Page 74 of Game Changer
“We have a canoe.That might be more your speed.”
I give him a reproving look, even though he’s right.
“There are tennis courts and a golf course.It’s a great course.There’s the beach, obviously.Different beaches.We can go out to the wishing well.There’s a bison enclosure at Lake Audy.”
“Bison?”I perk up.“That would be cool.”
“Yeah, it is.Maybe we’ll see a bear or some moose.”
My eyes widen.“Bear?”
“Yeah, they wander around all over the place here.”
I glance nervously at the bushes and sit up straighter.
He laughs.“I’m kidding.Well, there are bears, and theyhavebeen seen in town on occasion, but don’t worry.”
“Oh my God!Of course I’m worried.Bears!”
“There are also the shops and restaurants and the interpretive center.I think there are still bikes here, but we might have to pump up the tires.Or we could rent bikes.And there are lots of hiking trails.We should definitely do that.”
“Will there be bears?”
“Possibly.”
I’m a little nervous about this.
“If we make enough noise, they won’t come near us,” he assures me.
“Mmmm.”
“You sound doubtful.”
“I don’t want to be eaten by a bear.”
“I remember when I was a kid, there was a problem with bears in town getting into the garbage.They brought in a bear trap, and one day we walked by and there was one in it.”
“Yikes.Was it…” I cringe.“Dead?”
“No, it was a live trap.But he wasn’t too happy.We were fascinated.”
“What do they do with them when they catch them?They don’t kill them, do they?”
“No, no.They take them into the back woods and release them.Anyway, it’s why we’re careful with the garbage here.Most of the refuse bins are bear proof.”
“Good, good.”I wipe a damp palm surreptitiously on my leggings.
“There’s lots of other wildlife we might see too—fox, moose, deer, elk.”He pauses.“Cougars.”
“Oh, come on!Cougars?”
“There are some, but we won’t likely see them.”
“I think you’re trying to scare me so I’ll go home.”
He laughs softly.“Not at all, Flynn.But I am amusing myself.”
“Jerk.”But I slant him a smile.
