Love Means No Shame - Andrew Grey

gate and Geoff led Kirk out, followed by Raine on Belle, with Eli bringing up the rear. They headed across the field and toward one of the trails. “I need to check on one of the pastures, so we’ll ride there and then come back.” Eli waved his agreement, and Raine smiled. He looked like he was having fun and didn’t care where they went.
    As they rode, Geoff heard conversation behind him. He listened as he led the way to the pasture.
“How long have you been riding?”
“I was raised Amish, so I learned to ride as a child. We had a pony, and I learned to ride her.”
“What’s it like not to have a car?”
    “You can’t miss what you never had. The hardest part is that you can’t go anywhere in a hurry, and sometimes people aren’t patient when they encounter the buggy on the street. Papa won’t even ride in a car. I had only ridden in a car once before I came here, and that was when I was just a kid with Mama.”
    “So what’s it like? What do you do for fun?”

    “Before coming here, my life revolved around my family. I worked with Papa or my uncle during the day. Some afternoons my younger brothers and sisters would play games outside the house with our friends.”

    “Did you go to school?”

    “Yes, I went until I was about fourteen. Then I went to work with Papa, learning to make furniture.” Geoff listened while they talked. Some of what Eli was telling Raine, they hadn’t talked about, and he found it interesting to hear how Eli grew up.
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    “I’m an okay carpenter, not anywhere as skilled as Papa, so I also work with my uncle at the bakery. I’m much better at that than carpentry. What is it like in Chicago?” Geoff half-listened as Raine told Eli about Chicago, his attention focusing instead on the pasture. Large black dots moved across the field of green, grazing on the grasses. Geoff watched the cattle as they grazed and then took out his cell phone.
    “Pete, it’s Geoff. Get out to the northeast pasture and bring two rifles with scopes right now!” Geoff watched as a black dot lumbered around the edge of the woods, away from the herd.

    “Is that a bear?” Raine was pointing at the spot, almost shaking.

    “Exactly. Get off the horse and lead her back down the path.” Raine followed Geoff’s instructions, climbing down and leading her in the direction indicated.

    Geoff got off Kirk and saw that Eli was already standing next to Twilight. “I’ll walk the horses back down the path and stay with Raine.”
    “Thank you.” Eli got the horses away, and soon Geoff heard a car door and then saw Pete hurrying toward him. “I’ll take the first shot; you be ready with a second.” Geoff took the rifle and steadied it against a fence post, aiming carefully, using the scope to line up the shot. Gently he squeezed the trigger, and the shot exploded.
    Almost immediately, the bear reared onto its hind legs, and Pete’s gun went off. The cattle began to move away, and the bear went back down and stopped moving.
    “Good shot, Pete. Excellent!” Geoff clapped the man on the back.
“You want me to make sure it’s dead?” 156
Love Means … NO SHAME
“If you would, and, uh… you killed it, so it’s yours. I’ll call Fish and Game as soon as I get back to the house.”
“What if there’s a fine?”
“I’ll pay it, don’t you worry. Whatever it is, it’s cheaper than a bear making lunch out of my herd.”
“Okay… I’ll call the guys to help get it loaded.”
“Thanks.” Geoff handed Pete the rifle and walked back down the path to where Eli and Raine waited with the horses.
    “Did you shoot it?” Geoff nodded as he helped Raine get back on his horse, and then he and Eli mounted as well, and they headed back toward the house. Raine and Eli continued talking, but Geoff remained quiet. He hated killing animals like bears. He knew it was necessary when they threatened the cattle, but he still hated doing it.
    Back at the barn, Eli helped Raine off Belle and led her to her stall while Geoff led Kirk to his. “I’ll unsaddle them with Raine; you call who you need to.”

    Geoff nodded and kissed Eli gently before heading into the house. He called the authorities and explained the incident and that there were independent witnesses. They said they’d send someone out tomorrow morning.
    He heard the back door open and then Eli and Raine came in.
“Hey guys, I’m in the office.” He got up and met them in the living room. “Are you ready for a