Mountain Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 2)

by Harmony Raines

  “Is that the theme song?” Carter asked, as Caroline opened the door for him.

  “It is. I am going to have it stuck in my head for the whole day,” Will admitted. “And I might even go home tonight and see if it’s on Netflix.”

  Caroline rolled her eyes. “I am starting to see why you went up that mountain.”

  Carter was relaxed and happy as she followed him out the door and pulled it closed behind her. “I like him,” he admitted.

  “Why, because he’s your number one biggest fan?” Caroline asked.

  “No, because he has vision, and good sense.”

  “You could tell all that from one conversation?” Caroline asked.

  “Yes.” Carter kissed her lips. “He sees how special you are. So he must have sense.”

  “Flattery. I think I preferred the scowl.” But her cheeks turned pink and she smothered a smile.

  “It might be back by the end of the day. I’m going to tackle some yard work.”

  “And you have a big yard,” Caroline observed.

  “I do.” He pulled her into him for once last kiss, before releasing her with a groan. “Five o’clock, don’t be late, I’ll be waiting.”

  “I’ll be there,” she said and watched him leave. Carter could feel her eyes on his back until he left the center and all its hustle and bustle behind.

  He walked home with a sense of pride. A stupid as it seemed, he’d just gotten over one of his greatest fears, that people would not treat him as a real person. But Will had done just that—except for the movie references.

  As he opened the gate of his house and walked in, he surveyed the grounds differently. This was one more challenge to overcome, and overcome it he would.

  Chapter Eleven – Caroline

  “So where do we start?” Caroline asked when she went back inside Will’s office.

  “With a thank you,” Will said, handing her a cup of coffee. “It means a lot to me that Carter is going to give us the land.”

  “Thanks.” She took the coffee and strolled over to the window. “It means a lot to me too.”

  “Are you OK?” Will asked.

  She blew the air out of her cheeks. “I’m not sure, I feel as if I’ve been run over by my own tank.”

  Will chuckled. “Welcome to the club.” He came to stand next to her. “And it is the best club in town. It just takes some readjustments.”

  “Says the voice of experience,” Caroline said.

  “Experience, yes. But each day is like a new chance to be happy. You have the one you love by your side, and you know they will be there for you, through thick and thin.”

  “Is that a line from one of Carter’s movies?”

  “No. But I’m flattered you thought it was,” Will admitted.

  “Is he really that famous?” Caroline asked.

  “Hell, yeah!” Will said. “Nearly as famous as me!”

  Caroline giggled. “I guess you are famous, Will Frasier. But not for your good looks or movies.”

  Will sighed. “Maybe one day. Carter might have me as an extra in one of his movies.”

  “He isn’t going back to them,” Caroline said.

  “Are you sure?” Will asked.

  “Certain.”

  “It must have been bad, then … whatever happened.”

  “It was. At least to Carter, it was.”

  “Maybe he needs closure.” Will turned around and looked at the pile of papers on the floor. “And if there is any way I can help with that, let me know.”

  “I will,” Caroline replied, then she looked down at the papers on the floor. “OK, where do we start?”

  “With a fire,” Will suggested.

  “Come on, let’s work together and get it organized, then we can go out and organize the chaos out there.”

  “I have missed you, Caroline,” Will said.

  “Good thing I came back, then,” Caroline said. But in truth there was no way she would have ever been happy up on top of a mountain. Even with her mate, she needed people, needed to help in some small way.

  “It is,” Will said, his voice becoming serious. “I mean it, I don’t think I could have gotten this far without you.”

  “I don’t know, you’ve managed the few days I was away.” Caroline began to pick up papers and shuffle through them, sorting them out into appropriate piles.

  “I saw Carter’s expression when he heard about the journalist. I want him to know I will not mention his name in any context unless he wants me to. It’s completely up to him. He can either be a silent benefactor, or get the recognition he deserves.”

  “For now let’s go with silent benefactor. I think he wants to keep a low profile.” She picked up more papers. “I’m not sure I’m ready to move into a big house.”

  “It won’t seem so big once you fill it with children,” Will said. “But don’t have them too soon, I don’t want to lose you.”

  “I told Carter he was going to be the house husband,” Caroline said absently, putting pieces of paper in separate piles.

  “He must be loaded.” Will passed her more papers.

  “He is. He told me neither of us ever has to work. But that isn’t me.”

  “Good, because I don’t want to lose you.” Will grinned. “In a purely business way, of course.” There was a knock on the door. “At least not until this is all figured out.”

  Will opened the door and a woman walked in. “Will Frasier?” she asked with a big smile on her face. She thrust her hand out enthusiastically. “Teagan Henley.”

  Will broke into a big grin. There was something about Teagan that raised the energy level in the room. “Hi, Teagan, I’m so pleased you called about the interview. I’m Will, and this is Caroline.”

  “Hi, Teagan,” Caroline said, smiling at the young woman who was dressed in jeans and hiking boots, with a blue T-shirt emblazoned with a dragon. Her hair was pulled back into a sensible ponytail, and she wore minimal makeup, as if it was added as an afterthought.

  “Hi.” Teagan took a deep breath. “I get a little hyper when I’m excited.”

  “We like excited,” Will said.

  “Good. And I can see why. This is an amazing project. When Fiona suggested it I couldn’t wait to take a look.” She grinned at them both and then tempered it, as if her mouth was aching. Bending her head, she took out a notepad and pen from her purse. “OK. Where shall we start?”

  “These are the plans.” Caroline came around the side of the desk and pointed to the wall. “This is the center, and this is how we are going to expand.”

  Teagan stepped over to the wall and examined them closely. “Do you mind if I take a photo?” She pulled out her smart phone.

  “No, go ahead,” Will said.

  Teagan took the photo and then said, “The house next door. It belongs to Carter Eden, right? Is that a problem?”

  “A problem?” Will asked, shooting Caroline a concerned look that he quickly hid. They were both thinking the same thing, had Fiona blabbed about Carter?

  “Yes. You want to extend into his grounds, but I thought the guy had been MIA for years.” She looked to Will, and then to Caroline. “He didn’t die, did he?”

  “No. At least not as far as we know,” Will said, overcompensating as he tried to act natural.

  “We managed to get in touch with someone who could speak for him. And he agreed to let us have use of the land. In fact, we will be extending further than the plans.”

  Teagan’s eyes widened and she smiled broadly. “That is so cool. I am, or was, a huge Carter Eden fan. I used to watch all his movies. I’ll admit I had a bit of a crush on him.” Her smile slipped. “Sorry, too much information.

  “No,” Will said quickly. “There are quite a few people around here who feel the same way. Isn’t that right, Caroline?”

  “Sure is,” Caroline agreed.

  “Are you new at this?” Will asked suddenly, and Teagan’s mouth curved down.

  “Is it that obvious?”

&nbs
p; “A little. I’ve been interviewed a lot,” Will explained.

  “And I stand out as being from amateur hour.” Teagan nodded. “Sorry. This is my first real assignment on my own. I’ve been working in the graphics department, and I feel as if life is passing me by. I wanted to get out and be part of the story, not just look at pictures.”

  “I can understand that,” Caroline said.

  “I put this forward as a story, and my boss said I could go with it.” She put her notepad back in her purse. “I think he figured I’d fail too. But then he thought you wouldn’t give me the interview in the first place,” Teagan told Will.

  “He would be right normally. I don’t do interviews. But Fiona is very persuasive and this is special to me.” He stepped closer to Teagan. “And neither of us is going to accept failure. So get your notepad back out and let’s get on with this.”

  “Great!” Teagan exclaimed.

  Will looked outside. “Come on, let’s get a real view of what we are trying to achieve. You too, Caroline, the paperwork can wait.”

  “You don’t need to ask me twice,” Caroline told Will, placing the papers in her hands back down on the pile. She much preferred being outside, and she wanted to see how much work had been done in her absence.

  “I think we should schedule our opening to coincide with Teagan’s article,” Will said.

  “You mean move the opening forward?” Caroline asked.

  “Why not? You said you liked a challenge.”

  “Did I?” Caroline asked.

  “Yes, you put it in your resume.” He opened the door. “Not that you had to. I was sold at tank driver.”

  Caroline shook her head. “How did you get so successful?”

  “Luck,” he said with a grin.

  “And there was I thinking it was your boyish charm,” Caroline told him.

  “You mean I’m childish?” Will asked.

  “Guilty as charged,” Caroline said.

  Will burst out laughing as they left the office and went to lend a hand outside.

  “Can I quote you?” Teagan asked. “It’s so refreshing to listen to a boss who has such a rapport with his employers. And you were a tank driver?”

  “You can and she was,” Will said. “I have nothing to hide here. In fact, I would rather we come across as one big happy family.”

  “I can angle it that way,” Teagan stated. “Thanks once again for the opportunity.”

  “Don’t mention it, I believe in giving everyone a fair chance.”

  “Will realizes everyone has their own unique capabilities, and their own unique issues,” Caroline said, as Will looked embarrassed.

  “I believe we are not all the same. And what works for one person, will not work for another. In getting people back into work, we harness the uniqueness and nurture it.”

  “Let everyone work to their strengths. I get that,” Teagan said.

  The three of them wandered around the site, helping with unloading the topsoil, and then planting seeds. Teagan was very hands-on and fit in perfectly. By the time the journalist left, Caroline and Will were treating her like a friend.

  “If ever the whole journalism thing doesn’t work out,” Will began, “come see me. I can find you a job.”

  “Thanks,” Teagan said with a grin. “I’ll bear that in mind.”

  They stood together and watched her leave, then Caroline sighed. “I don’t suppose the paperwork did itself.”

  “Nope. Come on let’s get some fresh coffee on and get started.”

  They walked together back up to the office, both of them wrapped in their own thoughts. Caroline didn’t know what Will was thinking, but her own thoughts were straying toward how lucky they were to be a part of a project like this.

  They were working to remodel people’s futures, and help them forget their pasts. For Caroline, this was becoming a personal mission.

  Chapter Twelve – Carter

  An hour after he started work, Carter stood up and surveyed his progress. Slow. Unsatisfactorily slow. It was becoming clear this was more than a one-man job. Unless that man had power tools, and power tools meant power.

  Which meant he had to call someone. He had no phone. He would have to go and find Caroline and ask to borrow her phone. He stood, hands on hips, trying to decide whether to do it now, or leave it until tomorrow. Was he putting it off because it meant talking to people, telling them Carter Eden was back?

  He was cursed by having a name that was unique: his calls were always met with—the Carter Eden? All hopes that he might have been forgotten were dashed after the conversation with Will. Carter had been surprised Will and his mate were still big fans, despite him not making a movie for years.

  “You OK there, son?” a voice asked from behind him.

  Carter jumped. He had slipped back into his mountain mode where it was just him in the wilderness. Turning, he saw an elderly man at the gates. “Yes. I’m fine.”

  “Big job you’ve taken on there,” the old man continued. “Pity it was let go.”

  “Yes. The owner needs his head examining for not keeping it maintained,” Carter said.

  “I agree. Used to be a beautiful house, well-kept gardens… used to take me a day just to mow all the lawns,” he said wistfully.

  “You used to be the groundskeeper?” Carter asked, suddenly interested.

  “I did, for the old owners, and the owners before that. Then the house was sold, and I was no longer needed.” He sighed. “Makes me sad.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Carter said, knowing he should own up to being the one who had cost him his job.

  “Not so much call for men like me these days. So I’m going to the center to retrain.” He gave a short laugh. “I’m nearly sixty-years-old. What am I going to retrain as?” He shook his head. “Still, better than sitting on my ass.”

  The old guy went to walk away. “Wait,” Carter said. “Do you think you could help me get this place back to how it was?”

  “Ah, I don’t know if it will ever be as it was. The hedges have grown too woody to be trimmed into shape.” He came close to the gates again. “But I reckon we could make something new. I always thought the place was a little too formal.”

  Carter went to the gate and opened it up. “Come in. Let’s walk the grounds and see what you think.”

  “It’s gonna take a fair chunk of money,” the old guy warned.

  “I have money,” Carter said, and thrust his hand out. “It’s dirty, sorry.” He moved to wipe it on his pants, but the old guy took it.

  “Nothing wrong with dirt. Dirt is honest,” he said.

  “And I need to be honest,” Carter announced. “I’m Carter Eden. I’m the man who took your job away.”

  “I knew as soon as I saw you, but good of you to own up,” the old man said. “I saw that movie you were in. Space Monkeys, watched it with my grandson.”

  “Really?” Carter asked.

  “Yes. Biggest pile of horse shit I ever saw, in my opinion. But my grandson liked it. Hey, can I have your autograph? For my grandson, of course,” the old man said.

  “Sure,” Carter said.

  “Oh, no pen or paper. Next time. Or a selfie, if you would be so kind.”

  “A selfie,” Carter said, surprised, as the old man pulled out his smart phone.

  Here we go again, his bear said.

  “Sure,” Carter agreed. “Although I don’t think anyone will believe you, not with this beard.”

  “He’ll believe me, I’m his grandpa. Name’s Walt, by the way.”

  “Good to meet you, Walt,” Carter said, and smiled at the phone, his head next to his new gardener’s.

  “OK, thanks,” Walt said. “Now let’s go look around this place. See what we can salvage.”

  ***

  A couple of hours later, the damage was assessed, accompanied by a lot of muttering from Walt, which left Carter feeling more guilty than before. It was clear the old man loved this place, and some of the plants and shrubs t
hat had been lost were like his old friends. Trees he had planted twenty years ago and now stood tall and proud, cheered him up, but Carter felt the sadness rippling off the man.

  “Want a beer?” Carter asked when they returned to the house. He had brought a couple with him to share with Caroline after work. They were his last two, but he was sure she wouldn’t mind, and he planned to make some more as soon as he could get the equipment he needed together.

  “Bit early in the day for me.” Walt looked at the sky. “But it’s past noon, so I guess I can make an exception.”

  “Here, I apologize if it’s a bit warm.” Carter opened the bottles and handed one to Walt. “Here’s to you, Walt.”

  “Ah, I’m nothing special,” Walt admitted.

  “You have taught me more about this place, and the things that grow in it, in the last couple of hours, than I could ever have hoped to learn my whole life,” Carter said.

  “Well, learning is one thing. Doing the work is another,” Walt said.

  “I have all the time you need,” Carter said. “Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

  “You aren’t too fancy to get your hands dirty. I like that,” Walt said.

  “Thank you, Walt. I want you to know I am not the same man I was before I went up that mountain. So if you work for me, it’ll be a job for life.”

  Walt laughed. “You’re only saying that because I’m so old.”

  “No, I mean it,” Carter said.

  “And I was joking,” Walt said. He took a drink of his beer. “I have a lot of life still in me… Goodness, this stuff is good.”

  “It’s the last of it,” Carter informed Walt. “For now, at least.”

  Walt looked at the bottle. “You made it yourself?”

  “Can you tell?” Carter asked.

  “No label. Except for that, it’s different. The honey is just perfect for an old bear,” Walt said with a grin.

  “It’s taken me years to perfect. You don’t want to know what some of the first batches tasted like. And even after the honey was added, it needed something more.” Carter took a drink. “My own secret blend of spices.”