"What you'll have, lover?" snapped the saucy red head behind the counter staring at the guy dressed in camouflage. Bear stuttered for a minute and his sisters giggled. They had never seen Bear at a loss for words. Rainy, the youngest of the two, nudged him with her shoulder. He was frozen like a statue. The older girl spoke up and ordered a dozen chocolate cupcakes.
"Something wrong with him?" The girl behind the bakery counter asked.
The younger one responded, "Yeah, I think he likes you."
"Tell him to take a number. I get at least three marriage proposals a week." She laughed heartily as she tied the box of sweets with string. "It's Alaska and women are in short supply."
The clerk handed the box to Bear who stood there grinning like a maniac. "Sheesh....he's got it bad." She smiled and turned to help the next customer.
The girls thanked the clerk for the cupcakes and grabbed Bear by the back of his hoodie and pulled him out of the store backwards.
As he stumbled out the door, Bear gained his speech back. "What's your name?"
The girl turned around and pointed to her hair and yelled back "Red."
Rainy and Bird rolled their eyes. They couldn't take a brother anywhere with them without one of them trying to make a love connection. Living in the bush with five brothers was a challenge for the sisters. They were always chasing off boys in town who might show the least bit of interest in them or chasing girls for themselves.
As they walked back to the Integrity, Bear wouldn't shut up. "Wow, that girl was pretty. I wonder if she has a boyfriend. I love her name. Red's my favorite color, you know."
Rainy looked at Bird and chuckled, "Yep, he's got it bad."
Bear couldn't stop thinking about Red all day. She was different. She was about his height and her red hair had caught his attention immediately. He had noticed her green eyes, a classic combination of beauty. She must be Irish he thought.
Bear was in town for a demolition job with his brothers. He wanted to return to the bakery to speak to the red-headed girl. Maybe on his way back to the boat, he could swing by and get some more cupcakes. He hastily immersed himself in his work looking forward to quitting time.
As Bam called it a day, the brothers made plans to meet up at the Hoonah diner, Bear made himself scarce and found himself sitting on the bench across from the bakery. He saw the door open and two women exited. Red was there along with the other lady who worked in the bakery. As they hugged each other and exchanged goodbyes, she slowly walked down main street towards home.
Bear wanted to make a good impression and began following behind her as he contemplated how to introduce himself to her. He didn't want to turn into a statue again but he also wanted to make a good impression.
Red could sense someone was behind her but she dare not turn. She picked up her pace and kept close to the wall. Bear had stopped to tie his shoe and when he looked back up he could no longer see Red.
He began to jog looking side to side to see if she had darted into a store but she had vanished. As he passed one of the alleys near Hoonah's bar district, he caught a flash of red hair ducking around a corner. Bear sped up his pace trying to catch the girl and as he veered the corner, someone reached out and grabbed him by the collar shoving him against the brick wall behind him.
A woman's voice screamed at him, "Why are you following me?"
Her senses were heightened and she was breathing heavily. Bear knew he had frightened her. He was woefully aware that this would not be a good first impression.
"I'm Bear." He smiled widely. "From yesterday....chocolate cupcakes....with my sisters."
Red loosened her grip on his shirt. "This is Alaska, you know. Stalking a girl isn't a smart thing to do around here."
In her right hand, she wielded a large hunting knife. She quickly placed the knife down in her boot. "It's Bear, isn't it?"
Bear smiled again. She remembered his name.
"Don't know anyone else named that..." Red smiled in return.
"Your cupcakes were great by the way." Bear felt stupid that this was the best line he could come up with.
"Thanks." Red began to turn and head back towards home. She wasn't interested in whatever Bear wanted.
"Can I walk with you? inquired Bear. I didn't mean to scare you."
"So do you always stalk women you want to meet?"
Bear smiled and laughed, "only the pretty redheaded ones."
Red could feel the blush in her cheeks as she looked away from Bear. "Wow, what a corn ball line?"
"Do you use that pickup line often?" Red asked already knowing the answer to the question.
"I learned that one from my brothers." Bear laughed.
They continued the walk to Red's small cottage near the end of town. It was a cute blue and white wood cottage. It looked welcoming. "Well, this is home for me. Would you like come in?"
Bear so much wanted to follow her into the house and learn everything about her but he knew whatever he said and did next would make a lasting impression.
"Thank you for letting me escort you home but I think I will take my leave today. Can I see you again?"
Red was surprised by his response given that he had just stalked her. "Sure, how about tomorrow after work?"
Bear contained his excitement and only took off running in the direction of town after she had closed the door.
Another day of hardwork and his eagerness to see Red again made it go by quickly. As he raced from the job site to the bakery, Red was just closing up. She smiled and waved at him. "I like a guy who's prompt."
Bear was tickled by her acknowledgment of his timeliness. Red handed him a bakery bag.
Bear asked, "Smells good. What is it?
Red replied, "Fresh baked bread and a little bit of honey for attracting a Bear."
She turned to look at Bear with those green eyes and a sly smile on her face. "I like the shy guys."
