my debts will be paid off in just a few months.”
“I’m not going with you.” Tara threw herself at Donald. She grabbed the steering wheel and jerked it toward her.
“Get off of me you crazy bitch!” Donald pushed and hit her.
Tara felt every blow, but she didn’t let go of the steering wheel. Her back hit the console. Jason, please forgive me. I love you. Tara twisted and let go of the steering wheel at the same time. She threw both hands on Donald’s right foot, forcing him to push down on the gas pedal.
The SUV lurched forward.
Donald yelled and turned the wheels hard to the left as he stomped down on the break with his left foot. He drove his right knee into Tara’s face.
Tara heard a loud crack as her head hit the bottom of the instrument panel. Stars danced around her.
The SUV spun.
Donald yelled something, but Tara didn’t hear it. Everything dimmed. Tara felt the SUV tip and roll. Her body was thrown around the cab, hitting everything in its path. Jason, I love you.
Darkness claimed Tara as the SUV crashed into the river.
CHAPTER 10
A soft hand touched Tara’s face. It’s time for you to wake up.
Tara moaned. She opened her eyes, bracing herself for lots of pain, but she was surprised when she realized there wasn’t any pain. It happened. I’m dead.
Musical laughter startled her. Tara looked up. The woman kneeling next to her was beautiful. Her long dark hair cascaded over her shoulders and surrounded her like a cape. Her facial features looked Native American, but something was different—something unworldly different.
The woman smiled. It’s good you are awake. Your bear was worried.
Tara blinked. My bear? I don’t have a bear.
The sow is definitely your bear, said the woman. She worried about you. I think she was afraid you wouldn’t come for her.
Why would a bear be worried about me?
I know of one bear who is worried about his mate.
Tara blushed. Okay, so there’s one, but it doesn’t do any good if I’m dead. I am dead, aren’t I?
No, you are not dead. At least not yet, but you have a choice.
I’m not dead, but I’m not alive. Is that what you’re telling me?
Something like that.
Where are Jason and my cubs? Tara looked around. She saw bears, lots of bears, moving in the shadows.
They are in the land of the living.
If they are in the land of the living, then where the hell am I?
We have much to talk about. Come. Walk with me. The woman stood up and held out her hand to Tara.
Tara took the woman’s hand. She needed answers and this woman had them.
You are on a spiritual plane, said the woman as they walked . It is somewhere between the land of the living and the realm of the dead.
Tara looked around. She saw a few people walking among the bears. Is this some kind of stop over between the two worlds?
Not in the way you think. I created this place for my bears and the humans who care for them.
A bear pressed its head and shoulder against Tara’s leg. Without thinking, Tara reached down and ran her hand through the animal’s fur.
I see your bear couldn’t wait. The woman smiled.
How can I have a bear? I thought you had to be born with one.
Over the centuries, my bears have dwindled to only a few dozen. They once inhabited the area you know as Alaska, but hunters found them.
You are talking about Kodiak Island.
Yes.
Did the hunters know what they were hunting?
Do you mean…did they know they were hunting humans with symbiotic relationships with the bears? Mother Bear’s face didn’t show any emotion.
Tara nodded her head.
Yes, they knew.
Tara swallowed. What does this have to do with me?
You are the mate to one of my bears, and you carry a cub in your womb. The woman stopped and turned to face Tara.
I’m pregnant? Tara’s eyes widened. She put her hands over her stomach . I didn’t know. Is the baby safe? I didn’t hurt it, did I?
The cub is safe. She is strong, just like you. You are special. You recognized Ben as yours and
“I’m not going with you.” Tara threw herself at Donald. She grabbed the steering wheel and jerked it toward her.
“Get off of me you crazy bitch!” Donald pushed and hit her.
Tara felt every blow, but she didn’t let go of the steering wheel. Her back hit the console. Jason, please forgive me. I love you. Tara twisted and let go of the steering wheel at the same time. She threw both hands on Donald’s right foot, forcing him to push down on the gas pedal.
The SUV lurched forward.
Donald yelled and turned the wheels hard to the left as he stomped down on the break with his left foot. He drove his right knee into Tara’s face.
Tara heard a loud crack as her head hit the bottom of the instrument panel. Stars danced around her.
The SUV spun.
Donald yelled something, but Tara didn’t hear it. Everything dimmed. Tara felt the SUV tip and roll. Her body was thrown around the cab, hitting everything in its path. Jason, I love you.
Darkness claimed Tara as the SUV crashed into the river.
CHAPTER 10
A soft hand touched Tara’s face. It’s time for you to wake up.
Tara moaned. She opened her eyes, bracing herself for lots of pain, but she was surprised when she realized there wasn’t any pain. It happened. I’m dead.
Musical laughter startled her. Tara looked up. The woman kneeling next to her was beautiful. Her long dark hair cascaded over her shoulders and surrounded her like a cape. Her facial features looked Native American, but something was different—something unworldly different.
The woman smiled. It’s good you are awake. Your bear was worried.
Tara blinked. My bear? I don’t have a bear.
The sow is definitely your bear, said the woman. She worried about you. I think she was afraid you wouldn’t come for her.
Why would a bear be worried about me?
I know of one bear who is worried about his mate.
Tara blushed. Okay, so there’s one, but it doesn’t do any good if I’m dead. I am dead, aren’t I?
No, you are not dead. At least not yet, but you have a choice.
I’m not dead, but I’m not alive. Is that what you’re telling me?
Something like that.
Where are Jason and my cubs? Tara looked around. She saw bears, lots of bears, moving in the shadows.
They are in the land of the living.
If they are in the land of the living, then where the hell am I?
We have much to talk about. Come. Walk with me. The woman stood up and held out her hand to Tara.
Tara took the woman’s hand. She needed answers and this woman had them.
You are on a spiritual plane, said the woman as they walked . It is somewhere between the land of the living and the realm of the dead.
Tara looked around. She saw a few people walking among the bears. Is this some kind of stop over between the two worlds?
Not in the way you think. I created this place for my bears and the humans who care for them.
A bear pressed its head and shoulder against Tara’s leg. Without thinking, Tara reached down and ran her hand through the animal’s fur.
I see your bear couldn’t wait. The woman smiled.
How can I have a bear? I thought you had to be born with one.
Over the centuries, my bears have dwindled to only a few dozen. They once inhabited the area you know as Alaska, but hunters found them.
You are talking about Kodiak Island.
Yes.
Did the hunters know what they were hunting?
Do you mean…did they know they were hunting humans with symbiotic relationships with the bears? Mother Bear’s face didn’t show any emotion.
Tara nodded her head.
Yes, they knew.
Tara swallowed. What does this have to do with me?
You are the mate to one of my bears, and you carry a cub in your womb. The woman stopped and turned to face Tara.
I’m pregnant? Tara’s eyes widened. She put her hands over her stomach . I didn’t know. Is the baby safe? I didn’t hurt it, did I?
The cub is safe. She is strong, just like you. You are special. You recognized Ben as yours and
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