From the corner of her eye, she spotted a bear and its cubs emerging from the trees, their curious eyes fixed on her and Lucan.
Panic surged through Reva’s veins. She had no bear spray, no protection.
With her heart pounding in terror, she scrambled back into the car and slammed the door closed, clutching Lucan close as she prayed for the bear to lose interest and wander past despite Lucan’s loud wails.
With trembling fingers, she reached for the button and closed the power lift door.
The moments stretched into eternity as the bear and its cubs lingered, exploring the side of her shiny black Escalade. Reva’s breaths came in short, sharp gasps, her eyes fixed on the massive form just yards away.
Inches away from the glass, the black bear’s features were strikingly detailed and formidable. Its fur was dense, shimmering, deep black. Eyes, deep-set and inquisitive. The prominent snout twitched subtly, sniffing out potential threats. Rounded ears sat atop its head, moving with keen alertness as Lucan’s cries continued.
The sheer bulk of the bear, visible through the barrier of the car window, served as a vivid reminder of its strength and agility, igniting a primal fear deep inside Reva as she held her breath and clutched Lucan tightly against her chest.
She slowly reached inside her bag and pulled out her phone only to learn she had no bars. That meant no service.
Just as despair began to set in, the sound of an engine broke the tense silence.
An old green pickup rolled to a stop behind the car. The person inside seemed to assess her predicament and laid on the horn, long and loud.
The mama bear reared up, her ears alert. Just as quickly, she turned and pounded the pavement, pushing her cubs along and back into the safety of the trees.
Reva sighed with relief, her eyes immediately brimming with tears as the treacherous moment passed.
Why hadn’t she thought to honk her horn?
The driver’s door opened on the old pickup and out climbed a man. Not just any man, but the same black man she’d met on the hiking trail a few days ago. His appearance was a beacon of hope in her moment of desperation.
Recognition flickered in his eyes as he assessed the scene—a woman, overwhelmed and scared, a baby crying in her arms, and a family of bears retreating into the trees.
With a calmness that belied the situation, he approached. His golden retriever followed at his heels. “Hey, there. You okay?”
Reva swallowed and reluctantly nodded. “Yeah. We’re fine.”
“I believe we met earlier—on the trail? I’m Kellen Warner.” Without waiting for her answer, he reached for Lucan. “You mind?”
Reva consented with a shake of her head.
Kellen extracted the crying toddler from her embrace, quieting Lucan by jiggling him on his hip.
“I’m afraid he’s hungry,” she confessed, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability.
“No problem, we’ll take care of that.” He motioned for her to follow him back to his truck, where he retrieved an old metal lunchbox from the bed of the vehicle. He pulled a banana from inside and handed it to her, grinning. “Sorry, my hands are a bit full.”
Grateful, she flashed him a warm smile, carefully peeling the banana. “Thank you,” she expressed, gently placing a slice into Lucan’s eager, dimpled hand. The little boy’s face lit up with joy as he eagerly munched on the offered snack.
Kellen watched with a pleased smile, then handed Lucan back to Reva and turned his attention to the flat tire. “Now, let’s see to getting this fixed.” He glanced down at her bare feet and smiled.
Kellen worked swiftly, his hands skillfully maneuvering the tools to replace the flat tire. Reva watched him, the warmth of gratitude mixing with a budding sense of curiosity about the man who had appeared so serendipitously in her moment of need. She couldn’t help but notice the confident, methodical way his hands moved, silent evidence of his capability and care. There was a gentle ease in his presence, a strength that felt reassuring.
Once the tire was securely in place, Kellen wiped his hands on a rag, his gaze meeting Reva’s. “There, all set,” he announced, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. “Make sure to get that tire looked at when you can.”
“Thank you,” Reva replied, her voice softer than she intended. “I don’t know what I would have done without your help today.”
“It was nothing,”Kellen said, but his smile suggested he was glad to have been there for her. “Just happy I could help.”
There was a brief pause, a moment suspended in time where possibilities seemed to hover in the air between them. “Maybe I could repay you somehow? Coffee, sometime?” Reva ventured, surprised by her own boldness.
Kellen’s smile widened and he nodded. “Sure. I’d like that,” he said, his eyes holding hers in a look that promised more than just a casual meeting. He dug inside his flannel shirt pocket, pulled out a business card, and handed it to her.
