“Thank you, Wren.”
There was still a slight tremble in her voice, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been earlier.
“Of course. Do you have any weapons in the house?”
“Just my shotgun, but it’s downstairs in the gun safe.”
“Okay. Hold on for me. I’m going to give the officers a little more information.” I moved to the radio. “Marion Simpson is the only person in residence. The only reported weapon is ashotgun in a gun safe downstairs. She’s located upstairs in her bedroom.”
“Thanks, Little Williams. We’re less than a minute out. Stay on the line with her.”
“Will do.” I went back to the phone line. “Ms. Simpson, two officers will be there in less than a minute.”
“I’ve told you, Wren. Call me Marion.”
“Okay, Marion. What do you hear now?”
“I’m not sure… Rustling, I think. Is he getting in?”
God, I hoped not. “The officers are almost to your house.”
“I hear sirens,” Marion said, the line crackling. “They’re here.”
“That’s good. Just stay on the line with me.”
Shouts sounded from far off. I focused on keeping my breathing even, controlled. In for two, out for two.
“Oh, dear,” Marion mumbled.
“What’s wrong?”
“I need to go.”
“Marion, don’t—” But the line had already clicked off. I called her back, but she didn’t answer. Then I opted to turn up the radio.
“Little Williams, you might want to call my brother.”
“Law?”
“Roan.”
I was already dialing his cell. “What’s going on?”
“I just tranqued a bear. Apparently, Ms. Simpson’s been feeding them.”
From his chair next to me, Abel cursed. “Is she a moron?”
“Oh, no!” Marion wailed. “Did you kill Yogi?”
“I gotta go,” Nash muttered.
My anxiety left me on the flood of an exhale. Then laughter bubbled up. “Keep feeding them, and they’ll be really annoyed when you stop.”
Abel took the phone from me. “I’ll call Roan and get Fish and Wildlife on it. You take your lunch.”
I glanced down at my watch. Only five minutes late. I pushed out of my chair and pressed a kiss to Abel’s cheek. “Thanks.”
He waved me off with a grumble, and I moved toward the front doors and sunlight. As I stepped outside, I took in a lungful of mountain air and the scent that would always mean home.