerous? I’m probably better off in LA where I know the kinds of beasts who want to rip my heart out. Heck, I even married one of them, and I’m going to survive that.
We grab our supplies before Digger picks up a sleeping Lily. We proceed down the path silently as our heads spin back and forth looking for any signs of danger. I barely breathe the whole way.
“That was so cool!” Wyatt shouts once we’re in the plane.