“I’m going to try,” he whispered. “But you need to be ready.” “For what?” Caleb didn’t answer. He slid the pouch shut with one hand and stood. The lion’s body tensed. She saw him. Caleb stepped out into the open slowly, deliberately, hands low trying to seem non-threatening.
He moved down the slope, toward the base of the ridge, placing one piece of jerky after another, his eyes never leaving hers. The lion growled low. Then she rose. Lisa gasped. The mountain lion stretched to full height, her shoulders rippling, and stepped forward with terrifying slowness.