Bringing Home The Bear

by Vanessa Devereaux

  However, her father had always told her they were probably the most unpredictable of all wild animals. He’d warned her not to leave food outside the trailer. Better to have leftover foods stinking up the inside of your trailer than have a bear come calling and breaking in to raid the pantry.

  She’d eaten a sandwich for supper and wrapped the leftover roast beef in two plastic bags and then twice in foil. She knew bears had a great sense of smell and maybe that’s what had drawn him close. Today when she went to the stream, she’d need to be on guard just in case he was still around and thinking of her as a nice easy meal.

  ****

  Trent pulled out his fishing rod and tackle box. Sure, he had a better and more efficient way to catch supper, but doing things the human way could be fun too. Today he had a motive for doing everything human style. Pretending he was fishing gave him the perfect excuse to walk down to the stream and accidently on purpose run into the woman who’d clearly become somewhat of an obsession to him. Unless, of course, peeking through her window had scared her too much and she’d left the area.

  He walked out of his house and headed down the hill with the stream coming into clear view. His heartbeat quickened when he saw her sitting drinking from a mug, fishing tackle by her side.

  “Good morning,” he called over to her.

  “Hi.” She lifted her hand and waved.

  “I see you’re also planning on doing some fishing today,” he called over to her.

  “I hope I catch something after my disastrous start yesterday.”

  I hope you don’t fall into the water and hurt your ass again because that’s much too nice butt to get damaged.

  “You fish here too?” she asked.

  “Yep, my house is just up the hill there.” He pointed to the north.

  “House? I thought this was part of the wilderness area.”

  “The wilderness area starts about a mile that way,” he said pointing south.

  She stood. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know that. I mean I have my camper parked here too, and it’s obviously your private property. I’ll move it right now.”

  He walked over to her. After finally meeting her in person, the last thing he wanted was for her to leave. The closer he got, the prettier she became in his eyes. Yes, he wanted her to stick around for a while.

  “There’s no problem, really. It’s a mistake anyone could have made.”

  She had big blue eyes and luscious pink lips. He licked his own wondering how hers would taste during a kiss.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m positive. And my name’s Trent Burgress. I’m pleased to meet you and have you fish on my property.”

  “Thank you. It’s very kind of you. I’m Emily Smithfield.”

  She put her hand out and he took it. They looked into one another’s eyes. How ironic that she’d looked into his eyes last night, but today she was smiling instead of screaming.

  “I’m hoping you know how to fish,” she said.

  “Oh, you could say I’m somewhat of an expert,” said Trent.

  “I don’t suppose you could give me some tips?”

  “Well, fly-fishing isn’t exactly my specialty, but I think I could offer some advice. In fact, if you want to get the rod and line ready, I can stand behind you and show you how to cast the line into the water.”

  He almost added without taking out foliage or plunging into the stream, but then she’d realize he’d seen her feeble attempt at fishing the day before. Yes, I’ve been spying on you and even looking at you while you stripped down to your birthday suit. Best looking suit he’d ever seen. Now after meeting her up close he did feel a tad guilty about his sudden urge for voyeurism.

  She walked over to the rod, picked it up, and headed back his way.

  “Okay, you want to get in front of me here,” he said pointing so she’d stand at the edge of the stream.

  “Like this?” she asked moving ahead of him.

  “Exactly like that.”

  Trent took two steps toward her, anticipating what it would be like to have her body close, and smell her right under his nose. He put his arms around her so he could take the rod into his hands.

  He breathed in deeply.

  Her hair smelled like spring in the Flathead Valley. Her odor was almost intoxicating to him. Despite the nip in the cold morning air, her body was warm as it permeated through her jacket and even into his body. Suddenly very tempted to kiss her neck, he decided not to scare her at this point. Take things nice and slow.

  “Okay, just relax your arm and throw back the line, just like this,” he said quickly flicking his wrist.

  She moved with him like they were one and it felt so good. The line went out into the middle of the stream without any trouble.

  “I did it. Well, you did it,” she said. She sounded excited and overjoyed about such a simple thing. He liked it.

  “Nope, it was all you, I just merely guided you,” he said close to her ear.

  “You think we’ll catch anything?”

  “We might be in luck because it looks like it’s going to rain, and that’s always a good time for the fish to bite.”

  “That’s good to know. Hey, am I stopping you from doing some fishing of your own? If I am, just tell me.”

  “Nope, I love helping a new fisherman or fisherwoman.”

  Actually, he hadn’t realized that he still had his arms wrapped around her, and the side of her face just mere inches from his lips until she’d just spoken. She wiggled a little, sending her butt back into his crotch.

  That felt good. Too good. And now he had another mother of all erections. With them standing this close together, there was no way she didn’t know about it.

  Emily suddenly turned around and looked him directly in the eye. He thought maybe she was going to slap him, but instead she took him by surprise and kissed him.

  Chapter Four

  Wow, where did this come from. I’m never usually impulsive, never take the lead, but let the guy follow. So why now?

  Come on, isn’t it obvious? The man’s gorgeous with a capital G. That’s why.

  He kissed her back, prying open her mouth with the tip of his tongue so it could slip over the threshold and tease her own. The fishing had now been long forgotten as they let the rod slide down to the ground, and he almost lifted her off her feet as their kiss deepened.

  He was a complete stranger. He lived in the wilderness…well sort of. She had to be crazy.

  Emily pulled away, seeing the look of hurt and puzzlement on his face as he knitted his eyebrows together.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you must think of me,” she said, looking down at the ground. She hoped he didn’t see her blushing. She knew she was because she felt the burn in her cheeks.

  He put his fingers under her chin, pulling her face up so she was forced to look at him.

  Trent was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Big brown eyes that she could have sworn she’d seen someone before, but couldn’t think where.

  “I think you’re pretty. That’s what I think of you.”

  “I didn’t mean that…”

  He put his thumb over her lips, sealing them and preventing her from saying another word.

  Trent leaned his body toward her, kissing her again as the first of the raindrops fell. The splatter quickly turned into a downpour, and he pulled away as zigzags of water ran down his cheeks.

  “You had breakfast yet?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  “Come on, I know the best place in town to get one.”

  He took her hand and pulled her down by the edge of the stream and then up a path with some steps that led to a house, which she assumed, was his place. Was this the infamous best breakfast in town he’d just mentioned?

  Trent opened the door and encouraged her to go inside.

  Obviously is.

  It was a gorgeous open plan styled house with a big frameless window that overlooked the stream and trees below it. />
  “You’re drenched. Would you like me to find you a t-shirt and some jeans? We can hang up your wet clothes up to dry while you eat,” he said.

  “I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”

  “No trouble at all. I have the clothes and I was going to cook breakfast for myself anyway.”

  Her clothes were starting to feel uncomfortable now that they were dripping wet. And she could hardly sit on his chairs with wet jeans.

  “Okay, that would be great.”

  “Follow me,” said Trent.

  Another thing she’d never done. Accepted a strange man’s invitation to his place but somehow she sensed she’d be safe with him. Definitely was a day of firsts for her.

  Emily followed him into what she assumed was his bedroom. It looked like a log cabin with a huge bed and dark quilt on top of it. He opened the closet and pulled out a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He handed them to her.

  “The bathroom’s next door if you want to go in there, and you can hang your stuff over the top of the shower rail. I’ll be in the kitchen which is just down the hallway.”

  “Thanks so much for this.”

  “Anytime.”

  She walked out of his room and into the bathroom where she shut the door and looked around. It was small, but for a guy’s place, it was spotless. No clothes littering the floor, no tubes of half-squeezed toothpaste sitting on the countertop. No socks or boxers sticking out of the laundry bin in the corner.

  She took off her jacket and flung it over the top of the shower rail and then stripped off her shirt and jeans. As she pulled his t-shirt over her head, she recognized the scent that she’d detected when he’d stood behind her at the stream. She couldn’t describe it, but it made her almost swoon. Maybe that’s what was making her act out of character.

  Next, she pulled on his jeans and doubled them over at the waistband because they were a good four or five inches too long for her. She hung everything up to dry and then headed back out into the hallway, smelling food already cooking as she made her way to the kitchen.

  Emily saw Trent standing at the stove turning bacon in the pan with a fork.

  “That smells wonderful,” she said.

  “You want some coffee while this cooks?”

  “Sure, and I can get it,” she said spying a coffee machine and mugs sitting next to it.

  She poured herself a mug of coffee and then leaned up against the wall, watching him put bread into the toaster.

  “Is this your permanent or vacation home?” she asked.

  “Permanent. It was my dad’s place before he died.”

  “It’s beautiful. So I guess you work from home.”

  She was being nosy and hoped he didn’t mind.

  “No, I’m a cop but I’m on sick leave. I got shot.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I guess law enforcement can be dangerous at times.”

  He shook his head while he buttered the toast. “No, I got shot while I was out walking. Some guy was hunting and I got hit in the thigh.”

  “Geez, I hope he got into trouble over that.”

  He shrugged his shoulders “It happens more than you’d think. You want to sit down and eat this before it gets cold?”

  “Sure.”

  Emily pulled out a chair from under the table and sat as Trent placed a platter of bacon and scrambled eggs, and another plate with buttered toast on it, in front of her.

  “Do you get lots of wildlife around here?” she asked.

  “Yes, just about everything, why?”

  “I heard wolves howling last night.”

  “You don’t have to worry about them, they’re my…”

  She looked at him.

  “My friends. I mean I leave food out for them. And they’re a friendly pack.”

  “Don’t they tell you not to encourage them?”

  “Well, if you know what you’re doing it’s okay.”

  “And a bear. Can you believe a bear looked in the window of my camper last night?”

  “He was probably curious,” said Trent, picking up a slice of bacon.

  “Maybe, but he scared me so much I thought I’d have a heart attack.”

  He put his hand on top of hers. “Nothing to worry about. He just had good taste.”

  “Yeah, like in eat me.”

  “He’d never do that,” said Trent picking up his mug of coffee.

  “They’re unpredictable. That’s what my dad always said.”

  “You don’t have anything to worry about him as long as I’m with you.”

  “Don’t tell me you feed the bears too,” said Emily. She reached for another slice of toast.

  He shook his head. “So what do you do, and what brings you fishing in these parts?”

  “I’m a fourth grade teacher from Missoula who knows nothing about fly, or anything type of fishing for that matter, but I’m here as a proxy for my dad.”

  “For your dad?” He took some more scrambled egg.

  “He’d planned out his whole summer and fall itinerary with fishing and hunting, but then he had a heart attack and the doctor said the excitement of landing the big one wouldn’t be good for him, so he sent me in his place. It’s his camper I’m staying in and it’s his fishing equipment too.”

  Trent smiled and took another sip of coffee.

  “Yeah, I guess it does sound amusing if you’re not the one who’s the proxy.”

  He set his fork down on the plate. “So you want some expert help catching the big one.”

  “You would be my hero forever. And I have to take a photo as proof I did it. I was thinking of just buying some damn huge trout or salmon at the store and taking a selfie, but I guess a true fisherman knows a real thing from the store kind.”

  He laughed. “That’s true and it would be cheating too.”

  “I guess. Well, at least I’ll have lots to tell my class when the new school year starts.”

  “That’s what I like to hear, looking on the positive side of things. Hey, it looks like the rain’s let up a little so you want to go back out and see if we can land the big one?”

  ****

  “I have this one boy whose nose continually runs and his mother never sends him to school with tissues, ever. I sit at my desk and I think if I put a sponge on a stick I could just reach across the wipe it for him and I wouldn’t have to watch one drip after another.”

  Trent laughed. He loved hearing all about the kids in her class and the funny stories she had about her life as a teacher. It was obvious she loved her job and the kids too, even the ones with runny noses. He watched her lips moving as she continued talking while they fished. He wanted to kiss her again, but he was being patient. The opportunity would arise again. He sensed it in his bear bones.

  “You wouldn’t like to visit the class one day would you? I mean as a cop for career day this October?”

  The opportunity to see her again. He liked the sound of that.

  “Sure, I’d love to.”

  Trent felt the line pull and guessed something big had taken the bait.

  “Okay, hold the rod steady and we’ll pull it in together. I think you might have gotten something that your dad’s going to be envious about.”

  He assisted her with pulling on the line. He was right, one of the biggest trout he’d seen in the stream hung from the end of it.

  “Beginner’s luck,” said Emily.

  “No, he probably just wanted to take a look at the pretty woman who was sitting at the water’s edge holding the rod.”

  She smiled. “I almost want to throw it back,” she said as Trent took it off the line. “At least I have to take a photo of it to show my dad that I actually did it.”

  She dug out her phone, but Trent had a better idea than her just taking a photo of the fish all by itself.

  “You hold it and I’ll snap a photo for you.”

  “Okay.”

  She handed him the phone and he gave her the trout.

  “Okay smile.”

>   “Me or the fish?” she asked.

  He loved her sense of humor. Trent snapped three photos. He wished he’d had his own phone or camera with him because even if he never saw her again, he’d love to keep it as a souvenir of the young woman who trespassed on his land.

  “Okay, you want me to cook this for supper? I mean you’re staying to eat with me, right?”

  “After all the help you’ve given me, the fish is all yours and yes, I’d love to stay for supper.”

  “Great. I’ll get this cleaned and gutted.”

  He saw her pulling a face. Maybe he should have just said prepared.

  “I’ll e-mail these photos to my dad and be right with you.”

  ****

  Emily read the e-mail from her dad as she made her way up the stairs to Trent’s place.

  Em, good job with the fishing. See I knew you could do it. Remember the bear’s next on the list. Can’t wait till you bring it home. See you soon, Pops.

  She’d hated hooking the fish and the last thing she really wanted to do was shoot and kill a bear. Maybe she’d talk Trent into doing it for her. He seemed like a really nice, helpful guy and the ultimate outdoorsman. Perhaps she’d bring up the subject after they ate.

  When she walked in, he was putting on a clean sweater and she couldn’t help but look at the outline of his well-defined muscles. He turned around and smiled.

  “I just remembered my clothes are drying in your bathroom,” she said.

  “They’re dry if you want to go put them on.”

  “Sure and do you want these jeans and t-shirt put in the laundry hamper in there?”