Chapter 18 THE BEAR

The two men finished emptying the large tub and returned to the house.

Mrs. Byrd taking pity on them, smiled. "I bet you two are starved," she stated as she filled two plates with warmed-over stew and handed each man a plate.

Jonesy, returned to the kitchen after his short rest. He sat down with the men and Jess for a cup of coffee, he was feeling better.

"You seem to be getting' around real good Jonesy." Jess commented.

"Yeah, that Indian concoction done wonders. I tried to get White Owl to part with his secret." Jonesy answered. "But no luck."

Jess grinned at his friend. "Sure worked wonders on my face, no scars," he snickered.

"I'm goin' out to check the yard for tracks. You two," Jess pointed at the Easterners, "are comin' with me, as I ain't getting' around real good. You caused the problem, ya can help me check the yard."

Carl and Hank each grabbed a rifle and followed the Texan outside. They circled round the back of the barn. Jess stopped and frowned. Sure enough a set of huge paw prints showed in the dirt all along the perimeter of the corral. Like the dang bear was scoutin' out if he wanted a milk cow or a stage horse for dinner, Jess thought.

The men headed back to the porch. Jess settled in his rocker. The gentle motion of the chair relaxed him. His eyes took in the ranch yard and corral. He shivered at the sound of a wolf howl in the distance.

Hank and Carl leaned against the porch railing. "Think the wolves will bother us tonight, Skinny?" Carl asked.

"I doubt it, they may have been brave enough to attack the pack horse, but I think they'll stay clear of the ranch. Out on the range it's a different story. Their pretty timid critters and tend ta stay away from the ranchs." Jess rocked back in his chair.

"OK, I got us a plan, he said. "First, Yer gonna get all the stock locked up tight in the barn. Secondly, and you ain't gonna like this, you're gonna chop enough fire wood to keep two large fires burnin' through the night. We'll place one fire, in the center of the corral and the other in the middle of the yard. That ought a keep that ornery bear at bay. If we're lucky, and it steps into the firelight, we'll get a good shot and kill it."

Jess watched as the two men pile up firewood as directed. When it looked like they were finished, he summoned them over to the porch.

"Hank, you and Carl take Mrs. Byrd home. I don't want to put her in danger. Make sure and warn Chet 'bout the grizzly."

Jonesy had joined Jess on the porch.

After hearing his plan, he went back into the ranch house and brought out the woman's bag. He handed it to Carl.

"Jess, you're sure you and Jonesy will be OK, with that bear hanging round?" she asked.

"We'll be fine. I'm spendin' the night on the porch with my shotgun." Jess smiled as she hugged him good-bye.

"You'd best get some rest if you're planning on the spendin' the night on the porch." she advised him as he helped her up into the buckboard.

"Yes, Ma'am and thanks for fixin' me up." Jess answered as he rubbed his brow.

"I didn't realize how dangerous a wounded bear could be," Hank told Jess. "We thought the bears we shot would crawl into the brush and die."

"Ain't that simple, Hank. Wounded Griz is 'bout the most dangerous critter around these parts. The one that clawed Jonesy, tore this here door off its hinges, busted our furniture all over the inside of the ranch house and killed a young colt of Slim's. Why he almost killed Jonesy." Jess reached over and touched the old man.

"You best get goin'. I want you back before dark." he warned.

Jess and Jonesy watched the wagon till it was out of sight. Jess stretched. He grimaced at the pain in his arm, rubbing it as he made his way over to the pile of firewood the men had stacked in the yard. He re-arranged the wood into a large circle to light at dark and set up another fire ring in the corral. Once satisfied he had the two fire's ready to light with plenty of wood close by, he returned to the house and sat on the porch. His rifle loaded and ready laid across his lap. He rocked ever so slowly as he kept watch.