My visit to Larry's homestead had suddenly turned dangerous. Somewhere outside there was a very big, angry grizzly bear.

The beautiful woods surrounding the cabin felt ominous, dangerous.

The kids were not allowed to go outside. At first they thought it was fun because they did not have to go to school. But as the days wore on, they got very bored.

Finally Mrs. lake told Larry and me to go and FIND THAT BEAR.

Robert wanted to go with us and he wanted to bring the dog. But his dad said that he could not join us because he was too young and had not passed the gun course. Instead, we'd get a homesteading neighbor to help. Larry also thought we should leave the dog to warn the family if the bear came around. The dog was good in the woods, he was "knowledgeable," Larry said- but he'd be most valuable at home, protecting the family. So Larry and I set out, went to get his neighbor and hunt for the bear.

We hiked a long time and then found traces of the bear. It seemed that he was headed to high ground. "There will be snow up there," Larry said.

We traveled up to the high ground while Larry's neighbor searched for the bear down below on the ridge. The higher Larry and I went, the colder, more slippery, and snowier it got. When we reached the beaver pond, I almost slipped and fell into the water. Larry said he'd fallen in the water when it was below zero. At first his feet itched, later it felt like he was walking on pins. Then his teeth started chattering wildly. But he kept walking for miles and miles until he made it home- he had to.

We searched the high ground for most of the day, then returned home to find out that his neighbor had found and "dispatched" the bear. Now everybody was safe, the kids could go back to school, and there was plenty of food for the homesteaders to share. And for all the worry, all the trouble, and all the snow and ice and cold.......I had an idea for a story.

What if there was an injured bear around a homesteaders area? What if a dad had to go and get it? What if his son was a little bit older than Robert- and had passed the gun course? Then he could go! What if they took their dog with them? I started thinking about these things....

And what if the dad got injured and the boy and the dog had to go for help- and te bear picked up their scent and followed them? I began to write ideas in my sketchbook and to create a beginning, middle, and end to my story- just as I have done for every story in many, many sketchbooks. On the next pages, I will show you how I made the book through line sketches, color sketches, and paintings.