The Face-off with Ma
Six months later, Churchill
Fiona edged open the door of the gift shop with her hip while juggling the box of Josef’s polar bear carvings. A bell above the door tinkled to announce her arrival.
“Fiona. I’m so glad you’re here. We’ve sold right out of the figurines.” Penny Harrison, a blonde woman slightly older than her waddled from behind the counter, her protruding belly showing her pregnancy.
“That’s great. Josef finds carving relaxing, and his brothers were grumbling about finding them everywhere.” Fiona wrinkled her nose as she set the box on the counter. “Standing on them with bare feet is not fun.”
“The tourists love the bears since they’re so lifelike. I wondered if he’d be willing to try his hand at carving whales for the summer trade when the belugas are in the bay.”
“I’ll ask him.”
Penny handed over an envelope. “This is his share of the sales. Is a fifty-fifty split still okay?”
“I asked him that, and he said yes. He’d carve them anyway because that’s how he relaxes. Call me when stocks are getting low again.” Fiona stuffed the money in her shoulder bag and lifted a hand in farewell.
Outside, she scanned her surroundings, following the procedures constantly outlined by Stig, Kirk, Josef, Arve and Leif. She must pay attention, especially when walking around the streets alone. While the polar bear shifters wouldn’t harm her, there was a possibility of wild bears wandering into town. Leif had told her to take care even during the winter when sensible bears should be gorging on plump seals out on the sea ice. Bears were dangerous and unpredictable, and she must never take chances.
Not with Fiona ours.A smile curved her lips. Her men were cute when they lectured her. She checked left and right and behind her.
All clear. She stepped onto the street and inhaled the crisp air. Leif had said this morning a touch of spring lurked in the air, and she fancied she smelled it too. Arve—her gentle giant—had informed her the sea ice was starting to break up, and soon the last of the snow would melt. The tundra would turn green, and she couldn’t wait to explore the changes. Stig had promised to show her the beluga whales and some of the other animals that arrived in Churchill with the warmer summer.
The low growl from behind had her spinning around, her heart thumping in a rapid beat. A freakin’ huge polar bear stood in the middle of the road, its blue gaze trained on her.
She swallowed hard, assessing her options. The vehicle was too far away. The nearest building—a gray storage shed—stood at least fifty feet away. Too far for her to outrun the bear. Her gaze darted left and right. Leif and Stig had told her they’d meet her for coffee at Gypsy’s.
Wait! Blue eyes?She turned her attention back to the bear.
An immense beast, it bore vanilla-white shaggy fur and huge paws. The bear stood as tall as Arve and Leif. It growled, opening a maw full of wicked sharp teeth.
The bear took a gliding step toward her, growling again.
Fiona’s knees knocked as she fought every instinct that screamed at her to run.
The bear opened its mouth and roared.
Fiona swallowed, taking half a step back. The retreat seemed to please the bear since it halted, and it hissed and snorted while lowering its head. Fiona narrowed her eyes, brain busy.
Blue eyes. Freakin’ huge bear. Stig had blue eyes…
Before she could second guess herself, she darted forward and struck the polar bear hard on the nose. It let out a bellow, and Fiona punched it in the nose again before darting back out of reach. The bear’s next growl sent fear rippling across her skin. The bear lowered its head and flattened its ears. She gulped. Had she made a mistake?
“Fiona!” Stig roared from down the other end of the street. “What did we tell you about polar bears?”
“This one has blue eyes,” Fiona shouted back without taking her gaze off the tetchy bear.
Another bear raced from between the buildings to her right and screeched to a halt between Fiona and the furious bear.
After a mad sprint, Stig’s muscular arm curled around Fiona’s waist and he drew her against his side. “Fuck, Ma,” he spat.
Two humans appeared behind the two bears.
“Ma, I’d suggest you shift before you get your butt peppered with tranquilizer darts.”
Fiona growled, having caught the habit from her lovers who used this method to show displeasure. “Your mother?” She glared at the bear and planted her hands on her hips. “The seal-breath should have given me a clue.”
The bear standing between where she and Stig stood and Ma let out a huff-huff, and seconds later, it shifted to reveal Leif.
