Redwood Bend (Virgin River #18)(42)

He’d have to give himself at least one extra day in L.A. before meeting with Romney and Adams—a day to buy some “meeting clothes” since all he had with him were jeans and boots—pretty roughed-up clothes at that.

He dialed again. “Gran, hi,” he said. “I’m headed to L.A. to meet with Jay Romney. Are you going to be in L.A.? I’d like to see you.”

“I’m here for another month, at least,” she said. “Will you stay here?”

He hesitated. He had a feeling he was going to crave a little time alone. “I…ah…I think I’m going to take a rain check on that, Gran. I’ll get a hotel room. But I definitely want to get together. I’ll call you when I have some kind of schedule. It’ll be easier to plan once I know what Jay has to say and whether he needs more of my time. I’ll be sure to fill you in.”

“Dylan,” she began. “Are you coming alone?”

The question almost paralyzed him. The impact of what he was doing hadn’t quite hit him until his grandmother asked. “Yes,” he said. “Of course.”

“I see,” she said. “Well, call when you get here. I think we’ll have plenty to talk about.”

For now he had plenty to think about. He really was leaving this time, and once he left he couldn’t imagine being able to come back. He had a home in another place and no work in this little mountain town. All he had here was the most awesome woman he’d ever met, and no way to stay with her. He wasn’t sure how to tell her that and even considered just running for his life, something he hadn’t hesitated to do when involved with other women.

He wouldn’t do that to Katie. He’d face her and tell her the truth.

Early Friday morning he packed up his duffel and settled up with Luke Riordan. Katie usually dropped her boys off at nine so he went to the bar for breakfast. Once she was alone, they’d have their talk. He wasn’t sure whether that would happen on her front porch, on their favorite hilltop or wrapped in each other’s arms in bed. But it was happening this morning.

“Kind of moody,” Jack observed, refilling his coffee cup.

“You?”

“No.” Jack laughed. “You.”

Dylan thought about it only briefly before he said, “I’m heading out of town this morning.”

“I know,” Jack said. “Talked to Luke about ten minutes ago.”

Dylan put down his cup. “Could news travel any faster around here?”

“Maybe,” Jack said. “If you had two bartenders.” Then he grinned.

“Well, tuck it under, will you? I just found out I have potential work south of here and haven’t told Katie yet. I mean, we’re not serious or anything, but—”

The phone rang and on his way to answer it, Jack said, “But you’d like to be a gentleman about this?”

“Exactly,” he confirmed.

“I bet we’ll see you again,” Jack said.

“Don’t bet a lot,” Dylan muttered.

Jack lifted the cordless that sat beside the cash register. “Jack’s,” he said. “Yeah? Is that a fact? Oh, yeah, trust me, she’s close. Well, stay inside, I’ll come right out.” He hung up and looked at Dylan. “Katie says she’s got three bear cubs playing on the new jungle gym and she can’t get the boys to the car.” Dylan shot to his feet. “She can’t see the mother, but I guaran-damn-tee you she’s nearby. Real nearby.”

And Dylan shot for the door.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you thinking, man? We’ll go in the truck, you don’t want to be riding out there to chat with Mama Bear on a motorcycle. Let me grab my rifle and tell Preacher to mind the store.” And then he turned and walked through the kitchen, leaving Dylan to follow.

Dylan just stood there for a moment. Then he shot outside and got on his Harley, but he rode it around to the back of the bar and caught Jack just as he was getting into his truck. “I’ll follow you. I can outrun a Mama Bear on this if I have to.”

“Your funeral,” Jack said.

“We have bear in Montana, you know. And not these candy-ass bears—we have grizzlies.”

“I realize that,” Jack said. “I bet you also have a rifle in Montana.”

“I’m a little under-armed this trip. But I’d rather face a bear than a moose.”

“I hear bad things about moose.”

“Who do you think chases them off the runway? Could we move it? Or you’ll be following me.”

“Don’t worry—I told her to stay inside.” And with that, Jack got in the truck and led the way.

Ah, just as I thought, Dylan observed silently. He spotted Mama in the bushes, scavenging. And sure enough, three fat cubs were enjoying the jungle gym. When Jack entered the clearing, her back had been to her cubs, digging around in the bushes, maybe for berries. But she turned and stood to her full and intimidating height; she was an enormous black bear. Jack tooted the horn while Dylan positioned his bike to make a run for it. Mama puffed up and made annoyed noises while her triplets ran for the cover of her skirts. Dylan saw Jack pull the rifle out of the rack.

Jack pressed down on the horn again and both men watched as Mama Bear, not real happy with the situation, disappeared into the brush, her triplets behind her. The men watched as they ambled off as if bored and perturbed. Typical black bear, she was passive and really didn’t want to tango with humans as long as the kids were safe.