Called by the Bear 1-3 (6 page)

C
arly

A
fter my car
was done we headed to Taylor's condo, and she got her tattoo. She put us up for the night, and we left with her promise to call when she was ready to join us.

Driving over the bridge from New Hampshire to Maine, I take in the Atlantic Ocean. Houses dot the shoreline, and a working harbor is in the distance. I open the window a crack to smell the acrid odor of mud flats. Seagulls cry out as if to warn us to stay away.

Sierra says, "What's our plan, Carly? Do we just go to each one until something feels right?"

I shrug. "I guess so.”

As the area surrounding the interstate becomes wooded, I notice patches of white in the shadows. I point out the window as my lips turn up in a smile. "Sierra, that's snow."

"It is. Spring comes much later here." But even though she tries to sound unfazed, she sits a little taller.

I steal a glance at her, and movement catches my eye. The rumble strip under my tires makes me swerve back onto the road.

Sierra glances at me but says nothing. A tingling sensation tweaks at my tattoo, and I'm filled with the knowledge I just saw a bear and it was there for us. My pulse quickens in anticipation of what’s ahead. A sense of purpose floods my being.

"Sierra."

"Yeah?" She's looking out her window.

"Did you just feel that?" I check my mirrors, but traffic is light, and I don't see anything beyond a scattering of cars.

"The strange sensation that we're being watched?" She is scanning our surroundings.

"Yup, but I think it's more than that. I think we're being escorted." The need to put up my defenses niggles at me. In California I learned to pay attention to that feeling with customers, and I focus on staying alert.

She turns back forward and jiggles her leg. "Let's stop at the next rest area and get changed into something more fitting for meeting the men of our dreams." She snorts at her bad humor. But I agree, because if I'm really going to meet my mountain man, I want every advantage I've got.

D
ressed in a blue halter dress
, a magenta cardigan borrowed from Sierra, and just enough make-up to play up my blue eyes, I feel beautiful when we turn off the interstate at the Bangor exit. Sierra is driving, and I have a map pulled up on my phone for the first tree farm. Because of the name, we decided to try Bear Mountain Tree Farm first.

Just under a mile from the highway I have a strong feeling there will be a retail store for us to wander around and look for a sign. I say, "Up ahead on the right."

The blinker ticks like a time bomb, and I swallow down my nervousness. A black flash is in my peripheral vision, and I'm positive we have a guide. Sierra says, "I saw him again. Oh God, Carly. I think this is it."

We pull into an empty parking lot. "I know, I'm so nervous." I clench my cold fists and summon up my courage.

"Breathe, Carly."

I inhale deeply. "Ready?"

She nods, and my cute shoes clatter on the asphalt as I get out of the car. Icy wind whips my sweater, and I pull it tight around me. Okay, so maybe the outfit was a bit much considering we're in nowhere Maine.

One glance at Sierra makes me feel better though. She's in heels and a flouncy dress that's threatening to fly up over her head. We'll definitely be noticed.

A natural wood-shingled building awaits us. Two clear glass doors are under a sign painted forest green with gold lettering that reads Bear Mountain Tree Farm. The faint scent of smoke is in the air, and I hope there's a woodstove inside.

The metal of the door handle feels bitter cold in my hand as I pull open the door, but the moment it's open, heat blasts toward us. A quick scan reveals nobody is in sight, and I suspect the sales clerk is in an office that lies behind the partially closed door behind the counter.

I turn toward Sierra and widen my eyes at her, hoping she'll take the lead. She shrugs, and I realize I'm supposed to be the brave one. Great.

I call out. "Hello?"

Someone kicks open the door of the office. "Welcome!" A tall woman with dark blond curls bouncing around her shoulders holds out a tray. "I sensed—I mean I knew you were coming and went in the back to bring out the maple candy." She sets it down on the counter. "Try one."

One never knows when candy could present itself again, so I pop a leaf-shaped sweet in my mouth. Maple flavor explodes on my tongue, and I moan. "Oh my."

She giggles as Sierra reaches over for one too.

She knew we were coming. "
You expected us?"

Her body is fidgety, and she nods her head. "I'm Annie. We've been hearing so much about you, and I can't wait to show you around."

Okay, this is freaky. "How do you know so much about me?" I turn to Sierra's motionless body.
Really, girl?
For once you're still?
I add, "Us?"

"Oh." She points to my wrist. "The sign. Your ma--" She stops and shakes her head. "I should let Brady explain." She looks us over and purses her lips. "You look beautiful…”

Her face breaks into a grin. "Oh, hell. Let's go four-wheeling. You ladies up for an adventure?"

Sierra lets me know she's alive. "We love adventure. What do you have in mind?"

"I'm supposed to give you a tour of the farm, but hiking in the mud won't work well with your outfits." I notice she's in jeans and work boots. Annie continues. "I was about to suggest you change, but this will be more fun. You have no idea how happy I am to see girly-girls."

Her joy is infectious, and even though I'm creeped out by the fact she knows things about us when we know nothing about her, I find I'm excited about our tour.

Annie asks, "Do you have warm coats? Because I have something in the back you could wear."

Sierra says, "I'm sure we do somewhere. Should I go dig them out?"

"Oh, no. Don't go to all that trouble. Let me get you something." She disappears into the office again.

I turn to Sierra as my hands get clammy from panic. "Adventure?"

Sierra squeals. "I know! See? I knew this would be awesome."

I try to be as excited, but my cautious nature is holding me back.

Annie returns with two puffy-looking jackets. She hands the pink one to Sierra. "You can wear mine." She turns to me with a sly smile and gives me a navy-blue one. "And you can wear Brady's. He won't mind."

I slip my arms into smooth nylon. The jacket is surprisingly light. A musky scent invades my senses, and my body reacts before I realize I recognize the odor from my dreams. Every nerve ending hums, and I take a deep breath to get more.
Good God!
It's as if my dream guy is wrapping his arms around me.
Wow.

Annie is watching me, and her smile feels intrusive, as if she can read my mind. She asks, "Comfortable?" But the way she's looking at me, I think she's really asking if I'm feeling more than just warmth.

"Yes, thanks. I'm going to have to get a coat like this. It feels like I'm wrapped in a pillow.” I pet it as if it’s a stuffed animal, and the thought of a teddy bear puts a smile on my face.

Keys jingle as Annie locks the front door and sets the time on a little clock sign that tells people when she'll return. "We'll go out the back." She leads us through the office. A shiny dark wood desk is covered with messy piles of paperwork that make me want to organize them. We don't have time to look around before she takes us outside.

A dirt road is behind the building, and it leads into the woodlands. Parked to the left is a red Hummer, and I look at Sierra. She raises her eyebrows back at me in appreciation.

She says, "Nice ride."

Annie opens the passenger door behind the driver and looks at Sierra. "Climb in."

It’s clear I'm supposed to ride in the front, so I walk to the other side. She wasn’t joking when she said “climb in” because I have to step onto a running board to get inside. Compared to my Subaru, this car is huge, and for once I fit nicely. I settle into the big seat.

Annie turns to look at both of us. "Well, ladies, are you ready to check out what could be your new home?"

New home? I should be surprised and asking a million questions. Contentment wraps around me instead, and I answer, "Let's go."

C
arly

T
he engine turns
to a pleasant rumble, and Annie sweeps her hand across the horizon. Before I can ask what she means about this being our new home, she says, "All this land belongs to my family. We have over ten thousand acres, most of which is trees." The Hummer enters the forest, and white snow flashes in between dark shades of green.

She continues. "We harvest pine for lumber companies, grow Christmas trees, and collect sap to make our own maple syrup." The fir trees are now fading into bare-branched hardwoods, and light filters in. Bits of silver color make me notice small metal buckets attached to trees.

Sierra says, "Those buckets are for the sap, right?" I know she's asking for my benefit, and I smile in a silent thank you.

"Yes. It takes about forty gallons of sap for a gallon of syrup, and you get that much from about two trees." The road is uneven, and we bounce a bit as the truck progresses.

I say, "Wow, I had no idea."

Annie smiles and gives me a quick glance. "We have thousands of trees and are one of the major suppliers for maple syrup. I hope you like it, because we eat it year round."

She's focused on the road, and it occurs to me that there isn't enough room for more than one car. What happens if we encounter another? "Really? That's a lot of pancakes." Too bad I'm a bacon and eggs girl.

"Oh, we use it for much more than pancakes. I put it in beans, barbecue sauce, muffins, on squash, over ice cream, and we're even making vodka with it now."

My stomach grumbles, and Annie chuckles. "Don't worry, I'll feed you soon. Brady will be done with work by six, and you're invited to eat with us."

Wait, us as in Brady and Annie? Crap on a cracker, I'm lusting after her man? But why the sly smile when she saw my reaction to the scent of his jacket? Hell, I'm getting to the bottom of this.

I ask, "Is Brady your husband?"

Annie pats my leg with pink-nail-polished fingers. "Oh, no. He's my brother, and you'd better say yes to dinner or he'll be very disappointed."

Relief floods my body. "Oh, good."
Crap, did I just say that out loud?
I suppose I can ask probing questions now.

"What did you mean this might be our new home?" The dank smell of spring earth is coming through a vent.

"Oh, boy. I knew I shouldn't have said that." Annie sighs. "There's so much to be explained, and Brady wants to do it, but I can tell you we want you to live here and become part of our family business."

Sierra asks, "So you sent us the sign? Wouldn't it have been simpler to just advertise job openings?"

Annie shakes her head, and her hair sways, reminding me of my dream guy's shaggy appearance. I have no doubt he's Brady. "Again, I'm going to have to let Brady explain, but no. We need a specific kind of person, and the sign ensured only the right ones would come."

Sierra says, "So mysterious. I'm anxious to meet this Brady."

Annie says, "I don't think Brady is who you want to meet. Your ma--damn it." Her eyes flash to the rearview mirror to look at Sierra. "I'm sorry. What I meant is Keith is joining us for dinner too, and I think you might find him more attractive than Brady."

Sierra leans forward to be between the bucket seats. "Tell me more."

Annie snorts. "Let's just say I'm going to feel like the fifth wheel tonight."

I turn to look at Sierra, and she grins. That girl thinks about sex more than most men, and I wish I was as comfortable as she is with the prospect of hooking up with our dream guys. Unfortunately, experience is making me nervous, and the jitters in my stomach right now are more from fear of rejection than lust. I shake off the thought, because we wouldn’t have made it here if we weren’t destined to be with these men.

The end of the road appears bright, and I notice the forest clears up ahead. Annie says, "You're about to see my favorite place." We stop at a parking area by a lake. A sloped section leads into the water, and sand is spread out on it, making a small beach. Pine trees stand tall around the perimeter, and I’m fascinated by branches that are broken dead nubs until near the top. "This is our lake. Isn't it wonderful?"

Sierra says, "You have a lake. Yeah, this is wonderful. Can you skate on it?"

I look out and see what looks like a big piece of ice floating in the middle of the water, which tells me it's begun to thaw.

"Sure. When I was a kid we skated almost every day. All of us were great hockey players, and I was even on the high school team." She lets out a big sigh.

I say, "You sound sad. Don't you skate anymore?"

Annie shakes her head. "No, we all grew up, and without children around, the lake is quiet."

Sierra asks, "Don't your employees have kids that would like to play out here? I'll bet a company skating party would be fun."

Annie smiles, but it looks fake. "It would be fun, but nobody has kids."

Strange. I would guess they have a lot of employees to run this place, and nobody has a family? "What a waste. If we stay, maybe someone will teach me how to skate next winter."

Annie says, "That's right, you’re a California girl. Can you surf?"

I nod, "I sure can. But it's not really my sport these days. I leave that to the skinny girls." I pull the warm coat tighter around me.

Annie frowns, and I'm sure Sierra is frowning too when she says, "Carly, don't."

She hates it when I get down on myself, but the fact is I'm just not comfortable on the beach and haven't been since I started to put on weight in my teen years. I wish I could be like Sierra and work with what I have instead of wishing my life away. "I'm sorry. That was rude of me, Annie." Warm heat is blowing gently from the vent, and I hold my chilled hands up to it.

"It's okay, but you won't find me feeling sorry for you. I don't put much stock in women that don't enjoy food." She grins. "And neither does my brother."

That makes me smile too. "I feel like I'm in a reality show. I'm not competing with other women for Brady, am I?"

"Nope. But enough about him. Let's get you both checked into a place to stay." She swings the Hummer around to go back the way we came. "I'd invite you to stay with us, and after tonight you can, but we thought you'd be more comfortable someplace neutral."

She looks in the mirror at Sierra. "No pressure. We’d like you to stay here because it's what you want."

Light fades as we enter back into tree cover, and I wonder if this is what I want. The land is beautiful, and the idea of working it for a living appeals to me. Focusing on Brady's scent, I breathe in, and the twinge of desire in my belly makes me think he might help with my decision. The feeling of danger I had earlier has lessened, as if this family land is safe. But something is still making me uneasy.

This sign stuff got us out here, but why? What is it that makes Sierra, Lily, Taylor, and me the right kind of women for the job? What could larger women with no real ties offer that other women can't? And is it just women? Are men being called too?

My thoughts are interrupted by Sierra's voice. "Carly?"

"What? Sorry, I wasn't listening." I turn back to look at her.

"Annie asked if we would want to stay at a bed and breakfast her cousin runs." I look at my beautiful friend's pixie face framed by her black bob. She's happy to be here and excited by the possibilities, but what if I've brought her to a real nightmare? I nod my head. "Sure, that sounds nice."

Sierra's face falls, but she doesn't say anything. I try to reassure her. "I bet she makes pancakes."

She tries to cheer me up. "And I'll bet you can get bacon and eggs."

I paste on a smile to cover my discomfort and change the subject. "Should we change for dinner, Annie?"

"Oh, no. You two are fabulous just the way you are."

I nod, but I can't help but wonder if that's really true.