LOVE AND TRUST
THE COUGAR POUNCED ON HIM WITH PREDATORY POWER.
THE FANGS MANGLED THE BONE. HIS LEG LOOKED LIKE RAW MEAT.
WITH ONE DESPERATE BURST, HE DISENTANGLED HIMSELF AND RAN FOR DEAR LIFE.
HE NEVER FIGURED OUT HOW HE CLIMBED UP THAT LONE TREE.
THE COUGAR'S SAVAGE GROWL STALKED HIM.
SUDDENLY, A SHOT RANG OUT AND THE COUGAR FELL.
HE REFUSED TO OPEN HIS EYES. HE REFUSED TO MOVE. NOTHING COULD
FORCE HIM DOWN.
"C'MON SON…YOU'RE SAFE, NOW."
NO RESPONSE.
"I'M HERE AND I WON'T LET ANYTHING HURT YOU."
NO REACTION.
"JOE…TRUST ME."
RECOGNIZING THE LOVING VOICE, JOE MURMURED ONE WORD…
"ALWAYS."