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there.”
    The thick Junipers behind the bear shook wildly,
sending a flurry of dried needles to the ground. River took a sharp
step back when two bear cubs bounded out to see what their mother
was up to.
    “Nothing more dangerous than a mama bear.” Jackson
said. The lifeless girl still held more interest for the grizzly
than the two cubs who tried desperately to catch her attention.
    “Yeah there is. A mama bear that’s been shot. I’ve
got to try and scare her off. It’s our only chance.”
    “If that girl on the ground is dead, maybe we’d be
wiser to just turn and hightail it out of here.”
    I looked back at him over my shoulder. “And if she’s
not dead? Besides, that bear can outrun both these horses in these
trees. But if you’re scared, you go on.” I knew Jackson well enough
to know that last statement would rile him. I also knew that now he
would stick around for sure.
    The two babies had taken an interest in the girl.
Cautiously, they moved toward her. Even young as they were, they
could kill a human in an instant. If I thought about it any longer,
we would all end up a grizzly supper. I lifted my pistol and shot
up over the head of the bear. It spun away, dropped back to all
fours, and lumbered off with its cubs.
    Once the foliage had stopped moving, we jumped out of
the saddle and ran over to the girl. I knelt down next to her and
touched her smooth white cheek. It was still warm. Her full lips
were pink with color.
    Jackson peered cautiously over my shoulder. “Is she
dead, Cade?”
    I shook my head, but I couldn’t look away from her
face. “She’s still breathing.”
    “Looks like that mama grizzly got her good,” Jackson
said grimly.
    There were four deep gashes in her side where the
bear must have swiped its paw across her. “Wonder how she got
here.” I glanced around. The only tracks were from the bears. I
looked up at the sky again. Jackson seemed to read my thoughts.
    “You think this girl is what you saw falling from the
sky?” Jackson asked. “Cause this is exactly what I pictured angels
to look like. Except I was expectin’ wings or something.”
    I brushed a long, stray curl from her forehead, and
my fingertips grazed her soft skin. “She may look like an angel,
but she feels all too human. We need to get her home to the ranch
before she dies.”
    A tiny moan floated from her lips. Her long lashes
fluttered and a pair of amazing, dark brown eyes stared up at me.
“It’s you,” she said breathlessly and then her eyes closed
again.
    I reached my hands beneath her and lifted her into my
arms. Her head collapsed against my shoulder.
    “She seems to know you.” Jackson walked along behind
me.
    “She’s just confused and scared. I’ve never seen her
before.”
    “Are you sure? I mean with all the girls you’ve-“
    “I’m sure,” I said abruptly. I looked down at the
face that was now so close to mine. I could see the light spray of
freckles across her nose. “I would sure as hell remember if I’d
seen this face before.”
    I handed the girl off to Jackson and then climbed
into the saddle. He lifted her up to me. She was as limp as a
ragdoll, but the movement made her sweet face twist in pain. I
settled her in front of me.
    “Whooee, Cade, you are somethin’ else.” Jackson shook
his head as he pulled up into his saddle.
    “What are you talking about, Jacks?”
    “Only you could have a beautiful girl like that drop
out of the sky and into your lap.”
    I reined River around and we headed home. “If only
she had landed in my lap and not on that damn grizzly bear, she
might not be bleeding to death right now.” I spurred River on.
“Let’s hurry. I don’t think we have much time.”
    My older brother, Samuel, watched us ride in from the
front porch. We were just nearing the house when he yelled for Aunt
Libby, jumped from the porch, and came running.
    “What the hell happened?” Samuel asked angrily.
    “I didn’t do it if that’s what you’re thinking,