“The term value in art means light or darkness and is usually referred to as relative value. For example, if I put my hand on my pants”—she placed her hand on the ample thigh of her dark blue jeans—“my hand is lighter than my jeans.” She rested her hand on her white T-shirt. “But my hand is darker than my shirt. In a successful drawing, you’ll want the full range of values, from lightest light—your white paper—to the darkest dark your pencil will create. This will bring dimension to your work.”

The slight breeze, smelling of boggy plant life, cooled the air around me, making me grateful for my light coat as Angie gave us further instructions. Another puff of wind brought the whiff of fish. I glanced around, but no one else was reacting. The scent came again. Not just any fish. Sardines.

I had to be imagining the smell. I was pretty sure the fish in this pond didn’t reek of canned sardines.

“Okay.” Angie waved her arms. “Find a good spot and start drawing. I need to grab a jacket, but when I return, I’ll be wandering around to help you.”

Everyone stood and wandered around, looking for the perfect angle and view. I opted to locate the source of the smell. I moved to a rocky outcropping near the water. The tang of wet dog replaced the sardine scent.

I stopped and stared at the woods. The dense pines showed only black between the branches, with snowberry shrubs around the trunks. The wet-dog odor grew more pungent, now joined by a scratching sound. Looking around, I checked to see if anyone nearby noticed the sound and smell. The closest to me were Dee Dee and Grace. Both were seated on a log at some distance and intent on their sketches.

Several branches moved and I caught a glimpse of something brown.

I took a step backward.

A massive muzzle poked through the underbrush, followed by two beady eyes peering from an immense brown head. Grizzly.

Chapter 6

Adrenaline flooded my body. I was rooted to the ground, unable to move, to think.

The bear sniffed the air, huffing slightly.

The sound shot through me. Do I run? Play dead? Climb a tree? I couldn’t remember. Couldn’t focus. Couldn’t unstick my limbs.

A woman screamed, the shriek ripping up my spine.

The bear reared. He towered over six feet tall.

I spun away. Too fast. Too fast! My prosthetic leg didn’t react fast enough. I fell.

The two women raced away down the path toward the resort. I pushed against the ground to rise, glancing over my shoulder.

The bear had dropped to all fours.

Scrambling upward, I faced the charging grizzly.

Branches snapped. His huffing grew closer, his body larger. I was going to die. Again.

A blur of brown and black flew past me.

I turned.