Cubby
I stepout of the car and suck in a deep breath of fresh mountain air, the summer sun shining down and the smell of lake water dancing on the breeze. “Lake Steamy,” I announce with a wide smile, then close my eyes as I soak in the warmth.
My best friend Meg slams the car door. “Whatever. I just hope this place still has a working bathroom,” she grumbles, then hurries toward the little store perched on the hill.
“It doesn’t lookthatrundown!” I call after her cheerfully.
Lake Steamy is a tiny mountain town, and it’s true that everything looks a bit dilapidated. There’s an art gallery across the street that seems closed, a gas station with a couple of broken pumps, and noticeably deteriorating roads.
But surely this little wooden shop with the sloped tin roof has a bathroom. The hand-painted sign declares that it’s theLake Steamy Corner Store, Bait Shop, Boat Rental, and Mechanic—with Triple Scoop Ice Cream!How could they not have a bathroom?
Anyway, I don’t care if the whole town is falling down. I’m here for the summer to finally pursue my dream. I’m going to have a fabulous mountain-lake vacation and work my ass off on my not-so-secret project, and when it’s all over and done, I’ll launch my new career.
But that’s later. Right now, I can see the glint of the lake between the pine trees that stretch behind the little ice-cream shop. I’ve been cooped up in Boston with grad school and then work, and nature calls to me.
Without another thought, I head down the trail that winds behind the corner store, going straight for the lake. There are wooden stairs built into the hill, and after I skip down the first few, the view opens in front of me.
“Amazing,” I whisper. The green hills roll into the distance, and down below, the placid dark lake sparkles while birds swoop through the sky. Most of the hills are small and green, but a rocky wall rises up beyond the lake, peeking above it all.
I grab my phone to take a selfie and mark the occasion. “Hello, Lake Steamy,” I say, posing and flashing quick pictures. “I’m Cubby. I’m here to swim in you.”
There’s a rustling sound in the tall trees behind me, up near the top. Curious if I can catch some birds for the shot, I tilt the phone and spot through the camera a large, dark shape moving through the branches.
“What the hell?”
I shove the phone in my pocket and turn, and as I do, a beehive falls at my feet. Startled, I back away from the buzzing, irritated bees, but as I do, something huge crashes through the trees.
“Fuck!” I gasp and stumble backward, landing hard on my ass right as a gigantic black bear thuds to the ground.
Pure panic grips me, yanking at my heart and stealing my breath. The bear doesn’t seem to notice me because it immediately turns its attention to the beehive, chomping its jaws down and completely ignoring the attacking bees.
I throw my hand over my mouth and try not to scream.
I’m fucked. This is how I die. I finally make it to the mountains like I’ve been dreaming all year, and now I’m going to get eaten by an indifferent bear while swarming bees sting me all over.
The bear huffs and thrusts its snout into the hive, then looks up with a happy smile…and sets its eyes on me.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it,” I curse, crawling back and freaking the fuck out.
The bear rises to full height, which, from my perspective, seems to be a million feet or so.
Pure terror wins. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to scream or run or play dead or climb a tree, but I’m pretty certain no matter what choice I make, I’m screwed.
“Meg?” I squeak.
“Hey! Bear!” a deep voice bellows out. The bear falls back onto all four paws and turns, seeing the man right as I do.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. “A fucking mountain man.”
“Get out of here!” the man bellows. He stands tall, over six feet, and he’s thick with muscles. He’s wearing a loose pair of torn blue cargo shorts, big boots, and a white T-shirt, and he’s got a full, dark beard.
If I weren’t threatened by swarming bees and an angry bear, I might get distracted by those thighs.
The bear grunts, and I can’t tell if it’s pissed or bored. It stares at the mountain man, shoves its snout back in the remnants of the hive it’s been devouring, and then grunts at the man again.
“Bear!” he shouts, then stomps the ground hard. He claps his hands and takes a few aggressive steps toward it, bellowing over and over. “Shoo! Get! Leave him alone!”
Shit, he’s a lunatic mountain man. He’s going to get us even more killed.
