Page 66 of Bear Creek Valentine
“I think you’re right, mate. His scent tells me he’s been hurt inside as badly as the outside. I guess Baxter will have to keep him company until the right person comes along.”
Chapter 24
Saturday, October 29th
Aiden stifled both a chuckle and a sigh. With an hour to go until closing, the shop wasstillfilled with customers. This was beggars’ night for Bear Creek since Halloween landed on a Tuesday this year.Deliciouswasn’t open on Sundays, so everyone who needed candy for parties or trick-or-treaters mobbed the shop all day. It was mostly Serena’s fault, though Aiden wasn’t complaining about the uptick in sales.
She’d suggested a couple of promotional ideas for Halloween, and the results of their advertising went beyond even her expectations. The idea was to offer smaller, more affordable chocolates, packaged in individual baggies for easy and sanitary distribution. She also suggested a four-piece sampler, great for party favors or gifts; specially priced and festively boxed. Customers gobbled them up like there was no tomorrow, eager to share their favorite sweets with neighbors, friends, and family.
Aiden could never have tried this scheme before adding employees, and yet with four of them in the shop, they struggled to serve everyone. Cooper recently delivered the last batch of stock for the day, and Aiden wasn’t sure it would last. Toby barely left the kitchen, busy making caramel and chocolate apples or bagging candies. Aiden, Blanche, and Serena worked up front, all wearing some sort of mask or costume.
It was nearly six-thirty before they served their last customer and closed up the shop. The stragglers didn’t get everything they wanted, but Aiden discounted their orders and sent them away satisfied. Weary as they were, everyone helped with end-of-day tasks so they could all go home and relax. Aiden locked up the cash drawer without bothering to count it, knowing fullwell they’d probably broken the previous one-day sales record. Serena gave him a mischievous smile and shrugged.
“Admit it, Boss—I’m a genius. But, if this is what the Christmas season is like, I’m taking the month of December off!”
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Sunday afternoon
Dash hurried up from the basement, calling to Aiden in the kitchen.
“They’re here, love!”
Aiden set the treats aside for later and grabbed a jacket before joining his mate on the front porch. The weather was perfect for a romp in the woods, and they’d been looking forward to hosting the orphans all week. A sky-blue passenger van pulled in, decorated with the Cub House logo and a trail of bear paw prints all the way around. That, too, had been a gift from Dash’s charity, purchased when the local BSA director hired Orrin Crosby to run the new facility back in June.
The couple visited the Cub House shortly after to meet Orrin and find out if he or the children needed anything. Somehow, playground equipment had been overlooked, and Dash took care of it with a phone call to Ryder. Within the week, a lovely play area appeared in the backyard, and the cubs began calling their benefactor Uncle Dash. With a dozen nieces and nephews, he was qualified for the role and its obligations.
Orrin waved when he got out and came around to the van’s side door. The three older cubs, all boys, clambered out on their own and made a beeline for the porch.
“Uncle Dash! Uncle Dash!”
Dash and Aiden dropped to one knee and welcomed them with open arms. While they didn’t ignore Aiden, they went to their fellow shifter first, and then scented his human mate outof curiosity more than personal interest. Aiden took whatever they were comfortable giving and tried to make them feel at ease. Orphan children this age were still learning the polite way to greet someone. Most lacked experience interacting with humans, and often did or said inappropriate things.
Meanwhile, Orrin released the other two cubs, both girls, from their car seats and set them on their feet. One of them, Carly, arrived only last month and clung to Orrin’s hand as he approached. Since she’d never met them before, it took her a little longer to creep forward and scent the strange pair. First Dash, then Aiden, then back again, leaving a confused look on her face. She glared at Aiden and pointed a chubby finger in his face.
“Human, not bear!”
Aiden simply smiled at her, but Orrin came over to kneel next to the cub.
“What did I tell you, Carly? Humans aren’t bad, just different. This is Aiden, and he’s mated to Dash. That’s why he smells funny to you.”
Carly grew silent but continued to stare at Aiden, neither angry nor afraid, but definitely curious. No doubt she’d been living in the woods by herself and hadn’t interacted with humans at all until now. Finding her way in a mostly human world would take time and patience. Orrin seemed up to the challenge.
He was only twenty-four, and fresh out of college with training in social work, shifter psychology, and counseling. A city bear from the opposite side of the state, Orrin had been driven to help orphaned cubs from a very young age and knew it was his life’s calling. His job as the Cub House administrator and guardian was a dream come true after years of preparation.
He was a striking shifter, more lean than broad, with a tangled mop of long light brown hair, tied up in a sloppy man-bun. His broad smile and neatly trimmed facial hair gave hima kind, but bohemian, air that disarmed people and made them like him. The children certainly fell under his spell, thriving under his care.
Carly finally decided she’d stared long enough and joined the other children; all waiting to be told what they were doing. The grownups stood and Orrin explained the agenda.
“We’re going to take a walk through the woods together, and afterward, Aiden will bring our bears some treats you’ll really like. I want you to stay together and pay attention to your surroundings. Lay your clothes and shoes neatly on the porch, and then shift in the yard, okay? One more thing. If your bear wants to play with Aiden, be very careful with your teeth and claws. He doesn’t have thick fur like us.”
Aiden kissed his mate and then stepped off the porch to wait for the others. He was used to walking with Dash; human and bear exploring their territory together. It still scared him when Dash climbed trees, but admittedly bears were very good at it, and fast, for such heavy critters. One by one, the cubs came over to examine Aiden with their ursine senses. They wereadorable, and though he couldn’t tell who was who, the two smallest must be the girls.
As it turned out, Orrin was just as handsome in his ursine form, with a luxurious brown coat and a blondish muzzle and ‘eyebrows’. He was noticeably slimmer than other male shifters, though of a similar height and length. Inevitably, Dash got all growly and possessive with an unmated male around, sniffing, licking, and rubbing against Aiden’s legs to mark him with scent. Aiden stroked his furry face and kissed the top of his nose.
“Let’s go, mate. We’re burning daylight.”
As hosts, Dash and Aiden led the group of cubs, with Orrin bringing up the rear. As expected, the kids went wherever their noses led them, leaving the adults to keep track of them. They spent a good deal of time along the banks of Bear Creek, sniffingout the passage of small animals, and drinking the clear, cold water. About an hour into their wanderings, Dash ambled over to an enormous old oak tree full of tasty acorns.
