The bears called a clan meeting. It was held in the market field, where they usually had Christmas carols, farmers’ markets and other social gatherings. Jeanie was allowed to attend so that she could explain her plan to everyone and they could all thank her for saving them.
She really didn’t think she deserved all of that. After all it was a silly little idea that had turned into gold. And that was it really. Gold. The latest mineral survey that Snow had had done on the area showed a promising vein of precious metal. It was estimated to be enough to pay for Sun Valley six times over. All it took was a deal declaring that the Sun Valley residents would run the mine and the profits would be split fifty-fifty to pay for the land and then some. No messy relocations that the council would have to pay for, no law suits, everything could be done peacefully by people who had been raised together.
But now there was this business of clan justice for the death of Petersen’s son, Conrad. And that was where it had all gone to hell according to Jeanie.
Eugenie stood up and addressed the Bears. They were all sitting in a massive many ringed circle. She stood in the center and addressed them all.
“A wolf has called for clan justice. He has called for the old way,” she said. “He said that one of ours killed his son in cold blood. We know what happened and it was self-defense, but this wolf won’t stop until he gets blood. He is the one who tried to steal our land, take our homes from us. He has called for justice, but its vengeance he craves. And we know that revenge will only grow and fester in his heart.”
“Can we speak to him? Make him see sense?” a woman asked. She was sitting two rings out with a man and two children. They reminded Jeanie of the bears she had met in the woods on her first day out in Sun Valley and she wondered if it was their family portrait she’d taken.
“No Elmarie, if this one has a heart, it’s made of cold stone,” Eugenie said sadly. “So I have to ask all able bodied young men, all clan warriors to step forward and place their names in the hat.”
She held up a floppy black felt hat.
It was a sad and solemn pageant watching the men scribble their names on strips of paper and place them into the hat. Jeanie felt fear rise in her throat as Ryan wrote his name and then placed it in the hat.
“I have to,” he said.
“Sure,” Jeanie answered, knowing she had no right to be sullen and moody with him but she felt it anyway. She stood on the outskirts of the circle with the other non-bears watching, Wyatt, Kyle, Tyler and Jesse all put their names in the hat too.
Eugenie waited for the last name and then shook the hat.
Marcus stuck his hand into it and drew out a piece of paper.
“Our warrior is…Ryan Hunt. And his second is…Wyatt Wade.”
A round of applause went up as Ryan and Wyatt stood and shook hands.
Jess burst into tears. “You should just let him have me!” she cried out. “I killed Conrad! I’m the one…” Jamie wrapped her arms around Jess and led her away.
Jeanie was amazed to see not one look of judgement on any of the bear clan’s faces. All she saw was compassion and kindness. No one there would ever think of sending Jess off to her death for this. They supported her, a human, wholeheartedly and it made Jeanie want to cry too.
When the meeting dispersed Ryan and Wyatt were led away.
Jeanie was left with nothing to do and nowhere to go. She tried to follow Ryan but Eugenie stopped her. “They have to prepare.” She said.
“So I can’t talk to him?” Jeanie asked.
Eugenie shook her head. “Look, this is a lot of traditional stuff and you and Ryan aren’t married so…” she left it hanging. Then she placed a consolatory hand on Jeanie’s arm. “He’s a good fighter. Don’t worry.”
“Right,” Jeanie said feeling morose.
With nothing to do and nowhere to go Jeanie sat in her car. She passed the time by seeing how many species’ full Latin names she could remember out of her head. It was just her luck to find a man she could love just before he fought a dual to save someone else’s fiancée. Typical!
Hours passed and Jeanie must have dozed off. Reciting Latin names always put her to sleep anyway, better than counting sheep. Her eyes popped open when she heard a crunching sound next to her car. A big black SUV had just pulled up next to hers.
The doors opened and Calvin, tall and dark stepped out. He was followed by Mr. Snow and then last Mr. Petersen. Two other men stepped out and they all made their way onto the field.
A crowd was gathering. Jeanie decided to sit on her SUV’s roof. If she dented it she was sure a big strong bear could knock it back out for her. It was the only way she was going to see anything. Valerie appeared in the crowd with Kyle and she waved to them. They joined her on her roof.
“So what happens now is basically a fight,” Kyle said. “They can fight as men or as animals. Up to them. If for some reason Ryan can’t fight, then Wyatt will step in.”
“Bet he wishes it was him fighting for Jess,” Valerie said.
“What happens if Ryan loses?” Jeanie asked feeling her fear building.
Kyle swallowed hard, “Well then Petersen can decide what happens to Jess. He’ll probably kill her. Then it’s all done. Wyatt loses the love of his life and there’s nothing he can do about it.”
“Your laws are strange and barbaric,” Jeanie said hotly.
Kyle shrugged. “I’m going to go help out in Ryan’s corner.” He jumped down off the roof leaving Valerie and Jeanie alone.
Valerie took her hand and patted it. “It will be fine, I’m sure.”
Jeanie wasn’t sure. He was going to fight and possibly die and she wasn’t even allowed to say goodbye. It just wasn’t fair.
Things were happening in the center of the crowd. There were a lot of bears milling around all broad shouldered and tall, but also a lot of wolves, lithe and quick. They must be from the local pack. Jeanie could feel the tension between both sides.
When the fight began she was surprised. There was no fanfare, no smack talk like in WWE. Ryan and Calvin entered the open space and simply went for each other. They were both dressed in loose fitting track pants, their chests bare. Of course Calvin was Petersen’s champion, he was big and muscled and violent.
Jeanie could barely think. The crowd were jeering, screaming and roaring for their champions. The sound seemed to bore into her and each time Calvin hit Ryan her heart thumped in fear. She gritted her teeth and began to chew the corners of her thumb nails. He was going to die.
There wasn’t going to be a happy ending for her. No falling in love and getting married. She was going to be the spinster scientist environmentalist forever. Valerie was talking to her but she couldn’t hear. All she could see was Calvin hurting the man she loved more than anything. Ryan was fighting well, but Calvin seemed to ooze a horrible evil power that seemed to be overshadowing Ryan’s light. They drew blood. Red flecks on black and white skin. And the fight carried on and on. Ryan’s left eye swelled up, his lips split and he was favoring his right leg. Calvin stood strong, but he was bleeding from a gash on his arm, and another by his right eye. They flew at each other again and this time Ryan threw Calvin to the ground, twisting his left arm at a horrible angle. Calvin twisted out of it and got Ryan in a head lock. Jeanie looked away, scrunching her eyes shut.
When she could bear to look again, Ryan and Calvin were circling each other. Round and round they went. They would jab each other in the face with their fists while trying to block the other’s blows. It was so stupid! Jeanie cursed testosterone and its idiocy. Fighting to prove a point was no way to go about it. There were better ways.
Ryan was down. Jeanie stood on the roof of the SUV her heart in her throat. Wyatt was on the ground yelling something to Ryan while Calvin pummeled him with his fists. Jeanie’s eyes filled with tears. She blinked them away as with a great push, Ryan threw Calvin off him, pounced on him and slammed his head into the dirt with such force that Jeanie was sure he should be dead. But he was a Werewolf. Could they die from that?
And then it was all over. Jeanie sagged to her knees on the car and stared. Ryan had won. It was all over and he was still breathing.
“Told you it would all be fine,” Valerie said. Smiling.
And then a cry went up and all hell broke loose.