Black Bears of Independence: Oscar: Black Bears of Independence, #7

By K. R. Hall

Oscar places an ad for a receptionist, and Gabriella answers it. What could go wrong with this?


Oscar Dailey was ten when his life was turned upside down. His human father's alcoholism altered their lives in a deadly way. His bear shifter mother couldn't stay in their hometown; the memories were becoming too painful. So, Oscar's mother packed up their life in Orange, Massachusetts, and moved to Drake, Colorado.


Gabriella Bonocchi lost her parents and siblings one fateful night when she was seven. A drunk driver crashed into her family vehicle, killing everyone but her. Child welfare services packed Gabriella up and moved her to live with her aunt in Denver, Colorado.


What will happen when they discover the drunk-driving was Oscar's father and that the accident that changed his life also changed Gabbie's?

• Language: English
• Publisher: K. R. Hall
• Release date: Feb 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798377003182

Book preview

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Chapter 1

2003

I don’t want to go, Gabbie protested.

It’s the last choir and band recital. Your brother and sister supported your ballet, her mother reminded her. Why can’t you be supportive of their school events?

It’s too loud and hurts my ears, Gabbie lied.

I’m not going to force her to go. If she refuses to go, she will sit in a corner until we return, her father scolded, pointing to a corner in the living room.

Fine, Gabbie stomped her feet as she walked to the corner.

Gabriella will also miss out on ice cream sundaes after, her father added.

She’s seven years old. She can’t be home alone, her mother reasoned.

I’ll come, Gabbie said, turning from the corner.

No. You only want to come because of the ice cream, her father growled. Call Mrs. Abernathy to come babysit. Make sure she understands that Gabriella remains sitting in the corner the entire time we’re gone unless she needs to go to the bathroom.

It was dark out, and Gabbie was hungry. She was mad at her parents for leaving her sitting in the corner with Mrs. Abernathy watching her. The woman’s gray hair was worn in a harsh bun, and her glasses always slipped off her nose. She smelled funny, too.

Why do old people always smell funny? Gabbie thought.

A knock on the door drew her attention away from the wall. She watched the old woman walk to the door and strained to hear.

Can I help you, officer? Mrs. Abernathy asked.

Is this the Bonocchi residence?

Yes, it is, but they aren’t home, Mrs. Abernathy answered. I expect them home soon. They are later than expected. I’m Mrs. Harriet Abernathy. I’m babysitting Gabbie.

There’s been an accident.

Oh my, is everyone okay? Mrs. Abernathy interrupted.

I’m afraid not. A drunk driver hit the family vehicle head-on. May I come in? the officer asked.

Forgive my manners; please do come in, Mrs. Abernathy stepped back to allow the officer inside.

Mrs. Abernathy, what’s wrong? Where’s my mommy and daddy? Gabbie asked as she left the corner.

Come here, child, Mrs. Abernathy held her hand for Gabbie to sit on the couch beside her.

Both kids and their parents were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital after the fatal crash. One of the nurses recognized the family and told us that Gabriella was missing. She gave us the address, which is why I’m here, the officer explained.

Mrs. Abernathy pulled Gabbie onto her lap and held her tight when she began to cry.

What will happen to Gabbie? Mrs. Abernathy asked.

If you can keep her until we find someone in the family who can take her, that would benefit her. Otherwise, we’ll have to send her to foster care, the officer explained.

My aunty lives in Colorado, Gabbie said between sniffles.

Gabbie, do you remember your aunty’s name? the officer asked.

Umm, Aunty Wilma, but Mommy has a book that she keeps everybody’s stuff in. I’ve seen it on her desk, Gabbie answered.

Would you mind if I looked, Mrs. Abernathy?

Oh, please do, officer. Anything to help out.

Thank you, the officer rose from the chair and walked to the desk that sat on the opposite side of the living room.

The officer sat at the desk and pulled the top of the desk up. The address book was easy to find. Opening the book, the officer looked for the aunt’s name. When he found only one Wilma and an address, he took out his cell phone and snapped a picture.

Found it, he said after closing the desk. I will call her when I return to the station.

I will pack an overnight bag for Gabbie and bring her to my home. You can reach me at 315-555-1212.

Thank you. We’ll be in touch, the officer said before leaving.

Come on, child, let’s get some stuff packed so we can get out of here, Mrs. Abernathy said.

Gabbie followed the old woman in a daze. What was going to become of her?

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Across town, another family was getting unhappy news from the police.

Mrs. Miller, I’m afraid your husband has been arrested for DUI, the officer said after he verified he was at the correct home and let inside.

Damn him, Delilah swore. I suppose Albert will spend the night in the drunk tank to sober up.

He has been released from the hospital and is in jail awaiting court in the morning for his charges to be read and be assigned an attorney unless you have someone you want us to contact, the officer said.

The public defender can handle his drunken ass. Albert has had three DUIs already. I’ve begged him to go to AA, but he swears he doesn’t have a problem.

Albert has a problem now, Mrs. Miller. He hit a vehicle head-on, killing both parents and the two children. The surviving child is seven; she was home with a babysitter.

Oh my God. How horrible, Delilah gasped.

What’s wrong, Momma, Milly asked as she entered the living room. Why is there a police car parked out front?

Daddy’s drunk again and will be in jail, Delilah explained. Go find Oscar and bring him home.

Yes, Momma, Milly said quickly before dashing outside.

Please don’t say anything, Delilah begged. I will explain it once you are gone.

Very well. Do you want to get a lawyer for your husband?

Honestly, we can’t afford one. Albert drinks any extra money I bring home from working, she sighed.

I’m sorry. I’ll file the report listing that you are unable to afford a lawyer. Court begins at nine tomorrow morning if you want to be there.

I suppose I should be, so I know what’s happening, Delilah said. Thank you, officer.

They rose from the sofa and headed to the front door; when it burst open, Oscar came running inside, followed by Milly.

Mom, I saw the police car. Are you okay? Oscar asked.

Yes, I’m fine, Oscar. Go wash up.

Milly ran to the bathroom, but Oscar looked like he would argue. A stern look from his mother had him backing down. He turned and headed to the bathroom to wash up, too.

Here’s my card if you need anything, the officer said, handing her his business card.

Thank you, officer, Delilah said.

Delilah watched the officer head to his patrol car before shutting the door. Now, she had to face her children. Her inner black bear was mad.

"We should have never mated with Albert," her inner bear scolded again.

"I know. You keep reminding me. I was pregnant."

"He isn’t our true mate," her bear growled.

"We might never find our true mate, Delilah reminded her inner beast. I thought he would change after Milly and Oscar were born."

"He did change. He drank more."

"I figured as long as he didn’t hurt the kids, it would be okay, Delilah sighed. Now we have to go through this. There will be a trial."

"We should go away, her inner black bear said. Make a new life for ourselves. We might find our true mate."

"Let’s see how the next few days pan out. I can’t leave him while he’s going to trial."

Who’s going to trial? Oscar asked.

Delilah turned to see her twins standing with worried looks on their faces. Bear shifters can communicate telepathically with their family members, fated mates, and clan mates.

Come, let’s get comfortable, Delilah said as she returned to the living room.

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I want you to close your eyes momentarily and imagine you’re a seven-year-old child. Imagine waking up one day and everything about your life is different. You no longer have the home you made seven years of memories in; you do not have your family, no parents, no siblings. The family you had your entire short life is gone. You are left with just yourself. Nothing more, the prosecutor said. This is the new reality for seven-year-old Gabriella Bonocchi.

Your Honor, I would like to call Officer Donough to the stand, please.

He made his way to the stand and was sworn in before sitting down.

Officer Donough, would you tell the court what Mister Albert Miller’s blood alcohol level was on the night of the accident? the prosecutor asked.

The blood alcohol level was .261 percent, which is over three times the legal limit to drive, Officer Donough replied. The legal limit of alcohol is .08 percent. Three times the legal limit would be 0.24 percent.

Thank you, the prosecutor said. Would you tell the court what Mister Miller’s demeanor was like?

The defendant was unsteady on his feet and almost fell down a few times. He insisted he did nothing wrong and was just driving home, Officer Donough explained. When we asked him to take a field sobriety test, he became aggressive. We obtained a warrant to test his blood while he was at the hospital.

Thank you, the prosecutor said. Your Honor, Mister Albert Miller has three prior DUIs and has had his driver’s license suspended. Now, he has taken the lives of four innocent people. He has left Gabriella Bonocchi an orphan. He can’t be permitted to walk away to do this to another family. The prosecution rests its case.

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We, the jury, find the defendant, Albert Miller, guilty of manslaughter on four counts, the foreman said.

Mister Miller, this court sentences you to imprisonment in the state prison for twenty years for each count. You will be eligible for parole in twenty years, the judge said.

Albert Miller was taken away in handcuffs. Delilah left the courtroom quietly and headed to the hotel, where Milly and Oscar waited. Their house had been sold. Their belongings were already on the way to Drake, Colorado.

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Five years later, Albert Miller died in prison from decompensated cirrhosis.

Gabriella’s nightmares finally stopped. She thrived in her Aunt Willma and Uncle Dalton’s home. They treated her the same as they did for their children, Teresa, Clint, and Erik.

Delilah met her fated mate, Franklin Dailey while working at a candy shop in Estes Park. They mated and married and had two boys. Frank adopted Milly and Oscar.

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