Each bounce over the rough road stabbed into her aching ribs. She wrapped her arms around her waist.

He slowed even further. “Which of Dante’s cabins are you in?”

“Number three.”

When the vehicle stopped, she fumbled at the seat belt.

By the time she had it unfastened, Gabe had opened the passenger door. He reached for her as if he’d carry her again.

She pushed his hands away. “I’m fully capable of ambulation.”

“Feeling better, are you?” After picking up her coat, he gripped her arm as she slid out onto the muddy dirt path. “I noticed a bear headed for the lake. Let’s get you inside.”

“A bear? Here?” No way. Wild animals didn’t come close to houses…did they?

He motioned toward the last cabin in the line. And there was a bear. Big and black and way too close. “Oh God.”

Following the big animal were two balls of fluff. Cubs.

Even a city girl knew mother bears were dangerous. She’d seen the movies.

Backing up while watching the bear, she bumped into Gabe. “Sorry.”

He took her arm again and guided her to her cabin. At the door, she fumbled for her keys…and dropped them.

Gabe caught the key ring in midair—and didn’t she just feel like a clumsy idiot?

Without saying anything, he opened the door and hung her coat on the hook. When he flicked the switch beside the door, the lamp on the end table came on, bathing the room in a golden glow. After removing his boots, he went down on one knee and pulled off her muddy shoes.

“Um, thanks.”

As she moved toward the couch, he stopped her. “I want a look at your face in decent light. Be a good girl and go into the bathroom.”

“But…” Her protest died at the set of his jaw. Maybe it was a police thing. Perhaps a cop needed to ascertain the extent of injuries to determine the correct charges.

After turning on the bright lights over the sink, she gingerly lowered herself onto the closed toilet seat. Why did her ribs hurt when she sat? That seemed anatomically impossible.

At least the stabbing pains had disappeared.

Thumping sounds came from the kitchen. The chief appeared with a dishtowel wrapped around a baggie of broken-up ice.

After giving her the improvised ice pack, he set his hand under her chin and tilted her head so he could get a look at her face. With gentle, but merciless fingers, he pressed on her sore cheek, making her eyes water again.

“He got you good, but I don’t feel any loose bone fragments.” He lifted her hand to press the ice pack to her face. “Keep that there.”

“Um. Thank you.”

“Now let me see those ribs.”

Her eyes widened. “I’m not—”

“Did you get an x-ray when it happened?”

Pinned by his dark blue gaze, she couldn’t lie. “No.”