Read Online That Wintry Feeling (Debbie Macomber Classics) by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online

reflected in his gaze.
    “Get inside the car.” The order was given with a frightening undertone.
    Without question, Cathy helped Angela into the backseat and securely shut the door before jerking open her own. A second later, Grady joined her in the front seat.
    “What’s the matter?” Cathy whispered, her heart hammering at the coiled alertness she felt coming from Grady.
    “There’s a brown bear about thirty yards ahead, moving toward us. I think the time has come for us to make our exit.”
    “Peterkins!” Cathy looked around her frantically. Her hand flew to the door handle. “We can’t leave without Peterkins.” Her voice was high-pitched and filled with anxiety.
    Grady stopped her before she could open the door. “It would be crazy to go out there now. You’d only be attracting trouble.”
    “I don’t care,” she insisted, jerking herself free.
    The harsh grip of his hand bit into her shoulder. “No,” he said, and shoved her against the seat. “If anyone gets him, it’ll be me.”
    Angela began whimpering, the sound of her cries muffled as she covered her face with both hands. “I don’t want a bear to eat Peterkins,” she wailed.
    “Grady, please,” Cathy pleaded, lifting her gaze to his. “He won’t come to you. It’s got to be me.”
    Indecision flickered over the hard face. “Okay.” He gradually released his hold on her. “I’ll distract the bear, and you get that damn dog of yours into the car. And for heaven’s sake bequick about it.”
    Grady climbed out first, after instructing Angela not to leave the car for any reason. Cathy took in several deep breaths in an effort to calm herself. The wild beast would sense her fear, and she struggled to breathe evenly and appear calm.
    The bear was advancing toward the vehicle, standing on its hind legs, looming twelve or fourteen feet above them. Nothing had ever looked so large or so terrifying.
    To her horror, Cathy saw that Peterkins was running toward the animal, barking for all his worth.
    Grady moved around to the front of the car, hands dangling at his sides. It took Cathy several moments to realize he was speaking in soothing, low tones, moving slowly toward the huge mammal.
    Her heart in her throat, Cathy cupped her mouth with both hands and called her dog.
    Peterkins hesitated, stopping to turn around, and glanced at her.
    The bear was so close Cathy thought she could smell him, then realized it was the taste of fear that was magnifying her senses. Grady was far closer to the bear than she was. Her own fear was quickly forgotten as she realized the danger Grady was placing himself in for the sake of her dog. She wanted to cry out for Grady to move back. Instead, she concentrated on gaining Peterkins’s attention.
    Frantically, she called the spaniel, her voice sharp and demanding. This time Peterkins didn’t pause, turning around abruptly and running as fast as his short legs would carry him. She squatted down so that he could leap into her arms. Moving as quickly as possible, she hurried back to the relative safety of the car.
    Cathy was inside and breathing so hard she was panting. Still, Grady remained outside, slowly retreating until he backed into the front bumper of the car. As if he was in no more danger than he would be attending a Sunday school picnic, he turned and climbed into the front seat, starting the engine and pulling onto the road.
    Cathy looked back to note that the bear had turned and reentered the woods. It had probably been the smell of their picnic that had attracted his attention.
    Relief washed over her, and for a moment Cathy had to struggle to hold back the tears. “Bad dog.” She enunciated each word, her manner and voice stern. “How can you have been so naughty?”
    Apparently, Peterkins knew he had done wrong. Dejectedly, he hung his head, and the long ears drooped forward.
    “You okay?” Grady asked as an aloof mask came over him.
    “I’m fine.” She studied him for a minute. The dark