Page 9 of Bear Creek Father's Day
Orrin choked up, stroking the trembling girl’s back. As he breathed in more of her scent, Orrin’s bear made an unexpected declaration of his own: ‘ours’. What? He’d thought claims of that nature were only for mates, but the stubborn ursine repeated the sentiment several more times before Orrin pulled back and kissed the top of Rayn’s head.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. You’ll be staying here with us until we find you a forever home, all right?”
According to her profile, the girl knew almost nothing about shifters or bears, and he wondered precisely what gifts her ursine genes had given her. He and Tasha would have to educate the poor child without overwhelming her, but there were things shemustknow to live comfortably among them. Without missing a beat or letting go of Rayn, Orrin turned back to Zuzu, Scout, and Birdy, who were waiting expectantly.
“I’ll bet you’re hungry. Let’s go to the dining room, and afterward we’ll show you the house.”
The boys rushed forward to scent the strangers and say hello while Tasha somehow got the milling crowd headed in the right direction. Virgil and his helper promised to bring in the cubs’luggage before grabbing lunch downtown and then heading home. Orrin thanked them and carried the still-clingy Rayn to her first meal at the Cub House. She smelled anxious, fearful, and totally alone, but Orrin offered comfort and reassurance.
“I think you’ll like it here, Rayn, and I have some surprises for you after we eat.”
She managed to nod her head, but didn’t say a word, breaking Orrin’s heart even more.
Chapter 5
Rayn allowed Orrin to put her down, but only because he asked her to help bring food to the table. Apparently, she’d learned to do it at her former foster home, and the familiar task seemed to distract her from the angst of being shuffled around like a chess piece. Orrin noticed Rayn’s frequent pauses to scent the various dishes being brought to the table—a dead giveaway that her sense of smell had ursine origins. He was glad, since that particular ability would help a great deal while learning to navigate the shifter world she knew so little about.
Tasha had mixed up the cubs so that the newcomers weren’t grouped together. The last thing they wanted to encourage was an US versus THEM mentality, and as long as the cubs were here, the household would operate as a single family unit. Orrin ended up with Zuzu on his left, Rayn on his right, and then Kip. As the food was passed, Kip decided to offer Rayn his opinion of the various dishes by nodding yes or no. After a while, she actually smiled at the silly game, and Orrin glanced up at Tasha with unshed tears.
After lunch, the cubs helped clear the table, leaving Tasha to clean up while Orrin and the boys showed the newbies around. When they reached the large open room in the new addition, Orrin explained what they intended to do.
“For a few nights, we’ll all sleep together here. After that, you can choose a bedroom and a roommate. Now, let’s go get your stuff from the living room and bring it back here. Afterward, I have something special planned.”
None of the cubs had much, usually just some clothing, a toothbrush, and a trinket or two that they’d brought with themfrom their temporary placement. Scout and Birdie would be attending Kindergarten classes with Griffin and Fort, meaning they would need school clothes, shoes, backpacks, and supplies. The BSA gave Orrin a stipend for every new cub, and he’d learned how to stretch it to include a few non-essentials. It wasn’t unusual for him to purchase items with his own salary as well because putting smiles on faces was worth it.
Rayn looked lost in the big room full of bunk beds, unsure where she should put her things. Orrin was about to intervene when Kip dragged her over to a set of beds between the windows and pointed to the bottom bunk.
“Rayn, down. Kip, up!”
Rayn agreed without any fuss, and Orrin showed her which nearby dresser drawers and shelves were reserved for her things. Presumably, her former foster parents had sent her away with some clothing and toys, though she would need pajamas, a heavier coat, and another pair of shoes at the very least. While the other cubs were busy putting things away, Orrin grabbed a paper bag from the oversized closet and gave it to Rayn.
“I got some things you might like, sweetie.”
Inside she found a bottle of bubble bath and a pink hippopotamus plush toy, dressed in a frilly tutu. The hippo prompted a laugh—a high-pitched tinkling sound that made Orrin’s heart skip a beat. Rayn put the toy on her bunk and stashed the bubble bath in a drawer before turning to him with the tiniest smile.
“I like them. Thank you.”
Orrin picked her up, drank in more of her scent, and gave her a good squeeze. When he put her down, the other cubs werestaring at them. Thinking fast, he kneeled on the floor and opened his arms wide.
“Who else wants a hug?”
They mobbed him amid shrieks and laughter, especially after adding a few tickles and growls to the mix. This was how Tasha found them, having a grand time without a care in the world—at least for a few moments.
“Good heavens! Who’s making all that noise?”
Thanks to Griffin, she ended up getting mobbed too before announcing the afternoon activities.
“We’re going to do some shopping and then pick up treats on the way home. I want you all to go potty, and we’ll meet downstairs by the back door.”
Kip grabbed Rayn’s hand, leading her to the bathroom on the next floor down so they didn’t have to wait for the others. Orrin noticed that the two were getting along well and approved. The little guy was still dealing with his own issues, so it would be good for him to focus on someone else for a change. Rayn, however, was not only suffering from rejection, but a crisis involving her very identity. She’d need time and a lot of love, certainly, but Orrin intended to consult his parents and see what they suggested.
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To save time and money, Orrin did the majority of his shopping at the HomeMart store in Wilkes-Barre. Today’s list was mostly clothing, shoes, and a heavier winter coat for Rayn. While shifters were naturally warm, even in human form, she needed extra layers to be comfortable. The group got a lot of strange looks as they descended on one department after another like aplague of locusts, pushing heavily laden carts. All the newcomers needed pajamas and were given a choice (within reason) among the many styles. Because of Rayn’s long hair, Tasha helped her pick out a few colorful ribbons, clips, and scrunchies. Most shifter girls didn’t fuss with such things, as they would be lost when changing into their ursine forms. Tasha also grabbed some thick socks to keep Rayn’s feet warm.
Reinforcements were called when they reached the checkout lane, bagging their purchases as quickly as the cashier rang them up. Getting everyone and everything back to the van was a chore in itself, and there wasn’t an inch to spare by the time they were done loading. A short while later, Orrin pulled into a parking space outsideDeliciousand Kip cheered. Rayn didn’t know what all the excitement was about until they went inside, and her tummy did a happy dance.
Though Orrin had never asked for it, residents of the Cub House were always given the royal treatment. Serina, the red-headed front end manager, waved to them from behind the counter.
