Three-Year Rule

by Alaina Stanford

Amy snatched the papers from Elizabeth’s hands and headed for the front door. Meeting Elizabeth’s gaze, she asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to take these to him yourself? You haven’t been to the house since before your tour.” Elizabeth answered her with a silent stare. Amy sighed and spun, heading for the front door. She called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the bright morning air, “You’ll have to speak to him eventually. He’s been calling you every day for two weeks. He’s not going to give up.”

  Elizabeth called after her, “Stop at the store, get some salad and dressing, please. I’ll have lunch ready when you get back.” She opened the refrigerator and pulled out some chicken breasts to marinate.

  Amy turned the Mini around and headed down the driveway. She picked up her phone and called Randy. “Hi, babe, she’s alone. Wind him up, and set him loose.”

  Randy grinned at the sound of Amy’s voice. He walked out his office door and climbed into his truck as she spoke. He chuckled and said, “You make it seem like we are on a secret mission.”

  “Oh, but we are,” Amy’s voice replied through the phone as he started his truck.

  Randy added, “Roger that, and wish me luck. If Josh even suspects what we are up to I may not survive the encounter.”

  Amy laughed and said, “See you in a few minutes.”

  Randy headed up the mountain to the construction site. When he arrived, the sight of the house stunned him. It had three peaked abutments that towered over the front porch giving it a Victorian look, yet with a rustic flare. The large two-story house was covered with windows. The lot where it sat looked untouched. The full-size trees and the natural underbrush came right up to the side of the house as if the house sprang from beneath the surface as naturally as the trees.

  There were several pickup trucks sitting on the small area of open dirt that was to become the front yard. Randy pulled up behind Josh’s truck and parked. He turned to gaze through the trees to the right of the house. A few hundred yards through the woods he could see the frame of a barn under construction. Randy walked up to the open door and went inside to look for Josh.

  He found Josh in the kitchen area with several men gathered around a table. Josh glanced up when Randy walked in and waved him over. The workers scattered as Josh shook Randy’s hand.

  Josh said, “What brings you all the way up here?”

  Randy grinned and said, “I wanted to see how the house was coming along. It’s gorgeous,”

  Josh nodded and said, “Let me show you around. There's a huge deck on the back overlooking the valley.” Josh began as they headed out the back door. “We installed an oversized fire pit on the deck area. It faces toward the length of the deck. We installed a large gas barbecue grill on the far end, as well. It allows Beth a lot of space for a couple of bistro sets or couches and tables.”

  They toured the interior of the house, which was still drywall. They finished Randy’s tour and headed out the front door as Josh explained, “The appliances should be arriving soon and the bamboo flooring. The HVAC’s been installed, so we should be completed in a few weeks.”

  Randy stopped a few feet from his truck and turned to face Josh. He asked, “Have you talked to Elizabeth lately?”

  Josh frowned and gazed past him toward the trees. He said, “She won’t take my calls. I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  Randy took a deep breath and began, “I think I understand why she’s avoiding you.”

  Josh turned to face Randy’s gaze asking, “What is it? She was so upset the night she came to my house. She wasn’t making any sense. Did you tell her about my kids? Is that it? She’s freaked out because of Molly and Jake?”

  “No,” Randy met his eyes with a stern gaze and continued. “I could be completely wrong about this, but I thought you should know, just in case it’s true.” Randy swallowed hard. He didn’t like lying to Josh, but this was for his own good. He and Elizabeth were perfect for each other. Josh needed a good woman in his life after what Joanne did to him. Randy blamed himself for allowing the situation to get so far out of control. “Amy told me that Elizabeth has been sick. She’s been throwing up a lot, especially in the mornings.”

  “What?” Josh asked as he stared at Randy in confusion. “Throwing up in the morning?”

  Suddenly Josh’s face went pale, and he took a step back from Randy. Amy pulled up the driveway, parked, and stared at them for a moment before opening the door and climbing out. Josh’s blank stare moved from Randy to Amy as she walked slowly up to them with the paperwork from Elizabeth in her hand.

  “Beth is pregnant?” Josh stammered at Amy before she could say a word.

  Amy’s eyes opened wide. She looked at Randy and said, “You told him?”

  With that, Josh was gone. He climbed into his truck, drove over a small section of the brush to avoid hitting Randy’s truck, then roared down the driveway. When his truck disappeared around the bend, Amy and Randy slapped their hands together in a ceremonial hi-five.

  ***********

  Elizabeth opened the back door, allowing Charlie access to the backyard. She opened the old charcoal grill and used her tongs to pull the chicken breasts off the grill and onto the plate in her hand. Charlie dashed around the backyard barking like crazy at the trees. Elizabeth called her name and waited at the door while Charlie ran past her into the house.

  Elizabeth placed the plate of chicken on the table and went to the fridge to get a pitcher of lemonade and a pasta salad she’d made earlier. Amy would be back any moment. She’d give her another five minutes, then call to see where she was. Suddenly Charlie rushed to the bay window next to the table and began to bark furiously. Elizabeth placed the pitcher and bowl of pasta salad on the table, and then glanced out the window to see why Charlie was barking.

  She gasped at the sight of a large brown bear charging across the grass toward the house. It was clear by the bear’s momentum it was not going to stop. Elizabeth screamed, “Charlie! Come here!” She glanced at the shotgun sitting on top of the kitchen cabinets. She looked back at the bear. It was only a few yards from the house. There was no time! She screamed Charlie’s name again and ran for the front door. A huge crash sounded behind her. She opened the door and ran outside. The large tree that grew next to the house was her only hope. She ran to it and began to climb.

  Charlie barked and snarled in the house. The bear roared and growled. Charlie began to yelp. Elizabeth screamed her name in panic, “Charlie! No! No! Not my Charlie!”

  Suddenly Charlie flew out of the house and ran across the lawn into the trees. Tears streamed down Elizabeth’s face. A sob escaped her lips. She watched Charlie disappear into the forest. She screamed after her, “Run! Charlie! Run!”

  The bear came slowly out the door. It glanced after Charlie but did not follow. Instead, it moved to the tree where Elizabeth was and began to climb. Elizabeth scrambled up the tree and onto the roof of the house. She glanced desperately around for an escape route. There was nowhere to go! If the bear reached the roof, she was dead!

  Elizabeth ran to the edge of the roof. If she jumped, would the bear follow? Suddenly, the roar of a truck engine came through the trees. Her heart jumped as Josh’s truck rushed up the driveway. She jumped and waved her hands screaming for help.

  Josh’s eyes caught Elizabeth’s movement on the roof. She was jumping up and down screaming at him. She was pointing wildly at the front corner of the house. Josh’s eyes went to the tree. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of the bear. It was almost to the roof. Josh gunned the truck and then slammed on the brakes as he reached the house. His gun was already in his hand before the truck stopped.

  Josh threw open the door and screamed at the bear. “Hey! Bear! Here! Come down here! Come and get me!” Josh moved closer to the house to get a clear shot at the bear. He could no longer see Elizabeth. He had to assume she was still at the far corner of the roof. His aim was away from her. The bear hesitated and glanced down at Jo
sh. Then it began to slide back down the tree. Josh fired two shots at the bear, and it fell from the tree. Josh walked cautiously up to the bear and shot it again in the head. He immediately ran to the tree and began to climb. His heart was pounding.

  “Elizabeth?” He shouted as he climbed. “Are you all right? I killed the bear.”

  “Josh!” Elizabeth called to him, rushing back to the tree.

  Josh sprang from the tree to the roof to reach her. He pulled her into his arms and held her as the relief filled him. Elizabeth clung to him, trembling. He pulled back from her and checked her for injuries. Then pulled her against him and kissed her passionately. When he released her, he whispered, “You scared me half to death. I don’t know what I’d do if you were suddenly gone.”

  “I’m not hurt.” She smiled through her tears then gasped, “Charlie! We have to get her. She fought with the bear then ran off into the woods.”

  Josh took hold of Elizabeth’s shoulders and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll find her. Just try to stay calm. You don’t want to upset yourself any further.”

  Elizabeth stared at him in confusion. Then turned toward the tree saying, “I’m fine, let’s go.”

  “No!” Josh grabbed her hand and pulled her back from the edge of the roof. “I’ll go get the ladder out of the garage, and you can use that to get down.”

  Elizabeth frowned at him and said, “Josh, I’ve been climbing trees since I was six years old. I think I can navigate this one just fine. Besides, Charlie could be hurt; there’s no time to wait.”

  She walked to the edge and reached out to grab the tree. Josh came up beside her and said, “Let me go first so I can help guide you down.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes and stepped back allowing him access to the tree. When they reached the ground, Josh scanned the yard and said, “Which way did she go?”

  Elizabeth pointed to the right of the stables, and they rushed in that direction. When they reached the trees, Josh noticed blood on the leaves of a large bush but remained silent. He didn’t want to alarm Elizabeth. Instead, he stood in front of the tree and allowed Elizabeth to pass. Josh suppressed the urge to rush blindly into the woods and find Charlie. He needed to stay close to Elizabeth. She’d been through a lot. He wanted to avoid any further animal contact. The scent of blood was in the woods now. It was entirely possible a bear or even a cougar could be lurking somewhere close by.

  Josh scanned the brush as they walked; Charlie had to be badly hurt to leave a trail of blood like this. The chances of finding her alive were slim. He braced himself for Elizabeth’s reaction when they found Charlie.

  It didn’t take long before Elizabeth noticed blood on the grass. “Charlie,” she gasped rushing to follow the blood trail. Josh chased after her. Charlie lay only a few yards ahead of them. She was lying under a bush covered in blood. Elizabeth fell on her knees beside Charlie, sobbing. Josh knelt next to her and examined Charlie.

  “She’s alive,” Josh said and quickly scooped Charlie up and rushed back toward the house. Elizabeth followed closely behind. She sprinted across the lawn when they cleared the trees. When she reached the SUV, she opened the hatch then ran into the house. She grabbed her purse, car keys, a towel from the bathroom, and pulled a blanket out of the closet, then rushed back outside. By the time she returned Josh had Charlie in the back of the truck and was heading for the driver’s door.

  “I’ll drive,” He ordered reaching out for the keys.

  Elizabeth tossed him the keys, and then climbed in the back with Charlie. She pressed the towel against the blood still oozing from Charlie’s neck and chest. Her beautiful golden coat lay open revealing a gaping wound of blood mixed with muscle and veins. Elizabeth pulled the blanket around Charlie as best she could.

  She leaned close and whispered in Charlie’s ear. “I love you, Charlie. Hang on.”

  Josh pulled his cell phone from his back pocket and called Randy.

  “Randy,” Josh began, “Don’t talk, just listen. A bear attacked Charlie, and we’re headed to the vet. I don’t have the number on my phone so can you call and let them know we’re coming?”

  Elizabeth brushed the tears from her eyes and called to Josh, “Tell Randy the bear crashed through the bay window into the house. Ask him to find Amy and make sure she knows what’s happened.”

  Josh glanced in the rearview mirror at Elizabeth then said, “Randy, the bear apparently came into the house through the back bay window. I’ll get a couple of my men out here to board it up for you. We’ll need the bear’s carcass removed; it’s by the front door.” He paused, “Yes, I shot it. Is Amy still with you? Yes, we’ll meet you there.” Josh glanced back at Elizabeth and asked, “How’s Charlie?”

  Elizabeth met his gaze in the mirror and said, “She’s still breathing. I’ve applied pressure to the wound, but she’s not moving at all.”

  Josh turned onto the main road and sped toward the veterinarian’s office that sat on the edge of town. He tried to concentrate on the road, but it was difficult. Elizabeth had to be in her first trimester, and she’d had quite a shock. He worried the roller coaster of emotions and physical exertion might cause her to lose the baby. He glanced back at her again and asked, “How are you doing? Are you sure you’re all right?”

  Elizabeth answered, “I’m fine, and I saw the bear coming. Charlie was barking at the window as I sat the table. When I looked up, I saw the bear charging across the lawn. I couldn’t get to the gun...” Elizabeth’s voice broke.

  Josh said, “You did the right thing. Even if you managed to reach the gun, it probably wouldn’t have stopped the bear. Running was the best thing to do, and climbing a tree. There’s nothing else you could have done.”

  When they reached the veterinarian, Randy and Amy were waiting for them. They rushed to the back of the truck as Josh pulled up. Randy opened the hatch, and Elizabeth climbed out. Randy scooped up Charlie and followed Josh to the front door. Amy began to cry at the sight of Charlie’s blood-soaked fur. Elizabeth hugged her, and they rushed inside after Randy. The Vet was waiting for them and had Randy take Charlie straight into the small Operating Room at the back of the building.

  The receptionist stepped in front of Josh and the girls and said, “I’m sorry, but you should wait out here. Dr. Morse will speak to you as soon as he’s decided what course of action can be taken.”

  She motioned toward the seats that lined the windows. Randy returned as they moved to the seats. Amy went to the reception desk to deal with the paperwork as Josh and Elizabeth sat down. Elizabeth leaned against Josh and buried her head on his shoulder. He held her as she cried, grateful she was not the one rushed into surgery.

  Amy and Randy returned and sat beside them as the doctor appeared. He walked quickly to them and said, “Charlie is badly hurt. The good news is the bear barely clipped her; it’s a single wound, but it’s deep. She’s lucky to be alive. Most dogs don’t survive a bear attack, but she has lost a lot of blood and needs surgery. She’s young so the chances are good she’ll survive, but there’s no guarantee. She has internal damage. I’ve slowed the bleeding, but we have to act fast. I need your decision now. If you don’t want the surgery, we should put her down quickly; she’s in a lot of pain.”

  “Do the surgery,” Elizabeth said quickly rising. “I’ll sign any forms you need, just save her.”

  Josh rose with Elizabeth and asked, “Will she recover fully if the surgery is successful? Will her pain be gone?”

  The doctor turned to the receptionist and motioned her near. Then turned back to answer Josh, “If she survives the surgery, she should make a full recovery. The question at this moment is whether we’ve caught it in time. I’ll do everything I can. If you are going to wait, you should get comfortable; this will take a couple of hours.”

  “Thank you,” Elizabeth said, and he turned and walked away.

  Josh disappeared into the back and returned a few minutes later with four bottles of water. Elizabeth was pacing in front of the window
s wringing her hands as she walked. Josh handed Amy and Randy a bottle of water, then went to stand in front of Elizabeth, blocking her way. She stopped and stared blankly at him. He took her hand and led her to a seat. They sat down, and he opened the bottled water and handed it to her.

  “You need to stay hydrated.” He said quietly, and then asked, “When is the last time you ate?”

  Elizabeth glanced at Amy then said, “I was grilling chicken for lunch on the back porch. I just finished setting the table when it happened.”

  Josh asked, “If Randy and I run to Sadie’s and get some burgers will you eat?”

  Elizabeth leaned back in her chair and sighed, “I don’t think I can. My stomach is too upset.”

  Amy and Randy froze in their seats across from them, watching. Amy jumped up and quickly came to sit beside Elizabeth. She said, “I think food is a good idea. We are going to be here for several hours, and none of us has had lunch. You should try a salad; Sadie makes a wicked Cobb Salad.”

  Randy rose and joined in saying, “They also have a great chicken salad sandwich. Come on Josh. Let’s run and grab some food. We’ll be back before you know it.”

  Amy chimed in, “We’ll be fine. I’ll call you if anything happens.”

  Randy grabbed Josh’s arm and pulled him toward the door.