Deadly Embrace (Deadly Assassins Series Book 1) Page 3

  “What are we hunting while on this trip Robert?” Ryan said.

  “Nothing big, just deer. Last time I was here I got a large bison. Which I gave to one of the local Native American tribes that still live up in these mountains,” Robert said.

  “Yes, I read in my travel guide that the Chippewa-Cree and Kalispel Indian tribes have lived in this area for hundreds of years,” I said.

  “You’re such a nerd J.” Ryan laughed.

  “Well Ry, I like to learn about different people and cultures unlike you who just wants play video games,” Jason said.

  “When I came up here as a kid for vacations with my family, we played board games, went swimming in the river and hiking in the woods,” Robert said.

  “Sorry Robert. I guess you’re right,” Ryan said.

  “Look at this beautiful scenery Ryan.”

  Ryan immediately put his phone in his bag and stared out the window. About thirty minutes later we pulled up to Bear Lake Campgrounds, where there were a lot of

  motorhomes and campers setting up their campsites. We got out of the truck and walked into a small general store to take a look around. There were two men standing behind the counter.

  “Hello sir, can I help you folks with something?”

  “Yes. Hi, I’m Robert and these are my boys, Jason and Ryan. It’s been a long time since I have been up here so I was looking for a map of the area, and directions to the cabin and campsite I reserved.”

  Robert reached out and shook the man’s hand.

  “Hi, I’m Kasey and this is my tour guide J.R. Yes, we have maps right over here. We also offer tour guide services as well if you folks need one. The Yaak Valley River is great this time of year.”

  “That would be great Kasey! Hey boys don’t that sound great?” Robert said.

  “Yup, for sure,” Ryan and I said in unison.

  “Hey J.R. can you take these guys up the mountain hiking at first light?” Kasey asked.

  “No problem.”

  “Mind me asking, you all plan on hunting as well?” Kasey asked.

  “Hiking mostly, but I brought a couple of my rifles just in case.” Robert confirmed.

  Ryan and I picked up some snacks while Robert handed Kasey a fifty-dollar bill to pay for our snacks and supplies and headed for the truck.

  “Thanks y’all. Your campsite is cabin #15 which is about a half mile down the road and make a right. The signs will guide you.” Kasey said.

  “Thanks again, J.R. and Kasey. See you in the morning,” Robert said.

  We all got in the truck and drove down to our cabin. Ryan and I unloaded all the gear while Robert started a fire in the fire pit. The cabin was nicer than what I thought it would be. It had two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a large fireplace. We made dinner and went to bed early. Ryan and I were excited about the trip tomorrow.

  Chapter 5

  I was up early the next morning. Ryan, Robert and I all put on our camouflage gear for the hunting trip. We each wore orange safety vests so we were clearly visible to other hunters. Robert brought along two Browning X-Bolt Hell Speed Bolt action rifles, both .22 caliber. He carried one and gave the other to me. We met J.R. the tour guide at the front of the general store.

  “Good morning. How are you boys doing today?” J.R. asked.

  “Great,” Robert replied.

  “Good thanks,” Jason and Ryan said.

  “Nice to see y’all. Are you ready for some hiking today? I do wanna give you some information before we leave. First, we are in the midst of bear hibernation season right now, so the first rule is that we stay together at all times in a group. I am giving you each an electronic tracker just in case any of you get separated from the group for any reason. The trackers will allow the sheriff’s department or medical rescue to find you in case of an emergency. If, while we are out in the woods, you hear three simultaneous shots in the air, then that’s the signal a bear has been spotted in the area. At that time the hike will be over, and we will have to head back to the trucks. Safety is the most important thing,” J. R. said.

  “Jason and Ryan, you boys stay close to me at all times,” Robert said.

  “Yes, Sir.” Ryan and I responded.

  J. R. led us all deep into the woods. The air was crisp and cold. We saw many animals while on our hike. There were rabbits, elk and we even saw some bison grazing.

  “Hey look! Bear tracks,” J.R. said

  J.R. showed us several bear tracks, but they were days old. As we hiked higher into the mountains, I looked over at Ryan and he looked just as bored as I was. Robert looked like he was enjoying every minute, like he was reliving his glory days in the Army.

  “Okay, everyone we’re gonna stop here for a few minutes and rest. I suggest you all drink some water to keep hydrated,” J.R. said.

  “Jason, I have to pee right now,” Ryan urged.

  “Okay Jason, you go with him. I’ll hold your rifle ‘til you come back,” Robert said.

  I handed Robert my rifle as Ryan and I walked away.

  “Look Jason, there’s a cave over there behind those big rocks. I need privacy dude,” Ryan pleaded.

  “Okay hurry up,” I said.

  Ryan walked into the semi-dark cave and I turned my back to give him some privacy. Suddenly I feel Ryan elbow me in my side.

  “Jason, HELP!” Ryan whispered to me.

  I heard heavy breathing and growling. As I turned, I saw a 300-pound bear standing right in front of us. I could only see part of his head and his bright yellow eyes.

  “Ryan, don’t move I’m not gonna let it hurt you,” I said.

  I stepped in front of Ryan to protect him.

  The bear suddenly started to charge at us. I took half a breath and raised my arm toward the bear, and my mind went totally blank.

  Bang, bang, bang. The next thing I knew, the bear was lying at our feet dead. I had shot the bear three times in the head with the 9mm handgun I had taken from Robert’s gun room before we left on this trip.

  Ryan put his arms around me and was shaking.

  “Dude, that was freaking awesome. That bear could have totally killed us,” Ryan said.

  Robert and J.R. suddenly started running quickly toward us.

  “Are you boys okay?” Robert asked.

  I blinked and looked over at him.

  “Yes, we are fine,” I said.

  “Jason, what are you doing with my gun?” Robert said.

  “I’m sorry, Robert. I just borrowed it from your gun room. I had it with me the whole time. On instinct I felt we needed extra protection.”

  “Jason, where did you learn to shoot like that anyways?” Robert said.

  “I told you my ROTC recruiter has been taking some of us to the gun range for regular lessons.”

  My hand was still shaking as Robert took the gun from me and unloaded it before he tucked it in his waistband. He then put his arms around Ryan and I and hugged us both.

  “Oh my God, I’m glad you boys are okay. I think it’s time to go home,” he said.

  J. R. led us all down the mountain and back to our truck. Ryan and I loaded up the truck and I hopped in the backseat and let Ryan sit in front this time.

  “Thanks J. R. This has definitely been an experience we will be talking about for a long time,” Robert said.

  “I’m just glad no one was hurt Robert. But I have been a guide and hunter most of my life and I have never seen anyone take down a bear like your boy did today. He killed it out of pure instinct and with no hesitation. The bear was shot in the head three times, but they were dead center shots to the brain. Where did he learn shooting like that? I can tell that boy has something brewing inside of him and you need to find out what it is,” J. R. said.

  “Thanks J.R., I will definitely be talking with him when we get home. Take care,” Robert said.

  As Ryan and I sat in the truck, Robert had a very blank expression on his face as he spoke with J.R.. No words were spoken as we rode back to the campsite. It started to rai
n hard and we were suddenly caught in a storm.

  “Okay, go inside both of you and grab all your gear, we’re going back to the lodge today,” Robert said.

  “Why Robert? You promised to take me fishing tomorrow,” Ryan said.

  “I will take you fishing Ryan, but when we get back to the lodge,” he replied.

  We all went inside and packed up our belongings and put them in the truck.

  We waited at the cabin for a few hours for the storm to pass. Robert sat on the couch reading a book by the fireplace. Ryan and I sat next to one another on the couch playing checkers.

  “Okay boys, I think it’s time to go. Ryan grab our food from the fridge for our trip home.”

  As we all walked out of the cabin Robert turned to me tossed me the keys,

  “Here Jason you drive!”

  “Really Robert?”

  “Yup, you got your license now. I trust you. Let’s go”

  “Okay!”

  I was excited and jumped in the driver’s seat. I couldn’t believe Robert was letting me drive his truck back to the lodge. Ryan jumped in the backseat.

  “Hey dude don’t crash us okay?” Ryan giggled.

  “Just sit back and enjoy the ride,” Robert said.

  Robert slept most of the way while I drove and followed the road signs back to the lodge. An hour into the drive, I looked in my rearview mirror and Ryan had drifted off to sleep. He looked so peaceful. I couldn’t believe I had saved his life twice now. I couldn’t explain how or why I was so emotionally connected to this little scrawny kid. I know the horrible ordeal we had gone through gave us a bond as brothers that could never be broken. I can’t explain the feeling I felt when I pulled the trigger and shot that bear. At that moment a big brother protector mode had kicked in.

  Chapter 6

  Robert and Ryan had just woken up as we pulled up to the long gravel driveway that led to the lodge. Ryan jumped out the truck and ran inside. “Ryan come here!” I said.

  “Jason let him go. He may be in shock after what happened today.” Robert said.

  “He seemed fine earlier back at the cabin.”

  “Come inside, we need to have a talk.”

  “I know.”

  Robert went into his gun room and locked the door. Ryan was in his room and didn’t want to come out. I walked into the lodge and walked up to my room. I opened the French doors and walked out onto the patio. I sat down in the comfortable cushioned lounge chair and looked down at the rushing river below. Contemplating what had happened earlier this morning was hard for me to wrap my mind around. I felt such an emotional rage inside of me that made me feel alive, but it also terrified me. What if one day I would not be able to control this rage or anger? Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

  “Jason, can I come in?” Ryan asked.

  “Yeah, Ry, come in,” I said.

  Ryan walked through my room and came out onto the patio and sat in the chair opposite me.

  “Sorry I ran out of the truck like that earlier dude. That bear earlier was intense and I thought I was gonna die,” he said.

  “I understand Ry, I really do.”

  “How did you know what to do Jason? Why did you bring that gun?”

  “I brought the gun Ry just in case something happened. I had been target shooting for a while with my ROTC recruiter, so I knew what to do. I couldn’t very well let you get eaten by that bear now could I?”

  Ryan half smiled at me.

  “Well I guess not. Do you think Robert is mad at you for taking that gun?”

  “I don’t know, but even if he is, I would do it again without hesitation. But he didn’t seem to be mad at all. His reaction was pretty strange if you ask me. Besides I always told you I would protect you and be there for you and that’s exactly what big brothers do, right?” I said.

  “Yes. I don’t know what would have happened to me if it wasn’t for you, bro! Hey, your room is nicer than mine, but mine has a fireplace. Come on, you never got a chance to see it.”

  Ryan and I both walked down the hall to his room. As we walked, I looked out of the window and saw Robert out front cutting firewood. As we went into Ryan’s room I noticed a large bear skin rug on the floor. I wondered if Robert killed it. The room had a large fireplace and two large windows that opened up to the racing river below. The river in back of the lodge was perfect for fly fishing or rafting. I definitely wanted to come back up here in the summer. Right now, it was January and Ryan and I were still on winter break from school. The snow had started to fall and it was getting colder outside for sure.

  “Hey Jason, this room is bigger than the one I have back in Texas.”

  “Yes, I know, but you know we’re going back home soon,” I said

  “Yes, I know, and then you’re going to start training to go off and be a Navy SEAL, right?” Ry said.

  “Where did you hear that from?” I asked

  “I was sitting at the top of the stairs the other night and heard you and Robert talking.”

  “Ry, I didn’t want to tell you yet ‘til I knew for sure I got in and was going away. Are you upset with me?”

  “Yeah, because you promised to never leave me.”

  Ryan started to cry. I went and sat next to him and put my arm around his shoulders. “Even though I won’t be here physically, I will call you as much as I can.”

  “I know, but it won’t be the same. You’re gonna miss all my games. I want to come and enlist too when I’m old enough,” Ryan said as he shook his head.

  “Well of course! I will be waiting for you when you enlist. Be prepared, it won’t be easy.”

  “I know, but I know you will help me any way you can, right?”

  “For sure.”

  “Come on Ry, let’s play a game before we have dinner.”

  “Okay, I’m going to finally beat you this time dude!”

  “Not a chance Ry!”

  Ryan and I played video games in his room for about an hour. I then went off to my room to sleep for a while. As I laid on my bed I thought about the journey ahead I was about to embark on. I was already in the middle of my junior year in high school. Once back in Texas I was going to take my ASVAB, ACT and SAT tests. I was happy that over the years I put in the work academically and physically and I was already first in my class. Once I got back home I had a lot more work to do.

  There was a knock on my door.

  “Hey Jason, can I come in?” Robert asked.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Robert came in and sat down on the bed next to me. Ryan walked in but stood at my bedroom door.

  “Jason, I just wanted to let you know I had some time to think about what happened in the woods with the bear. Even though I was upset you took my gun, I was also incredibly proud of the courage and strength you displayed out there. You have a strength and power inside of you that I have only seen in a few people. I am very happy you and Ryan came into our lives. But I want to properly teach you how to handle all kinds of weapons, so when we get back home I want to start training you myself. But you are grounded for two weeks when we get back home.”

  “Okay, I expected to get grounded.”

  “Wow Jason, you’ve never been grounded,” Ryan said.

  “Shut up Ryan, let’s go get some food.”

  Robert, Ryan, and I went down to the kitchen. Ryan set the table while Robert and I cooked dinner. I got firewood and started a fire in the fireplace. We all sat down at the table and enjoyed our last meal before going home. Tomorrow we would hit the road and head back to Texas because school started back in a few days. I was eager to get back to playing football. I had to make sure my diet was good and that I was eating plenty of chicken, fish, and veggies so I could bulk up. I probably needed to put on around forty pounds of muscle. After dinner we all went to bed early so we could get an early start in the morning to drive home.

  Chapter 7

  The next morning the bright sun and sound of the river woke me from my peaceful sleep. I felt totally e
nergized and ready to tackle the world.

  I got out of bed, showered, and got dressed. I packed all my clothes in my duffle bag and headed downstairs. Robert was at the table having a cup of coffee and Ryan was sitting on the couch.

  “Hey Jason, I saved you some breakfast, it’s on the stove. We’re leaving soon, so I want to get on the road,” Robert said.

  “Thanks Robert. Hey, Ry,” I said.

  Ryan just looked at me and smiled. I sat at the table and ate the breakfast Robert had left warming for me on the stove.

  “Okay boys, say goodbye to the lodge it’s time to go,” Robert said.

  As Ryan and I headed toward the front door I turned and took one last look. I would never forget the past couple of days and what I learned here. Robert drove us home while Ryan and I slept. We stopped for gas and some snacks on our drive back to Dallas. I pumped the gas as Robert and Ryan went inside the WAWA convenience store. I felt like someone was watching us for some reason. But I didn’t see anyone. I didn’t say anything to Robert or Ryan about how I was feeling. Maybe it was just adrenaline flowing from our encounter yesterday with that bear. Once we got home we unpacked the car and Ms. V was there to meet us.

  “Hey boys, how was your trip? Did anything exciting happen,” Ms. V asked.

  “Yeah, Ms. V it was good! Robert took us hiking,” Ryan said.

  “Wow sounds fun, sweetie.”

  She leaned in and kissed Robert on the lips with a look of concern on her face.

  “Honey, how was everything?” Ms. V asked.

  We all then walked into the living room and sat down on the couch.

  “What’s going on guys? What happened up there?”

  “Jason killed a bear Ms. V,” Ryan said.

  “Okay Ryan, I was going to tell her myself,” I grunted.

  “What the hell happened up there Robert?”

  “Well I took the boys huntin’ and they went into a cave because Ryan had to pee and the bear was in there,” Robert answered.

  After Robert answered Ms. V, I started to frown at him and shifted in my seat toward Ms. V. I started to feel nervous. Ryan just looked down at his hands and didn’t make eye contact.